Pompeii, Herculaneum & Vesuvius Private Tour with Pickup

Two thousand years ago, a single eruption stopped an entire city mid-morning.

A private guided tour of Pompeii and Herculaneum with hotel or port pickup, driver and licensed guide included. You walk the Forum, the House of the Vettii, the Stabian Baths and the Great Theatre in Pompeii, then move to Herculaneum to see the boat remains and restored homes buried by the same eruption. Mount Vesuvius entry is optional at checkout. The tour runs 8 to 9 hours; dress is casual and moderate fitness helps with the walking and the optional volcano climb.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Vesuvius

• Meet guide at Pompeii main gate
• Tour Pompeii ruins
• Visit Pompeii west city gate
• Explore the Civil Forum
• See the Basilica building
• Visit small cook-shops
• Tour a large Pompeii house
• Visit House of the Vettii
• Explore Stabian Baths
• See the Great Theatre of Pompeii
• Drive to Herculaneum Archaeological Park
• Meet guide at Herculaneum main gate
• Tour Herculaneum ruins
• Admire restored boat remains
• Visit wealthy private home in Herculaneum
• Start nature trail at Vesuvius Piazzale
• Drive to trail start near summit
• Walk to volcano summit
• Walk back down to car
• Drive back to highway

The Experience

Eight to nine hours means you start early and finish in late afternoon. Your driver picks you up from your hotel, airport or cruise port (depending on which option you choose), and takes you to Pompeii's main gate. A licensed guide meets you there — in English or Italian — and walks you through the city as it was on the morning of AD 79. You see the Forum, the civic heart where business and justice happened; the House of the Vettii, one of the richest homes, still marked with the god Priapus painted by the door; the Stabian Baths with their sequence of cold, warm and hot rooms; and the Great Theatre, built into a hillside so the slope itself forms the seating.

After Pompeii, your driver takes you to Herculaneum, buried under the same ash and pumice but preserved differently — the wood and cloth here survived better, so you see beams, doors and the shape of everyday life more clearly than you do in Pompeii. A second licensed guide meets you at the gate and leads you through the site. One stop is the boat remains, found in the marina area where 300 skeletons were discovered; the boats have been restored and sit as they were left when people tried to shelter from the eruption. You also see one of the wealthiest private homes in the city.

Mount Vesuvius is separate — you choose it at checkout. If you add it, the drive from Herculaneum takes roughly 40 minutes to the trailhead at 1,000 metres. From there, a 35-minute walk takes you to the summit, and another 35 minutes brings you back down. The drive back to the highway is another 40 minutes. Bottled water is included throughout the day. Your driver handles the route and timing; the guides handle the history and the stops.

What’s included

• Bottled water throughout the day.
• driver pickup and drop-off from your hotel, airport or cruise port (depending on your option).
• professional licensed guide in English or Italian at both Pompeii and Herculaneum.
• tickets to both archaeological parks (or to Pompeii and Herculaneum without Vesuvius, depending on your choice at checkout).
• Mount Vesuvius entry and guide if you select that option.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by A DRIVE INTO THE BLUE

Is this one for you?See both Pompeii and Herculaneum in one port day with a driver and guide handling logistics, or add Mount Vesuvius to stand at the crater that buried these Roman cities in AD 79.

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Top questions

What exactly is inside the House of the Vettii that makes it worth a stop?

The House of the Vettii is one of the richest and most famous homes in Pompeii, covering an entire block of about 3,000 square metres. The owners were brothers who became wealthy through trade, and the house still shows their prosperity — the god Priapus is painted to the right of the door as a symbol of their economic success. The layout and decoration show what a wealthy Roman merchant's home looked like.

How much walking is involved in Herculaneum compared to Pompeii?

Both sites require moderate walking on uneven ground. Herculaneum is smaller and more compact than Pompeii, so the walking is less extensive, but the terrain is similar. The tour is designed for travelers with at least a moderate level of physical fitness. If you add Mount Vesuvius, the walk to the summit is 35 minutes uphill, which is steeper than the archaeological sites.

If I'm on a cruise ship, what do I need to tell you when I book?

Cruise passengers must provide the ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time at checkout. Your driver will plan the pickup and return to match your ship's schedule so you have time to explore both sites and still make it back to the port.

What's the difference between the boat remains in Herculaneum and the rest of the site?

The boat remains were discovered in the marina area and have been carefully restored. They sit where people left them during the eruption, and archaeologists found 300 skeletons in the same location — evidence of people who tried to shelter as the ash fell. It is one of the most recent major discoveries at the site.

Can I do this tour if I'm traveling with young children?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available in the vehicle. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and service animals are allowed. The walking pace is set by the guide, so you can move at a comfortable speed for your group.

What should I wear and bring for the day?

Dress code is casual. Bottled water is included, but you'll want comfortable walking shoes with good grip for the uneven ancient stone and, if you add Vesuvius, the volcanic terrain. Sunscreen and a hat are practical for the exposed areas of both archaeological sites.