BEST ATTRACTIONS AND TOURS IN NAPLES
If you are planning a trip in the capital of Southern Italy, make sure you are prepared for all the best things to do in the city to get the best out of your holiday! Naples offers so many attractions and city tours that it’s almost impossible to get bored.
The city has just too many things to do, and if you are planning on visiting the surroundings as well, you would need at least two weeks!
As some of you already know, I grew up in Naples, and I still enjoy going there on holiday almost every year. And I still love visiting it as a tourist every time and admiring the beauty of the city, it just never bothers me.
Even if you are planning a low-cost trip, taking a tour does not always mean you will spend more money. In fact, some tours include so many entrance fees and guides that are actually cheaper than the fee you would pay going by yourself.
In this article, you will find all the best attractions and organised tours in the “City of the Sun”… Let’s start planning your holiday!
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Pompeii Ruins
If you are planning a trip to Naples, you can’t miss a visit to the famous Pompeii ruins, the city victim of the Vesuvio’s explosion in 79AC. The city was entirely covered by lava and brought into light only a few centuries ago, thus allowing the unique opportunity to understand how life was thousands of years ago. The plastic casts of the actual victims are really incredible, and it surely is one of the most suggestive things I have ever seen.
The visit to Pompeii lasts for quite some hours (up to 5), and it can be really tiring if you are visiting during the hotter months of the year. Moreover, the site can be super busy, and the entry queue can last for hours. So make sure you buy the tickets online to avoid wasting time! Here you can find the City Pass, which allows you to enter Pompeii and another Neapolitan museum or archaeological site of your choice with a reduced ticket; the City Pass also includes free use of public transports for three days! Alternatively, if you prefer to avoid the entrance queue, a skip-the-line with a guide included tour is the right choice for you.
Getting to Pompeii from Naples is quite easy: take the Circumvesuviana from Piazza Garibaldi and get off to Pompeii Scavi.
Editor’s note: During your visit to Pompeii, expect to walk A LOT. Avoid visiting the ruins in the hottest hours of the day, remember to wear a hat and sunscreen if you are visiting in summer and make sure you take a lot of water with you. You will find a small cafe inside the site: however, it can be really busy, and you might not be able to stop there, so make sure you have everything you need. Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes as the floor can be uneven at some points!
Mount Vesuvius
Visiting one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world can be such an exciting experience!
It is actually one of my favourite activities to do in Naples. Being on an active volcano while enjoying the fantastic view is so thrilling! I just love it. And I can’t help but going back every time.
If you are planning on visit Mount Vesuvius by yourself, make sure you check my guide with all the info you need to hike the volcano!
As I explained in this article, because of COVID-10 new rules, you need to book your visit in advance if you want to visit the crater and pay a fee of 10 euros. In this case, I suggest you plan the visit by yourself, avoid expensive tours, and enjoy the hike and adventure at your own pace.
The tour option would be convenient only if you have limited time on your holiday and plan to visit both Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius on the same day. In that case, this day tour is great because it combines the two things, including entry fees and transportation from and to Naples. My boyfriend and I did this tour just a few months ago, and I really enjoyed the friendly guide. I only had a few days to show him the city, and this allowed us to save time. The best thing is that we avoided spending hours on public transports!
Underground Naples
Visiting underground Naples surely is a suggestive experience. The city is, in fact, built layer after layer, and the first excavation was made more than 5.000 years ago. The Neapolitan underground is so full of history!
The underground has been used as a shelter during WWII, spearing many people from death. Before that, it was used as a Greco-Roman aqueduct, and traces of this are still visible.
The guide is always included in the entry ticket and will walk you through the fascinating caverns. Naples underground is full of tunnels, and some of them are really narrow. If you are claustrophobic, then this is NOT for you.
You can find the entrance to Napoli Sotterranea (Underground Naples) in the city centre, in Piazza San Gaetano. You could buy the ticket at the entrance, even though I suggest buying it online to avoid long queues. The ticket price is €10 (€8 if you are a student), and the visit lasts 1 hour and a half. The visit requires you to walk, and there are many stairs, so make sure you wear comfortable shoes!
One of the best tour options to visit Napoli Sotterranea is this one. Besides the entrance fee, it includes the guided visit to the major city attractions like Piazza del Plebiscito (the most important Neapolitan square), Galleria Umberto, the Royal Palace and Naples Cathedral. A good way to visit it all in once!
Old Town and Veiled Christ
To really immerse yourself in the Neapolitan culture, you need to visit the heart of the city. The Old Town.
The super characteristic narrow streets of the city centre will be totally different from anything you have ever seen. It’s here that you can truly feel the real essence of Naples.
One of the most characteristic streets is Spaccanapoli, a long street which “divides” the city in the middle. This is the heart of the historic centre. Not far, you can find the entrance to the Sansevero Chapel, which hosts the marble sculpture of the Veiled Christ. Now, whether you are passionate about art or not, this sculpture really is incredible. The artwork, created by Sanmartino in 1753, is so full of details that has been classified as one of the most remarkable sculptures in the world. Imagine that!
When visiting the historic centre, you can’t miss San Gregorio Armeno (picture below), the narrow street full of craft workshops specialised in the “Presepe”, the representation of the Nativity. You can find these shops all year, even though the Christmas period is probably the best to visit this characteristic street.
The Quartieri Spagnoli (Spanish Quarters) is a vibrant Neapolitan district and a very characteristic and picturesque area. From these alleys, you can truly admire the Neapolitan tradition and the locals’ lifestyle, so make sure you take some time to walk through these streets!
If you are looking for an organised tour which includes all these attractions, make sure to check this one, a 3 hours tour of the old town and the Veiled Christ. Included in the price is coffee in a traditional cafe and the visit to the Cathedral, which hosts the blood of San Gennaro, the patron of Naples.
Galleria Umberto I And Piazza Del Plebiscito
The Galleria Umberto I is a stunning architectural marvel, accessible from one of Naples’ most famous streets: Via Toledo, the main shopping street! Make sure to not miss a visit to this magnificent gallery, which dates back to the Neapolitan Renaissance period, and admire its mosaics and the impressive glass ceiling.
At the end of Via Toledo, you will find yourself in Piazza del Plebiscito (picture below), the enormous square surrounded by two impressive buildings: the Naples Royal Palace and the Church of San Francesco di Paola, both worth a visit.
The square is always overcrowded, so better to visit it in the early morning or late afternoon!
Fontanelle Cemetery and Catacombs of San Gennaro
The cemetery, located in the Sanità-Vergini district, contains about 40.000 remains of victims of the plague and WWII.
It is particularly famous because of the Neapolitan ritual of the souls: a person “adopts” an abandoned skull in exchange for protection. This place is full of legends and history, which makes it even more suggestive. This cemetery’s atmosphere is really impressive, and it’s definitely worth a visit.
The duration of the visit is about 1-2 hours, and the entrance is free. However, there are numerous costly guided tours and, in this case, I wouldn’t suggest paying for a guide; in my opinion, the best option is to go there by yourself and take your time to explore this magical place.
From the Fontanelle Cemetery, you can easily reach the famous Catacombe di San Gennaro.
As many of you already know, Naples is built layer after layer. But what does it mean? Well, it means that going into the underground level is more like travelling back in time. In fact, the original construction of the catacombs of San Gennaro dates back to the 2nd century AD. So no wonder it’s listed in one of the “top things” to do in Naples!
Visiting the catacombs is an impressive and suggestive experience as so much history happened on this site. Visit it with a knowledgeable guide to get the best out of your visit!
The tour lasts about 1 hour, but the queue to enter the catacombs is often very, very long. To avoid waiting for hours, book the ticket online and skip the line (guide is included)!
Editor’s note: The temperature in the catacombs is about 15 degrees, even in the hottest period of the year. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes and bring a sweater with you!
Castel Nuovo, Castel Dell’Ovo and Lungomare Caracciolo
Castel Nuovo, often called “Maschio Angioino”, si a medieval castle located in Naples’ city centre. The castle was completed in 1284, and it hosts many artworks, including sculptures and paintings. Inside you can find a glass on the floor through which it’s possible to admire the Roman ruins. Really impressive!
The castle is accessible from Piazza Municipio, close to Via Toledo. The tour lasts 1 hour, and tickets must be booked online because of the new Covid-19 rules. In this case, I really suggest the guided tour option as the castle is full of history and it would be impossible to truly understand the beauty of this place without an expert!
One of my favourite spots in Naples, the suggestive Castel dell’Ovo. Right on the sea, this fascinating castle offers a breathtaking view from the top. But a perfect spot for amazing pictures is not all this castle has to offer: in fact, like many other Neapolitan attractions, it is full of history and legends.
Castel dell’Ovo is the most ancient castle in Neaples: it is located on a tiny island where the legend says that the mermaid Partenope landed and gave the name to the old town (Naples was, in fact, called “Partenope”).
Nowadays, the castle hosts numerous meetings and expositions.
The visit to the castle is free, but make sure to book in advance as only a few people per day are accepted. You can book your slot on the official website.
When visiting the Ovo Castle, you can’t help but be fascinated by the picturesque Lungomare Caracciolo, one of the most charming coastlines in Europe. Take a moment to admire the breathtaking landscape; if you can, enjoy the view at sunset. It’s truly unique.
On the other side of the Lungomare, there are numerous restaurants and bars where you can appreciate Neapolitan typical food surrounded by a spectacular view!
City Pass and “hop-on/hop-off” Bus
If you plan to visit the city by yourself, the city pass includes all the public transports for 3 days, plus an entry fee to 3 attractions of your choice! Otherwise, if you are only looking for a cheaper way of using public transports, the “hop-on/hop-off” bus is for you, as it gives you the chance to visit the city centre and taking the bus unlimited times for 24 hours.
Suppose you are looking for a cheaper way to explore Naples and its surroundings; in that case, this card allows you free access to 5 sites of your choice throughout the Campania region and a 50% discount on the 6th one, plus all public transports included (valid for 7 days).
Editor’s note: Like in any big city, make sure to be careful and pay extra attention to pickpockets, especially in the busier streets.
Naples is widely known also for its delicious cuisine. The Neapolitan tradition has, in fact, plenty of typical dishes that you will absolutely love! If you want to learn more about the must-try of Neapolitan food, check my article in which I point out the best typical dishes and food tours!
Do you have further questions about travelling to Naples? Feel free to drop a comment below or email me at contact@kikkasvoyage.com!
Kikka
EDITOR IN CHIEF