What to See in Naples? 20 Things to Do in a Day or a Weekend

Naples, what to see? The complete guide to things to do and see in the city at least once.

Naples is a city teeming with history and life. This statement is by Erri de Luca, but we want to borrow it to show you how complicated it is to make a guide to what to see in Naples.

There are numerous activities to do and see, and for a glimpse of the city you may think you can see Naples in a few hours (or in 24 hours), perhaps walking along Spaccanapoli, the street that bisects the city, but we are sure you will want to return soon.

What to see in Naples: 20 things to do

• Archaeological Museum

• Naples Cathedral

• Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore

• Virgiliano Park

• Santa Chiara Monastery

• Sansevero Chapel Museum

• Naples Underground

• Plebiscito Square

• Sant'Elmo Castle

• Charterhouse of San Martino

• Vesuvius

• MADRE

• Hermitage of Camaldoli

• Royal Palace of Naples

• Castel dell'Ovo

• Mannajuolo Palace

• Museum of Capodimonte

• Toledo Metro Station

• Petraio

• The Gaiola

Naples is a state of mind, a city that enchants you, that keeps you with your nose in the air, that surprises with its astonishing beauty, its mysticism and its enigmas.

Naples is history and art, but it is also an atmosphere that envelops you and accompanies you through alleys and neighbourhoods. If you are thinking of spending a weekend in Naples, the things to see are many and unexpected, your plans will change constantly at the sight of a palace, a church, a courtyard or an alley. In this guide we tell you what you absolutely must see in Naples in 3 days with useful info, timetables, and map.

EXPLORE ALL THE ACTIVITIES TO TRY IN NAPLES

Naples, an open-air museum

Naples, the capital of Campania, is disarmingly beautiful. Even Stendhal was enchanted by it'I am leaving. I will not forget Via Toledo or all the other districts of Naples; in my eyes it is, without any comparison, the most beautiful city in the universe'. There is not an alley, a palace, a courtyard that is not worth a visit. Naples is a city that enraptures the senses, with its scents and sights, and needs to be discovered and rediscovered calmly.

Naples is melody, it is music, Naples is the Sunday silence interrupted by the screams of joy at a Napoli goal. Naples is perfume, that of the'piennolo' of tomatoes hanging in the air, of the'rau che pappulea', of fried pizza.

In Naples there are neighbourhoods that must be explored inch by inch. The historic centre, unlike many historic centres in cities of art, still belongs to its inhabitants who experience it in all its manifestations, even though it is visited and photographed every day by tourists.

There are many monuments to see in Naples, as well as museums of international importance.

Naples: what are the places of interest?

What to see and do in Naples

Below are the things you absolutely must see in Naples.

• Naples Archaeological Museum

The National Arch aeological Museum in Naples was one of the first archaeological museums in Europe (it has been open since the end of the 18th century). It houses the Farnese collection that belonged to the Bourbons (who founded the museum), antiquities and prehistoric artefacts from the south as well as those from the cities buried by the eruption of Vesuvius. The Secret Cabinet of Erotic Art of the Archaeological Museum was once only open to people of proven moral integrity. Today it is open to all and collects elements of the erotic art of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

• Naples Cathedral

Don't miss a visit to the Naples Cathedral, a true wonder of the historic centre dating back to the 13th century and including two other buildings: the Basilica of Santa Restituta where the baptistery of San Giovanni in Fonte is located, the oldest in the West, and the Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro.

• Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore

Visit the beautiful church of San Lorenzo Maggiore, which is worth a stop for the Museo dell'Opera di San Lorenzo Maggiore, including a visit to the archaeological excavations.

• Virgiliano Park

The Virgiliano Park is a park overlooking the sea on the Posillipo promontory. The park has a system of terraces overlooking the Gulf of Naples and the islands. From Virgiliano, the panorama sweeps from Vesuvius to the Sorrento coast, from Ischia and Procida to Bacoli and Pozzuoli. The promontory is cut inland by the Grotta di Seiano, a cave excavated in Roman times to reach the villa of Puasilypon without having to go round the mountain and restored during the Bourbon era. For this reason it is also known as the Bourbon tunnel. Tours are guided and lead past the tunnel to the Roman-era remains with a view of the island of Gaiola.

• Santa Chiara Monastery

The Santa Chiara monastery and convent complex is a 14th century building famous for its incredible cloister covered in 30,000 hand-painted tiles during the 19th century. The official website of the Monastery of Santa Chiara with information on opening hours and visits can be found here.

• Sansevero Chapel Museum

The Sansevero Chapel houses the world-famous Veiled Christ, a work of art so incredibly beautiful that, according to legend, it was only possible thanks to an alchemical process. The chapel and sculpture were commissioned by the Prince of Sansevero, a well-known alchemist, whose figure is associated with macabre legends. On the floor below the chapel are the human machines built by the prince, i.e. two skeletons with a crystallised and completely visible circulatory system of which many spine-chilling stories have been told over the centuries.

• Castel Sant'Elmo and Certosa di San Martino

The view from the top of the Charterhouse takes in the whole city. The way up is no less impressive. If you wish, you can walk along the Pedemantina di San Martino, which leads from Spaccanapoli to the Charterhouse by crossing Corso Vittorio Emanuele (here are other pedestrian routes and stairways in Naples).

• Spaccanapoli

Spaccanapoli is a long street in the historic centre of Naples that divides the north from the south, cutting it in half. Along and around the street are some of the city's most important churches and chapels. Here are the Monastery and Church of Santa Chiara, the Church of Gesù Nuovo and the San Domenico Maggiore complex.

• San Domenico Maggiore Complex

Don't miss the elegant complex where you will find the Baroque church of San Domenico Maggiore and the convent with the cloister of San Domenico. The tour of discovery will allow you to admire the Sacristy, the Aragonese Arches, the Sacred Furnishings Room, the Salvator Mundi from the school of Leonardo da Vinci, the Cell of St Thomas Aquinas, the Chapter House and the Refectories.

• Plebiscito Square

Piazza del Plebiscito, near the sea, overlooks the entrance to the Royal Palace of Naples. Before continuing your walk towards the Maschio Angioino and Naples' pedestrian promenade, you must also play the orientation game in the square: blindfolded, it is impossible to cross the square without going round in circles, try it to believe it.

• Underground Naples

Naples is a stratified city where the Greek, Roman, medieval and present-day city coexist on layers of tufa. The lower layer is that of the Greek cisterns, later used for other purposes over the millennia.

BOOK THE GUIDED TOUR WITH SKIP-THE-LINE ENTRANCE TO NAPLES UNDERGROUND

• Vesuvius

The best way to visit Vesuvius is by car. Once you reach the top of the volcano you pay to visit the crater. It may be worth it just to admire the view of the Bay of Naples from the top. The ticket for the crater costs 8 euros and entitles you to a visit with a guide. You can find the info here: www.guidevesuvio.it.

• Herculaneum and Pompeii

You cannot visit Naples and not see the two incredible cities buried under the ashes and untouched for millennia. Pompeii was a great city with a huge number of workshops and a lively cultural and political life. Visiting the excavations gives you a good idea of this.

BOOK YOUR GUIDED TOUR OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF POMPEII

Herculaneum, on the other hand, was a residential town with villas and wealthy flats, a stone's throw from the sea. The excavations are smaller and better maintained than those of Pompeii. Both, for all their diversity, are worth at least a visit.

BUY A TICKET TO VISIT ERCOLANO

• Hermitage of Camaldoli

If you need a place away from the hustle and bustle, head to the Eremo di Camaldoli, where you can admire the church with its beautiful paintings by artists such as Luca Giordano, Andrea Mozzilli, Federico Barocci and Massimo Stanzione. From here, the panorama of Naples, the gulf and its islands will leave you speechless.

(Alex DeG / Shutterstock)

• MADRE Museum

Don't miss a visit to the MADRE museum of contemporary art where you can admire temporary exhibitions and permanent collections with works by Lucio Fontana, Anish Kapoor, Piero Manzoni and Robert Rauschenberg. All current exhibitions can be found at this link.

• Capodimonte Museum

One of the must-see museums in Naples is the Capodimonte Museum, a treasure trove of works by Caravaggio, Masaccio, Titian, Correggio, Giordano, Mattia Preti.

What to see in Naples in one, two or three days

Below are some useful tips on what to see in Naples in one, two or three days:

• Naples in a day

In one day in Naples we dedicate ourselves to the historic centre, walking around Via dei Tribunali. Here there are pizzerias (dal Presidente and Sorbillo) and street food. Piazza Bellini is perfect for an aperitif or to spend the evening. Visit the Sansevero Chapel and the Monastery of Santa Chiara, then walk down to Piazza del Plebiscito and the Maschio Angioino.

• Naples in two days

On the second day in Naples you can walk from Spaccanapoli to the Certosa and Castel Sant'Elmo. For a cultural visit, you can choose between the Archaeological Museum of Naples, the Capodimonte Museum and the MADRE, Naples' museum of contemporary art.

• Naples in three days

On the third day in Naples, you can visit the Virgiliano, the Gaiola and the Grotta di Seiano, starting from the Bagnoli pier. Then on to Posillipo and Borgo Marechiaro, an ideal place for a seafood lunch by the sea.

Naples historic centre

The historic centre is the living heart of Naples and the place where you will find the most monuments to visit. There are about 200 churches, museums, palaces and alleys. The area of the historic centre is characterised by some of the most important streets in Naples, such as the Upper and Lower Decumanus, Via Duomo, Via San Gregorio Armeno, Piazza Bellini, Piazza Dante, Piazza del Gesù, Piazza San Domenico Maggiore.

Don't miss a visit to the San Carlo Theatre, Piazza del Plebiscito and the Lungomare Caracciolo. Via Toledo (where there is also the famous Toledo Metro, which is considered one of the most beautiful in the world) is the shopping street.

Weeekend in Naples

What is there to see in Naples on a weekend? Some of the things not to be missed include:

• Historic Centre of Naples

• Naples Cathedral

• San Gregorio Armeno

• Monastery of Santa Chiara

• Veiled Christ and Chapel of San Severo

• Royal Palace and Piazza Plebiscito

• TrekkIng on Vesuvius

• Via Caracciolo

• Via Petraia

• Virgiliano Park

• MANN in Naples

• Piazza Bellini

What to see in and around Naples

There are plenty of places around Naples that are definitely worth a visit. Without going too far outside the metropolitan area of the city, head to Ponticelli where the Parco dei Murales was born. You can find all the information here.

Don't miss a visit to Monte di Dio, or the hill of Pizzofalcone, an area of Naples that lies between the boroughs of Santa Lucia, Chiatamone and Chiaia. This was the birthplace of Partenope, the first urban centre of the city of Naples, dating back to the mid-8th century BC.

In the immediate surroundings of Naples, Herculaneum and Pompeii can be visited. Pozzuoli and the sunken park of Bacoli are not far from the city centre and can also be reached by public transport. Pozzuoli is also a nice area for an aperitif or an al fresco dinner. Visit the wonderful Rione Terra overlooking the island of Procida and do not miss an excursion to the Archaeological Park of the Phlegraean Fields.

The Casina Vanvitelliana on Lake Fusaro in Bacoli is worth a visit. It was an old hunting lodge accessed by a wooden pier. This structure was built by Carlo Vanvitelli, son of Luigi Vanvitelli, at the behest of Ferdinand IV of Bourbon in the second half of the 18th century, when the Fusaro area became the hunting and fishing reserve of the Bourbons.

(DinoPh/Shutterstock)

Stop and visit the Reggia di Portici, the summer residence of Charles of Bourbon, before the construction of the Reggia di Caserta. It is located on the slopes of Vesuvius in a park with an English garden and an amphitheatre. For information and visits here.

Don't miss a visit to the archaeological park of Cuma, an ancient Greek settlement near Naples. Here you can reach the Antro della Sibilla, a tunnel carved into the volcanic tuff. According to tradition, it was the home of the Cumaean Sibyl, the prophetess of the god Apollo, famous for her oracles that Virgil describes in his Aeneid.

Here you will find information for a tour of the Ville Vesuviane, the monumental palaces you will find in the municipalities of Naples, San Giorgio a Cremano, Portici, Ercolano and Torre del Greco.

Other places to visit include the excavations of Boscoreale, where you can admire the marvellous remains of Roman villas as well as the Treasure of Boscoreale (partly preserved in the Louvre) and the villa of Augustus in Somma Vesuviana rediscovered only in the 1930s.

Of the islands, Procida is the closest and easiest to visit even in a day. Ischia is the island of spas; Capri needs no introduction. By car, you can visit the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento and Positano. Archaeological sites include Stabiae and Oplontis.

Here is the guide to What to see in Caserta and here is the guide to What to see in Benevento.

Naples Videos Vesuvius National Park Excursions

The Vesuvius National Park offers 11 trails with a total length of 54 kilometres. Each trail is of varying length and difficulty. From the top of Vesuvius there is an exceptional panorama of Naples, the gulf and even Lazio. For more information, visit the official Park website.

Beaches of Naples

Where can you go to the sea in Naples? Along the Bay of Naples you will find numerous beaches to visit. Just move a little away from the city centre to discover the one that suits you best. Here is our selection:

• Gaiola beach

• Scoglione di Marechiaro

• Bagno Elena

• Bay of Ieranto

• Baia Castle Beach

• Sorgeto Bay

• Beaches of Vico Equense

• Beaches of Sorrento

Map Public Transport: how to get around Naples

Getting around Naples is mainly on foot, but let's see what the city's main means of transport are. There are two metro lines as well as a network of trains connecting the centre to the suburbs and surrounding towns.

Metro Line 1 runs from Piazza Garibaldi to Piscinola, while Line 2 is operated by Trenitalia and runs from Pozzuoli to San Giovanni - Barra. Then there are the buses, funiculars, Circumvesuviana, Cumana, Circumflegrea, and MetroCampaniaNordEst. At this link you will find information with a map of public transport in Naples and a pdf to print out. A single ticket costs €1.30 and lasts 90 minutes.

Free Naples

Naples at no cost? Here are the attractions to discover without spending a cent.

• Castel dell'Ovo

• Naples National Library

• Naples Cathedral

• The Vergiliano Park in Piedigrotta Spaccanapoli

• San Gregorio Armeno

• The Palaces of Naples

• Fontanelle Cemetery

• Villa Floridiana

• Botanical Garden

• Viewpoints over Naples and the Gulf

What and where to eat in Naples

Neapolitan cuisine and pastries are incredible. Gastronomy is at its best in the various manifestations of street food such as fried pizza, fried pasta, pasta cresciuta and various fried foods.

Where can you eat in Naples? Just about everywhere! Remember in Naples you eat in the streets, in the narrow streets and decumani of the historic centre you will not struggle to find cuoppi and fried pizzas. Here you will find all the information on what to eat on the street in Naples with the best places to eat. You can find our guide to the best pastry shops in Naples here and some of the best pizzerias in Naples here.

Curious places to see in Naples

Naples is full of curious places that you will discover as you wander around the neighbourhoods, streets and alleys without constraint or prejudice. The Palazzo dello Spagnolo is a marvellous palace, now popular but once noble. It is famous for its spectacular staircase system.

(lauradibi / Shutterstock)

The Rione Terra is a district of buildings and houses perched on a narrow peninsula in the Pozzuoli area. It is a place where it is recommended to go for a walk before an aperitif, and then stop in Pozzuoli for a drink.

The Casina Vanvitelliana in Bacoli is one of the symbols of the coast of Naples together with Palazzo Donn'Anna. At the Cimitero delle Fontanelle you will discover the macabre and fascinating history of the cult of skulls in Naples and the evocative display of the bones of the souls in Purgatory.

What to see in Naples with children

Naples is the perfect destination for a weekend or holiday with children. There are plenty of parks you can reach and many attractions to visit, and then there are the pizzerias, sfogliatelle and fried pizzas. For children, a trip to Naples means going to Città della Scienza, the interactive science museum designed just for the little ones. You can also see Italy's largest Planetarium, inaugurated last year, to take a 3D trip to discover the Universe.

At the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station you will find the Public Aquarium of Naples and the Sea Turtle Recovery Centre, here is the info if you are planning a visit.

READ ALSO: WHAT TO DO IN NAPLES WHEN IT RAINS

Then there is the Mostra d'Oltremare where you will find the Zoo, the Children's Theatre and a huge green space, the Park where you will find a small lake, and an archaeological area to explore. Here you will find all information about the attractions of the Mostra d'Oltremare. From April 2018, Naples' most famous amusement park Edenlandia will reopen after many years of closure.

In Naples there are numerous parks and green lungs perfect for children, such as Villa Floridiana in Vomero, the Virgiliano Park and the Real Bosco di Capodimonte surrounding the museum of the same name.

The Museo del Giocattolo in Naples is temporarily closed for renovation, follow the news about the next reopening here.

What to see in Naples at Christmas

Christmas at Christmastime means walking slowly through the crowded San Gregorio Armeno, the world's most famous street of nativity scenes (this is not something to do exclusively during the Christmas season). Along this street in the historical centre you will find many shops where artisans have been making nativity scenes and shepherds for generations, staging representations of Neapolitan life and reproductions of famous characters.

(lapas77 / Shutterstock)

During the Christmas period, the city comes alive with lights and markets that are held mainly along the decumani and in Piazza San Gaetano. In Piazza Dante and the surrounding streets, on the other hand, the appointment is with Christmas street food.

Secret Naples

• La vigna di San Martino - Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 340

• Ospedale delle bambole - Via San Biagio Dei Librai, 39

• Casa Zevola - Via Atri 3

• Riccardo Dalisi Archive - Rua Catalana, 27a

• Casa Morra - Salita S. Raffaele, 20C

• Tolentino House - Gradini San Nicola da Tolentino, 12

• Chiesa Sant'Aniello a Caponapoli - Vico Sant'Aniello a Caponapoli, 9

• Made in Cloister Foundation - Piazza Enrico de Nicola, 48

• Babuk Garden and Hypogeum - Via Giuseppe Piazzi, 55

• Molo San Vincenzo - Via Giardini Molosiglio

• Hermann Nitsch Museum - Vico Lungo Pontecorvo, 29/d

• Serino Augustan aqueduct archaeological site - Via Arena della Sanità, 5

• Vico Paradisiello

• Calvanese Nursery - Via Foria, 234

• Gaiola Beach, Posillipo

Map and Map

Below is a map and map of what to see in Naples absolutely.

What to visit in Naples centre?

In the centre of Naples don't miss a visit to the Duomo, the San Severo Chapel at the Monastery of Santa Chiara, via San Gregorio Armeno, Piazza Bellini, Piazza Dante, Piazza del Gesù, Piazza San Domenico Maggiore

What to do for free in Naples?

Among the things to do for free are the Vergiliano Park, street art in the Ponticelli district and in the historic centre, Castel dell'Ovo, the Botanical Garden, San Gregorio Armeno, the National Library, Naples Cathedral and the Maschio Angioino (free every Sunday).

What is the best area to sleep in Naples?

Among the best areas to sleep in Naples we recommend the historic centre, Via Toledo, Via Chiaia and the Vomero district.

What to see in Naples in a day?

The historic centre, Portalba, Via Duomo, Via Toledo, Lungomare Caracciolo, Piazza Dante, Galleria Umberto I.

How long is Spaccanapoli?

Spaccanapoli is two kilometres long

Where is Forcella located?

Forcella is located in the historic centre between the Pendino and San Lorenzo districts

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