3 days in Naples, Italy: the perfect itinerary

I love Naples, and even after three visits I’m still drawn back to this amazing city in the south of Italy; the combination of ancient history with modern-day energy is absolutely addictive!

I think three days in Naples is perfect for a first visit; enough time to experience the historic centre, the waterfront, the castles, the underground tunnels, and a full day trip out to Pompeii, without feeling like you’re running from sight to sight.

If you’ve only got a weekend in Naples, this itinerary still works – I’ve flagged where to cut back below. And if you’ve got longer, I’ll point you towards the extra sights and day trips worth adding on.

How many days do you need in Naples?

In one day you can take a walking tour of the historic centre, soak up the atmosphere in the Spanish Quarter and Piazza del Plebiscito, and eat one of Naples’ famous pizzas.

Two days is enough to explore the historic centre, take an underground tour and visit a couple of Naples’ most famous sites, like Santa Chiara cloister, the Veiled Christ statue or Castel Sant’Elmo, but you’ll have to skip the day trips.

Three days in Naples or a long weekend lets you add an easy day trip to Pompeii. Four days or more and you can start adding Sorrento, Capri, the Amalfi Coast or my beloved Ischia on top.

Before you go: the basics

I’ve covered getting to Naples, getting around, safety and where to stay in detail in my things to do in Naples guide, so I won’t repeat all of it here. The short version:

• Best time to visit Naples: April, May, September and October, for warm weather without the worst of the summer crowds and heat.
• Getting around: the historic centre is walkable, and the metro (Line 1 especially) covers most of the rest. Don’t even think about driving!
• Where to stay: I think somewhere near the Toledo or Municipio metro stations is most convenient, with direct metro access and easy links to the airport. Choose Chiaia if you’re looking for a more upmarket atmosphere. Avoid the streets immediately around Piazza Garibaldi and Napoli Centrale station. I have a section on where to stay in Naples with some hotel recommendations in my where to stay to visit Pompeii post.
• Tickets: a couple of the attractions below need booking in advance, sometimes weeks ahead. I’ve flagged each one. It’s worth considering the Campania Artecard if you’ll be visiting Pompeii – the 365 Lite version is a bargain.

Day 1: the historic centre

Day 1 of this Naples itinerary covers the historic centre and the areas just to its west, finishing back in the old town for the evening. The dense, narrow streets are steeped in history; they’re built on top of ancient Neapolis, a city founded by the ancient Greeks in the 6th century BC.

Start early: Santa Chiara and Gesù Nuovo

Head straight for the Basilica di Santa Chiara, as close to the 9.30am opening time as you can manage. The majolica-tiled cloister with fountains and orange trees is one of the loveliest quiet spots in Naples, but only if you get there early.

By late morning the queues build up, tour groups arrive and the peaceful cloister stops feeling quite so peaceful. Don’t miss the ruins of the Roman bathhouse where you can see an archaeological excavation in progress.

After you’ve visited Santa Chiara, have a quick look inside Gesù Nuovo church with its unusual diamond-studded façade; it’s directly opposite and has a beautiful interior.

Along Spaccanapoli

From here, follow Spaccanapoli east. The long, dead-straight street (really a sequence of narrow lanes with different names) literally splits the historic centre in two, which is what the name means. It’s lined with churches, palazzi and cafés spilling onto the pavement; make as many stops as you like for a coffee and sfogliatella pastry.

Spaccanapoli is around 2km long; the best section for visitors is Via San Biagio Dei Librai to Via Domenico Capitelli.

Cappella Sansevero to see the Veiled Christ – book in advance!

Cappella Sansevero is home to the Veiled Christ, a marble sculpture so delicately-carved that the “veil” over the figure looks like real fabric.

This is the one attraction in Naples you absolutely have to book weeks ahead. I think a late morning slot is ideal for this itinerary as you’ll be nearby, but plan your day around whatever slot you managed to get rather than the other way round.

Via San Gregorio Armeno

Continue on to Via San Gregorio Armeno, Naples’ Christmas street, where workshops sell handmade nativity figures all year round. They don’t restrict themselves to Joseph, Mary and the three wise men either; everyone from film stars, politicians and footballers make an appearance.

Even if nativity scenes aren’t usually your thing, it’s worth a wander for the craftsmanship and kitschiness. It’s also a great street for souvenirs – I bought an awesome ceramic pizza decoration for my Christmas tree!

Naples Cathedral and the rooftop tour

Finish this stretch at the Duomo di Napoli, dedicated to the city’s patron saint, San Gennaro. The cathedral itself is free to enter. Since March 2026 there’s also a rooftop tour which gives you a great view across the city. If you fancy it, I’ve written a full review of the rooftop tour. If the tour times don’t work for you, don’t worry; you’ll see Naples from above tomorrow when you visit Castel Sant’Elmo.

Toledo metro station

Head back down towards Via Toledo, stopping at Toledo metro station on the way. It’s often ranked among the most beautiful metro stations in Europe: a deep, mosaic-lined shaft that runs down through blues and golds, designed to evoke water and light. It costs nothing beyond a metro ticket and takes ten minutes.

Walk up through the Quartieri Spagnoli

From Toledo, take a detour into the Quartieri Spagnoli (Spanish Quarter). The narrow, steep streets are hung with washing lines, scooters squeeze past in both directions, and there’s street art everywhere. Don’t miss the shrine to Diego Maradona at Largo Maradona.

Piazza del Plebiscito and the Royal Palace

Back down towards the water, Piazza del Plebiscito is one of the largest public squares in Italy, framed on one side by the beautiful curved colonnade of the Basilica di San Francesco di Paola and on the other side by the Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale). I nearly skipped the Royal Palace, but what a mistake that would have been! The jaw-dropping staircase alone is worth the entrance fee.

Galleria Umberto I

Two minutes around the corner from the Royal Palace is the Galleria Umberto I, a 19th-century shopping arcade with a huge glass-and-iron dome. It’s free to walk through; don’t miss the astrological-themed mosaic under the dome. If you fancy it, you can walk a little further to see the impressive bulk of Castel Nuovo from the outside.

Pizza, obviously

You’re in the birthplace of pizza, so somewhere in day one has to be a proper Neapolitan pizza. The most famous pizzeria in Naples is L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele, but it’s difficult to go too far wrong; just pick somewhere that looks inviting and check the Google reviews before you sit down. Most places take cards but it’s a good idea to have some cash on you too.

Evening: Piazza Bellini

If you’ve still got energy, Piazza Bellini is a good spot for an evening drink. It’s ringed with bars and cafés, and at the centre there are excavated Greek city walls. It’s Naples in miniature; a bit scruffy but full of life, with ancient history just sitting there in the middle of it all.

Day 2: museums, underground Naples and the best view in the city

Day 2 is more spread out, taking in a choice of underground tour, Naples’ castles, and a funicular ride up to Vomero for the best viewpoint in the city.

Naples National Archaeological Museum (MANN)

MANN is one of the most important archaeological museums in Italy, with a collection built largely from what was excavated at Pompeii and Herculaneum. It’s full of amazing, enormous statues, plus little relics from the posh villas and ordinary houses at Pompeii. Don’t miss the ‘secret room’, a section of the museum where they show naughtier mosaics, frescoes and sculptures.

That said, if you’re short on time or not especially a museum person, this is the stop I’d cut first. I actually recommend visiting MANN after going to Pompeii, but if you only have three days in Naples and you’re visiting Pompeii on day three, seeing the museum first gives useful context. The museum is closed on Tuesdays.

Choose your underground tour

Naples has an entire second city running beneath the streets. There are two main city centre options for exploring underground Naples.

• Napoli Sotterranea, entered from Piazza San Gaetano in the historic centre, covers Greek and Roman aqueducts, cisterns and WWII air-raid shelters.
• Galleria Borbonica (the Bourbon Tunnels) are entered from Vico del Grottone near Piazza del Plebiscito or Via Domenico Morelli just over the hill in Chiaia. Their big selling point is the Bourbon Tunnel, which was created in the 1800s as an underground military highway and escape route for the King. It’s also famous for the vintage cars and motorbikes that were dumped here in the 1950s and 1960s. The Galleria Borbonica has an accessible route.

I’ve written a full review of the Bourbon Tunnels tour, including a proper comparison of the two if you’re trying to decide.

Castel Sant’Elmo and the Certosa di San Martino

This is the highlight of day two. Take the funicular from either Montesanto (closest to Napoli Sotterranea) or Augusteo (closest to Galleria Borbonica) up to Vomero for Castel Sant’Elmo and the adjoining Certosa di San Martino. The funicular does all the climbing for you, so it’s a much easier way to get a big view than it looks on the map.

Visiting the star-shaped castle begins with a slope, first up to the walls then through the castle itself. It’s all very dramatic, but the view is the real jaw-dropper – the whole city spread out below, Mount Vesuvius across the bay, and the sea beyond.

The Certosa next door (a former monastery) holds a museum of 19th-century Neapolitan art and one of Italy’s best collections of presepi (nativity scenes).

Evening: street food tour

Naples takes snacking very seriously, and an evening wandering the centre trying pizza fritta, arancini and other goodies is a great alternative to a sit-down dinner. I’m a recent convert to food tours and Naples is an amazing place for them – just flag upfront if you have any dietary needs so your guide can accommodate them.

Day 3: day trip to Pompeii

Save your last day in Naples for a day trip to Pompeii, probably the most famous Roman site outside Rome. The ancient city was destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD79, and lay virtually undiscovered under tonnes of ash and rock for over 1600 years. Pompeii is 15 miles south of Naples and reachable by the Circumvesuviana train from Napoli Garibaldi or Napoli Porta Nolana.

I see a lot of people planning to see Pompeii in a couple of hours, but it really needs a full day. The site is huge, and there’s loads to see. I highly recommend starting your day with a guided tour and then exploring on your own. I’ve written a complete guide to visiting Pompeii with everything you need to know for a day at the ruins.

If Roman ruins really aren’t your thing

There are plenty more things to do in Naples; shopping and cafe-hopping on Via Toledo (high street) or Chiaia (posh), a trip to the Royal Palace and gardens in Capodimonte, walking tours, pizza-making classes, a guided visit to the Maradona football stadium or the surprisingly good hop-on-hop-off bus.

Evening: Chiaia and the Lungomare

After a full day at Pompeii, ease back into Naples with a slow evening in Chiaia. Chiaia is one of Naples’ smartest neighbourhoods, full of boutiques by day and bars by night. It’s a good contrast to the grit of the historic centre, and a nice way to close out the trip.

From Piazza dei Martiri, it’s a short walk down to the seafront at Via Caracciolo. This stretch of the Lungomare, past Chiaia’s Villa Comunale gardens, with views of Castel dell’Ovo and Vesuvius, is a popular spot in the evenings, when locals and tourists alike stroll along the seafront and sip Aperol Spritzes as the sun goes down.

Find a spot for an aperitivo overlooking the water, then eat at one of the restaurants at the base of Castel dell’Ovo or, if your feet can take it, wander towards Mergellina for dinner.

Tickets and passes worth knowing about for your Naples itinerary

If you want to see the Veiled Christ sculpture at Sansevero Chapel, you must book in advance. Tickets sell out weeks in advance for every timeslot; if you’re too late you may be able to book a guided tour, but it’s better to be prepared.

Tickets for the Galleria Borbonica also need to be booked in advance. You should be ok booking a few days before you want to visit, but plan ahead if you want a specific slot.

You cannot book online for the Santa Chiara cloister, which is partly why I recommend visiting at the beginning of the day. It’s much nicer when it’s quiet, but also the queue to get in can be really long and slow-moving.

Several of the attractions in this guide (the archaeological museum MANN, the Royal Palace, Castel Sant’Elmo, Pompeii) are covered by the Campania Artecard, a regional tourist pass that comes in five different versions. At MANN you also get skip the line access which can save you some time. Whether the Artecard is worth buying depends entirely on how many paid sights you’re planning to fit in. I’ve compared all five versions here to help you work out if it’ll pay for itself over three days in Naples.

If you’ve got more than 3 days in Naples

With 4 days in Naples, a morning climbing Vesuvius followed by an afternoon at Herculaneum is the natural add-on if you’re not ruined-out.

Alternatively, you could take a day trip to Sorrento, Capri, the Amalfi Coast, Procida or (my favourite) Ischia, an island that’s absolutely covered with thermal spas, gardens, a beautiful castle and gorgeous views.

In summary

I hope you’ve found this Naples itinerary useful for planning your trip. If you have any questions, or if there’s something you did in Naples that you think other visitors really shouldn’t miss please let me know in the comments!