Vesuvius closed due to bad weather

Why it closes so often

The trail runs exposed on the side of a cone at eleven hundred metres above the sea, with no trees. In strong winds it simply becomes impassable, and the park closes it. Snow and storms have the same effect. Locals know this and check the wind before the rain: a grey day is still doable, a windy one is not.

The notice can be just a few hours, and it may happen that the decision comes while you’re already on your way. It’s not poor organisation: it’s the nature of the place. We’ve written about the seasonal incidence when to visit Vesuvius.

What happens in practice

It depends on what you’ve bought, and this is where the difference between the options becomes clear.

• You only have a timed-entry ticket. The gate is closed and you can’t go up. What matters is the cancellation policy: for the skip-the-line ticket with digital guide, it’s free up to 24 hours before. Within that timeframe, it depends on the case.
• You have a tour with transport. The operator usually notifies and reorganises. The minibus with a volcanological guide expressly includes the alternative of Herculaneum if the park closes due to weather.
• You have a day with two sites. Pompeii remains standing, so the day isn’t wasted: the second half changes. The options are compared in Pompeii and Vesuvius.

Who has actually been there

Nicola, from the United Kingdom, booked the transfer from Pompeii and found the park closed. The operator immediately notified him and arranged a replacement excursion, and he rated the day positively for this reason. Venjakob, from Germany, reports an immediate voucher change and smooth organisation. These are the two reviews we read most carefully, because they measure the only thing that really matters when the plan falls through: how quickly someone tells you what to do. We have collected them in reviews of the transfer from Pompeii.

How to protect yourself before booking

• Choose an option with free cancellation. On a mountain that may close, a non-refundable ticket is a risk you pay twice for.
• Don’t leave Vesuvius for the last day of your trip. If it’s cancelled, you won’t get a second chance: the logic of scheduling is in how many days are needed in Naples.
• Have an alternative ready. Herculaneum is just a few minutes from the park entrance and is the Plan B used by the operators themselves.
• Watch the wind, not the sky. It’s the deciding factor.

If you’re already here and it closes

Don’t insist. There’s no other trail leading to the rim, and no vehicle can reach it: Trail No. 5 is the only one, and without it, you stay at one thousand metres. What you can still do is admire the volcano from the outside, which is different and not a consolation prize: from below, you see the entire profile, something impossible from the rim. Free alternatives are in climbing Vesuvius for free, and on why the climb is still worth a second try, we’ve written it's worth it.

A formula that reorganises

The round-trip transfer from Pompeii includes a ticket and assistance: it is the option where visitors most often report being promptly informed and reorganized when the park closes.

Frequently asked questions