Map of Pompeii, Herculaneum & Vesuvius
One eruption, two buried cities, and the volcano that did it. Here's how Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius sit on the map — and how to plan a trip around all three.
In AD 79 a single eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried two Roman towns — but they’re surprisingly different to visit, and they’re not next to each other. This map shows how Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius relate, so you can decide what to fit in and where to base yourself.
Pompeii or Herculaneum — or both?
The short version: Pompeii is scale, Herculaneum is preservation. Pompeii is vast (about 66 hectares) — the sweep of a whole city, the casts, the big set-pieces. Herculaneum is maybe a third of the size but buried differently (by hot mud and gas, not ash), so upper floors, wooden fixtures and even carbonised food survived. Many visitors find Herculaneum more intimate and less crowded; Pompeii more epic. If you can, do both — they complement rather than repeat each other, as our Pompeii vs Herculaneum guide explains.
Adding Vesuvius
Standing on the crater rim is what makes the whole story click — you see exactly how the volcano loomed over both towns. The most efficient way to combine the ruins with the summit is a Pompeii + Vesuvius day trip from Naples, which handles the transport between them.
Where to base yourself
Most visitors stay in Naples (the hub, with direct trains and tours to all three) or Sorrento (coastal, with its own line to Pompeii). From either, each site is a day-trip — see how to get to Pompeii. Once you’re on-site, the map of Pompeii itself shows where everything is, and a guide is what brings it to life.
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Tap an area below (or a coloured pin) to light it up — the rest stay as dots. Click any pin for details, or ◉ Locate on a card to fly the map to it. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Vesuvius buried two Roman towns in 79 AD — and they're very different to visit. Pompeii is scale; Herculaneum is preservation.
Standing on the crater rim is what makes the eruption make sense.
Most visitors stay in Naples or Sorrento and day-trip to the sites.
See these sites with an archaeologist
Pompeii has almost no signage on the ground — this map helps you orient, but a working archaeologist is what turns the ruins into a city you can read.
Book a Pompeii archaeologist tour →Planning the rest of your visit? See how long you need, the opening hours, how to get there, and whether Pompeii is worth it.
Pompeii, Herculaneum & Vesuvius — Map FAQ
Different, not better. Pompeii is scale (a whole 66-hectare city and the casts); Herculaneum is preservation (smaller, but with surviving upper floors, wood and even carbonised food). Many do both — see our Pompeii vs Herculaneum guide.
They cluster on the east side of the Bay of Naples. Herculaneum sits closer to Naples; Pompeii is a bit further south-east; Vesuvius rises between and above them. The map above shows the layout — all three are reachable as day trips from Naples or Sorrento.
Yes — the crater rim is a short coach ride plus a roughly 30-minute gravel walk from Pompeii. The simplest way to combine them is a Pompeii + Vesuvius day trip that handles the transfer; the summit can close in bad weather.
Naples is the hub (direct trains and day tours to all three sites); Sorrento is the scenic coastal alternative with its own Circumvesuviana line to Pompeii. Either works as a day-trip base — see how to get to Pompeii.