Is there a tour bus for Mount Vesuvius?

There are buses and shuttles that climb the lower slope of Mount Vesuvius, stopping at the ticket office at 1,050 meters above sea level. The trail begins here, offering views of the Vesuvius park overlooking the Tirone Reserve, the Bay of Naples, and the Campanian Plain.



Yes, there are several "tour bus" options for Mount Vesuvius, ranging from public shuttles to private organized tours. The most common public option is the EAV Bus Line 808, which runs from the Pompeii ruins (Piazza Anfiteatro) directly to the "Quota 1000" parking lot, where the hiking trail begins. Another popular private option is the Vesuvio Express, a shuttle bus that departs frequently from the Ercolano Scavi (Herculaneum) train station. For a more "all-inclusive" experience, many companies in Naples and Sorrento offer half-day tour buses that include hotel pickup, a professional guide, and pre-booked entry tickets. It is crucial to remember that the bus only takes you to the 1,000-meter mark; you must still hike the final 20-30 minutes on foot to reach the crater. In 2026, you must book your crater entry ticket online with a fixed time slot in advance, as they are no longer sold at the summit and signal is poor on the mountain.

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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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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 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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Entry is staggered, group of 50 people every 10 minutes, so booking is compulsory. You can access the Crater by stamping your ticket at the automatic gates you can find at Piazzale di Quota 1000. You need to stamp your ticket when entering and exiting.

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By Bus. The EAV bus, which departs from Piazza Garibaldi in Naples and travels to Mount Vesuvius, is a popular mode of public transportation. The trip takes you to the Vesuvius National Park entrance and lets you view the breathtaking Southern Italian scenery. Approximately EUR 15 is required for the roundtrip fare.

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At the start of the main hiking trail of Mount Vesuvius, there is a small toilet behind the café near the entrance. To use it, you'll have only if you buy something there first. The toilet isn't very clean, has no water, and often has no paper.

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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 can easily combine Pompeii with a visit to the crater on Mount Vesuvius and do both in one day. Here are my tips to help you plan your own day trip from Naples!

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We recommend purchasing tickets in advance to speed up entry to the Archaeological Park. Those who buy in advance will receive their ticket in PDF format, that can be printed out or shown on their smart phone, and they can go directly to the turnstiles at the entrance to the Archaeological Park.

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