How we spent three days in Naples
We spent three days in Naples, or Napoli, in May and I couldn’t believe how much I loved this city. It’s lively and loud and busy and full of history, and while some areas are a real sensory overload, it feels like real Italian life is being lived on every street – even in the more touristic areas. That’s not something you really feel in the historic centres of Rome and Milan, so I loved experiencing the vibrant neighbourhoods of this city.
We also got to explore Capri, Sorrento, and Pompeii which are all easy day trips from Naples. In this blog I’ll cover the best things to see and do in Naples, where to eat and drink, and more…
How to get to Naples
While you can fly into Naples from many UK airports, some flights may require connections. We were already in Italy when we travelled to Naples, so we used the trains which are a really easy and affordable way to get around the country – they’re also included in the European Interrail pass.
The best things to see and do in Naples
For a relatively small town there’s a lot to see and do in Naples. These were some of our highlights:
Explore Centro Storico and Spaccanapoli
Take in Quartieri Spagnoli and vía Toledo
Book a tour of Museo Cappella Sansevero
Visit Piazza del Plebiscito
Wander around Chiaia
Take a day trip to Capri
Take a day trip to Sorrento
Take a day trip to Pompeii
Find out more about our favourite things to see and do in Napoli including organising day trips to Capri and Pompeii here.
The best places to eat and drink in Naples
Naples is the home of pizza and unsurprisingly has some amazing places to eat and drink. These were our favourites:
Palazzo Petrucci Pizzeria
Cala La Pasta
L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele or Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba
Antica Pizzeria Di Matteo
Gino e Toto Sorbillo
OAK wine bar
Black Pig
Bath Pipe
Any of the street spritz stands
Find out more about the best places to eat and drink in Napoli here.
How to get around Naples
We mostly got around Naples on foot, but they also have a good Metro system (the Toledo Metro station is considered the most beautiful in Europe!) and the trains are easy to catch between cities. We caught a ferry to Capri, a train from Sorrento, and a train to Pompeii. You can pay for all of this on card and contactless is available on the Napoli Metro.
Where to stay in Naples
We stayed in Centro Storico in an Airbnb called ODA which was perfectly located. The host was brilliant – so friendly and helpful. And the location couldn’t have been better. We were easily able to walk around the historic centre, Spanish quarter, and further on foot and caught the Metro when we needed the main train station.
Is Naples cheap?
Naples is one of the more affordable Italian cities we’ve visited. You can eat very affordably and there’s plenty of incredible street food for under €5. There are vendors selling Aperol spritzes from €2.50 and the transport is incredibly affordable – if you use contactless to get to Pompeii by train it is under €5.
Is Naples safe?
We found Naples to be safe but we had heard stories about pickpockets and bag snatching. There are poorer areas of the city and even in the touristic areas there is visible poverty which can increase opportunistic crimes. So keep a close eye on your bags. That said, we always felt very safe in Naples and didn’t experience any crime or disorder ourselves. The Metro is also very safe to use.
What to pack for a long weekend in Naples
During our trip to Naples we also visited Capri and Sorrento and the ancient city of Pompeii. So my packing list included clothing that was suitable for lots of walking around as well as beach trips. This is what I packed for three days in Naples:
Two t-shirts
A shirt
A light jumper
A sun dress
A pair of jeans
A pair of Converse trainers
A pair of sandals
A bikini
A cap/head scarf
Sunglasses
Enough underwear for the trip
A shoulder bag
A beach bag
A beach towel
An EU plug adapter
A water bottle
Daily toiletries + SPF
Passport
Find my full packing list for Napoli, Capri, Sorrento, and Pompeii here.