How to visit Vesuvius
You ride a shuttle up to 1,000 m, then walk to the crater. You need a Gran Cono ticket with a time slot, sold online only.
At a glance
| How you get up | By shuttle from Ercolano Scavi to the 1,000 m car park (about 30 minutes), then on foot to the crater rim (about 30 minutes). |
| Ticket | You need a Gran Cono ticket with a time slot. It is sold online only, and it is included in “Shuttle + entry”. |
| How long | With the shuttle you get about 2 hours in the Park, then you ride back to Ercolano Scavi. |
| Altitude | The crater is about 1,281 metres high: it is cooler and windier at the top than in town. |
| Closures | In strong wind, rain or snow the Park can close the trail, even without notice. |
The Gran Cono ticket
The Gran Cono trail is run by the Vesuvius National Park, a public body separate from Vesuvio Express. To go in you need a ticket with a time slot.
- The ticket is sold online only, and there is no signal near the entrance: buy it before you go up.
- With Shuttle + Gran Cono entry the ticket is already included, in the slot you choose.
- With Shuttle only you buy the ticket separately: at peak times it sells out.
- At the gate you can enter from 30 minutes before to 90 minutes after the time on your ticket.
Opening times
The Gran Cono opens at 9:00. The last entry changes through the year:
| Months | Last entry |
|---|---|
| January, February, November, December this month | 15:00 |
| March, October | 16:00 |
| April, May, June, September | 17:00 |
| July, August | 18:00 |
The shuttle from Ercolano Scavi leaves about every hour. You see the exact times for the day when you book: choose the date and the available departures appear.
Weather and closures
In strong wind, rain or snow the Park closes the trail, even without notice, and reopens it as soon as it is safe. The Park is a public body, separate from Vesuvio Express.
- If the Park announces the closure in advance, we refund the whole service or move it to another date.
- If it closes after the tour has already set off, we refund the Park entrance ticket.
- If you bought your ticket on the Park’s website, the Park refunds it automatically, within 30 days of the closure.
What to bring
The trail is loose volcanic gravel and rock, almost entirely in the sun.
- Closed shoes with a good grip: sturdy trainers or hiking boots. Flip-flops, sandals and heels are not allowed.
- In summer: sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, at least 1.5 litres of water per person.
- In winter: layers, a windproof jacket, a hat and gloves. Cold drains phone batteries fast: bring a power bank for photos and digital tickets.
- A small backpack, to keep your hands free.
Who should avoid the climb
The climb to the crater is not recommended during pregnancy, for people with heart conditions or reduced mobility, or with a pushchair. It is not suitable for people with breathing conditions or wheelchair users either.