Is it possible to visit the summit craters of Etna? It depends…

The Craters with a capital C

It is common to represent volcanoes with a single summit crater. The summit craters of Etna are four in total: La Voragine, the North East, the Central and the South East. They are all craters of very recent formation and the highest of these is the North East crater, with a height of 3320 m (ref. July 2020, variable!). The South East crater is instead the most active in recent decades with very intense and brief activities, even just one hour. The landscape, due to the altitude, is almost devoid of vegetation and "lunar", but the panorama offered is exciting thanks also to the proximity to the sea (14 km as the crow flies).

The myth

In the past it was thought that inside the “mouths” of the volcano there were gods or that it was the access to the underworld, perhaps also because of the immensity of the panorama offered by the craters that have a diameter of over 500 meters and a notable depth, which is also always variable due to the instability and changeability of the places. For many months of the year at the summit craters it is possible to find snow deposited during the winter, another fascinating element of our territory. Reaching the summit of the volcano is for many the most desired goal.

Can you visit the summit craters of Etna?

It is possible to reach the summit craters during the summer months by trekking and during the winter months by skis. Depending on the volcanic activity, in recent years, there may be bans imposed by the civil protection based on a regulation of use. The ascent accompanied by qualified personnel is almost always required. The summit craters can be reached with our excursion SUMMIT CRATERS.

See our Volcanic activity and tourist use bulletin to comply with the ordinances and visit the volcano