• Private Tour
• Carbon Neutral

Do you want to see the ruins of Herculaneum? Do you want to visit corners of the city where tourists don't arrive? What better way to do it than with an archaeologist and licensed guide!

Destination

Ercolano, Italy

Category

Art Culture Tours

Duration

2 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Italiano

Included

• Private guide

Excluded

• Tickets

What you can expect

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with Raffaele.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at Parco Archeologico di Ercolano - Ercolano to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. Meeting point

   Herculaneum's site Ticket Office

4. Explore Herculaneum

   Let your host take you on a two-hour journey through the most spectacular areas in Herculaneum. Visit an ancient theatre, bath and forum amongst others followed by incredible stories from your knowledgeable guide

5. Deep survey

   Experience a completely different kind of town in ruins, ancient stores, private houses, and sacred sights, all to be explored. Enjoy a panoramic view of the historic remains and interesting stories from your licensed guide

6. Tragedy

   Skeletons of the famous refugees...

7. Boat exibhit

   Let's see a 2,000 years old roman boat!

8. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

I can personalize this tour for you

• Tell me your preferred date and group size
• Tell me your preferences and wishes so I can customize the tour for you
• Wait for my personal offer in your inbox!

Contact me

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Sarah🇲🇨 Monaco

15 June 2025

Raffaele was very knowledgeable and interesting to listen to. We learnt so much more about Herculaneum because of him and thoroughly enjoyed the tour. We would definitely recommend him to other travellers.Ercolano tour

Casey🇦🇺 Australia

9 June 2025

Firstly, support this amazing local archaeologist instead of other tour companies. If you are considering other options...DON'T - Raffaele is the best. He is friendly, funny and welcoming, but also SO knowledgeable and brings Herculaneum to life in such a memorable way - you can really imagine what it was like before. He knows the best routes to visit the most important areas and is so knowledgeable, he answered every question we had with ease. It was just three of us on the tour and we were questioning whether to splurge on a private tour (our dollar is very bad compared to the euro so it was a lot for us), but this was one place we were so happy we did spend the little bit extra. If you only have a short time in the Amalfi area, definitely do this!!! Just an insane look into this event but also life 2000 years ago. Thanks Raffaele!!Worth every penny! RAFFAELLE IS THE BEST!

Lyle🇺🇸 United States

8 June 2025

It was a pleasure to tour Herculaneum in Ercolano with Raffaele. Though it was certainly while discussing a somber topic, the time with Raffaele was informative and entertaining as he returned us to 79 CE while walking us through the Roman-era resort. So many details were pointed out, such as the uses of the various buildings, the day-to-day living of the occupants, and even the ways that the architecture was designed for easy living. I recommend this Herculaneum or any tour with Raffaele. He knows the information, and knows how to lead a tour in an engaging fashion. Learned and Laughed (some) at Herculaneum

elizabethcbailey🇩🇪 Germany

19 May 2025

We had a great experience at Herculaneum with Raffaele. He was easy to communicate with and conveyed the appropriate solemnity for the site, but also found ways to lighten the mood where appropriate. Our group was mixed with two of us very enthusiastic and asking lots of questions and the other two less engaged but that was not a problem for Raffaele and he gladly answered all of our questions and let the others follow along in their own way. He is clearly experienced and very knowledgeable on the subject of archaeology and of this site. I definitely got more out of the experience for having gone with Raffaele rather than on our own.Wonderful experience with Raffaele

Trevor🇺🇸 United States

11 May 2025

Raffaele is a phenomenal guide, who's deep understanding and appreciation of the place you are visiting makes for an incredible experience. He helps you understand the emotional magnitude of the place, and even takes personal pride as one of his mentor/professors was the archeologist who discovered the skeletons at the marina. I would not have any other guide to see the precious site of Herculaneum. One of the best

Yagiz🇩🇪 Germany

3 May 2025

Friendly, informative and enlightening. Raffaele’s private tour was exactly what we were looking for! The tour had a pleasant tempo and he exactly focused on the points that we were interested in. Highly recommended, if you like ancient history and want to be guided through more individual details. Great Choice.

Richard

22 March 2025

Raffaele is a knowledgeable and thoughtful guide. We had a great visit to Herculaneum thanks to his expertise.A Great Experience

Catherine

15 February 2025

We met Rafaelle at the site and found him to be extremely knowledgeable, easy to understand, and personable. He brought the city, and its unfortunate end, to life. Great tour, great guide.Excellent guide for ercolano

Amanda

15 February 2025

Raffaele was an excellent tour guide for our multi-generational group. From age 7 to 78. He was excellent with the kids but the adults also were engaged and we all learned a bunch! I'm so glad we decided to do a tour instead of trying to see Herculaneum on our own.Excellent tour!

Thomas🇺🇸 United States

8 February 2025

We had a delightful and informative visit to Herculaneum with Raffaele. He emphasized how tragic the eruption in 79 CE was for the residents, who fled to the water for safety. It was sad to see skeletons of bodies that were pushed into the walls by the sea. The temperature of the air was estimated to be so high that wooden beams all around the town turned to carbon rather than burning. We were surprised how many of the buildings were two stories. Raffaele showed us all the highlights of the ruins and wall paintings and mosaic fountains. It was fascinating to learn about the history and culture from a trained archaeologist. After the visit, he recommended we try a restaurant in Sorrento, so we headed there and had a lovely lunch at a seaside restaurant. Highly recommend a visit, tour or other heritage exploration with Raffaele. Informative visit with a true expert

Evan

24 December 2024

Raffaele was an outstanding guide. He orchestrated a thorough and thoughtful tour through Herculaneum that was expansive in overarching history and rich in the kind of detail that will make the site and the experience memorable for years to come. Outstanding

Bonnie🇫🇷 France

20 December 2024

Raffaele was a terrific guide for our visit to Pompei today. The site is so big, but by the end of our two-hour private tour, we had seen many important sites and learned a lot about the history of Pompei and the eruption of Vesuvius that preserved so much of the city. Raffaele was very much at ease with all the material, his archeology background and education (PhD) shining through. His presentation really made all the difference to us in making sense of the Pompei site and knowing where to look and what to find. We would highly recommend visiting Pompei with him!Terrific tour of Pompei

Chris🇺🇸 United States

14 November 2024

Raffaele was a true pleasure to work with and his knowledge was amazing. We learned so much, we had laughs and even some very somber moments. You can hear and see his passion for this piece of history and the people that lost their lives there. I would definitely recommend himAmazing and worth every penny

Philip

31 October 2024

Raffaele was the perfect guide, very knowledgeable and articulate. He paced the visit very well and gave a real sense of what life was like before and during the eruption of Vesuvius. Highly recommended Faultless

jana

27 October 2024

A very knowledgeable, great guideAmazong experience

Patricia🇺🇸 United States

23 October 2024

Raffaelle was an excellent guide for our small group of 3 for both Pompeii and Herculaneum . He is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about not only the archeological ruins but also the ancient Roman culture and civilizations, and the different impact the volcanic eruption had on both locations. The result was a fascinating presentation that was delivered in a respectful and compassionate manner. He was fluent in English, efficient making the best use of the time and was able to maneuver us smoothly around the large group tours.

Tom🇺🇸 United States

13 October 2024

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Raffaele. His knowledge regarding the circumstances of the burial was extensive. He answered all questions that we had and gave us a sense of the history of Herculaneum as well as the effort to excavate this treasure. We felt the personal touch as we were able to view mosaics and frescos and get a sense of the life as it was before the eruption at 79 AD. I would recommend him as a guide to either Herculaneum or Pompey. Herculaneum is less crowded, smaller and better preserved and therefore easier to navigate.California Couple at Herculaneum

David🇦🇺 Australia

18 September 2024

Two hour private tour of Herculaneum for two of us. Great communication from Raffaele leading up to the tour. His knowledge and insight definitely took our experience to the next level. Highly recommended!Herculaneum Private Tour

Anne 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

28 August 2024

Raffaele was a superb guide and our trip to Herculaneum would not have been as enjoyable without him. His knowledge is extensive and we came away feeling we had learnt so much about the eruption of Vesuvius and the devastating consequences for the people who lived there. Thank you Raffaele Brilliant Guide

Dom🇬🇧 United Kingdom

17 August 2024

We had a great tour of the site, Raffaele was very knowledgeable, and led us through the site. It was extremely hot in August, but all the family enjoyed the tourExcellent tour

Bonnie🇨🇦 Canada

1 August 2024

Raffaele was an incredible guide and source of knowledge. We were in awe of Herculaneum and all the extra information and Raffaele gave us. It was a fantastic experience -I would have been overwhelmed with everything to see had we not had Raffaele. Fantastic!

Joey & Beth🇺🇸 United States

12 July 2024

Raffaelle is very knowledgeable. A great storyteller and through these was able to make the story of Ercolano come to life. Great tour and information

Richard🇺🇸 United States

16 May 2024

Raffaele was very knowledgeable and personable. Pre-tour communication was prompt and efficient. Herculaneum, unlike Pompeii, is suited to a two hour tour. As an archeologist who has been involved in excavations, Raffaele offered great insight into the site. Highly recommend.Amazing place and great tour.

Christy🇺🇸 United States

7 August 2023

Raffaele was simply amazing. He engaged all members of our two families with teenagers and twentysomethings. A guide is necessary to get the most out of this site. His stories and information were so interesting and engaging. The 14 year said this was his favorite of the two weeks trip! Book a tour with Raffaele!Fantasticly informative

Neil🇦🇺 Australia

26 July 2023

Raffael was an exceptional guide, he was full of knowledge and passion. He was engaging, thorough and attentive during his tour. We highly recommend his service. If you want an authentic Neapolitan who knows his craft, he is your man. Raffael is an expert in his field.

Matt🇬🇧 United Kingdom

6 May 2023

Raffaele was the perfect tour guide, telling us the story of Herculanum and taking us to see the main parts of the site. He also gave us invaluable tips for visiting Naples (where to park, where to eat and what to see) which was a lovely bonus. Would recommend to anyone.Perfect tour of Herculanum

Sian🇦🇺 Australia

30 March 2023

We thoroughly enjoyed Herculaneum - although the site is smaller than Pompeii the ruins are much better preserved and the experience of seeing all of the mosaics and organic matter (bedframes, original wooden doors) in situ was really special. Raffaele was a fantastic guide - we really enjoyed his enthusiasm and would recommend this tour with Raffaele.Wonderful tour with great guide

Gina Salvatore🇫🇷 France

28 December 2022

Raffaele was absolutely wonderful in every way. He was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. He brought Herculaneum to life. You could see that he truly enjoys archaeology and history. It was the best tour ever!! We highly recommend him without any hesitation and will use him again in the future. The best guided tour we ever had!

rozzieann🇺🇸 United States

5 December 2022

Raffaele was punctual, informative, and charming. Good for a small group because he does have an accent, and you will want to be close. There were four of us, and we were fine. Not someplace you want to go without a guide.Wonderful tour with Raffaele

Elisabeth🇺🇸 United States

10 October 2022

I had a wonderful two-hour visit to Herculaneum with Raffaele. He’s very engaging and does a wonderful job of setting the scene for the events of 79 AD. I loved the additional context he gave to the site, the events of that terrible day, and how people lived in that community, so many years ago. It’s a remarkable site. Raffaele graciously answered all of my many, many questions—on or off-topic. Treat yourself to a lively visit through history with a friendly and knowledgeable guide.A lovely and informative stroll

Andrew🇦🇺 Australia

19 August 2022

Raffaele is an extraordinary guide. Not only is he super knowledgeable about all things archaeology and anthropology, but he brings the city of Herculaneum to life, transporting you back to Roman times and inserting you into the fabric of daily life as it was, He conveys the experience of the volcanic eruption — what it looked like, what emotions were felt, how people reacted, what happened next. It is as though you are there. He also helped us navigate an aggressive taxi driver, he coordinated all logistics on-site (baggage storage, ticket purchase, money changing, drink buying), and he assisted us with transport arrangements back to Naples. He is personable, helpful, knowledgeable, and engaging. It was a captivating experience, and I cannot recommend Raffaele highly enough. Exceptional experience

Michelle🇺🇸 United States

1 August 2022

We had a great tour of Herculaneum with Raffaele. Unfortunately our train was delayed, but Raffaele ensured we were able to see the highlights during our time together. Raffaele not only has a lot of knowledge about Herculaneum, but he is also a very engaging speaker and was patient with the kids in our group.

Keith🇺🇸 United States

30 July 2022

Raffaele was terrific in all respects. He responded quickly to inquiries before the tour. He was flexible. Upon meeting him he was gracious and welcoming - it felt like we were meeting a friend. He was knowledgeable and made the tour very interesting. We highly recommend Raffaele. Great Tour

Ann-Marie🇺🇸 United States

17 July 2022

Raffaele met us in front of the ticket office and directed us where to purchase tickets. Only recommendation would be to hold a sign with participant’s name for easy and seamless locating. Raffaele was very knowledgeable and gave us a personalized, private tour. I felt like we got much more out of the area than we would have without a private guide. Best way to see and gain information with limited time.Private Herculaneum Tour

Lisa🇺🇸 United States

17 July 2022

❤️ we worked with Raphael for over two hours in Hercules we found him to be most knowledgeable pleasant and spoke terrific English he gave us insights and observations that few would otherwise experience could not recommend him more highly in fact after the tour he recommended a restaurant downtown Saint Napoli that was absolutely extraordinary song five stars for this young man hard-working and a smart guy

jerry🇲🇾 Malaysia

13 July 2022

Raffaele was a very knowledgeable and passionate guide.herculeum

Ellen🇺🇸 United States

26 June 2022

Raffaele was a fabulous guide. As an archaeologist who works in the region, he had incredible knowledge of both Pompeii and Herculaneum. He provided a great experience for our family -- 2 parents and 3 young adults. I highly recommend him as a guide for this amazing site.Amazing guide for Hercluaneum

David🇬🇧 United Kingdom

6 June 2022

We had originally planned to visit Herculaneum but it was closed that day, so Raffaele suggested Pompeii and I'm so glad he did. Pompeii is a truly amazing place, so well preserved and epically vast. So vast infact that we would have been lost without Raffaele. Raffaele showed us (just my family, 2 adults 2 kids) all the most important and impressive places in pompeii. He was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and funny, which bought this ancient ruined city to life. he showed us things we would otherwise have completely overlooked, he told us such facts that wouldn't have never occurred to us (like how they figured out pompeii had a 1 way system road network or how to order a prostitute at the bath house 🤯 🤣) he was GREAT! with my kids, answering all there slightly odd and often completely unrelated questions. If you do only one thing in Naples make it this! There are probably cheaper tours, where you will be in a group of 30+ people being hustled around listening to a crackling radio not really getting to see everything as well as you can (we saw plenty of these tours happening). But Raffaele was a spectacular tour guide who made an incredible place even more amazing and was worth every penny. I can't recommend this highly enough. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤pompeii with Raffaele = Amazing!!!

Wilma🇺🇸 United States

3 June 2022

Raffaele was personable and extremely knowledgeable. He made our tour both interactive and interesting. His passion for what he does was evident and he is a master in his position. I wouldn’t hesitate to refer him to anyone!Wonderful and informative

Sarah🇬🇧 United Kingdom

1 June 2022

Raffaele was a brilliant guide - friendly, knowledgable and intuitive. He showed us the highlights of Herculaneum and brought the place to life with his expert knowledge. He helped us imagine what the city would have been like to live in millennia ago.Herculaneum highlights

Unknown

14 May 2022

We had an amazing tour with Raffaele. He was very personable and very informative. He took his time to explain the different sites and answered all our questions. I would definitely recommend Raffaele as your tour guide.Our Experience with Raffaele

Meredith🇺🇸 United States

27 October 2021

Booking a tour to Herculaneum was one of my ‘must do’ activities for our first time trip to Italy. I knew I wanted to have a private guide, and I also knew I wanted an archeologist to help bring the past to life. Riccardo filled in for Raffaele due to a conflict, so because I didn’t know anything about him beforehand, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had absolutely nothing to worry about. Riccardo was a wonderful guide and exceeded our expectations with his detailed history and stories about Herculaneum. The two hours with him went by so quickly for us, because of his knowledge and often funny way he had of sharing facts (ask about his ancient mulled wine recipes!). His English is impeccable and he is extremely kind. I highly recommend Riccardo for a Herculaneum tour. There’s just no way you’ll be able to understand all the details without a tour guide, and Riccardo will not disappoint you! Riccardo filled in, and he was fantastic!

Cornelia🇩🇪 Germany

20 October 2021

Raffaele showed me some of the highlights of Pompeii - it's so big, you cannot do it in one day. He showed me all the places I was interested in, pointed out the Pompeian Red, and of course my Domus :-). Thank you so much!Most beautiful place in the world

Mariana🇩🇪 Germany

27 July 2021

Our tour with Raffaele was exceptional. Not only is he very knowledgeable and friendly, he has a deep passion and respect for the site we visited. If you're planning on visiting Ercolano, make sure you go with Raffaele because there's so much to learn and the site itself has little to no explanations. We really enjoyed our tour with him, and I'm sure you would too. Book it!

colin🇬🇧 United Kingdom

15 June 2021

Raffaele was excellent. He got everything right. Enthusiastic, knowledgable and just the correct pace. We learned a lot but didn’t feel lectured. We were a ‘mixed’ group in terms of age, my wife and I and our 19 year old daughter but he could relate to us all and made the visits interesting and fun. Raffaele also helped us with a visit, taxi and dinner arrangements in Capri and Naples. That help was invaluable. Thank you Raffaele.Fantastic visit to Pompei and Herculaneum

Samantha

23 June 2025

I’ve been looking forward to experiencing Pompeii for my entire life. Raf met and exceeded all our expectations. We booked a private transport from Sorrento, tour of Pompeii, lunch at a local winery, and subsequent tour of Herculaneum. We started with a pick up that was slightly delayed due to a traffic accident, but everyone worked with us, communicating multiple times to adjust our tours and lunch reservations. Raf had our tickets and we breezed through the line easily. He began our tour like a story teller, making certain we understood both the significance of the site and the history of the surrounding region. It was clear from the onset that Raf not only had a wealth of information to impart but was passionate about his subject. He answered all of our questions thoughtfully and expounded on several areas we were interested in. My only complaint was that that we only had two hours to explore, we certainly needed two weeks and will be back!! The frescos, shops, fountains, stepping stones, orchards, and gardens were just other worldly to see. Raf really brought the previously bustling city to life for us. Lunch was incredible with food and wine from the local winery. The founders grandson took care of us and was happy to tell us the history of the winery as well as the significance of each bottle we tasted. Raf then took us to Herculaneum for a continued picture of the time period of the Vesuvius eruption. Again his compassion and humanity were prominent in his tour. He spoke with care and reverence of the people who perished and who might have survived. Showing us delicate mosaics, architecture, and other Roman creations like sloped roads and areas for baths, shops, and private gardens. The entire day was truly once in a lifetime. I would highly recommend to anyone in the area! The most amazing day!

Madeline🇨🇦 Canada

21 June 2025

We had an absolutely wonderful time with Raffaele! Our tour of Pompeii and the museum was not only fascinating but also incredibly educational. Raffaele's enthusiasm truly captivated us, making the hours fly by. Having experienced many tours before, I can confidently say this one ranks among the very best. A huge thank you to Raffaele—I'll be sure to recommend him to anyone looking for a remarkable experience!Favourite Tour

Unknown

14 June 2025

Raffaele knows everything and can explain every detail. The tour was very informative and moving. We learnt a lot and will remember the trip with Raffaele fondly. It was great!Raffaele is the best tour guide

AMIE🇺🇸 United States

31 May 2025

Our tour with Raffaele was wonderful! He is so knowledgeable and engaged us the entire tour. Would highly recommend booking with Raffaele. His experience with Roman history is unmatched! Loved every moment and learned so much! Must do while in Pompeii!

Roxanne

15 May 2025

Raffaele was a wonderful guide. He was flexible and easy to communicate with in the planning stages. He met us promptly at the meeting point. Unfortunately there were 5 cruise ships in Naples port, but he made us feel like we were there with just our group. He navigated the ruins like a pro. He is knowledgeable and friendly and it was also interesting hearing about his experience as an archeologist. I recommend him as a guide and his tours. A Morning in Pompeii