Comparison · Naples vs Rome · Italy
Naples vs Rome
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Richard Nevell, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Naples for Pizza, Pompeii, lower day-to-day costs and beaches; choose Rome for Colosseum and Vatican and Sistine Chapel. Naples is generally less expensive, and the two are about 188 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 188 km
- Less expensive
- Naples
- Best time for Naples
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Rome
- April–May and September–October
Side by side
| Naples | Rome | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Italy | Italy |
| Known for | Pizza, Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius | Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel and Ancient ruins |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $120–$220 | $170–$300 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 30°C (86°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 13°C (55°F) | January, 12°C (54°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 8 | 6 |
| Beaches | Gaiola Underwater Park | — |
| Airports | NAP | FCO, CIA |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Naples for…
Pizza, Pompeii, lower day-to-day costs and beaches. Naples spreads around its bay beneath Mount Vesuvius, with a UNESCO-listed historic centre laid out on the grid of the Greek city of Neapolis. Spaccanapoli cuts straight through it past churches, street shrines and pizzerias, while the National…
Choose Rome for…
Colosseum and Vatican and Sistine Chapel. Rome layers nearly 3,000 years of history into a walkable centre: the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the Pantheon, Baroque piazzas such as Navona and, across the Tiber, Vatican City with St Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. Most sights lie inside the…
Top sights compared
| # | Naples | Rome |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Archaeological Museum | Colosseum |
| 2 | Sansevero Chapel and the Veiled Christ | Roman Forum and Palatine Hill |
| 3 | Spaccanapoli and the decumani | Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel |
| 4 | Via San Gregorio Armeno | St Peter's Basilica |
| 5 | Naples Underground | Pantheon |
Food compared
| Naples | Rome |
|---|---|
| Neapolitan pizza | Spaghetti alla carbonara |
| Fried pizza | Cacio e pepe |
| Sfogliatella | Bucatini all'amatriciana |
| Babà | Supplì |
Which is cheaper?
Naples is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $120–$220 per person there, against $170–$300 in Rome (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Naples on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Naples and Rome are about 188 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Naples and 4 in Rome.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Naples or Rome cheaper?
Naples is usually less expensive: about $120–$220 a day mid-range against $170–$300 (estimates).
+Is Naples or Rome better for a first trip?
Pick Naples for Pizza, Pompeii, lower day-to-day costs and beaches, or Rome for Colosseum and Vatican and Sistine Chapel.
+How far is Naples from Rome?
About 188 km in a straight line.