Naples, Italy: travel guide
Chaotic, passionate, and wildly delicious — Naples gave the world pizza, is the gateway to Pompeii and Herculaneum, and stares at Mount Vesuvius across one of the Mediterranean's most dramatic bays. UNESCO-listed historic centre.
- Country
- Italy
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Rome
- Nearest airport
- NAP
Top places to visit in Naples
Naples Teatro San Carlo Opera House
Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h
The Teatro di San Carlo — the oldest continuously active opera house in the world (1737), with the spectacular red and gold horseshoe-shaped auditorium, hosting opera productions and ballet.
Naples Santa Maria della Sanità Basilica
Church · 4.7 rating · about 1 h
The dramatic 17th-century Basilica Santa Maria della Sanità in the Sanità neighbourhood — built by friar Giovanni Vincenzo da San Eligio over the Catacombs of San Gaudioso, with the unique elevated altar and the basilica's role in…
Spaccanapoli Street
Cultural · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h
The ancient decumanus maximus of Greek Neapolis cuts the city in a dead-straight line, lined with Baroque churches, the Gesù Nuovo, San Lorenzo Maggiore, presepe (nativity scene) workshops, and the city's best pizza and street food.
Naples National Archaeological Museum
Museum · 4.7 rating · about 2.5 h · entry EUR 18
The world's finest collection of ancient Greek and Roman artefacts, including the Farnese Hercules, the Alexander Mosaic from Pompeii, and the Secret Cabinet of erotic art from ancient Pompeii.
Pompeii Archaeological Park
Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 6 h · entry EUR 20
The complete UNESCO archaeological site of Pompeii — the Roman city frozen in time by the AD 79 Vesuvius eruption, preserved with frescoes, mosaics, plaster casts of victims, and entire streets, shops, and brothels intact.
Castel dell'Ovo
Fort · 4.5 rating · about 1 h
Naples' oldest standing fortification (12th c.) sits on a tiny island in the Bay of Naples, connected by a causeway. Legend says Virgil hid a magical egg inside whose breaking would destroy the castle — hence the name.
Royal Palace of Caserta UNESCO
Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 5 h · entry EUR 18
The Royal Palace of Caserta — the largest royal palace in the world by volume, the Italian Versailles built by Charles III, with 1200 rooms, spectacular gardens with English Garden, fountains, and waterfall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Capri Day Trip from Naples
Nature · 4.8 rating · about 8 h
A day trip to the legendary island of Capri — the Blue Grotto, the Faraglioni sea stacks, Anacapri's Villa San Michele, the chairlift to Monte Solaro, and the glamorous Piazzetta.
Certosa di San Martino
Museum · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · entry EUR 6
A 14th-century Carthusian monastery perched on the Vomero hill with panoramic views over Naples Bay, Vesuvius, and Capri. Houses a superb collection of Neapolitan Baroque art and the city's most impressive presepe collection.
Mt Vesuvius Crater Hike
Nature · 4.6 rating · about 4 h
The hike up to the rim of the Mt Vesuvius crater — the most infamous volcano in history, with extraordinary views over the Bay of Naples and the destroyed Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum visible below.
Herculaneum (Ercolano)
Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 4 h · entry EUR 16
The remarkable Herculaneum — better preserved than Pompeii thanks to the pyroclastic flow that sealed wooden structures, frescoes, and even food intact, a smaller more intimate Roman city ruin than its famous neighbour.
Naples Cristo Velato Veiled Christ
Heritage · 4.9 rating · about 0.5 h
The extraordinary Veiled Christ (Cristo Velato) by Giuseppe Sanmartino, 1753 — one of the most remarkable marble sculptures ever created, with the impossibly delicate veil carved from solid marble, viewable inside the Sansevero Chapel.
Things to do
- Pompeii Skip-the-Line Tour Museum · 4 h · from EUR 44 per person
- Capri Island Day Trip Day Trip · 9 h · from EUR 87 per person
- Pompeii & Herculaneum Full Day Guided Tour Sightseeing · 8 h · from EUR 74 per person
- Pompeii Skip-the-Line Guided Tour Heritage · 4 h · from EUR 33 per person
- Naples Underground Tour Cultural · 1.5 h · from EUR 26 per person
- Amalfi Coast Day Trip Day Trip · 10 h · from EUR 89 per person
- Neapolitan Pizza Making Class in Spaccanapoli Food Drink · 2 h · from EUR 20 per person
- Mt Vesuvius & Pompeii Tour Day Trip · 8 h · from EUR 68 per person
Day trips and tours
- Naples Underground (Napoli Sotterranea) Tour 2 h · from EUR 12
- Pompeii & Herculaneum Full-Day Tour from Naples 9 h · from EUR 66
Where to stay in Naples
- Historic Centre about EUR 100 per night
UNESCO World Heritage centre; most authentic, chaotic, and vibrant — and the best pizza
- Chiaia about EUR 160 per night
Naples's most elegant seafront district; safe, upscale restaurants, and beautiful sea views
Hotels
- Hostel of the Sun Naples 3-star · INR 1,500 to INR 3,500 per night
- Romeo Hotel Naples 5-star · INR 30,000 to INR 110,000 per night
- Costantinopoli 104 4-star · EUR 130 to EUR 300 per night
- Grand Hotel Vesuvio Naples 5-star · INR 30,000 to INR 110,000 per night
- Hotel La Ciliegina Lifestyle 4-star · INR 4,500 to INR 9,500 per night
- Grand Hotel Vesuvio 5-star · EUR 220 to EUR 680 per night
Where to eat
- L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele italian, pizza, neapolitan · about EUR 8 per person
- Trattoria Nennella italian, neapolitan, traditional · about EUR 15 per person
- Pizzeria 50 Kalò italian, pizza, neapolitan · about EUR 18 per person
- Pizzeria Lombardi italian, pizza, neapolitan · about EUR 12 per person
- Pizzeria Brandi italian, pizza, neapolitan · about EUR 15 per person
- 50 Kalò italian, pizza, neapolitan · about EUR 18 per person
- Pizzeria Trianon italian, pizza, neapolitan · about EUR 12 per person
- Pizzeria Starita italian, pizza, neapolitan · about EUR 12 per person
Getting around
- Metro main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Transit Pass main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Counterfeit Tickets
Pompeii and Herculaneum gates
Touts sell fake or discounted tickets outside; tickets are invalid
How to avoid it: Buy directly from Ticketone.it or official site; never from touts
Taxi Meter Fraud
Taxi ranks at Napoli Centrale and airport
Drivers claim the meter is broken; quote flat inflated fares
How to avoid it: Insist meter is turned on; use official white Naples taxis only
Motorbike Bag Snatchers
Old Town alleys and along the waterfront
Moped riders snatch bags from pedestrians walking on the road side
How to avoid it: Wear bag cross-body with strap on traffic side; hold tight in alleys