Vesuvius

There's a direct bus-line that leaves twice a day from Naples Central Station square and goes straight up to the visitor parking. It's run by one of the minor bus companies (not the city transport) and you might have a bit of a hard time finding it, but unless you have a prearranged group tour it's perfect. It runs on a timetable, so it's less capricious than the taxi service from Ercolano. Two-way ticket from Naples Station runs at €13.50. Bus leaves at 09:20 and 10:35 at the Garibaldi station.

Take the Circumvesuviana railway (Sorrento-Naples line). From Naples buy tickets on the lower level of the Central Station aka Stazione Centrale a Piazza Garibaldi, or bus to Ercolano Scavi station in Herculaneum or the Pompei Scavi station.

You can either wait for the local bus that costs around €8.70 return (from Pompeii, cheaper from Herculaneum/Ercolano). The bus goes only around twice a day from Herculaneum - at 08:45 and 12:45.

When you come out of the station, a private tourist office to your left runs trips up Vesuvius - €10 roundtrip, plus €8 admission fee. Downside is you only have an hour and 15 min to climb the summit and back - little time to rest. If you take longer than that, they leave you to fend for yourself or require you to pay another €5 per person for return. They also offer lifts to the ruins for €3.

Among others, the EAV bus line 808 directly from across the train station departs multiple times a day (online timetable, around 50 minutes in season) and takes approx. 40-50 minutes. Cost is €3.8 one way (Apr 2024). The Campania Artecard is not accepted.

Conveniently, the bus stops in front of the ticket office, and departs back from the park entrance.

You can use a private taxi company. From Ercolano Station you exit the station into a small square. Over to the left is a private tourist center. They offer a lift up and down the mountain for €10 each person. For €18, they will offer a ticket with entry to the crater. They are able to get special entry tickets for about €4.50, so when you purchase the package, they keep more than the €10. However, if you buy your own ticket to the crater, it's still €8 so you may as well pay them the €18. They will typically wait until a car (minibus) is full and leave then. They will agree with all people in the car to wait for all of you at the upper car park for 90 minutes. From the car park you'll have to hike up the last bit before you can actually see anything exciting. They say the walk is about 800 m long, going uphill most of the time and ending at the 1170-m mark. Wear good walking shoes as the trail is covered with dust and rock pebbles. If you have missed the public bus, this will be your only option to get up to the mountain.

The tourist information office is closed on Sundays.

You can also do a 6-km hike to the summit along the winding roads. To do this you will need to take the local bus service ANM 5 or 176 from Ercolano to San Vitto. From there you will be able to walk to the summit. You can take in the views of the national park and enjoy the local wildlife. You will still need to pay the entrance fee when you arrive at the crater, but for the energetic ones it is a must!

You can get to the upper parking area, take the exit Ercolano from motorway and go up via the roads SP19 and SP140. Be prepared to part with at least €5 for the parking fee. Also it's a good idea to go there earlier in the morning to avoid the jams that may happen along the narrow road. Parcheggio Vesuvio can be found at Strada per Belvedere Vesuvio (Belvedere della Seggiovia), 59, 80056 Ercolano NA. Parking MUST be booked online. You can find the National Park Visitor Centre on SP114.

Everyone has to walk up the last 500 m steep-ish-ly uphill. That includes busloads of German pensioners, which on busy days will congest the path and give up half the way. Closed-in shoes are essential, as the path is full of dust and loose rocks. You might want to get hold of one or two walking sticks provided – but don't expect any hard-core hiking.

There are numerous official hiking trails around the national park. To access the Great Cono (the top of the volcano), you need to book a ticket.

Amore, the leader cycling company, arranges on-demand daily excursions along rough authorized paths of the volcano, opened for this company by the park. Different lengths and difficulties are available.

There are a couple of huts selling cheap and sometimes bizarrely inappropriate souvenirs and expensive drinks around the rim. Rather take a bottle of water with you.

Even on hot days, you can get strong and chilly winds at the rim, so take a lightweight fleece to wear at the top.