Mount Vesuvius Full-Day Guided Tour from Naples

The Circumvesuviana line connects central Naples with the foot of the volcano. Board at Napoli Centrale, Napoli Garibaldi or Porta Nolana and get off at Ercolano Scavi (around 20 to 25 minutes) or, for departures on the Pompeii side, at Pompei Scavi Villa dei Misteri. From either station, a local bus or shuttle continues up to the Vesuvius National Park entrance.

Take the A3 Napoli-Salerno motorway and exit at Torre del Greco, following the signs for Vesuvio onto Via Enrico De Nicola and then Via Vesuvio. The road continues as the SP144 up to the car park at about 800 metres above sea level, from where the final stretch to the 1,000-metre trail entrance is covered on foot or by a short municipal shuttle.

A private shuttle service, Vesuvio Express, runs directly to the park entrance from Ercolano Scavi station and from central Naples (Via Galileo Ferraris), with the ride taking roughly 30 minutes each way.

From Naples International Airport (Capodichino), take a taxi or the Alibus shuttle to Napoli Centrale station, then continue by Circumvesuviana train toward Ercolano or Pompei to connect with a bus or shuttle up the mountain.

Mount Vesuvius is a stratovolcano rising above the Bay of Naples, best known for the eruption of 79 AD that buried the Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. It is the only active volcano on the European mainland and remains a defining feature of the Naples skyline.

Yes. Vesuvius is classified as an active volcano, though its most recent eruption took place in 1944. The volcano and the surrounding area are continuously monitored by Italian volcanological authorities.

Yes. The Gran Cono trail (Path No. 5) leads along the upper slopes to the crater rim, starting from Piazzale di Quota 1000 near Ercolano. The walk follows a marked, managed path with views over the crater and the Bay of Naples.

Comfortable closed shoes are required, as the path is loose volcanic gravel; flip-flops and open sandals are not suitable. Weather at the summit can be noticeably cooler and windier than at sea level, so a layer for wind or cold is worth carrying.

Access to the Gran Cono trail is organized in timed entry slots on the day of the ticket, with a capped number of visitors let through at a time to keep the path manageable and safe.

The excursion runs for about 8 hours from the single daily departure, covering both the Pompeii archaeological site and the hike to the Vesuvius crater rim.

The tour can be booked with an official guide in English, Spanish or French, selected as an option when booking, at no difference in price.