How strenuous is the climb to the top of Mt Vesuvius? Do you have to wear hiking shoes or is sneakers/trainers ok to wear? Must take lots of water in the summer. How steep is the climb? How long does it take? Some books say 40 minutes to the top others say 20 minutes. Is that a matter of how fit you are to do the climb or is there different points of entry where some people need to climb farther?

Thanks.

Our "easy" might be your "tough" but we found it pretty easy. From the top parking lot it is significantly less than a mile before you can look down into the crater, though you can keep going. The elevation gain is about 500 feet to the first vantage point (I just checked these on Google Earth but someone can correct me). Running shoes would be fine. Yes have some water but one small bottle each should do you.

PS if you did any of the hiking we spoke about near Ottawa you will be fine with Vesuvius.

Thanks coldusphere--can't compare to Ottawa though. We never made it there. Had to cancel because mother in law fell gravely ill and ended up in hospice. She passed away last summer. That Canada trip will have to wait.

We did climb Sentinel Dome in Yosemite if that helps for comparison. I found it difficult but did it. Son made fun of me saying the 100 year old man with a walking stick made it up faster than I did. The older gentleman looked about in his 70's and 80's not quite 100 but he had a walking stick and I had the backpack lugging around sunscreen and water bottles!

The walk to the top is about a 45 degree angle and on loose gravel which is black and will destroy running shoes that are light coloured or white.

There is also no shade and the toilet facilities are minimal.

If the angle is now 45 degrees then the whole place is about to blow. I advise caution.

Yes...whatever...colduphere - perhaps the OP should look at this to gauge whether they can walk it.

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowU...html#photos;=S

Europeannovice I haven't done Sentinel Dome but it appears to have a rise of 400 feet over the distance of a mile and a bit. Vesuvius is steeper than that. Comparisons are a bit tricky though. SD is higher up so you might have been feeling the altitude.

If you go have fun.

The climb is not a big deal. No need for hiking boots. Just make sure you don't miss the bus back if you go with the private mini-bus from the train station. Maybe there's better public transport now than when we were there.