Top 20 Must-See Attractions in Naples

Built in 1600, this magnificent baroque palace was home to Spanish and Bourbon kings. The lavishly decorated royal apartments feature original furnishings, tapestries, and artworks. Don't miss the Court Theatre, one of Italy's oldest opera houses, and the impressive facade adorned with statues of Naples' most important kings. The palace offers a glimpse into royal life and Naples' importance as a European capital.

One of the world's most important archaeological museums, housing the finest collection of Roman artifacts, including treasures from Pompeii and Herculaneum. Highlights include the Farnese Collection of classical sculptures, ancient mosaics, the Secret Cabinet of erotic art, and Egyptian antiquities. The museum provides essential context for understanding Vesuvian sites. Allow plenty of time to explore its vast collections spanning millennia.

Set in a royal palace within a magnificent park, this museum houses one of Italy's richest art collections. Features masterpieces by Caravaggio, Titian, Raphael, and Botticelli, plus the royal apartments with original furnishings and porcelain. The collection spans from medieval to contemporary art, with particular strength in Neapolitan baroque paintings. The surrounding park offers stunning city views.

The city's main cathedral houses the Chapel of San Gennaro, Naples' patron saint, whose blood miraculously liquefies three times yearly. The cathedral combines Gothic, baroque, and Renaissance styles. Features include ancient Roman columns, stunning frescoes by Domenichino, and the archaeological zone beneath with Greek and Roman ruins. The elaborate baroque chapel is adorned with silver, frescoes, and precious stones.

This Gothic church and monastery complex features the famous Maiólica Cloister, where columns and benches are covered in hand-painted majolica tiles depicting pastoral scenes. The monastery museum displays archaeological finds and religious artifacts. The church, rebuilt after WWII bombing, maintains its Gothic simplicity. The peaceful cloister garden offers a tranquil escape from Naples' bustling streets.

This small baroque chapel contains the Veiled Christ, a marble sculpture so realistic the veil appears transparent one of the world's most remarkable sculptures. Other masterworks include Disillusion and Modesty. The chapel belonged to the eccentric Prince Raimondo di Sangro, whose anatomical machines in the crypt showcase his scientific pursuits. Book well in advance as this is Naples' most popular attraction.

Descend 40 meters below street level to explore an underground city carved from tufa stone. The guided tour reveals Greek quarries, Roman aqueducts, WWII bomb shelters, and even a Roman theater beneath modern buildings. Navigate narrow passages by candlelight and experience the ancient cistern system that supplied water to Naples for centuries. This fascinating journey reveals the city's layered history.

Better preserved than Pompeii, Herculaneum offers intimate insights into Roman life. Buried by volcanic mud rather than ash, the site preserves wooden structures, organic materials, and vibrant frescoes. Explore intact houses, shops, baths, and even a library with scrolls. The compact size makes it easier to appreciate than Pompeii. Located just 10km from Naples, it's accessible by Circumvesuviana train.

This ancient street literally splits Naples in half, following the Greek-Roman city's main artery. Walking Spaccanapoli means experiencing authentic Naples: churches packed with art, artisan workshops, street food vendors, and chaotic traffic. The narrow street showcases layers of history from ancient foundations to baroque palaces. Essential stops include Gesù Nuovo, Santa Chiara, and countless pizzerias and pastry shops.

Naples' grandest square is a vast semicircular space flanked by the Royal Palace and the neoclassical Church of San Francesco di Paola. The monumental colonnade and elegant proportions make it perfect for photos and people-watching. The square hosts concerts, events, and is a meeting point for locals. The adjacent Galleria Umberto I provides shelter with its stunning glass-domed arcade.

Learn to make authentic Neapolitan pizza from master pizzaiolos in traditional pizzerias. These hands-on classes teach dough preparation, sauce making, and wood-oven cooking techniques. Understand why Neapolitan pizza is UNESCO-protected and discover the secrets of perfect crust and topping balance. Classes typically include eating your creations with local wine. Many schools offer certification. Essential experience for food lovers visiting pizza's birthplace.

Hike to the crater of Europe's most dangerous active volcano. The trail to the summit offers spectacular views of the Bay of Naples and surrounding landscape. At the top, peer into the smoking crater and understand the geological forces that destroyed Pompeii. The hike takes about 30 minutes from the parking area. Guided tours provide volcanology insights. Best visited on clear days. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water.

Explore Naples through its incredible street food scene. Guided tours visit traditional vendors selling pizza fritta, sfogliatella, baba, and espresso at historic cafés. Learn about culinary traditions while sampling specialties. Tours often include markets, artisan shops, and family-run establishments. Guides explain food history and cultural significance. Multiple tastings constitute a full meal. Perfect introduction to Neapolitan gastronomy beyond pizza.

Discover Naples' layered history through guided walking tours of the UNESCO-listed historic center. Expert guides reveal hidden churches, Roman ruins, baroque palaces, and local traditions. Tours typically cover Spaccanapoli, major piazzas, and key monuments. Free walking tours operate daily. Specialized tours focus on archaeology, art, or street food. Walking is the best way to understand the city's complexity and chaotic charm.

The world's most famous Roman city frozen in time by Vesuvius' eruption in AD 79. Wander ancient streets, homes, shops, bathhouses, and the amphitheater extraordinarily preserved by volcanic ash. Highlights include the Forum, House of the Faun with its mosaics, and haunting plaster casts of victims. The vast site requires several hours to appreciate. Combine with Herculaneum for complete understanding. Easily reached by Circumvesuviana train from Naples.

One of the world's most spectacular coastal drives features dramatic cliffs, colorful villages, and azure waters. Visit Positano's vertical streets, Amalfi's cathedral, and Ravello's gardens with panoramic views. The winding coastal road offers breathtaking vistas at every turn. Day trips by bus, private driver, or ferry from Naples. Each town has distinct character. Summer can be extremely crowded. Consider spring or fall visits for better experience.

This glamorous island captivates with natural beauty and sophisticated atmosphere. Visit the Blue Grotto, a magical sea cave with electric blue water, and take the chairlift to Monte Solaro for panoramic views. Explore Capri town's designer boutiques and Anacapri's quieter charms. The dramatic Faraglioni rock formations are iconic. Ferries from Naples take 40-80 minutes. Day trips are possible but consider staying overnight to experience the island after day-trippers leave.

This narrow lane in the historic center is Naples's living Christmas tradition: dozens of workshops that craft presepe (nativity scene) figurines year-round, but in December the street becomes a full-blown festive market with stalls, lights, and crowds shopping for handmade shepherds, angels, and even satirical figures of current celebrities and politicians alongside the traditional Holy Family. Artisans work in open storefronts so visitors can watch clay and terracotta figures being painted by hand. It gets extremely crowded on weekends in December, so an early weekday visit is best. Expect narrow, packed pedestrian lanes, so it pairs well with a wander through the surrounding Spaccanapoli district. This is the closest thing Naples has to a dedicated Christmas market and should not be missed.

Each spring, Naples throws open doors that stay locked the rest of the year. Maggio dei Monumenti runs roughly from 1 May to 31 May 2026, transforming the historic centre into a citywide museum. Palazzi, cloisters, crypts, and noble courtyards not normally open to visitors welcome free or discounted entry, alongside concerts, guided walks, and theatre performances staged in unexpected corners of the old city. Neighbourhoods like Spaccanapoli and the Quartieri Spagnoli come alive with evening events, and many churches hold candlelit recitals. It is one of the best windows into Naples layered architectural history, curated by the municipality specifically to showcase sites that are otherwise difficult to access. Comfortable shoes are essential given the volume of walking between venues across the compact but steep centro storico.

A working charitable institution since 1602, this small octagonal church still funds hospitals and aid programs, and above its altar hangs Caravaggios Seven Works of Mercy, painted in 1607 and never moved from its original setting. Unlike works relocated to major museums, this canvas remains exactly where the artist intended it, illuminated by natural light from the church's oculus. Upstairs, a modest picture gallery displays portraits of the noble founders and rotating loans, making the whole visit feel intimate rather than institutional. Entry is inexpensive and lines are essentially nonexistent compared to the citys headline museums. Art historians consider this one of Caravaggios most important surviving works, and seeing it in situ, in the hushed, incense-scented church he painted it for, is a very different experience from a gallery wall.