Naples, Italy is a chaotic, energetic, and passionate city located along the sea in southern Italy. It seems to get mixed reviews – people either love it or hate it. Well, I am here to convince you that it is absolutely necessary to visit Naples. Let’s dive into a fun itinerary for how to spend three days in Naples.
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Table of Contents
Where to Stay
I love to be in the center of the action, so I stayed in the historical center. The Hotel Piazza Bellini is an excellent option for a nice hotel in a perfect location. It is also easily accessible to the station by foot, which is very convenient for this Naples itinerary.
Day One
Visit the Ruins – Pompeii or Herculaneum
Pompeii and Herculaneum are two ancient cities that were unfortunately wiped out by the Mount Etna eruption of 79 AD and at least once needs to be on your itinerary during three days in Naples. On my most recent trip, I opted to visit Herculaneum (since I’ve been to Pompeii before). Pompeii is typically the more popular town to visit since it is larger, but Herculaneum is worthwhile as well.
Herculaneum is easy to access from the Garibaldi Station. The train is about 30-40 minutes and you get off at the Ercolano-Scavi stop. From there, head down the street and you’ll arrive at the entrance.
I booked this incredible guided tour through Get Your Guide. My guide works as an archeologist and she was an encyclopedia of knowledge! For a little over two hours, we explored the ruins and I left wanting to research even more since she made the history so intriguing.
If instead you’d like to see Pompeii, this is a great tour option.
Stop for a Dessert Break
Back in Naples. head to the Pasticceria Poppella to try an assortment of their pastries as an afternoon treat. The most notable item on the menu is the fiocco di neve, which literally means snowflake. These are puff pastries filled with different flavors of creams. It’s a popular spot with locals, so you’ll likely have to wait in line – don’t worry it moves quick. Take a number at the front, wait to be called in, and then load up on some goodies!
Wander the Archeological Museum
You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how many unique sculptures and items are in the Archeological Museum in Naples. You may notice some of the same sculptures or artwork after visiting Pompeii or Herculaneum. That is because the replicas are at those locations while the originals are housed at the museum. It’s a great way to piece everything together after visiting in-person.
You can either book a self-guided ticket directly on-site, book an upgrade with an audio guide, or book a small, private guided tour of the museum. The benefit with the small tour is you will personally have someone leading you through the large exhibits.
Stuff Your Face on a Food Tour
If you’ve read any of my other blog posts, you know that one of my favorite things to do while traveling is attend food tours!
I booked this street food tour and we were able to sample a surplus of Italian food over the course of a few hours.
We tried different popular street foods such as fried pizza, fried pasta, sfogliatelle, and much more. I was absolutely stuffed.
Day Two
Take a Morning Trip to the island of Procida
If time in your schedule permits, I recommend a morning or day trip to one of the many local islands: Ischia, Procida, or Capri. Procida is only a 40 minute ferry ride and is small enough to explore for just a few hours. There are incredible viewpoints, yummy spots for a scenic seafood lunch, and little beaches to relax and enjoy the atmosphere.
To learn more about Procida check out a more in-depth itinerary: How to Spend 1 Day in Procida.
I mean, you can’t visit southern Italy without at least one boat tour – maybe in Procida? You can book this Procida Boat Tour with Swimming Stops. It’s the perfect way to explore the island and still leave time for walking around later.
Visit the Spanish Quarter
During your three days in Naples you can’t miss out exploring the lively Spanish Quarter. Walking around you’ll find no shortage of spritz bars, street food, rowdy party groups, and shrines devoted to Maradona.
If you feel more comfortable with a local taking you around, book a guided walking and street art tour. You’ll meet at one of the most famous cafes in Naples before exploring the neighborhoods.
Shop Christmas Alley
Did you know Naples has an entire street dedicated to Christmas decor and nativty figurines/scenery? During your three days in Naples, make sure you shop along Via Gregorio Armeno. While some stores are now mass-produced items, there are plenty of artisanal shops where you can even watch the owners building and making figurines on the spot!
Indulge in a Pizza Dinner
I hope you don’t think we are spending 3 days in Naples without tasting the pizza! There are going to be plenty of discussions on which pizza is the BEST pizza in Naples. I’ll provide a few examples of some favorites, but know that it is difficult to find a bad pizza in this town.
The city prides itself on its delicious Neapolitan-style pizza. You can also order a pizza fritta, a fried pizza, at most places, which is like an enormous pizza pocket for my Americans reading this.
A few of my favorite pizzerias:
Still stumped on where to go? Be on the lookout for pizzerias with a VPN sign – Vero Pizza Neapolitan (literally: True Neopolitan Pizza). This means the pizza is made with the traditional Naples recipe – even down to the type of flour they use!
Fun Fact: VPN is a global phenomenon. So, once you return home and are still craving pizza, you can check if your local town has any restaurant members! Check out their website for more information.
Day Three
Go to the Greek ruins to see Paestum
On your third day in Naples, the first stop is Paestum. Here, you’ll find the a few of the best preserved Greek temples in the world. I advice using a guide to ensure you can get all of the background information – the history is fascinating. Interestingly enough, only about a quarter of Paestum has been excavated – most of the land is now on private property.
Book a guided tour of Paestum in order to enhance your experience. They will walk you all through the site and provide you with plenty of information on Paestum’s history.
You’ll also want to check out the museum as the famous Tomb of the Diver is on display.
Explore the Naples Underground
Did you know there are tons of tunnels situated deep beneath the streets of Naples? Well, one of the most unique things to do during your trip to Naples is exploring the Naples Underground. I literally felt like I was in Indiana Jones! Photos don’t do justice for this place, so please book a spot as they go quickly.
You can get tickets for your guided tour here.
That concludes my guide on how to spend three days in Naples, Italy. I hope you enjoyed eating and exploring your way through such an exciting and historical location in Italy.
If you like this guide, you may want to check out some of my other Italian itineraries: