Visiting Mount Vesuvius Today: Hiking the Crater, Tickets and Tours

Mount Vesuvius Today

For most travellers, the question of mount vesuvius today is a practical one: can you actually go up the volcano that buried Pompeii, and what is it like? The answer is yes. The summit of Vesuvius is open to the public almost every day of the year, and standing on the rim of the same crater that erupted in 79 AD is one of the most rewarding half-day trips you can combine with a visit to the ruins below.

Today the volcano sits at the heart of the Vesuvius National Park (Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio), established in 1995 to protect the mountain and the distinctive ecosystem of the Monte Somma–Vesuvius complex. The park covers more than 8,000 hectares and includes a network of marked walking trails across the slopes. But the one that draws over half a million visitors a year is the short, dramatic path to the active crater itself — the Gran Cono.

This page focuses on what it takes to visit Mount Vesuvius as it is now: the climb, the tickets, how to get there, and what to expect at the top. If you want the deep history of the volcano's past eruptions, see the dedicated page on Vesuvius eruptions through the centuries. For the full geological and cultural overview, start with the complete Mount Vesuvius guide.

Hiking the Gran Cono Crater

The summit trail (Path No. 5)

The walk to the crater rim is officially the park's Path No. 5, the "Gran Cono" trail. It begins at the upper car park at roughly 1,000 metres elevation and climbs to the crater edge at about 1,170 metres. The trail is approximately 860 metres long with around 170 metres of ascent, and most visitors complete the Mount Vesuvius hike in 20 to 30 minutes at a relaxed pace.

The path is wide and well-maintained, but the surface is loose volcanic gravel and the gradient is steady the whole way up, so it earns a moderate rating rather than easy. There are no steps and no exposure — anyone reasonably fit can manage it — but sturdy footwear makes a real difference on the shifting scree. Wooden barriers line the outer edge, and there are a few benches and a couple of small kiosks selling drinks and souvenirs along the route.

Access to the summit is managed: you climb the vesuvius crater trail on a timed ticket, and the path operates with authorised park guides stationed along the way and at the rim. They keep visitors on the route, share a little history, and ensure the crater edge stays safe and orderly. You are not free to wander off-trail or descend into the crater itself.

What you'll see from the rim

At the top, you can walk along a section of the crater rim and look down into the vast, smoking caldera — roughly 450 metres across and 300 metres deep, with faint fumaroles still venting sulphurous steam from the crater walls. It is a vivid reminder that this is a living, monitored volcano rather than a museum piece.

The panorama is the real reward. On a clear day the views over the Bay of Naples stretch in every direction:

• The sweep of the bay, the city of Naples, and the port below
• The island of Capri and the Sorrentine Peninsula to the south
• The ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum on the plain at the foot of the mountain
• The Apennine mountains inland to the east

Standing here, you can trace exactly how the eruption of 79 AD unfolded across the landscape — the very perspective that makes the climb so memorable for anyone who has walked the streets of the ancient city.

How to Get to Mount Vesuvius

The single most important thing to know: there is no public transport that goes all the way to the summit car park, and you cannot drive or be driven beyond it — the final trail is always on foot. Getting to that car park, at around 1,000 metres, is the part you need to plan. There are four main options.

By shuttle bus from the train stations

The most common independent route uses the Circumvesuviana railway, which connects Naples to Sorrento and stops at both Ercolano Scavi (for Herculaneum) and Pompei. From these stations you can pick up a mountain shuttle:

• EAV bus — the regional public bus service runs up to the Vesuvius car park from Ercolano (and seasonally from Pompei).
• Vesuvio Express — a private shuttle service operating frequent minibuses from outside Ercolano Scavi station up to the car park and back.

Both take roughly 20–30 minutes to wind up the mountain road. From Ercolano the route is shorter and more frequent, which is why most independent visitors start there.

By organised tour

Joining a tour is the simplest option if you want everything handled — round-trip transport, your timed crater ticket, and often a guide. Many tours combine Vesuvius with Pompeii in a single day, which is the most efficient way to see both. If you would rather have an expert lead the whole experience, browse the guided tour options, which include Vesuvius-and-Pompeii combinations.

By car

You can drive yourself up the SP Vesuvio road and park at the car park near 1,000 metres (a small parking fee applies). From there it is the same walk up Path No. 5 as everyone else. The mountain road is narrow and winding, so allow extra time, and note that during very busy periods the upper car park can fill up.

Whichever way you arrive, the last leg to the vesuvius crater is always the walk — so come prepared to be on your feet.

Planning Your Visit

Opening hours and tickets

The summit is open daily, but hours shift with the season — broadly from around 09:00, with the last entry in the early afternoon to late afternoon depending on the month, and the trail closing at or before sunset. Crucially, the park closes the summit in bad weather: high wind, thunderstorms, or low cloud and poor visibility will shut the crater trail without notice, for safety.

A timed entrance ticket (around EUR 10) is required and is booked for a specific time slot. Booking online in advance is strongly recommended — slots sell out in peak season, and tickets are not always available at the gate. Before you set out, always confirm the crater is open for the day and that your weather window looks clear.

Detail	Information
Ticket	Timed slot, ~EUR 10 (book ahead)
Trail	Path No. 5 "Gran Cono", ~860 m
Walk up	20–30 minutes, moderate
Start elevation	~1,000 m (car park)
Crater rim	~1,170 m
Hours	Daily from ~09:00; closes by sunset
Closures	Shuts in bad weather / poor visibility

What to bring

The summit is exposed and noticeably cooler and windier than the coast, even in summer. Pack for it:

• Sturdy shoes — closed trainers or walking shoes for the loose gravel; sandals are a poor choice
• Water — there is little shade and only small kiosks at the top
• A windproof or warm layer — the rim is often breezy and cool, with afternoon cloud
• Sun protection — hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen for the open trail
• A small backpack only — you carry everything yourself up and down

Is it safe?

Vesuvius is an active but intensely monitored volcano. The Osservatorio Vesuviano, the oldest volcanological observatory in the world, watches it around the clock, and the mountain has been in a quiet, resting phase since its last eruption in 1944. Visiting the crater today is entirely safe in normal conditions — the controls are about weather and footing, not eruption risk. For the long story of the volcano's restless past, see the history of Vesuvius eruptions.

Combining Vesuvius with Pompeii

The classic itinerary pairs the volcano with the city it destroyed. Because the Circumvesuviana line links Pompei, Ercolano, and Naples, and the mountain shuttles run from those same stations, it is very doable to see both Pompeii and Vesuvius in a single day — typically the ruins in the morning and the cooler summit in the afternoon, or the reverse to beat the midday heat at the crater.

If you would rather not juggle train times, tickets, and shuttle schedules yourself, a combined excursion takes care of the logistics in one booking. Start with the general visiting Pompeii guide to plan the ruins, then look at guided tours that bundle the climb up Vesuvius with a tour of the excavations. Either way, seeing the volcano from the rim and then walking the streets it buried — or the other way around — turns two famous sites into one unforgettable day.

Related Pages

• Mount Vesuvius — The Complete Guide
• Vesuvius Eruptions Through the Centuries
• Visiting Pompeii — Plan Your Trip
• Guided Tours of Pompeii & Vesuvius