Mount Vesuvius

Climb the path to the Volcano crater!
This is a one of kind experience that should not be missed by those who can make a 30+ minute steeply vertical climb up a switchback gravel path. You can stop along the way to rest by the edge, but it goes up the whole way to the first station. it is a short inclined path to the second station and then for those who want a different view of the caldera continue to walk the relatively level path around the rim to the 3^rd station. The views from the path and the stations looking over the volcano are interesting and out of over Naples and the bay stunning. Bring a camera! You can buy drinks at the second station and the base station. Water is a very good idea!
TIPS:
1) Wear good walking shoes and some choose to bring a walking stick
2) Go when the weather is cooler or the volcanic rock gravel will bake you
3) Water and sunscreen are very helpful.

Well, my first volcano review! LOL
5 stars for not being active when I was climbing it (though you’ll see some steam shooting out of the crater), but 1 star considering it’s behind schedule for a «minor» eruption, and behind schedule for a «major» eruption, so just be warned, things may be different by the time you visit.
We scheduled an all day Pompeii tour from Rome which included Mount Vesuvius (must do for the view!). The bus took us almost to the top (up a very narrow, winding road, which will be scary, unless you’ve done Machu Picchu and you know how much worse that was lol), and then from there you’ll hike 30 minutes — 1 hour depending how far you want to go and how much you want to see. This is not an «easy» hike, and definitely had me out of breath, but I saw lots of different ages managing it, and trust me, it’s worth it.
The view of Naples down below is absolutely breath taking, as well as seeing the islands (Capri etc) off in the distance. And how many people can say they’ve climbed a volcano?
PRO TIP — make sure you pick up a souvenir free lava rock from the trail!

I went to Naples last year and I climbed Mount Vesuvius as part of a group tour (It may have been 100 bucks American — super worth it). The tour guide warned me that it would be around an hour of climbing up the mountain after a 30 minute bus ride and another 30 minute hummer ride.
I have to say that I loved our driver because we were going up a teeny tiny road (with no guardrails) in a hummer at 50 miles an hour in a steady winding circle climbing up toward the heavens. Once we were dropped off at the Vesuvius National Park Information station we were told that if we followed the trail up we would be at our destination after an hour.
I have to say first that a) the volcano is still technically active; and b) we were specifically told by one of the rangers that although the volcano was constantly monitored for potential eruption there was no escape plan to evacuate the citizens of the Gulf of Naples and all of the surrounding towns below the mountain should it erupt. Yay!
The climb was not bad, I easily did it in sneakers and we were so far up that we could see the sun over the violent rain and storm clouds that had assembled closer to the base of the mountain. I could not actually see the actual entry hole of the volcano but I did see the steam and knew that although this was an environmentally protected natural phenomena, that this volcano was about its business (i.e. Pompeii).
If heaven is real, you can be eye level with it from the top of the mountain, see the entire Gulf of Naples, the entire city of Naples, the sun and all the cruise and industrial ships entering the Gulf. I did not want to leave, but the boat would have left without me. It is something I will never forget and I am extremely happy I did it. Given the opportunity, everyone should try it.