How to plan a day at Mount Vesuvius and/or Pompeii & Herculaneum (Information, Tour Links & Tips)

You're heading to Naples soon: you are interested in visiting one of the few active volcanoes in Italy, and the ruins of the Roman towns that were destroyed after its most famous eruption. This excursion day will be one of the highlights of your trip to Naples, and here is some information about the sites, what is good to know before planning, and some tips.

Summary of all the main links included in this article

Recommended organised tours:

Recommended Mount Vesuvius tour (only)

Recommended Mount Vesuvius + Pompeii tour (guided tour)

Recommended Pompeii tour (no Vesuvius - including transportation from Naples)

Recommended Mount Vesuvius + Herculaneum tour (guided tour)

Recommended Herculaneum tour (no Vesuvius - including transportation from Naples)

Organising it on your own:

Vesuvius

Individual ticket to enter Vesuvius National Park (no transportation)

Car parking spot reservation at the Vesuvius National Park

Pompeii

Individual ticket to enter Pompeii (no transportation, no guided tour) 

Book the Pompeii guided tour organised by the archaeological site

Herculaneum

Individual ticket to Herculaneum (no transportation, no guided tour)

What is Mount Vesuvius and where it is

Mount Vesuvius is a volcano located in the Campania region in Italy, about 9 km (5.6 mi) South-East from Naples. Vesuvius used to be a much higher structure, called Mount Somma, which then collapsed after its 79 AD eruption, forming its great coned shape ("Gran Cono") we still see today. Its area is a national protected area, known as Vesuvius National Park.

💡 Did you know that Vesuvius is one of the very few active volcanoes in Europe? Its last eruption happened in 1944, and its activity is constantly being monitored by volcanologists.

Caption: Aerial view of Mount Vesuvius

Its most famous eruption happened in 79 AD: the eruption that destroyed several nearby Roman towns, including Pompeii and Herculaneum, amongst others.

Today, it is possible to visit Mount Vesuvius as well as the archaeological ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Visiting Mount Vesuvius with an organised bus tour

There are several tours bringing visitors to Mount Vesuvius. They organise bus pick-ups from Naples, to reach a hike starting point at 1.000 meters of altitude. Bus tours organise transportation from and back to Naples, while during the hike you will be on your own and free to manage your time.

This is the eatinero top pick recommended bus tour:

Organised bus tours include the Vesuvius National Park entrance ticket in their price, so if you choose a tour you are covered, but if you plan to visit Vesuvius on your own, you must buy your ticket online (explained below how).

In the hike starting point area, where entrance tickets are checked, there are bathroom facilities available: make use of them as there won't be toilets at the top.

From there, the panoramic hike up towards the volcano crater starts.

Hike information:

Duration: usually 1 h 30 min time available at the site to hike up and back down

Total length: approx. 4 km round-trip (2.5 mi)

Maximum height reached: 1.170m (3.840 ft)

Elevation gain: 140m (460 ft)

Difficulty: Easy

What to bring: comfortable shoes with good grip. Clothes depend on the season, you should always bring with you a hat, sunscreen and water.

You can find more information about the hike here.

📌 At the top the temperature could be lower and it may be windy: bring an additional layer to cover up in case needed.

Caption: The hike up towards the Vesuvius crater. Relatively easy, comfortable shoes with a good grip are enough.

Once at the top, you can walk on the edge of the crater! On the side walking path you will enjoy the breathtaking views over the Naples Bay and the Mediterranean Sea, including the surrounding areas such as the Capri, Ischia, Procida islands.

Caption: View over the Naples Bay and the Mediterranean Sea from the Vesuvius crater, the top of the hike.

At the top, you will also find a small panoramic kiosk and a small souvenir shop. 

Guided tours are given for everyone close to the top of the crater, at different time slots: check the language, as some time slots are held in English, and others in local language (Italian).

⚠️ Excursions to Mount Vesuvius are subject to climate conditions, and in case of unsafe weather conditions access to the path may be temporarily suspended.

Link to the recommended organised bus tour to Mount Vesuvius

 

Visiting Mount Vesuvius independently, on your own

If you travel to Vesuvius on your own, you can reach the hiking starting point area in two ways:

• By car: 

If you travel by car, you must purchase a car parking spot in advance on this official website. You must sign up and provide your license plate, and you will then get an assigned parking spot (cost for a car is €7).

The dedicated small parking lot is at a 2 km (1.25 mi) distance from the hike starting point: there is a shuttle bus organised for a small fee that will bring you up to the hike starting point, or you can walk your way up (consider that the roads are narrow, with various buses and shuttle buses passing by). 

📌 It is advised to buy a parking spot ticket after having already booked and secured your National Park entrance ticket.

Be mindful that driving up to the parking lot is complicated and roads are quite narrow.

• By public transportation: 
  

  
  
  • Travel by Circumvesuviana train from Naples to Herculaneum (train stop: Ercolano Scavi). From there, you can catch the Vesuvio Express bus right from the train station bringing you to Vesuvius. At the time of this article, the Vesuvio Express bus costs €10-12 round-trip for transportation only, or €20 the combo including the Vesuvius National Park ticket.
    
    
  • There are public EAV buses departing from Piazza Garibaldi in Naples, reaching Mount Vesuvius, but they have much less frequent rides and they do not ride at all in January and February. It is recommended to rely on an organised tour, or to travel by train + Vesuvio Express bus, or by car.

Admission to start the hike is only possible upon presenting the entrance ticket (Standard Great Cone ticket) with a selected time slot.

⚠️ There is no official ticket office onsite: tickets can only be purchased online. As the internet connection is very weak onsite, it is strongly advised to buy it in advance.

You can purchase the entrance ticket to the Vesuvius National Park on this official website (€11,68 for adults, €9.55 under 25 years old, at this time).

The entrance ticket is timed and tight to a specific time slot: check ahead of time as slots tend to get sold out quickly. Standard tickets are made available online up to 30 days before the date. This ticket does not include transportation.

Timing of the last admissions per month:

November / December / January / February: 3:00 pm
March: 4:00 pm
April / May / June: 5:00 pm
July / August: 6:00 pm
September 5:00 pm
October 4:00 pm

📌 Because of the weak internet connection, be extra safe and take a screenshot of your ticket.

You can find more information about the hike here.

As mentioned, guided tours at the top of the volcano are provided for everyone, at different time slots. The scheduled timetable is printed and available onsite, but as entry tickets are time bounded, consider that you may not find an English guided tour at your time of visit. 

Alternatively, you can purchase this National Park entrance ticket + audio guide included (download the tracks in advance because of lack of internet connection onsite).

From the Naples guide itinerary4-Day Itinerary, Best restaurants and what to order, and more!Look inside · €14,50

The archaeological sites: Pompeii & Herculaneum

Pompeii and Herculaneum are the most known Roman towns destroyed by the 79 AD Vesuvius eruption. Excavations from the mid-18th century - still continuing today - started bringing to the surface the remains of the towns, showcasing fragments of daily life at the time of the Roman Empire. 

Both archaeological sites can be visited today, and the whole archaeological area is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Pompeii is located 40 minutes away by train from Naples, Herculaneum is 20 minutes distant by train from Naples.

Caption: Location of Mount Vesuvius and the Archaeological sites: their distance from Naples.

Most organised tours plan day visits to both Mount Vesuvius + one of the archaeological sites. Pompeii used to be a large commercial town, whereas Herculaneum was a smaller seaside holiday town. How to choose which one to visit? Here is a small overview about both sites.

Get to know Pompeii

Pompeii used to be a wide commercial town, and is considered today the only archaeological site in the world providing a complete picture of an ancient Roman city. 

The archaeological site of Pompeii spreads over 66 hectares, 49 of which have been excavated as of today. Here you can see all the buildings and spaces that showcase the most important aspects of daily life in a Roman city, such as the Basilica, the Capitolium, various temples, theatres, an amphitheatre and several public baths.

At the Pompeii site, you can also find an exhibition with reproductions of the victims' bodies.

The city is divided into regiones (neighborhoods) and insulae (blocks), easily recognisable on the given map for navigation at the entrance or downloadable online.

Good to know:

• Pompeii is wider and the most famous site, but it is more crowded too
• it gives the possibility to get a complete picture of how daily life was at the time of the Roman empire
• There are only few areas in shade available, which is something to keep in mind in the summer
• There are several cafés / restaurants and bathroom facilities inside the archaeological site
• Fountains with (free) drinking water are marked on the map
• You can visit Pompeii on your own, or with an organised tour (see below)

Caption: Part of the archaeological site of Pompeii

Get to know Herculaneum

Herculaneum was a smaller seaside holiday town with impressive public buildings such as a spacious palaestra, a basilica, a theatre, public baths.

As of today, most of ancient Herculaneum still remains covered beneath the surface of what is the city of modern Herculaneum today. It has been hypothesised that the area of Herculaneum consisted of 20 hectares, 4.5 of which are uncovered and open today. 

Despite the smaller size, Herculaneum remained better preserved than Pompeii over time: it was covered by flows of pyroclastic rock after the eruption that solidified to an average height of approximately 16 meters, which has led to a special phenomenon of preservation, especially of organic artefacts (plants, fabrics, furniture and structural parts of wooden buildings), and the upper floors of the buildings.

Good to know:

• Herculaneum is smaller but less crowded compared to Pompeii
• It is better preserved, you can see upper floors of the buildings and preserved organic artefacts
• More shade available in the summer
• Closer to Naples and Mount Vesuvius, making it an easier combined day trip

Caption: Part of the archaeological site of Herculaneum

From the Naples guide itinerary4-Day Itinerary, Best restaurants and what to order, and more!Look inside · €14,50

Pompeii or Herculaneum: How to choose?

While both sites are wonderful, impressive and insightful, there a few factors you may want to consider.

You may choose Pompeii if:

• you want to visit the most famous and biggest archaeological site, despite the crowds
• you want to see a site showcasing the most complete picture of daily life in an ancient Roman city
• you want to see the exhibition of the exact reproductions of the victims' bodies

You may choose Herculaneum if:

• you want to see an incredibly well preserved site, where it is possible to see upper floors of buildings and organic artefacts
• you are crowd sensitive and prefer a smaller quieter site
• you suffer the hot weather and often need shade protection
• you are tight on time and need to visit the closest site to Naples and Vesuvius

Visit Pompeii / Herculaneum with organised tours (that may include Vesuvius) or on your own

You can decide if you want to visit the archaeological sites with an organised tour that includes transportation from and to Naples, or on your own. Organised tours handle transportation and include entrance tickets. Depending on the tour you choose, it may also include a guided tour inside the ruins.

Highly recommended organised tours:

VESUVIUS + POMPEII (guided tour included)

POMPEII ONLY (guided tour included)

VESUVIUS + HERCULANEUM (guided tour included)

HERCULANEUM ONLY (guided tour included)

Information and links if you want to visit Pompeii or Herculaneum on your own

Pompeii on your own

You can reach Pompeii by Circumvesuviana train from Naples Central station in about 40 minutes. The site entrance is right next to the train station (called Pompei Scavi) once you arrive.

The basic entrance ticket (Pompeii express) costs €20, €2 reduced price if younger than 25, free under 18. For an additional price you can include access to the suburban villas. You can buy the tickets to Pompeii here. 

In 2026 guided tours of parts of the archaeological sire are offered in Italian and English for €8, free under 18. You can book the 2026 Pompeii guided tour here.

Otherwise, at the entrance of the archaeological site you can buy an official well structured audio guide for €9, or a tour guided by an archaeologist for €35.

Herculaneum on your own

You can reach Herculaneum by Circumvesuviana train from Naples Central station in about 20 minutes. Get off at the train station Ercolano Scavi, the site entrance is at a 6 minutes walk from the train station.

The entrance ticket costs €16 for adults, €2 reduced price under 25, free under 18. You can purchase the regular entrance to Herculaneum ticket here.

Guided tours are available in Italian, audio guides are available in several languages (from €10). You can purchase the audio guide here (not including the ticket).

💡 If you have purchased the Campania Artecard sightseeing bundle, entrance to Pompeii and Herculaneum is included (at least until November 2026, check the website for any further update).

💡 Entrance to both Pompeii and Herculaneum is free on the first Sunday of the month, and on some national holiday dates such as April 25th and June 2nd.

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to visit Vesuvius today?

Yes, Vesuvius activity is constantly monitored by the INGV - Osservatorio Vesuviano. At this time, its activity is currently marked with green alerts, meaning that the monitored parameters are remaining within the values associated with its ordinary background activity: it is therefore considered highly safe to visit it today.

Can you visit Vesuvius on your own?

Yes, you can visit Vesuvius on your own by reaching the area via car or by train + shuttle. You can find above information and tips on how to arrive and where to buy the Vesuvius National Park entrance ticket.

What should I bring to Vesuvius?

Bring comfortable shoes to hike up, and as the temperature at the top may be lower or it may be windy, bring an additional layer with you in case you need it. Bring a hat, sunscreen and water, even bringing you own snack / food may be recommended since the choice at the kiosk at the top is limited.

How to reach Pompeii and Herculaneum?

If you are visiting on your own, both sites can be easily reached by Circumvesuviana train: Herculaneum is at a 20 minutes train ride from Naples, Pompeii at a 40 minutes train ride from Naples. Alternatively, you can book an organised tour that includes transportation.

Can I visit Pompeii & Herculaneum on the same day?

Yes, theoretically you can, but it is advised against it as time is usually not enough for both in one day. Pompeii is so wide that it could take a full day on its own.

How to move independently between Vesuvius and Pompeii / Herculaneum?

If you are not part of an organised tour handling the transports, you can best move among the sites if you have a car. Otherwise:

Vesuvius + Herculaneum: move between Herculaneum and Vesuvius by Vesuvio Express bus.

Vesuvius + Pompeii: the EAV 808 bus service connects Pompeii to Mount Vesuvius. The journey takes approximately one hour.

 

 

Summary of all the main links included in this article

Recommended organised tours:

Recommended Mount Vesuvius tour (only)

Recommended Mount Vesuvius + Pompeii tour (guided tour)

Recommended Pompeii tour (no Vesuvius - including transportation from Naples)

Recommended Mount Vesuvius + Herculaneum tour (guided tour)

Recommended Herculaneum tour (no Vesuvius - including transportation from Naples)

Organising it on your own:

Vesuvius

Individual ticket to enter Vesuvius National Park (no transportation)

Car parking spot reservation at the Vesuvius National Park

Pompeii

Individual ticket to enter Pompeii (no transportation, no guided tour) 

Book the Pompeii guided tour organised by the archaeological site

Herculaneum

Individual ticket to Herculaneum (no transportation, no guided tour)