If you are planning on visiting southern Italy, spending at least one day in Naples should probably be one of your top priorities. With four millennia of history under its belt, the regional capital of Campania has amassed many unforgettable landmarks such as the Royal Palace, the Duomo di San Gennaro, and the imposing Castel Nuovo, with an intricate, delicate-looking Renaissance triumphal arch erected between the massive, almost threatening dark medieval towers of the fortress. However, the surrounding area is even more mysterious, inviting, and unique than the city itself, so much so that many visitors come to the city primarily because of exciting day trips from Naples to the numerous, world-famous landmarks in the vicinity. These are, of course, the day trips to Mount Vesuvius, the still-active infamous volcano, as well as the cities that were destroyed when it erupted in 79 AD, namely Pompeii and Herculaneum. Other options include the day trips from Naples to Amalfi Coast and the quite popular day trip to Capri from Naples.
Naples to Capri Day Trip
DISTANCE FROM NAPLES
Capri is a small island with numerous resorts and breathtaking mountaintop scenery, approximately 45 km (28 miles) south of Naples, just off the tip of the Sorrento Peninsula.
GETTING THERE
Since Capri is an island, you’ll have to get there by boat. There are two ports in the city of Naples with regular ferries for Capri. High-speed ferries depart from Molo Beverello, while Calata di Massa is mostly for regular ferries. There are ferries basically every hour, starting from 5:35 AM, although they operate much more frequently from April-October. The price ranges between € 14.80 for the slow ferry, which takes one hour and 25 minutes, and € 22.80 for the fast ferry, which takes 50 minutes.
WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT
The best olive oil in Italy, the amazing, fresh seafood, the famous Insalata Caprese, and the delicious Tubettoni con cozze are just some of Capri’s numerous culinary delights. But great food is not the only reason to go on a day trip to Capri from Naples. The jaw-dropping natural beauty of the island is even more compelling, not to mention the decadent jet-set lifestyle and world-class shopping that attracts the world’s greatest celebrities. The world first learned of Capri after Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Onassis, and Sophia Loren started vacationing there on a regular basis. Star power aside, the gorgeous Blue Grotto is an attraction unlike any other, once decorated for and frequented by the Roman emperor Tiberius himself.
OPENING HOURS/TICKET PRICES
Many of the island’s major attractions open at 9 AM, including the aforementioned Grotta Azzurra or the Blue Grotto, which you can enter aboard a wooden rowboat every day between 9 AM and 5 PM for the price of € 14.
ACCOMMODATION OPTION
If Capri manages to win you over and you decide to trade the streets of Naples for breathtaking beachfront views, you’ll have a hard time choosing where to stay among the numerous amazing properties on the island. Luxury Villa Excelsior Parco is a secluded little piece of heaven not far from the Capri’s Marina Grande port, featuring free shuttle service, a dedicated, accommodating staff, and the best views Capri has to offer. Hotel Belvedere e Tre Re is a good alternative for those looking to save a bit on accommodation, even though the minimalistic, rustic Mediterranean rooms are very comfortable and exceedingly charming.
ORGANIZED TOURS
Island of Capri: Full-Day Tour from Naples
With a live guide, pick-up service, and lunch included, this organized day trip to Capri from Naples has all the bases covered if you are looking for a professional tour with someone who will help you learn a bit more and discover several well-kept secrets you wouldn’t be able to find otherwise.
Pompeii Day Trip from Naples
DISTANCE FROM NAPLES
The vast archeological site of Pompeii is located approx. 25 km (15.5 miles) southeast of Naples, not far from the coast of the bay of Naples.
GETTING THERE
By car, it take slightly more than 30 minutes to get to Pompeii via A3. Getting on a Pompeii day trip from Naples by train is very popular, as it takes only 30 minutes and costs just € 4. The Circumvesuviana train, which links Naples, Pompeii, and Sorento, departs from the Porta Nolana Station Naples and Central Station (Stazione Centrale)/Garibaldi, east of the city center.
WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT
As the most famous archeological site in Italy and one of the most famous sites in the world, Pompeii needs no introduction. One of the few places in the world that provide real insight into the life, art, and architecture of the Ancient Romans, Pompeii is also notable for documenting the last moments of thousands of people, whose shrieks were silenced ty the thick layer of volcanic ash and lava that immortalized both their everyday lives, in simple homes and palaces alike, as well as the tragedy that made them famous as it doomed them.
OPENING HOURS/TICKET PRICES
Between April 1 and October 31, the site opens at 9 AM and closes at 7 PM, with last admission at 6 PM. From November 1 and March 31, the site closes at 5 PM, and the last visitors are accepted at 3:30 PM. The entry ticket, valid for one day, costs € 15.00 (basic rate).
ACCOMMODATION OPTION
Less than 20 minutes from the ruins of Pompeii on foot, Hotel Pompei Be Green is the best choice if you decide to explore the site for more than just one day. Situated down one of the quieter streets, this brand-new hotel is a comfy, welcoming retreat with an extremely friendly, professional staff.
ORGANIZED TOURS
From Naples: Pompeii Ruins & Mount Vesuvius Day Tour
In case you opt for an organized day trip from Naples to Pompeii, you might as well combine it and visit Mount Vesuvius as well. This 7-hour tour features a live guide who speaks four languages, with easy pick-up, lunch and drinks, and all entrance fees already included. Simple, well-organized, and informative.
Amalfi Coast Day Trip from Naples
DISTANCE FROM NAPLES
The Amalfi Coast is the name of a 50-kilometer stretch of coastline on the southern side of the Sorrentine Peninsula. It is located approximately 70 km (43 miles) southeast from Naples.
GETTING THERE
Via A3 and SS163, it takes about one hour and a half to get from Naples to the Amalfi Coast. Sadly, many of the scenic, pastel-colored little towns that dot the coast are not accessible by train. Ridesharing and transport by private car (with a driver) are some of the popular ways to get there. Alternatively, take the train to Sorrento or Salerno from Naples (the Circumvesuviana line), and then take the bus to the coast.
WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT
The unforgiving, sheer cliffs with tame little fishing villages overlooking the sea couldn’t help but get noticed by UNESCO, which added the now-famous Costiera Amalfitana to its list of World Heritage Sites in 1997. The terraced gardens of the little towns are filled with lemons between February and October, as the region is well-known for its production of limoncello. Here, the quintessential Mediterranean landscape meets grand cathedrals (Amalfi Cathedral), mountain-top medieval castles (Castello di Arechi), and tranquil gardens (The Garden of Minerva). The entire area was once an independent state, called the Duchy of Amalfi, important to maritime trade and establishing connections with North Africa and the Levant, including holy sites such as Jerusalem and Antioch.
OPENING HOURS/TICKET PRICES
The Amalfi Cathedral opens at 9:00 AM from March to September. It closes at 6:45 PM March-June, and an hour later June-September. Between October and February, it is only open from 10 AM – 1 PM, and later from 2:30 till 4:0 in the afternoon. The magnificent Castello di Arechi in Salerno is open between 9 AM and 5 PM every day, except for Sunday, when it closes at 3:30 PM. The price is € 3 for adults.
ACCOMMODATION OPTION
Many of the best hotels on the Amalfi Coast are located in Praiano. Among them is Locanda Costa Diva, with a beautiful garden, comfortable and charming rooms, a large terrace, a hot tub, and a million-dollar view.
ORGANIZED TOURS
Amalfi Coast Tour-All Inclusive from Naples
In all honesty, experiencing the beautiful Amalfi Coast to the fullest can be quite challenging if you are trying to do it all on your own. The narrow, winding mountain roads and the sheer number of landmarks and attractions make it hard to enjoy your stay stress-free and to the fullest. This organized Amalfi Coast day trip from Naples takes care of the little details and logistics and provides you with a skilled English-speaking assistant and driver who will help you explore the dramatic scenery and charming villages that dot the famous coast.
Mount Vesuvius Day Trip from Naples
DISTANCE FROM NAPLES
Mount Vesuvius, the famous 1,281 m-high somma-stratovolcano that destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum, is located only 9 km east of Naples.
GETTING THERE
The easiest way to get to Mount Vesuvius is to take the Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii or Ercolano Scava. From there, there are frequent buses to Vesuvius. Vesuvio Express Ercolano is a shuttlebus service between Ercolano Station and Mount Vesuvius. There’s a new bus every 40 minutes. In Pompeii, the public bus leaves in front of the main entrance to the Pompeii ruins.
Driving up to Mount Vesuvius is rather complicated, among other reasons because you have to leave your car quite a ways down, and you’ll have a lot of walking to the top, making organized tours and public transport the superior option. There are official hiking routes to the top, too, but it is always a good idea to hire an expert guide to make sure everything goes smoothly if you choose to go that route.
WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT
Mount Vesuvius, the protector of Naples, is a classic volcano with a large cone and a wide caldera at the summit. The caldera is all that’s left of a much larger structure that collapsed entirely during one of the previous eruptions. It is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world due to the vicinity of Naples, with up to 3 million people potentially in jeopardy in case the volcano erupts again. When you reach the top, you can actually see the clouds of Sulphur-rich steam and smoke rising from the vents at the bottom of the crater. In 1995, Mount Vesuvius with the surrounding area became a national park.
OPENING HOURS/TICKET PRICES
To see the crater, you’ll have to pay a € 10 admission fee. You can access the area from 9:00 AM all year-long. July and August, the crater closes at 6:00 PM, an hour earlier in June and September, and at 3:00 PM from November to February. The ticket office closes one hour before the crater.
ACCOMMODATION OPTION
If you want to stay close to the volcano, Parco Vesevus is the perfect option, with comfortable, well-appointed rooms, an outdoor pool with a waterfall, a large terrace, and views of the sea and the volcano. Surrounded by pine trees and palms, the hotel feels like an oasis under the barren, smoking giant in the background.
ORGANIZED TOURS
Herculaneum and Mt. Vesuvius Full-Day Excursion from Naples
On this tour, you can see not only Mount Vesuvius, but also Herculaneum, the other major Roman settlement destroyed by the 79 AD eruption. With everything organized in advance, you’ll be able to skip the lines and discover the town in the shadow of the volcano, which is even better-preserved than Pompeii, as the heavy blanket of lava carbonized organic-based materials, including wood (roofs, beds), and even papyrus scrolls in the library.
Vesuvius 5-Hour Wine Tasting Tour and Lunch from Naples The dark volcanic soil of Mount Vesuvius produces uncommonly rich fruit and some of the best wine in Italy. On this organized day trip from Naples, you can not only enjoy the impressive, unique scenery, but also experience first-hand the effort and passion that goes into making wine on the steep slopes of Mount Vesuvius.
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