Is It Hard to Climb Mount Vesuvius?

Mount Vesuvius is the only active volcano mainland in Europe. Located near Naples and along the Amalfi Coast, this famous volcano has only erupted three times since 79 A.D., with the last eruption occurring in 1944. Several nearby cities have been covered by the ashes and lava of Vesuvius’ past eruptions. Today, tourists from all around the world flock to Vesuvius to peek inside of the massive crater.

Is it hard to climb Mount Vesuvius? With nine walking trails to choose from (known as itineraries), there are versatile skill levels for all hikers. Most say the hike is not very difficult, and that getting down is harder than the hiking uphill.

If you are traveling to Rome or nearby, take a day and head over to Naples for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Use this quick read to understand the logistics of Mount Vesuvius, including how to find it, the difference between each itinerary, and much more!

The Fascinating History of Mount Vesuvius

To briefly offer you some context around this fascinating site, the Mount Vesuvius National Park was created officially on June 5^th of 1955, to preserve the unique animal and plant species.

From all over the globe, people visit to peek inside of the crater. Much to their surprise, you will not see any lava inside of the volcano. Although it is active and considered the most dangerous volcano in Europe, it is not active enough to have lava on the brink of eruption, so upon viewing, it will look relatively dormant.

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A few key facts to pique your interest (if you are on the fence about visiting) are:

Mount Vesuvius is over 200,000 years old.
This is the only European volcano that has erupted within the last 100 years.
This land was settled by the Greeks and then later by the Romans. The worst eruption was in 79 A.D., which led to the destruction of these ancient cities:
- Pompeii
- Herculaneum
- Stabiae
- Oplontis

It was then determined that the mountain was unhospitable for future residency.

After WWII, Naples began to grow in the city to the east of Mount Vesuvius. Presently, around 3 million people are located in the surrounding area of the volcano.
Naples is now considered the most densely-populated region of active volcanic high-risk in the world.

How Do You Find Mount Vesuvius?

Finding the volcano will be quite simple, and there are many options available to choose from.

Officially, the address of Mount Vesuvius is: 80044 Ottaviano, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy

Your options for arrival are:

Transportation Method	Notes	Estimated Cost
By Train	This will be the easiest method for arriving at Mount Vesuvius, as well as being the easiest for reaching nearby sites such as Pompeii and Herculaneum. By using the Circumvesuviana stations, you can arrive at a quick walk away from the mountain’s entrance.	Very dependent on where you’re coming from.Examples:Circumvesuviana Train (from Rome) to Naples Centrale: Between EUR 15 and EUR 77Naples to Sorrento: €3.90 You can read about Circumvesuviana Trains here.
By Car	There are many parking areas near the entrance of the mountain. Follow the signs that will state to park at the ‘1,000 meters above sea level’ because cars are not allowed any higher than this.	€5 Parking Fee + Cost of the ride (dependent on distance traveled)
By Bus	Take the EAV Bus from the Circumvesuviana Pompei Villa Dei Misteri Station. If departing from the Circumbesuviana Ercolo Station, utilize the Vesuvio Express Shuttle Here is the 2020 Bus Schedule.	€2.70 per bus ticketIt cannot be purchased on the bus itself. Must be purchased at any location that you see the (T) or (M) sign outside. You can purchase public transportation tickets at most:Tobacco shopsCafes/barsConvenience storesOr any shop with the visible metro sign/ticket sales indication out front
By Group Tour	Many will make an entire day-trip out of Mount Vesuvius, including a trip to Pompeii. You must start early for this, but as a tourist, you may find it valuable to have a guide lead you straight to the mountain.	Ranges anywhere from EUR 60 to EUR 90+ for standard tours. Up to €500-€1,000 if you are doing private tours with skip-the-line or including any type of private boat for the day.

Subsequent Steps Upon Arrival

This isn’t all that will be required to reach Mount Vesuvius. The additional steps are:

Arrive – Using your preferred method of transportation from the chart above. From here, you will be about 1,000 above sea level (based on the parking lot/public transportation drop-off area).
Now you must reach the ticket counter – This is located after a relatively steep walk up from the parking level). Tickets are €10 (a separate fee from transportation cost). You can purchase your ticket beforehand or purchase it at the ticket desk. Regardless, you will have to give them your ticket to gain entrance, so you must reach this ticket desk even if you’ve pre-purchased tickets online.

There will be signs to follow for finding the ticket counter, and you can either:

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Take a shuttle to the ticket counter – Which we recommend
Walk to the ticket counter – If you would rather walk or hike there
After purchasing or processing your tickets, there will now be a 1 Kilometer hike (about 0.6 miles) to reach the trailhead, which leads to the crater.

You can take different leveled-hikes that will range between about 0.6 miles to over 5+ miles, depending on how long and in-depth you wish to hike the mountain.

How Big is Mount Vesuvius?

Mount Vesuvius stands at 1,281 meters tall (4,205 feet approximately). If utilizing the shuttle to get you to the ticket counter, you should have a much easier time reaching the crater.

A few facts about this height is that:

The height of the mountain fluctuates after each eruption.
The crater is currently over 300 meters deep (more than 1,000 feet).
The crater is 610 meters across (about 2,000 feet).

How Long Does It Take to Hike?

The hike from the ticket counter to the summit is typically 30 minutes for most guests, but this will depend on the path you take. Some can complete the hike in about 15-20 minutes; some will take longer hikes that are 5+ miles.

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The time it takes will primarily depend on:

Your level of athleticism
The itinerary you’ve chosen
How leisurely your pace is

You shouldn’t rush the hike because there are so many beautiful sights to see along the way. From the top, you will see sights such as:

Surrounding cities of Naples, Sorrento, and the Bay of Naples between them.
Pompeii Ruins between Naples and Sorrento
Tirone Reserve
The island of Capri (in the opposite direction of Naples/Sorrento)
Punta Nasone
Cognoli de Ottaviano
Valle Dell’Inferno – A nearby National Park
Apennine Mountains named Abruzzo and Molise

Which Walking Itinerary (Path) Should You Take?

The different hikes you can select once reaching the entrance, include the following options:

The Valley of Hell
Along the Cognoli

These first two paths start at Ottaviano and will focus on the side facing Monte Somma (with Monte Somma being the surrounding cliffs at the edge of Vesuvius’ cone). These two paths are very focused on these two cliffs that create almost a crater inside of a crater. You will explore the sides with lush forests and the Gulf of Naples’ views.

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Monte Somma

This path is similar to the first two because it will still lead you to the final destination of:

Monte Somma cliffs
Mount Vesuvius crater

It is a slightly longer path that allows you to explore more at your own pace. Spanning about 8 KM (nearly 5 miles), this is undoubtedly what you would call ‘the scenic route.’

Amelia La Fattuchiera Che Ammalia

Known as one of the most beautiful paths available, this itinerary has some of the most stunning views from Vesuvius. There is also an old mythical tale related to Disney fans about the Magica De Spell character, ‘Amelia La Fattuchiera Che Ammalia,’ that is a sorceress, told to live on the mountain’s edge.

Gran Cono

This is one of the most popular because it takes you directly to the cone. This path is about 4 KM long (around 2-3 miles), offering a great mid-level hike.

6-9. The final four hikes

Many of these hikes are nameless, but the remaining four are simply referred to by their number. Known as being the shortest hikes available, these will be best for those less physically-fit or inclined that don’t want to hike too far.

Final Travel Tips for Naples

We hope you enjoy your travels to Mount Vesuvius. A few final tips for your excursion are:

Bring a Jacket – Most will forget this because, on a warm day, it won’t feel necessary; however, once you reach the extreme elevations at the top of the mountain, it will be quite cold. You are also along the coast, which causes significant winds and a greater chance of chilly weather, so dress accordingly.
If Visiting Pompeii – You may need more than one day. These aren’t as close as you may imagine, accounting for an entire bus ride around the cove, hiking up and down the mountain, trains to Pompeii, etc.

You might consider breaking up these two activities into two separate days unless you have a guide to lead you there efficiently. If doing Pompeii and Vesuvius in one day, allow at least 3 hours for each stop and an hour or two for the commute. Leave some downtime in this to not rush. Starting early is advised so that you beat some of the mid-day heat as well.

Book In Advance – You can book through reputable vendors such as Visit Pompeii Vesuvius to pre-purchase your €10.00 ticket to Mount Vesuvius. This vendor offers joint tours and options for visiting nearby cities if you wish. You will still have to reach the ticket counter to gain access, but on a busy summer day with long lines, the pre-purchase of your tickets can save you lots of time.

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