You are in for a treat if you have a full week to visit Naples. If you have 7 days in Naples you can see almost all of the major sites using our guide, have time to explore beyond the city and relax!

Speaking from experience, seven days is the perfect amount of time to see Naples and explore Campania. During my first ever trip to this region in 2014 I spent a week here with Sara and we returned home with a feeling that we had done the city and surrounding area justice by seeing so much of what is on offer.

Capri

Since Roman times the island of Capri has attracted the rich and powerful due to its outstanding natural scenery and isolation from the mainland.

Now Capri is one of the most visited places in Italy with visitors looking to capture some of the island’s famous luxury vibes.

To visit Capri you’ll need to take a ferry from Naples’ Molo Beverello port, with connections running frequently in good weather.

Another option to get to Capri is via a private boat ride or one of the many boat tours available. With this option, you’ll get a unique perspective of the island and benefit from your guide’s local knowledge. The boat trips often include stops at the Blue Grotto as well!

What to do on Capri

Capri is a shoppers haven with artisan and luxury boutiques lining the streets of the main town, punctuated with highly quality bars and restaurants.

If history or nature is more your thing, head up to the top of the island from the main town to explore the ruins of Villa Jovis, an ancient Roman palace where some of Rome’s most notorious emperors lived.

Foodies should be on the lookout for real limoncello (Capri claims to be where this iconic liquer was invented, as does Sorrento…), the world-famous Caprese salad and Torta Caprese; a rich chocolate and almond cake that might be my favorite dessert!

If water is your thing, you can join a boat tour from the harbor at Marina Grande which goes around the island, many of which include the Blue Grotto and other iconic Capri island sights.

On our dedicated Capri page here we set out in detail what you can do on this little piece of paradise.

Sorrento

Similar to Capri, Sorrento has been a desirable location for the good and great since ancient times. Roman emperors and Aragonese royalty vacationed here, albeit with centuries between them.

Getting to Sorrento is super simple, you can either:

• Drive from Naples, with the journey taking on average 90 minutes.
• Take a private car or book a tour from Naples with a local guide.
• Take a ferry from Naples port if the weather is good (you’ll get an amazing view of Vesuvius from the Bay of Naples if you opt for this transport method)
• Use the Circumvesuviana/Campania express trains from Napoli Centrale (the same line for Pompeii and Herculaneum), with the journey taking around 75 minutes.
• There is also a direct coach that runs between Sorrento and Naples airport.

What to do in Sorrento

We love the shops in Sorrento. The stores here are mainly focused on artisan items (ceramics, household goods, art and textiles) and food products (limoncello and buffalo produce including mozzarella) but you will also find clothing, accessories and shoes on offer.

You’ll also find a range of more active pursuits in Sorrento, including hiking routes in the mountains above the town and kayaking around the cliffs and nearby ruins. The latter is one of my favorite things to do in Sorrento, with Kayak Sorrento being my go-to operator for excursions.

History lovers should check out the cathedral of Saints Philip the Apostle and James the Just and nearby Parco di Villa Fiorentino villa and garden which provide fascinating insights into the town’s past.

Eating and drinking in Sorrento

As with all of Campania, if food and drink is your thing, you’re in luck in Sorrento!

Our top spot for lunch in Sorrento is Inn Bufalito where the menu consists of options featuring buffalo produce, from steaks to mozzarella, cured meats and more. They also have a selection of pastas, salads and fish options so there’s something for everyone!

If you are looking for a special spot for an aperitivo drink, and/or dinner, be sure to head to Terrazza Vittoria at Hotel Continental. The views of Mount Vesuvius and the quality of the food and drinks is only matched by the fantastic service from their bar and restaurant team.

Outside of this season you can still visit most beaches but amenities such as toilets or showers may not be accessible.

Our favorite beach club in Campania is Antico Bagno Conca delle Sirene in Vico Equense. We love this place for several reasons:

• It features a small, family-friendly beach, as well as a bathing platform with adult-only areas, meaning there is an option for everyone.
• Adjoining the beach club you’ll find a fantastic, and reasonably priced restaurant offering fresh seafood dishes as well as other options.
• The team is second-to-none with a waiter service to bring drinks directly to your bed (ordering via WhatsApp and paying in cash only)

You can get to Vico Equense by taking the Circumvesuviana train from Napoli Centrale (the same line that runs to Pompeii, Herculaneum and Sorrento), with the journey time taking around 60 minutes each way.

On arrival at Vico Equense station you can either walk down the hill to Antico Bagno Conca delle Sirene or take the local bus. You can buy tickets on board (in cash only).

Note that the bus can get very busy so you might need to wait for another to arrive (the same applies on the way back up the hill at the end of your day).

For spa people:

If you’re more of a spa person, book a ferry to Ischia and head to some of Italy’s best natural thermal spas.

Two of the island’s most famous resorts – Negombo and Giardini Posideon Terme – both offer passes for single days, or half days if you are pressed for time, and can be easily reached by bus or taxi from Ischia’s ports.

I’d strongly recommend booking your spot in advance during the busy summer months (July and August) as these spas, along with all of the others you’ll find in Ischia are extremely popular with visitors and locals alike.

Another option to experience Ischia’s famous natural springs is to head to Baia di Sorgeto, where the hot springs meet the cooler sea to create a unique bathing experience. This is a public beach so is completely free to enter, but can get very busy so if you can, arrive early!

Baia di Sorgeto is also a great option if you are visiting Ischia outside of the official bathing season, during which many of the big resorts and spa hotels close. Just exercise common sense when swimming in the sea during the quieter months as there won’t be a lifeguard on hand to help in the event of trouble.

If you, like me, tend not to be able to spend hours by a pool or in a spa without getting bored, why not consider exploring some of this region’s famous natural beauty?

One of my favorite activities in Campania is to take the funicular cable car from the town of Castellammare di Stabia to the top of Monte Faito.

Up here you’ll find hiking trails of varying difficulty (with options for casual walkers) that provide explorers with incredible views of the Bay of Naples and beyond.

You’ll also find plenty of options for refreshments, meaning you can easily spend the whole day exploring before taking the cable car back down the mountain.

For full information on how to visit Monte Faito, click here.

If you’d rather head to the Amalfi coast, this is best saved for the shoulder season when the weather is still beautiful but the peak crowds of July and August are gone.

For an introductory Amalfi coast itinerary, head for either Amalfi town or Positano via ferry.

Those with an interest in ancient Rome should visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Herculaneum (if you haven’t already done so earlier in your trip), Pozzuoli and Baiae (Bacoli), the Stabian Villas or Capua.

These ancient ruins provide fascinating insights into how different classes of people lived during the Roman period from regular workers up to the ruling elite.

Anyone looking to get off the beaten path should consider a trip to Paestum where you can enjoy some of the best food Campania has to offer and wander among mainland Italy’s best preserved ancient Greek ruins.

Our favorite place to eat here is La Bottega del Gusto which offers a range of local specialities to try (and takeaway if you’re inclined) and is just a short walk from the Paestum archaeological museum and park.

For Italian history and culture, make your way to the Royal Palace of Caserta (a must also for nature lovers!), officially the world’s largest royal residence and one of Italy’s top tourist attractions.

A trip to Caserta can be easily combined with nearby Capua if you want to cover as much ground as possible – use the regional trains to hop between these locations.

Another option if you are not planning to return to Italy any time soon and want to cover as much ground as possible is to use the efficient high-speed trains to go further afield and visit Rome, Florence or Reggio Calabria.

Details for all these day trips can be found on our dedicated page here.

On your last day in Naples it’s all about filling in the blanks and tying up loose ends!

You can take this day to retrace your footsteps if there was somewhere you particularly loved during your visit, or continue exploring by following this itinerary:

Start your day at 8AM with breakfast at one of the bars inside the Galleria Umberto in the city center. This makes for a great spot to watch everyday life in Naples happen, particularly on a weekday with commuters hurrying to work.

After breakfast, make your way to the Royal Palace on Piazza del Plebiscito (passing the famous opera house to marvel at the architecture if you haven’t already done so), one of Naples’ most historical sites.

The Royal Palace of Naples sits at the heart of the city, and was once the official residence of the Bourbon kings. Today you can visit the palace complex, which has a few different spaces to explore. The main attraction is the series of royal rooms, complete with furnishings, decor and artwork from the royal family, but there are also other areas and temporary exhibition spaces.

Depending how long you spend in the Royal Palace and what you fancy doing in the afternoon (suggestions for this below), you have a couple of options for what to do for lunch:

1. Head in to the Spanish Quarter for some Neapolitan dishes at one of the many local restaurants here – we’ve never had a bad meal in this neighborhood so we recommend sitting down wherever grabs your attention
2. Walk up Via Toledo until you reach the turning for Spaccanapoli, Naples’ most famous street and one of the best spots in the city to eat – either in a sit down restaurant or from one of the many street food outlets.

Either of these options will ensure you are close to all of the major cultural attractions and sites that we suggest you consider visiting on your last afternoon.

Once you’ve finished lunch, here are some options depending on your interests and travel style:

If you opted for lunch in the Spanish Quarter, and enjoyed your visit to the Bourbon Gallery on your first day in Naples, head to Napoli Sotterranea (Underground Naples) on Vico S.Anna di Palazzo.

This subterranean site, like many of the others dotted around Naples, started life as an ancient Greek and Roman quarry. Later it was converted in to water cisterns, before being re-purposed as air raid shelters in World War II.

What makes this site special is that as you descend the steps down from street level, you’ll really feel you are travelling back in time; relics from the past still litter the tunnels, you’ll find an underground chapel, and the narrow passages (not recommended if you are claustrophobic) make for a fun way to experience Naples’ history.

Take a short walk from Piazza del Plebiscito to Medina – Municipio bus stop near the Municipio metro station (passing the imposing Castel Nuovo en route) and take the 204 bus to the S.Teresa Degli Scalzi- Leopardi to reach the Catacombs of San Gaudioso – around 5 minutes on foot from the bus stop.

Located under the Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità, this site is considered the second most significant catacomb complex after the famous Catacombs of San Gennaro with a history stretching back over 1400 years.

Join a tour to discover the historical significance of this fascinating site, and its deep meaning to the La Sanita neighborhood and Naples as a whole.

Take a short 5 minute walk up Via Toledo to the Augusteo funicular station and ride the car up to to the Funicular Centrale stop, then take a short walk (10 minutes) to the Castel Sant’Elmo.

This castle dominates the Naples skyline and can be seen from most parts of the city due to its prominent location on the top of the Vomero hill. The history of this landmark stretches back hundreds of years where it has played a crucial role in the defence of Naples during invasions and civil unrest.

You’ll find a fascinating museum inside that documents the history of the castle and more, and from the walls you’ll be treated to one of the best views of Naples, Mount Vesuvius and the surrounding Bay of Naples area.

Famous painter Caravaggio was in Naples for the last years of his life, with some incredible examples of his work on display here.

As well as the Flagellation of Christ in the Capodimonte museum we include in our day 3 itinerary, you can see the Seven Works of Mercy, an altarpiece in Pio Monte della Misericordia and the Martyrdom of Saint Ursula in the Galleria d’Italia on via Toledo.

The Veiled Christ sculpture is the highlight of the collection on display in the San Severo chapel, and a must-see for art lovers.

Just a ten minute walk from Piazza Dante, San Severo is filled with spectacular sculptures but is always very popular so you should pre-book tickets in advance if you would like to visit.

For a burst of color and a place to reflect, visit the monumental complex of Santa Chiara, particularly the cloister. One of Sara’s favorite places in the city, the cloister is decorated with brightly colored ceramics, depicting mythological and historical scenes of Naples and Campania.

Complete with beautiful gardens and a small museum, the cloister is well worth taking the time to see! Santa Chiara is just off Spaccanapoli, on the Piazza del Gesù Nuovo.

For your last dinner in Naples it would be wrong not to have pizza right? If you enjoyed Portico Pizzeria on your first day and are in the area based on your afternoon activities, head back there – if it’s not broke, why try and fix it, right?

Getting to Via Tribunali might not be viable however depending on what you did during your last afternoon. In this case, use Google Maps to locate your closest Sorbillo pizzeria.

You’ll find several of these around the historic center of Naples, and while a chain, the pizza is authentically Neapolitan and won’t disappoint on your last evening. Just note that the one on Via Tribunali opposite Portico Pizzeria is always extremely busy and comes with long waits, which is actually how we discovered Portico Pizzeria!