One Day in Naples: What a Repeat Visitor Recommends You Do

One day in Naples is enough to fall for the city completely – or to leave confused and underwhelmed. This itinerary is for people who want the former: a day-by-day route from someone who keeps coming back, structured around the mistakes I’ve watched too many visitors make.

I’ve lost count of the number of people I know who came back from Naples saying they didn’t enjoy it. 

When I ask what they did, it’s almost always the same story – they stayed near the port, felt unsettled, and left without ever getting into the heart of it. Or they did Spaccanapoli and thought that was Naples. It isn’t – it’s one street of it. 

The catacombs up in Rione Sanità, the ancient Greek tunnels running forty metres below Via dei Tribunali, the market life, the neighbourhood of Rione Sanità itself – most one-day visitors miss all of it entirely.

Da Attilio on Via Pignasecca is where you’re having lunch if you follow my itinerary. Its most famous offering is its star-shaped pizza, with crusts stuffed with ricotta. I’ve been measuring every pizza against it since.

The centre of Naples is compact, walkable, and once you’re in it, completely disarming. As a regular return visitor, this is how to spend the day there properly.

Your One Day in Naples: At a Glance

Most stops on this itinerary are walk-through or walk-past – you’re not queuing at 13 separate attractions. The ones that need time (and in some cases advance booking) are flagged in the notes column.

Naples in one day – a step-by-step itinerary

1 Catacombs of San Gennaro

Time required: 1 hour

The first attraction on this Naples 1-day itinerary incorporates the underground aspect of the city.

Most other itineraries will likely send you to Naples Underground instead, and both are distinctly different from each other – the catacombs an ancient burial space, Naples Underground a system of ancient caves and aqueducts – so it’s hard to compare them both side by side. 

Personally, I had a much better experience at the Catacombs of San Gennaro and thought they presented a fascinating insight into one of Naples’ more unique aspects.

They also offer a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a local regeneration project, from which a previously disadvantage area has seen real, tangible benefits from.

Any profits from the tours go back into ongoing conservation and exploration of the catacombs, as well as back to the local community through which a range of local initiatives are financed. 

The Catacombs of San Gennaro offer visitors a glimpse into Naples’ oldest Christian cemetery, dating back to the 2nd century AD.

Named after Naples’ primary patron saint, San Gennaro (who was at one stage buried there), the complex is a sprawling one and is much bigger (and thus far less scary!) than other catacombs you may be familiar with.

There are two catacomb chambers – an upper and lower one – which as well as housing the tombs and graves you would expect, also contain three underground basilicas, together with a large baptismal font.

They are home to an incredible array of frescoes, mosaics and Byzantine paintings that stretch right back to the 2nd century AD. It’s suspected that there may even be a third, lower burial chamber and there is still likely much more to be uncovered in the future. I highly recommend a visit. 

BOOK TICKETS | Visits possible through official guided tours only, open Monday – Sunday from 10am – 5pm. Purchase your tickets in advance here. Your ticket also gets you entry to the nearby Catacombs of San Gaudioso (valid for 12 months).

2 Walk through the Rione Sanità neighbourhood

Time required: 20-30 minutes

When you finish at the catacombs, you’ll exit straight into the Rione Sanità neighbourhood.

It is a densely populated area that is absolutely bursting at the seams with activity and it’s highly worth your while to go for a ramble through its streets, and to take the scenic route on your way down to Naples’ centro storico.

Cobbled alleys heave with market stalls selling all sorts of wares, cars beep, mopeds hum and lilting voices are carried on the air as people go about their day to day lives. 

The neighbourhood stretches from the base of Capodimonte hill down to the Archaeological Museum and has ancient roots that stretch back to the Greco-Roman age, where it was first used as a burial place due to its position in a valley.

In the 17th century, the area became somewhat upmarket, when Neapolitan nobles built homes here and the Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità was constructed in this century too. 

In the 18th century, the streets became the main route for the royal family to make their way to their palace at Capodimonte and a great bridge was built to span the valley.

This sadly had a detrimental effect on the neighbourhood, destroying the main cloister at the Basilica and effectively cutting off the district from the centre of Naples. It fell into decline and over time, became one of the most disadvantaged and crime filled areas of the centre of Naples. 

Many of its greats monuments and historic buildings fell into severe disrepair, staying this way until the advent of a local initiative a couple of decades ago (the one that is responsible for opening the Catacombs of San Gennaro) and ever since, has been on the up.

Where there was once decline, there are now opportunities for locals, with over 50 people employed directly as a result of the initiatives, which have included the opening of the Catacombs of San Genarro, the Catacombs of San Gaudioso, several B&Bs, a children’s orchestra, after-school facilities and a range of other local amenities.

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3 Piazza Dante & Piazza Bellini

Time required: as much are as little time as you want to spend

Piazza Dante

Once you reach the bottom of Rione Sanità, you will pass the Archaeological museum and end up somewhere around the top of Piazza Dante.

This is an emblematic square that really showcases some of Naples’ former grandeur, containing a large monument of Dante, four monumental churches, as well as the soaring archway of Port’Alba, which connects Piazza Dante to neighbouring Piazza Bellini.

By day, it’s lined with rather retro stalls selling books and records and groups of older men sit in huddles outside the cafés that line the square. Many of these bars serve alcohol come evening time and make brilliant people spotting perches.

When you’ve finished taking in the sights and sounds, make your way past the market stalls through Port’Alba to Piazza Bellini. 

Piazza Bellini

Piazza Bellini is like Piazza Dante’s more laid-back little sister and holds at its core the visible remains of some of the ancient city walls of Greek Neapolis, that date back to Naples foundation in the years before Christ.

The piazza is full of trees and greenery and attracts a lively crowd. It’s very likely that you will discover street performers here – singers and dancers will regularly set up in the middle of the square in front of all the bars (this is a great spot to stop for a drink) and provide endless entertainment. 

At night, Piazza Bellini is thronged with students, who spill out of the many trendy bars that radiate out from around the piazza.

When you’ve finished at Piazza Bellini, make your way down Via San Sebastiano that towards Via dei Tribunali, and look out for the shops and workshops of musical instrument sellers that the street is known for.

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4 Via dei Tribunali

Time required: as much are as little time as you want to spend

Via dei Tribunali is one of Naples’ most used and best known thoroughfares, finding its roots as the main decumanus (or east-west street) of the ancient Greek and Roman city of Neapolis. As you make your way down this bustling street you’ll feel its history seeping from the bricks and cobbles. 

The street grew with the city and during Naples’ most affluent times, many palaces were built along the route which can still be seen to today.

Take your time, and see if you can peer behind any of the great doorways that line the street into the courtyards behind to get a real sense of the scale of some of these buildings. Many of Naples’ most important monuments also line this road, including Naples Cathedral and San Lorenzo Maggiore Basilica. 

Via dei Tribunali is also the entranceway to Naples Underground, should you wish to add this to your list of things to do in Naples Italy in one day – tours take around an hour, although you can expect to queue for a while before they set off. 

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5 Via San Gregorio Armeno

Time required: 15 minutes

A short street that connects Via dei Tribunali to the famous Spaccanapoli, Via San Gregorio is also known for its more colloquial nickname of “Christmas Alley”. Lined with colourful shops bedecked in figurines, a large proportion of these represent nativity scenes and characters all year round.

Like most things in Naples, it has a backstory that reaches far back in time. Before the days of Christianity the street once houses a temple dedicated to the Roman goddess Ceres. Worshippers of Ceres left small terracotta figurines that were crafted nearby in devotion to her.

The tradition of leaving figurines continued, but over time, nativity scenes, or ‘presipio‘ became highly popular in Naples by the end of the 18th century and so the little statues became Christian in appearance.

Today, you’ll find a wider range of characters in the mix, from butchers to celebrities and this busy street provides some light intrigue to visitors. 

6 Spaccanapoli

Time required: as much are as little time as you want to spend

Spaccanapoli is the historic spine of the city and everything that makes Naples itself seems to be concentrated here.

Rather than being one street, the route is a combination of streets that stretches some 2km or so and like Via dei Tribunali, is one of Naples’ most important thoroughfares, dating back to the Greco-Roman era, where it was one of the three decumani (east-west streets) that crossed the city in its earlier form as Neapolis. 

Spaccanapoli begins at Piazza de Gesù Nuovo and expires a little past Via Duomo, leading away from the city centre.

The origins of the name Spaccanapoli is quite literal – in English the term means “Naples splitter” and when one views arial shots of the route from above, you can see how there is a very clean line that carves its way across the centre of Naples. 

In terms of what to expect, Spaccanapoli encapsulates so much of what Naples is about – this is a busy street, full of people and shops and the scent of food hangs on the air.

This historical route is punctuated by ornate palaces, some lovely piazzas and several of Naples most important churches, including Sansevero Chape, Gesù Nuovo Church and the serenely beautiful Santa Chiara complex.

7 Chiostro di Santa Chiara

Time required: 45 minutes – 1 hour

The Chiostro di Santa Chiara form part of the larger Complesso Monumentale di Santa Chiara, which is a large religious complex in the heart of Naples’ historical centre.

The cloisters at the centre of this complex are one of the most genuinely surprising things in Naples – a garden framed by a frescoed walkway, the whole thing tiled in 1740s yellow and blue majolica that has no business being this beautiful given what’s going on outside the gate.

It is the pillars in the centre of the cloisters in particular that make Chiostro di Santa Chiara so unique.

Constructed between 1739 and 1742, octagonal pillars are adorned in majolica ceramic tiles and in between each of these pillars are elaborately decorated benches, again tiled, that depict scenes from the countryside, the sea and mythology. 

While there is a museum onsite that runs through Naples’ history, as well as the church itself, which has been restored to its original Gothic style following destruction during WWII, you likely won’t have much time to explore these with only one day to spend in Naples.

But I really would prioritise getting to see the cloisters, as they are something that is quite unique to Naples.

DETAILS | Cloister open 9.30AM – 17.30PM Monday – Saturday and 10AM to 14.30PM on Sunday. Tickets €6 adult admission, €4.50 reduced and available at the door.

8 Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo

Time required: as much are as little time as you want to spend

Upon exiting the cloisters of Santa Chiara, it will be very convenient to pop your head into the remarkable church on Piazza Gesù Nuovo.

From the outside, it really doesn’t look like much – it looks rather odd, in fact and not church-like at all – and that is a result of its rather austere exterior, which is studded with diamond-shape protrusions made of stone. 

The reason for its external manifestation as thus, is because it started its life in another form – as a palace in 1470. In the 1580’s, the palace was confiscated from its owners, the Sanseverino family, after some political drama and was purchased by the Jesuits, who repurposed the building into a church. 

The interior of the church is positively staggering. Finished in the Baroque style, it is full of resplendent marble decorations and important frescoes and boasts three bronze bas-reliefs at its altar, one of which is a reproduction of Leonardo da Vinci’s the Last Supper.

It’s free to go inside – and worth doing, because there’s a lot going on in there and sitting down to take it in properly is the right approach.

As there is no entry fee and as you will be passing right by the doorway, it’s definitely one of those things to see in Naples Italy in one day that’s worthwhile, especially when you can spend as much, or as little time as you want here. 

DETAILS | Free admission. Open 7AM – 1PM and 4PM – 8PM daily.

9 Spanish Quarter and Maradona Murals

Time required: 30 – 45 minutes to slowly amble

The Spanish Quarter gets an unfair reputation. It was genuinely rough in years past – the name goes back to the Spanish occupation of the 16th century – but it’s now one of the most characterful parts of the city to spend 30 minutes.

It was here where Spanish soldiers used to pay a visit to undertake some rather unsavoury activities and the area was rife with crime and prostitution.

Today, however, the Spanish Quarter hums along in a highly characterful way. Take to the narrow, criss-cross of streets to discover sheet-laden balconies, busy corner stores and locals going about their day-to-day activities. 

Of particular note is the Maradona mural found on Via Portacarrese. Created in 1990 by Napoli fan Mario Filardi, a giant painting of Naples’ favourite adopted son adorns the side of an apartment building.

A bizarre, colourful shrine of sorts has popped up beneath it, with a festoon of flags, jerseys and figurines filling the small square below it.

While there is plenty more to see of the Spanish Quarter, you’ll be left rather tight on time if you dedicate more time to exploring its warren of cobbled streets, and so with just one day in Naples, I’d recommend that you skip the areas churches and make your way down Via Toledo towards the sea front. 

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10 Piazza del Plebiscito

Time required: 15 minutes

Close to the waters of the Bay of Naples you will find Piazza del Plebiscito, which is one of Naples’ most recognisable squares. The square itself is a vast, open space and houses within it both the Royal Palace of Naples, which was home to Bourbons, and the huge San Francesco di Paola Basilica.

Designed in the Neoclassical style, if you do have time pop your head inside to take in the symmetrically satisfying interiors of the basilica.

It is possible to visit the sprawling Royal Palace, through which you can learn about the history of Naples from the Bourbon perspective, although it’s unlikely that you’ll manage to fit this in when you visit Naples in one day only.

11 Galleria Umberto I

Time required: 15 minutes

This elegant 19th century shopping arcade has soaring ceilings and a domed glass roof that floods the arcade below and is modelled after the galleria in the city of Milan.

While not the luxurious hotspot that it once was when it was originally built, it was constructed following the unification of Italy as part of the Risanamento project that aimed to revitalise great cities that included Naples amongst their number.

Part of a clean-up project, at the time the neighbourhood was run down and dangerous and the arcade provided a safe space for shopping.

There likely won’t be too many stores that will tempt you in today, but it’s highly worth a visit from an architectural standpoint alone and only takes a few minutes to walk through.

12 Castel Nuovo

Time required: 15 mins (but longer visits also possible)

Castel Nuovo (New Castle) actually dates way back to the 13th century when it was built between 1279 and 1282 by King Charles I of Anjou – although at the time it was built, I’m guessing it justified its name!

Once the Spanish had conquered the city, snatching it away from the French, Alfonso V of Aragon did some remodelling, with the castle taking on the medieval Renaissance structure that remains to this day.

Even if you don’t have time for a visit you’ll likely pass this castle at some stage and it’s worth observing even from the outside. If you do spend more time at the castle, it’s home to a fresco-filled chapel (some even by Giotto) and a collection of artwork by Neapolitan painters from the 17th to early 19th century.

However, if you’re trying to cover off key highlights of Naples in one day, it will likely be a walk past that you will have time for only, but it’s definitely worth viewing if even from the outside. 

13 Lungomare Caracciolo

Time required: 30 minutes – 1 hour

A lovely thing to do in Naples in a day, particularly as that day draws to a close is to spend some time down by the seafront, at Lungomare Caracciolo.

This is a wide walkway that sweeps along the shoreline of Naples, taking in several areas of the city including the upmarket neighbourhood of Chiaia, home to Naples’ luxury shopping stores and ending at Posillipo, from which there are spectacular views of the city. 

Depending on how much ground you’ve already covered during your day in Naples, you can tailor this part to be as long or short as you want. You may choose to walk for a couple of kilometres, or you might opt to head only as far as Castel dell’Ovo, which is Naples’ oldest standing fortification.

“Egg Castle” in English, local legend dictates that the Roman poet virgil hid a magic egg in the foundations of the fortress, with the instructions that were the egg ever to be broken that Naples would be subject to a catastrophe.

Castel dell’Ovo provides a wonderful backdrop for sunset in Naples, as does Lungomare Caracciolo in general – hence why I suggest you round out your 1 day Naples itinerary by taking in the blues of the bay, which gradually change to shades of violet as the sun makes its way below the horizon.

How to get around when spending a day in Naples

I've covered this off extensively in a related Naples travel guide, but here are some of the more pertinent points, in terms of how to get around when spending one day in Naples specifically. 

This one day in Naples itinerary is structured so that you won't need to take any form of transport other than your feet, unless you have mobility issues that limit this as an option for you.

In terms of the walking required between different attractions, it covers a route of approximately 7km and this is all broken up nicely between sights, with no more than around 30 minutes of walking at an one time.

Should you need to take public transport, the following are those you'll most likely take:

• Metro | there are two lines (line 1 and 2). On line 1 (which lays claim to Naples' famous 'art stations') tickets cost €1.10 for a single journey. This is the line that you would most likely use when spending a day in Naples. 
• Tram | there are three tram lines in operation. Those you'll likely use are Line 1 from Piazza Garibaldi to Piazza Vittoria and Line 4 from San Giovanni to Piazza Vittoria. Tickets cost €1.50 onboard from the driver, or €1.10 when purchased in advance from a newspaper stand.
• Funicular | Naples is a very hilly city and there are four funiculars in operation to take locals up the steep hills of certain neighbourhoods. You won't need the funicular on this itinerary, but it is a very handy way to reach Castel Sant'Elmo.

If you need to use a mixture of public transport options, you can purchase a TIC (Ticket Integrato Campani) which will cover you for metro, bus and funicular services. There are a mixture of single tickets, one-day and weekly passes, starting at €1.60 for a 90-minute period.

One day in Naples - common questions

Is 1 day enough for Naples and is it worth spending a day in Naples, Italy?

While one day in Naples will not allow you to cover all of its main highlights, you certainly can see quite a lot of the city and get a real feel for it in one day. Naples definitely makes for a good day trip - much more so than the likes of Rome or Venice.

While the suburbs of Naples are rather sprawling, the city centre is in fact quite compact and lots of key attractions are located quite closely together.

You definitely won't get to visit all of them, but you can still have time to enter a couple of them, as suggested on this one day itinerary for Naples, and walk past a lot of the others. 

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Is Naples a walkable city

Naples is an extremely walkable city, as much of the city's key historic sites and attractions are located within a couple of kilometres from each other. This Naples one day itinerary has been designed so that you can cover Naples entirely on foot during your time in the city.

Make sure to wear comfortable shoes so that you can tackle the cobbled streets with ease. My favourite shoes for city breaks are from the ON Running Roger Federer collection - they're both stylish and I can go for a whole day without my feet hurting in them. 

How to get to Naples

Getting to Naples by ferry

Naples has direct routes to nearby Ischia, Procida and Capri, as well as Sorrento, by ferry - which can be a much more efficient way to travel in the busier summer months. Using Sorrento as a connection, Naples is linked to other seaside towns along the Amalfi Coast, such as Positano and Amalfi. 

Search schedules and book ferry schedules here

Getting to Naples by train

Getting to Naples from other cities within Italy is a cinch via the fast train network, and there are also links to other European cities outside of Italy through key stations such as Rome and Milan.

Naples' main train station is fairly central and you'll easily be able to walk or take public transportation to the historic centre and/or your accommodation from Naples Centrale. 

Check train routes and purchase tickets in advance here (you may have to wait until closer to your journey to book your train tickets.

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Flying into Naples Airport

If you're travelling to Naples from outside of Italy, the airport is extremely accessible and is located a mere 15-20 minute drive via bus or taxi from the historical centre of Naples. 

Getting from Naples Airport to city centre

There are two options for getting to Naples International Airport to the city centre; by bus or by taxi.

The Naples Alibus Airport Shuttle runs throughout the day, with tickets costing €5. The bus stop is located in close proximity to the entrance of the airport and has two stops in the city; Central Train Station and Molo Beverello Port. You can find more information here.

To take a taxi at the airport, they are outside the door of Arrivals. Cross the road and you will spot the rank across the road right outside of the arrivals hall.

Rates are pre-determined and your driver can give you an indication of what this will be when you get into the car - they usually have a printed off rate card in the car. There may also be some surcharges if you are travelling with luggage and several people.

If you'd like to schedule a transfer in advance, you can search for and book drivers here.

Is Naples safe for tourists?

I never at any time felt at risk while in Naples, and I would just suggest to exercise the same degree of caution as I would in any city - make sure valuables are not obviously on show, try wear a cross body bag with a solid zip or clasp and don't wave things like cameras or phones around when in crowded areas. 

Due to Naples' association with the Camorra, the Neapolitan branch of the Mafia, a lot of people's automatic response is to think that Naples is lawless and dangerous as a result, but this would be a sweeping generalisation to make.

The Mafia is operating at a much higher level than in targeting tourists, so any unfortunate mishap that a tourist might be at the receiving end of would be your typical low level crime such as petty theft, bag/phone snatchings etc.

Like any big city there are of course areas that you should not enter but the most dangerous of these are away from the city centre.

In terms of areas where you might find yourself close to, this would be the Garibaldi area around the central train station (akin to most large cities), as well as the Museo and Spanish Quarter areas at night time. 

The best piece of advice I can give is to avoid any poorly lit, narrow streets come night time and stick to busier roads where there are other people. 

What to do if you have longer in Naples

If you have more than one day in Naples then great - I have a couple of guides that can help you.

• 2-day Naples itinerary
• 3-day Naples itinerary

Although it seems like there is quite a lot included on this one day itinerary for Naples, there are plenty more major attractions to see and spend time at that have not been included on this guide, including the Galleria Borbonica, Museo Cappella Sansevero, Museo Archeologico Nazionale and Napoli Sotterranea. 

Should I go to see Naples if I am in Rome?

Thanks to Italy's fast trains, a trip to Naples for the day is entirely doable from Rome. There are close to 100 trains that leave Rome for Naples each day, with several running each hour.

If you ensure to choose the fastest of these trains, it is possible to make the 140 mile journey in just over an hour, which I think is really reasonable.

You can depart from Rome as early as 5.30am if you wish (although it's perfectly understandable to leave a bit later than this!) and the last train back to Rome from Naples departs a little before midnight.

If you schedule an early departure from Rome and a late return back from Naples, you will get the benefit of having an entire day to discover Naples.

Check train times and purchase tickets in advance here

Planning the rest of your time in Naples

One day gives you a genuine feel for the city. If it does what Naples usually does - which is convince you to stay longer - the 2 days in Naples itinerary adds the Archaeological Museum, Sansevero Chapel and Naples Underground; 3 days in Naples adds Capodimonte and gives you room to breathe.

If your day in Naples includes staying overnight, my guide to where to stay in Naples covers the best areas and hotels by neighbourhood. 

And if eating your way through the city is the priority, the best food tours in Naples guide is worth a look - the street food tour in particular works well as a single-day introduction to the historic centre.

You’ll find all our Naples travel guides below—or head to our Naples destination hub for more tips, itineraries, and local insights.

Exploring further afield? Our Italy page organises content by region to help you plan.