How to visit Mount Vesuvius in Pompeii October 2024
Four million people visit Pompeii each year, and it really is the outstanding feature of the skyline in the city. Mount Vesuvius is the natural gem and highly worth visiting. Allow me to show you how.
Mount Vesuvius is a live volcano, 1,280 metres tall and built to protect the town of Pompeii, located in the middle of the Bay of Naples, in Campania. Two thousand years back, it had an eruption, and its lava covered the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Mount Vesuvius attracts millions of pilgrim tourists each year, and it’s worth visiting; easy and accessible climbing up to the top of Mount Vesuvius and witnessing the crater of a volcano with some of the best views of the area is not challenging and very accessible. And if this still does not convince you, keep reading!
Best Hike of Vesuvius: Pompeii
Definitely, one of the reasons to visit this area is to see the ruins of Pompeii. It is a Roman town whose life came to a halt in the morning of August 1979 when Mount Vesuvius erupted. You can stroll the cobbled streets today and view temples, theaters, baths, amphitheatres, and petrified taverns.
Naples to Pompeii
Mount Vesuvius protects Pompeii since it is located 25 kilometers from the city. You can reach Pompeii by public transportation, by bus for around 3.50€, or even by rental car. But the most convenient way is through a guided excursion from Rome to Pompeii or from Naples to Pompeii**.
** By doing so, you don’t need to worry about a thing. On this trip, a guide will accompany you at all times during your visit, meeting you in the city to be picked up and brought to the top of the volcano on a private bus.
Due to the massive demand for visits to this area, most tours involve various services, including climbing the volcano. Check with the tour in advance and choose one of the comprehensive options that incorporates visiting the ruins and then going up to the crater of the volcano.
Vesuvius and Pompeii Sightseeing Tour from Rome
If you are visiting the Eternal City and have free time on your schedule, we suggest you take the trip to Pompeii and Vesuvius. It is one of the richest places in the world that deals with history, archaeology, and culture. The cities of Pompeii and Vesuvius were perfectly preserved under layers of ash left behind by a volcanic eruption in 79 AD.
Visit ruins, walk the streets and catch a bus to climb the legendary Mount Vesuvius. Mount Vesuvius is the hero of this tale, a small part of the Roman Empire preserved in aspic.
All Inclusive: round-trip transportation, entrance tickets to Mount Vesuvius National Park, entrance tickets to the ruins of Pompeii, the company of an expert guide.
Excursion to Pompeii and Vesuvius from Naples
Excursions to Pompeii and Vesuvius are easily booked from Naples.
This is a 7-hour tour of the city which was buried in ash after eruption in 1979. During the tour, you are accompanied by a professional guide who during the excursion will tell you about ancient Roman life and lively and interesting facts.
Take a tour of the archaeological area, reach the top of Mount Vesuvius, and enjoy panoramic views as well as peace conveyed by the Italian steppes. Return back to the metropolis of Naples.
How to get to Mount Vesuvius
Come to Pompeii alone and come to Pompeii, do not worry-you’ll be able to easily reach the top of the volcano. The distance from the ruins to the volcano is about 20 kilometers and 30 minutes .
There are three main options, and each has its own pluses and minuses.
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From Pompeii to Vesuvius by car
If you arrive in Pompeii by private car or rental car, the most sensible way to get to the volcano is to drive. The road is very well signposted and the road is mostly straight, so it follows the sea in the direction of Herculaneum.
Once you reach the national park and the foot of the volcano, you can make a few curves that let you drive up a road by some parts and minimize time walking.
The parking area is approximately 1,000 meters above sea level, so you only have to walk the last part of the hike (don’t worry, it’s a short distance but pretty steep) and you’ll be standing atop the crater. Parking fee is 6 euros.
Taxi from Pompeii to Vesuvius
Taxi is a cheaper and easier way of accessing Mount Vesuvius from Pompeii. In case you are traveling in groups of 3-4 people, this would be the most financially prudent option, thus you should take serious consideration of this idea.
You should find a taxi outside of Pompeii Archaeological Park, but if you feel a bit more relaxed, search for a taxi company in the net and order via the web or by phone. Recommended companies in this area are: RTLA Partenope Srl and Cooperativa taxi Vulcano A RL.
Travel on this road will cost you about 25-30 euros one way, and can take less than half an hour. The taxi will let you off at the car park at an altitude of 1000m above sea level. The walking part of the tour then begins.
By bus to Pompeii from Vesuvius
Probably the cheapest and most affordable way of exploring Pompeii would be by bus, since they take public transport from the ruins to the volcano. This bus is a frequent public service that connects the two tourist attractions, and once you get to the volcano, you will be dropped off at an altitude of 1,000 meters, just like taxis and cars, so you can run the last part on foot.
The trip takes about 30 minutes while a round-trip ticket costs 2.70 euros per person and takes approximately 50 minutes.
Information on stops, general information as well as timetables can be obtained from the EAV website.
Entrance fee to climb Mount Vesuvius
Entrance fees to the national park usually amount to 10 euros per person and can be purchased online on the Italian ticketing site Vivaticket. Parking with a fee is also available and can be reserved online in advance as well.
END. There is no roof once you go higher; therefore, it will give you easy access to taking the tour with you whatever you could book earlier. Bookings can be made through Parksuvio’s website. The amount payable varies according to the class of car; for instance, a standard car with five seats costs 3 euros, while a minivan or van costs
6 euros.
Mount Vesuvius Climbing:
As mentioned before, you can come with bus, taxi, or car to 1000 meters, and thus only have to walk from here up to the top. Of course, the climb is of medium height with an altitude difference of approximately 140 meters, and, naturally, your legs will get used to it as you get along the route.
What you can see from the top
On clear days (luckily, it seems, most days of the year in this part of Italy), one can look down upon spectacular views of the Gulf of Naples. At your feet are the towns and villages surrounding Vesuvius National Park, like Herculaneum, but you can also get a bird’s-eye view of the Mediterranean Sea and islands off the coast of Naples, like Procida, Ischia, and Capri.
How long does it take to climb Vesuvius?
You will need half day or afternoon to climb Mount Vesuvius, enjoy the view from top, take photos and descend. Check on the opening and closing times of the national park to ascertain whether you have enough time to hike slowly.
Tips when climbing Vesuvius
Climbing Vesuvius is a new experience that we advise you to follow the following to have a smooth experience
- Pay attention to the weather forecast: At the top of the volcano, the temperature in winter will be much colder than what you feel when you just start climbing. Wear a few layers of warm clothing and a waterproof or windproof jacket.
- In summer, if it is too hot, the park itself might sometimes be closed during holidays, or they might discourage climbing to avoid health problems.
- The walking part is relatively short, but the mountain trail could be called moderately difficult, and especially it is not recommended for people with cardiac problems.
- Wear comfortable shoes (if you visit Pompeii in sandals, we recommend packing sports or hiking shoes in your backpack for a change of pace).
- The sooner you can make advance reservations for taxi fares, parking lots, national park entrance fees, etc., the better.
- Keep water and snacks in your backpack to recharge at the top. Plan time for climbing up and down** so you don’t find yourself in the dark at the top. Business hours are different for winter compared to summer, so check beforehand.
