Naples: Pompeii & Herculaneum Small Group Day Trip

Pompeii ruins, Herculaneum streets and lunch from Naples

You’ll wander Pompeii’s ancient streets with an archaeologist guide from Naples, touch real Roman walls, share laughs over lunch, and explore Herculaneum’s vivid ruins: all with pickup and entry included. Expect moments of quiet awe mixed with good company and a taste of daily life frozen in time.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Pompeii Archaeological Site2h · entry included
2. Herculaneum Archaeological Park2h · entry included

Explore Pompeii and Herculaneum ruins

• Pick up from Naples
• Tour Pompeii ruins for 2 hours
• Tour Herculaneum ruins for 1.5 hours
• Drop off in Naples

The experience

"You see this groove? That’s from Roman carts: real ones," said Antonio, our guide, as he knelt right in the middle of Pompeii’s old street. He had this way of making the stones feel like they remembered everything. The morning was already warm, air thick with that mineral smell you get near Vesuvius. I kept brushing dust off my hands after touching the walls: somehow it felt rude not to.

I didn’t expect to feel so… unsettled walking through those houses. There’s color left on some walls (reds and ochres), and in one room Antonio paused so we could hear the echo bounce back. "Imagine dinner here," he grinned, but honestly all I could think about was how quiet it must’ve been before everything changed. Our small group shuffled along behind him, dodging puddles from last night’s rain (my shoes still squelched a bit), and then someone pointed out a bakery oven that looked almost ready for use.

After Pompeii we stopped for lunch, simple stuff: bread, tomatoes, cheese. The olive oil tasted greener than what I buy at home. Maybe it was just being hungry or maybe because we’d spent two hours wandering ruins, but I swear that meal hit differently. Someone tried to order coffee in Italian. The waiter smiled and corrected us gently, which made us all laugh.

Herculaneum felt different: closer somehow, more compact. The colors were brighter and you could almost smell the sea if you stood still long enough (or maybe that was wishful thinking). Antonio explained how the eruption preserved things here in a different way. I kept staring at wooden doors that survived centuries under ash. By the time we got back to Naples, my head was full of questions and my shoes were still damp, but I keep thinking about those grooves in the stone and how many feet must’ve passed over them before ours.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup and drop-off in Naples, entrance fees for both Pompeii Archaeological Site and Herculaneum Archaeological Park, guided tours led by a local expert at each site, plus an Italian light lunch if you choose that option when booking.

Options for this experience

6 options

Regular group option without lunchUp to 15 people · Guide in English, Spanish or Italian · 08:30Group capacity: up to 30 or 40 participants. Duration: 8 hours, no lunch. Itinerary: pickup in Naples; guided tour of Pompeii, 2 hours; guided tour of Herculaneum, 1 hour 30 minutes; drop-off in Naples by bus. Important to know: high season (April to October) has a minimum of 2 passengers; low season (November to March) has a minimum of 4 passengers.

Small group option without lunchUp to 15 people · Guide in English, Spanish or Italian · 08:30Hotel pickup (from the list). Group capacity: up to 18 or 20 participants. Duration: 8 hours, no lunch. Itinerary: pickup in Naples; guided tour of Pompeii, 2 hours; guided tour of Herculaneum, 1 hour 30 minutes; drop-off in Naples by minibus. Important to know: high season (April to October) has a minimum of 2 passengers; low season (November to March) has a minimum of 4 passengers.

Lunch-inclusive regular group optionUp to 15 people · Guide in English, Spanish or Italian · 08:30Group capacity: up to 30 or 40 participants. Duration: 8 hours, lunch included. Itinerary: pickup in Naples; guided tour of Pompeii, 2 hours; lunch; guided tour of Herculaneum, 1 hour 30 minutes; drop-off in Naples by bus. Important to know: high season (April to October) has a minimum of 2 passengers; low season (November to March) has a minimum of 4 passengers. Starting point: Starhotels Terminus, Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi, 91, 80142 Napoli NA, Italy. Pickup is included.

See 3 more options

Semi-private group option without lunchUp to 8 people · Guide in English, Spanish or Italian · 08:30Door-to-door service. Group capacity: up to 8 or 10 participants. Duration: 8 hours, no lunch. Itinerary: pickup in Naples; guided tour of Pompeii, 2 hours; guided tour of Herculaneum, 1 hour 30 minutes; drop-off in Naples. Important to know: high season (April to October) has a minimum of 2 passengers; low season (November to March) has a minimum of 4 passengers. Pickup is included.

Lunch-inclusive small group optionUp to 15 people · Guide in English, Spanish or Italian · 08:30Hotel pickup (from the list). Group capacity: up to 18 or 20 participants. Duration: 8 hours, lunch included. Itinerary: pickup in Naples; guided tour of Pompeii, 2 hours; lunch; guided tour of Herculaneum, 1 hour 30 minutes; drop-off in Naples by minibus. Important to know: high season (April to October) has a minimum of 2 passengers; low season (November to March) has a minimum of 4 passengers.

Lunch-inclusive semi-private group optionUp to 8 people · Guide in English, Spanish or Italian · 08:30Door-to-door service. Group capacity: up to 8 or 10 participants. Duration: 8 hours, lunch included. Itinerary: pickup in Naples; guided tour of Pompeii, 2 hours; lunch; guided tour of Herculaneum, 1 hour 30 minutes; drop-off in Naples by van. Important to know: high season (April to October) has a minimum of 2 passengers; low season (November to March) has a minimum of 4 passengers. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 11 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Worldtours

Traveler reviews

4.68★★★★★★★★★★

272 verified traveler reviews

5 ★218

4 ★34

3 ★11

2 ★5

1 ★4

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

How long is the day trip from Naples to Pompeii and Herculaneum?

The tour lasts most of the day, with about 2 hours inside Pompeii and 1.5 hours at Herculaneum plus travel time from Naples.

Is lunch included on this tour?

Lunch is included if you select that option when booking. Otherwise you can book without lunch.

Are entrance fees for Pompeii and Herculaneum included?

Yes, entry fees for both archaeological sites are included in your day trip.

Is hotel pickup available for this tour?

Yes, pickup and drop-off in Naples are part of your booking.

Who leads the tour at Pompeii and Herculaneum?

A local archaeologist or expert guide meets you outside each site to lead your group inside.

How much walking is involved during the tour?

You should expect moderate walking on uneven surfaces through both archaeological sites.

Can travelers with limited mobility join this tour?

This tour is not recommended for people with mobility problems or certain health conditions due to uneven terrain.