The crater of the Mount Vesuvius
Mount Vesuvius is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world for its plinian eruptions and for the large population living near it. It famous for its eruption in 79 A.D. which buried the Ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum alive. Today it is possible to visit the crater and hiking up Mount Vesuvius is one of the most popular activities in the area.
You need about 1 hour to visit Mount Vesuvius from the moment you enter the site. This gives you enough time to walk to the top and explore all the points of view along the crater rim, but without lingering around too much. Considering the travel times and extending the visit a little to enjoy the magnificent view, we advise you to consider a longer time, even 3-4 hours, depending on your starting point.
A sweater and comfortable shoes are a must to visit Mount Vesuvius.
How to best experience Mount Vesuvius?
Discover tickets, tours, and activities for Mount Vesuvius through these providers:
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Best Mount Vesuvius Tours
Vesuvius Tickets: Park Entrance & Guided Visit
/5A scenic walk on the famous volcano that destroyed Pompeii
As low as
€14.30
on Tiqets.com
Tickets for Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius: Guided Tour + Roundtrip from Naples
/5Explore Pompeii and its all-conquering volcano
As low as
€95.00
on Tiqets.com
Tickets for Vesuvius: Day Tour from Naples
/5Get the facts about Mount Vesuvius and walk around the actual crater
As low as
€60.00
on Tiqets.com
Tickets for Vesuvius and Herculaneum: Day Tour with Skip-the-Line Entrance
/5Visit the majestic Vesuvius and the ancient Roman city all in one day
As low as
€90.00
on Tiqets.com
Best Mount Vesuvius Tickets
Naples or Sorrento: Full-Day Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius Tour
/5Visit both Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius’ summit on a day trip from Naples or Sorrento. Skip the lines for a guided tour of Pompeii and take in the views of the Bay of Naples from Vesuvius.
As low as
€99
on GetYourGuide.com
What is Mount Vesuvius?
It is is a somma-stratovolcano. It is one of several volcanoes which form the Campanian volcanic arc. It has a tendency towards violently explosive eruptions, which are now known as Plinian eruptions. Following the eruption in the 1st century, there have been periods of inactivity and periods of almost continuous volcanic activity, with 22 relatively severe eruptions between 1660 and 1944.
When did Mount Vesuvius become a national park?
The area around Vesuvius was officially declared a national park on 5 June 1995 to preserve animal and plant species, plant and forest associations, geological singularities, paleointological formation of the Vesuvius territory.
The summit of Vesuvius is open to visitors, and there is a small network of paths around the volcano that are maintained by the park authorities on weekends. There is access by road to within 200 metres (660 ft) of the summit (measured vertically), but thereafter access is on foot only. There is a spiral walkway around the volcano from the road to the crater.
How long did it take for Mount Vesuvius to destroy Pompeii and Herculaneum?
Vesuvius’ most famous eruption took place in the year 79 A.D., when it destroyed the Ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, burying them and their citizens alive under more than twenty feet of volcanic ash, rock and lava. According to studies conducted on the eruption, it took 15 minutes to destroy everything.
General informations
Useful information for your visit to Mount Vesuvius.
Location
It is located on the Gulf of Naples in Campania, Italy, about 9 km (5.6 mi) east of Naples and a short distance from the shore.
Opening hours
To visit Mount Vesuvius the times are as follows:
- It can be visited daily the whole year round.
- January- February: 9 am- 3 pm
- March: 9 am- 4 pm
- April, May and June: 9 am- 5 pm
- July- August: 9 am- 6 pm
- September: 9 am- 5 pm
- October: 9 am- 4 pm
- November – December: 9 am- 3 pm
How to get to the Mount Vesuvius
To reach Mount Vesuvius:
- there are fewer buses running between October and the beginning of April. In the peak season, buses run from Pompei Villa dei Misteri station every 50 minutes. The trip takes about 50 minutes and tickets cost €2.70 in each direction.
- There is a car park at Vesuvius National Park, it costs €5 to park all day and is about half a mile (1km) from the ticket office. There are also shuttle buses that can take you from the car park to the ticket office.
Attractions nearby
- Pompeii (9.3 km)
- Naples International Airport (NAP) (12.6 km)
- Naples Cathedral (13.4 km)
- Via San Gregorio Armeno (13.5 km)
- San Lorenzo Maggiore Basilica (13.5 km)
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