Naples as a Base: 3 to 5 Day Plan

Why sleep in Naples

Naples sits in the middle of a very rewarding map. Pompeii, Herculaneum, Vesuvius, the islands and the royal palace at Caserta are all within about an hour, and trains and boats leave from the same few stations. Staying put for 3 to 5 nights, rather than moving hotels, saves packing time and lets you pick the day by weather. Search hotels in Naples on Booking.com near Napoli Centrale for easy trains, or near Chiaia for the sea.

Day 1: the old centre

Start with Spaccanapoli and Via dei Tribunali on foot. Book the Cappella Sansevero, open 9:00 to 19:00 and closed on Tuesdays, for the Veiled Christ at EUR12. Visits are booked ahead, so arrive early. In the afternoon go to the MANN, EUR20, closed Tuesdays, for the Pompeii mosaics. End with pizza at Da Michele, Sorbillo or Starita for EUR7 to EUR14.

Day 2: Pompeii or Herculaneum, plus Vesuvius

Take the regular Circumvesuviana from Napoli Garibaldi towards Sorrento. Herculaneum is about 20 minutes to Ercolano Scavi, and Pompeii about 35 minutes to Pompei Scavi-Villa dei Misteri, at around EUR3.30 each way. Pompeii costs EUR20 for the Express ticket, and the daily cap of 20,000 means a named ticket in advance. Pick one site per day, or Herculaneum in the morning and the Vesuvius crater (EUR10, online only, timed slot) after lunch. See the Pompeii ticketing page .

Day 3: Capri or Procida

Hydrofoils leave Molo Beverello and take about 50 minutes to Capri, at roughly EUR21 to EUR30 each way. The Blue Grotto is reported at EUR18 to EUR19 in cash and is closed in rough seas. Procida is quieter and also leaves from Molo Beverello. Use Molo Beverello rather than Pozzuoli for the ferries. Compare Capri day trips on Viator if you want a guided boat day.

Days 4 and 5: choose from three

  • Reggia di Caserta: direct train from Napoli Centrale and about 5 minutes on foot. Open 8:30 to 19:00, closed Tuesdays, EUR18 for park and royal apartments.
  • Amalfi Coast: SITA Sud buses run Sorrento to Positano for about EUR2.40 and Sorrento to Amalfi for about EUR3.40, with a 24-hour COSTIERASITA ticket at EUR10. Seasonal ferries start around mid-May. The SITA Sud site has timetables.
  • Sentiero degli Dei: the Path of the Gods above Positano is a high cliff trail, not for anyone with vertigo or in wet weather.

Moving around

  • A single Unico ticket is about EUR1.20 to EUR1.30 for 90 minutes.
  • The Alibus from the airport is EUR5.
  • Circumvesuviana services run normally, with more trips from 17 October. Check strike calendars before a train day.
  • Metro Line 2 between Campi Flegrei and Pozzuoli is shut, with replacement buses about every 15 minutes, and the Phlegraean Fields area has had earthquakes since late July, so keep plans there flexible.
  • Do not hire a car for the centre. Camera zones have gate-specific hours and fines of roughly EUR80 to EUR335.

Book Sansevero and any Pompeii slot before you book hotels, since those two rarely move. For the city days, see the 3-day Naples itinerary .