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Private tour with driver

Pompeii & Herculaneum

Two Roman cities, one eruption: Pompeii and Herculaneum, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, tell the story of the same 79 AD catastrophe from different and complementary angles.

  • 6½ h
  • Just your group, up to 8 people
  • English
Book this tour

from€355per vehicle

6½ hEnglish
  • No online payment: we confirm availability
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before (entry tickets already issued excluded)

Activity highlights

“Pompeii & Herculaneum” is a private tour with driver and takes about 6½ h. It costs from €355 per vehicle, not per person, in a sedan for up to 3 people, with driver, fuel, tolls and parking included; the exact price depends on start, finish and date. Stops and visiting time: Pompeii archaeological park (3 h) and Herculaneum archaeological park (1 h 45). Entrance tickets are not included: about €36 per person in total. You walk about 4.5 km over the day (moderate physical effort). When to go? All year round, and it is the Vesuvius-area tour that holds up best in winter: no stop depends on mountain weather. In summer start at Pompeii at 9, while the paving is still cool.

Two UNESCO sites in a single day: Pompeii and Herculaneum side by side
Over 44 hectares of excavations at Pompeii: forum, theatres, baths and plaster casts
Herculaneum: wooden structures, everyday objects and extraordinarily preserved frescoes
Private tour, just for your group, for an intimate, unhurried experience
Dedicated driver with pickup and return from the selected meeting point

Full description

Pickup is at the time and meeting point you choose when booking. Your driver will take you to the sites punctually and professionally: the tour is private, only your group is on board.

The excavations of Pompeii

One of the largest and most important archaeological areas in the world. Pompeii was a thriving merchant city, wiped out in a matter of hours by the rain of lapilli and ash from Vesuvius in 79 AD. Today, walking its paved streets, you feel you have genuinely stepped back in time.

With over 44 hectares of excavations, the site preserves the forum, the temples, the shops, the baths, the theatres and private houses — along with the famous plaster casts of the bodies of the Pompeians caught unawares by the eruption. An immersive and moving experience, impossible to describe in full.

The excavations of Herculaneum

Less well known than Pompeii but, in many ways, even more astonishing. Herculaneum was not buried by ash but by a river of mud and pyroclastic material which, as it solidified, extraordinarily preserved wooden structures, doors, beds, shelves, everyday objects, jewellery and frescoes whose colours are still vivid.

Smaller and less crowded, Herculaneum has a different atmosphere: ideal for taking in the details calmly and really understanding what daily life in ancient Rome was like. A perfect — and essential — complement to the visit to Pompeii.

The return is expected in the early afternoon.

Itinerary

  1. Departure
    Pickup at the chosen time from the selected meeting point
  2. Excavations of Pompeii
    Forum, theatres, baths, shops and plaster casts
  3. Excavations of Herculaneum
    Wooden structures, frescoes and everyday objects
  4. Return
    Expected in the early afternoon

Prices

The price is per vehicle, not per person, and depends on where you start, where you finish and the date: work it out in the booking box.

Included in the price: driver, fuel, tolls and parking.

Entrance tickets not included: Pompeii archaeological site €20, Herculaneum archaeological site €16. About €36 per person in total. Meals, tastings and optional entrances are paid separately.

Prices updated on October 30, 2026

Practical information

Entrance tickets (not included)
  • Pompeii archaeological park20 €
  • Herculaneum archaeological park16 €

Indicative total: 36 € per person

Full-price entry. The site is a fifth the size of Pompeii but preserves wood, fabrics and upper floors.

Third-party prices, indicative, last checked in September 2026.

Time at each stop
  • Pompeii archaeological park3 h
  • Herculaneum archaeological park1 h 45
How much walking

4.5 km · Moderate physical effort — About 3 km at Pompeii and 1.5 km at Herculaneum, both on uneven Roman paving. Herculaneum means going down and back up: the site sits 20 metres below the modern town.

When to go

All year round, and it is the Vesuvius-area tour that holds up best in winter: no stop depends on mountain weather. In summer start at Pompeii at 9, while the paving is still cool.

The same itinerary by public transport

This is the easiest pair to do by public transport: the Circumvesuviana (EAV) stops at both Ercolano Scavi and Pompei Scavi on the same line, 20 minutes apart, €2-3 a ride, and from either station the entrance is a few minutes on foot. In high season the Campania Express runs the same route with fewer stops and air conditioning, at a higher fare.

When it genuinely wins

On this itinerary public transport genuinely works, and anyone travelling light and unhurried should use it: €6-7 instead of any other figure. A chauffeur service changes things in three concrete cases — travelling with luggage or small children, starting from accommodation far from the line, or wanting to be inside Pompeii at 9 sharp without depending on train frequency on an August morning.

Public-service fares and frequencies, indicative and seasonal, last checked in September 2026.

What is included

Included

  • Selected vehicle
  • Pickup and return from the selected meeting point
  • One bottle of water per person
  • Panoramic stops along the route
  • Stop at the excavations of Pompeii
  • Stop at the excavations of Herculaneum

Not included

  • Tour guide
  • Entrance tickets to the sites
  • Lunch and extra drinks

Important

  • No pets allowed
  • Not suitable for wheelchair users
  • Not suitable for people who suffer from motion sickness
  • Not suitable for children under 1 year old
  • We reserve the right to change the order of the visits according to timing and availability
  • The itinerary may change due to adverse weather conditions or events along the route
  • Our staff will contact the guest the day before the tour with confirmation and logistics details

Frequently Asked Questions

Which entrance tickets are needed and what do they cost?

No entrance ticket is included in the tour price: they are bought separately and stay yours even if plans change. Pompeii archaeological park 20 € and Herculaneum archaeological park 16 €. That comes to about €36 per person, prices last checked in September 2026. Full-price entry. The site is a fifth the size of Pompeii but preserves wood, fabrics and upper floors.

How much walking does this tour involve?

Around 4.5 km over the day. About 3 km at Pompeii and 1.5 km at Herculaneum, both on uneven Roman paving. Herculaneum means going down and back up: the site sits 20 metres below the modern town. Moderate physical effort.

How long is spent at each stop?

Pompeii archaeological park 3 h and Herculaneum archaeological park 1 h 45. The rest of the day is driving, and the timings flex with traffic and with what you prefer: the driver works to the group, not to a fixed schedule.

When is the best time for this tour?

All year round, and it is the Vesuvius-area tour that holds up best in winter: no stop depends on mountain weather. In summer start at Pompeii at 9, while the paving is still cool.

Can this itinerary be done by public transport?

This is the easiest pair to do by public transport: the Circumvesuviana (EAV) stops at both Ercolano Scavi and Pompei Scavi on the same line, 20 minutes apart, €2-3 a ride, and from either station the entrance is a few minutes on foot. In high season the Campania Express runs the same route with fewer stops and air conditioning, at a higher fare. On this itinerary public transport genuinely works, and anyone travelling light and unhurried should use it: €6-7 instead of any other figure. A chauffeur service changes things in three concrete cases — travelling with luggage or small children, starting from accommodation far from the line, or wanting to be inside Pompeii at 9 sharp without depending on train frequency on an August morning.

What is the difference between Pompeii and Herculaneum?

Pompeii was buried by lapilli and ash and survives in extent: 44 hectares of streets, baths and amphitheatre — the plan of a whole city. Herculaneum was hit by pyroclastic flows that sealed it twenty metres down, charring rather than burning: it is five times smaller, but wooden beams, doors, beds, fabrics and the upper floors of houses are still there. Pompeii shows how a Roman city was laid out; Herculaneum shows how a Roman house was furnished.

If I only have time for one site, which should I choose?

Pompeii, if it is your first time and you want the image everyone knows. Herculaneum if you travel with children or limited stamina: an hour and a half is enough, it is compact, shaded and the detail is close at hand. Anyone who saw Pompeii years ago will find far more that is new at Herculaneum.

Can I customize the itinerary?

Yes. All our tours can be customized according to your interests, needs and available time. Contact us before booking to create a tailor-made experience.

Are the tours suitable for guests with reduced mobility?

Many of our itineraries can be adapted to the needs of guests with reduced mobility. However, some attractions or historic centres may have accessibility limitations. Please contact us in advance for assistance choosing the most suitable tour.

Can I extend the tour during the day?

In most cases yes, subject to driver and vehicle availability. Any extra hours will be subject to an additional fee.

Are tips mandatory?

No, tips are not mandatory and are not included in the price. If you are satisfied with the service, a tip is always appreciated but entirely optional.

More on booking, driver, luggage and payment in the Help centre

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