ON FOOT · MOUNTAIN AND SUMMIT HIKES IN ITALY

The 15 Best Mountain and Summit Hikes in Italy

19 hikes  ·  from $41 a head

This is the shortlist you would send a walking friend: 15 mountain and summit hikes in Italy that justify the airfare, each with its price, its distance and the one thing to know before you commit.

Mount Etna: Summit Guided Hiking Tour up to 3,400 m - The 3,000-meter route: the better choice for moderate hikers
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Mount Etna: Summit Guided Hiking Tour up to 3,400 m

1.Mount Etna: Summit Guided Hiking Tour up to 3,400 m

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4,792 reviews · 5 - 6 hours · from $65Our pick

Hike Mount Etna with a certified volcanic guide, choosing a 3,000-meter route or a more demanding summit trek to about 3,400 meters. Expect cable-car views, lava flows, volcanic sand, crater rims, and Valle del Bove. Guides including Eduardo and Giuseppe explain the volcano as you walk.

“The trip was wonderfull, the guide Eduardo fantastic. We have spend an active and super good time. Eduardo was very helpful all Time. It was very informative trip. We very recomend to take a guide, You will have very good Time and get a lot of knowlegde about volcano Etna.”

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Mount Etna: Trek to 3000m with cable car and 4x4 - Cable car to 2500 meters
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Mount Etna: Trek to 3000m with cable car and 4×4

2.Mount Etna: Trek to 3000m with cable car and 4×4

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,823 reviews · 5 hours · from $65

Reach 3000 meters on Mount Etna with a guide such as Antonio, Giuseppe, Michele, or Dario. Ride the cable car and 4x4, then walk across black volcanic sand to craters, recent lava flows, a lava channel, and the 2002 effusive vent. Expect 3 to 4 hours on uneven ground, thin air, wind, and changing weather.

“Our trip to Etna was fantastic—both my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Antonio, our guide, was outstanding. He engaged warmly with everyone in the group and shared his extensive knowledge about Mount Etna and volcanoes in general. It was a truly memorable experience!”

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Mount Etna: Summit Crater Trek with Cable Car - Meeting at Etna South
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Mount Etna: Summit Crater Trek with Cable Car

3.Mount Etna: Summit Crater Trek with Cable Car

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,875 reviews · 5 hours · from $77

Join a small group of up to eight for a five-hour Etna trek with a volcano guide. Ride the cable car and 4x4 to 2,850 meters, then hike toward Bocca Nuova, the Central Crater, and Barbagallo Crater. Guides such as Simone, Alessandro, Basilio, and Vincenzo are praised for clear explanations and careful pacing. The route changes with weather and volcanic activity.

“This was an amazing experience and although quite cloudy on the day, it didn’t disappoint. Giuseppe was an excellent guide. Friendly and knowledgeable. The trek although long wasn’t particularly hard and suitable for any reasonably fit person. A must do if you want to get as close as you can to the summit of Etna.”

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Catania: Mount Etna Trekking Tour Beyond the Tourist Trails - Silvestri Craters and the 2001 lava flow
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Catania: Mount Etna Trekking Tour Beyond the Tourist Trails

4.Mount Etna Trekking Tour Beyond the Tourist Trails

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,596 reviews · 7 hours · from $81

Join guides such as Antonio, Renato, and Maria for a seven-hour Mount Etna trek from Catania. Walk from 1,850 to 2,400 meters, see Silvestri Craters and the 2001 lava flow, look into Valle del Bove, explore a lava cave when conditions allow, and slide down soft volcanic ash. Shoes, jackets, poles, and transport are included.

“The weather is good. The guides are super nice. It was a very nice experience!”

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Mount Etna: Guided Trek 3,000 Meters to the Summit - Starting at La Terrazza DellEtna
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Mount Etna: Guided Trek 3,000 Meters to the Summit

5.Mount Etna: Guided Trek 3,000 Meters to the Summit

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,407 reviews · from $113

Meet your English or Italian-speaking guide at La Terrazza Dell'Etna, ride toward 2,500 meters, then hike across ash and lava to the summit crater area at 3,000 meters. Guides such as Luca, Marco, and Manuel explain Etna's geology, manage the pace, and adjust the route when weather or volcanic conditions change.

“Fantastic day they took care of us, gave us hiking boots, jacket and helmet, taught us about Mount Etna and the different types of surfaces and helped us have a smooth day.”

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Catania: Mount Etna Adventurous Hiking Tour with Equipment - Silvestri Craters: the gentle introduction
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Catania: Mount Etna Adventurous Hiking Tour with Equipment

6.Mount Etna Adventurous Hiking Tour with Equipment

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 784 reviews · 7 hours · from $88

Join guides such as Alessandro, Alessio, Julian, or Ernesto for a genuine Mount Etna hike from 1,970 to about 2,400 metres. You’ll use supplied boots, poles, helmets, and jackets, visit the Barbagallo Crater and Grotta Pitagora, and walk away from the cable-car crowds. Expect a real workout, cold wind, and unforgettable volcanic views.

“Great trip with a nice and informing guide. The path chosen was unique and not too strenuous even for the people in our group not used to it.”

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From Catania: trek on Mount Etna, Lava Cave & tasting Tour - The drive to Rifugio Sapienza at 1,986 meters
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From Catania: trek on Mount Etna, Lava Cave & tasting Tour

7.trek on Mount Etna, Lava Cave & tasting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 563 reviews · 7 hours · from $68

Spend seven hours exploring Etna Park in a group of up to eight. Walk inactive craters and lava fields, enter Grotta Lunga with a helmet and lamp, then taste honey, olive oil, wines, jams, and liqueurs near Ragalna. Guides such as Lorenzo, Carmelo, Tommaso, and Enzo bring the volcano to life in several languages.

“Interesting trip, guide is very friendly and provided many history of Catania and Mt Etna. highly recommended.”

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From Taormina: Half-Day Mount Etna Morning Trek - Walking Etna’s extinct craters at 2,000 meters
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From Taormina: Half-Day Mount Etna Morning Trek

8.Half-Day Mount Etna Morning Trek

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 504 reviews · 6.5 hours · from $106

Travel from Taormina to Mount Etna with a trained guide such as Tony, Roberto, Ricardo, or Ugo. Walk about 1.5 to 2 hours around extinct craters at 2,000 meters, enter a lava cave, then enjoy sandwiches, dessert, wine, and almond wine at an Etna winery. Boots, jackets, poles, and winter snowshoes are included.

“Our guide Ricardo was just perfect. His knowledge about mount Etna is incredible. He was very kind, explained us everything in details and made our day unforgettable!”

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Mount Etna Adventurous Hiking Tour with Equipment - The pace, effort, and tricky ground
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Mount Etna Adventurous Hiking Tour with Equipment

9.Mount Etna Adventurous Hiking Tour with Equipment

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 439 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $90

Join an English-speaking volcanological guide, such as Ernesto, Alessandro, Alessio, or Giuliano, for a six-and-a-half-hour hike across Mount Etna’s Valle del Bove. You’ll walk volcanic ash and gravel, reach high viewpoints, and use supplied shoes, poles, helmets, and wind stoppers. Transport runs from Catania, but food and drinks are your responsibility.

“The views were amazing and our guide kept a good slow pace. We were provided with all the necessary gear (hiking shoes, backpacks, windbreakers and trekking poles). We also stopped to buy snacks/water/lunch before starting the hike, but you can also pack your own if you’re more organized! The hike was quite independent, with the guide walking either ahead or behind the group. You’re able to stop when you’d like to take photos/breaks. Expect to get very dirty!!”

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Mount Etna: Summit Trekking Tour - Starting at Piano Provenzana
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Mount Etna: Summit Trekking Tour

10.Mount Etna: Summit Trekking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 347 reviews · 4.5 hours · from $65

Start at Piano Provenzana, ride a 4x4 to about 2,900 meters, then hike across lava fields toward Etna’s summit craters. Guides such as Luca, Arturo, Marco, and Paolo lead small groups of up to 10 in English, Italian, or French. Boots, jackets, helmets, insurance, and a volcanological guide are included, but the €50 4x4 ticket is paid in cash on site.

“Taking a guided tour up to the summit of mount Etna is highly recommended. Incredible view at the crater, very informative guide who adjusts the route and the pace to the needs of the group and the conditions which made us feel safe and well guided. Take high socks and a handkerchief. If your shoes or jacket are not suitable you can borrow them.”

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Mount Etna: scenic Summit Trek with a volcano Guide and Gear - Riding above 2,500 meters
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Mount Etna: scenic Summit Trek with a volcano Guide and Gear

11.Mount Etna: scenic Summit Trek with a volcano Guide and Gear

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 284 reviews · 4 - 6 hours · from $41Cheapest way up

Start at Piazzale Rifugio Sapienza, ride toward 2,500 meters, then hike across Etna’s ash, rock, and recent craters with an Italian or English-speaking alpine guide. Vicenzo and Pietro are among the guides praised for their patience and volcanic expertise. Expect cold wind, loose stones, and superb views when the clouds stay away.

“We loved this excursion. We found it physically hard but really interesting. It was the highlight of our trip to Sicily.”

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Mount Etna: Half-Day Guided Tour and Hike - Reaching the Black Slopes at 2,000 Meters
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Mount Etna: Half-Day Guided Tour and Hike

12.Mount Etna: Half-Day Guided Tour and Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 264 reviews · 5 hours · from $70

Travel from Catania to 2,000 meters on a five-hour Mount Etna outing with a multilingual guide. Walk among Silvestri Craters, visit Grotta dei Tre Livelli, see a recent eruption site, and stop in Zafferana Etnea for typical Sicilian products. Guides such as Andrea, Silvia, Constanza, and Giuseppe are praised for clear explanations and attentive pacing.

“This was by far one of the best highlights of our trip! It was a last minute decision and I am so glad we did it. Even if the weather didn’t 100% cooperate, it was such a unique experience and I 100% recommend it. Our guide was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions we had.”

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Mount Etna: North Upper Craters Guided Tour by 4x4 with Trek - The ruined Le Betulle Hotel and the 2002 lava flow
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Mount Etna: North Upper Craters Guided Tour by 4×4 with Trek

13.Mount Etna: North Upper Craters Guided Tour by 4×4 with Trek

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 243 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $94

Meet your Alpine Guide at Piano Provenzana for a 2.5-hour 4x4 trip up Etna’s north side. You’ll visit the 2002 lava zone, Umberto and Margherita craters, and Pizzi Deneri at 2,818 meters, with two short walks. Guides may be English, Italian, or French, and names noted on recent departures include Vincenzo and Arturo.

“Ein perfekter Tag mit Vincenzo als Guide. Super informativ mit witzigen Einlagen. 💯 von 💯 Punkten. Absolute Empfehlung, würden wir wieder buchen”

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Mount Etna: Craters of the 2002 Eruption Trekking Experience - Starting at Piano Provenzana
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Mount Etna: Craters of the 2002 Eruption Trekking Experience

14.Mount Etna: Craters of the 2002 Eruption Trekking Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 237 reviews · 3 hours · from $42

Walk Etna’s north side with an English, French, or Italian-speaking volcano guide. In three hours, you’ll see the buried Hotel delle Betulle, the 1911 craters, hornitos, lava flows, and the huge 2002 eruption zone. Guides such as Daniele, Davide, Vincenzo, and Niko add clear science, local stories, and good humor.

“The 3 hour trek was fabulous and the guide very knowledgeable. We are in our late 60s so found it pretty hard going but worth the effort.”

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From Pompeii: Mount Vesuvius Hike & Tour by Bus - Leaving Pompeii from Via Roma 32
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From Pompeii: Mount Vesuvius Hike & Tour by Bus

15.From Pompeii: Mount Vesuvius Hike & Tour by Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 187 reviews · 3 hours · from $45

Ride from Via Roma in Pompeii to 1,000 meters on Vesuvius, then follow a gravel path around the crater with 1.5 hours of free time. This is a self-guided hike, not a guided walk. Bring sturdy shoes, water, and sun protection. Transport returns you to Pompeii.

“fantástico era lo que quería. el transporte nos dejó en el parador del vesubio y el guía nos dio la hora de regreso, la caminata fue free y sin guía excelente !!”

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