What do you think about when I tell you Naples? Surely pizza and Mount Vesuvius. In this post, I go back on the trip I took to Naples last summer to let you discover what else this city and its region have to offer.

OUR ITINERARY

• DAY 1: Visit of Naples town center
• DAY 2: Day trip to Pompeii
• DAY 3: Day trip to Sorrento
• DAY 4: Walk around the Lungomare in Naples

DAY 1: NAPLES TOWN CENTER

In this photo: Me on the rooftop terrace of our hotel

Having arrived to Naples on a late afternoon, we did not have much time on this first day to explore. We did, however, still have a walk in the town center to see the most emblematic neighborhoods and streets of Naples.

What to see in Naples Town Center?

Here are a few of the top things to see in Naples town center:

• Via San Gregorio Armeno – A street where you can buy typical Napolitan Christmas decorations and elements for your nativity scene all year long.
• Basilica de Santa Clara – Please do better than us as we missed out on going to see the cloister of this Basilica. It is meant to be one of the prettiest places in Naples.
• Murals in the Spanish Quarter – You will see many murals in this neighborhood characterized by its very narrow streets. Many of these murals and of the decorations in those streets are football-related. You will be able to really appreciate the strong support Italians have for their local football teams here. Do not miss the famous Diego Maradona mural in Via Emanuele de Deo.
• Toledo metro station – This metro station is famous for its colorful light well on top of one of the mechanical stairs of the station.
• Many churches, basilicas,… – A walk in the town center will let you understand how powerful the Catholic Church has been in the history of Naples. You will see churches, monasteries and other Catholic monuments absolutely everywhere in the town center. Sometimes, one is located right across the street from another one!

I have got to say that Naples town center can be a little bit destabilizing at first. It is full of narrow streets where scooters and Vespas navigate around you in a chaotic way. It is also not the cleanest city you will encounter. You will find all kind of trash on the streets. We were particularly surprised by how many lost shoes we’ve encountered on the sidewalks around the city. Crazy night outs? We will never know!

Where to eat in Naples Town Center?

Let me share two good addresses to try some of the best Napolitan food:

• Pizzeria Vicenzo Costa Napoli – https://maps.app.goo.gl/ymRtMdA9KmDdUZyDA: Can you really go to Naples without having pizza? We think not. This is your traditional Napolitan pizzeria. The pizzas are really good and if you want to try a local specialty you will not find at home, you can also eat fried pizza there. They have pizzas for as cheap as 5 or 6€!
• Vesuvio Roof Bar & Restaurant by “UNA cucina” – https://maps.app.goo.gl/mvTgj62UnbBoE34s7: If you want to have a more fancy dinner plan or to adopt a more varied diet than just pizza while in Naples, do check out this restaurant located on the rooftop of a 4* hotel. You will have wonderful views on the Mt Vesuvius from there and it is the perfect setting for a romantic dinner date during your holidays.

DAY 2: DAY TRIP TO POMPEII

In this photo: View on the Vesuvius from Pompeii Archeological Site

On our 2nd day, we headed to the Napoli Centrale train station to catch a train to Pompeii (return trip will cost you 6,6€ per person).

Visit of the Pompeii Archeological Site

Pompeii is a city mainly famous for its archeological site. Indeed, Pompeii used to be a Roman city that has been completely covered up by lava and ashes during an eruption of the Vesuvius in year AD 79. Entrance tickets to the Pompeii Archeological site will cost you 18€ per person.

I have read online that many tourists prefer to visit Herculaneum as the archeological site is more recent and better preserved. Although I cannot compare, having only visited Pompeii, I believe Pompeii also has a big argument going for itself: its size. The most impressive aspect of Pompeii is the sheer size of the archeological site. You are really visiting an entire Roman city.

While on site, make sure to pay a visit to the Antiquarium, a museum where you will learn more about life in Pompeii and the terrible eruption that destroyed the city. Another peculiar thing to see in Pompeii are the plaster casts of the people who got caught in the sea of lava, rocks and ashes during the eruption.

Let’s pause for ice cream

After your visit of the Pompeii Archeological Site, you will probably want to have a nice and refreshing drink or a snack. My suggestion is that you stop by Pasticceria De Vivo – https://maps.app.goo.gl/UPQBWyTeoVe6U3nM9 – before going back to the train station. I had one of the best chocolate and pistachio ice creams ever there.

DAY 3: DAY TRIP TO SORRENTO

In this photo: Porto di Sorrento (Sorrento Harbour)

Waking up from our 2nd night in Naples, we decided to go discover the Amalfi Coast. To do so, we took a NLG ferry at Naples Beverello Harbor. We bought our one way tickets online on Omio for around 19€ per person.

On your arrival at Sorrento, be ready to climb up some stairs to go up to the city from the port.

What to see & do in Sorrento?

• Corso Italia: The main commercial street of the town with lots of shops.
• Parco di Villa Fiorentino: A nice and small public park accessible from Corso Italia.
• Via Fuoro: A smaller street with lots of nice souvenir shops and restaurants.
• Villa Comunale: A square where you will have a beautiful view on the sea.
• Bagni Regina Giovanna: A little further from town, you will find this natural bath. We went by foot but I advise going by bus as there is no sidewalk during most of the way there. We went to this natural bath thanks to the recommendation of the tourist information office in Sorrento. It is indeed quite beautiful and the clear water does make you want to have a swim there. However, having gone in peak season, it was also quite crowded.
• Via Marina Grande: Street to have a stroll next to the sea (photo above).

Where to eat in Sorrento?

We recommend the Italian restaurant Fuoro – https://maps.app.goo.gl/njRwCgFFeYZf2xQ9A, located as its name suggests in Via Fuoro. The decor of the restaurant is very agreeable. You can even choose to be seated at a table facing the street if you would like to watch the life of this touristic town taking place around you. Furthermore, the dishes are served in beautiful ceramic plates painted with colorful motives and the restaurant’s name. I had great linguine ai frutti di mare there (photo above).

Where to shop in Sorrento?

If you want to avoid the typical Made in China souvenirs and that you want to see beautiful local craftmanship, I suggest you go visit the wonderful shop Gargiulo & Jannuzzi (photo above) – https://maps.app.goo.gl/vcefTrt9UhvptgLs9.

DAY 4: PROMENADE IN THE SEASIDE NEIGHBORHOODS OF NAPLES

In this photo: Lungomare di Napoli

For this last half-day in Naples, we left our hotel located near the train station Napoli Centrale and walked down Corso Umberto I up to Piazza Bovio. From there, we went down in the direction of the sea up to Castel Nuovo. After observing the fortress from outside, we went to visit the nearby Galleria Umberto I. If you have been to Milan before, this commercial gallery will remind you a lot of the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

Coming out of the gallery, we then headed to Plaza del Plebiscito where sit the Royal Palace of Naples and the Basilica Reale Pontificia San Francesco da Paola. We unfortunately had no time to visit the Royal Palace but we did visit the Basilica. I really recommend visiting it as it is a very impressive and solemn place. For the anecdote, you will also be able to see exposed there a liturgical dress worn by former pope John Paul II.

After this cultural parenthesis, we walked towards the sea and enjoyed a nice promenade following the coast up to the end of the park Villa Comunale di Napoli. Along the way, you will get to see the Giant’s Fountain and the Castel dell’Ovo (“Castle of the Egg” in English) which is another fortress. Have a walk on the peninsula where this fortress is located. There are many restaurants on this peninsula if you want to make a pause to eat.

After this walk, it was time for us to leave Naples to go see the islands of the archipelago of Campania: Ischia, Procida and Capri. Our itinerary on these islands will be the topic of my next post. Feel free to subscribe to the newsletter to not miss my future posts!