Visiting Mount Vesuvius: Feelin’ Like Frodo, But Without The Ring

Top Tips

• Allocate a good half day to visit the big Mount V
• It can get windy at the top of the crater so dress accordingly
• If you’re feeling brave, shout or sing into the crater to hear it eerily return your call…see vid below!
• Best not to wear flip flops or sandals. Trainers or walking boots are the one!

THIS POST: will tell you all you need to know about visiting Mount Vesuvius, how to get there, what you can expect at the top and if it’s worth a visit.

Visiting Mount Vesuvius was on the bucket list long before we set foot in Italy. We had planned to climb the volcano from our base in Pompeii.

However, torrential rain prevented us from doing so! We kept trying to rearrange our hike up Mount Vesuvius but it seemed the unpredictable late September Italian weather was having none of it.

Regrettably, it was time to leave Pompeii and make our way down the coast. By the time we reached Positano we just couldn’t bear it any longer! So back we went!

How Do You Get To Mount Vesuvius?

We were lucky enough to have Milo Tours embarking on this day out with us, so Mario kindly drove us to Mount Vesuvius. Check out our time with Mario here. If you’re after a bespoke day out, he’s your guy.

If you are using public transport, which we did for most of our trip, you can get a bus to Mount Vesuvius from the station Ercolano. Ercolano is pretty well placed, is around 20 mins from Naples and can be reached easily from surrounding towns such as Pompeii. The train costs just a few euros.

Upon exiting Ercolano station you will see signs advertising the Vesuviuo Express bus service. According to the signs the bus tickets cost €10 each. I believe a return trip costs €20 which will include entrance to the crater.

Climbing Mount Vesuvius

Climbing Mount Vesuvius takes around half an hour from the car park, where you set off on foot to the top of the volcano. The walk isn’t too strenuous, it’s all uphill obviously but it’s not too steep. I would say most people of average fitness will be absolutely fine walking up Mount V.

My advice for walking up Mount Vesuvius would be don’t wear flip-flops or sandals. Walking boots or trainers will be a much better option. It’s pretty much loose scree and dust on the way up.

Keep your eyes peeled for signs of previous lava flow down the sides of the volcano.

Depending on what time of year you visit, (we went in late September) it can be a little bit chilly at the top of the crater so dress accordingly.

A word of warning, it can get misty on the walk and visibility can be low! There are high vis signs around though to stop you from wandering off the path! Oh and to caution you that there are falling rocks…

You should allow at least half an hour or ideally one hour to really explore the top of Mount Vesuvius and the crater. It then takes around 20 minutes/half an hour to get back down to the car park.

What Is There To Do At The Top Of The Volcano?

Once at the top of the crater you can walk around the rim and see different viewpoints of the crater. There are also hella old remains of a cable car opened by our very own Thomas Cook in 1880.

Legend goes he had a bit of beef with the locals. They were pissed that he’d started a fancy new cable car which detracted from their own traditional means of getting visitors to the top. So they set the fancy thing on fire. They worked it all out in the end though. Until Vesuvius erupted again in 1906.

If you’re feeling brave, try shouting or singing into the crater and hear it return your call. Both creepy and exhilarating all at the same time. See below vid!

There are some little stalls at the top of the crater. Here you can buy questionable gifts made of volcanic rock and wine, keyrings etc.

There are signs at the top advertising a free guided tour of the volcano, although I didn’t see anyone waiting or any guides around.

Should You Bother Visiting Mount Vesuvius?

Visiting Vesuvius turned out to be one of the most incredible days in Italy and we got some unforgettable photos. If you’re in Naples or Pompeii it is 100% worth a visit. You will really feel the scale and power of mother nature when you stand at the top and look into the still-active crater. 

It’s a good idea to allocate at least half a day for visiting Mount Vesuvius. You could spend the rest of the day visiting Herculneum, Pompeii or one of the most incredible vineyards which sits on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius.

Click here to read all about our afternoon at Sorrentino Vesuvio winery which is nestled away in the foothills of Mount Vesuvius. Thankyou to Milo Tours for showing us these delights through the eyes of a true Italian.

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