The eruptions of Mount Vesuvius
Mount Vesuvius has erupted many times. The INGV Osservatorio Vesuviano, which monitors the volcano, documents its eruptive history, including the eruption of 79 AD and the most recent one in 1944. Those two years are the anchors of this page.
The eruption of 79 AD buried Pompeii and Herculaneum, two places that are now archaeological sites rather than parts of the crater area. If you want to see what that eruption left behind, see Pompeii and Vesuvius day tours. They link the mountain and the ruins in one day.
We treat the victims of 79 AD and 1944 with respect. This page gives history, not forecasts.
79 AD: the eruption that reached Pompeii
The 79 AD eruption is the one most visitors come to understand. It affected Pompeii and Herculaneum, and it is the reason both are visited today as archaeological sites. Do not rely on a single day given for the eruption in a brochure. The year 79 AD is the part to use.
The light pumice in the photo comes from the eruption of 79 AD.
1944: the most recent eruption
The last historical eruption was in 1944. It is a different thing from the volcano's present state. "Last erupted in 1944" is a fact about the past, and it does not mean the volcano is finished or harmless.
Ruins and crater are two trips
Pompeii and Herculaneum are archaeological places, not crater areas. A visit to the ruins and a walk to the crater are two different trips with separate tickets and rules, so plan them as two stops even on one day. A tour that combines them has to name both entries in its includes. The eruption history is documented by the INGV Osservatorio Vesuviano, and for the current status you should read its latest notice rather than a guidebook, including this one.
Our pick: Pompeii with a guide
The tour combines a guided day at Pompeii, destroyed in 79 AD, with a visit to the volcano.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided tours that tell the story of the eruptions
Guided day trips from Naples and Sorrento that pair the mountain with the ruins of Pompeii or Herculaneum, with live prices and availability. Check each listing for which entries, guide and transport are included.
What is the volcano doing now?
Mount Vesuvius is watched by the INGV Osservatorio Vesuviano. Describing it as quiet or dormant is not a guarantee that it is extinct or will never be dangerous. For the current alert level, check the latest official notice. This page makes no forecast. For the structure of the mountain and its monitoring, see Mount Vesuvius facts.
The civil protection authorities maintain emergency planning for the area, including a red zone. This is precautionary planning. It does not mean an evacuation is ordered today. Follow the wording of any official instruction if one is issued.
Seeing the history on a visit
- Walk the released path to the crater edge on trail 5 to see the volcano itself. See the crater hike.
- Add a day at Pompeii or Herculaneum to see what 79 AD did to the towns. These are separate sites with their own tickets.
- Book a combination tour if you want both in one day. Check that both entries are listed in the includes.
Vesuvius eruptions: frequently asked questions
When did Mount Vesuvius last erupt?
The last historical eruption was in 1944. The record also includes the eruption of 79 AD.
What happened to Pompeii in 79 AD?
Pompeii and Herculaneum were affected by the eruption of 79 AD. Both are archaeological sites today and are visited separately from the crater.
On what day did the 79 AD eruption happen?
Day dates vary between guides. Use the year 79 AD and treat a single day as one reading.
Is Mount Vesuvius going to erupt?
This guide makes no forecast. The volcano is monitored by the INGV Osservatorio Vesuviano, and a long quiet period is not a guarantee. Official notices are the place for current information.
What is the red zone?
It is the area covered by civil protection emergency planning around the volcano. It is precautionary planning, not a sign that an evacuation is in force.