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If you're flying in and out of Naples, let these 4 travel itineraries help you stick close and not waste precious vacation days commuting across the country.
Italy can be an overwhelming destination. It's so well-known you've grown up here about Rome, Venice, and Florence. So much fame and popularity can make you think you can only visit those famous spots and little else. And if that's genuinely how you want to plan your trip, go for it. But, if you're looking to see other parts of Italy and spend less time commuting between destinations, these itineraries are for you.
Previously I wrote one for those arriving to and departing from Venice's Marco Polo Airport. For those traveling via Venice, don't miss out on those itineraries. If you're planning to use Naples Airport as your hub, you're in the right place. These 4 itineraries are built for different types of travelers, offering unique options you can either mix-and-match or grab-and-go as is.
Keep in mind that all itineraries are imagined on a 7-day trip and are hopeful that you arrive early and leave late to give yourself time on those days as well.
Now, let's dive into 4 distinct itineraries for those arriving and departing from Naples International Airport.
Short on time? Here's the quick guide:
Trying to plan your Italian trip without spending too much time commuting across the country? These 4 itineraries are built for those arriving to and departing from Naples. Choose between:
The Island Hopper: Ischia + Procida + Naples
The History Buff: Mt. Vesuvius + Pompeii + Caserta + Naples
The Coastal Explore: The Cilento Coast + Naples
The Photographer: Capri + Amalfi Coast + Naples
About us
We're Kat, from the US, & Raf, from Colombia. We've been traveling the world and living abroad for the past decade but now call Italy home.
Naples Travel Tips
Naples historic center isn't what I'd describe as tranquil
It cannot be understated that Naples is a bit of a mess. I do mean this in an endearing sort of way but if this is your first time traveling abroad and you arrive just outside of the main travel station in Naples (in Piazza Garibaldi), I imagine you won’t be thrilled.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit Naples. Quite the contrary, there’s a lot to see, do, and eat while here and I certainly will have you spend a few days here on the upcoming itineraries. Just like any big city, the neighborhood matters.
With that in mind, this is a quick breakdown to understand when booking your accommodation. This guide on the areas of Naples highlights the main areas, with a map, to ensure the hotel you pick is in the area you want.
A few more tips to keep in mind if you’re using Naples as your hub is:
The airport isn’t connected to the train station. You’ll need to travel by bus, taxi, or rental car from the airport to your next destination. If you’re staying in the city center, I wouldn’t recommend renting a car just yet. While your own car can be helpful for some of the itineraries, you won’t need it in the city. Plus, driving and parking in Naples isn’t for the faint of heart.
The shared taxi, or taxi collettivo, is by far the best option to get from the airport to the city/central train station. Unless you land at a strange time, the line for a private taxi or the bus gets ridiculously long. Skip the wait and follow signs to the "collettivo." Here, the ride to the city center is always €6/person. The only caveat is you can only get to the central train station. From here, you'll have to either get another taxi, the metro, or walk to your hotel.
With this in mind, it’s time for the itineraries.
Itinerary 1: The Island Hopper
Ischia's mighty castle fortress
Main stops: Ischia + Procida + Naples
Day 1-4: Ischia
Day 4: Procida
Day 4-7: Naples
Starting off with the areas I know best, this itinerary will take you just off the coast of Naples to the islands of Ischia and Procida. I wrote this giving you more time on Ischia and just a day trip to Procida but if you prefer calmer days, you might want to spend your nights in Procida instead.
Personally, I’d go with Ischia because the island has more to do and is bigger, giving you more chances to explore. Both offer crystal clear water, a ferry to make arriving and departing easy, and beautiful views.
Ischia
1-2 hour commute
From Naples airport, you’ll need to get to the ferry port. This port is located right in the city center and is right next to the cruise terminal. The exact location to find your ferry is at Molo Beverello. The cheapest way to get here from the airport is to take the shared taxi to the central train station. From there, you can hop on the metro to the Municipio stop and walk the two blocks.
The easiest way would be to get a taxi directly to the ferry port from the airport. Whether that will be faster or not will depend on the taxi line.
From the molo (dock), you’ll find ferries to Ischia, Procida, Capri, and beyond. I recommend buying your tickets in advance. You can simply show the QR code on your ticket at boarding time. The website, FerryHopper, is easy and shows all the different ferry companies, prices, and times.
Ischia itself is really beautiful. If you visit in the summer, I highly recommend a boat tour around the island. The beaches are pretty small so this is one of the best ways to enjoy time in the sun, plenty of swimming, and get great views the entire time. If you visit during colder weather, Ischia is home to thermal hot springs that’ll warm you right up.
For your time in Ischia, you have a few options on where on the island to stay, which will also change where you want to arrive on the island. There are a few different ports, so you’ll want to be sure to pick the one closest to your hotel.
To plan your trip to Ischia, I highly recommend you check out my in-depth guide on spending 3-days in Ischia. This will cover the different areas, things to do, when to visit, and other tips based on our vacation here.
Procida
30 minute commute
When you’re ready to leave Ischia and head back to mainland, I recommend you do it with a detour in Procida. Most ferries stop here anyways so it won’t add any time to your commute. Our day trip guide has you covered - just be sure to eat a lingua di Procida during your visit!
RadicalStorage should have options on where to store your bags while you explore the island.
Naples
1 hour commute
Like I promised above, all of the itineraries will include at least a few days in Naples. While the city can get a bad rep, it’s a really fun to explore and does have some luxurious areas, incredible views, and some of the best food in the country (just be sure to leave the diet at home).
I’ve already written a lot about Naples since we’ve been lucky enough to visit a few times. I’ll drop all of the relevant articles here to help you plan. The biggest takeaways though would be to stay in Chiaia, eat freshly baked taralli (well, really everything you see), and embrace the chaos rather than shy away from it.
Main stops: Mt. Vesuvius + Pompeii + Caserta + Naples
Day 1-7: Naples
With day trips to Mt. Vesuvius, Pompeii, and Caserta
What’s unique about this itinerary is that it has you staying in Naples for the entirety of your trip. This is great for those (like me) who don’t enjoying bouncing around so much and prefer to get to know a single place well.
You’ll have all your mornings and nights in Naples, giving you the chance to check out different neighborhoods, eat all the best dishes at your leisure, and have some downtime in the city.
That doesn’t mean you’ll be bored - far from it. While Naples itself has more than enough to keep you entertained, the history buffs in particular will love this itinerary. From Naples, these destinations are all an easy day trip and don’t require a car:
Mt. Vesuvius: 1.5 hours on public transportation (use Google Maps to plan your exact route from your hotel). There are a number of different walking and hiking trails but the most popular is the Gran Cono Trail because this is the trail that takes you up to the crater. If you just want a view of the volcano, you can get that from the city center.
Pompeii & Herculaneum: 40 minutes from Naples on the Circumvesuviana train line. Both are well-preserved Roman cities. You’ll want a guide for both as there’s too much history to unwrap on your own. Pompeii is bigger and more famous but Herculaneum is closer to Naples and uniquely preserved wooden structures.
Royal Palace of Caserta: 30 minutes by train. Be sure to get the full ticket that includes entrance to the palace and the surrounding gardens as both are worth your time to see.
For details on how to spend your time in Naples, use the articles provided under itinerary 1.
Itinerary 3: The Coastal Explorer
Main stops: The Cilento Coast + Naples
Day 1-4: The Cilento Coast
Day 4-7: Naples
I haven’t yet been to the Cilento Coast but am very intrigued by it. I love a destination that isn’t overly talked about and well, a national park along a coastline with charming towns nestled in? Say less.
An Italian friend recommended it to me and I’ve been dreaming about it ever since. You’ll be the first to know whenever we make it down there.
The Cilento Coast
1-2 hour commute
The Cilento Coast is just south of the Amalfi Coast and runs from around Agripoli to Scario. If you just go to Agripoli, you can take a direct train from Naples. Truthfully though, I’d recommend you rent a car (either in Naples or in Agripoli) and explore the coastline further.
This’ll give you the chance to pick your base and let you explore the national park, towns, and beaches that you please. While you can do some of this with public transportation, you won’t have quite the same level of freedom.
Naples
1-2 hour commute
For information on how to spend your last few days in Naples, read the details I provided under itinerary 1.
Itinerary 4: The Photographer
The picture-perfect Amalfi Coast
Main stops: Capri + The Amalfi Coast + Naples
Day 1-3: Capri
Day 3-5: The Amalfi Coast
Day 5-7: Naples
This one is for the photographer looking to capture the quintessential Italian views. These are some of the most photographed places in Italy so I can understand why you’d be eager to get behind the lens here as well.
Just know you’ll be far from the only person following this itinerary. Capri and the Amalfi Coast are known by just about everyone and their grandma so expect crowds and higher prices than normal.
Capri
1-2 hour commute
To get to Capri from Naples, you can follow the same route I provided above to get to Ischia but instead of getting your ferry ticket to that island, you’ll head directly to Capri instead.
The ferry itself takes just under an hour, the same as it takes to get to Ischia. The only difference is this route doesn’t take you near Procida so that day trip isn’t as convenient.
Size-wise Capri is just between Procida and Ischia. It only has 1 ferry port so if you decide to stay on the other side of the island, I suggest asking your hotel for help on how to arrive.
Truthfully we’ve never been to Capri so I can’t give you loads of tips on what to do, eat, and where to stay. I can say though that it seems you’ll want to spend plenty of time on the water and a boat tour seems really dreamy. From family members that have visited, they’ve said Capri is the most expensive place they’ve visited in Italy so plan accordingly.
Amalfi Coast
30 minute - 1 hour commute
From Capri, you can get a ferry directly to the Amalfi Coast. The travel time will vary based on where exactly on the coast you’re going and if you went for a fast ferry or slow one.
Much like Capri, you can expect incredible views, architecture, and scenery that’ll leave you in awe. With that comes lots and lots of people, especially in the summer. It’s important to keep this in mind when planning your trip as you might need to book accommodation and ferry tickets farther in advance than you’re used to.
Along the coast there are a number of different towns to actually stay in. Positano and Amalfi are the most popular, so staying in one of those will put you in the heart of the action. If you prefer somewhere quieter, I’d still choose any town with a ferry terminal. That way, you can arrive and get back to Naples easier and without a car. With the ferry, you can also bounce around the rest of the coastline on one of your free days.
While you might be tempted to drive the coast, I’d suggest using the ferry instead. We’ve been on the roads out here and while beautiful, the traffic can get bad, the roads are windy, and parking can be tough. Taking the ferry removes that stress from your shoulders.
Sorrento is another option of where to stay. Although it’s often lumped into articles on the Amalfi Coast, it’s not technically on the same coastline. It is however a really cute town, more affordable, and closer to Naples to get back to the city. Salerno is another popular alternative but is a bigger city. Both connect to Naples via public transportation.
Naples
1-2 hour commute
The trip back to Naples from the Amalfi Coast will depend greatly on where you end up staying.
For information on how to spend your last few days in Naples, read the details I provided under itinerary 1.
Which Naples Itinerary Will You Choose?
By either grabbing one these or using it as a starting point, I’m hoping you got some good ideas on how to build your Italian trip starting and ending from Naples, without feeling the need to fly or train it to the other end of the country.
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