Italy for me From Italy with love
Mount Vesuvius is 4,203 feet (1,281 meters) high, and you can hike up to it on your own. Let me share my personal experience.
On the second day of our trip through the Campania region (check out our detailed route), we decided to hike up Vesuvius and visit the archaeological site of Pompeii.
We planned the hike for the first half of the day to avoid the heat and arrive in time for lunch. Right after breakfast, we left our hotel in Cava de Tirreni.
Take a look at our Amalfi road trip route from Rome.
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Road
The drive takes about 40 minutes and costs €2.10.
On the A3/E45 stretch, the toll section has a fixed price, meaning you pay upfront to enter.
Before reaching Herculaneum, we turned onto Via Vesuvio (SP114) and, after 15 minutes of winding through switchbacks, arrived at the parking area near the entrance.
Parking
Keep in mind that the later you arrive, the farther you’ll have to park. We were lucky and found the last spot about 985 feet (300 meters) from the entrance. The parking area is marked with blue lines, but we didn’t see any parking meters, so it’s likely free.
Check out the parking rules in Italy.
Tickets
It turned out that tickets to hike up Vesuvius must be purchased in advance and exclusively online. There are no ticket booths, and the guards were strict, refusing any offers of bribery—rules are taken seriously here. It was a bit comforting to see we weren’t the only ones caught off guard, but it was still stressful.
The mobile signal near the entrance is terrible. It took us 30 minutes to secure a weak signal on one of our three phones and finally purchase tickets online from the official website www.vivaticket.com.
As usual, there was plenty of bureaucracy and unnecessary fields to fill out. The electronic ticket comes with a barcode.
With fees included, the total for three tickets was €36.
Without mobile internet, we would have had to head back. I recommend getting a local SIM card ahead of time.
We had to scramble again to find a signal and retrieve our tickets from our email.
The official park website: www.parconazionaledelvesuvio.it.
The Hike
In high season, tourists are split into groups for the ascent. Just to the left of the entrance are numbered waiting zones.
The crater can only be visited with a guide, either in Italian or English. Guides await visitors near the crater, which is about a 20-minute hike up.
The hike is incredibly scenic, and you’ll want to stop and take photos every few steps.
Only local park rangers are allowed to drive up the path in their SUVs.
On the right side of the trail, there are stunning views of Naples.
The hike is easy for a person in average physical condition. Trekking shoes aren’t necessary, but comfortable sneakers will come in handy. Keep in mind that there can be strong gusts of wind at the summit, so a light jacket might be useful.
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The Crater
At the crater’s entrance, you’ll find traditional souvenirs—magnets, local alcohol, and models of the volcano.
Local guides wait near the crater to divide tourists into groups.
The crater is a massive hollow at the summit. The smell of sulfur is barely noticeable, and the air is easy to breathe.
The guide’s talk lasts about 20 minutes, after which you can stroll along the crater rim.
From the crater, there are picturesque views of the Bay of Naples and Ischia Island.
On the other side of the crater, you can spot the towns of Herculaneum, Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, and Capri Island.
There are a few cafes at the summit, though prices are twice as high as in a regular Italian bar. A cappuccino costs €3, and a shot of limoncello is €2.
Along the path, you’ll frequently encounter geckos, and some let you get pretty close.
The descent from the volcano felt longer than the ascent, but the mountain views made up for any fatigue.
After retrieving our car from the parking lot, we headed to Pompeii for lunch.