Mount Vesuvius Tours & Tickets
Bay of Naples · Campania

Mount Vesuvius Tours

Mount Vesuvius tours take you to the rim of the only active volcano on mainland Europe — the crater that buried Pompeii in AD 79, reached on a short, steep walk from a road end at a thousand metres, with the whole Bay of Naples opening up behind you.

Check availability Plan your visit
  • 1,281 mSummit elevation
  • AD 79The eruption that buried Pompeii
  • From $18Crater tickets
  • Skip-the-line park entry
  • Free cancellation on most trips
  • Departures from five towns
  • No booking fees

Hours, prices and access verified by the Mount Vesuvius tours team — last checked 12 August 2026.

Updated: 12 August 2026
Most booked

Top Mount Vesuvius Tours for 2026

Three trips that answer three different questions: the volcano on its own, the volcano for the least money, and the volcano paired with the ruins it buried.

A guided group climbing the cone of Mount VesuviusSmall group

Mount Vesuvius Crater Tour from Pompeii with Hiking Guide

★4.8230 reviews3 hours1 hour 30 minutes at the volcano

Meet at Porta Marina Superiore beside the Pompeii excavations and ride by shared minibus to the trailhead at a thousand metres. A licensed guide leads this Mount Vesuvius walking tour along the Gran Cono path to the crater rim, with skip-the-line park admission and transport included. An hour and a half at the top beats most combination days, and with the group capped at fourteen you can actually ask questions on the path. Best for anyone who has already walked the ruins and wants the volcano on its own.

  • Licensed hiking guide
  • Park ticket included
  • Max 14
From $76per personView detailsBook now
Walkers on the summit path of Mount VesuviusTicket + transport

Mount Vesuvius Bus, Ticket & Audio Guide from Naples

★4.344 reviews3 to 4 hours2 hours at the volcano

Collect your bus ticket, park entry and smart audio guide at the agency desk inside Naples Centrale, then ride straight to the road end at a thousand metres. This is the cheapest Vesuvius volcano tour on the page: admission and transport in one booking, roughly two hours on the mountain, no fixed group to keep up with. Download the audio content before leaving the city, because the signal on the cone is unreliable. Best for independent walkers who only need the ticket and the journey solved.

  • Skip-the-line entry
  • Bus from Naples
  • Smart audio guide
From $34per personView detailsBook now
Mount Vesuvius seen across the ruins of PompeiiPriority access

Priority Access Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Tour from Sorrento

★4.61,515 reviews8 hours2 hours at the volcano

Travel from central Sorrento by air-conditioned coach for a guided walk through Pompeii, taking in the forum, the Stabian Baths and the House of the Faun. This Pompeii and Vesuvius tour from Sorrento then climbs for two full hours at the crater, with priority admission to both sites and headphones for the larger group. Two hours on the volcano is generous where sixty to seventy-five minutes is the norm. Lunch is a free hour at your own expense, taken between the two halves.

  • Priority Pompeii entry
  • Official guide
  • Both tickets included
From $83per personView detailsBook now

See every Mount Vesuvius tour and ticket

Why book with us

Why book your Mount Vesuvius tour here

Every option here is a real, bookable trip to the crater, compared side by side on the things that actually decide a good day out.

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Best guides

See Mount Vesuvius with a licensed mountain guide or an archaeologist who knows the ground — the people travellers name by name in their reviews, year after year.

✓

Book with confidence

Every trip here is compared on price, duration and time at the crater, so you can choose in one place. Free cancellation on most tours, and no booking fees on top.

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Experience of a lifetime

Stand on the rim of an active volcano with the Bay of Naples spread out below and Pompeii ten kilometres away — and leave knowing you saw it the right way.

Visit ItalyTripadvisor Travellers' Choice
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on most tours listed here — a couple of tickets carry different terms, so check the cancellation line on the trip you pick.
The full line-up

All Mount Vesuvius Tours & Tickets

Beyond the three above you will find Mount Vesuvius guided tours, crater-only walks, full days paired with Pompeii, a ride through the vineyards, and Mount Vesuvius tickets sold on their own from $18.

The crater rim of Mount Vesuvius above the Bay of Naples

Skip-the-Line Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Tour from Naples

★4.7764 reviews8 hours2 hours at the volcano

Board an air-conditioned coach in central Naples for a guided walk through Pompeii’s cobbled streets, marketplaces and theatres, then climb for two hours at the crater. Priority access to both sites comes with this day tour of Pompeii and Vesuvius, and headphones carry the guide across a group of thirty. A free hour for lunch sits between the halves. Meets beside Naples Centrale, and food and drink are at your own expense throughout the day.

  • Priority access
  • Guide in Pompeii
  • Stroller friendly
From $108per personBook now
Vineyards on the fertile slopes of Mount VesuviusLunch included

Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Day Tour with Lunch from Naples

★4.73,284 reviews8 hours2 hours at the volcano

Start with pickup from a central Naples hotel or the cruise terminal, then explore Pompeii for two hours with a professional archaeologist covering the thermal baths, the Basilica and the House of the Faun. Lunch follows, and the tasting option turns this into a Vesuvius wine tour as well as a crater day — you choose which at checkout. The afternoon climbs to the trail for two hours on the volcano, admission included. Expect loose gravel underfoot; gratuities and premium wines cost extra.

  • Lunch included
  • Archaeologist guide
  • Hotel pickup
From $112per personBook now
Aerial view of the Mount Vesuvius craterVolcano first

Mount Vesuvius Hike & Pompeii Small-Group Tour from Naples

★4.588 reviews7 hours1 hour 30 minutes at the volcano

Climb the crater first on this one, while the morning air is still cool, then walk Pompeii with an archaeologist after lunch. The Mount Vesuvius half runs on an audio guide with a tour leader on hand; the Pompeii half covers the forum, the Lupanar and the Teatro Grande with a live guide. Round-trip minibus transport from Naples and admission to both sites are included, group capped at sixteen. A sound pick if you are visiting in July or August.

  • Volcano first
  • Skip-the-line Pompeii
  • Max 16
From $99per personBook now
The Gran Cono trail climbing towards the Mount Vesuvius craterSmall group

Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Small-Group Tour with Archaeologist

★4.7275 reviews8 hours2 hours at the volcano

Two specialists share this day tour of Pompeii and Vesuvius: an archaeologist for two hours inside the excavations, then a licensed hiking guide for the ascent to the crater. Minibus transfers link the halves and the group caps at fourteen, keeping the pace conversational rather than loudspeaker-led. Admission to both sites is covered and you get two hours at the top. Children under six are not admitted, and food between the halves is at your own expense.

  • Max 14 travellers
  • Archaeologist
  • Hiking guide
From $116per personBook now
Inside the crater of Mount Vesuvius

Full-Day Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Tour from Sorrento

★4.712 reviews7 hours2 hours at the volcano

A full day from Piazza Angelina Lauro, opening with a two-hour guided walk through Pompeii past the Basilica, the forum, the Thermopolium and the House of Menander. The Vesuvius half runs an hour and a half on a multilingual audio guide rather than with a live guide. Entry to both sites is bundled in, transport is by air-conditioned minivan, and infant seats can be requested. Lunch is not included, so bring something for the gap in your day.

  • Infant seats
  • Multilingual audio
  • Max 20
From $123per personBook now
Mount Vesuvius rising above the Bay of NaplesTop rated

Mount Vesuvius Horseback Ride Through the Vineyards

★5.0149 reviews2 hours2 hours at the volcano

Swap the crater path for a saddle and spend an hour on marked trails through vineyards and old lava ground at five hundred metres, the bay opening below you. Helmets, bottled water and return transport from Pompei are included, and a short briefing means no riding experience is needed. Groups cap at eight, so the pace stays slow and the attention personal. Be clear before booking that the ride stops short of the crater rim, because horses are not permitted there.

  • Beginner friendly
  • Max 8 riders
  • Transport included
From $76per personBook now
The entrance to the Pompeii excavationsBest seller

Pompeii Day Trip from Rome with Mount Vesuvius Option

★4.66,427 reviews12 hours1 hour 30 minutes at the volcano

Escape Rome for the day by private air-conditioned coach, with a two-hour guided walk through the Pompeii excavations and skip-the-line admission included. On this Mt Vesuvius tour from Rome the volcano is an upgrade selected at checkout — a crater hike with an English- speaking leader, or a geologist-led walk on the slopes. A three-course Neapolitan lunch is a separate option again. Check which version you are booking, and note that crater access can close in winter or high wind.

  • Coach with Wi-Fi
  • Licensed guide
  • Volcano upgrade
From $79per personBook now
Vesuvius National Park signage on the approach roadSemi-private

Semi-Private Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Tour from Positano

★4.877 reviews7 to 8 hours2 hours at the volcano

Semi-private from Positano, with pickup half an hour before the eight o’clock departure and a small-group walk through the western half of Pompeii. The afternoon gives you two hours on the Mount Vesuvius crater trail, entry tickets for both sites included. Ten travellers is the smallest cap of any combination day from the Amalfi side, and that cap is most of what the price buys. The drive is long in each direction and lunch is not included.

  • Max 10 travellers
  • Both tickets
  • Positano pickup
From $245per personBook now
The rim of the Mount Vesuvius crater

Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Full-Day Tour with Lunch, Naples

★4.4122 reviews7 hours2 hours at the volcano

Door-to-door pickup from anywhere in Naples, cruise port included, then two hours in the Pompeii excavations with a shared guide or an audio guide. A light lunch at a local restaurant follows, before two hours on Mount Vesuvius with an alpine guide inside the park. Priority admission to Pompeii, the volcano ticket and an English-speaking tour leader all come with the price. Return times depend on traffic, so leave a wide margin if your ship sails that evening.

  • Light lunch
  • Alpine guide
  • Door-to-door pickup
From $90per personBook now
A guided group on the upper cone of Mount Vesuvius

Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Small-Group Tour from Sorrento

★4.674 reviews6 to 7 hours1 hour at the volcano

Hotel pickup in Sorrento by air-conditioned vehicle, then a two-hour small-group tour of Pompeii taking in the thermal baths and the forum. The drive climbs to the Gran Cono path for an hour at the Mount Vesuvius crater, with skip-the-line entry to both sites and a cap of twelve travellers. That hour is shorter than most combination days allow. Pace the ascent deliberately if reaching the rim matters to you, or settle for the lower viewpoints.

  • Hotel pickup
  • Skip-the-line
  • Max 12
From $198per personBook now
Mount Vesuvius seen from across the Bay of NaplesBest value

Mount Vesuvius Skip-the-Line Ticket & Digital Guide

★4.23,503 reviews2.5 hours to 1 day

Timed skip-the-line admission to the Gran Cono trail, plus a smart digital guide you download to your phone and an optional bus transfer from Naples or Pompeii. From the road end the crater path is yours to walk at your own pace, stopping at the viewpoints over Pompeii and the gulf. Nothing else is bundled in, which is why Mount Vesuvius tickets on their own cost a fraction of a guided day. Read the cancellation line at checkout, as this listing states its refund terms inconsistently.

  • Skip-the-line entry
  • Digital guide
  • Bus option
From $18per personBook now
Vineyards and terraced slopes below Mount Vesuvius

All-Inclusive Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius with Lunch & Wine

★4.62,747 reviews8 hours2 hours at the volcano

Pompeii with an archaeologist, then a working vineyard on the slopes where volcanic soil shapes the grapes — a genuine Vesuvius wine tour rather than a stop at a shop. Lunch at the estate comes with a tasting of three Campanian wines. Your afternoon finishes at the crater, where an official volcanological guide meets the group at the park entrance. Round- trip transport from eleven Naples pickup points and entry to both sites are included.

  • Vineyard lunch
  • Three wines
  • Volcanological guide
From $139per personBook now
The destination

About Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius rises 1,281 metres above the Bay of Naples and is the only active volcano on mainland Europe. In AD 79 it buried Pompeii and Herculaneum under ash and pyroclastic flows, preserving two Roman towns almost intact and giving the world the word Plinian. It has erupted more than fifty times since, most recently in 1944. Today you can walk to the rim of its crater in under an hour and look straight down into a bowl that still vents gas — then turn around and see Naples, Capri and the coast laid out beneath you.

Eruptions & monitoring

AD 79, then 472, 1631, 1794, 1906 and 1944 — a record of more than fifty eruptions punctuated by long silences. The 1631 event killed thousands after five centuries of quiet, and the current pause is the longest since. The world’s oldest volcano observatory, founded here in 1841, watches it around the clock.

Hours, timing & access

There is no ticket office at the crater: entry to the Gran Cono trail is sold online only, for a timed slot. The gate opens at 09:00 year-round, with last entry moving from 15:00 in midwinter to 18:00 in high summer. Booking ahead is all it takes, and a bundled trip does it for you.

Vesuvius National Park

The crater is one trail out of eleven. The park protects 8,482 hectares across thirteen towns — lava fields, the older Monte Somma ridge, pine forest and the vineyards that produce Lacryma Christi. More than 230 minerals have been catalogued here, and around 900 plant species.

The crater of Mount VesuviusThe Gran Cono trailVineyards on the slopes of Mount VesuviusThe view from Mount Vesuvius over Naples
What the day looks like

Your Mount Vesuvius visit, step by step

Whether you book a full day with the ruins or a Mount Vesuvius walking tour to the crater and back, the shape of the day is the same.

  1. Pickup or meeting point

    Collected from a hotel, a station desk or a town square in Naples, Pompeii, Ercolano, Sorrento or Positano, depending on the trip you choose.

  2. The mountain road

    Hairpins climbing through old lava fields to Piazzale di Quota 1000, the road end at a thousand metres. Private cars cannot park here; tour vehicles drop you at the gate.

  3. The climb to the rim

    Twenty to forty-five minutes on loose volcanic gravel, unshaded the whole way. Kiosks sell water along the route, usually for cash.

  4. The crater and the bay

    Look into a bowl 300 metres deep that still vents gas, then turn round for Naples, the Sorrentine peninsula and Capri on a clear day.

Hours, timing and access at Mount Vesuvius

What you will see

Six things on Mount Vesuvius worth the climb

Everything below is visible from the trail or the crater rim on a clear day, without leaving Trail No. 5.

  • The Gran Cono crater. A bowl roughly 400 metres across and 300 deep, left by the 1944 eruption, with the trail running along a section of its rim.
  • Fumaroles on the inner wall. Gas still vents from vents inside the crater at temperatures reported up to about 95 °C, visible as pale streaks and, in cold air, as steam.
  • The 1944 lava flows. From the rim you can follow them down the flank towards the villages they destroyed, which is the most recent event in the whole eruption record.
  • Monte Somma and Punta Nasone. The curving ridge to the north is the surviving wall of the older volcano that AD 79 blew open; its high point stands at 1,132 metres.
  • The Valle del Gigante. The approach road crosses the floor of that old crater, between the ancient rim and the young cone, before the trail begins.
  • The Bay of Naples from 1,281 metres. Naples, the Sorrentine peninsula and, on a clear day, Capri — the view travellers write about far more than the crater itself.

Inside Vesuvius National Park

Plan your visit

The five decisions that stall a Mount Vesuvius booking

Work through these and the rest of the trip arranges itself.

Which departure point suits you?

Ercolano is the shortest approach at 30 to 45 minutes each way, and Pompeii is 45 to 60. From Naples expect 60 to 90 minutes with a change; from Sorrento 75 to 105, which is why almost everyone goes guided from the Amalfi side. Rome is a twelve-hour round trip on which the volcano is usually an optional upgrade rather than a fixture.

Compare every route to the volcano →

Mount Vesuvius alone, or with Pompeii?

The crater visit itself runs about two hours, and that is a complete visit. Adding a guided Pompeii tour costs roughly four more hours once transfers and a lunch break are counted, and turns the outing into a full day. Two hours at Pompeii covers only a small share of the site, so you are truncating the ruins rather than the volcano.

Read the full Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii comparison →

Can you manage the walk?

The road takes you to roughly 1,000 metres and you climb the last stretch to 1,281. Most people reach the rim in 20 to 45 minutes on loose scoria with no shade anywhere. Operators rate it as needing moderate fitness and exclude wheelchair users; several set a minimum age of four or six. The descent is slipperier than the ascent.

See exactly what the Mount Vesuvius crater trail involves →

Best month, best time of day

March, October and the shoulder weeks either side give mild air, long light and thinner crowds. July and August bring the longest day and the hardest conditions on an unshaded cone. Morning slots win on both counts: heat builds fast and cloud tends to gather around the summit as the day goes on.

Check the season’s opening hours →

What the ticket covers, and when the gate shuts

Mount Vesuvius ticket prices start at €10 base, or about €11.68 once the online fee is added, and there is no ticket office at the crater. Your Mount Vesuvius reservation is tied to a ten-minute entry slot, so the time you choose is the time you walk in. Access is suspended automatically on any day carrying an orange-level civil protection weather alert, and separately for wind, snow, ice or fire risk. Refund terms come from whoever sold you the ticket rather than from the park.

See the questions travellers ask most →

Before you book anything

Do you need a guided tour of Mount Vesuvius?

Not always. Here is the straight comparison, including the case for going independently.

Buying the ticket yourself against booking a tour
 Ticket only, under your own steamA booked tour
What it costs€10 base, about €11.68 once the online fee is addedFrom about $35 for transport and entry, upwards with a guide
Where you buy itStraight from the official park platform — online only, no ticket office at the gateEntry is bundled and the timed slot is reserved for you
Getting to 1,000 metresYours to solve. Private cars cannot park at the trailhead, and the last stretch runs on a paid shuttleSolved. The vehicle stops at or near the gate
If the gate closesYou deal with the platform that sold you the ticketMost operators substitute another site or refund under their own terms
What you learnSignage at the rim, and whatever you read beforehandA licensed guide on the climb, on the trips that include one

When buying direct is the right call

If you have a car and are happy to park below and take the shuttle, or you are already in Ercolano, the official platform is the cheapest way in and there is no reason to pay more. Book it early: entry runs in ten-minute slots, sales open thirty days ahead, and high-season slots go. Details are on hours, timing and access.

Where a tour earns its price is the two kilometres nobody talks about — the trailhead is at the end of a provincial road with no parking at the top — and the ninety minutes on the cone, which is a different experience with someone explaining the ground. Routes, driving and the shuttle are all set out on getting to the volcano.

See Mount Vesuvius tours & tickets Going independently, in full

Compare

Which Mount Vesuvius Tour Is Right for You?

Every Vesuvius volcano tour compared here, with the deepest traveller feedback first. Each row books directly, so you can weigh them up without leaving the page.

TourRatingDurationAt the volcanoBest forPriceBook
Pompeii Day Trip from Rome with Mount Vesuvius Option4.6 (6,427)12 hours1 hour 30 minutesRome-based travellers making a single long day of itFrom $79Book
Mount Vesuvius Skip-the-Line Ticket & Digital Guide4.2 (3,503)2.5 hours to 1 daySelf-pacedDrivers and independent travellers who only need the entry ticketFrom $18Book
Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Day Tour with Lunch from Naples4.7 (3,284)8 hours2 hoursTravellers who want the day handled end to end, meal includedFrom $112Book
All-Inclusive Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius with Lunch & Wine4.6 (2,747)8 hours2 hoursAnyone who wants a Vesuvius wine tour as well as the craterFrom $139Book
Priority Access Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Tour from Sorrento4.6 (1,515)8 hours2 hoursSorrento-based visitors seeing both sites for the first timeFrom $83Book
Skip-the-Line Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Tour from Naples4.7 (764)8 hours2 hoursNaples-based travellers who want both sites without a premium priceFrom $108Book
Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Small-Group Tour with Archaeologist4.7 (275)8 hours2 hoursVisitors who want expertise on both halves, not just the ruinsFrom $116Book
Mount Vesuvius Crater Tour from Pompeii with Hiking Guide4.8 (230)3 hours1 hour 30 minutesAnyone who has already seen the ruins and wants the volcano properlyFrom $76Book
Mount Vesuvius Horseback Ride Through the Vineyards5.0 (149)2 hours2 hoursFamilies and first-time riders who want the mountain without the climbFrom $76Book
Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Full-Day Tour with Lunch, Naples4.4 (122)7 hours2 hoursCruise passengers and hotel guests wanting door-to-door pickupFrom $90Book
Mount Vesuvius Hike & Pompeii Small-Group Tour from Naples4.5 (88)7 hours1 hour 30 minutesSummer visitors who want the climb done before the heat buildsFrom $99Book
Semi-Private Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Tour from Positano4.8 (77)7 to 8 hours2 hoursAmalfi Coast visitors who want a small group and door pickupFrom $245Book
Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Small-Group Tour from Sorrento4.6 (74)6 to 7 hours1 hourSorrento hotel guests who want collection from the doorFrom $198Book
Mount Vesuvius Bus, Ticket & Audio Guide from Naples4.3 (44)3 to 4 hours2 hoursIndependent walkers who want the crater at the lowest possible priceFrom $34Book
Full-Day Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Tour from Sorrento4.7 (12)7 hours2 hoursFamilies travelling from Sorrento who need infant seats on boardFrom $123Book
Traveller feedback

Mount Vesuvius Tours Reviews

★★★★★ Rated 4.2 to 5.0 across the tours compared here, from more than 19,000 traveller ratings held by the booking platforms.

Read all Mount Vesuvius tour reviews

Before you book

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you buy a Mount Vesuvius ticket at the crater entrance?

No — there is no ticket office at the entrance to the Gran Cono. Admission is by advance online purchase only, for a specific timed slot, and the park states this in its own trail regulations. Booking before you travel takes a minute, and a tour that carries the ticket settles it in the same step as the transport.

How much does a Mount Vesuvius ticket cost?

The park’s base price is €10 full and €8 reduced. The official booking platform adds a service fee, so what you actually pay is around €11.68 full and €9.55 reduced. When a tour lists “Vesuvius entry €11.68 included”, that is the online price passed straight through.

How far ahead do tickets go on sale?

Standard tickets are normally released up to 30 days before the visit. In July and August, and on weekends and holidays, the most convenient morning slots sell out well ahead. If your dates are fixed, book as soon as the window opens.

What time does Mount Vesuvius open and close?

The Gran Cono opens at 09:00 every day of the year. Last entry is 15:00 in January, February, November and December; 16:00 in March and October; 17:00 from April to June and in September; and 18:00 in July and August. The visit must finish about an hour after the final admission.

How do I get to Mount Vesuvius from Naples?

Two good options. The Circumvesuviana railway runs to Ercolano Scavi, where shuttle buses climb the provincial road to the entrance. Simpler still is a coach or minibus from near Napoli Centrale with the park ticket bundled in — either way, allow 60 to 90 minutes door to gate.

How long does the walk to the crater take?

Most people reach the rim in 20 to 45 minutes from the trailhead. The complete Gran Cono visit, including time at the top and the descent, runs to about two hours. Add transport, parking and ticket checks on top of that.

Do I need hiking boots?

Trainers with decent grip are enough for most people, and closed shoes beat sandals on volcanic gravel. Walking poles are a nice extra if you already use them, especially on the way down. Nothing technical is required.

What is the best month to visit?

March, October and the shoulder weeks either side. The air is mild, the light is long, and the crowds thin. July and August give you the longest day and the hardest conditions on an unshaded cone.

Will I actually see the crater, or will it be in cloud?

Clear mornings are the norm, and cloud at 1,000 metres often rolls in and clears again within the hour. Going early gives you the best odds, and settled shoulder-season weather better still. Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead on most trips means a poor forecast costs you nothing.

Why does the crater close, and how often?

The park suspends ticketing and access automatically on any day the regional Civil Protection Authority issues a weather alert at orange level or above. Strong wind, snow, ice, fire risk and trail damage also trigger closures. Several happened during 2026, so it is a real possibility rather than a technicality.

What happens to my money if the trail closes?

Most trips listed here offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before, so acting on a poor forecast the day before protects your money in full. Visitors holding official park tickets for an affected slot may be entitled to a refund under the park’s rules. Check the cancellation line on whichever option you choose.

Is a guide included in the entrance ticket?

The entrance ticket covers access, with the park’s permanent volcano guide service on the trail for safety. For commentary on what you are looking at, choose a trip with a licensed guide or an audio guide included — several bundle it with the ticket and the transport.

Is it possible with limited mobility?

The Gran Cono trail is not wheelchair accessible, and operators do not recommend it for anyone with mobility limitations, back problems or heart conditions. The lower viewpoints still deliver the Bay of Naples in full. The wider national park has gentler ground and several easier walks worth the trip on their own.

Is there a helicopter tour over Mount Vesuvius?

Not in the line-up compared here. None of these trips is a helicopter flight, and saying so is more use to you than implying an option nobody here can book. If seeing the crater from above matters to you, the aerial viewpoints on the rim trail are the realistic alternative.

Should I do Vesuvius on its own or with Pompeii?

Do the arithmetic. The crater visit is about two hours, and adding a guided Pompeii tour costs roughly four more once transfers are counted, which turns the outing into a full day. If Pompeii is why you came to Campania, take the combination; if you have already seen the ruins, a crater-only trip is shorter, cheaper and less rushed.

See all questions about visiting Mount Vesuvius

In pictures

Mount Vesuvius Gallery

The crater rim of Mount VesuviusWalkers on the Mount Vesuvius summit pathAerial view of Mount VesuviusMount Vesuvius seen from Pompeii

View the full Mount Vesuvius gallery

Guides

Mount Vesuvius Planning Guides

Longer reads for the decisions a tour listing cannot answer.

Vesuvius National Park signage on the approach to the crater
Planning

How to visit Mount Vesuvius in 2026

There is no ticket office at the crater. Here is the whole booking system, the seasonal hours and what happens when the trail closes.

Mount Vesuvius seen across the ruins of Pompeii
Deciding

Mount Vesuvius or Pompeii first?

In summer, climb first. In spring and autumn the answer flips. The timings, the heat and the honest arithmetic of the combination day.

Read all Mount Vesuvius blog posts

Read the in-depth Mount Vesuvius guides

Where it is

Finding Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius

80044 Ottaviano, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy
Open in Google Maps →

Getting there

The visitor trailhead is Piazzale di Quota 1000 in Ercolano, at the end of the Strada Provinciale Ercolano–Vesuvio. There is no station at the crater: every route involves a road vehicle for the final climb. Compare routes from each town.

Opening hours

Open 09:00 daily, year-round. Last entry to the crater trail runs from 15:00 in midwinter to 18:00 in July and August, and access is suspended on days carrying an orange weather alert. Full hours and access rules.

Ready when you are

Stand on the rim of an active volcano

Crater walks, full days with Pompeii and skip-the-line tickets with transport included — compared on price, duration and time actually spent at the top.

See Mount Vesuvius tours & tickets Plan your visit first