Naples Cathedral rooftop tour complete guide and review
One of my favourite things to do in Naples on my last trip was the new rooftop tour at Naples Duomo (the Cathedral). Naples is one of the most historic and also most densely-packed cities in Europe, and from up on the roof of the cathedral you can see all its wonders; castles, the port, and 500 glittering domes spread across the city.
The Naples cathedral rooftop tour opened to the public in March 2026, and takes you 40 metres above the city for an amazing view of Naples – plus a look at some secrets that the Duomo itself has been hiding.
Here’s how the Duomo rooftop tour works, what you’ll actually see and my view on whether it’s worth adding to your Naples itinerary.
Contents
What is the 500 domes Naples Cathedral rooftop tour?
The Duomo di Napoli (officially the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta) is the most important church in Naples, famous for housing the relics and blood of San Gennaro, the city’s patron saint.
Most visitors have a quick look inside and move on, but the new rooftop tour of the cathedral is something completely different: a 45-minute guided experience that takes you through parts of the Cathedral that have never been open to the public before, then up onto the rooftops for a view of the city that’s impossible to get anywhere else.
The experience was made possible by restoration work in 2015, but the original concept dates back to the 1960s. The tour has only been running since 30 March 2026, so if you’re visiting this year, you’ll be among the first to do it.
What to expect on the tour
Tours are guided (available in both English and Italian) and follow a fixed route through three parts of the cathedral.
Meet at the MUDD information point in the cathedral
You’ll meet your guide at the MUDD information point, which is in a little building in the cathedral courtyard to the left hand side of the main building, near the toilets. Enter the cathedral through the main doors, then follow the signs to the information point.
You’ll need to check in at the reception desk 10-15 minutes before the tour and swap your booking confirmation for a ticket. Your guide will call your group when it’s time to set off.
The Chapel of the Illustrissimi
The tour starts in the Chapel of the Illustrissimi, which is usually off-limits for visitors. The chapel dates back to the 14th century and contains a fresco of the Tree of Jesse attributed to Lello da Orvieto, along with works by Balducci.
If your tour sets off at the same time as another group, you might be rushed through the chapel and up to the rooftop; if that happens then you’ll get to see it at the end of the tour.
Lift up to the roof
From the chapel, the route passes through a little corridor, then you’ll go up to the rooftop in a small lift. There’s only space for 4 or 5 people at a time so it takes a little while to get everybody up there. There are a few steps up to the lift doors.
I took a rooftop tour of Seville Cathedral a few years ago and we had to climb steps hidden inside one of the columns all the way up to the roof. The lift in Naples wasn’t quite as exciting but it was much less effort!
The rooftops
Then you come out on the roof. At 40 metres above the historic centre, the view over Naples is amazing. As well as the 500 domes, on a clear day you can see Vesuvius to the east, the Vomero hill and Castel Sant’Elmo, the Sanità valley, the Sorrentine peninsula and the island of Capri out in the bay.
The guide will point out some of the key buildings, including the dome of Galleria Umberto I shopping arcade and the pretty yellow and green tiled dome of Basilica di Santa Maria della Sanità.
Non-domed Naples landmarks you can see from the roof of the cathedral include Castel Sant’Elmo, Castel Nuovo, ships in the port and Napoli Centrale railway station, plus of course the dense grid of the historic centre’s narrow streets.
The Duomo’s double dome
One of my favourite parts of the tour was seeing the Duomo’s ‘secret’ double dome. Walking inside what looks like another room, you’ll realise that you’re actually inside the dome, and there’s another dome underneath your feet.
There are frescoes here that have been hidden for generations, plus all the wooden supports for the dome below, on display to the public for the very first time.
Tickets and booking
When I visited Naples the rooftop tour had only been running for a couple of weeks. The tour hadn’t made it onto all the lists of the best places to visit in Naples yet, so it was a bit under the radar.
My tour wasn’t full, but I’m sure tickets will become a lot more in demand once the word gets out. I highly recommend booking tickets online to be sure of getting on a tour in English at a time that suits.
The rooftop experience costs €10. I booked my ticket through Get Your Guide and the experience was very easy – just be careful to book a tour in English if you don’t speak Italian. The tour isn’t included in tourist cards like the Campania or Naples Artecard.
Each rooftop tour group is a maximum of 15 people. Tours depart roughly every hour, with a break at lunchtime. At the moment it looks like you don’t need to book too far in advance, but I’d still recommend booking tickets ahead of time to make sure you get a slot that suits your itinerary.
If you live in Naples, around 10% of daily spots are reserved free of charge for Naples residents.
You can also take a free 1 hour guided tour of the Cathedral, covering the main church, the Basilica of Santa Restituta and the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Fonte. Tours run every hour in English; book on the Duomo website.
How to get there
The Cathedral is at Via Duomo 147 (Google Maps link). It’s right in the heart of Naples’ historic centre, which means the best way to get there is on foot. Via Duomo is one of the wider streets in the historic centre so taxis can drop you off there if needed.
By metro, take Line 1 to Duomo which is 7 minutes’ walk to the cathedral or Line 2 to Cavour, which is around 10 minutes’ walk.
Accessibility
The Duomo authorities say that the rooftop tour is currently not accessible for visitors with mobility or visual difficulties. While there is a lift to take you most of the way up to the roof, there are a few steps up to the lift, and on the tour itself there are a few short staircases.
All the staircases and walkways are modern, as they were put in during the 2015 renovation, so you won’t be dealing with uneven or narrow stone steps.
The walkways on the roof are flat and there are hand rails, as well as railings to stop you falling off the side of the roof. You’re up high but it doesn’t feel too scary or precarious. The regular cathedral visit is fully accessible.
Is the Naples Cathedral rooftop tour worth it?
I really enjoyed my rooftop tour of Naples Cathedral. The Duomo is beautiful and getting to go behind the scenes is a very special experience. Along with visiting Castel Sant’Elmo, seeing the old Greek city walls at Piazza Bellini and the Bourbon Tunnels tour I took, the Duomo rooftop tour really changed my perception of the city’s layout and history.
45 minutes sounds short but it’s a good length for the tour. It’s long enough to feel like a proper experience, and short enough to fit into a full day in Naples without sacrificing anything else. The small group size keeps it all manageable, and there was plenty of time to take photos and ask questions of our English-speaking guide.
For more things to do in Naples, including where to find the city’s best pizza, how to visit the underground tunnels and which museums are worth your time, take a look at my full guide to the best things to do in Naples.
Pin this Naples Cathedral rooftop tour review for later!
About Helen
Hi! I’m Helen, and Italy is one of my favourite destinations. I’ve been to Italy too many times to count, and I can honestly say I’ve never had a bad trip to this lovely country. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Naples, but it’s a wonderful city, with loads of energy and so much to see.
I live near Manchester, UK and work full time, so I’m all about making the most of my annual leave with day trips, weekend getaways and short breaks.
Leave a comment