One Day in Naples: A Highlights Guide

Naples is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated cities in Southern Italy. People love to talk about the chaos and the grit, but once you’re actually there, you notice how alive it feels. It’s loud, messy, welcoming, and very real.

What surprised me the most the first time I came was just how much the city offers. You get world-class culture, ridiculously good food (yes, this is the birthplace of the Margherita pizza), beautiful churches, underground tunnels, and some of the most historic streets in Europe.

Its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a maze of narrow alleys and centuries-old buildings where life spills into the streets. Between the Baroque churches, the markets, and the classic “laundry hanging between buildings” views, Naples feels like a glimpse of Italy that hasn’t been polished for tourists.

Naples is also very close to other iconic attractions in the area, including Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast, which is why it’s often used as a base for day trips, and little time is spent exploring the city itself. And I think it’s such a shame!

I’d highly recommend staying at least a couple days in this lively, deeply historic city, as I’m convinced you’d find it as exciting and worth visiting as I did. However, I understand not everyone has the time for it. 

For this reason, I’ve designed this fun and comprehensive itinerary to spend one day in Naples. It covers all the most important spots, landmarks, and, of course, eateries (yum!) Let’s dive right in! 

ONE DAY IN NAPLES: A DETAILED ITINERARY

This is a doable but VERY packed itinerary if you choose to do everything and visit all of the attractions. There are plenty of things to do in Naples after all!

I recommend using it as a reference and choosing the activities you’re most interested in, adapting the itinerary accordingly.  

There’s also a lot of walking, so wear comfy shoes and start exploring as early as possible. Ready? Let’s head to the first stop of the day. 

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Naples Duomo)

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, also known as the Naples Cathedral or Duomo, is the city’s most important religious site. It’s a striking example of Gothic architecture that features Baroque and Renaissance elements added over the centuries.

Its facade is spectacular, but the cathedral is even more impressive inside, so it’s worth stepping in.

Its chapels are lavishly decorated with carvings, sculptures, and vibrant frescoes, and the most famous one, the Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro, houses the vials of the saint’s blood, which supposedly liquifies during some ceremonies. 

San Gennaro is Naples’ patron saint, which makes the cathedral an even more symbolic landmark in the city. 

Underground Naples

Did you know there’s an entire world beneath Naples? Naples Underground is one of the city’s most surprising attractions, a maze of catacombs, chambers, tunnels, galleries, and aqueducts originally carved out by the Greeks in the 4th century BC.

The most impressive area is Napoli Sotterranea, right in the heart of the historic center, where more than 250 miles of passageways run underneath the city.

Over the centuries these spaces have been used for all sorts of things: storage, shelter, water systems, and even as hideouts for the resistance during WWII. Many objects from those periods are still preserved underground.

You can only visit Napoli Sotterranea with a guide, and I recommend getting your tickets in advance to ensure your spot and avoid waiting in line. The tour takes you through ancient tunnels, the remains of an aqueduct and a Roman theater, and explains how the underground world shaped the Naples we see today.

Via S. Gregorio Armeno

If you’ve ever wished the Christmas magic could last more than a couple of weeks, San Gregorio Armeno is the place to be. This historic street in Naples is, after all, known as the Christmas Alley, and it will make you feel the holidays are right around the corner any time of the year. 

The narrow street is lined by artisan stores, workshops, and boutiques that sell all sorts of ornaments related to Christmas! You’ll find intricate Nativity scenes and figurines that range from Bible characters to famous football players, actors and political figures.

On your way to the next stop, located merely a 6-minute walk from Via San Gregorio Armeno, take a little detour and pop into Scaturchio, an iconic pasticceria in the heart of Naples. Here you can try one of the city’s most beloved desserts, the Sfogliatella. 

Sansevero Chapel Museum

Enjoy the sweet pick-me-up, and then continue to Museo Capella Sansevero, or the Sansevero Chapel, a very significant location that doesn’t look too dazzling from the outside, but will leave you in awe when you step foot in it. 

Sansevero Chapel dates back to the 18th century, and it’s decorated with some of the most intricate, detailed artwork in the country, including ornate statues, decorative altars, an impressive ceiling fresco, and the creepy-looking Anatomical Machines. 

The gem of the Sansevero Chapel, however, is the Veiled Christ sculpture, a world-renowned masterpiece sculpted from a single block of marble that’s bound to leave you awe-struck. It’s worth the visit on its own!  

If visiting this chapel and art is important to you, make sure to book your tickets at least a couple of weeks in advance, or even earlier. You can book up to 60 days in advance.

If tickets are gone, don’t despair, you can often book a quick tour with tickets included.

Chiostro di Santa Chiara (Cloister of Santa Chiara)

The Cloister of Santa Chiara is one of the city’s most vibrant, colorful sites, and a 14th-century religious complex comprising a church, a museum, and striking majolica-tiled cloisters, which are the gem of the place. 

The cloisters were transformed in the 18th century to boast a Neapolitan Baroque style, and they feature 72 octagonal columns and dozens of benches covered in handmade tiles, depicting colorful scenes of mythology and rural landscapes. They’re arguably the best part of the complex, and super photogenic! 

Still, make sure to also check out the frescoed walkways, the archaeological ruins, and the museum while you’re there. 

Pignasecca Market 

Pignasecca Market is Naples’ oldest street market and a foodie’s paradise, bustling with stalls selling everything from fresh produce to baked goods, seafood, meats, and street food delights like fried pizza and arancini. 

I highly recommend stopping at Pescheria Azzurra to try their cuoppo fritto, a Neapolitan street food staple consisting of a variety of fried bites, usually including seafood, served in a paper cone. 

The bustling Pignasecca Market is the perfect place to have local food, and to take a peek into Neapolitan daily life as the locals do their shopping and vendors bustle around trying to sell their goods. Alternatively, you can book a food tour in Naples for lunch time.

▶️ On my top pick, you’ll spend 2.5 hours sampling the best street food in the city, as your guide takes you to local eateries, markets, and hidden gems. Taste the classic pizza a portafoglio and pizza fritta, delicious arancini, frittate di pasta, Sfogliatella, and charcuterie products. Visit a limoncello factory to get tastings, and cap off the tour with gelato. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Then, take the metro at Montesanto and get off at Toledo Metro Station. 

Toledo Metro Station

Toledo is an incredible station part of the Metro Art Installation project, which artistically intervened in various metro stations around Naples to bring art to people’s daily lives. 

Located 130 feet underground, Toledo Metro Station has been dubbed the most beautiful in Europe, and it’s themed around light and water, with installations that represent the sea and waves, making it seem as though you’re traveling below the sea as you take the escalators down.

It’s absolutely beautiful, so spend some time admiring the artwork and taking pictures!

Then, exit the station and walk down Via Toledo, where I suggest you stop at Sorbillo Pizza a Portafoglio for a delicious pizza a portafoglio. 

If you’re not into street food (which I suggest for lunch as it’s going to save you a lot of time), you can try one of these alternatives for lunch, all of them located around Toledo: 

• Trattoria da Nennella is an affordable and very fun eatery that not only offers traditional cuisine, but an immersive experience with waiters dancing and singing to Neapolitan folklore music, and smashing plates. They don’t accept reservations, but the line is worth it!
• Trattoria a Pignata is a laid-back, casual restaurant that specializes in authentic Neapolitan food, including a variety of pasta and seafood dishes that you can pair with local wines. 
• Signora Bettola Napoli (Medina) is a highly-rated and quite peculiar restaurant, with lines of clothes and pots and pans hanging from the ceiling above the tables, evoking the kitchen of a traditional Neapolitan home. The menu also showcases local dishes, and a rotating specialty of the month.  

The Spanish Quarters 

Toledo is within the Spanish Quarters, an area of Naples that’s named after the Spanish soldiers who lived here during the Spanish rule. Once a very humble (and quite dangerous) neighborhood, nowadays the Quartieri Spagnoli has become one of the most visited areas in Naples.

Even if the area is safer than it used to be, I still urge you to exercise some caution, like avoiding showing expensive items and jewelry. Don’t skip the area though, it’s one of the most lively and traditional neighborhoods in the city!

I recommend walking through the Spanish Quarters in the direction of Belvedere San Martino viewpoint, which is your next stop, and soaking in the charm of the quirky, bustling alleys as you go.

You should check out the Armando Maradona mural, located at the top of Via Emanuele de Deo and one of the most iconic landmarks in the district, as the Argentinian football player had very strong ties to the city of Naples. There’s great street art around this area to look out for as well. 

Belvedere San Martino

Belvedere San Martino is a panoramic viewpoint located a 25-minute walk from the Maradona mural. It’s a bit of an uphill wlak, but trust me, it’s worth it!

Perched atop Vomero Hill, it offers the most spectacular views of Naples, which is sprawled out right below you with its maze of crisscrossing streets and rooftops, and the iconic Spaccanapoli standing out. 

The imposing Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples act as its backdrop, composing a stunning landscape that I highly recommend checking out. It’s also a dream scenery for photographers! 

Close to Belvedere San Martino are Certosa di San Martino and Castel Sant’Elmo, two other historical landmarks (but you can skip visiting them if you are short on time).

Once you’re done admiring the views, head to Piazza Fuga, where you’ll hop on the Funicular F3 to Augusteo. 

Galleria Umberto I

A 2-minute walk from the funicular station, you’ll find Galleria Umberto I, not to be confused with its Milan counterpart.

The iconic Galleria is a beautiful arcade building with a striking glass roof, and is decorated with murals and sculptures that make it one of the most elegant, iconic buildings in Naples. 

It houses a large shopping gallery with high-end boutiques, accessory stores, international brands, and lovely restaurants and cafés where you can take a break and sip an espresso while people-watching.

Piazza del Plebiscito

Piazza del Plebiscito is the largest square in Naples, and holds great significance as it’s named after the plebiscite that unified Naples with the Kingdom of Italy.

Aside from its historic importance, Piazza del Plebiscito is super special for a second reason: it was built using volcanic rock from Mount Vesuvius!

The large square is surrounded by buildings, including the Royal Palace of Naples, the striking Basilica Reale, and a gastronomic gem, Gran Caffè Gambrinus. 

This historic establishment has been serving coffee and sfogliatelle, among other delicious pastries, since the 19th century, so you can’t really be in Piazza del Plebiscito and not enjoy their specialties. Try their Sfogliatella Frolla, filled with a mixture of semolina and ricotta. 

Naples Lungomare

If you still have time before dinner, make your way to the Lungomare, Naples Promenade, for a stroll along the Bay of Naples. 

The waterfront stretches along 1.5 miles, passing by various landmarks, including the 12th-century Castel dell’Ovo (Ovo Castle) and the harbor, and you can choose to go up the Monte Echia Elevator to enjoy the views from the top. 

Otherwise, sit at one of the waterfront bars for an aperitivo, Italians’ favorite way to spend the evening. 

Pizza in its Birthplace

It’s finally pizza time! And I’m talking about authentic Neapolitan pizza in the very city where it was born. You can’t visit Naples and not eat its culinary masterpiece, can you? 

You’ll take Line 1 to the Duomo metro station, and in that area, you have two super famous pizzerie to choose from. 

The first one is L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele, a highly-rated, Michelin-starred restaurant that’s been making pizza since the late 1800s. I recommend having their Margherita Pizza, which is advertised to be the best pizza in the world. A claim that big has to be tested, right? (I can assure you, it’s very good).

Gino Sorbillo is another iconic location, and one of the oldest family-run pizzerie in Naples, as well as included in the Michelin guide. The pizzas are some of the best in the city, and raved about by over 20 thousand happy diners.

WHERE TO STAY IN NAPLES

After a perfect day in Naples, you’ll need a place to rest and spend the night. These are my recommendations.

And that’s a wrap! If you have more time in Naples, there are plenty of other things to do, as well as fabulous day trips from the city to the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii and Herculaneum, and even Capri.

However, seeing Naples in a day is totally possible, and hopefully this guide helps you plan the perfect trip no matter if you’re coming to Naples for a day trip from Rome or the Amalfi Coast.