How to Climb Mount Vesuvius: Everything You Need to Know

What You Need to Know About Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius is the only active volcano on the European mainland.

Sure, there are other active volcanoes in Europe: Mount Etna on Sicily, and Iceland has several — but those are all islands.

The last eruption was in 1944 and created the current crater. It wasn’t nearly as destructive as the most famous one 2,000 years ago, when Vesuvius completely buried Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Vesuvius currently stands 1,281 meters tall, and from the top you get a breathtaking view of the Gulf of Naples.

Currently? Well, that’s its height until it erupts again — then it’ll need to be measured all over again!

The entire volcano is part of the Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio, one of Italy’s 25 national parks.

Vesuvius Map

Vesuvius is just outside the city limits of Naples.

On this map we’ve marked all the important reference points for you:

• the train station Ercolano Scavi, if you’re arriving by public transit,
• the parking lot, if you’re arriving by car
• and the hiking trail from the ticket booth to the crater.

Further below we’ll explain in more detail how to reach the crater depending on your mode of transportation.

Vesuvius Tickets

Vesuvius tickets cost 18 euros and can be purchased online only.

You can either buy them bundled into a bus or tour ticket, or separately — for example, if you’re arriving by car.

Make sure to sort out your tickets in advance, because cell reception up top isn’t great and trying to buy them on the spot will be a real struggle.

On top of that, there are only a limited number of tickets available per day. We’d recommend booking your Vesuvius tickets a few days ahead of time.

During peak season, aim for a few weeks in advance.

Is Climbing Vesuvius Safe?

Climbing Mount Vesuvius doesn’t carry any real risk. The volcano doesn’t just erupt without warning.
Because the area around the volcano is densely populated, seismic activity is closely monitored by several measuring stations.
An eruption would give a few days’ notice in advance — through earthquakes or deformation of the earth’s crust, for example. As soon as any early signs appeared, the national park would be closed.

There are four different alert levels, ranging from green to red. You can check the current level on the website of the Vesuvius Observatory.

Climbing Vesuvius: How to Get to the Crater

You can get up Vesuvius by bus, by your own car, or even on foot.

But no matter how you want to climb Vesuvius: from the ticket checkpoint at around 1,000 meters elevation, you can only continue on foot.

You then walk about half an hour uphill on an unpaved path until you reach the top of the crater. So make sure to wear sturdy shoes!

Here’s how you can get to the top:

Vesuvius Tour Bus - Most Convenient

The most convenient option is a private tour bus that picks you up in Naples, takes you up to Vesuvius, and brings you back again.

Several operators offer this. The tour buses depart multiple times a day from the main train station Garibaldi and get you to the ticket checkpoint at 1,000 meters within 45 minutes. From there you continue on foot to the crater.

Up top you’ll have 1–2 hours before you need to head back to the bus. A tour like this from Naples takes about 3–4 hours in total.

Book the transfer from Naples including Vesuvius admission

Vesuvius by Bus and Train - Most Affordable

The most affordable way to visit Mount Vesuvius is by train and bus.

From Naples’ main train station, take the somewhat run-down, non-air-conditioned local train Circumvesuviana, which connects Naples with the towns around Vesuvius.

There are several lines — you need the Circumvesuviana heading toward Sorrento and get off at the Ercolano Scavi stop.

Note: The Circumvesuviana doesn’t always stop at Ercolano — sometimes the stop is skipped. Be sure to check the timetable beforehand.

The ticket from Naples to Ercolano costs a few euros and can only be purchased at the ticket counter at the station.

Right outside the Ercolano Scavi station, the shuttle bus Vesuvio Express departs and takes you to the Vesuvius ticket checkpoint in about 30 minutes. From there you continue on foot.

A round-trip ticket including admission to the Vesuvius National Park costs around 30 euros. You’ll have two hours at the crater, after which the shuttle heads back down to Ercolano.

At the Ercolano station there’s a Vesuvio Express ticket counter where you can buy tickets.

During peak season, though, we’d recommend booking online in advance — Vesuvius tickets sell out fast:

Book the Vesuvio Express ticket including Vesuvius admission

Vesuvius by Car - Most Independent

Even though having your own car gives you a lot of freedom, in our opinion it’s the worst option for visiting Vesuvius.

Setting aside the fact that traffic in and around Naples is pure chaos — private cars aren’t even allowed all the way up to the ticket checkpoint. Only tour buses and national park buses are.

You have to leave your car halfway up at a parking lot and continue by shuttle bus. Parking costs 6 euros per day, and the shuttle bus costs a few additional euros. You can reserve a parking spot on the official website.

Alternatively, you can walk up from the parking lot — that would take around 1–2 hours.

The only real advantage of going by car is that you can stay at the crater as long as you like — or at least until the national park closes.

Vesuvius and Pompeii Day Trip: Our Experience

We visited Pompeii and Vesuvius on the same day on an organized tour.

You board a small tour bus in Naples that takes you first to Vesuvius and then to Pompeii. Lunch at a restaurant is included.

There are no guided tours on-site, but the driver is very friendly and happy to share information along the way.

We’d especially recommend this tour if you only have one day. You don’t have to worry about logistics and you get to see two of Naples’ top highlights in a single day.

That said, you do cover everything at a quick pace. You get two hours for Vesuvius and three for Pompeii.

Two hours on Vesuvius is plenty for the hike and a walk around the crater, but three hours for Pompeii is definitely not much. To see everything properly, you’d want at least a full day there.

So if you can, set aside a full day for Pompeii.

If that’s not possible, book this tour. You’ll get to look into the crater of Vesuvius and tick off at least the most important highlights of Pompeii.

Book the Vesuvius and Pompeii day trip (this is the one we did!)

Vesuvius Hike

There are 11 hiking trails on Vesuvius, but not all of them are open at all times.

Your best bet is to check in advance on the official national park website.

All hiking trails go around Vesuvius rather than to the crater. However, some trails connect with the paved road that leads to the ticket checkpoint, which is how you can reach the crater.

The longest trail is over 14 kilometers and is called Strada Matrone.

One of the most famous is the trail through the Valley of Hell, Valle dell’Inferno.

It starts in the town of Ottaviano and winds 12 kilometers around the volcano.

Things to Keep in Mind When Visiting Vesuvius

Here are a few practical tips for hiking Mount Vesuvius:

Bring a Layer to Put On

We visited in September, and while it was 22°C (72°F) in Naples, it was only 13°C (55°F) on Vesuvius — and seriously windy. We were very glad we’d packed our sweaters.

Bring a Water Bottle and Sun Hat

From the ticket booth to the crater, the path goes steeply uphill with absolutely no shade. In summer, a sun hat and a water bottle are essential. There is a snack bar with drinks up at the crater, but you have to get there first.

You Need Sturdy Shoes

The path to the crater is unpaved and goes over rocks and loose gravel. You don’t necessarily need hiking boots, but sturdy sneakers are a must. Sandals are really not a good idea here.

Check the Weather Forecast Before Climbing Vesuvius

In bad weather, the national park may close — especially in heavy rain. So check your weather app before heading out.

Frequently Asked Questions About Climbing Vesuvius