Naples Sightseeing by Neighbourhood
Six districts, one city
Naples is easier to see when you split it into districts and finish each before moving on. Here is a plan in the order a first-timer might walk it, with the tickets you need.
Centro Storico: Spaccanapoli and the Duomo
The straight Greek-Roman street grid of the old centre, listed by UNESCO, is the heart of any visit. Spaccanapoli and Via dei Tribunali run past Piazza del Gesu, where the Gesu Nuovo church has a faceted stone facade, and Piazza San Domenico Maggiore. Santa Chiara’s cloister is lined with majolica-tiled pillars and is a calm break. The Duomo di San Gennaro is free to enter, though covered shoulders and knees are required. Its blood of San Gennaro is displayed on the Saturday before the first Sunday of May, on 19 September and on 16 December.
A short walk away, the Cappella Sansevero houses the Veiled Christ of 1753. This is the only place to see it, and every visit is booked in advance: EUR12 for adults, EUR8 for ages 18 to 26, EUR6 for ages 10 to 17, closed Tuesdays. Arrive early for your slot. The Cappella Sansevero tickets page has the booking calendar.
The museum quarter
The National Archaeological Museum (MANN) holds the Alexander Mosaic from Pompeii, the Farnese Hercules and the Secret Cabinet. Entry is EUR20, EU citizens aged 18 to 24 pay EUR2, and under-18s go free. It opens 9:00 to 19:30, last entry 18:30, and closes on Tuesdays. Free tickets on the first Sunday of the month cannot be booked ahead. The MANN ticket page lists current fares.
Bourbon waterfront
Piazza del Plebiscito is framed by the colonnade of San Francesco di Paola and the Royal Palace, whose staircase and royal apartments are open to visitors. Galleria Umberto I, a glass-roofed arcade, is a few steps away, and Gran Caffe Gambrinus, open since 1860, serves coffee on the piazza. From there Lungomare Caracciolo leads to Castel dell’Ovo and Borgo Marinari. The castle exterior and harbour are free; check interior hours on the day.
Vomero hill
Take the Montesanto funicular up to Vomero on an Unico ticket, about EUR1.20 to EUR1.30. The Certosa di San Martino monastery and the star-shaped Castel Sant’Elmo sit on the top, and the views span the bay, Vesuvius and the islands. Go on a clear morning for the best visibility.
Rione Sanita
This working-class district is the home of the Fontanelle Cemetery, a vast tufa cave filled with the remains of plague and cholera victims from 1656 and 1837, and the centre of the old cult of the “poor souls”. It reopened on 18 April 2026. Booking is mandatory, it is open 10:00 to 18:00 with last entry at 17:15, and closed on Wednesdays and 25 December. Treat it as a solemn place and keep voices low.
Beyond the city
Pompeii is 25 km from Naples. The regular Circumvesuviana from Napoli Garibaldi towards Sorrento reaches Pompei Scavi-Villa dei Misteri in about 35 minutes. Entry is EUR20, with a cap of 20,000 visitors and named tickets. To compare guided options, browse Naples sightseeing tours on GetYourGuide .
Practical points
- Keep bags zipped around Piazza Garibaldi and on the Circumvesuviana.
- Choose one neighbourhood per half day.
- Do not drive in the centre; traffic-limited zones have gate-specific hours and fines of roughly EUR80 to EUR335.
Book Sansevero first and build the day around it. The 2-day itinerary orders these districts for you.