Gritty, glorious Naples is the home of pizza and the gateway to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. Here are the best things to do.
The 8 best things to do in Naples
The birthplace of pizza — a margherita at a historic pizzeria is essential.
The astonishing Roman city frozen by Vesuvius, a short train ride away.
The chaotic, atmospheric heart — churches, nativity-craft alleys and street life.
Tour the ancient Greek-Roman tunnels beneath the city.
World-class Pompeii and Herculaneum treasures.
Hike to the crater rim of the famous volcano for bay views.
The seafront castle and promenade for sunset and a passeggiata.
Ferries and trains reach Capri, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.
Suggested itinerary
Day 1: historic centre, pizza, Archaeological Museum, Lungomare. Day 2: Pompeii + Vesuvius, or a Capri/Amalfi day trip.
Tips for visiting Naples
- Take the Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii, Herculaneum and Sorrento
- Keep valuables secure in busy areas — normal city caution
- Eat sfogliatella and a real espresso — Naples does both best
Leave Spaccanapoli’s nativity street and climb into the Sanità
Via San Gregorio Armeno, the nativity-figurine alley off Spaccanapoli, gets sold as the heart of old Naples. In practice it’s a shoulder-to-shoulder crush of identical souvenir cribs, and the food stalls aimed at the foot traffic are not where Neapolitans eat. The neighbourhood worth your afternoon is Rione Sanità, a short uphill walk north. It was written off as rough for decades and has been turned around by a local co-operative that reopened the Catacombe di San Gennaro and funnels the ticket money back into the area.
- Up there you can also visit the Cimitero delle Fontanelle, an ossuary carved into the tuff stone, for free.
- The Palazzo dello Spagnolo’s double-ramped staircase is worth ducking in for and costs nothing.
On pizza, the queue itself is part of the tourist trap. A margherita at the famous Da Michele is about €5.50, but the line stretches past an hour on weekends; plenty of neighbourhood pizzerias do the same dough for the same price with no wait. For getting around, a single ANM ride is €1.30, while the €1.70 TIC ticket lasts 90 minutes and also covers the funiculars up to Vomero.
Naples FAQ
How many days do you need in Naples?
Two to three — the city plus Pompeii and a coast day trip.
Is Naples worth visiting?
Yes — for the best pizza on earth and as the gateway to Pompeii and Amalfi.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.