Most-reviewed trip
Naples Day Tour, Lunch Included
From Naples, spend a full day between the excavated streets of Pompeii and the trail up the Vesuvius crater, with views over the bay from the rim.
Mount Vesuvius In March: Crater Hours, Weather And Tours
March brings the first stretch of the spring crater schedule to Mount Vesuvius, with access hours of 09:00 to 16:00 and last entry at 16:00, after which the visit wraps up within the hour (see Time Needed At Vesuvius). The month sits at the cool end of the season: the summit at the 1,000 m level averages a high of 8.3 C and a low of 1.5 C as a modelled 1991-2020 climate average, while Naples down on the bay averages 14.6 C at its warmest and 7.1 C at night.
Crater Access, Weather And Daylight In March
09:00-16:00Crater access hourslast access 16:00
2,520Daily visitor cap
8.3°C / 1.5°CSummit high / low1,000 m level
14.6°C / 7.1°CNaples high / low
104 mmSummit rain10.5 days of 1 mm or more
11.9 hDaylightsunrise 06:16, sunset 18:08 (15th)
| Measure | Summit (1,000 m) | Naples |
|---|---|---|
| Average high | 8.3°C | 14.6°C |
| Average low | 1.5°C | 7.1°C |
| Rain | 104 mm | 103 mm |
| Days with 1 mm or more | 10.5 | 11.2 |
- About 0.2 days of snowfall above 0.5 cm in an average year at the 1,020 m grid cell (1991-2020).
- Park access to the crater trail ends at 16:00, so sunset (18:08) is after the last entry every month; sunset tours are not Gran Cono hikes.
- Daily visitor cap on the Gran Cono is 2,520.
Temperatures and rain are a modelled 1991-2020 climate average (ERA5 reanalysis) for the 1,000 m level, not station normals or a forecast. The trail and box office close automatically on any day with an orange weather alert or higher, with automatic refunds for slots inside a closure.
Vesuvius Tours Worth Booking In March
The roster below spans guided hikes, Pompeii combinations, wine tastings on the volcano's slopes, transfers with entry tickets, and private itineraries. Highly rated picks include the Vesuvius and Pompeii Signature Tour with wine and lunch from Naples at 4.9 across 461 reviews, and the Pompeii and Vesuvius Day Trip with Pizza Lunch, also from Naples, at 4.8 across 9,744 reviews.
Pizza on the Volcano Slopes
3.5 - 8 hours · HP TRAVEL
from €53.25per personStart in Naples, walk the ruins of Pompeii, then head up Vesuvius toward the crater rim. A pizza lunch on the volcano's slopes is built into the day.
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From Rome, Optional Crater Add-On
12 hours (approx.) · City Wonders Ltd
from €56per personA long day out of Rome with City Wonders Ltd, about 12 hours in all. A guided walk through Pompeii comes first. The afternoon is yours to shape: a pizza lunch, the crater trail on Vesuvius, or both together. Rated 4.6 across 6517 reviews, from €56 per person, with free cancellation.
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Skip-the-Line Ruins, Optional Lunch
9 - 12 hours · City Wonders Ltd.
from €56per personTravel from Rome for a full guided day among Pompeii's streets, forum and frescoed villas. Optional extras add the Mount Vesuvius crater trail and a relaxed lunch before the journey back.
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Naples or Sorrento Departure
8 hours · IAMME IA! - Gray Line Amalfi Coast
from €97.75per personOne long day covers both anchors of the 79 AD eruption. From Naples or Sorrento, walk Pompeii's excavated streets with a guide, then ride up to the Vesuvius trailhead and climb to the crater rim for views across the Bay of Naples.
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Skip-Line Ticket, Digital Guide
2.5 hours - 1 day · inStazione
from €16per personSkip the ticket line at Vesuvius and take the Gran Cono path up to the crater rim, a digital guide on your phone narrating the volcano's story.
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Archaeologist Guide, Lava Caves Option
8 hours · WORLDTOURS S.r.l.
from €78.20per personTwo icons in one day from Naples: Pompeii's excavated streets, then the crater rim of the volcano that buried them. Lunch is included. Eight hours, free cancellation.
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Pizza or Wine Tasting Choice
8 hours (approx.) · Worldtours
from €120per personPair the buried streets of Pompeii with the rim of the volcano that buried them. This full-day elite tour from Naples, rated 4.7 across 3,476 reviews, runs about 8 hours and includes lunch. Walk the excavations with a guide, then hike the Gran Cono crater trail for views across the Bay of Naples. Free cancellation and round-trip transport from central Naples are included.
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Lunch and Wine Tasting Included
8 hours · WORLDTOURS S.r.l.
from €127.50per personA full day from Naples: Pompeii's ruins, the Vesuvius crater path, then lunch and wine on the volcano's slopes.
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From Sorrento, Lunch Included
8.5 - 9 hours · HP TRAVEL
from €109.25per personSpend a full day out of Sorrento on the natural pairing: a guided walk through Pompeii's excavated streets, then the crater trail on Vesuvius. Lunch is included, and the whole outing runs 8.5 to 9 hours.
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Bus Transfer, Park Entry Included
3 hours · MOTORENT S.R.L.
from €35.10per personA no-frills shuttle from Pompeii up to the volcano's upper parking area, with the Vesuvio National Park entry fee already covered. Ride up, walk the crater rim at your own pace, and ride back down. About 3 hours in total.
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Direct Transfer, Guaranteed Entry
3 hours · VISITING CAMPANIA S.R.L.
from €35.10per personRound-trip transport plus crater entry tickets, run by Visiting Campania in about 3 hours. At the trailhead you get free time to hike to the rim and take in the Bay of Naples.
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Audio Guide Combo, No Meal
6 - 6.5 hours · MOTORENT S.R.L.
from €77.40per personThis Naples day trip pairs the Pompeii ruins with the crater trail on Mount Vesuvius in roughly six hours. Transport and park entry are handled for you, and the booking can be cancelled free of charge.
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Priority Access From Sorrento
8 hours (approx.) · IAMME IA! - Gray Line Amalfi Coast
from €115per personThis Sorrento departure stacks the two essentials in one day: the buried city below and the volcano that did the burying. Priority access gets you into the Pompeii excavations without the ticket queue, then the coach climbs to the Gran Cono trailhead for the crater rim walk. About 8 hours, from €115, free cancellation, run by IAMME IA! - Gray Line Amalfi Coast.
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From Ercolano, Roundtrip Bus
3 hours · Vesuvio Express
from €36per personVesuvio Express runs this roundtrip bus from Ercolano up to the crater trailhead, with your park entry ticket included. Three hours total, free cancellation, from €36.
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Easy Transfer, Entry Ticket
3 hours · Around Vesuvio
from €39per personA roundtrip shuttle from Pompeii or Naples to the Vesuvius trailhead, with your crater entry ticket handled ahead of time. Around Vesuvio runs the transfer, so you skip the ticket window and go straight to the Gran Cono path.
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Three Sites in One Day
7.5 - 8.5 hours · Around Vesuvio
from €112.50per personTwo buried towns and the volcano responsible: Pompeii's streets, Herculaneum's ruins, then the crater rim walk. Count on 7.5 to 8.5 hours with Around Vesuvio.
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Half-Day Volcano Trip From Naples
3.5 - 4 hours · Project Napoli Service
from €44.80per personRun by Project Napoli Service, this half-day folds the ride from Naples and the Gran Cono crater walk into 3.5 to 4 hours, with rim views over the bay. Rated 4.5 across 891 reviews.
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Skip-the-Line, From Naples
8 hours (approx.) · IAMME IA! - Gray Line Amalfi Coast
from €115per personPairing Pompeii with the volcano that buried it makes for a full day, and the travel between them is not simple on your own. This tour from Naples handles the transport and the logistics in one package. You get priority entry at the Pompeii excavations and a transfer up to the Vesuvius trailhead, with a guide leading the way at both stops. Expect roughly 8 hours door to door.
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What March Changes On Mount Vesuvius
March moves the crater to its spring timetable: access runs 09:00 to 16:00, last access is 16:00, and visits end within one hour of that cutoff. The daily visitor cap sits at 2,520 people, and the modelled 1991-2020 averages put summit temperatures between 1.5 and 8.3 C at the 1,000 m level. Daylight is generous by mid-month, roughly 11.9 hours on the 15th, with sunrise at 06:16 and sunset at 18:08, so sunset falls well after the last crater entry and evening slots are not crater hikes. Rain averages 104 mm across about 10.5 rain days in the month.
Pack for a mountain in early spring rather than for the bay below. With summit lows around 1.5 C and highs near 8.3 C, layered clothing, a windproof outer layer and sturdy shoes for the crater path make sense, and rain gear earns its place given the roughly 10.5 rain days March averages. Because last access is 16:00, aim for a morning or early-afternoon slot and build in time for the walk up. Guests should check the live listing for dates before committing to a day.
Questions About Mount Vesuvius In March
What are the crater access hours on Vesuvius in March?
In March the Gran Cono crater trail has access hours of 09:00 to 16:00, with last access at 16:00 and the visit ending within one hour of that time. The daily cap is 2,520 visitors, and the trail and box office close on days with an orange weather alert or higher, so check the live listing for the day you have in mind.
What temperatures should I expect on the Vesuvius summit in March?
As a modelled 1991-2020 climate average, the summit at the 1,000 m level reaches a high of about 8.3 C and drops to a low of about 1.5 C in March. Naples, by comparison, averages 14.6 C at its peak and 7.1 C overnight, so expect a real temperature drop between the city and the crater.
Do I need to book a Vesuvius crater tour in March ahead of time?
With last crater access at 16:00 and a daily cap of 2,520 visitors, booking a timed entry in advance and choosing a morning start gives you the most margin. March also averages about 10.5 rain days and 104 mm of rain, so a flexible plan helps. Check the live booking page for the dates available around your trip.