Is there a cable car up Vesuvius?

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.



No, there is no longer a functioning cable car or funicular to the summit of Mount Vesuvius in 2026. The historic funicular, made famous by the song "Funiculì, Funiculà," was destroyed in the 1944 eruption and never rebuilt. Subsequent chairlifts were also closed due to high maintenance costs and wind hazards. Today, the only way to reach the crater is a scenic hike. Most visitors take an authorized bus or shuttle from the lower parking areas (at 800m or 1,000m altitude) and then must walk the remaining steep, gravel path on foot. The walk takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes and requires a pre-booked "Timed Entry" ticket, which in 2026 costs about €11.68. For those with limited mobility, small shuttle vans can occasionally be arranged to reach the 1,000m mark, but the final trek to the "Great Crater" remains an outdoor physical endeavor with no mechanical lift assistance.

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On busy days, the funicular could carry up to 300 passengers, each paying 20 shillings (£1) for the journey from Naples to the summit of Vesuvius.

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Bus Tour. Hop on a tour to grab a ride up to the Volcano. The bus tours usually depart every hour, operating from 9 am until 3 pm. The tour is approximately two-and-a-half hours, returning you back to where you started.

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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 trail to reach the top of Mount Vesuvius has a moderate-high difficulty. It is steep and quite uneven. There are no benches to sit nor there is any shade.

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In reality, it is a formation that includes two volcanoes: the Monte Somma (dormant) and the Vesuvius (Gran Cono). Since 1995, Vesuvius is a national park and you can walk up to its summit.

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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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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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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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Then you are free to discover on own. It is possible to walk half the way around the lips of the volcano. You cannot walk all the way around. You do not need to have your private guide.

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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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