Do you want to know the best things to do in Naples, Italy?
Naples’ reputation precedes it – dirty, rough, unsafe – why would anyone visit this city? Most tourists don’t. Sadly they bypass Naples and head straight for Pompeii to visit the ruins of the ancient city destroyed by the volcano.
But we think this is a mistake! Naples is chaotic, raw and real. The energy is electric and passionate. We fell in love with this city instantly!
We visited Naples in December 2024 as part of our six-week Southern Italy road trip. As we are travelling in our campervan, we stayed on the outskirts and took the train into the city to explore. We loved Naples’ buzzing streets, layers of history, and of course its legendary pizza!
So if you’re wondering what to do in Naples – we’ve got you covered! Here’s our 15 favourite Naples attractions.
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Best things to do in Naples
1. Stroll the Spaccanapoli (Splitter of Naples)
Spaccanapoli (or the “Naples splitter”) is a long, narrow street, that cuts through the city’s historic centre. It’s actually made up of several streets that flow into one another. Walking the Spaccanapoli is the quintessential Naples experience. It’s loud, it’s colourful and it’s chaotic in the best possible way.
Along the way you’ll pass Roman ruins, medieval churches, and modern bars and cafes. We wandered the length of it more than once and loved the vibe every time.
Two things made it especially memorable for us. First, the interactions — warm café owners calling out to us, cheeky banter with baristas, and that wonderful sense of being part of the street’s daily rhythm rather than just passing through it.
Second, the timing. Visiting in early December, we were completely blown away by how passionately Neapolitans celebrate the lead-up to Christmas. The entire street was buzzing with festive energy.
2. Via San Gregorio Armeno (Christmas Alley)
This small street runs off the Spaccanapoli, and its all about Christmas. Nativity scenes (presepi) are everywhere, along with stalls selling all sorts of Christmas ornaments, We saw mechanical Santas and celebrity figurines looking oddly out of place in nativity scenes.
Just a step back from the main alley is you can find workshops where Presepi are being made – some of these are so elaborate and can cost thousands of Euros. We even saw a presepi made completely out of pizza dough – now if that doesn’t say Naples, nothing does!
3. Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo, (Church of New Jesus)
This church is right near the western start of “Spaccanapoli”. Its strange façade looks more like a Toblerone chocolate than a church. It’s covered in pointed diamond-shaped stonework that was originally part of a 15th-century palace.
Step inside, though, and you’re hit with pure Baroque opulence: gold, marble, frescoes, and soaring ceilings. It’s absolutely beautiful, and a complete surprise. Just like Naples itself.
4. Obelisk of the Immaculate Virgin
Just outside the Church of New Jesus you’ll see this delicate Rococo spire. dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and some say it was placed there to ward off the plague.
5. Santa Chiara Religious Complex
The Santa Chiara complex includes a church, monastery and archaeological museum. The church and monastery dates back to the 14th century. Many of the kings of Naples are buried here.
6. National Archaelogical Museum of Naples
The Museo Archelogico Nazionale di Napoli is one of the most important archaelogical museums in Italy, and the world. It is housed in a former 16th century cavalry barracks.
It became a museum in the 19th century and now houses an impressive collection of ancient Greek and Roman artefacts. But the most impressive collection here is the frescoes, mosaics and statues from Pompeii and Herculaneum.
We chose not to visit the museum, as we were visiting Pompeii and Herculaneum after Naples. This was a mistake! We now know that a visit to Pompeii isn’t really complete without seeing the collection in the Museum. Especially to see the “Secret Room” which houses all the erotic items!!
The museum is open daily 9am – 730pm, closed Tuesdays. Entry is €20 for adults, with reduced entry for those aged 18-25, or EU citizens (€2). Children under 18 go free, as do disabled visitors. Women get free entry on International Women’s Day (March 8th.)
Like most museums in Italy, the Archaelogical Museum is free on the first Sunday of each month, however, the Egyptian collection and the Secret Room are closed on those days.
7. Piazza del Plebiscito
The Piazza del Plebiscito is a huge square which was named for the Plebiscite signed in 1861 bringing Naples into the unified Italy. In 1963 the square became a parking lot, but it was refurbished in the 1990s to the beautiful square we see today.
On one side is the Royal Palace, home of the Bourbon Kings in the 18th century. One half of the building is now a museum of Royal Apartments. On the outside of the Royal Palace are statues of the main kings of Naples, standing in niches in the wall.
The building on the other side of the Square was originally a designed to be a monument to Napoleon. However, after his defeat it was converted to a church dedicated to St Francis of Paola.
The building reminds us of the Pantheon in Rome, with it’s columns and domed roof. Sadly the church was closed when we were in Naples, so we couldn’t go in. Even more sad is the amount of graffiti on the outside.
8. Grand Caffé Gambrinus
On one corner of the square you’ll find this large cafe, which was supposedly where the tradition of the “Suspended Coffee” began. People can buy their own coffee and pay for a second, so someone who can’t afford a coffee can come in and get a hot drink.
9. Galleria Umberto I
This elegant shopping Galleria was built in the 1890s, as part of an attempt to beautify the city. The galleria has a glass domed roof, and mosaics on the floor depicting the signs of the zodiac.
Castles in Naples
Apparently Naples was once known as the City of Seven Castles – though we’d never heard that before! If you’re a castle aficionado, you may wish to visit them all, but we do recommend checking these out, even if just from the outside.
10. Castel dell’Ovo
This castle was built on a small island which is now a peninsula. This is the oldest castle in Naples, this area has been inhabited since ancient Greek times in the 6th century BC. The current castle dates from the 15th century.
Sadly, the castle was undergoing renovations when we visited Naples, and is temporarily closed.
11. Castel Nuovo
Built in 1279 it was the royal seal until 1815. The castle has an imposing position right on the Harbour. Inside the castle there is a museum and several historical societies have their offices here. We had read that the museum is underwhelming so we didn’t bother going inside.
The museum is open Monday to Saturday 830am to 7pm. Entry costs €6 per person.
12. Castel Sant’Elmo
The Castel Sant’Elmo is perched high above the city. It was built in 1537 in the shape of a six pointed star. From these points canons could be fired in all directions.
This medieval fortress gives you sweeping views over the city, the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius. The castle isn’t open to visitors, but you can walk over the moat and along the walls.
You can take the funicular part of the way up, which we did, and then we walked back down many steps and narrow lanes until we reached the top end of the Spaccanopoli.
The Castel Sant’Elmo is open 830am to 730pm daily. Entry costs €5.
13. Diego Maradona Mania
Walking through Naples you’ll see images of Argentine footballer Diego Maradona everywhere. Every souvenir stand has #10 Maradona shirts, and there are several murals with his face in the town.
Maradona came to play for Naples from 1984 – 1991, taking the traditionally weak side to two league championships.Naples still worships Diego Maradona like a saint.
Even if you’re not into football, it’s impossible not to be swept up in the devotion. You can visit the Quartieri Spagnoli to see the most famous shrine and murals.
14. Pizza Cooking Class
It’s no secret that we love our pizza. Naples is the place where pizza was invented. So we just had to take a pizza cooking class. Led by the charismatic chef Marco, we learnt the real secrets to Neapolitan pizza.
We made our own margherita pizza from scratch and then got to eat it! The class runs several times daily (we chose the evening timeslot) and the price includes making and eating your pizza, along with snacks and a drink while waiting for the dough to rise.
15. Catacombs of Naples
Beneath the bustling streets of Naples lies a hidden world of tunnels, aqueducts, and burial chambers. Sadly we didn’t get around to exploring the famous catacombs ourselves (next time!). These catacombs are recommended for history buffs and those curious about the city’s ancient, underground layers.
The Catacombs of San Gennaro and San Gaudioso offer guided tours through fascinating early Christian burial sites, complete with mosaics and frescoes — a uniquely eerie glimpse into Naples’ past. If you have the time, definitely consider adding one of these underground adventures to your Naples itinerary.
Best Day Trips from Naples, Italy
The obvious place is Pompeii. Most people who come as far south as Naples are planning to visit Pompeii, and there is good reason. The ruins of this ancient city that was destroyed by the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 79AD are immense, and intense.
Pompeii can get very crowded, especially in peak tourist season (May to October). When we visited in December there were no lines, and it was quite pleasant walking around the ruins.
If you are visiting at a busy time, perhaps visit Herculaneum instead. This smaller city was also buried in the same eruption, but the buildings are much more intact than Pompeii. We really enjoyed Herculaneum.
You can visit either or both sites easily from Naples via train, or take a guided tour. Why not combine your visit to Pompeii with Mt Vesuvius?
Naples Travel Guide – Essential Information
How to get to Naples
Naples is in the south of Italy, 230km (about 2.5 hours drive) south of Rome. It is the capital of the Campania region. The city sits at the top of the Bay of Naples, in the shadow of Mt Vesuvius, the volcano which buried the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79AD.
By Air
Naples International Airport (NAP) has flight arrivals from most European cities. The Alibus shuttle gets you into the centre of Naples in about 20–30 minutes.
By Car
Naples is easily accessible via Italy’s A1 motorway. But be warned, driving in the city itself is not for the faint of heart. We recommend parking on the outskirts and taking public transport into the city centre.
If your accommodation is in the centre, make sure to speak to your host about driving through any ZTL (Traffic Limitation Zones). Your host may need to provide you with a permit.
By Train
Napoli Centrale is a major hub with fast trains to Rome, Florence, and beyond. Check Omio for train and bus timetables and to book tickets.
By Ferry
Regular ferries connect Naples to the islands of Capri, Ischia, Sardinia and the Aeolian Islands off Sicily.
Getting around Naples
The centre of Naples is very walkable. We find walking one of the best ways to really get a feel for a city.
Driving in Naples is not recommended. Traffic is chaotic, parking is difficult, and there are numerous Traffic Limitation Zones operating at different times of the day. To find out more about the ZTL check this website.
Naples has a good public transport network, with metro, buses, and several funiculars. You can use contactless payment to “tap on” to most public transport in Naples, although some buses still require paper tickets.
We caught the local trail into Naples several times, and we also caught the metro an funicular. All the public transport we caught was clean, quick and efficient.
Accommodation in Naples
Naples has a huge range of accommodation to suit all budgets, from dormitory beds in hostels, small family run guesthouses right up to five star hotels.
We use and recommend booking.com when reserving hotel and guesthouse accommodation.
Where to stay in Naples with a campervan
We found the best place to park a campervan in Naples was the Sosta Camper Portici. This large parking lot is primarily used for campervan storage, but they reserve several spots for Van Life travellers like us.
This secure camper stop gave us an easy, low-stress base to explore the city without driving into the chaos. It had everything we needed. One toilet/shower cubicle, electricity and water, but most importantly quiet nights, high fences and a controlled gate. The place is guarded 24/7 which gave us extra peace of mind.
Matea and Rafael are excellent hosts, who made us feel totally welcome (shoutout also to Ferdinando, the cute resident dog).
Where to eat (and drink) in Naples
Naples is a foodies heaven! From high class restaurants to street food, Naples is delicious. Of course you should eat pizza here, Naples is where it was invented. The classic is Margharita (simple tomato, white cheese and basil). We think Naples pizza is best enjoyed when you’ve prepared it yourself at a pizza cooking class.
We also had EXCELLENT pasta at a small restaurant called Trattoria Zia Rossi down a tiny side street. I had the Gnocci Sorentina and Nigel had Spaghetti alla Vongole.
Neapolitans also love fried pizza (Pizza Fritta), or pasta (frittatini), and the desert of choice is sfogliatella – a pastry cone filled with sweet ricotta.
FAQs
Is Naples worth visiting?
Absolutely! It’s raw, real and wildly under-rated. If you want touristy and “safe” Italy, stick to the northern cities. If you want the real Italy and authentic experiences, come to Naples.
When is the best time to visit Naples?
Summers here are very hot, and tend to be more crowded with coach tour groups visiting nearby Pompeii.
We went in December and loved it. There were fewer tourists, cooler temperatures, and still plenty to do. Spring and autumn are also great options.
How many days do you need in Naples?
We had only planned to spend one full day in Naples, but we loved it so much we came back to spend another afternoon and evening wandering along the Spaccanapoli.
Two nights would be ideal if you arrive midday or early afternoon. This gives you time to orient yourself on the first afternoon, have dinner or attend a pizza making class that evening, and then spend a full day sightseeing the next day.
Is Naples safe for travellers?
Despite what you may have heard, Naples is generally very safe for travellers. There are incidents of petty theft and pick-pocketing, but no more than any other large city. We felt quite safe when we were here.
However there was one moment when we were walking down the Spaccanapoli and I turned to look for Nigel. There was a man walking very close behind who just stopped and stared at me. I quickly moved my backpack to wear it on my front. Not saying he was planning to rob me, I simply felt safer that way.
Watch our Naples Travel Film
If you want some visual inspiration on what to see in Naples, check out our Naples vlog on our YouTube Channel.
Final Thoughts
So many people see Naples as somewhere to pass by (as quickly as possible) on their way to Pompeii or Sorrento. But if you can embrace it’s rough-around-the-edges nature, trash and graffiti, you’ll find a city full of passion and life.
We really loved Naples, it surprised us!