28 Fabulous Things to Do in Naples Italy

Naples is one of my favorite places in Italy — and the world. This wild and fascinating city is chaotic, affordable and friendly. I can’t get enough of it, and I’m always thinking about my next visit.



There are so many cool things to do in Naples Italy, no matter what kind of traveler you are. (Honestly, if you did nothing but eat pizza the entire time, I would get it! It’s that good!) Of course you have cathedrals and museums and piazzas — but you also have fantastic pastries, interesting museums, and a a looming volcano in the background!



Beyond the city itself, Naples is perfectly positioned for some of the best day trips in Italy, from Pompeii to Capri to the Amalfi Coast.



But for me, what makes Naples special is the energy. It’s wonderfully unpretentious, full of locals who are gregarious and welcoming. And they don’t rebuild their city to cater to tourists — they know what a special place they have, and that it should be appreciated for what it is.



Naples is incredible, and I can’t wait to show you the best of the city Italians call Napoli.



This post was published in June 2023.





Table of Contents

Things to Do in Naples, Italy Eat the Best Pizza in the World Explore the Historic Center of Naples Visit Mount Vesuvius Take in the View from Castel Sant’Elmo and Vomero Go on a Street Food Tour  Take a Cooking Class Naples National Archaeological Museum Piazza del Plebiscito Galleria Umberto I Have Fancy Pastries at Gran Caffè Gambrinus Visit Pompeii (and/or Herculaneum) Gawk at Nativity Scenes on Via San Gregorio Armeno Royal Palace of Naples San Gennaro Catacombs Chiostro di Santa Chiara Visit the Amalfi Coast Have a Sfogliatella for Breakfest Wine, Food and E-Bikes Castel dell’Ovo Basilica San Domenico Maggiore Try a Pizza Fritta Castel Nuovo Teatro di San Carlo  Museo Cappella Sansevero Visit Capri Visit Procida Visit Ischia Visit Sorrento Is Naples Safe? How Much Time to Spend in Naples Italy How to Get to Naples, Italy Best Time to Visit Naples, Italy Where to Stay in Naples, Italy Top-Rated Hotels in Naples Italy: Travel Insurance for Italy Is Naples Worth It?








Things to Do in Naples, Italy



What are some of the best things to do in Naples Italy? Definitely eat all the best pizza , visit Mount Vesuvius , explore the Old Town , and take in the Naples Archaeological Museum ! Is Naples safe? Naples is much safer than people think , and likely safer than your hometown. Treat it like any other big city and keep an eye on your belongings. What are the best day trips from Naples Italy? Naples is a FANTASTIC base for day trips. I recommend visiting Pompeii , Procida island , and the Amalfi Coast ! What’s the best time to visit Naples? Late spring and early fall are fantastic times to visit Naples — you’ll enjoy beautiful outdoor weather and far smaller crowds. Think late May and early October.



Da Michele — still one of my favorite pizzas in Naples.



Eat the Best Pizza in the World



If you are a pizza fiend like me, you are going to LOVE Naples. Naples is where pizza was invented! Of COURSE it’s going to be amazing!



There are so many excellent pizza places throughout Naples, and they are all cheap. Honestly, if you’re paying more than six euros for a pizza in a casual spot in Naples, you’re getting ripped off. Usually you’ll pay closer to four euros for a pizza the size of your head. (It’s more expensive at more high-end spots, though. Like eight euros for a margherita.)



So where should you go? Two of my favorite places for pizza in Italy are also two of the most famous: L’antica Pizzeria Da Michele and Sorbillo .



Da Michele is the famous pizzeria from Eat, Pray, Love , whose identity writer Elizabeth Gilbert initially kept secret before deciding to share it with the world. Get a ticket with a number outside and you’ll be ushered inside to order from their simple menu: classic margherita with fior di latte mozzarella, marinara (no cheese) or cosacca (with pecorino instead of mozzarella).



Sorbillo is a bit more formal (by Neapolitan standards, anyway) — you wait in line and sit down in the restaurant. There’s a more detailed menu with more toppings, but the pizza is just as good.



Two more modern pizzerias that I really enjoyed are Pizzeria 3.0 Ciro Cascella (one of the best margheritas I’ve EVER had, plus PIZZA DONUTS!!) and 50 Kalo (just fabulous all around). These two spots are off the beaten path and will be full of locals. Book ahead.







Explore the Historic Center of Naples



The historic center of Naples is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and for good reason — it dates back to 470 BCE and carries layers upon layers of civilizations. Here you have Ancient Greek city walls, Byzantine churches, French Gothic architecture from the Angevin, and Tuscan architecture from the Aragonese.



But for me, I feel that this neighborhood is where you feel the essence of Napoli in its carefree glory. Motorcycles speed down the street, shopkeepers yell animatedly with each other, walls are covered with religious art and graffiti, and that one guy with a balcony is singing into a karaoke machine, performing for the people waiting in line for pizza at Sorbillo.



Spend time walking around this neighborhood, photographing anything that catches your interest — or just sitting back and watching the show, a big smile on your face.



And don’t miss the Quartieri Spagnoli, or Spanish Quarter — it’s just down the street from the Historic Center and is brimming with tons of character as well.



Mount Vesuvius over Naples, via DepositPhotos.



Visit Mount Vesuvius



Mount Vesuvius is one of the symbols of Naples, towering over the city and its surroundings. Vesuvio, as the Italians call it, is close enough to Naples that it’s pretty much part of the city.



Lots of locals and tourists alike enjoy hiking Mount Vesuvius, which is best done in the cooler months of the year, or early in the day during the summer.



Not up for a big hike? You can easily visit Mount Vesuvius on a half-day tour from Naples , where you’ll climb the mountain by bus and on foot, take in views of the Bay of Naples, and learn about the volcano’s violent history.



You can also take a full-day tour to Mount Vesuvius and the ruins of Pompeii , which go very well together for obvious reasons! Those poor Pompeiians…







Take in the View from Castel Sant’Elmo and Vomero



For a different side of Naples, check out the Vomero neighborhood — while the name might cause you to blanche for a moment (no? Just me?), it’s actually the fanciest and ritziest neighborhood in Naples. Located on Vomero Hill, far above the city center, it’s a beautiful place to take in the views over Naples, Mount Vesuvius in the background.



You can explore the castle and its star-shaped military fortress. It’s been in action since the 13th century, and it has a hell of a lot of history! You can buy skip-the-line tickets here.



To get to Castel Sant’Elmo, take the funicular to Morghen station and walk. I highly recommend taking the funicular up and walking your way down afterward. (Though be sure to wear closed-toe shoes — I stepped through a surprising amount of broken glass on the stairs down from the castle.)



Naples street food, via Maxim Morales Lopez on Shutterstock.



Go on a Street Food Tour 



No matter where you are in Italy, the food will be good — but the food culture in Naples one of my favorites in the country. Naples is one of Italy’s historic food capitals, and the locals know how to prepare a fresh meal, so you cannot go wrong with a street food tour .



This food tour stops at all of the hot spots – basilicas and main squares – along with out-of-the-way stops that add a unique flavor to the mix. Participants will sample traditional dishes while getting an entertaining education into the history of the city as you visit cultural attractions in between bites.



Come hungry, because while you’ll only be sampling the dishes, there’s a lot of ground to cover! Ragù, baccalà, and pizza are just scratching the surface, and vegetarian options are available everywhere. Prices for this tour start at 42.50 EUR ($45.90 USD).



Pizza cooking class in Naples, via Shutterstock.



Take a Cooking Class



If your foodie style is more hands-on, a cooking class is really the best way to immerse yourself in Italian culture. So what will it be? Pizza or pasta? Why not do both?



You may think you know how to make pizza from scratch, but this Neapolitan pizza class teaches you the well-kept Italian secret of doughmaking, passed down through the generations. The art of pizza-making is an emotion, and a master pizza maker will show you how to feel it. Then you can indulge in your creation, complete with an appetizer and drink.



The fettuccine and ravioli option involves the intimate act of small-group pasta making. Set in a historic restaurant in Naples, it includes fresh local products like mozzarella, cured meats, produce, and yes, of course you will be eating your creations here as well! Prices start at 44.50 EUR ($48 USD).



Naples Archaeological Museum, via Felix Lipov on Shutterstock



Naples National Archaeological Museum



Visit Naples’ National Archaeological Museum to get an intriguing peek into ancient life. There you will see artifacts rescued from Pompeii and Herculaneum, plus magnificent Greek and Roman sculptures and mosaics spanning millennia of history.



This neoclassical museum boasts an expansive collection that includes ancient Egyptian relics. Egyptology exhibits are particularly popular, and you’ll find seven rooms dedicated to Egyptology – covering themes like power, social structure and death.



The National Archaeological Museum in Naples is an essential stop on any trip, and can often become overrun during weekends and peak season.



To ensure you can fully experience it during your stay, book skip-the-line National Archaeological Museum Naples tickets beforehand to ensure maximum enjoyment! Admission is 22 EUR ($23.50 USD) and tickets are valid for two consecutive museum days.







Piazza del Plebiscito



The Piazza del Plebiscito is one of Naples’s grandest squares. It was named to honor an 1861 plebiscite that united Italy from two separate realms into one nation-state — specifically, the Bourbon Kingdom of Two Sicilies merging into the Kingdom of Italians.



It is also one of the most beautiful spots in all of Naples, playing host to a number of cultural events throughout the year. When you arrive, you may notice two impressive buildings: at one end of the square is San Francesco di Paola Basilica, a wonderful Neoclassical structure and one of Naples’s largest churches.



On the other end is the Royal Palace of Naples, a real monument to the city, thanks to its expertly preserved state. For a short while in the 1960s the square was sadly used as a car park, but today is now strictly pedestrian and a great place to escape the traffic of Naples.







Galleria Umberto I



Located in a vibrant area of downtown Naples, Galleria Umberto I is an exquisite shopping center that also doubles as an art installation, similar to Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Here you can explore various collections, such as Italy’s second-largest Egyptian collection.



It all started back in 1887 (pretty recent by European standards!) by the will of King Umberto I, a mere nine years after the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan. With an arching dome reaching 184 feet high, the arcade takes on a criss-cross shape, with a gorgeous mosaic of the zodiac on the center floor.



There are four entrances and plenty of shopping to be had, along with cafés and restaurants. Admission is, of course, free. However, you’ll still need your wallet for all of the purchases you’ll make!







Have Fancy Pastries at Gran Caffè Gambrinus



I love visiting elegant cafes throughout Europe — but I was surprised to learn that one of the best was in Naples! Gran Caffè Gambrinus is located right on Piazza del Plebiscito and feels like another world. You walk into the cafe and are spellbound by its crenellated walls with gold trim, statues on display in the alcoves.



And a fancy cafe deserves a fancy pastry. I highly recommend trying a delizia del limone , a special cake from the Campania region that is filled with and topped with lemon custard.



Pair it with any of the fancy, ornate coffee drinks. Somehow I ended up with a drink that was a shot of espresso between multiple layers of thick cream, topped with pistachios.



Pompeii and Vesuvius, via Shutterstock



Visit Pompeii (and/or Herculaneum)



In the year AD 79, Mount Vesuvius exploded, burying the city of Pompeii in ash and preserving it for centuries since. If you’re a fan of ancient history, Pompeii is one of the ultimate destinations for you, in Italy or worldwide — it’s rare to see a city so well-preserved to this day.



Pompeii is located close to Naples and makes an easy and fascinating day trip. It can also be surprisingly moving, seeing plaster casts of bodies in their last moments of life.



Near Pompeii is Herculaneum (Ercolano in Italian), which is another site worth visiting. It’s smaller than Pompeii (and easier to get around on foot if you have limited mobility), and in some ways is better preserved thanks to being closer to the volcano and being excavated more recently.



You have a few options for visiting Pompeii from Naples:



This tour from Naples includes Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii , which are cool to visit back to back and have the historical context.



This tour from Naples includes both Pompeii and Herculaneum , giving you a taste of both sites.



This tour from Naples includes Pompeii, lunch, and wine tasting , a fun way to do a lot in a half-day tour.



If you want to visit Pompeii independently, you can take the train from Naples to Pompeii on the Circumvesuviana Line , which takes about 37 minutes. For Herclaneum, take the train from Naples to Ercolano , which is a bit further.



If you take the train to Pompeii, I highly recommend taking this tour of the ruins with an archaeologist , which has long been one of the best-rated tours in the Bay of Naples!



Remember to bring a water bottle and sun protection, including a hat and long-sleeved shirt or jacket — these ancient sites can get especially hot in the summer months, and there isn’t much shade.







Gawk at Nativity Scenes on Via San Gregorio Armeno



Naples’s historic center is a wonderful place to get lost — but whatever you do, find your way to Via San Gregorio Armeno. This little street, located between the main thoroughfares of Spaccanapoli and Via dei Tribunali, is home to hundreds of nativity scenes.



These scenes, called presepi in Italian, contain all kinds of figures — and they’re all for sale. Of course you can find baby Jesus and camels, but here in Naples you can find a pizza-maker figurine! Because we all know they were having margheritas at the birth of Jesus!



Anyway — this street is an unmissable place in Naples, and if you know anyone who collects nativity scenes, these figurines make the perfect gifts.



Royal Palace of Naples, via Shutterstock



Royal Palace of Naples



At the heart of Naples lies the Royal Palace, known by locals as Palazzo Reale. Take a guided tour to appreciate its beauty and history – from the apartments of Royal Families to its grand court theater featuring tapestries, marble sculptures and frescoes adorn its walls.



Discover how the rich and famous lived in Naples at this lavish palace that has been carefully preserved as it was when used by royal families. Step inside the throne room, imagine operas or plays being staged at its private theatre, or simply stroll through lavish rooms adorned with antique furniture and art.



Explore Spaccanapoli Street to reach the Gesu Nuovo church and admire its gorgeous interior as you stroll to its lovely cloister – Caravaggio has painted three of his iconic paintings here: Seven Acts of Mercy in Gesu Nuovo church, Flagellation at Capodimonte National Museum, and The Taking of Christ at Sansevero Chapel. Admission is 10 EUR ($11 USD).



San Gennaro Catacombs, via Vladimir Korostyshevskiy on Shutterstock.



San Gennaro Catacombs



To gain some insight into a rich culture of death, the catacombs will more than satisfy. Here you will discover San Gennaro’s tomb, where his remains were brought for transference as the patron saint of Naples.



The Naples Catacombs is one of Italy’s most unusual attractions. These burial sites of early Neapolitan Christians offer an eye-opening underground world, complete with rooms cut into rock faces and decorated with 2nd century frescoes from churches like San Gennaro (also known as Faccia Gialla, or Yellow Face). One tomb in particular stands out, which may contain one of his oldest depictions — it could even contain his face itself! To find out, you’ll just have to come see it for yourself.



Visit the highlights with ease by taking a guided tour, held every hour (at extra cost). Regular admission is 17 EUR ($18 USD); for students, seniors, and groups of 20 or more, it is 13 EUR ($14 USD) per person. You can get your tickets here.







Chiostro di Santa Chiara



Tucked away behind a 14 th century church, the Cloister of Santa Chiara is an impressive monastery with an intriguing backstory. Originally built to house 200 monks and the tombs of the Angevin royal family, it was disregarded as a lowly stable by the son of the builder. As a result, it received an exquisite baroque makeover years later.



A major draw for visitors, it may well be the most photographed spot in Naples. In fact, the Santa Chiara itself was only built in the 18 th century, and both church and monastery suffered bomb damage in WWII (which has since been renovated.) Of particular note are the majolica-tiled benches and ornate pillars that line the paths.



Look out for the ceiling fresco and luxurious interiors and make sure to view its three presepi (Christmas crib scenes) circa the 1700s. These elaborate tableaux are one of the city’s signature features – perhaps the most elaborate in all of Italy. Admission is 6 EUR ($6.50 USD) and 4.50 EUR ($5 USD) for teachers, students, and seniors over 65).







Visit the Amalfi Coast



The Amalfi Coast is one of the most spectacular places to visit in Southern Italy. And one of the best things to do in Naples is to head to these stunning cliffside towns for a day!



To get the most out of a day to the Amalfi Coast, I recommend visiting the towns of Positano and Amalfi — two towns that are gorgeous, easy to get to (by Amalfi Coast standards), and pack a lot of value into a single day.



First off, you can take a tour from Naples to the Amalfi Coast that includes visits to Positano, Ravello, Amalfi, and lunch overlooking the sea in Conca dei Marini. This is the easiest option, and a great way to relax and enjoy yourself.



Want to do it more independently? You can take a ferry from Naples to Positano (or, alternatively, Naples to Amalfi ), and explore those towns on your own. You can’t beat the ferry views!



You can also book a private transfer from Naples to the Amalfi Coast . This is more expensive, but door-to-door experience can be worth it, especially if you’re splitting it between a few travelers.



And for the cheap option? Book a bus from Naples to Positano via Sorrento . Just know that you get what you pay for, and this can take a while.







Have a Sfogliatella for Breakfest



Italy may be my favorite foodie destination in the world — but not for breakfast. I feel like Italy goes light on breakfast (usually just a cornetto and caffe , or another light pastry) so they can throw all their energies into the other meals.



But Neapolitans know what’s up — they eat sfogliatelle for breakfast. Known as lobster tails in the US, these are long, curved pastries with layers upon layers of flaky pastry, wrapped around ricotta cream. Sometimes the cream is enhanced with orange, cardamom, candied lemon peel, or almond paste.



So if you’ve been looking for an excuse to indulge in your breakfast, grab yourself a sfogliatella in Naples!



Cyclist in Naples, via Shutterstock.



Wine, Food and E-Bikes



Leave the city behind, if only for a few hours, and explore outside Naples effortlessly on two wheels with an e-bike food and wine tour ! You will ride through the gorgeous Phlegrean Fields with your informative guide on this e-bike tour.



Travel along the coastline, passing ancient ruins along the way to Lake Averno, a volcanic site where you will stop and enjoy lunch and a wine tasting on the shores of the lake. This is a relaxing change of pace from the bustle of Naples! Alcoholic beverages are available for those who wish to partake. Prices start at 77 EUR ($83 USD).



Castel dell’Ovo in the distance, via Shutterstock.



Castel dell’Ovo



Castel dell’Ovo (roughly translated to “Egg Castle”) is one of Naples’s iconic landmarks and an intriguing destination to visit for both its story and architecture. Legend holds that Roman poet Virgil placed an egg into its foundation as part of an agreement, declaring if ever broken, so too would both Naples City and Castle dell’Ovo become unsteady structures.



As soon as you arrive at a castle, make sure to venture inside to explore its lavish interiors. There’s much to see – including an extravagant church featuring frescoes and gold decor – including a cavernous church that’s almost surrealistically lavish in size and decoration.



Located right on the coastline, the Castell dell’Ovo can be an imposing structure as seen from the water, with Mount Vesuvius in t