Everything you need to know about visiting the crater of Mount Vesuvius.
Our firsthand experience includes how to visit Mount Vesuvius, advice on getting there and transportation, tickets, and everything else you need to climb the volcano.
The Best Way to Visit Mount Vesuvius
⭐️ How we did it: Comfortable bus transfer with Vesuvio Express, including entry tickets.
What you’ll need to visit the volcano:
* A ticket for the National Park (must be booked in advance and brought with you).
* An online parking reservation in case you plan to park at the lower parking lot yourself.
⭐️ Good to know: Tickets for access to Mount Vesuvius are limited per day. We recommend purchasing them in advance.
How to Get to Vesuvius
There are several ways to reach the summit of Mount Vesuvius.
Depending on where your journey begins, here are your options:
From Naples to Vesuvius
We spent several days in Naples and started our excursions to Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii, and Herculaneum from there.
Since we weren’t on a Southern Italy road trip this time and traveled through Italy by train, booking an organized tour was the easiest option for visiting Mount Vesuvius.
After doing a lot of research, I decided to book a bus transfer that included tickets online. The starting and ending point for the trip to the crater was near Naples’ train station.
We booked this bus transfer with entry tickets in advance through Tiqets. (Tickets via GetYourGuide and Viator were sold out at that time.) It was the most comfortable, easiest, and fastest option.
From Herculaneum to Mount Vesuvius
From Herculaneum, which is close to Naples, booking a bus transfer is also the easiest way to visit the volcano. The bus conveniently takes you up to the parking lot.
You can also book an organized day tour from Naples that includes both Mount Vesuvius and Herculaneum instead of managing train and bus travel on your own.
> TOUR TO HERCULANEUM AND MOUNT VESUVIUS
From Pompeii to Vesuvius
Pompeii is one of the best things to see in Italy and one of the most visited historical places.
From Pompeii, buses can easily take you to the parking lot near the entrance of Vesuvius National Park.
There are even combined day tours that include Pompeii and a visit to Mount Vesuvius.
> TOUR WITH POMPEII AND MOUNT VESUVIUS
Visit Vesuvius by Car
If you’re driving in Italy as a tourist to Mount Vesuvius, take the Torre del Greco or Ercolano exit and follow the signs for “Vesuvio.”
Be aware that some roads are very narrow, and buses often come from the opposite direction.
The parking lot is 2,625 feet (800 meters) above sea level and must be reserved online in advance.
From this monitored parking area, you can either walk (not recommended) or take a shuttle bus (€2) up to the entrance at 3,280 feet (1,000 meters).
How Much Does It Cost to Climb Mount Vesuvius?
– The Vesuvius National Park entry fee is €10 (adults) or €8 (students).
– Shuttle bus from parking lot: €2 per person (if driving).
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Can You Hike Mount Vesuvius?
Yes, you can hike Mount Vesuvius from the base; however, most of the trail follows narrow and busy roads with lots of buses, motorcycles, and cars.
For this reason, we don’t recommend starting your hike from below.
We took a bus transfer directly to the upper parking lot at 3,280 feet (1,000 meters). From there, we explored Mount Vesuvius on our own.
Walking Up Vesuvius
From the upper parking lot—where your National Park entry ticket is checked—it’s a steady 0.7-mile (1.1 kilometer) hike uphill with an elevation gain of 505 feet (154 meters).
This trail leads directly to the crater rim of Mount Vesuvius.
The path is rocky and dusty; we recommend wearing lightweight hiking shoes or sneakers with good soles.
Along the trail, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of Naples and the surrounding National Park.
A souvenir shop is located along the route, and you’ll find information about the National Park and the volcano.
Upon reaching the crater rim for the first time, you’ll be amazed by how massive it is!
You can walk about halfway around the crater rim while gazing into its depths or enjoying views of the Gulf of Naples.
The path always follows along the edge of the crater rim. During our visit, we could even see smoke rising from inside!
At one end of the accessible path, we stopped at a small stand where we ordered local wine while admiring views of the bay, Capri Island, Ischia Island, Procida Island, and even toward the Amalfi Coast.
⭐️ Good to know: You cannot walk around the entire crater rim—only about half is accessible. For us, this was more than enough; even walking just half felt fulfilling.
After two hours total at Mount Vesuvius—including hiking up and down and taking breaks—we returned promptly to catch our return bus transfer back to Naples.
How long does it take to climb Mount Vesuvius?
From the top parking spot, it takes you about 20 minutes to climb to Mount Vesuvius.
Is Visiting Mount Vesuvius Worth It?
Absolutely! Visiting Mount Vesuvius was one of our travel highlights during our trip to Naples.
The view from its crater rim into its enormous depths, combined with panoramic vistas over the Gulf of Naples, makes it an unforgettable experience.
From here you can see why Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed when Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD.
If you want a stress-free visit without worrying about figuring out public transportation (I spent hours researching but found few good tips), we highly recommend booking a bus transfer with an entry ticket online in advance.
Final Thoughts About Visiting Vesuvius Volcano
When visiting Napoli, you should definitely plan to see Mount Vesuvius. It offers a deeper understanding of the eruption that led to the downfall of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
To enhance your comfort, think about reserving a bus transfer, just as we did.
It’s easier than figuring out how to get there by public transportation, and you will have more time to explore hidden gems like the historical sites and Naples.
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