One Day in Naples Itinerary for Your First Time to Naples, Italy
Naples is crazy but has a character to it that I’ve never experienced before. The best parts of the city are in the people, culture and everyday life. If you only have one Naples day, this is how to spend it but I urge you to go for longer!
The famous German writer, Goethe, once said ‘see Naples and die’ and this is not in a bad way. He meant that you have only lived, and can therefore die, by seeing the wonder that is the city of Naples.
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About Naples, Italy
Naples is located on the West Coast of Italy and is known for being a chaotic place that is a huge shock to the senses. I believe you need to prepare yourself for the madness before visiting Naples because it’s not a place for everyone. For those who appreciate its uniqueness, it’s a special place!
How to Get to Naples
By flight you can fly to Naples International Airport and it takes about 25 minutes to get to the city centre. From Naples Airport the best way is the shuttle bus which costs €5 and takes 20 minutes to Naples Central/Piazza Garibaldi station.
By car is not for the faint-hearted. The roads in Naples are crazy and you should really consider whether you need a car in Naples. Additionally, parking is quite difficult in Naples and many accommodation do not provide parking.
By train is the best way to reach Naples from elsewhere in Italy or Europe. I always use Trainline to book trains and it gives you multiple options of trains within Italy rather than just the regional line so you can compare the best times and prices. Italy has a great railway system and is very well connected to Europe by train.
By bus is another good option to get to Naples as it is connected to many other places in Italy. I always compare buses on Flixbus for bus travel within Europe for the cheapest and most convenient options.
Essentials for Naples One Day Itinerary
- Your Naples Lonely Planet Guide of course (or the pocket book for a short visit).
- Put your mind at peace and get a bum bag to keep your belongings close to you. I always take a black one with two or three zipped areas.
- Pre-book accommodation if you need to. I stayed in Hotel Ginevra which was close to the train station and shuttle bus for the airport. If you’d prefer to find your own accommodation, check availability here:
One Day in Naples Italy
This 1 day Naples itinerary is perfect for anyone who is flying into Naples before going to the Amalfi Coast, want to add a day in Naples before they go home, who want to spend more time in places like Pompeii or just on a Milan or Rome day trip to Naples!
Morning
Coffee and Cornetto
There is no other way to start a Naples for a day, or any Italian day, than coffee! I swear coffee runs through the veins of Italians and I’m sure mine after spending 11 days in Campania.
On every corner of Naples you’ll see a cafe so there is ample opportunity to taste the lifeline that is caffeine. You’ll see people stood at the bar sipping espressos and sat down enjoying a cappuccino. You’ll also notice there is a food cabinet outside every bakery, cafe and even corner shops. They all contain the fresh pastries, pizzettes and fried Naples street food.
I highly recommend going for a croissant, known as cornetto in Italy, which sometimes has white sprinkles on top, warm fruit filling or Nutella of course. Did you know Nutella is made in Italy?
Make sure you know the coffee etiquette in Italy and order an espresso and cornetto with fruit or chocolate. It is just the beginning of your exquisite tastings of this Naples Italy itinerary!
Optional: For a real Naples treat, try Sfogliatella which is a flaky pastry with cinnamon and sometimes orange, made in Naples and looks like the below.
Archaeological Museum
Naples Archaeological Museum is an important museum for Italy as it holds lots of Roman ruins and one of the best attractions of Naples. There are relics from Pompeii and Herculaneum at this museum to get you prepared for your day trips or if you don’t have time to visit the ancient cities at least you can learn about them here.
Address: Piazza Museo, 19, 80135 Napoli NA, Italy
Pizza for Lunch
There is not a better place in the whole world to have pizza than the birthplace, the Mecca, the home of all slices! Having pizza in Naples is an experience not just lunch so enjoy this thing to do in Naples for what it is (heaven). This is the absolute best must see in Naples.
L’antica Pizzeria da Michelle
As far as Napoli things to do go, visiting this Michelin star restaurant just about tops it!
The locals eat here, Julia Roberts ate here to film Eat Pray Love, my local Italian at home recommends tourists to eat here, and there is ALWAYS a queue up the street of people wanting to eat here. And you have to eat here too. It was the most delicious, sloppiest, crispiest, cheesy and humbling pizza I have ever had. And you won’t believe the cost of pizza in Italy!
They only serve 4 types of pizza on the menu and if it’s your first pizza in Naples, make it a Margherita. It usually opens at 11am until late but dedicate at least an hour and a half to waiting to be served or seated to try this magic.
Address: Via Cesare Sersale, 1, 80139 Napoli NA, Italy
Afternoon
Stroll down Via Tribunali
So for what to see in Naples Italy? Simply walk the streets!
Via Tribunali is a vibrant, busy, loud street full of character that your senses are all over the shop from looking at the balconies with washing, tasting the best Naples street food, smelling strong coffee being served, and the broom-broom of vespas past your ears. At each end of the street are things to admire, one end is the Pietrasanta Tower Bell and the other is the San Pietro a Maiella and piazza.
Another street like this but includes more souvenir shops is Via San Gregorio Armeno which you can go to get your Naples memorabilia.
Superstitions
For true Naples Italy things to do, do as the locals do and copy their superstitions!
About a third way down (starting at the clock), there are two places to practice the superstitions of Neapolitans. The first is a gold skull at the side of the church of Santa Maria del Purgatorio and if you step back a little you’ll watch the locals rub its head without thinking as they pass so you can do the same.
The other is right opposite this skull and is a small, bronze statue of something resembling a gnome which you must queue to rub the nose of the Busto di Pulcinella for good luck!
Admire Churches and Castles of Naples
When in Naples what to see is the beautiful architecture!
There are so many churches in Naples to admire including the Naples Cathedral. Many of them are impressive architecturally and important culturally to the city as Catholicism is the main religion in Italy. You could go around many turnings of the city and stumble upon a grand church but some of the best to see are Monastery of Santa Chiara and Gesu Nuovo Church.
In addition, Naples top sights also include the many castles too. Two of the best castles to visit are Castell Nuovo and Castell dell’Ovo on the shoreline. Take a close look at the doors of Castle Nuovo for extra wow.
Optional: If you’re a fan of The Sopranos, follow my guide to filming locations in Naples when The Sopranos came here in season 2!
Evening
Apertivo Near Via Santa Chiara
You’re probably heard of Apertivo but if you haven’t it’s the Italian custom of getting a drink with a few small snacks and is said to open your stomach before your real meal later on in the night.
There is a perfect place to go to with just 1 day in Naples Italy which I call the drink quarter and is near Via Santa Chiara. To get there start on Corso Umberto I road and take a turning up a narrow, steep alley of steps and then you’ll find an area of local bars and cafes playing live music and people having Apertivo time. This is one of the best activities in Naples Italy to do.
Each establishment have their own version of Apertivo but usually people go for a beer, wine, Aperol Spritz or Campari and will be served snacks such as crisps, nuts, lupini, arancini or tarallo.
Note: Many places located on busy streets like Via Tribunali often charge you premium prices for drinks (below average tasting drinks at that) and don’t bring any apertivo snacks. Avoid dining at these tourist traps.
Sunset Walk on Lungomare / Santa Lucia
The Italians have a saying called ‘passeggiata’ which is basically a stroll for socialising and usually after meals but for first timers to South Italy, we weren’t used to dining out so late so if you’re like us, you’ll love a sunset stroll.
Head down to the promenade (known as Lungomare) where you’ll see travellers taking selfies, local kids jumping in the water, families enjoying the evening and touts selling everything you can imagine. Take a drink or gelato, grab a spot on the wall or down on the rocks and absorb the surroundings of an early Naples evening overlooking the port and the centre of the region: Mount Vesuvius.
This is a great place to get a wonderful view of the volcano and pass other places to visit in Naples Italy like Chiara neighbourhood and Castell dell’Ovo.
Dinner at Antica Pizzeria Del Borgo
The perfect one day in Naples itinerary includes so much food but hello it’s Napoli!
In South Italy, they dine late and while you can always find food in Naples at any time of day, the best restaurants and pizzerias will be open from 7pm onwards. Antica Pizzeria Del Borgo is a 10 minute walk from Naples Port and located on a side street of the road called Corso Umberto I.
This is the chance for any first timer in Naples to sit at a table covered in a red, checkered table cloth outside and among the locals. Only some of the staff speak English, the menu is in Italian and the food is always cooked fresh.
Keeping things Italian, there are two great Italian beers to try: Peroni and Ichnusa. The latter is unfiltered but recommended by the waiter and made in Sardinia.
For your meal choose from a range of Neapolitan dishes from Parmigiana Melzanane and Fritto di Mare to Pasta Ragu and Spaghetti all vongole.
Who am I kidding? If you only have one day in Napoli then have Pizza again. You’re in Naples for crying out loud.
Naples Tour Guide
If you’d prefer to be guided as you only have a small amount of time here and want to catch every Naples Italy must see, join one of these:
Do You Have Longer in Naples?
How many days in Naples do you need? Honestly, while you can see many Naples Italy tourist attractions in a day, I recommend spending longer here for a more in-depth Napoli sightseeing trip.
If you have more than 1 day in Napoli, there is much more for what to do in Naples Italy such as Fontanelle Cemetery Caves, eat Gelato, the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium and of course more pizza, pasta and pastries!
After Naples
Get the train to Salerno and base yourself here to take once in a lifetime day trip from Naples Italy to places like Pompeii, Herculaneum, Amalfi Coast and Sorrento! Or catch the ferry to Ischia, Procida or Capri for some island life.
Alternatively, search Trainline to go to major Italian cities like Rome, Florence and Milan.
Do you have some ideas for Naples Italy in a day? Let me know if you will be doing any of the above! 🙂
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Very interesting. We visited Naples and the archeological museum a few years ago but did not realize there was so much more to see and do. Thank you so much.
Thanks Lynette. What did you think of the city?