Booking choice: The classic Vesuvius and Pompeii day trip, from $149 per person. Check dates Tour details
Guests' most repeated tip across every tour is the same: wear proper shoes. The second is water. Pompeii has very little shade, and the crater path has none.
This is the short list, with the reasons behind it.
The quick answer
Wear closed trainers or light hiking shoes with grip, breathable clothes, a hat and sunglasses, and bring sunscreen, a refillable bottle (Pompeii has fountains) and a light layer for the wind at the crater. Carry your passport or ID: Pompeii tickets carry your name, and some tours ask for it.
What shoes should you wear for Pompeii and Vesuvius?
Closed trainers or light hiking shoes with a grippy sole: Pompeii's paving is uneven and the crater path is loose gravel.
Guests describe Pompeii's streets as slippery, and the Vesuvius path as slippery on the way down. Flip-flops and smooth-soled sandals are the worst choice for both. The classic day's listing recommends comfortable walking shoes for the climb; the wine tour says hiking shoes.
Shoes sorted? Check dates for the classic day with pickup in Naples.
Check dates for the classic Vesuvius and Pompeii day tripWhat clothes are best?
Light, breathable clothes that cover your shoulders from the sun, plus a thin layer for the top of the volcano.
It is cooler and windier at about 1,170 metres than in the ruins, especially outside summer. Shorts are fine at both sites. In spring and autumn, a light waterproof jacket earns its place: tours operate in all weather.
How do you handle the heat?
Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and water: guests repeatedly warn that Pompeii is hot with very little shade in late spring and summer.
The crater path is just as exposed. One guest on a very hot day only just made it back to the minibus in time. If heat worries you, a tour that does the volcano in the morning helps, and on the classic day you can sit out the climb.
Want the climb in the cooler morning? The minibus tour goes up Vesuvius first.
Explore the minibus tour, volcano first Tour detailsIs there water at Pompeii?
Yes: guests report drinking fountains inside the site where you can refill a bottle.
Bring a refillable bottle for Pompeii, and fill it before Vesuvius: guests mention gift shops on the way up, but do not count on buying water on the climb. The wine tour includes bottled water.
What should you pack in your day bag?
Keep it small: you carry it through Pompeii and up the volcano.
- Refillable water bottle
- Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses
- A light layer or rain jacket
- Passport or ID card
- Snacks, if your tour does not include lunch
- Cash or card for souvenirs and drinks at the crater
- Motion-sickness tablets if you need them: the road up Vesuvius is all hairpins
Do you need ID for Pompeii?
Yes, carry it: Pompeii tickets have carried the visitor's name since 15 November 2024, and several tours ask for the lead traveler's ID.
Ticket offices ask for ID or a passport when they issue a named ticket, says the park's notice. The minibus tour asks every traveler to bring a passport or ID, and the pizza lunch tour requires a passport on the day.
Ticket names handled for you: every combined tour here includes both tickets.
Check dates for the Elite tour with lunchWhat about luggage?
Leave it at your hotel or a luggage deposit: minibuses may have no room for suitcases.
The minibus tour warns that not all its vehicles have a luggage compartment. Large bags are a burden in Pompeii anyway.
What if it rains or is windy?
Bring a rain jacket and expect the crater path to close in strong wind or storms; Pompeii stays open.
Wet paving in Pompeii is slippery, so grip matters even more. Every tour here cancels free up to 24 hours before, so check the forecast the day before. More in the crater walk guide.
Weather looking good? Book with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check dates for the classic Vesuvius and Pompeii day tripFrequently asked questions
Can I wear sandals to Pompeii and Vesuvius?
You can, but it is a poor choice: Pompeii's stones are uneven and the crater path is loose gravel. Closed shoes with grip are much safer.
Is there a dress code at Pompeii?
No formal dress code; dress for heat and a lot of walking.
Do I need hiking boots for Vesuvius?
Not boots, but shoes with a grippy sole: trainers or light hiking shoes are ideal.
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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 and Pompeii Day Trip from Naples
- Pickup and drop-off in Naples (hotel, station or a nearby meeting point)
- Guide in Pompeii and on Mt Vesuvius; shared air-conditioned coach
- Pompeii entrance ticket (EUR 20) and Vesuvius National Park ticket (EUR 11)
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
