Vesuvius: tickets, last entry and the walk to the crater
Buy your Vesuvius ticket online before you go up. Full price is €10 in the park's rules, €11.68 on its only authorized seller, Vivaticket. The park admits up to 360 people an hour, in groups of 20. In September, admission runs from 9:00 to 17:00. Book your slot at vesuviopark.vivaticket.it. The full path is 4,010 m and takes about 2.5 hours. The park says the full ring is not walkable during safety works and names the Capannuccia at 1,170 m as the near goal; check the open section before booking.
By Chiara Vitale · Sources checked
- Admission from 9:00 to 17:00 in September; until 16:00 in October
- €10 base ticket, €11.68 on vesuviopark.vivaticket.it, the only seller; €8 for under-25s with ID; free for under-6s with parents
- Up to 360 people an hour, in groups of 20. September daily capacity: 2,880
- Closed on orange or higher civil-protection weather alerts. No toilets at the top square
How do I get a Vesuvius ticket?
Every ticket is a guided visit of the Gran Cono, the crater path, at a time you choose. The gate checks the slot.
- Register on the park's Vivaticket site.
- Accept the visitor rules.
- Choose an available time slot and buy your ticket.
Sold out for your hour? The park reserves 20% of each day's tickets for last-minute sales. It publishes 10 per slot, 30 minutes before that slot, and they can only be bought on the wifi at the entrance, 5 per email address. Don't plan your day around those.
Vesuvius National Park, the Gran Cono rules.
What time does Vesuvius close?
| Month | Last admission | Daily capacity |
|---|---|---|
| January | 15:00 | 2,160 |
| February | 15:00 | 2,160 |
| March | 16:00 | 2,520 |
| April | 17:00 | 2,880 |
| May | 17:00 | 2,880 |
| June | 17:00 | 2,880 |
| July | 18:00 | 3,240 |
| August | 18:00 | 3,240 |
| September | 17:00 | 2,880 |
| October | 16:00 | 2,520 |
| November | 15:00 | 2,160 |
| December | 15:00 | 2,160 |
Last admission to the crater path and daily capacity, by month. Admission starts at 9:00 all year.
Visits must finish within 1 hour of the day's last entry. When the day's last entry is 17:00, finish your crater visit by 18:00.
The path closes for the day on an orange or higher civil-protection weather alert.
How long is the walk up Vesuvius?
The park rates the walk easy. The full path is 4,010 m and takes about 2.5 hours. The park says the full ring is not walkable during safety works and names the Capannuccia at 1,170 m as the near goal; check the open section before booking. Its highest point is 1,175 m. Wear proper walking shoes.
The path starts at the top square, Piazzale di Quota 1000, which has no parking. From the car park, the shuttle takes about 4 minutes. It costs €1 each way. On foot, the SP144 takes about 30 minutes over 1.8 km.
No toilets at the top square. Bring water and a hat in summer, and a windproof layer the rest of the year.
Vesuvius National Park, the Gran Cono page.
How do I get to Vesuvius from Pompeii or Naples?
From Pompeii
Take an EAV bus to Vesuvius from Pompei Villa dei Misteri station. That's the Sorrento-line station, the one for Porta Marina.
From Naples
1. Take the Circumvesuviana to Ercolano Scavi. 2. Take a taxi or shuttle from the station to Vesuvius. The park lists both; times and fares are the operators' own.
By car
Drive to the car park below the top square; the Municipality of Ercolano runs it. No parking at Quota 1000 itself. The shuttle costs €1 each way. You can also walk the SP144.
Check both last-entry times and your return transport before choosing the order.
Vesuvius National Park, "Gran Cono", including its section on reaching the crater.
Or let a tour do the driving
Mount Vesuvius tours, compared →Check that your chosen tour option includes the crater ticket. The volcano alone is in Mount Vesuvius tours; with Pompeii in the same day, Pompeii and Vesuvius tours, also filtered from Naples and from Sorrento. What to compare: which site comes first, whether both tickets are in the price, and how long you actually get at the crater.
Viator listing 7809P39, shared English option. Our selections, compared by option.
Before you go up
Can I buy a Vesuvius ticket at the entrance?
No. Tickets are sold online only, on the park's Vivaticket site. The park reserves 20% of each day's tickets for last-minute sales. It publishes 10 per slot, 30 minutes before that slot, and they can only be bought on the wifi at the entrance, 5 per email address.
Can I visit Pompeii and Vesuvius in one day?
Yes, if your crater slot and transport leave time for both. Pompeii's last entry is 17:30 from March 16 to October 14; from October 15 to March 15, it's 15:30. The crater's last entry is in the calendar above. For the full walk, check the finishing deadline before booking.
How long does the Vesuvius hike take?
Allow about 2.5 hours for the park's full 4,010 m path. The full ring is closed during safety works, the park says; the near goal is the Capannuccia at 1,170 m. Add about 4 minutes by shuttle from the car park. Walking the SP144 instead takes about 30 minutes over 1.8 km. Add time for waiting and the return to the car park.
What if the weather turns?
On an orange or higher civil-protection weather alert, the path closes for the day. Check the park's closure notices before you set off.
Is Vesuvius active?
Yes, in a quiet phase: the last eruption was in 1944 and the Civil Protection’s alert level is green. Green describes the volcano's state, not the trail: check the park's access notices, and remember that orange or red weather alerts close the route automatically. Last eruption, height, the four alert levels.
Is it suitable for children?
Under-6s go free with parents, and the park rates the path easy. The full path is 4,010 m, and the ring may be unavailable; there are no toilets at the top square. Decide by how far your child can comfortably walk.
Where can I park for Vesuvius?
Use the car park below Piazzale di Quota 1000; there's no parking at the top square. The Municipality of Ercolano runs the car park. Take the shuttle for €1 each way, or walk the SP144. The walk takes about 30 minutes.
Vesuvius National Park; Archaeological Park of Pompeii for the site's hours.