📍 Explore Campania:
Are you planning a trip to Naples and wondering where to start? Let us share all our top travel resources, with everything you need to organize the perfect travel experience in Napoli and Campania.
Follow our tips on this page to ensure your trip runs smoothly and you can make the most of your time here
Plan your trip to Naples and Campania with our top travel resources
We want you to enjoy any trip here as much as possible and have all the information you need to make travel in Italy easy and stress-free.
Use our top travel resources on this page as a checklist to ensure you have a smooth adventure. For simplicity we’ve split our guides into two sections:
1. Before departing, start your planning here:
2. Resources for when you arrive:
- Getting from the airport to your accommodation
- What to see and do
- Booking experiences and tours
- Getting around Naples and Campania – local trains, ferries and taxis
- Storing your bags securely during your trip
- Using your cellphone without incurring high charges
- General safety recommendations and best practice
- What to do in the event of an emergency
Let us tell you how to get here, what to see and do, the best ways to save money and much more
Pre-Departure Planning
To ensure a stress-free trip there are certain things we recommend you take care of well in advance of your departure – start your planning now:
Where to stay in Naples and Campania
The ‘where’ for your trip is the most important thing to get right; it will inform what you can do while here, how much time you’ll spend travelling locally, and much more.
When coming to this part of Italy you are spoiled for choice for where to stay. The city of Naples itself offers easy access to almost everything anyone could want to do but can be a little hectic at times.
Within Naples, or outside the city in Campania? Choosing where to stay will inform the rest of your trip
Inversely, opting to stay in Campania can be more relaxing, but you may find yourself further away from the main sites and attractions you want to see.
To help you decide, be sure to check out our detailed guide here or if you’re looking for our personal recommendations, consider the following hotels and apartments:
In Naples
- La Gemma, a small B&B right in the heart of the historic center of Naples, with cozy rooms and easy access to all of the city’s major sites.
- Villa Nikita, located on the Capodimonte Hill just outside of the city center, offering peace and privacy with incredible views of Naples and the wider bay area.
With views like this, why wouldn’t you want to stay in the Capodimonte area?
Outside Naples
- Hotel Continental, our favorite place to stay in Sorrento, you won’t find better service at this old-world hotel with an incredible pool and unforgettable rooftop restaurant and bar.
- Cubo Apartments, a small ‘apart-hotel’ offering spacious and well-equipped apartments with on-site breakfast prepared by the owners – the fantastic breakfasts are a good enough reason to stay here all by themselves!
Arriving in Italy – Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Now you know where you’ll be staying during your trip, the next most important thing is how you’re going to arrive here.
By plane
Chances are you’ll be arriving from overseas by air, and as such you’ll want to fly into one of the following airports:
- NAP – Naples International Airport is located just outside of the main city of Naples with the historic center a short journey (via road – typically 20 minutes) away.
- FCO – Rome Fiumicino Airport, Rome’s main international airport with journeys to Naples via road taking around 2.5-3 hours, or via train around 2.5 hours.
If you aren’t able to visit Pompeii during your trip, and are flying out of Naples Airport, keep an eye out for these exhibits in the departure terminal with items from the excavations
By train
If you are coming to Naples from another part of Italy we suggest considering a journey by train.
Italy’s train network is one of the best in the world (for speed, reliability and coverage) and with Naples’ main train station (Napoli Centrale) located in the center of the city, rail is a convenient option for travelers arriving here.
From Napoli Centrale you can also connect to other major locations in Campania such as Salerno and Sorrento, meaning you can easily reach your accommodation if you’re staying in another part of this region.
We recommend using Trainline to book your rail tickets – start your search here:
Visiting Naples or Campania from Rome?
If you’re looking to visit Naples or Campania from Rome for a day trip, be sure to check out these incredible tours from our friends at Take Walks.
Each experience offers you an easy way to visit sites like Pompeii, Vesuvius or the Amalfi Coast from Rome. Transport and tickets are all taken care of, leaving you to focus 100% on enjoying your time here!
By road
Are you planning to visit Naples and Campania with a vehicle, or considering renting a car to explore beyond the immediately accessible towns and cities?
I personally love driving in Italy; the freedom to explore plus the scenery makes it an enjoyable experience – but there are some important things to consider if you are thinking about driving here:
- Large sections of Italy’s freeway/motorway (autostrade) network are tolled, with an average cost of 1€ per 10km travelled. Be sure to factor this in when planning your journey.
If you are driving in Italy, avoid the yellow lanes on the autostrada toll booths (see the photo above, on the left) – these are for pass holders only and while you can get a pass as a visitor from your rental company, these are generally very expensive and not worth it
- To drive without stress in Italy you need to be confident on the roads. I personally believe the reputation that Italians have (and particularly Neapolitans) for being chaotic and borderline dangerous drivers is unfair and unfounded. That said, locals are assertive, and the pace of driving here is quicker than the UK and US (speaking from my own direct experience).
- Parking and access can be limited depending on where you are staying/visiting and as such it’s key to plan ahead thoroughly. One example is that during the summer months, non-residents are not permitted to bring vehicles to the islands of Capri, Ischia or Procida on the car ferries.
What to pack for your travels
What you need to bring on your trip here will depend on the type of travel you are undertaking, and at what time of year you are visiting.
We have put together a full guide which tells you everything you need to know about packing for Naples and Campania – click here to see the full guide.
We’ve also curated the following collections of must-have travel items – click below to discover all our recommendations:
You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to shopping in Naples and Campania
Money matters
While you could leave organizing your money to the point of arrival, we recommend preparing in advance so you can focus on enjoying your time.
Here’s what you need to know about using cards and cash in Italy:
- Consider pre-loading a debit card from Wise.com with your Euros, avoiding repeated charges when using your regular payment cards. ATMs/cash points are plentiful in Italy, but a lot will charge a fee for withdrawing cash, particularly from accounts which are not in Euro – you can avoid these charges by having a Wise.com card while you travel.
- Credit and debit cards are accepted in most places but it is still common to use cash in Italy, particularly for small transactions (think coffee, gelato, bus tickets etc). As such we recommend bringing a small amount of cash (no more than 50-100€) which you can use on your first day or two and then withdraw more from bank ATM’s as and when you need it.
Travel insurance
Unfortunately, unforeseen things can happen and while the chances of something bad occurring while traveling here are slim, having travel insurance can help mitigate any financial losses.
Our recommended provider for travel insurance, Heymondo, offers the following coverage with favorable rates:
- Comprehensive coverage for travelers worldwide, regardless of residency.
- 24-hour medical chat available via a dedicated app.
- Online free assistance calls from anywhere in the world.
- Medical expenses coverage up to $10,000,000 USD.
- Trip cancellation and interruption coverage up to $7,000.
- Easy claims management, with a Trustpilot rating of 4.4/5.
Curious to know more, or want to share your own tips? Leave a comment!
When in Naples and Campania
You should consider organising the following areas before arriving here but generally speaking you can take care of everything in the weeks leading up to your trip:
Airport transfers: how to get to your hotel or apartment
Finding your way from your arrival airport to your accommodation will depend on what airport you’ve landed at and where you’ve decided to stay.
The simplest method of getting to your hotel or apartment is via a pre-booked taxi. We always use Welcome Pickups when arriving somewhere new – they operate across Italy, and offer a simple and reliable service to get you from A to B.
If you would prefer to use public transport to reach Naples or Campania, here is what you need to know if you are arriving at our recommended airports:
- From NAP: Use the Alibus bus which connects the airport to Napoli Centrale train station in the heart of Naples. From here you can use the local public transport network to arrive at your accommodation or connect to a train if you need to travel further. You’ll also find a large taxi rank directly outside Napoli Centrale.
These buses that run between Napoli Centrale and Naples Airport are hard to miss thanks to their bright green coloring
- From FCO: You’ll first need to take a bus or train from the airport to Roma Termini train station. The quickest method is the Leonardo Express train which departs multiple times per hour and takes around 25 minutes to reach Termini (the bus takes around 75 minutes). From Termini you’ll then need to take an inter-regional train to Napoli Centrale with an average journey time of around 70 minutes. From Napoli Centrale you can use the local public transport network, or grab a taxi, to complete your journey.
What to see and do
There is no end of things to see and do in Naples and the region of Campania. We first visited in 2014 and have never stopped coming back because there are simply so many sites to see and experiences to enjoy.
What to do will depend on your interests, the time of year you are visiting, where you are staying and other factors. We would recommend checking out our dedicated guide here which cover what to do in the city of Naples, as well as detailed day trips in Campania and other itineraries.
We love Naples’ beaches – within easy reach of the city center, you can enjoy the clear waters of the Bay of Naples with a view of Vesuvius almost all year round
If you are looking for quick recommendations, here are our top five favorite things to see and do in Naples and Campania:
In Naples:
- MANN
- Santa Chiara Cloister
- Spaccanapoli & Via Tribunali in the historic center
- Posillipo beaches
- Bourbon Gallery underground experience
Beyond Naples in Campania:
- Day trip to Sorrento
- The ruins of Pompeii and/or Herculaneum
- Island hopping between Ischia and Procida
- The extensive Royal Palace and Gardens of Caserta
- Hiking Monte Faito
Discover Naples and Campania easily with this pass!
Access over 100 Naples and Campania sites, museums, archeological parks (including Pompeii) with the official tourist pass of the city and region! Save money and make visiting the top sites stress-free – click here to find out more:
All about booking experiences and tours
We’re big fans of taking a guided tour when traveling; doing so means you’ll gain additional insights from an expert tour guide and ensure you can maximise your time when traveling.
Naples and Campania are extremely popular with visitors and with this there is no end of tour choices, so where should you start?
Visit our dedicated Tours page which will link you to our recommended experiences with Tiqets directly – you can save 5% by signing up to our free newsletter here:
When it comes to specific recommendations, here are some experiences from our carefully-selected partners:
- Ultimate Naples Food Tour with Walks of Italy – this delicious journey around Naples will have you enjoying some of the city’s most iconic foods from sfogliatella to pizza. We have been on this exact tour and can personally vouch for how good it is – you definitely want to come hungry!
Join a food tour in Naples to indulge in authentic Neapolitan pizza
- Capri Full Day Experience with Liv Tours – Enjoy a fun day trip on the island of Capri, complete with a boat tour (including a stop at the Blue Grottoes), a trip to Anacapri and tour of Capri town.
- Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii Day Trip with Viator – Take all the hassle out of arranging your own transport and join this all day experience with a tour of Pompeii, pizza lunch and access to the summit of Vesuvius which picks you up and drops off back in Naples.
- Hidden Naples Tour with Through Eternity – Go on an exploration through the historic center of Naples and discover the ancient roads, stunning churches and evocative ruins that co-exist with the modern city.
- Sorrento Lemon, Olive Oil and Wine Tasting Tour with Get Your Guide – Learn about the traditions and local products of Sorrento as you are guided around a 4th-generation family farm, complete with lots of tastings and a delicious lunch.
Getting around Naples and Campania – local trains, ferries and taxis
Naples is a large city, and the region of Campania is bigger than a lot of people realize so understanding how to get around is key to having a stress free visit here.
Within Naples itself the most effective way to get around is by using the metro network. You’ll also find buses and tram options, but for expediency and reliability we would recommend sticking with the metro.
To explore beyond Naples you can use the regional and inter-regional train network which connects to Pompeii, Sorrento, Salerno, Benevento within Campania, and on to Rome, Florence and southern Italy.
Bypass the queues at the ferry ticket desks by booking in advance
To reach the islands in the Bay of Naples you’ll need to utilise Campania’s ferry system. You can also use the ferries to reach other destinations such as the Amalfi Coast, but it’s important to book connections in advance, particularly in the summer as popular routes fill up fast.
Storing your bag securely in Naples
It might be the case that you need to store your luggage before or after checking in to your accommodation, or if you are just passing through Naples and don’t want to carry your belongings around with you.
Throughout the city of Naples and the wider Campania area you’ll find a huge number of secure locations to stow your backpacks and suitcases for short periods.
Arriving early or have time to spare before leaving? Do as we do and drop your bags somewhere safe and then enjoy Naples’ famous hospitality
We would recommend using RadicalStorage to find the best location for you. Note that a lot of the locations are within small businesses which don’t look immediately like storage specialists. However, speaking from our experience, any location that is part of the RadicalStorage network has been vetted and has the correct facilities to safely look after your belongings.
Using your cellphone without incurring high data costs
While many phone networks offer data roaming in Italy to visitors, this often comes with data restrictions. Exceeding these limits can mean large, unexpected bills (speaking from my own direct experience) but thankfully this can be avoided with an eSim.
An eSim is a digital sim card that allows you to use your device on Italy’s local networks (instead of your regular sim which relays your data through Italy and then back home, which is where the charges are generated).
With an eSim you can forget unexpected costs on your phone bill, leaving you to enjoy your trip
Our recommended eSim provider is Holafly who offer Italy plans from just 19€. We have used this service ourselves and cannot recommend it enough; with it you don’t need to worry about high roaming charges or waste time constantly looking for free wifi.
Click below to find out more about Holafly and be sure to sign-up to our free newsletter to save 5% on your eSim.
General safety recommendations and best practice
Is Naples safe? If we had a euro/dollar/pound for every time someone asks us that, we could retire early!
Naples is statistically much safer than a lot of other major cities in Italy including Rome and Florence, and any horror stories you’ve potentially heard about Napoli will likely have been exaggerated.
Like any big city, following your common sense and our Naples-specific tips on this page will lower the risk of anything bad happening:
What to do in the event of an emergency
Related to the previous section, it is important to know what to do in the event of an emergency in Naples.
The following tips are applicable anywhere in Italy:
- Italy’s main emergency number is 112 – no international dialling code is required and the operator will direct your call as needed
- For urgent medical assistance, dial 118 or use Google Maps to locate your nearest ‘Pronto Soccorso’ (emergency room/A&E)
- For non-urgent medical assistance, consider contacting FirstMed for a tele-consult. They are able to remotely prescribe medicines (sending the prescription via email) which you can then use at a pharmacy
- For Police assistance dial 113, and for fire help, dial 115
If you need non-urgent medical support during your visit look out for pharmacy signs like this throughout Italy
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To sum up…
Our top travel resources are based on years of exploring and our own personal experiences, so we hope they are just as helpful for you!
For lots more Naples and Campania travel tips, tricks and recommendations, be sure to subscribe to our 100% free Napleswise newsletter. Subscribers also get exclusive discounts and perks from our friends and partners helping saving you money on your trip here!
Napleswise’s Top Travel Resources
Ready to book your trip to Naples and Campania? Take a look at these helpful links to friends and partners we use ourselves and trust:
🌊 Book your ferries between Naples, Sorrento, Capri, the Amalfi Coast and more here
🚕 Organise your airport transfer for a stress-free arrival
🛏️ Search for and book your perfect accommodation
🧳 Our complete guide to what to pack for Naples & Campania
⭐️ The number one travel accessory, a multi-point travel adapter and voltage converter
🏛️ Browse a huge range of tours in Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento and and beyond
👌 Experience unique tours and special access to Naples’ most popular sights
💪 Protect yourself with comprehensive travel insurance
📱 Stay connected without incurring large fees with a reliable eSim
🔒 Find secure places to leave your luggage when exploring Campania
🚂 Plan your train journeys and purchase tickets all in one place
