Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio Transportation

After several frustrating hours in Ercolano, waiting for the bus, I want to share this information with you.
We read in Lonely Planet and were told by staff at our campsite that the bus to Vesuvio left from Ercolano. When we arrived here, several men offered to take us there in minivans and they told us that bus only left from Ercolano for Vesuvio twice a day. The cost of the tour would be 10 euro. We had to settle for this, as we could see that bus didn’t show up. They just had to gather some more people for the van, but after waiting for 30 minutes we gave up, and went to the beach in stead.

The next day we took the bus from Pompei in stead, and it turned out that it never got to Ercolano, but just drove straight to Vesuvio.

So don’t go to Ercolano like we did and don’t wait for these men in minivans to make up their minds about when to leave.

The bus leaves from Pompei (near the tourist information) at: 8.05, 9.05*, 9.35, 10.05, 11.25, 12.25, 13.25, 14.35, 15.35*

And from Vesuvio: 9.10, 10.35*, 11.05, 11.35, 12.05, 12.55, 13.55, 14.55, 16.30, 17.40*
(*1/4 to 30/9)

Cost of the ticket: Pompei – Vesuvio return: 8,60 euro.

The national park employee use FIAT Panda 4WD for transportation up and down the hill. It seems they are relyable cars, I just some how have my doubts, don't know why.

Anyway, to others there is nothing fishy about a Panda driving up a steep and loose street they even ask if they can ride along, as the lady on the photo did. "I'll wait for you on top!" she just yelled out of the moving car to her compagnion.

Yeah, where else would she have gone?

Halfway up the bus will stop at a little shop. An older man will come out and tell the history of Vesuvius and invite everyone in to browse around his shop. Even if you do not want to buy anything, it is a nice opportunity to hear a little background on Vesuvius. There are also souvenir stands at the summit and the crater, so there is no need to make your purchases in this shop.

From Napoli take the Circumvesuviana (located under Stazione Centrale) to Ercolano. At the Ercolano train station, take a Trasporto Vesuviano bus to reach the summit. There are only 5 buses that run a day, so check the times. The bus takes you to the summit car park and from there you can walk up to the crater. The distance is 1.5km.

You can reach the Vesuvius using the Circumvesuviana line (Naples - Sorrento).
Station : Ercolano
Then take the bus (last bus : 4:30PM)