Ercolano, Italy

Vesuvius: up to the crater

🚶 4.2 km · 📍 7 stops · ⏱ ~210 min

The climb up the Gran Cono, the active cone of Vesuvius, on a gravel path from the car park at a thousand metres to the crater rim at 1,170. GETTING THERE: take the local narrow-gauge railway from Napoli Porta Nolana or Garibaldi, platforms signed for Sorrento, to Ercolano Scavi (about 20 minutes), then a minibus (Vesuvio Express or EAV) up to the Quota 1000 car park, and the last 1.4 km on foot uphill. ENTRY IS TIMED AND MUST BE BOOKED IN ADVANCE on the park's website. In rain, fog or strong wind the park closes the path — in winter that happens often.