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Is perhaps best known for its eruption in Roman times (24 August 79 AD) when Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed.
Visit Mount Vesuvius is the best known volcano on earth; it dominates the Bay of Naples with its characteristic cone. It is a typical example of a volcano in a volcano made by an outer broken cone, Mt. Somma (1133 metres) with a crateric belt most of which is destroyed.
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The eruption left a large crater which has grown and shrunk with subsequent eruptions and this can still be visited today. It is a currently dormant volcano that occasionally emits streams of lava (the last eruption was in 1944; although its dormant state could be an indication of a build-up of pressure and a coming explosive eruption). At the top of the volcano is a crater rim that affords a view into the crater that still fumes slightly. Besides that you will have (only on clear days, but the mountain is notoriously covered in fog or clouds) a stunning panorama overseeing the Bay of Naples, Naples, Capri, Ischia, the edge of the Amalfi Coast and more.
Additional Vesuvius Tips
Equipment:
The temperature on the top is usually lower than on its slopes and the wind can suddenly blow on the crater. Moreover, we reccomend to carry sneakers or climbing boots, binoculars, sun glasses, water .
No booking is necessary for visits to the crater.
The ticket office is open all year round including Sundays and public holidays except, for safety reasons, during adverse weather conditions.
| January-Febraury-November-December: | 09:00 – 15:00 |
| March-October: | 09:00 – 16:00 |
| April-May-June-September: | 09:00 – 17:00 |
| July-August: | 09:00 – 18:00 |
TICKET PRICESSince 01/01/2012, only tickets issued by the Vesuvius National Park Authority are valid for access to the path leading to the crater. These are only on sale at the ticket office in the large square at 1000m in Ercolano.
Free entry
Tickets from 10.00 euros
(only permitted during visits to the crater and not for long stays or refuelling)
The crater can only be accessed via the gate from the large square at 1000m in Ercolano, where the Vesuvius National Park ticket office is situated. The path winds for a total distance of 3807m at a maximum altitude of 1170m above sea level. The entire excursion, there and back, takes 3 hours. Currently, the accessible path is at an altitude of approximately 900m with a height variation of 140m and an average gradient of 14% (intermediate distance) and can be walked in approximately 2 hours, there and back, excluding any requests to go further than the prearranged limit. A free a volcanology guide is provided with the ticket.
The path is not suitable for less able visitors.
Name: path no. 5 – “Il Gran Cono” (the Great Cone)
Type of path: circular nature path
Total length: 3807m
Maximum altitude: 1170 m above sea level
Difficulty: medium
Accessibility: approximately 900m
Short distance: 1 hour there and back
Intermediate distance: 2 hours there and back
Excursion distance: 3 hours there and back
Strada Provinciale Ercolano (Ercolano local road) – Vesuvio Piazzale (Vesuvius Square) at 1000m.
Locality: Ercolano (NA)
The temperature on the crater during autumn and winter is lower that at the bottom of the volcano, and the wind can pick up suddenly.
Visitors should bring suitable equipment including:
Recommended: Sunglasses, binoculars, camera.
A3 Naples-Salerno Motorway, Torre del Greco or Ercolano exit.
From Ercolano:
on leaving the motorway toll booths, turn left and follow the Via Boscocatene road. Go straight on as far as the Via B. Cozzolino junction. Go straight on and, after approximately 2 km, you will reach a crossroads. Go straight on following signs for “Vesuvio” (Vesuvius). After approximately 300m, you will come to the Vesuvius National Park Info Point on the right. Continuing for approximately 7 km, you will reach a crossroads where you turn left. After approximately 2 km you will reach the large square at an altitude of 1000m. From here, the path for the crater is accessible on foot only.
From Torre del Greco:
on leaving the Torre del Greco motorway toll booth, go straight on at the roundabout and continue for approximately 300m and turn left. Continue for approximately 100m then turn right. Continue for a further 100m, then turn left. At the crossroads, turn right onto Via E. De Nicola and continue for approximately 1.5 km. When you reach the crossroads, turn right. After approximately 300m, you will come to the Vesuvius National Park Info Point on the right. Continuing for approximately 7 km, you will reach a crossroads where you turn left. After approximately 2 km you will reach the large square at an altitude of 1000m.
If you are arriving by plane at Capodichino Airport, take the bus for Piazza Garibaldi Stazione Centrale (Central Station). If you are arriving by state railway, leave the train at Piazza Garibaldi Stazione Centrale (Central Station). From the Central Station, take the Circumvesuviana local train for Sorrento or Poggiomarino Via Pompei (click here for timetables and prices, sites Vesuviana and www.too-to-train.it) and leave the train at Ercolano Scavi Station. If you are coming from Sorrento or Pompei, you can reach Ercolano Scavi using the Sorrento Napoli and Pompei Napoli lines. From the square outside Ercolano Scavi Station there is a bus service (click here for timetables and prices of public transport in the Vesuvius area) and taxis which will take you as high as 1000m.
