From October to December 2026, weekly Saturday tours offer a chance to explore the restoration site of the best-preserved thermal complex in the Roman world. Tickets go on sale on Tuesday, September 29.
The 2026 edition of *Gli Ozi di Ercole* has successfully concluded; the event—held from September 10 to 12—brought the Ancient Beach of the Herculaneum Archaeological Park to life with dramatic readings and musical performances. Curated by Gennaro Carillo, the program featured participants such as Lucia Mascino, Laura Pepe, Isabella Ragonese, Carmen Gallo, Silvia Romani, Federica Fracassi, Ambrogio Sparagna, Raffaello Simeoni, and Carlo Boccadoro, alongside a concert by Francesco Di Bella. Once again, a large audience attended the event across all three evenings, drawing a total of over 700 spectators. The Park is now preparing to welcome the public for a new series of guided tours of the restoration site at the Suburban Baths.
Guided visits to the restoration site of the Suburban Baths—one of the ancient city’s most fascinating and best-preserved buildings—are resuming at the Herculaneum Archaeological Park. This is not yet the permanent reopening of the monument, but rather a new series of guided tours that allow the public to get an up-close look at both the spaces themselves and the ongoing conservation work while the project is being completed. Following the positive reception of previous editions, the project returns, offering an exclusive opportunity to explore one of the sites that best illustrates daily life in the Roman era. Tours will take place every Saturday, utilizing a controlled-access system that ensures a thorough and completely safe experience: groups of up to 15 participants will be accompanied by Park staff, with supplementary information accessible via QR code. As this is an active work site, visitors will be required to wear protective helmets throughout the tour, which lasts approximately one hour.
“This new series of visits to the Suburban Baths restoration site offers a significant opportunity to bring the public closer to an extraordinary space—currently undergoing intensive restoration—that is rich in evidence regarding the private and social life of ancient Herculaneum. Guiding visitors through these areas while awaiting their permanent reopening means providing an authentic, engaging educational experience rooted in respect for and the preservation of a heritage unique in the world.”
declares Federica Colaiacomo, Director of the Archaeological Park of Herculaneum.
The Suburban Baths: the best-preserved bath complex of the Roman world.
Identified in 1940 and only partially excavated until 1948—due to the war and the presence of groundwater—the building was fully uncovered between 1957 and 1958, with the excavation of the seaward frontage completed in 1973. The original core likely dates back to the Augustan age; following the earthquake of 62 AD, the complex was expanded to include the large hall of the so-called “Samovar,” which featured a rare water-heating system.
Nestled between the ancient shoreline and the city walls—at the foot of luxurious seaside *domus*—the baths were originally conceived as a private facility for the Nonii Balbi family before being opened to the community. The visitor route passes through the *Frigidarium*, richly decorated with marble and frescoes; the Hall of the Warriors (*Tepidarium*), featuring famous stucco figures of seven warriors; the *Calidarium*, with its elegant *labrum* (basin) of *cipollino* marble—toppled by the violence of the AD 79 eruption; and the Great *Calidarium* with its *natatio* (heated pool)—warmed via a “samovar” system and featuring a ceiling decorated with strigil-patterned stucco. Polychrome marble floors, exquisite stucco work and paintings, and exceptionally well-preserved original wooden doors make this complex unique within the archaeological landscape.
Closed to the public for over twenty years, the Suburban Baths can now be visited as part of a restoration project made possible by a conservation program—developed through a public-private partnership with the Packard Humanities Institute, active in Herculaneum since 2001, and continued since 2010 by the Herculaneum Conservation Project. The complex contributes to the Outstanding Universal Values that led to the inclusion of Herculaneum—alongside Pompeii and Oplontis—on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and it is integrated into the *Ercolano Digitale* app, which offers multimedia content and personalized tour itineraries.
Schedule and visiting shifts
October: Saturday, October 10, 24, and 31, 2026
November: Saturdays, November 7, 14, 21, and 28, 2026
December: Saturday, December 5 and 12, 2026
Morning: 9:30 (tour in Italian) · 10:30 (tour in English) · 11:30 (tour in Italian)
Afternoon: 14:30 (tour in Italian) · 15:30 (tour in English) · 16:30 (tour in Italian — special session available only on October 10, then suspended upon the start of the winter schedule)
Groups of up to 15 participants meet at the meeting point by the Terrace of Marcus Nonius Balbus. The tour lasts approximately one hour.
Tickets and reservations
Tickets will go on sale on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, online and at the box office.
Combined ticket (Archaeological Park + Suburban Baths): €21.00
EU and non-EU citizens (subject to reciprocity) aged 18 to 25: promotional combined ticket for €7.00
Free admission for those under 18 (children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult) and for individuals exempt by law.
Online and ticket office bookings via CoopCulture and the official channels of the Archaeological Park of Herculaneum.
