01 · Italy · Campania · Province of Naples

Vesuvius

A volcano inside a volcano above the Bay of Naples: no park fee, the crater only with an online ticket and time slot – and ten more trails up to Monte Somma.

Photo: Ekrem Canli ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

Vesuvius at a glance · PDF, 2 pages

Vesuvius: landscape and origins

Vesuvius National Park charges no entrance fee. You only need a ticket for trail no. 5 to the crater rim: €11.68 online, with a time slot, and there is no ticket office on the mountain.

The park authority states it on its Gran Cono page: tickets are sold exclusively online, and the only authorised seller is vesuviopark.vivaticket.it. It explicitly warns against other sellers.

The ticket is valid for a time slot. The turnstile at Piazzale Quota 1000 opens from two hours before to two hours after the booked time, as long as the day's last entry has not passed. The guides at the crater are included in the price.

The park's other ten trails are free. Some are only partly open after the major fire in summer 2025 and after storms; the park authority reports the status in its Alert section.

Park authority: Il Gran Cono – tickets online only, time slots, entry times, directions, trail no. 5 (Italian) ↗

The park in numbers

Park entrance: free
Crater trail no. 5: €11.68 online, reduced €9.55
Entry: from 9:00, last entry 15:00 to 18:00
Quota: 360 people per hour
Crater rim: 1,175 m (3,855 ft), 4 km (2.5 mi) return
Founded: 1995

Vesuvius National Park: the volcano above the Bay of Naples

Founded in 1995

Vesuvius National Park was established on 5 June 1995. It protects the Somma-Vesuvius volcanic complex: the old Monte Somma and the younger cone inside its crater. Since 1997 the area has been part of a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

Vesuvius National Park authority: the park – founded on 5 June 1995, 8,482 hectares, 13 municipalities (Italian) ↗

13 municipalities

The park touches 13 municipalities in the province of Naples, among them Ercolano, Torre del Greco, Ottaviano and Somma Vesuviana. Pompei is not one of them.

Vesuvius National Park authority: the park – founded on 5 June 1995, 8,482 hectares, 13 municipalities (Italian) ↗

8,482 or 7,259 hectares

The park authority gives 8,482 hectares, the environment ministry's park page 7,259 hectares.

Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security: Vesuvius National Park – founded 1995, 7,259 hectares (Italian) ↗

Active volcano, alert level green

Vesuvius last erupted in 1944 and has been dormant since, with fumaroles and weak earthquakes. The Civil Protection Department currently lists it as green; around 700,000 people live on its slopes.

Italian Civil Protection Department: Vesuvius – alert level, red zone, 1944 eruption (Italian) ↗

The crater is only one part

Most visitors come for crater trail no. 5. The park has eleven trails over 54 km (34 mi), from the lava field into the woods of Monte Somma.

Park authority: the park's eleven trails and current closures (Italian) ↗

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Field book 03 · TicketsYou only pay for trail no. 5 to the crater – and only online.Field book 01 · WhenThe crater is open all year – entry times follow the months.Field book 02 · Getting therePrivate cars may not drive up to the entrance – a shuttle bus covers the last 200 metres of altitude.

02 · Places

Map: crater, Monte Somma and starting points

Fourteen points between Ercolano, Pompei and Ottaviano, each referenced in OpenStreetMap.

Photo: Laurauriarte90 ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

Place in the park

Gran Cono: the crater trail

From the turnstile at 1,000 metres to the rim of a crater 300 metres deep.

Coordinates: 40.822608, 14.429237 (summit)
Trail no. 5: 4,010 m (2.5 mi) return
Highest point: 1,175 m (3,855 ft)
Walking time: 2.5 hours
Crater: 300 m (984 ft) deep

Park authority: Il Gran Cono – tickets online only, time slots, entry times, directions, trail no. 5 (Italian) ↗

Place in the park

Valle dell'Inferno

The valley between the cone and Monte Somma, yellow with broom in spring.

Coordinates: 40.821372, 14.444398
Trail no. 1: 12,390 m (7.7 mi) return
Walking time: 7 hours
Start: Ottaviano

Park authority: trail no. 1 "La Valle dell'Inferno" (Italian) ↗

Punta del Nasone, the highest summit of Monte Somma in Vesuvius National Park, seen from the cone of Vesuvius — Photo: Lobufalo ↗ · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗

Place in the park

Monte Somma and Punta del Nasone

The older volcano, whose crater rim encloses Vesuvius to the north.

Coordinates: 40.83719, 14.427985
Punta del Nasone: 1,132 m (3,714 ft)
Trail no. 3: 7,650 m (4.8 mi) return
Walking time: 5 hours

Park authority: trail no. 3 "Il Monte Somma" (Italian) ↗

Place in the park

The 1944 lava flow

The trace of the last eruption, now grey with lichen.

Coordinates: 40.83335, 14.415736 (photo location)
Eruption: March 1944
Lava: 21 million m³
Trail no. 9: 1,039 m (0.6 mi), 1 hour

Park authority: trail no. 9 "Il Fiume di Lava" (Italian) ↗

Place in the park

Osservatorio Vesuviano

On the mountain since 1841: the oldest volcano observatory in the world.

Coordinates: 40.827973, 14.397476
Founded: 1841
Opened: 1845
Distance to the crater: 2 km (1.2 mi)

Park authority: Osservatorio Vesuviano, founded 1841 (Italian) ↗

Map

14 places on the map

Fourteen points between Ercolano, Pompei and Ottaviano, each referenced in OpenStreetMap.

Open map3D terrain · details and photos for every place

Mountains & rock3
Arrival5
Where to stay1
Nature5

03 · Out and about

Hikes & routes: crater trail no. 5 and ten more

Eleven trails over 54 km (34 mi); some are only partly open after fire and storms.

Photo: Horcrux ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

“The park costs nothing. The crater costs a time slot – and that is only sold online.”
Vesuvius National Park · View into the crater

Hikes & routes: crater trail no. 5 and ten more

Trail no. 5: Il Gran Cono

4,010 m (2.5 mi) return, up to 1,175 m (3,855 ft), two and a half hours, easy but steep according to the park authority. Above 1,000 m everyone walks in groups of 20 with the guides of the Presidio Permanente Vulcano Vesuvio; this is included in the ticket.

Park authority: Il Gran Cono – tickets online only, time slots, entry times, directions, trail no. 5 (Italian) ↗

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Trail no. 9: Il Fiume di Lava

Just over a kilometre return, one hour, easy: onto the 1944 lava flow, covered with the grey lichen Stereocaulon vesuvianum. Start on Via Contrada Osservatorio.

Park authority: trail no. 9 "Il Fiume di Lava" (Italian) ↗

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Trail no. 1: Valle dell'Inferno

12.4 km (7.7 mi), seven hours, hard because of its length: from Ottaviano through broom into the valley between the cone and Monte Somma, past the lava dome of 1937.

Park authority: trail no. 1 "La Valle dell'Inferno" (Italian) ↗

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Trail no. 3: Monte Somma

7.7 km (4.8 mi), five hours, hard, to Punta del Nasone at 1,132 m (3,714 ft). According to the park authority the section from Somma Vesuviana is temporarily closed.

Park authority: trail no. 3 "Il Monte Somma" (Italian) ↗

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Trail no. 6: La Strada Matrone

14.2 km (8.8 mi) on the old road built by the Matrone brothers from Trecase to the cone, on foot and by bike, free of charge. After the 2025 fire it has been open to bikes again since November 2025.

Park authority, 20 Nov 2025: trail no. 6 open again on foot and by bike (Italian) ↗

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Trail no. 4: Riserva Tirone

Open again since 19 September 2026, on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 to 16:30, free with registration at the entrance: 2.6 km (1.6 mi) to the Casa di Amelia. Bikes at up to 20 km/h, dogs not allowed.

Park authority, 16 Sep 2026: trail no. 4 open again from 19 September, Saturdays and Sundays (Italian) ↗

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Askos Tours · Guided crater tour · from Pompeii

From Pompeii: Mount Vesuvius guided tour with transfer

Shared transfer from the main entrance of the Pompeii excavations to the foot of the cone, with a skip-the-line ticket, the climb to the crater rim and a tour leader who tells the story of the mountain.

4.8 out of 5 stars282 reviews on GetYourGuidefrom €65as of 8 Oct

3 hours
crater ticket included
guide in English
from Pompeii

Departure Pickup at the main entrance of the Pompeii excavations.

According to the inclusions list, transport, a skip-the-line entrance ticket and a tour leader are included; lunch and personal expenses are not. The first 30 minutes from the entrance are steep; not suitable for children under 4 or people with back or heart problems or reduced mobility, not wheelchair accessible. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.

View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 8 Oct 2026

Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide

VESUVIO NATURA · Evening hike · small group up to 10

Vesuvius: sunset aperitif hike in the national park

A local guide leads you along trails in the national park in the evening light above the Bay of Naples; at sunset there is a glass of wine and a Neapolitan tarallo. The crater rim is not included.

5.0 out of 5 stars1 review on GetYourGuidefrom €35.90as of 8 Oct

3 hours
guide, also in German
10 people maximum
no crater visit

Departure Meeting point on the road from Ercolano to Vesuvius; the guide wears an orange T-shirt. Make your own way there.

According to the inclusions list, the guided walk, aperitif, tarallo and parking are included; transport and other food are not. A visit to the Gran Cono crater rim is explicitly not included. Dogs are not allowed and mobile reception is poor. 1 review so far (5.0). Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.

View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 8 Oct 2026

Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide

Ad · we may earn a commission if you book through this partner link – at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the atlas. Offer details checked 8 Oct 2026. See official ticket information.

Nature: broom, lichens and peregrine falcons

906 plant species

The plant list of Somma-Vesuvius counts 906 species, including 23 orchids, Neapolitan maple and Italian alder. Mount Etna broom was introduced in 1906 to stabilise the bare slopes.

Park authority: flora – 906 plant species (Italian) ↗

The lichen comes first

On cooled lava the grey lichen Stereocaulon vesuvianum settles first; red valerian, curry plant and broom follow. Trail no. 9 is the best place to see this.

Park authority: pioneer species on the lava (Italian) ↗

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138 bird species

2 amphibian, 8 reptile, 138 bird and 29 mammal species have been recorded, along with 44 species of butterfly. In the middle of a metropolitan area, the park is a biogeographical island, according to the park authority.

Park authority: fauna (Italian) ↗

Two volcanoes in one

Vesuvius is a volcano inside a volcano: the cone grew in the crater of the older Monte Somma, separated by the Valle del Gigante with the Atrio del Cavallo and the Valle dell'Inferno. The cone probably formed during the eruption of AD 79.

Park authority: the volcano – Somma-Vesuvius, summit 1,277 m, crater 450 m wide and 300 m deep (Italian) ↗

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The first observatory

In 1841 Ferdinand II founded the Osservatorio Vesuviano, the oldest volcano observatory in the world. The historic building, two kilometres from the crater, now houses a museum.

Park authority: Osservatorio Vesuviano, founded 1841 (Italian) ↗

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Field book 04 · Where to stayNo accommodation at the crater – base yourself in the towns on the Circumvesuviana.Field book 05 · RulesSet out in the park authority's protocol of 29 June 2026.

04 · Before you go

Park film and places nearby

Photo: Ekrem Canli ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

Film by the park authority

Il ritmo del Vesuvio. Natura, tradizioni e identità del Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio

Just under three minutes from the park authority's channel, published in May 2026: an image film about broom, trails, traditions and the people living by the volcano, made for the park's founding day on 5 June.

Source: Ente Parco Nazionale Del Vesuvio · View channel ↗

Around the park

The crater today: alert level, earthquakes, buying tickets

Alert level and earthquakes as of this morning, last-minute tickets step by step, a tour comparison and what is out of date elsewhere: our sister project Volcano Guide keeps Vesuvius up to date daily.

Volcano Guide: Mount Vesuvius 2026 – tickets, time slots, alert level (sister project) ↗

Pompeii is not part of the park

Pompei is not one of the 13 municipalities of the national park. The excavation is therefore not part of this guide, even though most tours combine the crater and Pompeii.

Vesuvius National Park authority: the park – founded on 5 June 1995, 8,482 hectares, 13 municipalities (Italian) ↗

Pompeii and Herculaneum in the Volcano Guide

Tickets, visitor numbers and how to combine the crater and the excavation in one day: described in the Volcano Guide.

Volcano Guide: Pompeii – tickets and visit (sister project) ↗

Field book 07 · Sources30 sources, checked 8 Oct 2026

Field book · Vesuvius

checked 8 Oct 2026

Vesuvius at a glance · PDF, 2 pages ↓

00My visit

Nothing saved yet. Every place card has a pin, and so does every place on the Map. What you save collects here, with days, notes and a preview you can share.

01Best time to visit: spring and autumn

The crater is open all year – entry times follow the months.

Entry from 9:00

Last entry to the crater is at 15:00 in January, February, November and December, at 16:00 in March and October, at 17:00 from April to June and in September, and at 18:00 in July and August.

Park authority: Il Gran Cono – tickets online only, time slots, entry times, directions, trail no. 5 (Italian) ↗

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One hour after the last entry

The visit must end no later than one hour after the last entry. The turnstile admits you from two hours before to two hours after the booked time, as long as the last entry has not passed.

Park authority: protocol for trail no. 5, annex to resolution no. 24 of 29 Jun 2026 (Italian, PDF) ↗

Broom in early summer

In spring, broom turns the slopes yellow. Spanish broom (ginestra odorosa) flowers from May to July, common broom from August to October.

Park authority: broom on Vesuvius (Italian) ↗

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Summer: wildfire risk

After the major fire in summer 2025, a new wildfire protection plan of the park applies for 2026. The Campania region sets the period of highest fire risk.

Park authority, 18 Jun 2026: wildfire protection plan AIB 2026 (Italian) ↗

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02How to get there: Circumvesuviana, bus 808 or car to Quota 800

Private cars may not drive up to the entrance – a shuttle bus covers the last 200 metres of altitude.

By Circumvesuviana

From Napoli Garibaldi, Circumvesuviana trains run towards Sorrento or Poggiomarino. At Ercolano Scavi taxis and private shuttles wait; from Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri the public bus runs.

Park authority: Il Gran Cono – tickets online only, time slots, entry times, directions, trail no. 5 (Italian) ↗

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Bus 808 from Pompei

According to the timetable from 1 October 2026, EAV line 808 runs nine times a day from Pompei to Piazzale Quota 1000, the first at 8:30 from Piazza Anfiteatro, arriving 9:25. Last return from the crater: 16:50.

EAV: bus line 808 Pompei – Vesuvio, timetable from 1 October 2026 (Italian) ↗

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By car to Quota 800

From the A3 motorway, exit Torre del Greco, the SP144 takes you to the car parks at Quota 800 in 15 minutes. Between Quota 800 and 1000 the road is closed to private cars; buses, taxis, hire cars with driver and motorcycles may continue.

Parking on Via Osservatorio (Ercolano municipality): rates, maximum 4 hours, traffic ban beyond Quota 800 (Italian) ↗

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Parking: €7, maximum 4 hours

You buy the parking space in advance on parkingsuvio.it: cars with up to eight seats €7, motorcycles €3.50, for a maximum of four hours. The park authority advises buying the crater ticket first and the parking second.

Parking on Via Osservatorio (Ercolano municipality): rates, maximum 4 hours, traffic ban beyond Quota 800 (Italian) ↗

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Shuttle bus or 30 minutes on foot

From Quota 800 to the entrance, a shuttle bus run by the town of Ercolano takes about four minutes for €1 each way. On foot it is 1.8 km (1.1 mi) along the road, about 30 minutes.

Park authority: Il Gran Cono – tickets online only, time slots, entry times, directions, trail no. 5 (Italian) ↗

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Vesuvio Express · Bus and crater ticket · from Ercolano Scavi

From Ercolano: Vesuvius crater ticket and return bus

The Vesuvio Express runs from Ercolano Scavi station to the entrance at 1,000 metres in about 30 minutes and back after about two hours. The crater trail ticket is included in the price.

4.2 out of 5 stars1,313 reviews on GetYourGuidefrom €36as of 8 Oct

Departure Bus in front of the Circumvesuviana's Ercolano Scavi station.

According to the inclusions list, transfer, the crater trail ticket and the park guides from the entrance are included; hotel pickup, food and tips are not. The ticket is for a fixed entry time: if you miss the booked bus you travel on the next one, but the crater ticket then lapses without a refund. Not suitable for pregnant women or people with reduced mobility, heart problems or a fear of heights. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.

View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 8 Oct 2026

03Tickets & entrance fees: free park, crater with a timed ticket

You only pay for trail no. 5 to the crater – and only online.

Check official fees ↗

Crater trail: €11.68 online

Tickets for the Gran Cono are sold online only at vesuviopark.vivaticket.it, according to the park authority the only authorised seller: €11.68 full price, €9.55 reduced. The base price is €10 or €8.

Park authority: Il Gran Cono – tickets online only, time slots, entry times, directions, trail no. 5 (Italian) ↗

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Reduced and free

People under 25 and residents of the 13 park municipalities pay the reduced price, each with ID. Children under 6 go free but need a free ticket from the online sale.

Park authority: Il Gran Cono – tickets online only, time slots, entry times, directions, trail no. 5 (Italian) ↗

Time slots and quota

For each day, 50 tickets per 10 minutes go on sale online 30 days in advance. Ten more per slot are released as last-minute tickets 30 minutes beforehand, only via the Wi-Fi at the entrance and in the buyer's name.

Park authority: Il Gran Cono – tickets online only, time slots, entry times, directions, trail no. 5 (Italian) ↗

Other trails without a ticket

The other trails are free. Trail no. 6 "La Strada Matrone" is open to everyone but keeps the same opening hours as the crater.

Park authority: trail no. 6 "La Strada Matrone", free access (Italian) ↗

Closure in bad weather

When the regional civil protection issues a weather warning from orange upwards, ticket sales and the trail close automatically. The park authority refunds unused tickets within 60 days without an application.

Park authority: Il Gran Cono – tickets online only, time slots, entry times, directions, trail no. 5 (Italian) ↗

Vesuvius National Park: the volcano above the Bay of Naples

A small park in the middle of a metropolitan area, founded in 1995.

Founded in 1995

Vesuvius National Park authority: the park – founded on 5 June 1995, 8,482 hectares, 13 municipalities (Italian) ↗

13 municipalities

The park touches 13 municipalities in the province of Naples, among them Ercolano, Torre del Greco, Ottaviano and Somma Vesuviana. Pompei is not one of them.

Vesuvius National Park authority: the park – founded on 5 June 1995, 8,482 hectares, 13 municipalities (Italian) ↗

8,482 or 7,259 hectares

The park authority gives 8,482 hectares, the environment ministry's park page 7,259 hectares.

Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security: Vesuvius National Park – founded 1995, 7,259 hectares (Italian) ↗

Active volcano, alert level green

Vesuvius last erupted in 1944 and has been dormant since, with fumaroles and weak earthquakes. The Civil Protection Department currently lists it as green; around 700,000 people live on its slopes.

Italian Civil Protection Department: Vesuvius – alert level, red zone, 1944 eruption (Italian) ↗

The crater is only one part

Most visitors come for crater trail no. 5. The park has eleven trails over 54 km (34 mi), from the lava field into the woods of Monte Somma.

Park authority: the park's eleven trails and current closures (Italian) ↗

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Hikes & routes: crater trail no. 5 and ten more

Eleven trails over 54 km (34 mi); some are only partly open after fire and storms.

Trail no. 5: Il Gran Cono

Park authority: Il Gran Cono – tickets online only, time slots, entry times, directions, trail no. 5 (Italian) ↗

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Trail no. 9: Il Fiume di Lava

Just over a kilometre return, one hour, easy: onto the 1944 lava flow, covered with the grey lichen Stereocaulon vesuvianum. Start on Via Contrada Osservatorio.

Park authority: trail no. 9 "Il Fiume di Lava" (Italian) ↗

Show on the map

Trail no. 1: Valle dell'Inferno

12.4 km (7.7 mi), seven hours, hard because of its length: from Ottaviano through broom into the valley between the cone and Monte Somma, past the lava dome of 1937.

Park authority: trail no. 1 "La Valle dell'Inferno" (Italian) ↗

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Trail no. 3: Monte Somma

7.7 km (4.8 mi), five hours, hard, to Punta del Nasone at 1,132 m (3,714 ft). According to the park authority the section from Somma Vesuviana is temporarily closed.

Park authority: trail no. 3 "Il Monte Somma" (Italian) ↗

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Trail no. 6: La Strada Matrone

14.2 km (8.8 mi) on the old road built by the Matrone brothers from Trecase to the cone, on foot and by bike, free of charge. After the 2025 fire it has been open to bikes again since November 2025.

Park authority, 20 Nov 2025: trail no. 6 open again on foot and by bike (Italian) ↗

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Trail no. 4: Riserva Tirone

Park authority, 16 Sep 2026: trail no. 4 open again from 19 September, Saturdays and Sundays (Italian) ↗

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Nature: broom, lichens and peregrine falcons

How life returns to fresh lava.

906 plant species

The plant list of Somma-Vesuvius counts 906 species, including 23 orchids, Neapolitan maple and Italian alder. Mount Etna broom was introduced in 1906 to stabilise the bare slopes.

Park authority: flora – 906 plant species (Italian) ↗

The lichen comes first

On cooled lava the grey lichen Stereocaulon vesuvianum settles first; red valerian, curry plant and broom follow. Trail no. 9 is the best place to see this.

Park authority: pioneer species on the lava (Italian) ↗

Show on the map

138 bird species

Park authority: fauna (Italian) ↗

Two volcanoes in one

Park authority: the volcano – Somma-Vesuvius, summit 1,277 m, crater 450 m wide and 300 m deep (Italian) ↗

Show on the map

The first observatory

In 1841 Ferdinand II founded the Osservatorio Vesuviano, the oldest volcano observatory in the world. The historic building, two kilometres from the crater, now houses a museum.

Park authority: Osservatorio Vesuviano, founded 1841 (Italian) ↗

Show on the map

04Where to stay near Vesuvius

No accommodation at the crater – base yourself in the towns on the Circumvesuviana.

Day trip only at the crater

Parking is not allowed at Piazzale Quota 1000, and the park authority currently reports no public toilets there. The crater is an excursion, not a place to stay.

Park authority: Il Gran Cono – tickets online only, time slots, entry times, directions, trail no. 5 (Italian) ↗

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Towns on the railway

Ercolano with Ercolano Scavi station and Pompei with the Villa dei Misteri stop lie on the Circumvesuviana and on the two routes to the crater.

Park authority: Il Gran Cono – tickets online only, time slots, entry times, directions, trail no. 5 (Italian) ↗

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Wine and apricots

The slopes are farmland: the Vesuvius apricot, cherries, cherry tomatoes and the grapes for the DOC wine Lacryma Christi grow here.

Vesuvius National Park authority: the park – founded on 5 June 1995, 8,482 hectares, 13 municipalities (Italian) ↗

05Rules on the crater trail and in the park

Set out in the park authority's protocol of 29 June 2026.

A guide is compulsory

Above 1,000 m the guides of the Presidio Permanente Vulcano Vesuvio accompany every group at no extra cost. A maximum of 360 people per hour may go up, 60 every 10 minutes in three groups.

Park authority: protocol for trail no. 5, annex to resolution no. 24 of 29 Jun 2026 (Italian, PDF) ↗

Keep right, two hours

Going up and coming down, every group keeps to the right side of the path. The short return route may take no more than two hours, the long loop three.

Park authority: protocol for trail no. 5, annex to resolution no. 24 of 29 Jun 2026 (Italian, PDF) ↗

Summit closed

The upper crater rim on the north and east sides stays closed to visitors for safety and conservation reasons; only people authorised by the park authority may enter it.

Park authority: protocol for trail no. 5, annex to resolution no. 24 of 29 Jun 2026 (Italian, PDF) ↗

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Sturdy shoes

The park authority asks visitors to take care on all trails, check the weather and wear suitable shoes. It accepts no liability for accidents.

Park authority: Il Gran Cono – tickets online only, time slots, entry times, directions, trail no. 5 (Italian) ↗

No dogs in the Riserva Tirone

Trail no. 4 lies in the strictest protection zone A. Dogs are not allowed there, not even on a lead.

Park authority, 16 Sep 2026: trail no. 4 open again from 19 September, Saturdays and Sundays (Italian) ↗

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What comes next

The atlas covers the national park – the daily situation and the excavations are in the Volcano Guide.

The crater today: alert level, earthquakes, buying tickets

Volcano Guide: Mount Vesuvius 2026 – tickets, time slots, alert level (sister project) ↗

Pompeii is not part of the park

Pompei is not one of the 13 municipalities of the national park. The excavation is therefore not part of this guide, even though most tours combine the crater and Pompeii.

Vesuvius National Park authority: the park – founded on 5 June 1995, 8,482 hectares, 13 municipalities (Italian) ↗

Pompeii and Herculaneum in the Volcano Guide

Tickets, visitor numbers and how to combine the crater and the excavation in one day: described in the Volcano Guide.

Volcano Guide: Pompeii – tickets and visit (sister project) ↗

06Frequently asked questions: Vesuvius

Is there an entrance fee for Vesuvius National Park?

Not for the park itself. Only trail no. 5 to the crater needs a ticket: €11.68 full price and €9.55 reduced, online only at vesuviopark.vivaticket.it.

Park authority: Il Gran Cono – tickets online only, time slots, entry times, directions, trail no. 5 (Italian) ↗

Can you buy Vesuvius tickets on site?

There is no ticket office. For each slot, ten last-minute tickets are released 30 minutes beforehand; they can only be bought via the Wi-Fi at the entrance, five per email address at most.

Park authority: Il Gran Cono – tickets online only, time slots, entry times, directions, trail no. 5 (Italian) ↗

What are the opening hours of the Vesuvius crater?

Daily from 9:00. Last entry is at 15:00 from November to February, 16:00 in March and October, 17:00 from April to June and in September, and 18:00 in July and August.

Park authority: Il Gran Cono – tickets online only, time slots, entry times, directions, trail no. 5 (Italian) ↗

Can you drive to the crater of Vesuvius?

No. Between Quota 800 and Piazzale Quota 1000 the road is closed to private cars. Parking at Quota 800 costs €7 for up to four hours; from there take the shuttle bus or walk.

Parking on Via Osservatorio (Ercolano municipality): rates, maximum 4 hours, traffic ban beyond Quota 800 (Italian) ↗

How do you get to Vesuvius without a car?

Take the Circumvesuviana to Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri and then EAV bus 808, which has run nine times a day since 1 October 2026. Taxis and private shuttles leave from Ercolano Scavi.

EAV: bus line 808 Pompei – Vesuvio, timetable from 1 October 2026 (Italian) ↗

Do you need a guide for Vesuvius?

Above 1,000 m it is compulsory to be accompanied by the guides of the Presidio Permanente Vulcano Vesuvio. This is included in the normal ticket; you do not need to book a tour.

Park authority: protocol for trail no. 5, annex to resolution no. 24 of 29 Jun 2026 (Italian, PDF) ↗

How high is Mount Vesuvius?

1,277 m (4,190 ft) according to the park authority. On trail no. 5 visitors reach 1,175 m (3,855 ft); the upper crater rim on the north and east sides is closed.

Park authority: the volcano – Somma-Vesuvius, summit 1,277 m, crater 450 m wide and 300 m deep (Italian) ↗

Is Pompeii part of Vesuvius National Park?

No. Pompei is not one of the park's 13 municipalities. Our sister project Volcano Guide covers the excavation.

Vesuvius National Park authority: the park – founded on 5 June 1995, 8,482 hectares, 13 municipalities (Italian) ↗

07Sources and status

Park authority, environment ministry, Civil Protection Department, EAV and Ercolano municipality, retrieved on 8 October 2026.

News from the park authority

Fetched automatically: 08 Oct 2026 14:25 UTC.

Original posts from the park authority, in Italian. The feed also contains events and general park news, as well as trail closures and reopenings. The date comes from the feed and does not confirm current openings, closures or offers.

08 Oct 2026 · Allerta meteo arancione: chiusura del Gran Cono del Vesuvio l’8 e 9 ottobre 2026 ↗
06 Oct 2026 · “Sulle orme della Fenice”: nel Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio quattro giornate tra prevenzione e conoscenza del territorio ↗
05 Oct 2026 · FestAmbiente Natura Vesuvio 2026 nel Parco del Vesuvio ↗
28 Sep 2026 · Il Presidente del Parco incontra i giovani volontari del Servizio Civile ↗
24 Sep 2026 · Funzionari dell’Unione Africana in visita nella Riserva Tirone Alto Vesuvio ↗

View all official notices ↗

How current is this information?

Researched 8 Oct 2026. Not a live status. Dates apply only to the year stated. A successful automatic fetch is not an editorial confirmation; outdated automatic values are hidden and replaced by the source link.

Current information from the park ↗

Image and map credits

Stage, overview Photo: Ekrem Canli ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗ · verkleinert, WebP, Darstellungszuschnitt
Place · Gran Cono: the crater trail Photo: Laurauriarte90 ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗ · verkleinert, WebP, Darstellungszuschnitt
Place · Valle dell'Inferno Photo: Giuseppe Vernieri ↗ · CC BY 3.0 ↗ · verkleinert, WebP, Darstellungszuschnitt
Place · Monte Somma and Punta del Nasone Photo: Lobufalo ↗ · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗ · verkleinert, WebP, Darstellungszuschnitt
Place · The 1944 lava flow Photo: daryl_mitchell ↗ · CC BY-SA 2.0 ↗ · verkleinert, WebP, Darstellungszuschnitt
Place · Osservatorio Vesuviano Photo: Carlomorino ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗ · verkleinert, WebP, Darstellungszuschnitt
Quote Photo: Horcrux ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗ · verkleinert, WebP, Darstellungszuschnitt

Location sources: Crater, trails, stations and car parks are taken from OpenStreetMap and each is referenced by its object number. The park authority gives the summit as 1,277 m (4,190 ft), OpenStreetMap as 1,281 m (4,203 ft); the crater rim is open to visitors up to 1,175 m (3,855 ft). Markers do not imply that access is permitted. Base map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Coastlines of the chapter map: Natural Earth.

End of the field book · Park authority ↗