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Travel bucket list idea:

Climb Mount Vesuvius

Naples, Campania, Italy

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Bucket List Experience
Last updated: 24 June, 2023
Expert travel writer: Nicky Swallow

It may look pretty innocuous but Vesuvius, the background to many a painting of Naples, is an active volcano and still commands respect and fear. Now a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, it’s possible to walk all the way up to the cone and experience fabulous views of Naples from the top.

Along the way, take time to marvel at the wonderfully rich diversity of plants thrown up by the volcanic soil.

Price from: £8
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 8+
When: All year around
Duration: 2 hours

Getting there & doing it

There are plenty of good local tour operators who will escort you to the summit, as they tell you some of the region’s fascinating history, and will pick you up from your hotel.

However, this is one volcano climb walk that can also be done independently. Take a taxi or hop on one of the shuttle buses departing from outside Ercolano station (on the Circumvesuviana line from Naples), then walk the final 500m (approx 30mins) to the crater up a fairly steep, zigzagging path.

There are nine trails through the reserve (detailed on the website), and each offers a different experience. Signs are colour-coded and offer (in Italian) information on the geology and history. Plan on about two hours in total – to reach the summit, walk around and come back down.

It’s all dust and loose stone underfoot, so wear stout shoes. It can be pretty cool at the summit, especially during autumn and winter, so bring a sweater as well as a sunhat and cream.

There are also a number of companies that will take you on a helicopter flight over the summit, as well as over Pompeii and Herculaneum.

When to do it

Climbing is possible throughout the year though trips up to the volcano can be suspended in bad weather or when the fog rolls in. Spring and autumn are the best months to visit – the weather is mild, fresh and mist-free.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Half-Day Trip to Mt. Vesuvius from Naples

Naples

Half-Day Trip to Mt. Vesuvius from Naples
Get a close look at the iconic volcano that buried the city of Pompeii. Journey to the edge of the crater of Mount Vesuvius on a 4-hour guided day trip from Naples.  On the drive from Naples, see Mount Vesuvius on the horizon in its unusual beauty. Drive through the National Park of Mount Vesuvius and journey up the mountain to stop at an altitude of approximately 3280ft (1000 mt). From there, climb up the mountain path that will take you to the crater. Take in the view of the bay of Naples spread below you and learn from professional volcanologists about the geology that led to the eruption of this devastating giant. The maximum group size is 18-25 people. Tour includes round-trip transportation from central Naples hotels or the cruise port.

Price: €78

Min age: 0

Rating 4.04 / 5 [69 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Private Tour: Day Trip Excursion to Mt. Vesuvius, Herculaneum and Pompeii

Pompeii

Private Tour: Day Trip Excursion to Mt. Vesuvius, Herculaneum and Pompeii
Guilty of decimating Pompeii and Herculaneum in AD 79, Mt Vesuvius looms over the Bay of Naples like a beautiful, silent menace. Stopped in their tracks by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79, Herculaneum and Pompeii offer the best look anywhere at what life in Rome must have been like around 2,000 years ago.

Price: €89

Min age: 0

Rating 4.93 / 5 [159 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Day Trip to Pompeii Ruins & Mt. Vesuvius from Naples

Naples

Day Trip to Pompeii Ruins & Mt. Vesuvius from Naples
A fascinating tour from Naples that will give you the opportunity to visit an ancient roman town like Pompeii, explained by a professional guide (2 h. 30 min), investigate the amazingly preserved infrastructures and artifacts. You will then drive up to 1000m of Mount Vesuvius which nearly destroyed the town in 79 A.D. Take the last 200m meters by foot and enjoy the panoramic 360degree views from the smouldering crater.

Price: €104

Min age: 0

Rating 4.55 / 5 [237 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii Day Trip from Naples all inclusive

Naples

Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii Day Trip from Naples all inclusive
Experience legendary Pompeii and Mt Vesuvius, the only active volcano in continental Europe, on this fully guided day trip from Naples. Visit Pompeii’s haunting ancient ruins, enjoy lunch with your group and then hike to the smoking summit of Mt Vesuvius for panoramic views of the Bay of Naples.

Price: €114

Min age: 0

Rating 4.21 / 5 [2715 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius - group tour

Naples

Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius - group tour
Enjoy this full immersion in the history of the region with our small group. Travel first to Herculaneum, the residence of Roman Patricians, completely submerged by volcanic mud. Wander through the streets and see colorful mosaics. Climb the Vesuvius, stroll around its crater and enjoy panoramic views of Napoli. Finally, stop at Pompeii, the impressive open-air museum that holds more than 2000 years of history. During the entire tour, your driver will be at your complete disposal, explaining to you on board the vehicle everything you need to know about the places you will visit. The tour ticket is not the entrance ticket to the archaeological sites. Guide services and audio guide within the archaeological sites are an extra service available on request to guarantee you total independence in the management of your leisure, whether you want to walk alone through the ruins or you want to enrich the visit with a guided tour.

Price: €120

Min age: 0

Rating 4.50 / 5 [285 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Naples, Pompeii and Vesuvius full day tour from Naples

Naples

Naples, Pompeii and Vesuvius full day tour from Naples
Enjoy a guided all included full day trip from Naples. The best way to have a complete look of Naples from the centre until the panoramic zone in a short time and then go on to Pompeii to explore one of the most fascinating places of Naples environs under the narration by a professional guide. Break for lunch and climb to the top of mount Vesuvius until the edge of te crater. Pick up door to door wherever possible and tickets included will allow you not to reach meeting-points and skip the lines.

Price: €123

Min age: 1

Rating 4.2 / 5 [10 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Pompeii Vesuvius day trip from Naples with Pizza or Wine tasting

Naples

Pompeii Vesuvius day trip from Naples with Pizza or Wine tasting
Visit the top of the volcano that destroyed Pompeii nearly 2000 years ago. With a 7-hour guided tour, stroll through the streets of Pompeii alongside an archaeological guide (or with the accompaniment of an audio guide)*. Drive 3280ft (1000 mt) up Mt.Vesuvius and walk the path to the crater's edge. Enjoy the view of the Bay of Naples and learn the geology of the volcano from an expert volcanologist guide. Maximum group size is 40 passengers. Choose between the different group sizes and preferences for pizza lunch or wine tasting!

Price: €129

Min age: 0

Rating 4.57 / 5 [962 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Day Trip from Naples to Mt Vesuvius & Pompeii

Naples

Day Trip from Naples to Mt Vesuvius & Pompeii
Pick-up at your hotel in the centre of Naples. Transport for Visit of the Vesuvius and Pompeii. Time duration is 8 hours. Possibility to visit a vesuvius winery with wine tasting. The entrance tickets are included

Price: €130

Min age: 2

Rating 4 / 5 [14 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Private Full-Day Tour to Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius with Winery Visit

Naples

Private Full-Day Tour to Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius with Winery Visit
This 9-hour tour will allow you to know some unique places in the world such as: The volcano Vesuvius still active but dormant, the Roman ruins of Pompeii one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world and finally have a local experience such as the tour of the vineyards of a winery with a tasting of its own wines

Price: €246

Min age: 3

Rating 4.61 / 5 [13 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius Private Guided Tour

Naples

Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius Private Guided Tour
Your driver and your Tour Guide will come to pick you up ready to guide you all day long through the most significant archeological and naturalistic site of the Naples Bay. Your guided tour will start in Pompeii one of the most famous excavation in the world, buried for 1,700 years, has been brought to life again and you will experience how the citizens of the greatest empire the world has ever known lived and loved, worked and played, ate and drank and died. After Pompeii, you will drive to Herculaneum to admire its wonderful houses with impressive frescoes and mosaics, its buildings are much better preserved. After a lunch break begins your guided tour of Mt. Vesuvius with the slow trip up the windy road up the hill until the parking lot to the crater. If you are going to reach the top you must leave the car behind here and take a 30-minute hike of moderate difficulty, which reaches nearly 4,200 feet. The views and fresh air here are well worth the effort.

Price: €378

Min age: 1

Rating 4.83 / 5 [6 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius - Private Tour

Naples

Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius - Private Tour
A full immersion in the archaeological history of Naples. You will walk the streets of the ancient towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum and climb to the top of one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. Your driver will accompany you throughout the trip, giving you an explanation of the places visited on board the vehicle. The visit inside the archaeological sites takes place in total autonomy and you will be free to move around the ruins as you prefer. Please remember to book your tickets in advance at Vesuvius because they sell out quickly. Recommended ticket time: 11:00pm. You can buy tickets for Pompeii and Herculaneum on site. The tour ticket is not the entrance ticket to the archaeological sites. Guide services and audio guide within the archaeological sites are an extra service available on request to guarantee you total independence in the management of your leisure, whether you want to walk alone through the ruins or you want to enrich the visit with a guided tour.

Price: €430

Min age: 0

Rating 4.83 / 5 [53 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Pompeii, Herculaneum & Mt Vesuvius Private Tour from Naples

Naples

Pompeii, Herculaneum & Mt Vesuvius Private Tour from Naples
With an 8-hour private guided tour limited to three people, fully explore the two ancient Roman cities, Pompeii and Herculaneum in their excellent state of preservation. Then visit the volcano Mt Vesuvius, which led to their tragic end nearly two thousand years ago. Peer into to the crater of this giant and learn the geology of the volcano from a professional volcanologist guide. See the Bay of Naples spread beneath you and take some remarkable photos. Choose from a self-guided tour of Pompeii and Herculaneum, or upgrade to include an archeologist guide inside the two ruined cities. All tours include round-trip transportation. 

Price: €540

Min age: 0

Rating 4.85 / 5 [21 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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