Around Mount Vesuvius at a glance
The volcano rises over the Gulf of Naples, and most places worth a visit sit within a day trip. Pompeii and Herculaneum are archaeological sites with their own tickets and rules. Naples is the main base and the airport city. Sorrento and Capri lie across the bay. Each one is a separate trip, and the crater is a separate ticket from all of them.
If the crater is on your list, start with the Mount Vesuvius tours, then add one neighbour. A day with Pompeii and the crater is the most common pairing, and the Pompeii and Vesuvius day tours show what combinations include.
Our pick: Herculaneum and the volcano
A guided visit of Herculaneum on the same day as Vesuvius.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tours around Mount Vesuvius
Day trips that pair the volcano with Pompeii, Herculaneum or a wine tasting, with live prices and availability.
Pompeii, Herculaneum and Naples
The three places most visitors add to a crater day.
Pompeii
The ancient town buried by the eruption of 79 AD is the best-known neighbour. The Pompeii archaeological park and the Vesuvius crater are separate sites with separate entry and visiting rules, so a combined product must include both tickets. The Vesuvius ticket is not a Pompeii ticket. See Pompeii to Vesuvius for shuttles from the town.
Naples
Naples is where most tours begin, and the airport at Capodichino (NAP) is here. A day in the city fits before or after a crater trip. Read the getting there guide for the bus and train options.
Sorrento and the coast
Sorrento is a start point of full-day tours with Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius.
Herculaneum and Mount Vesuvius
A smaller site with the crater on the same day.
Herculaneum lies in Ercolano, on the road to the mountain. Two day tours pair it with the crater: an 8-hour bus tour from Naples Central Station with a guided visit of Herculaneum and Mount Vesuvius entry, and a 7-hour small-group trip with both entry tickets and a pizza lunch. The guided Herculaneum visit is part of the first, and the small-group trip has no guide inside the site or on the mountain. Neither includes a guided crater tour. Herculaneum has its own rules, so keep the two sites apart when you plan your time.
| Option | Duration | Guide | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus tour from Naples Central Station | 8 hours | Guided tour of Herculaneum, no crater guide | Return bus, Mount Vesuvius entrance |
| Small-group trip | 7 hours | Driver assistance, no guide | Both entries, pizza lunch, return transport |
For most visitors who want history on the site, the bus tour with a guided Herculaneum visit is the better fit. If you prefer to explore alone, the small group has more freedom.
On the mountain and across the bay
More places that belong to the same trip.
Beyond the crater, the Vesuvius National Park has other routes, such as the Valle dell'Inferno, which has its own entry and does not include the crater. The slopes also carry vineyards, covered on the wine tasting page. Across the bay lies Capri, a separate day trip across the bay.
Things to do near Mount Vesuvius: frequently asked questions
What can I combine with Mount Vesuvius in one day?
Pompeii is the most common pairing, with Herculaneum as the second option. Both are covered by day tours from Naples, and some tours also start in Sorrento. Check that both entries are included.
Is the Vesuvius ticket valid for Pompeii?
No. The Vesuvius tariff is not a Pompeii ticket. They are separate sites with separate rules.
Can I visit Herculaneum and the crater on one day?
Yes, two tours from Naples combine them. Neither includes a guided crater tour.
Can I do Capri on the same trip?
Capri is a separate day trip across the bay. Do not combine it with the crater in one day.
What else is on the volcano besides the crater?
The national park has other routes, including the Valle dell'Inferno and Monte Somma. They are separate routes with their own access.
Is Herculaneum on the way to Vesuvius?
Herculaneum lies in Ercolano, on the road toward the mountain, and has its own entry rules.