Booking choice: The minibus tour, volcano first, from $97 per person. Check dates Tour details
The Gran Cono, path 5 of the Vesuvius National Park, is the walk every tour means by "climbing Vesuvius". It starts at the car park at about 1,000 m and climbs to the crater rim. It is also the part of a day trip most likely to be cancelled.
On 8 October 2026 the park closed the crater from 15:00 that day to 15:00 on 9 October under an orange weather alert, and expects to reopen it on Saturday 10 October. Winter brings more of those days. Here is how they work.
The quick answer
In winter the crater opens 9:00 to 15:00 (November to February) and 9:00 to 16:00 (October and March). It closes automatically on any orange Civil Protection alert, and guests report closures for wind. Unused park tickets are refunded automatically. Tours refund the park ticket or swap in another stop, depending on the operator.
What are the Vesuvius crater hours in winter 2026-27?
9:00 to 15:00 in November, December, January and February; 9:00 to 16:00 in October and March.
The park's Gran Cono page sets the hours by month. Tickets are timed, and you can pass the gate from 40 minutes before to 100 minutes after the time on your ticket, never after closing.
A 15:00 close is early. On a tour that does Pompeii in the morning and lunch after, the coach has to reach the car park by early afternoon. That is why we prefer volcano-first or early-start tours in the cold months.
| Months | Crater open | Pompeii (for comparison) |
|---|---|---|
| October | 9:00 to 16:00 | To 19:00, then 17:00 from 15 Oct |
| November to February | 9:00 to 15:00 | 9:00 to 17:00, last entry 15:30 |
| March | 9:00 to 16:00 | To 17:00, then 19:00 from 16 Mar |
| April to June, September | 9:00 to 17:00 | 9:00 to 19:00 |
Why does the Vesuvius crater close?
The trail and the ticket sales shut automatically whenever the Campania Civil Protection issues an orange weather alert or higher. Guests also report closures for strong wind.
The park's rule is plain: on days with a regional weather alert "starting from the orange alert level", ticketing and trail access close automatically, according to the Gran Cono page. The latest case is the closure notice of 8 October 2026, which cites alert no. 82/2026 and shuts the entrances from 15:00 on 8 October to 15:00 on 9 October.
Wind is the other one. A guest on the classic day wrote that they "were unable to go up Mt Vesuvius because it was too windy". And operators can't always know in advance: Project Napoli Service told one reviewer that the closure is not announced, so the bus has to drive up to find out.
Do you get a refund if the crater is closed?
From the park, yes: unused tickets for a closure are refunded automatically within 60 days. On a tour, it depends on the operator.
If you bought your own ticket on the park's Vivaticket shop, the park refunds unused tickets for closure periods automatically, within 60 days.
Tours handle it differently, and the listings spell it out. None of them refunds the whole day.
| Tour | If Vesuvius is closed |
|---|---|
| Classic day | Park ticket refunded (EUR 11); the rest runs |
| Shore excursion | Park ticket refunded (EUR 11) |
| Elite tour | May switch to the Valley of Hell; ticket included |
| Alpine guide and pizza | Free time in the Herculaneum ruins |
| Minibus day | An alternative activity; one guest went to Herculaneum |
Volcano first in the morning, then Pompeii with an archaeologist. 16 people at most.
Check dates for the minibus tour, volcano firstHow do you buy a Vesuvius crater ticket?
Online only, on the park's Vivaticket shop, by card, for a timed slot. EUR 10 full, EUR 8 reduced, free under 6.
There is no ticket office on the mountain. The park sells tickets only online: EUR 10 full price, EUR 8 for under-25s and residents of the 13 park towns, free for children under 6 with their parents. Tours pass on the booking fee, which is why listings show EUR 11 or EUR 11.68.
On your own, buy the ticket after you check the forecast, not weeks ahead. A ticket for a closure day comes back to you anyway, but it saves you the trip up.
How long is the walk to the crater?
The whole path is 4,010 m and takes about 2.5 hours; the top point is 1,175 m. Tours give you 1 to 2 hours, and guests walk up in 40 minutes to an hour.
The park rates the Gran Cono as low difficulty and short. Guests are less kind: the slope is loose volcanic gravel, and one wrote that it was "not for the faint of heart". The listing for the Elite tour compares the climb to about 45 flights of stairs.
In winter, add a layer: the rim is high and exposed. Our what to wear guide covers shoes and layers, and the crater hike guide covers the walk.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vesuvius open in winter?
Yes. The crater opens 9:00 to 15:00 from November to February and 9:00 to 16:00 in October and March, except on days with an orange weather alert or strong wind.
How do I know if the Vesuvius crater is closed today?
Check the news on the Vesuvius National Park website. It posts closure notices for orange alerts, like the one for 8 and 9 October 2026.
Do I get my money back if Vesuvius is closed?
Tickets bought from the park are refunded automatically within 60 days. On a tour, most operators refund only the park ticket or swap in another stop.
Can you buy Vesuvius tickets at the crater?
No. Tickets are sold only online, on the park's Vivaticket shop, by card.
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Mt Vesuvius Hike and Pompeii Guided Tour
- Round-trip minibus from Piazza Garibaldi (Starhotels Terminus, opposite Napoli Centrale)
- Mt Vesuvius ticket with audioguide and a tour leader
- Pompeii admission and a skip-the-line tour with an archaeologist
Pompeii & Mt Vesuvius Elite Tour with Lunch
- Pickup from listed central Naples hotels or the cruise terminal (about 7:10 to 8:30 AM)
- Two-hour walking tour of Pompeii with an archaeologist, skip-the-line entry
- Vesuvius National Park ticket (EUR 11.68) included; the listing says bad weather or heat may switch the stop to the Valley of Hell
Pompeii and Vesuvius Tour with Pizza Lunch
An alpine guide at the crater and pizza in between
