Travel guide · Italy
Naples travel guide
Pizza's birthplace, baroque churches, Vesuvius and Pompeii next door
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Richard Nevell, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
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 Archaeological Museum holds the finest treasures from Pompeii and Herculaneum. The city is loud, dense and intensely alive, and it is the practical base for Pompeii, Vesuvius, Capri, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are April–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- Italy
- Best time to visit
- April–June and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- NAP
- Mid-range daily budget
- $120–$220 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Pizza, Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius and Veiled Christ
Why visit Naples
- Neapolitan pizza, a UNESCO-recognised craft, costs only a few euros in the historic pizzerias of Via dei Tribunali.
- The National Archaeological Museum displays the Alexander Mosaic and frescoes from Pompeii, which is 35 minutes away by train.
- Caravaggio's Seven Works of Mercy, the Veiled Christ in the Sansevero Chapel and the Capodimonte collection rival any Italian art city.
- Ferries from the port reach Capri, Procida, Ischia and Sorrento in under an hour.
- Street life is the attraction: nativity workshops on San Gregorio Armeno, market stalls in Pignasecca and espresso at the counter.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 20 things to do.
Museum · Centro Storico
National Archaeological Museum
One of the world's great collections of Greek and Roman antiquities, with the Farnese Bull and Farnese Hercules, the Alexander Mosaic and frescoes and everyday objects from Pompeii and Herculaneum.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Religious site · Centro Storico
Sansevero Chapel and the Veiled Christ
This small baroque chapel holds Giuseppe Sanmartino's Veiled Christ of 1753, a marble sculpture whose shroud appears transparent.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Street · Centro Storico
Spaccanapoli and the decumani
The long straight street nicknamed Spaccanapoli ('splits Naples') follows an ancient Greek road through the historic centre.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Food
- Photo spot
Palace · Santa Lucia and the Lungomare
Piazza del Plebiscito and the Royal Palace
The city's largest square is framed by the colonnade of the San Francesco di Paola church and the Royal Palace, the residence of Spanish viceroys and Bourbon kings.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Street · Centro Storico
Via San Gregorio Armeno
This narrow street is lined with workshops making figures for presepi, the elaborate Neapolitan nativity scenes, from shepherds and market stalls to caricatures of footballers and politicians.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Kids
- Photo spot
Historic site · Centro Storico
Naples Underground
Guided tours descend about 40 metres beneath the historic centre into Greek-era tufa quarries and Roman cisterns later used as Second World War air-raid shelters, squeezing through narrow candlelit passages.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
Where to stay
Centro Storico is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$ · Best for first-timers, food lovers, culture and budget
Centro Storico
Greek street grid of churches, pizzerias and nativity workshops
$$$ · Best for couples, shopping, nightlife and luxury
Chiaia
Elegant shopping streets and aperitivo bars between Piazza dei Martiri and the sea
$$$$ · Best for couples, luxury, families and first-timers
Santa Lucia and the Lungomare
Seafront hotels facing Castel dell'Ovo and Vesuvius
$$ · Best for budget, food lovers and solo travellers
Quartieri Spagnoli and Via Toledo
Dense grid of washing lines and street shrines beside the main shopping street
What to eat
- Neapolitan pizza — A soft, chewy, blistered crust cooked in about a minute in a wood-fired oven.
- Fried pizza — Pizza dough stuffed with ricotta, provola, tomato and sometimes cicoli (pork crackling), then deep-fried until puffed and golden.
- Sfogliatella — A shell-shaped pastry with crisp, layered dough (riccia) or a soft shortcrust (frolla), filled with ricotta, semolina and candied citrus.
- Babà — A mushroom-shaped yeast cake soaked in rum syrup, sometimes filled with cream; one of the city's favourite pastries.
- Cuoppo — A paper cone of fried seafood (small fish, squid, prawns) or fried snacks such as zeppoline, potato croquettes and aubergine.
- Fried pasta omelette — A fried disc of bucatini bound with béchamel, peas and ham, a filling snack sold at pizzerias and friggitorie.
When to go
The best times to visit Naples are April to June and September to October, when it is warm enough for the islands and coast but comfortable for walking and exploring Pompeii. July and August are hot and crowded on the islands, while winter is mild, rainy and quiet, with low prices.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Mild, green and increasingly sunny, with Easter traditions and the islands reopening; the best weather for Pompeii and Vesuvius. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot, humid days, warm sea and busy ferries; sightsee early and spend afternoons swimming. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm sea in September, pleasant October days and rain arriving in November, along with nativity season. |
| Winter | December–February | Mild but wet, with Christmas presepi, quiet museums and the lowest prices; some island services are reduced. |
Getting there and around
Naples International Airport (NAP, Capodichino) is about 7 km northeast of the centre. The Alibus shuttle runs to Piazza Garibaldi and the Molo Beverello ferry port in about 15–35 minutes depending on traffic, and taxis charge fixed fares to central zones.
Naples is best explored on foot in the centre, with the metro, funiculars and buses for longer hops. The Circumvesuviana railway serves Herculaneum, Pompeii and Sorrento, and ferries leave from the port for the islands.
Plan your days
Two days covers the historic centre, the Archaeological Museum, the Sansevero Chapel, the seafront and an underground tour. Four days adds Pompeii or Herculaneum, Vesuvius and a day on Capri or Procida; many travellers then continue to the Amalfi Coast.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- Italian and Neapolitan
- Plugs
- Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink, though many locals buy bottled water.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected; a cover charge is usually included.
Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are the main risks, especially around Piazza Garibaldi, on buses and on the Circumvesuviana. Traffic is chaotic, so cross roads carefully, and keep phones out of reach on busy streets.
Flights to Naples
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Naples?
Two days covers the historic centre, the Archaeological Museum, the Sansevero Chapel, the seafront and an underground tour. Four days adds Pompeii or Herculaneum, Vesuvius and a day on Capri or Procida; many travellers then continue to the Amalfi Coast. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Naples?
The best times to visit Naples are April to June and September to October, when it is warm enough for the islands and coast but comfortable for walking and exploring Pompeii. July and August are hot and crowded on the islands, while winter is mild, rainy and quiet, with low prices.
+What is Naples known for?
Pizza, Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, Veiled Christ, Spaccanapoli, Espresso, Bay of Naples and Nativity scenes. Neapolitan pizza, a UNESCO-recognised craft, costs only a few euros in the historic pizzerias of Via dei Tribunali.
+Is Naples expensive?
Naples is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $120–$220 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Naples?
No. Traffic and parking in Naples are notoriously difficult, and trains, ferries and buses reach Pompeii, Sorrento and the islands. A car only helps for exploring inland Campania.