Attracting visitors for thousands of years, there is much to see in Campania, and returning visitors will perhaps want to idle a little longer in lively Naples or the enchanting Amalfi Coast. There are direct connections to most places, so it is not difficult to make day trips from your base.
Covering the principal sights of this fascinating region, this itinerary is ideal for energetic first-timers. A vibrant Mediterranean city, Europe’s most beautiful coastline, its poshest island, and one of the world’s foremost archeological sites are all within easy reach. Public transport is a well-oiled machine, and distances aren’t too far. Driving is a disadvantage, as parking spots are exorbitantly priced and difficult to find.
Fly in: Naples International Airport, Capodichino (NAP), Naples Fly out: Naples International Airport, Capodichino (NAP), Naples
Day 1: Naples
Be prepared for your senses to start working overtime. Italy’s most vibrant city can be a little rough around the edges, but Naples is a delight to discover, and most visitors end up falling in love with the city’s alluring palazzi and spectacular pizza. Find a hotel in the atmospheric Centro Storico or near the Lungomare, and after recharging with a nap, grab a good caffè—Naples has some of the world’s best. Revive in time for an evening stroll around your neighborhood or down Naples’s wonderful shopping street, Via Toledo, to Piazza Plebescito, before dinner and bed.
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Logistics: 4 miles; airport bus to center (15 minutes).
Day 2: Naples
Start the day at the Museo Archaeologico Nazionale, budgeting at least two hours for the collection of Greco-Roman treasures from all over Campania—this is an essential stop on the Pompeii trail. Next take Via Santa Maria di Costantinopoli and grab a caffè at one of the outdoor cafés in Piazza Bellini. From here, head down Via dei Tribunali for a pizza at one of the Centro Storico’s many pizzerias—Bill Clinton chose Di Matteo on his visit to the city. Continue along Tribunali, crossing Via Duomo, visiting the city’s cathedral, or Duomo, before continuing onto see Caravaggio’s The Seven Works of Mercy at Pio Monte della Misericordia. Descend Via Duomo and turn right onto Spaccanapoli, the street that “splits Naples,” cutting through the Centro Storico. It is, in fact, not just one street—Via San Biagio Dei Librai becomes Via Benedetto Croce at Piazza San Domenico. Turn off here for a brief stop at the Cappella Sansevero with its remarkable Veiled Christ, a pinnacle of Masonic sculpture. Continue along Spaccanapoli to Piazza del Gesù and the churches of Il Gesù Nuovo, with its faceted stone façade, and Santa Chiara—stop here for a short rest in its magnificent majolica cloister. Heading downhill, turn left to follow Via Monteoliveto and Via Medina to the port and the Castel Nuovo, with its 15th-century triumphal entrance arch. Walk on past the Teatro San Carlo, Europe’s oldest theater, just across from the Liberty style Galleria Umberto I, and on to the enormous Palazzo Reale, one-time residence of Charles of Bourbon. Recharge with a coffee at the gilded Caffé Gambrinus, then cross the expanse of Piazza Plebiscito and walk 10 minutes south to the Castel dell’Ovo in the Santa Lucia waterfront area. Climb to the top of the castle to admire the neighborhood from afar, then it’s along Via Caracciolo seafront to the Villa Comunale, before heading back to your hotel for a short rest before dinner and perhaps a night out at one of Naples’s lively bars or clubs.
Logistics: This entire day is easily done on foot.
Day 3: Pompeii and Sorrento
After breakfast, pack your luggage and head from Naples to Pompeii, one of the true archaeological gems of Europe. If it’s summer, be prepared for an onslaught of sweltering heat as you make your way through the incredibly preserved ruins of a city that was devastated when Mt. Vesuvius erupted nearly 2,000 years ago. You’ll see the houses of noblemen and more. Allow a half day to get a feel for the place, then it’s on to Sorrento, your first taste of the wonderful peninsula that marks the beginning of the fabled Amalfi Coast. Sorrento is touristy, but it may well be the Italian city of your imagination: cliffhanging, cobblestone-paved, and graced with a breathtaking variety of fishing ports and coastal views. Choose a hotel close to the center, have a quick stroll, then a relaxing dinner of fish and white wine before calling it a day.
Logistics: 33 miles; car (1 hour) or train (1 hour) from Naples to Sorrento
Day 4: Capri
So close you can almost touch it, a short hydrofoil trip lands you at Marina Grande, the port of Capri. Take a boat to the oh-so-blue Grotta Azzurra, an hour’s round trip, then join the queues for the funicular up to Capri town. Gaze at the jet set in La Piazzetta, then walk down Via Vittorio Emanele, past the Hotel Quisisana, itself a small village, and continue downhill to the Certosa di San Giacomo, a 14th-century Carthusian monastery. Wander around this magnificent structure, soaking in the island’s history. Next, climb west for a few minutes to the Giardini di Augusto, with its stunning views of I Faraglioni and the winding Via Krupp. Return to the piazzetta and walk along Via Roma to the bus station, taking a 10-minute ride to Anacapri. Take the chairlift to Monte Solaro with its 360-degree-views of the bay of Naples, then down again to the charming Villa San Michele, former home of Swedish doctor and philanthropist Axel Munthe. Watch your time, however—there are not many direct buses from Anacapri to Marina Grande, so you will probably need to take a bus to Capri before returning to Marina Grande for your boat back to Sorrento.
Logistics: 9 miles; hydrofoil from Sorrento to Capri (25 minutes)
Day 5: The Amalfi Coast
Drivers, you are advised to leave your car behind today. After breakfast make your way to the train station where SITA buses make regular trips along the Amalfi Coast. The first stop, after an hour, is Positano, a must. It’s one of the most visited towns in Italy for good reason: a vertical scene with white Moorish-style houses above blue-green seas make for a truly memorable setting. Walk 10 minutes down from the Sponda bus stop on the main road, wander around, sip a coffee, then head back up to the take the 40-minute bus ride to Amalfi. Stop for lunch, then visit the 9th-century cathedral Duomo di Sant’Andrea. A 35-minute climb uphill on a SITA bus takes you to the less-traveled town of Ravello, an aerie perched loftily above the coast. Don’t miss the Duomo and its 12th-century bronze door, and the spectacular gardens of Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone before settling in for dinner with a view.
Logistics: 24 miles; bus from Sorrento to Amalfi, Amalfi to Ravello (2 hours)
Day 6: Ravello to Naples
Amalfi is just a short ride down the hill, and from here you can retrace the route to Sorrento and on to Naples, or take a 75-minute ride on a SITA bus to Salerno. Regular trains make the 40-minute trip to Naples from here.
Logistics: 40 miles; bus from Ravello to Amalfi, Amalfi to Salerno, train from Salerno to Naples (2 hours 30 minutes)