Can you do Mt Vesuvius without a tour?

Since 1995, Vesuvius is a national park and you can walk up to its summit. The best known and tourist route to follow on Mount Vesuvius is that of the Gran Cono, which leads through a steep path to the mouth of the crater.



Yes, you can visit and hike Mt. Vesuvius without a guided tour, but it requires advance planning because tickets must be purchased online in 2026; they are no longer sold at the site and often sell out 30 days in advance. To go "self-guided," you can take the Vesuvio Express bus from the Ercolano Scavi station or drive to the "Quota 1000" parking lot and walk to the trailhead. The main trail, the Grand Cono, is a 4km round-trip hike that is relatively easy and takes about 2 hours to complete. While you don't need a guide to walk the path, you are required to stay on marked trails for safety. Exploring the volcano independently allows you to set your own pace and enjoy the panoramic views of the Bay of Naples without the rigid schedule of a group. However, because parking is limited and logistics can be tricky, many travelers still prefer combined "Pompeii and Vesuvius" shuttle packages to avoid the hassle of coordinating separate transport and entry tickets.

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The volcano is still safe to climb as it is being monitored constantly. If the local geologists notice Mount Vesuvius might erupt, there will be enough time to clear the trail. It is not free to walk up Mount Vesuvius. You must buy your tickets online and select a timeslot to walk up the volcano.

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Since 1995, Vesuvius is a national park and you can walk up to its summit. The best known and tourist route to follow on Mount Vesuvius is that of the Gran Cono, which leads through a steep path to the mouth of the crater.

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Did you know that? The famous Neapolitan song “Funiculì Funiculà” was written to celebrate the opening in 1880 of the first funicular cable car that reached the top of Mount Vesuvius. Unfortunately this cable car was destroyed during the last eruption in 1944 and never reopened to the public.

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Barring inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances, the trail to the crater is open all year round, including Sundays and holidays.

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You can visit Pompeii for free on the first Sunday of each month. It is best to secure your ticket online or you can get a from the ticket office in Pompeii. Due to the free entry, Pompeii gets very busy on the first Sunday of the month. Opening hours remain as normal.

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We both strongly recommend doing Pompeii before Vesuvius for several reasons, but it is absolutely possible to do them the other way round; just follow these steps in reverse and keep a keen eye on timetables.

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The Hike Up to Vesuvius (The Gran Cono Trail) This section up until the volcano rim is the harder part of the hike. It's only 800m in distance, but you'll gain a little bit of elevation meaning that you'll definitely feel it in your legs!

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The hiking trail around Mount Vesuvius crater – the Great Cono – is indicated on local maps as nature trail n. 5 “Il Gran Cono”. It's a 4 km (2.5 mi) loop hike that takes about 3 hours. In the past, it was possible to hike the entire perimeter of the crater.

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Generally, the volcano is open to visitors from 9 AM to 5 PM, with the last entrance allowed at 3 PM. Is Mount Vesuvius open all year round? Mount Vesuvius is open to visitors all year round, except for some periods when the volcano is closed due to high volcanic activity or bad weather.

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Could It Erupt Again? Yes! Mount Vesuvius is considered an active volcano that sits on top of an extremely deep layer of magma—154 miles into the earth. Geologists think the volcano is overdue for an eruption, so it is likely to happen and it won't be pretty.

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You will be happy to know that there is no particular dress code for Pompeii but – like most walkable landmarks – we recommend wearing comfortable shoes and clothing, as you don't want to find your feet getting sore after just a half hour of touring the site!

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