I climbed Vesuvius by Accident (And Lived to Tell the Tale)

I came. I saw. I regretted my life choices.

We met our group at Piazza del Popolo — that beautiful square with the giant obelisk that kind of feels like a movie set. That’s when my boyfriend suddenly remembered our guide in Luxor saying how a bunch of Egyptian obelisks ended up in Italy. It was pretty wild seeing one just sitting there in the middle of Rome.

I booked the day trip mostly because I’ve always wanted to visit Pompeii. I’m a bit of a history nerd, and the idea of walking through a city frozen in time has fascinated me for years. I was not expecting the day to be physically demanding — or as memorable — as it turned out to be.

Pompeii really blew me away. Walking through the ruins, spotting actual cart tracks worn into the stone streets, and hearing stories about what life was back then — it honestly felt like stepping in to a world that time forgot. Although, in retrospect, that’s exactly what Pompeii is.

There’s one moment that stayed with me: seeing the plaster cast of a victim frozen mid-motion. It made the eruption feel so real, so devastating.

After the tour, we stopped for lunch. A classic Neapolitan pizza was included. I’ll be honest — not my thing. I’m more of a meat-lover, and Napoli-style is pretty much minimalist (just tomato, a bit of cheese, maybe basil). Still, I appreciated the experience.

But what I completely missed in the tour description? The hike up Mount Vesuvius. It was 40 minutes of uphill gravel — no heads-up, no training, and definitely no gym routine to fall back on. But I did it. We hiked all the way to the Summit — and it was wild.

The view from the summit? Naples at the edge of the sea, the crater below us, blue skies all around. There’s something quietly powerful about standing on the top of the volcano that changed history.

We got back to Rome around 19:00. I was covered in dust, totally wiped, and weirdly proud of myself.

If you’re planning the same trip, here are a few tips:

• 👟 Wear real shoes. The Vesuvius hike is no joke, even if it’s not Everest.
• 💦 Bring water. There’s no refill spot once you’re climbing.
• 🎒 Pack light but smart. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a light jacket go a long way.
• 🍕 Don’t expect meat on pizza. It’s Napoli-style — lean and traditional
• 📍Tours usually start at Piazza del Popolo. Easy to find, but arrive early. The Mcdonald’s right in front gets crowded, and the breakfast-to-go process feels like chaos incarnate.

We booked this group tour from Rome through GetYourGuide.