Naples 3-Day Essentials — Pizza, the Old Town & Pompeii

Activities

1. 09:00 Spaccanapoli + breakfast sfogliatella 1h

   Start on Spaccanapoli, the dead-straight Roman-grid street that splits the Old Town (Europe's largest UNESCO historic centre, 720 hectares). Grab a warm sfogliatella and an espresso al banco to begin.

   Cost: Pastry + coffee €4 TIP: Walk the full length from Via Pasquale Scura toward Via Vicaria Vecchia, passing churches, nativity-scene shops, and tiny workshops. Keep your bag in front — the Old Town is busy and pickpockets work the crowds.
2. 10:00 Sansevero Chapel — the Veiled Christ 1h

   A small Baroque chapel housing the astonishing 'Veiled Christ' marble (the transparent marble veil looks like real cloth), plus other anatomical and sculptural wonders. Entry around €10; book a timed slot ahead.

   Cost: Admission ~€10 TIP: One of Italy's most jaw-dropping sculptures, and the chapel is tiny — reserve online in advance, especially in peak season, as same-day tickets often sell out. No photos allowed inside. A short walk off Spaccanapoli.
3. 11:30 Naples Cathedral + Treasure of San Gennaro 1h

   The Duomo holds the vials of San Gennaro's blood (watched for the liquefaction miracle three times a year) and the lavish gold-and-silver Treasure chapel. Cathedral free; Treasure museum a few euros.

   Cost: Cathedral free; museum ~€8 TIP: Cover shoulders and knees to enter. The San Gennaro chapel is one of the richest in Europe. The blood-miracle ceremonies fall around Sep 19, Dec 16, and the Saturday before the first Sunday of May.
4. 13:00 Lunch — pizza pilgrimage (Da Michele or Sorbillo) 1h30

   Lunch on a wood-fired Margherita at L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele (since 1870, Margherita and Marinara only, €5-7, cash only) or Gino e Toto Sorbillo on Via dei Tribunali (wider menu). The defining Naples meal.

   Cost: €5-12 per person TIP: Da Michele uses a numbered-ticket queue and is cash only — expect 30-90 minutes at peak times, so go for a late lunch (14:00). Di Matteo (Via dei Tribunali) is a quicker alternative with great pizza fritta. Authentic Neapolitan pizza is soft and foldable, not crispy.
5. 15:00 Naples Underground (Napoli Sotterranea) 1h30

   Descend 40 metres into the candlelit tunnels, cisterns, and Greco-Roman quarries beneath the Old Town — used as an aqueduct for centuries and as WWII air-raid shelters. Guided tour about €12-15, roughly 1.5 hours.

   Cost: ~€12-15 TIP: One of the city's most atmospheric experiences. Some passages are very narrow — not for the seriously claustrophobic. Entrances cluster around Via dei Tribunali and San Gregorio Armeno. Bring a light layer; it's cool underground.
6. 17:00 Via San Gregorio Armeno + Old Town wander 1h30

   Stroll the 'Christmas alley' of nativity-scene (presepe) artisans, open year-round, then wander the Old Town's lanes, churches, and craft shops as the light softens.

   Cost: Free; souvenirs extra TIP: The presepe workshops range from classic Holy Family pieces to satirical figures of celebrities — a genuinely local souvenir. Busiest and most magical from November to Christmas. A handmade figurine beats a fridge magnet.
7. 20:00 Dinner — Old Town trattoria + ragù or Genovese 1h30

   Dinner at a busy local trattoria — pasta alla Genovese (slow-cooked onion and beef) or ragù napoletano at Tandem, with a glass of Campania red (Aglianico or Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio).

   Cost: €15-30 per person TIP: Dinner is late in Naples (from 20:00). Tandem is tiny and popular, so arrive early or book. A coperto (cover charge) of €1.50-3 per person is normal. Tipping is just rounding up.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:00 Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii Scavi 1h

   From Napoli Porta Nolana / Piazza Garibaldi, take the Circumvesuviana (EAV) to Pompei Scavi–Villa dei Misteri — about 35-40 minutes, roughly €3 one way, departing around every 30 minutes. Buy a round trip.

   Cost: ~€3 one way (€6 round trip) TIP: Go early to beat heat and crowds. The Circumvesuviana is basic and a known pickpocket spot — keep bags zipped and in front. A faster, more comfortable option is the reserved Campania Express tourist train (higher fare).
2. 09:00 Pompeii archaeological site 3h30

   The Roman city frozen by the AD 79 Vesuvius eruption (UNESCO 1997) — the Forum, bath houses, the brothel (Lupanare), frescoed villas, the famous body casts, and the Villa of the Mysteries. Entry €18. Allow 3-4 hours.

   Cost: Admission €18 TIP: It's vast (66 hectares) and shadeless — bring water, a hat, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes. Download the official Pompeii app or hire a guide; the audio context transforms the visit. Don't miss the Villa of the Mysteries' frescoes at the site's edge.
3. 13:00 Lunch near Pompeii + return to Naples 1h30

   A quick lunch near the Pompeii Scavi entrance, then the Circumvesuviana back to Naples (35-40 min). Restaurants by the entrance are tourist-priced but convenient.

   Cost: €10-18 per person TIP: Modern Pompei town has better-value eateries than the site entrance if you have time. Keep your return ticket handy. Back in Naples, the National Archaeological Museum is the perfect pairing.
4. 15:00 National Archaeological Museum (MANN) 2h30

   One of the world's great archaeology museums, holding the finest mosaics, frescoes, and bronzes removed from Pompeii and Herculaneum — the Alexander Mosaic, the colossal Farnese marbles, and the Secret Cabinet of Roman erotic art. Entry ~€18-22.

   Cost: Admission ~€18-22 TIP: Seeing MANN the same day as Pompeii makes both far richer — the originals of the site's best art are here. It's also a cool, indoor refuge from summer heat. Allow at least two hours; the Farnese collection alone is worth the trip.
5. 18:30 Seafront sunset — Castel dell'Ovo & Borgo Marinari 1h30

   Head to the Santa Lucia seafront for sunset over the bay, the medieval Castel dell'Ovo, and the little harbour of Borgo Marinari, with Vesuvius across the water. Free to walk.

   Cost: Free; drinks extra TIP: Castel dell'Ovo (free entry to the terraces) gives a classic bay panorama. The seafront passeggiata at golden hour is a local ritual. A perfect lead-in to a seafood dinner at Borgo Marinari.
6. 20:30 Dinner — seafood at Borgo Marinari 1h30

   Dinner at a Borgo Marinari trattoria beneath the castle — spaghetti alle vongole (clams), fried anchovies, grilled calamari, and the day's catch, with a Vesuvius view.

   Cost: €25-45 per person TIP: Pricier than pizza, but the bayside setting is the point. Spaghetti alle vongole is the dish to order. For fresher, cheaper seafood, locals favour Pozzuoli (a short Cumana train west) — a great alternative.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:30 Hydrofoil from Molo Beverello to Capri 1h

   From Molo Beverello (central port), the hydrofoil to Capri takes about 45 minutes (~€25-28 one way). Take an early boat to maximise the island before the day-trip crush.

   Cost: ~€25-28 one way TIP: Book ferries ahead in summer and go early. Bring motion-sickness tablets if you're prone — the crossing can be choppy. Check the Blue Grotto's status before relying on it; it closes in rough seas or high tide.
2. 09:45 Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) 1h30

   The famous sea cave where sunlight turns the water an electric blue — entered by small rowboat. Take a boat tour from Marina Grande or a bus to the entrance, then transfer to a rowboat (separate fees apply).

   Cost: Boat + entry ~€18-30 TIP: Weather- and tide-dependent — it often closes, so have a backup plan and don't build the whole day around it. Go early to avoid long boat queues. If it's shut, the round-island boat tour past the Faraglioni is a great alternative.
3. 12:00 Capri town + Gardens of Augustus + Faraglioni view 2h30

   Funicular up to chic Capri town (the Piazzetta), then the Gardens of Augustus for the postcard view of the Faraglioni rock stacks and the Amalfi Coast beyond. Lunch in town.

   Cost: Gardens €1-2; lunch €20-40 TIP: Capri town is glamorous and pricey — a panino or a simple trattoria off the main square saves money. The Gardens of Augustus give the iconic Faraglioni shot. The walk down Via Krupp's switchbacks is scenic (check it's open).
4. 15:00 Anacapri + Monte Solaro chairlift 2h

   Bus up to quieter Anacapri, then the single-seat chairlift to the summit of Monte Solaro (589m) for a 360° panorama over the whole Bay of Naples. The island's best view.

   Cost: Chairlift ~€13 round trip TIP: Anacapri is calmer and cheaper than Capri town. The Monte Solaro chairlift is a highlight — bring a layer, as it's breezy at the top. Villa San Michele nearby has lovely gardens and views if you have time.
5. 17:30 Return hydrofoil to Naples 1h

   Catch a late-afternoon or early-evening hydrofoil back to Molo Beverello (about 45 minutes). Check the last-boat time before you settle in for the afternoon.

   Cost: ~€25-28 one way TIP: Don't miss the last ferry — schedules thin out in the evening and shoulder season. Buy the return when you arrive, or book round trip in advance. Avoid the absolute last boat in case it's full.
6. 20:00 Farewell dinner — final Naples pizza or trattoria 1h30

   Back in Naples, a relaxed last dinner — a final pizza at a neighbourhood pizzeria, or a trattoria in Chiaia or the Old Town, with limoncello (Amalfi/Sorrento lemons) to finish.

   Cost: €10-30 per person TIP: If you missed Sorbillo or Starita earlier, now's the time. Finish with a chilled limoncello, the classic southern-Italian digestivo. Cash for the small, cash-only spots.

Meal Recommendations