The Perfect Day Trip to Naples from Rome
Naples is a bustling, chaotic, often misunderstood but incredibly authentic city in Southern Italy that I highly recommend visiting.
This deeply historic city, famous for being the birthplace of Margherita Pizza, its vibrant culture, and picturesque streets with laundry hung across them, has a lot to offer.
From historical and cultural landmarks to delicious cuisine, underground tunnels, beautiful architecture, and a UNESCO-listed historic center, there are enough things to do in Naples to keep you busy for a few days. But I totally get not having enough time, and wanting to see it all!
For this reason, I’ve planned the perfect day trip to Naples from Rome to help you explore the city and all its major attractions in a single day.
You’ll immerse yourself in the liveliness of Naples and its fascinating past, which is almost tangible in the traditions and buildings of the city, all the while having time to sip an espresso in the main piazza and, of course, relishing the original Neapolitan pizza.
HOW TO GET FROM ROME TO NAPLES
The most convenient way to travel from Rome to Naples is by high-speed train.
You’ll take the Frecciarossa or Italo trains from Roma Termini train station, which depart frequently throughout the day from as early as 6 AM, and take around 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach Napoli Centrale.
You could also take the regular trains, which are more affordable at around half the price, but they’ll also take twice as long, and some of them even longer, ranging from 2 to 3 hours.
The most budget-friendly option to make the trip would be by bus, costing only 5 euros. The journey, however, takes close to three hours, so I don’t recommend it (it’s ok if you have at least one night in Naples).
The only option that, in my opinion, makes sense for a day trip is taking the high-speed train, as it will save you plenty of time to explore more of the city.
To make sure you’re choosing the fastest train, filter the results with the company names (Frecciarossa and Italo) or look for the journey time: it shouldn’t take much longer than an hour.
BEST TOURS TO NAPLES AND POMPEII FROM ROME
I’ll start off by saying I don’t recommend a tour if you just want to visit the city of Naples, as it’s pretty straightforward to do on your own.
However, if you also want to visit the archaeological site of Pompeii, it would be very hard to combine both places in a single trip on your own, especially because of the transportation hassle. So if this is your case, I do suggest booking a tour that takes you to Naples and Pompeii in one day.
▶️ The Rome: Pompeii and Naples Day Trip with Pompeii Entry Ticket starts with a trip to Pompeii, where you’ll skip the lines to enter. You can visit the ruins on your own, or choose to include an audioguide or a 2-hour tour around them. Then, head to Naples, where you’ll enjoy 2.5 hours of free time to explore the city at your leisure. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
▶️ The Pompeii and Naples Day Trip from Rome by High Speed Train takes you to the ancient site of Pompeii for a guided tour around the ruins, followed by a pizza lunch at a local trattoria. Then, you’ll have time to explore different parts of Naples before catching the train back to Rome. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
NAPLES DAY TRIP ITINERARY
These are the attractions I recommend checking out during your visit to Naples. They’re organized in a way that makes sense geographically, so you can either walk or take the metro between them and explore the city easily.
You can check out my full article about spending one day in Naples for a more comprehensive itinerary.
Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Naples Duomo)
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, or Naples Duomo, is the city’s most important church, built between the 13th and 14th centuries.
This cathedral showcases a mix of Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance styles, but arguably its most striking aspect is the Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro, which holds the vials of the saint’s blood, said to liquefy during certain ceremonies.
The interior of the cathedral is lavish, with ornate chapels, frescoes, and sculptures worth checking out.
TIP: After exiting the cathedral, walk along Via dei Tribunali, one of the most important streets in the city center, which feels like an attraction on its own. You’ll get to see Naples bustle and hustle at its best.
Underground Naples
There’s much more to Naples than meets the eye…quite literally. The city has multiple underground sites that can be visited, but for a first visit, I recommend sticking to the most famous one, Napoli Sotterranea.
Here, underneath the city, you’ll find over 250 miles of underground tunnels, catacombs, and ancient aqueducts carved out by the Greeks around 4 centuries BC.
The excavations were for practical purposes, such as extracting turf as building material and water supplies, but played various roles throughout the centuries, including storage and shelter during WWII.
Napoli Sotterranea can only be visited with a licensed guide. You’ll see the remains of an aqueduct and Roman theater as you walk through over 2 thousand years of history, and discover the evolution of Naples to the city it is today.
This is an incredibly popular attraction, so I recommend buying your tickets in advance.
Via S. Gregorio Armeno
San Gregorio Armeno is Naples’ famous “Christmas Alley,” where it feels like the holidays all year round.
This narrow street is packed with artisan shops and workshops selling handcrafted nativity scenes, quirky figurines, and festive decorations that range from biblical characters to pop culture icons and soccer players. Naples loves its soccer!
It’s a fun and unexpected place to explore, especially in the middle of summer when Christmas feels so far away, but it’s so present in this picturesque street.
Sansevero Chapel Museum
Sansevero Chapel Museum should be your next stop. While it’s a rather simple-looking building on the outside, inside it hides some of the most incredible artwork in Naples.
The gem of the chapel is the famous Veiled Christ, a jaw-dropping marble sculpture depicting Jesus Christ covered in a transparent shroud, or burial cloth.
There’s also an impressive ceiling fresco, ornate altars, intricate statues, and a few creepy-looking pieces, such as the Anatomical Machines, which are worth the visit.
Chiostro di Santa Chiara
The Cloister of Santa Chiara is one of the most picturesque sites in Naples, consisting of a church, a museum, and colorful cloisters which are, in my opinion, the best part of the complex.
The cloisters are lined with 72 octagonal columns and several benches, all of which are covered in hand-painted tiles depicting mythological and countryside scenes in vibrant yellows and greens, which make it a very photogenic site. If you’re after Insta-worthy shots in Naples, you can’t miss this place!
The religious complex also houses frescoed walkways and archaeological ruins, which you should check out if you have the time.
Toledo Metro Station
Time to make your way to the metro, but not necessarily to travel. Toledo Metro Station, aside from being a transportation hub, is part of the Metro Art Installation project that intervened in several metro stations throughout the city, turning them into art galleries.
Toledo Metro Station has been named the prettiest metro station in all of Europe, so that alone should merit the visit!
The underground station offers an almost immersive experience, themed around light and water, and showcasing paintings that evoke the sea, and which make you feel as though you’ve dived beneath it. It’s truly beautiful!
Psst! If you’re hungry, grab a bite at Sorbillo Pizza a Portafoglio, a highly-rated eatery where you can get an unbeatable pizza a portafoglio, a simple Margherita or Marinara pizza that’s folded in quarters.
Galleria Umberto I
Spend part of your afternoon in Galleria Umberto I, the most iconic shopping gallery in the city. It’s housed in an elegant building with a spectacular glass roof, and features high-end boutiques, local and international stores, business offices, restaurants, and charming cafés.
If you wanted to do a bit of shopping while in Naples, Galleria Umberto I is the place. But if you didn’t, I still recommend visiting to admire its striking interiors, or have a coffee with the most fashionable surroundings.
Piazza del Plebiscito
Piazza del Plebiscito is Naples’ largest and most symbolic square. It was built using volcanic rock from Mount Vesuvius, which is incredibly cool, and it’s surrounded by some of the most impressive buildings in the city, including the Royal Palace and the grand Basilica Reale.
Make sure to stop by Gran Caffè Gambrinus, a historical institution, to try a local pastry. They make some of the best in the city. My personal recommendation is the Sfogliatella – yum!
You Can’t Leave Naples Without Having Pizza!
It’s probably dinner time already, but you can’t leave Naples without having the authentic, original pizza. It was invented in this very city, after all. Listed below are the most renowned pizzzerie where you can enjoy a traditional Margherita Pizza.
Antica Pizzeria da Michele is a Michelin-starred restaurant that’s been making homemade pizza since the 19th century, and rumors say their Margherita Pizza is the best in the world.
Gino Sorbillo is a family-run restaurant beloved by locals and tourists, and considered one of the best places to eat pizza in the region. It’s been open since the mid-1900s, and has a spot in the Michelin guide.
50 Kalò is another very famous eatery, known for its light-crust pizzas, high-quality ingredients, and variety of toppings. It’s also included in the Michelin guide.
TIPS FOR YOUR DAY TRIP TO NAPLES
▶️ Start early to make the most of your day in the city. While seeing the city in a day is doable, you’ll be on a tight schedule, so I highly recommend starting as early as possible. Take the high-speed train to save time, so you get to see most of the attractions, and you’ll be able to enjoy a coffee or dinner without rushing.
▶️ Wear comfortable shoes (and clothes!) as you’ll be walking a lot. Naples is a very walkable city, and you can get to most places on foot, so it’s important you’re comfortable putting in all those steps!
▶️ Keep an eye on your belongings at all times. Naples is a crowded and busy city, and pickpocketing is not unusual. Some areas of the city are also safer than others, so stick to the major attractions and paths, and don’t wander alone after dark.
▶️ Take cash with you, as even though credit cards are widely accepted in the city, street market vendors or smaller shops might not take them.
▶️ Take a reusable water bottle with you, and refill it with drinkable water from the public fountains, known as nason, or at the bars and restaurants throughout the day. Naples can get really hot in the summer, and you’ll be walking a lot, so it’s important to stay hydrated. Plus, you’ll be saving money and being eco-friendly all in one go.