Mount Vesuvius
Tips and tickets for visiting Mount Vesuvius from Naples
Mount Vesuvius is the active volcano near the city of Naples. Tips for visiting the volcano and the excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Info & Tickets Mount Vesuvius |
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| Tickets | !!! Important !!!: It is currently only possible to visit the crater with pre-booked and official tickets. You can access the crater by stamping your ticket at the automatic gates located at 'Piazzale di Quota 1000'. Access via the automatic gate is allowed from half an hour before to half an hour after the chosen time slot. If you arrive late, your ticket will expire without any right to a refund. Due to the poor internet signal on the volcano, it is advisable to buy the tickets before your visit.
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| Transport | By car: The crater of the volcano is located 22 kilometers from the center of Naples. It is possible to park your car at a distance of more than 1 kilometer from the ticket office of Vesuvius and there is a second parking space at '800 meters altitude' from where also shuttle buses depart. Parking spaces are limited and it is required to prepay and reserve your parking space via this website. With this option, keep in mind that you still have a tough part to walk uphill. Public transport:
Tours from Naples: Unfortunately, visiting Mount Vesuvius has become quite a logistical challenge. The easiest way to visit the volcano is definitely with an organized and guided tour. This prevents the difficult planning of public transport, unnecessary uphill walking, the unclear schedule of the Vesuvius Express and missing your time slot at the entrance gates. For a fully organized tour you can choose from 3 different options:
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Vesuvius, the volcano near Naples
The Volcano of Mount Vesuvius is located southeast of Naples. It is the second largest volcano in Italy, with a height of 1281 meters and a diameter of 8 kilometers. Vesuvius is a stratovolcano and has the shape of a cone. The slopes of stratovolcanoes are steep and have explosive eruptions. The layers are made up of different layers such as solidified lava, tephra and ash.
The great eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD
The origin of Vesuvius goes back to the year 79 AD, when Mount Somma erupted. It destroyed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The cities were covered in a great layer of ash and mud. A large number of people died during this volcanic eruption, although it is not known how many. Mount Somma then collapsed, creating the Vesuvius. This large eruption is also called the Somma Vesuvius complex.
The imposing Vesuvius volcano near Naples
Visit the rim of the craterMore eruptions of Mount Vesuvius
Roman cities such as Pompeii and Herculaneum were thus wiped out in the year 79 AD, but also in the centuries that followed, the volcano erupted several times, until the year 1631. After that year activity was still measured with small eruptions, but not very explosive anymore. The last minor eruption dates from 1944. Vesuvius is still active today and these activities are well measured.
The Vesuvius National Park
Mount Vesuvius can now be visited and since 1995 it has the status of a national park. You will find hiking trails around and on top of the volcano to experience the special volcanic landscape. It is even possible to walk around the crater. Once you have reached the crater mouth after a tough uphill walk, you will occasionally see some smoke coming out of the crater, but no more than that. In addition, you also have a beautiful view of the city of Naples.
Tip: Because visiting Mount Vesuvius is a logistical challenge, many tourists choose to book an organized day trip from Naples, whether or not combined with Pompeii or Herculaneum. Some providers with good reviews:
Video: What if the volcano would explode?
Where is Mount Vesuvius in Italy?
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May 12, 2022 Frederika: "We had a fantastic holiday in Naples and Pompeii because of the interesting tips for sightseeing and activities in Naples Italy."
