Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius is in Campania, in Italy, overshadowing the Bay of Naples.

Understand

Mount Vesuvius is perhaps best known for its eruption in Roman times (24 August 79 AD), described => by Pliny the younger, when Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed. The eruption left a large crater that can still be visited today. It is a currently dormant volcano that ocassionally emits streams of lava (last in the 1950's). At the top of the volcano is a crater rim that affords a view into the crater that still fumes slightly. Besides that you will have (only on clear days, but the mountain is notoriously covered in fog or clouds) a stunning panorama overseeing the Bay of Naples, Naples, Capri, Ischia, the edge of the Amalfi Coast and more.

Be warned: Going there will make you sweat a lot and set you back about 15€ (including private taxi up the hill).

Get in

By Public Transport

Take the Circumvesuviana railway or bus from Naples, Pompeii or Sorrento to Hercolano Scavi station in Herculaneum. There you can either wait for the local bus that costs 3€ each way and goes only twice a day or so, or you can hang around and look like a lost tourist because there will be some (illegal???) taxis waiting for people just like you offering a lift up and down the mountain for about 10€ each person. They will typically wait until a car 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 an hour. That however is quite tough, because you will need to hike up the last bit before you can actually see anything exciting. That leaves you with only about 15 minutes to photograph the crater, memorise it for the rest of your life etc. When you come back to the car (probably already 15 mins late), you will be the first, the driver waits usually for all to return, and you regret not to have stayed a bit longer up there.

By Car

You can get to the upper parking area, but be prepared to part with an arm and a leg for the parking fee.

Get around

By Foot: Afraid, no choice. Everyone has to walk up the last 500m steeply uphill. That includes busloads of german pensioners which on busy days will congest the path and give up half the way. You probably want to get hold of one or two walking sticks provided. And there is a small entrance fee.

See

The crater with its rising fumes.
The different lava stones, changing colour as you walk uphill and around the crater.
The view of the Bay of Naples and Pompeii in good weather.
The scarred landscape where the 1950's lava streams went downhill.
All the other tourists.

Do

Make a photograph that looks like you gonna parachute down the mountain.

Buy

Geological collection sets with rare original Vesuvius stones.
Postcards with a helicopter view of the volcano (since you want get into one to snap the shots yourself).

Eat

Bring your own food and water!

Drink

No pubs, sorry.

Sleep

Nothing here. Stay e.g. in Naples.

Get out

Combine the trip to Vesuvius with visiting Herculaneum or Pompeii afterwards to make more of the day.