What to do in Naples in 1 day

Naples is the third largest city in Italy, behind Rome and Milan, located in the south of Italy, the atmosphere and ambiance have absolutely nothing to do with the northern cities.

We were pleasantly surprised by the beauty of the buildings, the Mediterraneanatmosphere, the café terraces that never run out, the underground city, and the things to do in Naples. There’s a permanent vacation feeling!

Below is our itinerary (on our map) and all our tips for visiting Naples on foot in 1 day.

Naples walking tour

Morning: tour of the historic center

Naples is an interesting city to visit, but we recommend that you take a day to explore the surrounding area ( islands and archaeological sites).

We recommend a morning stroll through the Centro Scorico (historic center) and then to the south of the Spanish Quarter, to the Piazza del Publicito, from where you will have a view of the Bay of Naples.

Then in the afternoon, you can explore the catacombs, and at the end of the day we recommend dinner in the Spanish Quarter, where the narrow streets are the narrowest, with scooters parked everywhere, and you’ll also see frescoes by Diego (the REAL local star).

Our walking itinerary in the historic center

Come on, let’s take you along, the circuit we followed is about 4 km long. It can be completed in just over an hour, but of course we advise you to take your time. We advise you to visit at least the interior of the Sanservero chapel, with its famous veiled Christ, so allow 2 hours 30 minutes!

Centro Scorico“, in Italian, is the historic district of Naples, crossed by the main street Spaccanapoli. Here, you’ll feel the weight of the centuries, with Roman and Greek influences everywhere. The district boasts numerous palaces and churches listed asUNESCO World Heritage sites. We advise you to open your eyes and enjoy!

The letters correspond to the locations on our map!

• 1. Startfrom the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption of Naples (A), is better known as Duomo San Gennaro, which is one of the fifty protectors of the city, especially against the eruptions of Vesuvius, which explains the importance of this church for the Neapolitans.

• 2. Then don’t miss Via San Gregorio Armeno (B) for its boutiques and stores filled with Christmas decorations. Nativity scenes, santons, garlands, handmade baubles… at any time of year. It’s part and parcel of the city of Naples, where religion is omnipresent.

• 3. Basilica Santa Chiara (C) is the largest Gothic church in Naples. It was built in the fourteenth century and has a rich interior decoration, with frescoes and mosaics. The site is worth a visit for its beautiful garden in the center, especially its cloister which is beautiful and quiet which is something rare in Naples (ticket price 6,00€, count 1h of visit) .

• 4. Chapelle Sansevero (D) with its breathtaking statues and especially the famous veiled Christ, which is impressively realistic. The paintings on the walls are magnificent. There is only one room with everything in it, but there is a lot to see. (price 10€ for 30 minutes of visit, visit to be privileged)

• 5. Castel Nuovo (E), you can’t miss it, the exterior is impressive and well preserved. We’d advise you not to visit the interior if you don’t have the time, as we’d read rather mixed reviews, because as with other historic sites, there are few explanatory panels and the site isn’t very well maintained.

• 6. Galleria Umberto I (F), you will feel like you have been teleported to Milan, this beautiful and majestic shopping gallery is one of the main attractions of Naples.
  
• 7. Piazza del Pleblicito (G), is a huge rectangular square in the historic center of Naples, home to some of the city’s most emblematic buildings, including the Royal Palace, built by Ferdinand IV in the 18th century, as well as the Basilica of San Francesco di Paola and the equestrian statute of Carlo III de Borbon. Above all, from here you’ll have a superb view of the Bay of Naples!

Afternoon: Explore the catacombs of San Gennaro

A must-do on your visit: explore Naples ‘ underground network, a fascinating testimony to the city’s history and religious traditions. Used as burial grounds since Roman times, they have developed over the centuries into an impressive complex of tunnels and burial chambers, where ancient frescoes and relics can still be admired.

Among these catacombs, those of San Gennaro are a must-see. Nestled beneath the Capodimonte hill, they offer a captivating journey through over 2,000 years of Christian history.

❤️ Our favorite part of Naples: we explored the site with a guide (guided tour compulsory) for 1 hour, immersing ourselves in the architectural and spiritual details of this unique site, with enlightening explanations of the frescoes and crypts where many important religious figures are laid to rest.

Find out more about the Naples catacombs here.

Don’t forget to cover up well even in summer, it’s between 10 and 15 degrees all year round!

Mid-afternoon and evening: Naples Museum and Spanish Quarter

• Naples ‘ National Archaeological Museum is home to many treasures, including pieces from the ancient sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum. One of Italy’s most visited museums, we think it’s a must-see during your stay.
  
  Practical information: Adults: 30€ – 18-25 years 2€ Free -18 years – Estimated visit time 2h

• End your day in the Spanish Quarter (Quartieri Spagnoli), a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the north of Naples, a stone’s throw from the historic center.

It’s in this colorful, lively district that you’ll find the typical atmosphere of Naples: houses of just a few floors form very narrow streets, with washing on every balcony, Vespas on every corner… and the good thing is, it’s a shady district in summer.

Here, the star is Diego Maradona, the famous soccer player who is omnipresent in Naples. Here, he’s on every wall, and there’s even a café dedicated to him.

We recommend taking a stroll to admire the beautiful frescoes painted on the walls, then sitting down at a café terrace (for example, at Don Café Street Art Coffee) to feel 100% Neapolitan!

End your stay with a delicious pizza at Pizzeria 400 Gradi

Where can I book tickets for museums and activities?

You can book on the activity’s official website or we advise you to use the online booking platform Get Your Guide (official reseller), as tickets benefit from flexible cancellation conditions and can be refunded up to 24 hours before the activity. Prices are the same as on museum websites.

Practical information (hotel, transportation, restaurants…)

Where to sleep in Naples?

Don’t hesitate accommodation in Naples If you’re looking for a place to stay close to the historic center, we advise you to read the comments carefully, as Naples is one of the noisiest cities we’ve visited!

To help you find what you’re looking for, we recommend that you use the Booking search engine to select your accommodation. By filtering the scores above 8/10, we’re rarely disappointed. We advise you to book as early as possible, as Naples and the surrounding area is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy.

Where to eat in Naples?

There are pizzerias on every street corner, so you’re bound to find what you’re looking for for just a few euros, and you’re sure to put on a few pounds during your stay!

Please note that the price of cutlery and drinks (even water) are not included in the price of the dish. Once you’re there, there’s no surprise: the amount is indicated at the bottom of the menu, usually €1 to €2 per person.

We love going to Italy, because we think it’s the country with the best food after France. Like the French, Italians have a wide range of delicious regional products and cook mainly with fresh produce.

• Gino e Toto Sorbillo Gino e Toto Sorbillo: a real institution where you can eat an excellent pizza with fresh ingredients from €4 + €1.5, the perfect place in the heart of the historic center! We advise you to arrive early, as soon as it opens, if you are on the waiting list, there are many bars around to drink a Spritz while waiting! (historical center)

• Pizzeria 400 Gradi Small and unpretentious, you can enjoy pizzas with gorgonzola-filled crusts and/or fried pizzas filled and folded on themselves, very greasy but delicious, we warned you not to start a diet before coming to Naples! (Spanish quarter)

• Antichi Sapori Partenopei: close to Piazza del Plebicito, yet away from the crowds, delicious traditional cuisine until the amazing and tasty dessert. We recommend the “rigatoni alla genovese”, a delight!
  
• Mennella Il Gelato: incredibly tasty ice creams in typical Italian flavors, stracciatella, tiramisu… (historic center)

How to get to Naples?

There is just one airport, Capodichino, located northeast of Naples. Tickets are more affordable than for Rome, as the destination is less popular, even though there’s a lot to do.

To give you an idea, we paid €55 return (in March) from Bordeaux with Easyjet.

How do I get to the city center from the airport?

It’s not complicated, on the contrary, it’s quick and affordable.

The Alibus shuttle leaves every 20 minutes (from 6.30 a.m. to 11.30 p.m.). Tickets cost €5, and can be purchased directly on the shuttle or at the ticket machines in front of it.

Depending on traffic, the shuttle bus will take you to the Piazza Garibaldi central station terminal in just 15 minutes , and you can also take metro lines 1 and 2. The high-speed trains to Rome also leave from the central station.

When is the best time to visit Naples?

It’s always difficult for us to answer this question, honestly, we’d almost like to say all the time depending on your preferences and your equipment, there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes 😉

Naples is located in the south of Italy, on the shores of the Mediterranean, so the weather will always be better than in France!

In summer, temperatures remain bearable, although they can rise to 40°C, and, as everywhere else in Italy, it’s crowded. Note that it can rain in November and December. Obviously, the best seasons are, in our opinion, spring and autumn. We were in t-shirts in October! Here are a few ideas if you want to visit Naples in winter.

Is Naples worth it?

As you know, we love Italy, and since we found a plane ticket to Naples at an unbeatable price, we went for it without thinking too much. What a great idea, because it was an immediate change of scenery. Stick around and we’ll tell you all about it!

First, a little background! Naples is located in the south, on the west coast of Italy, just 2h30 south of Rome, making it an ideal destination to wait for or extend your summer! So why go there?

• The historic center of Naples offers an immediate change of scenery with its small pedestrian streets, Mediterranean atmosphere, ubiquitous scooters and laundry drying on balconies.
  
• The Bay of Naples is home to the islands of Capri (that’s finiiii, don’t thank us for having the song in our heads for the day), Procida and Ischia, ideal for walks, including by boat.
  
• Just 30 minutes away, you can visit the famous archaeological sites of Pompeii andHerculaneum, as well as the natural site of Vesuvius.

If you’re more used to northern cities, Naples will surprise you with its apparent chaos. Indeed, at first sight, it’s a mess, the city is noisy, with a lot of garbage, and people don’t know how to drive… You might feel like running away, but hang on, it’s worth it!

As you can see, the region is incredible, and Naples makes a great base for wandering around, and above all, there’s a lot to see on site!

A few safety tips:

• As in most capitals, a backpack is safer than a shoulder bag . As you probably know, I had my bag stolen this way in Vietnam in Ho Chi Min during our world tour, because I wasn’t vigilant enough. This advice also applies to cell phones.
  
• Be equally vigilant on public transport, which can also apply to the Paris metro. Make sure you always have an eye on your bag, and always close it securely.

What to do around Naples?

You’ll clearly be spoilt for choice: depending on what you want to do, you can either rent a car or take the train or bus:

• If you are in the mood for nature, you can explore one of the beautiful islands located in the Bay of Naples, Capri, Procida and/or Ischia

• Culture : don’t miss the unmissable archaeological sites of Ercolano and Pompeii, located 20 and 30 minutes respectively from Naples. Artifacts and frescoes are on display at Naples’ National Archaeological Museum. The Greek archaeological site of Paestum. As well as the Royal Palace of Caserta north of Naples.
  

• Climbing: of course, Vesuvius awaits you, just 20 minutes from Naples.
  
• Looking for a wild coastline? Discover the Amalfi Coast.

🎟️ Compare Naples airport deals on Discover Cars

Feel free to leave us a quick note or 5 stars below, to tell us if you’re planning this trip, to ask any questions you may have, here or on Instagram, we’ll get back to you with great pleasure.