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Romeo, Naples

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Naples

Updated 1 October 2026 · 16 things to do

Pictured: Romeo

Naples is loud, chaotic, crumbling and utterly magnificent. Scooters weave through alleys strung with washing, shrines to saints and footballers sit side by side, and every other doorway seems to lead to a baroque church or a pizzeria that claims to be the best in the world. It is not a city that tries to charm you, which is exactly why it does.

It also sits on one of the most remarkable bays in the world. Vesuvius looms over the city, Pompeii and Herculaneum lie at its feet, and ferries leave the port for Capri, Procida and the Amalfi Coast. You could spend a week here and barely scratch the surface.

Don't miss

  1. 1Spaccanapoli
  2. 2Cappella Sansevero
  3. 3National Archaeological Museum
  4. 4Pizza napoletana
  5. 5Pompeii

Old Naples

The historic centre, built on the street plan of the ancient Greek city, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  1. Spaccanapoli

    Neighbourhood

    The long, narrow street of Spaccanapoli looking towards Castel Sant'Elmo
    Photo: TatsuoTabei, Public domain

    The name means 'Naples-splitter': a long, dead-straight street that slices through the old centre along the line of the ancient Greek city. Walk it end to end, past churches, palazzi, pastry shops and street shrines, and duck into the side streets as you go.

    Don't miss the majolica-tiled cloister of Santa Chiara, or Via San Gregorio Armeno, the lane of workshops making figurines for nativity scenes, which range from shepherds to footballers and politicians.

    Tip: Keep valuables out of sight in the busy lanes, as you would in any big city.

  2. Cappella Sansevero

    Museum

    Giuseppe Sanmartino's marble Veiled Christ in the Cappella Sansevero
    Photo: David Sivyer from United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0

    A small chapel that holds one of the most astonishing sculptures in Italy: Giuseppe Sanmartino's Veiled Christ, an 18th-century marble figure under a shroud so fine and transparent that it is hard to believe it is carved from stone. Down in the crypt, two eerie 'anatomical machines' add a macabre twist.

    Tip: It is small and very popular, so book a timed ticket online in advance.

  3. Napoli Sotterranea

    Activity

    Beneath the old town lies a maze of tunnels and cisterns dug by the Greeks and Romans, later used as air-raid shelters during the Second World War. Guided tours lead you down through candlelit passages, some of them very narrow, and into the remains of a Roman theatre hidden inside ordinary houses.

  4. Quartieri Spagnoli

    Neighbourhood

    Built in the 16th century to house Spanish troops, this steep grid of narrow streets off Via Toledo is Naples at its most intense: washing lines, tiny shrines, motorbikes and street food. It is also home to a huge, much-visited mural of Diego Maradona, still a saint in this city.

Museums, palaces and the seafront

  1. National Archaeological Museum

    Museum

    The Alexander Mosaic from Pompeii in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples
    Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain

    Pompeii and Herculaneum make far more sense after a visit here. Most of the finest treasures dug from the two cities are on show: dazzling floor mosaics, including the famous Alexander Mosaic, vivid frescoes, bronzes and everyday objects. The Farnese collection of ancient sculpture is just as impressive, and the 'Secret Cabinet' of erotic art raises eyebrows.

    Tip: Give it at least half a day, ideally before you visit Pompeii.

  2. Museo di Capodimonte

    Museum

    A Bourbon royal palace on a hill above the city, now home to one of Italy's great picture galleries, with Caravaggio's Flagellation of Christ, Titian, Raphael and Botticelli. It is rarely crowded, and the huge wooded park around it is a breath of fresh air.

  3. Piazza del Plebiscito

    Landmark

    Naples' grandest square is a vast open space framed by the Royal Palace and the colonnaded church of San Francesco di Paola, modelled on the Pantheon in Rome. Next door are the Teatro di San Carlo, one of the oldest working opera houses in Europe, and the soaring glass arcade of the Galleria Umberto I.

    Tip: Stop for an espresso and a pastry at one of the grand old cafés nearby.

  4. Castel dell'Ovo and the lungomare

    Landmark

    Castel dell'Ovo on its island in the Bay of Naples
    Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY 4.0

    Naples' seafront promenade runs along the bay with Vesuvius on the horizon, and is where the city comes to stroll at sunset. At its heart is Castel dell'Ovo, a chunky medieval castle on a little island, named after a legend that the poet Virgil hid a magic egg in its foundations. The tiny fishing harbour beside it is lined with seafood restaurants.

Eat and drink

Naples gave the world pizza, and it is fiercely proud of it.

  1. Pizza napoletana

    Food

    Pizzeria Gino Sorbillo on Via dei Tribunali
    Photo: Mister No, CC BY 3.0

    Real Neapolitan pizza is soft, chewy and blistered from a blazing wood-fired oven, with a puffy crust and a soupy middle. Stick to the classics: the margherita (tomato, mozzarella, basil) and the marinara (tomato, garlic, oregano). The art of the Neapolitan pizza maker is even recognised by UNESCO.

    Try pizza fritta, a deep-fried folded pizza, from a street stall too.

    Tip: The famous pizzerias on and around Via dei Tribunali have long queues. Put your name down and wait; it moves quickly.

  2. Sfogliatella

    Food

    Sfogliatelle ricce, one broken open to show the ricotta filling
    Photo: Saggittarius A, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Naples' signature pastry is a shell-shaped parcel of crackling, paper-thin layers (the riccia) or soft shortcrust (the frolla), filled with ricotta, semolina and candied citrus and best eaten warm. Its partner in crime is the babà, a little rum-soaked sponge. Wash both down with a short, strong espresso.

Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius

All three are an easy trip on the Circumvesuviana train from the city centre.

  1. Pompeii

    Day trip

    The Forum of Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius behind
    Photo: Commonists, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Buried by Vesuvius in AD 79 and rediscovered centuries later, Pompeii is an entire Roman city frozen in time: paved streets rutted by cart wheels, temples, bathhouses, bakeries, villas with painted walls and the haunting plaster casts of its victims. It is huge, and you can easily spend a day.

    Tip: Bring water, a hat and comfortable shoes, as there is little shade. Book tickets online and arrive early.

  2. Herculaneum

    Day trip

    The ruins of Herculaneum below the modern town and Mount Vesuvius
    Photo: Sumit Surai, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Smaller than Pompeii but better preserved, Herculaneum was buried deep in volcanic material that kept upper floors, wooden beams and even furniture intact. It is far more manageable in a morning, and many visitors find it more moving.

  3. Mount Vesuvius

    Nature

    The crater of Mount Vesuvius
    Photo: Horcrux, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The volcano that destroyed Pompeii is still active, and you can walk up to the rim of its crater. A road climbs most of the way, then a gravel path zigzags to the top, where you can peer into the crater and look out over the whole Bay of Naples.

    Tip: Tickets for the crater path must be booked online in advance. It can be windy and much cooler at the top.

Islands and coast

  1. Capri

    Day trip

    The Faraglioni sea stacks off the coast of Capri
    Photo: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Ferries from Naples' port reach Capri, the glamorous island of the Faraglioni sea stacks, the chic Piazzetta and lemon-scented lanes. Take a boat around the coast, ride the chairlift up Monte Solaro from Anacapri, or visit the Blue Grotto when the sea allows.

    Tip: Catch an early ferry, before the day-trippers arrive.

  2. Procida

    Day trip

    The pastel houses of Marina Corricella on Procida
    Photo: Velvet, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Capri's laid-back little neighbour is a fishing island of pastel houses, best seen at the harbour of Marina Corricella. Named Italian Capital of Culture in 2022, it is still refreshingly unpolished.

  3. The Amalfi Coast

    Day trip

    Positano's houses tumbling down the cliffs to the sea
    Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY 4.0

    South of Naples, beyond Sorrento, cliffs plunge into the sea and villages like Positano, Amalfi and Ravello cling to the slopes. It is a long day from the city, but the views from the coast road and the ferries are some of the most famous in Italy.

Where to stay in Naples

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Naples →

Getting around

The historic centre is best explored on foot, and the metro and funiculars help with the hills. The Circumvesuviana train runs to Herculaneum, Pompeii and Sorrento, and ferries and hydrofoils leave the port for Capri, Procida and Ischia. Driving in Naples is not for the faint-hearted.

When to go

Spring and autumn are ideal for sightseeing and the ruins. Summer is hot, and Pompeii has little shade. Winter is mild and quiet, and Christmas brings crowds to the nativity workshops of San Gregorio Armeno.

Questions about visiting Naples

What is Naples best known for?
Pizza, its UNESCO-listed historic centre, the National Archaeological Museum, and being the gateway to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Vesuvius, Capri and the Amalfi Coast.
Is Naples worth visiting?
Yes. It is chaotic and not always polished, but it is one of Italy's most atmospheric cities, with superb food, art and history and the best day trips in the south.
How many days do you need in Naples?
Allow two days for the city itself, plus a day for Pompeii and Herculaneum and another for Capri or the coast.
Can you visit Pompeii from Naples?
Easily. The Circumvesuviana train runs from the city centre to the Pompei Scavi station by the entrance, and stops at Herculaneum on the way.

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