The Best Day Trips From Naples

The Best Day Trips From Naples

Many visitors use Naples as a base to explore the diverse surrounding region. With its beautiful coast lines, breathtaking natural beauty, and world renowned archeological sites, it's easy to fill your days with a range of adventures.

Pompeii

Pompeii is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Italy for its world renowned archaeological ruins. Highlights include the Forum, the Villa of the Mysteries, the Stabian baths, the House of the Faun, and the Amphitheatre. Make sure you buy your tickets at the official entrance gate. There are many overpriced tours and ticket venders in the surrounding area.

There are plenty of tours to Pompeii available from Naples, but if you want to go independently just take the Circumvesuviana or seasonal Campania Express train. Tickets and pricing are available here.

Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius offers a dramatic backdrop for your visit to the region. The volcano is most famous for its destruction of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii in 79 AD. It's relatively easy to hike up the mountain along a steep gravel path. It takes about half an hour to get to the top, where you'll enjoy breathtaking views across the Bay of Naples. If you're not interested in the hike, there's a bus that travels up to the side of the volcano with a very short walk at the end. (Tours to Mt. Vesuvius can be found here).

You can reach Mt Vesuvius with the Circumvesuviana railway to Ercolano (Scavi) and then the Vesuvio Express. If you want to take the bus to the top of the mountain, purchase a combination ticket. Tickets and pricing are available here.

Herculaneum

Herculaneum is the other, lesser known city destroyed by the 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius. It offer a good alternative if you want to avoid the intense crowds of Pompeii. It's possible to visit both cities in one day, but be prepared to move fast and have a long day.

Herculaneum can be reached with the Circumvesuviana train. Get off at the Ercolano Scavi Station. Tickets and pricing are available here.

The Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast is a beautiful, dramatic coastline that is dotted with charming villages. It has truly spectacular scenery that make the somewhat difficult and expensive journey worth the extra effort. If time allows, try to spend at least one night in the area.

The Circumvesuviana train goes as far as Sorrento and after that you'll need to take a bus. You can purchase bus tickets at the station and there are 24 hour bus passes available that let you explore many parts of the coastline.

Tickets and pricing are available here.

Sorrento

Sorrento is a charming town with many cobbled shopping alleys and old world charm. You'll find plenty of things to buy here including leather goods, ceramics, and inlaid wood items. This is also a great place to sip some limoncello. Highlights of Sorrento include Chiesa di San Francesco, Villa Comunale park, Marina Piccola, Piazza Vittoria, and Marina Grande. Many people combine a visit to Sorrento with a trip to Capri.

You can get to Sorrento on the Circumvesuviana train. If you're visiting Capri, catch a ferry at the nearby port (tickets).

Tickets and pricing for Circumvesuviana train are available here.

Or, take the ferry from Naples to Sorrento (ferry tickets here).

Ischia

Ischia is the largest island in the Bay of Naples. On it you'll find private beaches, thermal pools, mud and beauty treatments, and massage shops. This is the place to come for a relaxing day away from the chaos of the city. The island's three thermal parks are Castiglione, Negombo, and Poseidon.

If beauty treatments aren't your thing then you can head to the Giardino Eden Beach Club where you'll find stunning views and impressive pools. Also make sure you hit up Castello Aragonese, the islands main shopping street.

You can catch a high speed hydrofoil at the Molo Beverello port in Naples. Slower ferries leave from Porta di Massa. Compare ferry prices here.

Reggia di Caserta

Known as the Italian Versailles, this 1200 room palace has a monumental staircase, a Palatine chapel, and luxuriously furnished apartments. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site with it's impressive royal park. There's a 3 kilometer long promenade that passes fountains, water channels, a gorgeously maintained landscaping.

You can reach the palace by train from Naples' Central Station. Get off at Caserta's Station.

Capri

The island of Capri is located about 5 kilometers from the mainland of the Bay of Naples. It's one of the area's most popular tourist destinations with its beautiful blue water and dramatic scenery. It's worth waiting in line for the Grotta Azzurra and take the Monte Solaro chairlift to the island's summit. Other highlights include Villa San Michele and Augustus' Gardens.

You can reach Capri by ferry from Naples. The high speed hydrofoils leave from Molo Beverello port and the slower ferries leave from Porta di Massa. Round trip tickets are usually cheaper than separate one way tickets, but make sure you understand the schedule before you purchase the ticket. You can see a comparison of ferry prices on this website.

Campi Flegrei

This volcanic land is located just west of Naples. You'll be enchanted by its bubbling mud pits and steaming fumaroles at the Solfatara Crater. Also visit the Flavian Amphitheatre and its underground passageways. Other highlights include the Greek ruins at Cuma and the Baia underwater archaeological area, which can be visited on a glass bottom boat tour. If time allows, enjoy some snorkelling as well.

Take Naples Metro Line 2 to visit the Solfatara Crater and Flavian Amphitheatre. The rest of the area is spread out with limited public transportation so your best option is to take a taxi to Baia and Cuma.

If you have a limited amount of time for your journey, see our advice about how much time to spend here: Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Naples?, Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Naples? and Is Naples Worth Visiting?