Naples captivates everyone with its colors, its scents and its history . Without forgetting its excellent cuisine, with flavors and aromas that will make you dream!
Seeing Naples in one day is impossible, therefore, it becomes essential to organize a well-thought-out itinerary so as not to miss the essential stages! Here are all our tips on Naples in one day !
SEE ALSO : What to see in Naples
One day itinerary in Naples
The itinerary includes the main stops in Naples, excluding museums and attractions that would take too long.
It starts from Spaccanapoli, real soul of the city! Here you can also visit symbolic monuments of the city, first of all the San Severo Chapel Museum , inside which the Veiled Christ is kept. Finally, finish the morning by visiting the famous Naples Cathedral , with the Treasure of San Gennaro.
For lunch, take advantage of Neapolitan street food and in the meantime stroll along Via San Gregorio Armeno , the crib district. Go along Spaccanapoli again for about 1 km, you will also skirt the Monumental Complex of Santa Chiara , but visiting it would take too long. Then reach via Toledo, get off for 400 meters to the Toledo metro station, considered among the most beautiful in Europe, it is also the gateway to the Spanish Quarters, to which you can dedicate a short exploration. Finally, reach Piazza del Plebiscito , passing by the Umberto I Gallery, the San Carlo Theater and the Royal Palace.
If you stop even in the evening, we advise you to stay on the seafront, reaching the Borgo dei Marinai, where the Castel dell’Ovo is located . Here you can enjoy a delicious fish dinner and then stroll along the promenade!
- Morning : Spaccanapoli, San Severo Chapel Museum and Veiled Christ (€ 8.00), Cathedral and Treasury of San Gennaro (€ 8.00)
- Afternoon : Via San Gregorio Armeno, Toledo Station and Spanish Quarters, Piazza del Plebiscito
- Evening : Borgo Marinai and Castel dell’Ovo (free)
- Distance traveled : 4.8 km
- Where to eat: Lunch at Il Cuoppo, Via San Biagio Dei Librai 23 (Get directions) / Dinner at Zi Teresa Restaurant, Castel dell’Ovo Passage (Get directions)
First time in Naples
To optimize time and have a first approach to the city, we recommend that you book a free walking tour with a local guide or a tour in an open-top panoramic bus.
1 – Spaccanapoli
The day can only begin from Spaccanapoli, the soul of the city , where you can immerse yourself in the daily life of the Neapolitans. Arriving in Naples by train, or even by car parking nearby, the starting point is Piazza Garibaldi. From there you can reach Via dei Tribunali, one of the main streets, in just 15 minutes on foot.
The name of the entire neighborhood derives from the road that literally cuts the city in half, for about 2 km. Here you can stroll among ancient palaces and elegant buildings, find very important monuments of Naples not far away and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the city!
Start the day with a sfogliatella : in Spaccanapoli there are some of the most famous pastry shops in the city, such as the Giovanni Scaturchio pastry shop, a real institution! Here you can eat one of the best sfogliatelle in Naples!
2 – Museo Cappella San Severo and Cristo Velato
Photo by David Sivyer. Once you reach Spaccanapoli, the first attractions to visit is the San Severo Chapel Museum, one of the main attractions of the city . It is located in the heart of Spaccanapoli, in Via Francesco de Sanctis, easily reachable on foot from any point in the neighborhood.
This place is famous for hosting the Veiled Christ , the work of Giuseppe Sanmartino, considered one of the great Italian masterpieces! The attention to detail is so high that many think that the veil that covers Christ is a real fabric, made rock by a liquid created by Prince Sansevero, the famous alchemist. In addition to the Veiled Christ, the entire museum is an interesting mix of religious beliefs and esotericism , a magical place to be discovered!
Info on the visit : open Wed-Mon 09: 00-19: 00, closed Tue. Full admission € 8.00, reduced € 5.00.
SEE ALSO : Visit to the Sansevero Chapel: timetables, prices and advice
Take advantage of a guided tour: if this is the first time you visit Naples, then we recommend that you take part in a guided tour of Spaccanapoli which also includes the entrance to the Veiled Christ, thus avoiding queues at the entrance. Start at 10:30, duration 2 hours. Info and costs here
3 – Cathedral and Treasury of San Gennaro
Photo by ErwinMeier. Once the visit to the San Severo Chapel Museum is over, you absolutely cannot miss the Cathedral of Naples, dedicated to the Patron Saint San Gennaro , to whom the city is very devoted! It is also located in Spaccanapoli, less than 10 minutes on foot from the museum just visited.
Also known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the Duomo is a riot of beauty, also thanks to the large frescoes and works of art preserved. Butthe main attraction is the Treasure of San Gennaro , which is a collection of relics and objects that belonged to the Saint.
Info on the visit : open every day 8: 30-12: 30 and 14: 30-19: 00. Full admission € 8.00, reduced € 5.00.
Be careful if you visit Naples in September : on 19 September in Naples the San Patrono San Gennaro is celebrated and the celebrations are very heartfelt. If you are in the city during this period, you certainly cannot miss the mystical “liquefaction of the blood of San Gennaro”!
4 – Via San Gregorio Armeno
After exiting the Duomo it will certainly be lunchtime and Spaccanapoli is the ideal place to stop and enjoy the excellent Neapolitan cuisine. After that, it’s time to discover another oneof the most famous places in the city : Via San Gregorio Armeno. This is located just 5 minutes walk from the Duomo.
Via San Gregorio Armeno is known as the neighborhood of the cribs ! Here it is Christmas all year round: walking along the street you can admire the crib shops and admire the masters at work. It is also the right place to buy a souvenir to take home from today: a beautiful figurine to put in the nativity scene ! It can be a classic statuette, or a more particular one that represents a public figure!
Enjoy a lunch with Neapolitan street food: the delicious wallet pizzas, the irresistible cuoppo. Street food in Naples is like a journey within a journey! In the Spaccanapoli area and around San Gregorio Armeno you will have many solutions for a quick but delicious lunch!
5 – Toledo Station and Spanish Quarters
Photo by Andrea favia. Once the walk in via dei Presepi is finished, you will reach the Toledo station, considered the most beautiful in Europe . You can do it easily on foot, first taking Via Benedetto Croce (a stretch of Spaccanapoli) thus admiring the famous Monumental Complex of Santa Chiara from the outside (unfortunately there is not enough time to visit it inside), and then entering via Toledo , one of the most famous in the city. You will arrive at your destination in about 15 min.
But what makes this station so amazing
Robert Wilson’s wonderful Relative Light installation. This installation creates plays of light in shades of blue and blue , making the station look like a starry sky, truly unique.
The Toledo station is also the entrance to the famous Spanish Quarters, which represent a cross-section of the most beautiful and authentic Naples ! We advise you to just enjoy a walk through its streets and admire its street art and murals. Surely, it is recommended to visit this district during the day, perhaps trying to avoid it in the evening .
Admire the street dedicated to Maradona: passed away at the end of 2020, the famous footballer has always been a source of pride and pride for Naples. In the Spanish Quarters, near the Toledo station, there is a street full of murals and paintings dedicated to Maradona, a must to see and photograph! Get directions
6 – Piazza del Plebiscito
At the end of your walk in the Spanish Quarters, continue along via Toledo and in just 10 minutes on foot from Toledo Station you will arrive in the symbol par excellence of Naples : Piazza del Plebiscito. Just before entering the square, stop to admire the San Carlo Theater from the outside, the oldest opera house in Europe and the world to be still active today!
And here before your eyes Piazza del Plebiscito, a huge square,venue for events and concerts and meeting place for Neapolitans , which extends for about 25,000 square meters! Here are also some of the most important buildings in Naples, such as the classic colonnade of the church of San Francesco di Paola and the Royal Palace. The latter can also be visited inside, but unfortunately there is little time available so admire it from the square!
Enjoy a coffee at Gambrinus : this is the most famous bar in Naples, located just behind Piazza del Plebiscito. This historic café is definitely a must, if only for a quick coffee between visits!
7 – Borgo Marinari and Castel dell’Ovo
If you have the opportunity to stay in Naples also for dinner and to spend the evening, we advise you to reach the Borgo Marinari, which develops around the Castel dell’Ovo, the castle that rises in the middle of the sea . From Piazza Plebiscito you can reach this area by walking along the seafront, which during the sunset is a unique spectacle.
The Borgo Marinarie is one of the most beautiful places in Naples , also ideal for stopping for dinner and enjoying excellent fish dishes! In the past, characters like Toto and Sofia Loren often stopped here to eat. Also take the opportunity to admire the Castel dell’Ovo from the outside, all illuminated. It is a very old castle which, given its position, has always protected the city from possible invaders.
Admire the Giant’s Fountain : on the Naples waterfront, right in front of Borgo Marinari, there is this wonderful fountain, one of the most beautiful in Italy! Imposing and elegant, one of the best moments to admire it and take a photo of it is at sunset, so we recommend that you include it in your itinerary among the last stages, as in this case – find out more
Activities and ideas for alternative itineraries
Naples is a city full of museums, extremely important museums to which the right time must be dedicated, on average 3 hours! Among these, the National Archaeological Museum, one of the most important in the world (€ 15.00, on average 3 hours) and the Castel Nuovo, or Maschio Angioino (€ 6.00), are not to be missed. Art lovers can visit the National Museum of Capodimonte (€ 10.00), to which they can dedicate half a day, also given the distance from the center and the large gardens that surround it! For those who love religious art , we recommend a visit to the large Monumental Complex of Santa Chiara (€ 6.00), located in Spaccanapoli. For the visit, estimate an average of 2 hours.
In Naples there is a truly unique possibility: to visit the underground Naples(2-hour guided tour, € 10.00). We have not included it in the proposed itinerary as, despite being an incredible experience, it is strongly not recommended for those who suffer from claustrophobia and are not comfortable in very narrow environments. Also very interesting is the visit to the Bourbon Gallery (€ 10.00), which is also part of the underground complex.
- City tour with the family : morning visit to the Real Bosco di Capodimonte. Afternoon Spaccanapoli with San Gregorio Armeno (via dei Presepi), Piazza del Plebiscito and waterfront with the Villa Comunale Park. Alternatively, day at the Naples Zoo
- Itinerary of unknown places : morning visit to the unusual Fontanelle Cemetery. In the afternoon, first Rione della Sanita with Palazzo dello Spagnolo, then Palazzo della Borsa in Borgo Orefici. Evening in the university area near the Port
- Itinerary of free attractions : morning walk in Spaccanapoli, with via San Gregorio Armeno and the homonymous church. Second half of the morning Quartieri Spagnoli. Afternoon Piazza del Plebiscito and walk along the seafront with the Fountain of the Giants and Castel dell’Ovo, up to the Villa Comunale Park. Evening Borgo Marinari
- Itinerary between the two sides of Naples : morning visit of the Underground Naples. Afternoon walk to Spaccanapoli, with a visit to the Veiled Christ and the Cathedral of San Gennaro. Evening area of ​​Piazza del Plebiscito
- Museum day : morning dedicated to visiting a museum (National Museum of Capodimonte or National Archaeological Museum). Spaccanapoli afternoon, with a visit to the Veiled Christ and the Cathedral of San Gennaro. Evening area of ​​Piazza del Plebiscito
- Itinerary among sacred art : Spaccanapoli morning, with a visit to the Monumental Complex of Santa Chiara and the Cathedral of Naples. Afternoon in the Vomero district, with a visit to the Certosa and San Martino museum. Evening Piazza del Plebiscito and promenade
- Shopping day : morning dedicated to Spaccanapoli, with San Gregorio Armeno (via dei Presepi) and lunch with local street food. Afternoon first via Toledo, then via Chiaia (dedicated to luxury shopping). Evening seafront and Borgo Marinaro
Before leaving: useful tips
- Get around on foot or by public transport : the itinerary we propose is ideal for getting around on foot, but there are attractions that are far from the historic center and that must be reached by public transport. In this case, evaluate the day ticket (from € 4.50) – find out more
- Avoid the car : if you arrive in the city by car, it is better to park it and move around by public transport. Traffic is very chaotic and the city can be confusing at first glance. So opt for one of the many authorized garages – find out more
- Organize the itinerary well : Naples is large and chaotic, there are many things to see and not always close to each other and if you don’t know the city you can feel disoriented for a moment. For this reason it is essential to have a ready itinerary
- If you arrive on a cruise : if Naples is a stop on your cruise tour, the time available will certainly be less and the starting point will be the port. The itinerary should be organized accordingly. Some of the itineraries here
- Choose the right time : in summer, the heat can be really stifling, especially in July and August, so if you don’t like walking in high temperatures it’s better to opt for mid-seasons, especially spring – find out more
- For lunch, you prefer street food : there are many things to see, so for lunch it is better not to waste too much time and have lunch with a wallet pizza or a cuoppo, some of the specialties of Neapolitan street food – find out more
