Plan Your Italian Vacation: The Ultimate Guide to Naples, Italy

International travelers heading to Naples can fly into Aeroporto di Napoli-Capodichino (NAP), the closest airport to the city. Much closer to the urban center than the airports of Rome, passengers can reach the city from the airport via 15 minute express bus ride or a 14 minute drive or taxi ride. You can find a taxi in the designated pickup area of the airport for around €18 ($19-20). Like most major airports, there are several rental car companies where travelers can pick up a car to ferry themselves around the city for the duration of their stay.

For tourists arriving from other areas of Italy, high-speed and overnight trains are another more affordable option. Travelers going by train can expect to pay anywhere from $15 to $115 at a baseline, with passengers departing from cities further north paying a higher fare. Check the website for the most up-to-date pricing from your departure station.

For international tourists, the Trenitalia Pass offers discount rates on multiple train journeys when booked as a package, with pass levels offering three, four, seven, or ten journeys.

As the third largest city in Italy, Naples can be intimidating at first glance. Luckily, a robust public transportation system at the city and regional level makes navigating a breeze.

The Naples Pass

Similar to the RomaPass or Ataca card in Rome, the Naples Pass gives travelers free entry into popular city attractions with the option to pre-pay for unlimited access to the city’s public transportation, including buses, trains, and the funicular railway. You can get a single-day regional pass, a three-day city pass, a three-day regional pass, a five-day city pass, or a seven-day regional pass. Full details on what’s included in each pass can be found on the Naples Pass website.

Subway System

Naples does have a subway system. However, it only has three lines with a total of 30 stations. Although it's small, its limitations mean it's relatively easy to navigate. Trains run from 6 am to 11 pm, departing every 6 to 15 minutes. Single-ride tickets cost €1.10 ($1.20). Single-day tickets cost €4.50, and include access to the buses, metro, and funicular railway as well. Art enthusiasts may want to take a turn around Line 1, also referred to as the Art Line, who’s stations are heavily decorated with murals, mosaics, and other public art.

Funicular Trains

To supplement the subway system and help travelers traverse the hilly city, Naples has four funicular train lines that run daily from 7 am to 10 pm. Tickets for these trains are the same as for the bus and the metro, and the routes run as follows:

• Funicolare Centrale: Runs from Piazzetta Augusteo to Piazza Fuga.
• Funicolare di Chiaia: Runs from Via del Parco Margherita to Via Domenico Cimarosa.
• Funicolare di Montesanto: Runs from Piazza Montesanto to Via Raffaele Morghen.
• Funicolare di Mergellina: Runs from the waterfront at Via Mergellina to Via Manzoni.

City and Regional Buses

The bus system is by far the most extensive transportation system in the city, with 150 different lines. Single-ride tickets are €1.50 while day-ride tickets that cover the bus and metro system are €4.50.

Regional Metro Lines

The Naples Cumana, Naples Circumflegrea, and Circumvesuviana commuter lines are a regional train service that connect the Naples metropolitan area to nearby areas like Sorrento, Pompeii, and Phlegraean Fields. The Circumvesuviana line departs from Napoli Porta Nolana and Napoli Garibaldi while both the Cumana and Circumflegrea lines depart from Montesanto Station. Passengers must have an EAV ticket to ride the regional trains, which can be purchased ahead of time or upon boarding for a €6 surcharge.

Rent a Car

If you prefer to navigate the city yourself, renting a car is always an option. Like the United States, the minimum car rental age in Italy is 18 to 21 depending on location and rental company. There is no maximum age limit to rent a car in Italy.

Call a Taxi or Rideshare

Taxis can be hailed on the street, at designated taxi stands, and via the FreeNow app. Despite their contentious relationship with the Italian taxi industry, companies like Uber and Lyft have still managed to keep a foothold in Naples, and travelers can easily book a rideshare in the city.

While it's impossible to cover everything the city has to offer in one trip, there are a few attractions you can’t miss on your Naples itinerary.

Go a Museum

Naples is rich in history and art. The best place to start exploring the colorful tapestry of the city is in its museums. There are dozens of options to explore, but start with these four:

Museo Cappella Sansevero: Home to Guiseppe Sammartino's famous sculpture, Veiled Christ
Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli: Houses many of the artifacts uncovered at the Pompeii archaeological site
Capodimonte Palace and Museum: An art museum known for its collection of famous works, including pieces from Botticelli and Michelangelo
Museo d'Arte Contemporanea Donnaregina (MADRE): A modern art museum that showcases the best of new and innovative art against the backdrop of historic old Naples

Tour the Royal Palace

Located in Piazza del Plebiscito, the Royal Palace of Naples was the main royal residence of the House of Bourbon, which ruled Naples and Sicily from the mid-18th century through the early 19th century. Although most strongly associated with Bourbon rule, the castle itself was first built in 1600 as a visiting residence for the then-king of Spain.

Tours can be booked directly on the palace’s website.

Visit Castel Nuovo

Another residence of royals past, Castel Nuovo (also known by Maschio Angioino), is significantly older, dating back to the 13th century. This medieval castle housed generations of nobility until the early 1500s, when the fortified structure began to be used exclusively for military purposes.

Today, travelers can tour the castle for only a €6 fee at the entrance.

Wander the Galleria Umberto

This famous shopping center has been in operation since the 1890s. This stunning art nouveau building features domed glass ceilings, intricately tiled floors, and gilded multi-story walls. Spend some time shopping for a new outfit to hit the town, or stop by to photograph the amazing interior.

Tour the San Gennaro Catacombs

The San Gennaro Catacombs are the largest in southern Italy, sprawling over 60,000 square feet. These catacombs date back to the 2nd century CE and continued to expand outward throughout the years, resulting in catacombs much more cavernous than those in Rome and other areas of the country. The vast network even includes the underground Basilica of Sant'Agrippino, which still holds Christian Mass to this day.

Tickets can be booked on the catacomb’s website and are valid for one calendar year after purchase.

Catch a Show at the Real Teatro di San Carlo

The interior of the Real Teatro di San Carlo is a sight to behold. The walls are lined with private viewing boxes surrounding the central stage and auditorium. It is the oldest continuously operating opera house in the world. It opened in the 1730s and is still putting on shows today. You can see what’s running and reserve your tickets directly on the theater’s website.

Take a Pizza-Making Class

Why stick to just eating pizza when you can try your hand at making your own? Bring home the skills to replicate that crispy Neapolitan crust in your own kitchen with a pizza-making workshop. GetYourGuide offers several options, including a pasta making class for those who aren’t the biggest pizza fans.

Book a Local Food and Wine Tour

From pizza to pasta to gourmet espresso, the food scene in Naples is buzzing with culinary delights. Dive into Naple’s rich cuisine with a local food and wine tour and let an experienced guide remove the stress from sampling all the city has to offer.

Naples is a gateway to the incredibly diverse and lively southern region of Italy. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore outside the city with these day trips.

Pompeii and Herculaneum

Pompeii, the famous victim of Mount Vesuvius, is only about fifteen miles from Naples. Herculaneum, the lesser-known but better-preserved town also destroyed in the volcano’s 79 CE eruption, is just twelve miles from the city. Both sites are easily accessible by car or by public transportation on the Circumvesuviana line. Learn more about how to make the most of a trip to Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Vesuvius with our handy mini-guide.

Visit an Island

The Gulf of Naples is home to several stunning islands, the largest of which are Ischia, Capri, and Procida. These islands are easily accessible from Naples via ferry. Once you've decided which island is right for you, click on the links above to read our in-depth guides for each destination.

Rome

Travelers can easily make the roundtrip journey between Naples and Rome in a single day, with the high-speed train journey between the cities taking roughly one hour. Trains will typically depart from Napoli Centrale and can cost as little as €15. Check out our guide to planning the ultimate Roman vacation to inspire your day trip.

Pizza: If there's one thing you can't miss when dining out in Naples, it's the pizza. It's said that pizza was created as a quick and affordable meal for the city's working class, and Naples remains famous for the dish to this day. Classic Neapolitan pizza has a thin, charred crust, typically topped with essential yet fresh ingredients like mozzarella and tomato. What is the secret to gauging if pizza is authentic to Naples? You should be able to fold the slice cleanly in half without crust breakage.

For a top tier experience, look no further than L'antica Pizzeria da Michele. Listed in the Michelin guide as one of the best spots to get an authentic Neapolitan slice, this cash-only eatery specializes in just two types of traditional pies—Margherita and Marinara.

Fried Pizza: A close relative of traditional pizza, Naples fried pizza is a bite-sized meal available at hip lunch spots around the region. This pizza fritta is made from a small circle of pizza dough fried until puffy and topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and basil. Somehow even more quick and convenient than your typical pizza, you'll be asking for seconds (and thirds) of this tiny treat.

Spaghetti alla Puttanesca: While its exact origins remain a mystery, it's commonly accepted that this iconic dish has its roots in the twentieth-century brothels of Naples. Also known as aulive e chiapparielle, this aromatic pasta includes capers, olives, anchovies, onions, garlic, and an assortment of spices.

Tourist season in Naples aligns with that of the rest of the country. The high season is in summer from May through early September, with shoulder seasons in the autumn (through October) and spring (roughly April through June) and a low season in the winter.

Even with most travelers opting to take advantage of the warm summer months, temperatures in winter rarely dip below the upper 40s Fahrenheit (just below 10ºC). Furthermore, unlike the small coastal towns or nearby islands, hotels and businesses in Naples typically operate year-round, leaving more opportunities for exploring in the winter than the nearby Amalfi region. Off-season events like the annual Naples Winter Wine Festival and October’s International Film Festival make the city a great stop even in the colder months.

The average monthly temperatures and precipitation for Naples are as follows:

| January | Avergage Temperature:48.2°F/9°C | Average Percipitation: 12.8 cm/5 in
| February | Avergage Temperature:48.6°F/9.2°C | Average Percipitation: 10.6 cm/4 in
| March | Avergage Temperature: 52.3°F/11.3°C | Average Percipitation: 9.9 cm/3 in
| April | Avergage Temperature: 57.4°F/14.1°C | Average Percipitation: 8.1 cm/3 in
| May | Avergage Temperature: 64.2°F/17.9°C | Average Percipitation: 4.7 cm/1 in
| June | Avergage Temperature:71.8°F/22.1°C | Average Percipitation: 2.1cm/0.8 in
| July | Avergage Temperature: 76.6°F/24.8°C | Average Percipitation: 1.2 cm/0.5 in
| August | Avergage Temperature: 77.4°F/25.2°C | Average Percipitation: 2.0 cm/0.8 in
| September | Avergage Temperature: 70.1°F/21.6°C | Average Percipitation: 8.7 cm/3 in
| October | Avergage Temperature: 64.4°F/18°C | Average Percipitation: 13.3 cm/5 in
| November | Avergage Temperature: 57.2°F/14°C | Average Percipitation: 19.5 cm/7 in
| December | Avergage Temperature: 50.7°F/10.4°C | Average Percipitation: 15.1 cm/5 in

Average temperature and precipitation data courtesy of climate-data.org

Hotel Grand Vesuvio sits on the vibrant seafront of Naples, overlooking the Mediterranean Ocean and the distant silhouette of Mount Vesuvius. The interior decor is a callback to vintage luxury, with sweeping curtains, ornate wooden furniture, and sparkling chandeliers. Enjoy access to the Echia Club, the hotel's free gym and relaxation center, or grab a drink on the rooftop sky lounge.

Grand Hotel Vesuvio is a 2 minute walk from the nearest bus stop and a ten minute walk from the Chiaia metro station.

UNAHotels Napoli is a mid-range hotel with a great location. Just outside the city center, UNAHOTELS Napoli is an excellent starting point for any city sightseeing on the itinerary. It's under twenty minutes via public transit to Galleria Umberto, the Museo Archeologico, and Castel Nuovo and only a five-minute walk to the nearest metro station.

UNAHOTELS Napoli is an eight minute walk from Napoli Centrale train station.

The rooms at Hotel PIazza Bellini & Apartments are built inside a renovated 16th-century building and decorated to contrast the ancient architecture and modern interior. Each room is uniquely designed, ranging from single rooms to family suites. The apartments are ideal for travelers who value both the privacy of a vacation rental and the conveniences of a hotel. These apartments are located in the same building as the hotel and have access to the same perks and services.

The Hotel Piazza Bellini & Apartments is a two minute walk from the nearest bus stop and a five minute walk from the Dante metro station.

Like Rome, Naples offers travelers the unique opportunity to book a stay in an active monastery. Each monastery or convent stay is run by the resident nuns or monks. For those curious about this alternative accommodation, visit the Monastery Stay website's FAQ page to have all your questions answered.

The Grand Hotel Europa has rooms for as little as $81 at press time. Located just a seven-minute walk from the Piazza Garibaldi metro station, this budget option is in a prime location, a similar distance to most major attractions as UNAHOTELS Napoli. Room types range from modest single rooms to family suites featuring Wi-Fi and air conditioning.

Grand Hotel Europa has multiple bus stops directly outside its door and is a five minute walk from Napoli Centrale train station.

History of Vesuvius and Pompeii Area

Mount Vesuvius is an active volcano that dominates the skyline of the Gulf of Naples and the surrounding region. Formed by tectonic activity nearly two million years ago, this volcano has only had eight significant eruptions in the last seventeen millennia, the most famous of which is the explosion in 79 CE that wiped out the Roman settlements of Pompeii and lesser-known Herculaneum.

Herculaneum was much closer to the volcano at the time of the eruption, encased immediately in a thick layer of ash that preserved many of the buildings, mosaics, and artifacts in pristine condition. Although still well preserved, Pompeii took far more damage from volcanic debris. So why do we know so much about Pompeii? The answer lies in the firsthand accounts of the eruption by Pliny the Younger, who, in letters to a contemporary historian, described the details of the disaster in Pompeii.

Archaeologists rediscovered Herculaneum in the early 1700s, followed by Pompeii about forty years later. To this day, a large portion of each city remains buried underground to maintain peak preservation for future archaeological study.

Getting to Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Mount Vesuvius From Naples

Getting to Pompeii and Herculaneum from Naples is easy. For those driving, it's just a half-hour by car to Pompeii and fifteen minutes to Herculaneum. Travelers can also take the Circumvesuviana regional train line or book a shuttle transfer.

Climbing Mount Vesuvius

Travelers can get up close and personal with Mount Vesuvius in a couple of ways. The upper portion of the mountain, including the crater, is part of a national park. Tourists are welcome to drive up the mountain to this point but must leave their car behind at the park's entrance and either hike to the crater or take the provided shuttle bus. Entrance to the park is €10, parking is €5, and a ticket for the shuttle is just €2.

Exploring the Archaeological Sites

While you can explore the archaeological sites at Pompeii and Herculaneum on your own, they are an attraction for which we recommend a guided tour. Given the massive scale of the excavations, each tour is unique—even if you take a tour two days in a row, you'll likely see elements of the site that you haven't encountered before. They are led by guides well-versed in the site's history, often with archaeological credentials.

Guided tours can be booked on typical tour providers like Viator and GetYourGuide.

Check out our sample day trip, weekend, long weekend, and full-week itineraries for inspiration when planning your trip to Naples.

Day Trip Itinerary for Naples

Morning: Grab an espresso and walk around the Galleria Umberto.
Afternoon: Test your culinary skills with an authentic Neapolitan pizza making class.
Evening: Catch a show at the Real Teatro di San Carlo.

Weekend Itinerary for Naples

DAY 1

Morning: Admire the architecture and do some shopping at the Galleria Umberto.
Afternoon: Visit Castel Nuovo and explore the nearby restaurants and shops.
Evening: Sample an array of delicious delicacies with an evening Naples food and wine tour.

DAY 2

Morning & Afternoon: Explore the ancient city of Pompeii and admire the view from the top of Mount Vesuvius.
Evening: Rest and relax with a slice of pizze and a low-key evening at L'antica Pizzeria da Michele.

Long Weekend Itinerary for Naples

DAY 1

Morning: Follow up your morning pastry and espresso with some shopping at Galleria Umberto.
Afternoon: Get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into making the iconic Neapolitan-style pizza with an authentic pizza making class.
Evening: Enjoy a night at the theater with a show at the Real Teatro di San Carlo.

DAY 2

All-Day: Book a ferry ticket and spend the day getting to know Procida, Capri, or Ischia.

DAY 3

Morning & Afternoon: Venture to the top of Mount Vesuvius and explore the ruins at Pompeii
Evening: After a busy day, keep the evening low-key and enjoy a quiet bite at L'antica Pizzeria da Michele.

Weeklong Trip Itinerary for Naples

DAY 1

Morning: Wander the grandiose halls of the Galleria Umberto for some morning shopping and sightseeing.
Afternoon: Explore the Piazza del Plebiscito and tour the Royal Palace.
Evening: Take advantage of the city’s thriving food scene with an evening food and wine tour.

DAY 2

All Day: Venture to the top of Mount Vesuvius and immerse yourself in history at Pompeii.

DAY 3

Morning: Visit the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli to see some of the artifacts from the Pompeii excavations.
Afternoon: Make your own authentic Neapolitan-style lunch with a guided pizza making class.
Evening: Grab tickets for the evening show at the Real Teatro di San Carlo.

Day 4

All Day: Book a ticket on the high-speed train and spend the day exploring Rome. Check out our need-to-know guide to Rome to plan the perfect day trip.

DAY 5

Morning: Take a tour of the historic Castel Nuovo.
Afternoon: Head underground and explore the San Gennaro Catacombs.
Evening: After a busy day, keep the evening low-key and enjoy a quiet bite at L'antica Pizzeria da Michele.

DAY 6

All Day: Hop over the Gulf for a day trip to nearby Procida, Capri or Ischia.

DAY 7

Morning: Experience the modern city at the Museo d'Arte Contemporanea Donnaregina (MADRE).
Afternoon: End a full day of museums with a visit to Capodimonte Palace and Museum.
Evening: Take an evening stroll from some gelato before returning to your hotel to pack for departure .

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