What to do at Naples, Italy?

Lots of people are booking summer Mediterranean cruises and lots of Mediterranean cruises stop in Naples, so what can you do if it’s your first time there? We can give you a couple of ideas.

1. Capri – Anacapri

The island of Capri located a convenient ferry away from Naples. The ferry takes 50 minutes. The ferry terminal is right outside the cruise port. We booked the ferry tickets on Omio for 8:35am via NLG. We received electronic confirmation, but we did need to get the actual tickets at the ticket booth. It’s very easy to find. See the full details about our Capri trip here.

On arrival at Capri island, there are lots of tourist companies offering Blue Grotto tours at the port. However, I read some reviews about there always being a line and having to pay a $20 tip upfront to even get in, etc. so we skipped it. The picture surely looks stunning, but do your own research to see if it will be worth it for you.

There are two main cities on the island. One is, of course, Capri and there is a smaller city on top of the mountain, Anacapri.

There are buses available from the port to each city center. In August 2022, the bus fare to Anacapri was about €5 for two people. They do charge extra for large suitcases.

Taxis are also available for €40 from Capri main square to Anacapri.

Lots of shops and restaurants are in both cities.

I highly recommended getting to Anacapri and doing the chairlift. The sky view of the island’s coastline and the vivid blue Mediterranean water is just breathtaking. See details of our full Capri trip here.

2. Pompeii

Many people are not going to miss Pompeii when they stop in Naples.

Pompeii is located at 40 minutes outside of Naples by train. The train ticket is €4. You can also take a bus for about €10.

There are many guided tours you can book in advance. Guided tours are recommended to learn about the history.

Wear comfortable walking shoes! The ancient streets are uneven, so make sure to wear suitable comfortable shoes. The guided tour took about 2-3 hours. It’s going to be hot in Italy in summer, so bring sun protection and water with you. See our full details of our Pompeii trip here.

If you are interested in archaeological sites or history, you can also visit Herculaneum City nearby, which is a smaller site than Pompeii with much less tourists . It is located in between Naples and Pompeii and the same train will get you there.

3. Amalfi Coast

Amalfi Coast is another popular destination from Naples. Many boat trips are available.

If you prefer to get to Amalfi coast by yourself, there are a few options:

1. By Ferry

There is a ferry available from Naples to Amalfi offered by NLG. The ferry takes about 1 hr 45 minutes.

2. By Train

Unfortunately, you cannot get to Amalfi directly by train. You can take a train from Naples to Salerno, then take a ferry from Salerno. The train takes about 1 hr to get to Salerno, then the ferry takes about 30 minutes. So the total travel time is about the same as the ferry.

3. By Private Boat

Most of the tours take you by boat. You can also rent a boat yourself if you are experienced and licensed (some companies let you rent a boat even if you’re not licensed, but do your own research carefully).

See the full details of our Amalfi trip here.

4. Sorrento

Sorrento is close to the tip of the gulf and is famous for its lemons. The local people of Sorrento are proud to have the best lemons in Italy.

I highly recommend to go to a cheese farm or an olive farm in Sorrento and try their homemade mozzarella cheese and olive oils.

We went to this cheese farm with mozzarella cheese making demonstration and the best olive oil I’ve ever had ( they admitted that their olive oil is only the second best in the country because they do not have the ability to make extra Virgin olive oil, but only virgin ones, but they were still superb in my opinion). It was super fun. See the full details about our Sorrento trip here. Check out their FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064861831378&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Sorrento can be reached by the same train to Pompeii. So Herculaneum, Pompeii, and Sorrento can be all done by the same train ride and in the same day, though time to spend at each location would be lessened.

5. Positano

Positano is another popular gem just like Amalfi. Positano is 15-30 minutes away by ferry from Amalfi and can be reached by ferry from Naples as well.

If interested in Positano, one of the authors I liked wrote a novel about it. It’s called One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle. It is a fun but moving read. see the full details of our Positano trip here.

6. Ischia

Ischia is another small island across from Naples. It’s known for its thermal mineral-rich water and its thermal gardens. If you are looking for a relaxing day soaking in hot springs, Ischia is your choice.

Ischia can be reached by ferry from Naples, which takes about an hour. It is a volcanic island with mostly mountains.

Ischia has been deemed by Travel+Leisure readers as one of the most beautiful islands in the world.

There are many other destinations you can get to from Naples and if you have any memorable experience in this area, I’d love to hear your experience in comments!