Whether as a day trip from Rome or an overnight excursion, even just 1 day in Naples, Italy is fantastic way to dip your toes into the chaotic, lively, and incredible energy of one of my favorite cities.
Explore 24 hours in Napoli and is an exciting, captivating, and wonderful city. Besides, you’ll be exploring one of the oldest continually inhabited places on the planet. Here’s how to spend 1 day in Napoli.
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What to Know About Naples, Italy
Located a couple of hours south of Rome, Naples is known for its vibrant and bustling atmosphere, characterized by narrow streets, colorful buildings, and lively markets. It’s unlike any other Italian city you will visit.
While this energy adds to the city’s charm, Naples isn’t a perfect city. Same when traveling in destinations like Barcelona, Paris, and Rome where pickpocketing is prevalent, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and exercise caution, especially in crowded areas. This anti-theft crossbody bag will help (thank me later).
Be mindful when crossing the street as drivers in Naples love to swerve around other cars and motorbikes, speeds, and not stop at pedestrian crosswalks. You basically just have to make a go for it. Follow locals when in doubt.
Also, make trying an authentic Neapolitan-style pizza for lunch or dinner during your 24 hours in Napoli. But that’s not all – seafood, traditional pastas, and local pastries are also up there. Opt for pizza for lunch and choose pasta or seafood for dinner.
How to Get From Rome to Naples
If you are coming from Rome, as many are when spending 1 day in Naples, you can take the train from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale. There are usually Trenitalia and Italo trains available.
The cheapest trains from Rome to Naples are the Trenitalia Regionale trains that cost around €14 for a standard single ticket. They are longer, taking just under 3 hours to reach Napoli Centrale. If you are on a budget and aren’t pressed for time, then this is a good option.
However, I recommend taking the Intercity train. It costs about €10 more but takes one hour less, reaching Naples in 2 hours.
The fastest train to Naples are the Trenitalia Frecciarossa and Italo trains. They take about an hour 15 minutes but do cost a little bit more.
Find a train time that works for your trip and reserve your train tickets in advance on Omio.
Where to Stay in Naples, Italy
Choose a great hotel or accommodation to make the most of your first time in Naples, Italy. Here are some of the best places to stay depending on your budget.
Santa Chiara Boutique Hotel: Set in a 17th-century building with some of the best views. There’s a rooftop terrace that looks out toward Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples. Stunning! Upscale, 4-star prices.
Grand Hotel Vesuvio: One of the most famous hotels in Naples, Italy, and it’s just a couple of minutes away from the Ovo Castle. The rooftop pool actually overlooks the historic castle.
Napoli Visit Home: More of a b&b style with private rooms/bathrooms with a shared lounge. It’s really tidy, well-designed, and has cute views of Naples. It’s one of the most affordable hotels in Naples with excellent rooms.
Tric Trac Hostel: One of the top hostels in Naples. It has a cool rooftop balcony, free breakfast, and shared rooms. Great for meeting people when doing solo travel in Naples.
Planning to visit Rome during your trip to Italy? See my must-read guide on 3 days in Rome here.
1 Days in Naples, Italy Itinerary
Here’s how to spend your 24 hours in Naples. You’ll be seeing a lot of the city center, so be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. Keep in mind most of this itinerary is based around a Naples solo travel trip.
Italian breakfast
Do as the locals do and enjoy a cappuccino or coffee of your choice paired with a croissant or pastry. I have a whole guide on how to order coffee in Italy.
There are a lot of local Neapolitan pastry options like zeppole di San Giuseppe (imagine a lemon creme-filled churro doughnut) or pastiera which is made with delicious ricotta and filled with sweetened fruit. It’s like a miniature pie.
Just about any bar/cafeteria near your accommodation will do the trick. Don’t stress too much about it. This is Italy and the coffee is good just about anywhere you go.
A few of the places I visited include Il Pasticcio, Caffè Dei Principi, and the cafe inside of Galleria Umberto. Pick a place or two to try during your 1 day in Naples.
Castel Nuovo
With 1 day in Naples, Italy you’ll definitely want to see the enormous Castel Nuovo, also known as Maschio Angioino, a unique medieval castle that offers fantastic views of the city and Port of Naples.
It’s set in Piazza Municipio and has five round towers set around stone walls. I wouldn’t call it a “beautiful” castle but it is very interesting and being from the Middle Ages, I already knew I’d love it.
When you visit Castel Nuovo, check out the Cappella Palatina, or Palatine Chapel, to see stunning frescoes and explore the Armoury Hall, to see Roman ruins under its glass floor.
There is also a collection of works by Neapolitan painters in the upstairs portion of the castle. As I understand, this section is closed on Sundays.
Throughout your visit to Castel Nuovo, you can soak up gorgeous views of Naples and the bay.
Entry costs €6 and tickets can be purchased when you arrive at the castle. It’s open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. most days. Only open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays.
Explore the historic center of Napoli
One of my favorite things about traveling to Naples is wandering around. Naples has an entirely different feel from northern Italy and even nearby cities like Rome. There is something far more rugged and chaotic about Naples.
Pedestrian crosswalks aren’t much of a thing – cars and mopeds don’t stop unless you just make a run for it. You won’t really see this in the rest of Italy. It honestly reminds me of Marrakech in that way.
Naples is also known for its bustling street life, with vendors, motorbikes, and pedestrians filling the streets. Motorbikes swerve past cars and pedestrians, people drive fast, and the city feels alive.
Keep in mind that this kind of chaotic energy can be both exhilarating and/or overwhelming, depending on what you’re used to.
Overall, the city is dirtier and a bit more working class BUT those add to its character. I loved the energy, the thrill of it all, the sensory overload. For me, I felt like “I could belong here.”
So, that’s why I highly recommend you do a little carefree walk around the city center, strolling the hilly streets, wandering the Spanish Quarters, watching locals hang their clothes on lines that flow from window to window, etc. Even with only a short time in the city, make a little bit of time for this type of exploration.
When traveling anywhere, use your best judgment and keep your belongings secure. There’s hardly a major city in Europe that is free of petty pickpocketing.
But please note that I have NEVER had a problem in Italy. I’ve always felt safe, even doing solo travel in Naples.
Piazza del Plebiscito
As you enjoy a slow travel walk through the center, be sure to stop by Piazza del Plebiscito It’s the cities largest and most iconic square.
It’s the main gathering spot in the city and it’s home to San Francesco di Paola Basilica, Royal Palace of Naples, large statues, and more.
I love this square both day and night. At night, you might find locals sitting on the steps of the basilica.
You might like to hop on a Naples historic walking tour to learn more about the city as you explore.
Walk down Via Cesario Console
After passing Piazza del Plebiscito, you should walk down Via Cesario Console toward the statue of Augusto and the sea. From here, you’ll have some lovely views of the water, the Port of Naples, and Mount Vesuvius.
Grab a gelato at Gelati Trullati Truta on the way if you’re in the mood for a sweet treat.
Once you make it to the end of the Via, take a right and continue toward Fontana del Gigante to see this fountain plus a view of Ovo Castle, or Castel dell’Ovo.
Lunch at a Neapolitan pizzeria
One of the best things to do in Naples is eat local Neapolitan pizza. Known for its simplicity, often just using a couple of toppings, pizza from Naples is considered to be one of the very best ways to prepare pizza.
You have several options for pizza places. There’s L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele, made ultra-famous as it was mentioned in Eat, Pray, Love – though it was still a hot spot well before that book came out.
People say it’s the best pizza in the world, the best meal they’ve ever had, yada-yada. I’m sure it’s incredible, though during my time in Naples, I hadn’t been able to go. The lines were always too outrageous.
According to my research on the pizzeria in Naples, the main secret of Da Michele’s success is their use of natural ingredients and a timeless and traditional method of leavening pizza dough.
If you want to eat at Naples’ famous pizzeria, do expect a hefty line in order to do so. It’s going to be delicious, but you can find a lot of amazing pizza in this southern city without going there.
Maybe you arrive at Da Michele and see a huge line and with only 1 day in Naples, you don’t want to wait around. If that’s the case, go to Pizzeria D’Angeli practically right across the street.
The prices are good, the quality is there, and they have outdoor seating so you can people-watch and enjoy more of Naples.
If you have more time in the city, you could even do this lovely Neapolitan pizza making class. It’s only 2 hours so it won’t take too much of your day.
Galleria Umberto
One of the loveliest places to see is the stunning 19th-century shopping gallery, Galleria Umberto. It’s iconic for its glass dome roof and I personally loved the marble flooring design.
While here, you can shop around, grab a coffee as a digestivo after a delicious Neapolitan pizza, and just take in the beauty of this historic place.
I had coffee at Caffetteria Umberto and it was excellent. I loved getting to sit out in the gallery while reading a book – felt like a local!
The cafe also has Aperol Spritz and light bites, so even if you’re not in the mood for coffee, there are some other options.
Complesso Monumentale di Santa Chiara
This is a 1300s monastery that’s really popular for its beautifully tiled cloister garden and intricate tiling throughout much of the place.
There’s also a small archaeological museum, and sprawling orange trees, and it’s only €6 to visit.
You could visit the monastery before Galleria Umberto as it’s sort of between the pizzeria and the shopping gallery. I’ts not an essential stop with 1 day in Naples but it’s definitely worth checking out if you have the time.
Santa Chiara is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Duomo di Napoli
The last place to visit during your Naples itinerary is a visit to the Duomo di Napoli, or Naples Cathedral.
It’s one of the city’s most impressive buildings, so it’s certainly worth seeing. Not to mention it’s one of the best free things to do in Naples.
I didn’t find the outside to be too spectacular but the interior is stunning, especially with its dome ceiling, intricate frescoes, and sculptures. The altar is also quite grand.
Plus, it’s open until 7:30 p.m. every day, so you will definitely have time to visit with just 1 day in Naples, Italy.
Naples to Pompeii Day Trip
One of the best things about visiting Naples is that you’ll be just around the corner from the ancient city of Pompeii, one of the most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
So, if you have time the next morning, you can book a day trip to Pompeii before going home or continuing your trip around Italy.
It’s only 20 minutes outside of the center, just on the other side of Mount Vesuvius – the volcano that destroyed this ancient city.
To visit Pompeii from Naples most efficiently, I highly recommend booking a Pompeii day tour. It will be a lot more immersive with a tour guide’s perspective but you’ll still have time to see stuff on your own.
Mount Vesuvius is also amazing when it comes to what to do in Naples. Luckily, this day trip to Pompeii includes a stop-over at Vesuvius. You’ll do a short walk up the crater that overlooks the Bay of Naples.
This tour starts around 9:30 a.m. and returns around 5:00 p.m., so you will be limited on time to see any last-minute places in Naples you might have skipped yesterday.
If you’re fine to skip walking on Mount Vesuvius, you can opt for this highly-rated half-day Pompeii tour from Naples that lasts only 3 hours.
What is the weather like in Naples?
The weather is typically mild winters and hot, sunny summers. Winter is generally a pleasant time to visit, although some attractions may have reduced hours or closures.
The spring season is ideal for exploring the city’s outdoor attractions and enjoying its plethora of outdoor dining options.
Summer is hot and humid. This is a popular time for locals to retreat out of the city to the countryside or nearby beaches along the Amalfi Coast. This is also the busiest time for tourism.
Fall is a lovely time to visit Naples, with fewer crowds compared to the summer months and plenty of opportunities to explore the city’s cultural and historical sites without being bogged down by the heat.
FAQ
Here are some common questions about doing a 1 day Naples itinerary.
How many days in Naples and Amalfi Coast?
Naples is located just above the Amalfi Coast, so it’s not uncommon to see both on the same trip. I’d recommend 2-3 days in Naples along with a two-day road trip/train ride to the Amalfi Coast. You might want more time in the Amalfi Coast if you’re visiting in summer and want to visit a lot of beaches.
How to spend 24 hours in Naples?
If you have only 24 hours to see Naples, focus on exploring the historic centre, eat Neapolitan pizza, walk through Piazza del Plebiscito, see Castel Nuovo, and catch a view of Mount Vesuvius and the sea. These are some of the most iconic things to do when on a day trip to Naples.
Is Naples safe for solo female travellers?
Yes, it is. It can be chaotic and overwhelming at times, but it is not an unsafe city for women traveling alone. Always be cautious, use common sense, and keep your belongings secure and tucked away to avoid any petty theft or pickpockets. Violent crime is not common.
Wishing you an amazing day trip to Naples. Comment below or reach out with any questions or recommendations for other travelers. Thanks for being here!
