Pompeii & Mt. Vesuvius tour: UNESCO site crater hike

A single day covers two of Italy's most significant sites: the buried city and the volcano that buried it.

A full-day tour from Naples combines the Pompeii Archaeological Site (one of Italy's 58 UNESCO World Heritage Sites) with a climb up Mt. Vesuvius to see the crater. A professional guide leads you through Pompeii's highlights in two hours, covering the Forum, temples, decorated houses and plaster casts of victims. Then you climb the dormant volcano and take in the view from the rim. Hotel pickup and entrance tickets are included. The day runs six to eight hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Pompeii Archaeological Site2h · entry included
2. Mt. Vesuvius3h · entry included

Pompeii tour and Mt. Vesuvius hike

• Meet driver in hotel lobby
• Travel to Pompeii
• Visit Pompeii archaeological site highlights
• Explore Forum and ancient buildings
• See decorated Domus frescoes and mosaics
• Meet driver and travel to Mt. Vesuvius
• Climb Mt. Vesuvius and see crater
• Enjoy views from Mt. Vesuvius

The experience

You're picked up from your Naples hotel and driven to Pompeii, where your guide meets you at the site. The tour covers the archaeological area's most important structures in two hours: the Forum (the ancient city's religious, commercial and political center) the Jupiter temple, the Basilica, and decorated houses like the Domus with its frescoes, mosaics and intact rooms. You'll also see the plaster casts of victims preserved in the ash. The pace is set by the guide. You move through the site on foot.

After Pompeii, your driver takes you to Mt. Vesuvius. You climb the dormant volcano and reach the crater rim, where you can look down into it and out across the landscape. The volcano sits about 240 meters above sea level at its peak. This is the same mountain that buried Pompeii in 79 AD, and standing at the crater gives the morning's archaeology a physical context most visitors don't expect to find in a single day.

The tour includes bottled water, air-conditioned transport, entrance tickets to both Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius, and a professional guide who speaks English, Spanish or Italian. You choose the language at booking. Pickup from your hotel is part of the package. Lunch is not included, so plan to eat before you leave Naples or bring something with you.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver.
• entrance tickets to both Pompeii Archaeological Site and Mt. Vesuvius.
• professional tour guide in your choice of English, Spanish or Italian.
• hotel pickup in Naples.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (3 to 17 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availableNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by DSTurismo

Is this one for you?The tour involves walking through the Pompeii site and climbing volcanic terrain at Mt. Vesuvius, so it suits travelers comfortable with several hours on foot and ready for an early start from their Naples hotel. If you have limited mobility or prefer a slower pace, this full-day itinerary packs two major sites into one trip.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 17 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly will I see during the two hours at Pompeii?

The Pompeii Archaeological Site tour covers the Forum, the Jupiter temple, the Basilica, decorated houses with their frescoes and mosaic floors, and the plaster casts of victims preserved in the volcanic ash. Your guide explains the significance of each structure and what daily life looked like in the ancient city.

How difficult is the climb up Mt. Vesuvius?

Mt. Vesuvius is a dormant volcano, and you climb to the crater rim to see into it and view the surrounding landscape. The climb is manageable for most fitness levels, though it does involve walking uphill on volcanic terrain. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included in the tour. Bottled water is provided, but you'll need to arrange your own meal. Many travelers eat before leaving Naples or bring snacks to eat during the day.

How long is the full day, and what time does it start?

The tour runs six to eight hours total. You're picked up from your hotel in the morning, so the exact start time depends on where you're staying in Naples and the pickup schedule for your departure date.