Outdoors
Hiking Vesuvius — to the rim and back
From the gate at 1,000m to the crater rim at 1,281m: thirty minutes up, fifteen at the top, twenty back.
The logistics
Reserve in advance via the official site — entries are timed, capped at 200 per slot. The first slot (9:00) is best for clear views over the bay. The path is gravel, moderately steep, doable in sneakers.
Drive or take the EAVBUS from Pompei station to the gate (Quota 1000). From there it's a guided walk to the crater rim. The volcano last erupted in 1944; the steam rising from fumaroles is real.
Where to stay
Our homes in Pompeii
The Roman city frozen by Vesuvius in 79 AD — and a working modern town that makes a serious base for the volcano, Herculaneum, and Naples day trips.
Keep reading
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