I came here as part of a guided tour to both Pompeii and Mt Vesuvius. I think this is the best, albeit much more expensive way to visit. It seems organizing transportation on your own and then trying to buy a ticket is very difficult and frustrating. Being part of a tour, we didn't have to worry about any of that and were able to enjoy the visit. The hike up to the crater wasn't too difficult and the views along the way and inside the crater were fantastic. You can go all around the crater, but we didn't have much time to do the whole cycle and it didn't seem that necessary anyway.

Amazing experience. Highly recommend Vesuvio Express (they squeezed us two into an earlier bus and waited 5 mins as we were a little slower to get back). I was really worried if I'd be able to make it up as I'm not fit/skinny/a hiker (a few flights of stairs and I'm out of breath!). To anyone in the same position, I'd say 90% of getting up is determination! Take your time, don't worry about everyone going past, use the sticks (we gave a €5 tip for two), be careful with your footing. Think of it as an escalating ramp of steepness - first few parts are shorter, then they get really steep and intense. It's not so much being out of breath but more your muscles, my calves were killing after. When you see the shop, you're pretty much there. Coming down takes time to avoid slipping. Also, they do take card at the little shop. Go, try it, it'll be the best rush!

This is a nice hike and all uphill. Suggest a tour bus/group to get there as the public bus is a distance from the trailhead/entrance. I went on a clear day below, but it was cloudy and foggy at the top so no view- however you can detect the smell of sulfur at the caldera when you are at the top! Allow a couple of hours for the top- but most tours give you and hour and a half. Bring water but there are rest areas with souvenirs and drinks along the way.

The site is amazing and the climb till the top, though tiring is totally worth it. However, the administration is very bad: you can not get a ticket on the entrance, you have to book it online. Where online? it is difficult to find which website is the official one since there are many websites that pop ups trying to sell you a guide as well for a lot of money. Finally and with the help of a fellow tourist (not the employees at the entrance who were useless and stupid), i managed to book it last minute. No need to book a guide since with the entrance ticket is included a guide on site at 2 important stages of the volcano

Amazing views from the top of the volcano. The hike to the top is a bit strenuous but by taking a break every 100m or so we made it. You can see into the crater from the top. We didn't go around the other side as we would not have made it back in time for the bus ride back to Herculaneum. The wind can get quite strong up top so hold onto your hats.

We just went there - I imagine in the summer when the hours are longer things may be very different. And I don't know why you need a guided tour here. Public transporation is straightforward. Just be there at least 10 minutes before the scheduled time, which is available online. The departure is at the two entrances to Pompeii park, not difficult to find. You pay the driver directly (3.60 Euro). A very scenic 50 minute ride. Also, remember you must get timed entry to the walk on line. And here is the trick. There is no way to get it without an Italian phone. So you need to ask a friend, the hotel, or your ABnB host for help. The walk up is about 1 hour, down 30 minutes. A bit steep. You don't get to see the whole caldera. There are food stands along the way for refreshments.

Hiking a mountain is no doubt an exciting adventure, but even more exhilarating is hiking an active volcano and peering down its crater. This is precisely the experience when taking on Mount Vesuvius, famous for its catastrophic eruption in AD79 which buried the town of Pompeii. This popular national park can be covered on a day-trip guided tour from Naples which also includes the Pompeii archaeological site. Standing majestically at a height of 1,281 metres, Mount Vesuvius is clearly visible from Naples, dominating the backdrop of the city. From the entrance of the park, the ascent to the crater takes about an hour, with the return descent about half that time. Enroute, the view of Naples and its surroundings that greeted you is nothing short of spectacular. If you're unlucky like we were, it can get rather foggy on certain days, greatly dampening your hiking adventure as the fog obscured your views of the surroundings and the crater. Regardless, given its infamy and historical significance, Mount Vesuvius which last erupted in 1944 is definitely one of those places that must be included in your travel bucket list.

Booked last minute from Herculaneum (by the train station ) Excellent price of €25 pp including entry to the crater. The coach was very comfortable and the driver so skilled!! The views are incredible on the way up. The walk from the entrance to the crater took us about an hour (lots of photography) The path is good, a little rocky but it's fine. The crater and views are out of this world and absolutely worth seeing. Warning*** a man gave us walking stick to use on the way. At this point he was very nice. On return he asked for a €10-20 tip and was extremely rude, (I don't need to know Italian to know I was being cussed) when we stated we had no cash. Personally we don't usually when travelling - maybe I'm in the wrong. Avoid if you not willing or able to tip it really did dampen the mood. But otherwise this trip should be on everyone's bucket list!!

First, the experience itself is great. You will be dropped of at approx. 1000 m, and then you walk the last 200 or so altitude meters. It is not too bad, but still takes some effort. Bring water, particularly if the temperature is high. We picked a day when there were few clouds, and as a result, the views were spectacular. We could see Naples and Pompei below and the islands of Capri and Ischia in the distance. Looking down the crater from the 1944 eruption with sulfuric gases still coming out is an eerie experience. So, in essence, the experience itself is highly recommended, particularly if you can do it on a day when you can admire the views. But the arrangements to get there are horrible. In order to limit the number of the people on the cone, a limited number of tickets are sold for specific time slots. These tickets can (and will) run out for popular times of the day. You will have to buy tickets well in advance to be certain that you will be allowed to hike up the mountain when you want to do it. Hence, if you want to wait to see what the weather forecast says, you will most likely be out of luck. One hour before every time slot, ten tickets are sold as "last minute tickets". However, these tickets sell out one or two seconds (literally) after they are released, so after about seven or eight attempts, I realized that I wouldn't be able to get last minute tickets on this beautiful day. At Pompei train station, there are people who will be happy to take you to the mountain and back. Where they got the tickets, I have no idea, but since that was the only way to get tickets, I had to bite the bullet and buy the service from them. My initial plan was to buy the tickets on line for around €11 and then take the local bus up and down the mountain for €7.20 per person r/t. But since the bus ride requires that you have a ticket to the mountain, which I couldn't obtain, I had to go with the other guys for €35 per person. In essence, a great experience on a good day. But you have to make a decision if you want to plan well in advance to save some money, or decide to go when you know weather is favorable, but be prepared to potentially pay a premium for it.

Amazing to visit a volcano, a bit surreal. Booked a trip with a local company in Pompeii, and they take you on a bus most of the way up. Then you walk the rest. Enjoyed the walk, make sure you wear good footwear, take a drink and snacks, even though there are a few places to get drinks and keepsakes.