Spending 1 day in Naples isn’t nearly enough time to see all that this incredible city has to offer but it’s a good starting point. The historical centre of Naples is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is where many of the main attractions in Naples are found. This is a great area to base yourself if you only have 24 hours in Naples to spare.
If you’re coming from the airport, and not renting a car, your best option is to hop on the Alibus Airport Shuttle which is €5 each way. For those of you not spending the night in Naples you can use Stasher to store your luggage securely while you explore the city.
For those of you thinking about renting a car in Naples, I wouldn’t recommend doing so since the city is very walkable and the driving in the historic centre is hectic. Instead, rent a car when you’re leaving the city so you can easily access all that this part of Italy has to offer. Here’s everything you need to know for spending 1 day in Naples.
Things to during 1 day in Naples
Castel Nuovo
Castel Nuovo was built in the 13th century and is located just across from the port area. Although we didn’t go inside, entry to the castle costs €6. A number of online reviews said it’s not worth going inside, so if you’re only spending 1 day in Naples taking a photo outside of the castle might be enough.
Galleria Umberto I
You’ve probably seen a lot of photos of Galleria Umberto I on social media, and it’s just as impressive in real life. It sits opposite the Teatro di San Carlo and is only a few minutes walk from the royal palace. Our B&B was located practically next to this attraction, which sits just off of Via Toledo, an ancient and very popular shopping street in Naples.
Piazza del Gesu Nuovo
Piazza del Gesu Nuovo is one of the many squares in Naples and this one is home to a very unique church called Gesu Nuovo. During our 1 day in Naples we stumbled upon this piazza by chance and were glad we did!
Piazza Bellini
Piazza Bellini is a very popular square that’s full of bars and restaurants. It also boasts the excavated remains of a 4th century Greek city wall which may be of interest to any history-lovers out there. This is a great area to come in the evening if you’re looking for somewhere to eat and drink in a casual setting.
Naples Cathedral
Visiting Naples Cathedral is one of the best free things to do in Naples. It was completed in the 14th century and is stunning to walk around inside. There’s quite a lot of free attractions in Naples to enjoy, so you can easily plan a trip to the city if you’re visiting Italy on a budget.
Explore the streets of Naples
Naples is a great city to explore, and each street is unique. Quite a lot of them have beautiful decorations hanging between the buildings with little messages on them. Just make sure you move out of the way of the scooters, because they definitely aren’t going to stop for you.
Grab something to eat at Pizzeria Di Matteo
Pizzeria Di Matteo is widely known for having the best pizza in the city, and although it doesn’t look fancy, I guarantee you’ll be blown away by the taste. There’s a takeout part or you can pass through that and sit inside. They also have a delicious selection of fried foods that are incredibly cheap. This is a must-visit during any 1 day in Naples trip.
Castel dell’Ovo
Castel dell’Ovo is one of the world’s oldest fortifications, and since it’s right on the coast it provides picture perfect views of the city. If you’re visiting Naples on a budget you’re in luck because this is another incredible free thing to do in Naples.
Walk around Piazza del Plebiscito
Piazza del Plebiscito is absolutely gorgeous to walk around, and is located opposite the Royal Palace and the San Marco opera house. This is a definite must see in Naples, and if you only have 1 day in Naples, there are a number of key attractions in and around this landmark for you to check off your itinerary.
Get lost in Santa Lucia
If you want to walk along the coastline, make sure you check out the Santa Lucia area. This part of Naples has played an important role in the city since its founding. It’s known as the fisherman’s area of the city, and still boasts its original charm with lots of popular bars to stop at.
Lungomare Seafront
Walking along the Lungomare Seafront promenade is one of the best things to do during 1 day in Naples. I would recommend starting your walk from Santa Lucia, where you can see a breathtaking view of Mount Vesuvius in the distance, and end at Castel dell’Ovo.
Take a ride on the funicular
The funicular in Naples is located right in the centre of the city and takes you up to a fantastic viewpoint. It costs only €1.10 for a single fare. There’s also a castle at the top of the hill if you have time to walk to it. This is just one of many fun things to do during 1 day in Naples and won’t take a lot of time to complete.
Mount Vesuvius
The best way to get up to Mount Vesuvius is to take the Vesuvio Express from Ercolano (where Herculaneum is), which includes the entry fee to the volcano and a return bus ride. Make sure you check the weather conditions before booking your ticket because these bus rides are known to be cancelled at the last minute if the weather isn’t favourable.
Where to stay in Naples
There are lots of hotels in Naples to choose from, but we found that a lot of them were very expensive because of their location. Instead of a hotel, we opted to stay at B&B Via Toledo 156, which is both budget friendly and very centrally located on one of the main historic shopping streets. We had a lovely double bedded room, and the breakfast was a selection of traditional Neapolitan and Italian pastries as well as different breads. This is a great option if you’re staying more than 1 day in Naples.
>> Click here for the most up to date prices at B&B Via Toledo 156 <<
Day trips from Naples
Herculaneum
It may not be as popular as Pompeii, or as big, but I would highly recommend making a stop at Herculaneum. It sits 20 minutes outside of Naples, at the base of Mount Vesuvius. It’s incredibly well preserved, even more so than Pompeii, and is a history lover’s dream. If you buy a ticket on the day here, it’ll cost you €13 for one adult, or they have reduced prices for certain age groups.
Pompeii
Obviously no trip to Naples is complete without a visit to Pompeii. It’s only a 25 minute drive from Naples, and there are loads of coach tours that go to it too if you aren’t renting a car in Naples. I’d recommend picking up an audio guide so you get a better understanding of what you’re looking at.
Visiting Pompeii could easily take a full day in itself, but if you only have a few hours to spare you can see the majority of it if you’re quick. Buying your ticket for Pompeii on the day will cost €22 per adult.
Some say you can’t visit both Herculaneum and Pompeii in a day, but we did and we only had half a day to do it. It’s doable if you start in the morning, as the sites are open until 7:30pm in peak season.
Cilento
One of the best day trips from Naples is to the Cilento Coast. If you’ve been to the Amalfi Coast before this coastline is more south and significantly less busy with tourists. There are a number of unique things to see and do around Cilento including beautiful historic ruins, pristine beaches, beautiful driving routes, and plenty of gastronomic adventures. It will take around 2.5 hours to drive to Cilento from Naples.
So, is Naples worth visiting? In my opinion Naples is a great city in Italy to visit, with lots of attractions as well as the world’s best pizza. There are plenty of things to do during 1 day in Naples and a number of unique day trips from Naples to go on too. I
f you’re thinking of heading up north, check out my post covering things to do in Milan to help you plan your trip. Don’t forget to follow me on my travels on Instagram as well!
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