The easiest way to reach Herculaneum is by the Circumvesuviana regional train. From Naples Piazza Garibaldi (the main train station), take the line towards Sorrento and alight at Ercolano Scavi — the journey takes about 20 minutes. Trains also run from Sorrento in the other direction, making it straightforward to visit Herculaneum from either end of the bay.
From Ercolano Scavi station, the site entrance is a short walk downhill — follow the signs for the Parco Archeologico di Ercolano. The descent takes around five minutes on foot.
Many visitors combine Herculaneum with Pompeii in a single day. Because Herculaneum is smaller and typically less crowded, it works well as either a morning warm-up or an afternoon addition after Pompeii. The Circumvesuviana connects the two sites directly — Pompeii Scavi–Villa dei Misteri is a few stops further along the same line.