From October to December 2026, weekly Saturday tours offer a chance to explore the restoration site of the best-preserved thermal complex of the Roman world. Reservations open on Tuesday, September 29.
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 Archaeological Park of Herculaneum. This new series of tours allows the public to get an up-close look at both the site’s spaces and the ongoing conservation work while the project nears completion. Following the success of previous editions, the initiative returns, offering an exclusive opportunity to explore a site that played a pivotal role in Roman daily life. Tours of the Suburban Baths restoration site will take place every Saturday, utilizing a controlled-access system to ensure a thorough and safe experience; groups—limited to a maximum of 15 participants equipped with safety helmets—will be accompanied by Park staff, with additional information accessible via QR codes.
“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
Reservations open on Tuesday, September 29, 2026: tickets are available 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.