🇮🇹 Naples · Itinerary
3 Days in Naples: The Perfect Itinerary
Three days lets you dig into Naples’ raw, layered old town, eat the world’s best pizza at the source, and day-trip to Pompeii or the coast. The centro storico is dense and walkable; the train runs out to the ruins and the bay.
Best for: Food-lovers and history buffs wanting intense old-Italy atmosphere, pizza and ancient sites.
Get this as a free, personalised Naples planWavvia tailors it to your dates, pace, budget and how you travel — solo, couple, family, LGBTQ+, accessibility needs and more.
Day 1: The old town
Based around Centro Storico
Morning
Walk Spaccanapoli, the dead-straight lane that splits the old town, to the Duomo and its San Gennaro chapel.
Afternoon
Naples Underground (the ancient tunnels), then the Cappella Sansevero for the Veiled Christ.
Evening
Pizza at the source — Da Michele or Sorbillo — then a passeggiata.
Day 2: Pompeii & Vesuvius
Based around The ruins (day trip)
Morning
The Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii — the city frozen by the AD 79 eruption.
Afternoon
Climb to the crater of Vesuvius for the view over the bay.
Evening
Back to Naples for a seafood dinner on the Lungomare.
Day 3: Coast or museums
Based around Sorrento / the Archaeological Museum
Morning
The train to Sorrento, the cliff-top gateway to the Amalfi Coast — or the National Archaeological Museum for Pompeii’s mosaics and frescoes.
Afternoon
Sorrento’s old town and lemon groves, or the art and park at Capodimonte.
Evening
A final pizza or a bowl of seafood pasta.
Naples itinerary tips
- Pizza was invented here — try a classic margherita or marinara from a historic pizzeria.
- Keep bags zipped and worn in front; petty theft is common in the busy old town and on transport.
- Take the Circumvesuviana train for Pompeii, Herculaneum and Sorrento — cheap and direct.
Where to stay in Naples
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Naples itinerary FAQs
Is 3 days enough for Naples?
Yes — 3 days is a great length to see Naples's highlights at a comfortable pace. It's best for food-lovers and history buffs wanting intense old-Italy atmosphere, pizza and ancient sites. The plan groups sights by area so each day flows naturally instead of criss-crossing the city.
How should I spend 3 days in Naples?
Spend it like this: Day 1 is The old town (Centro Storico), Day 2 is Pompeii & Vesuvius (The ruins (day trip)), Day 3 is Coast or museums (Sorrento / the Archaeological Museum). Each day is built around one area to keep walking and transport to a minimum.
Which areas does this Naples itinerary cover?
It's based around Centro Storico, The ruins (day trip), Sorrento / the Archaeological Museum — chosen so you explore one part of Naples per day.
What should I know before visiting Naples?
Pizza was invented here — try a classic margherita or marinara from a historic pizzeria.
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