Naples in 3 days: historic centre, seafront, Vomero and surroundings

Three days is just the right amount of time to get to know Naples without rushing: one day for the old town, one for the sea and the Vomero hill, and one for the great museums or a trip into the surroundings. This itinerary starts from Phaedra House, in the heart of the historic centre, and mixes walks, tasty breaks and the odd metro or funicular ride.

Day 1: the historic centre

[foto da caricare] A square in the historic centre of Naples

The first day is devoted to the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, all on foot from the apartment.

• Morning: the Duomo with the Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro, then Via dei Tribunali with the Pio Monte della Misericordia (Caravaggio's Seven Works of Mercy) and San Lorenzo Maggiore. If you love unusual places, book a visit to Underground Naples.
• Lunch: pizza in one of the historic pizzerias on Via dei Tribunali.
• Afternoon: San Gregorio Armeno and Spaccanapoli, with the Sansevero Chapel, Santa Chiara and the Gesù Nuovo. You will find every stop in our guide to Spaccanapoli and San Gregorio Armeno.
• Evening: dinner in a trattoria near the apartment: ragù, genovese or pasta e patate with provola.

Day 2: Toledo, the sea and the Vomero

• Morning: walk down Via Toledo to the Galleria Umberto I, the Teatro di San Carlo and Piazza del Plebiscito, with the Royal Palace. If you are interested in the city's history, the Royal Palace is worth a visit.
• Late morning: a stroll along the seafront to Castel dell'Ovo, with Vesuvius in front of you. Then continue to the elegant district of Chiaia, with its shops and the Villa Comunale gardens.
• Lunch: seafood at the Borgo Marinari or a quick lunch in Chiaia.
• Afternoon: go up to the Vomero with one of the funiculars (Centrale, Chiaia or Montesanto). Up there you will find Castel Sant'Elmo, with a 360-degree view over the city and the gulf, and the Certosa di San Martino, with cloisters, gardens and an extraordinary collection of nativity scenes.
• Evening: head back to the centre by funicular and metro; the Duomo stop on Line 1 is about 300 metres from Phaedra House.

Day 3: two options

A. The great museums and the Rione Sanità

[foto da caricare] Inside a great museum in Naples

• Morning: the National Archaeological Museum (MANN), with the sculptures of the Farnese collection and the mosaics and frescoes from Pompeii and Herculaneum.
• Lunch: in the area between the museum and the Rione Sanità.
• Afternoon: the Rione Sanità, one of the most authentic neighbourhoods, with the catacombs of San Gennaro and the Fontanelle Cemetery, or the Capodimonte Museum, with its large park and masterpieces by Caravaggio, Titian and many others.

We describe the museums in detail in our guide to the must-see museums of Naples.

B. A day trip out of town

Naples is also the ideal starting point for some of the most beautiful day trips in Italy:

• Pompeii or Herculaneum: the excavations of the cities buried by Vesuvius in AD 79, reachable by train on the Circumvesuviana line.
• Vesuvius: the path up to the crater offers a unique view over the gulf.
• Procida, Ischia or Capri: the islands of the gulf, with ferries and hydrofoils from the port of Naples.

Train and ferry times, tickets and access rules change often (for the excavations and Vesuvius you sometimes need to book): check the official website before setting off.

Where to eat over the three days

An idea for tasting the city without repeating yourself:

• Day 1: pizza for lunch in the historic centre and dinner in a trattoria with traditional dishes; you will find ideas in our guide to where to eat in the historic centre.
• Day 2: a seafood lunch by the sea and, on your way back from the Vomero, an aperitivo with a cuoppo of fried food.
• Day 3: a quick lunch between museums, or a picnic during your day trip, and a last evening devoted to sweets: babà, sfogliatella and a coffee at the counter.

If it rains or is very hot

Naples offers many indoor alternatives: the MANN, the Royal Palace, the Certosa di San Martino, the underground tours and the great churches of the centre are perfect for rainy days and for the hottest hours of summer. Just switch the order of the stops: museums and underground in the middle of the day, outdoor walks early in the morning and in the evening.

Tips for organising your three days

• Alternate busy days and relaxed days: Naples is best enjoyed slowly.
• Book the most popular visits: the Sansevero Chapel, Napoli Sotterranea and some sites out of town.
• Walk in the centre and use the metro and funiculars for the rest: by car, in the historic centre, you only lose time. You will find all the information in our practical tips.
• Leave some free time: often the best memory is an alley discovered by chance.

If you only have one day, follow the itinerary Naples in one day.

Three days in the heart of Naples

Phaedra House is in Piazzetta Sant'Arcangelo a Baiano, in the historic centre and about 300 metres from the Duomo metro stop: every evening you walk home, and every morning you are already in the right place to set off again. Discover the apartment and see where we are.

For more ideas, browse the Itineraries section of our guide.