Deep-dive

Visiting Naples: old centre, museums, Pompeii and the gulf

The old centre is visited on foot: decumani, churches, Cappella Sansevero, underground Naples. The main museums are the MANN and Capodimonte. Pompeii and Herculaneum are reached by the Circumvesuviana and have named tickets with a daily entry cap. Trips: Vesuvius, Procida, Ischia, Capri, the coast, the Royal Palace of Caserta. High season from Easter to June and in September–October.

Sections: Attractions · Museums · Nature · Itineraries · Excursions · Accessible visits

Sights by group

Old centre (UNESCO): the three decumani with Spaccanapoli and via dei Tribunali, the Cathedral with the chapel of San Gennaro, Santa Chiara with its majolica cloister, San Lorenzo Maggiore and its underground excavations, the Cappella Sansevero with the Veiled Christ (booking advised), San Gregorio Armeno, Napoli Sotterranea and the catacombs of San Gennaro in the Sanità. Civic monuments: the Royal Palace, Teatro di San Carlo, Castel Nuovo (Maschio Angioino), Castel dell'Ovo on the sea, Castel Sant'Elmo and the Certosa di San Martino on the Vomero with the view over the gulf. The seafront from Santa Lucia to Mergellina and the art stations of metro Line 1 (Toledo, Università) complete the route.

Museums and official tickets

The MANN (National Archaeological Museum) holds the collections from Pompeii and Herculaneum and the Farnese collection; the Museum and Royal Park of Capodimonte, on the hill, has the picture gallery and a large free public park. Both are state museums: free on the first Sunday of the month, with tickets on their official websites.

For Pompeii, the archaeological park sells online exclusively through the authorised reseller indicated on its own website and at the ticket offices at the entrances; tickets are named and a cap of 20,000 entries per day applies, so in high season it pays to buy in advance. The Herculaneum archaeological park has its own ticket office. The Royal Palace of Caserta, 40 minutes by train from Napoli Centrale, sells through the Ministry's official site.

Seasons and crowds

Naples has become a mass destination over the past decade: from Easter to June and in September–October the old centre and the seafront are very crowded, with queues for the Cappella Sansevero, the historic pizzerias and the island ferries. December, with the nativity scenes, is high season. July and August are hot and humid but quieter in the city, while the islands are at their peak. January–February and November are the quietest months with the lowest prices.

Day trips

Pompeii and Herculaneum by Circumvesuviana from Garibaldi (about 35 and 20 minutes); Vesuvius by bus from the forecourt of Ercolano station to the crater path (national park entry by booking); Procida and Ischia by ferry and hydrofoil from Beverello and Porta di Massa (Procida is the nearest, about 40 minutes by hydrofoil); Capri from Beverello; Sorrento and the Amalfi coast by Circumvesuviana then bus or ferry; the Royal Palace of Caserta by regional train; the Campi Flegrei (Pozzuoli, Baia, Cuma) by Cumana. The Gaiola underwater park, in Posillipo, is a marine protected area with limited access.

Tourist tax

Overnight visitors pay the Comune di Napoli a tax per person per night, differentiated by accommodation category, collected by the host; updated rates and exemptions are on the Comune's website.