In short
To climb Vesuvius you need a ticket bought online in advance on the Park’s official website (vesuviopark.vivaticket.it), with a date and time slot: tickets are not sold at the ticket office. You drive up to the car park at 800 metres, then take a municipal shuttle (about 4 minutes) or walk (about 30 minutes) to 1,000 metres, where trail no. 5 “Il Gran Cono” begins: about 4 km in all, for a hike of around 2 and a half hours.
- Ticket
- online only, named, with time slot
- Parking
- 800 m + shuttle
- Trail
- no. 5 “Il Gran Cono”, about 4 km
- Duration
- about 2 h 30 in all
Step by step
- Buy your ticket online. Only on the official platform of Vesuvius National Park, choosing a date and time slot. Personal details are required.
- Get to the car park at 800 metres. Parking is not allowed at the 1,000-metre square.
- Go up to 1,000 metres. By the Ercolano (Herculaneum) municipal shuttle (about 4 minutes, a small fare each way) or on foot in about half an hour.
- Walk the Gran Cono trail. A wide path climbing over volcanic gravel (lapilli) up to the crater rim.
- Come down and head off. Allow at least 3 hours in total from the car park and back.
Trail opening hours
| Months | Hours |
|---|---|
| January, February, November, December | 9:00–15:00 |
| March, October | 9:00–16:00 |
| April, May, June, September | 9:00–17:00 |
| July, August | 9:00–18:00 |
Hours published by Vesuvius National Park; they may change. With an orange or red weather alert from the regional Civil Protection, the trail and ticket office are closed.
What to bring
- Closed shoes with sturdy soles: the ground is volcanic gravel
- A jacket even in summer: it is often windy at the top
- Water and a hat, especially from June to September
- Your ticket on your phone and an ID document
With an NCC private driver
The road up from Ercolano is narrow and on peak days the car park fills up. With a driver you arrive stress-free: I drop you where permitted and pick you up when you come back down.
Scarpato NCC Travel is based in San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, right at the foot of the volcano. Vesuvius combines well with Herculaneum or Pompeii on the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a Vesuvius ticket on site?
No: the ticket for the Gran Cono trail is sold only online, in advance, on the Park’s official website.
How long is the trail to the crater?
Trail no. 5 “Il Gran Cono” is about 4 km long in total; the hike takes about 2 and a half hours.
Can you drive up to the crater?
No. You drive to the car park at 800 metres, then take the shuttle or walk to 1,000 metres, and from there you climb on foot.
Is Vesuvius open in the rain?
With an orange or higher weather alert the trail is closed. Check conditions before you set off.
Can I do Vesuvius and Pompeii in one day?
Yes, if you start early: Vesuvius in the morning, Pompeii or Herculaneum in the afternoon.
Sources and fact-checks: Vesuvius National Park, Il Gran Cono
Updated October 2026 · Written by Carlo Scarpato, licensed NCC private driver in Campania since 2016.