11 of The Best Day Trips from Naples You Will Love

Table of Contents

As one of the world’s oldest urban areas, Naples has plenty to offer its visitors. You can try authentic Neapolitan pizza and pasta dishes like pasta e Fagioli, or you can visit the historic sites within the city. But one of Naples biggest draws is how much there is to do both within the city limits and beyond – here are eleven of the best day trips you can take if you’re starting in Naples, Italy.

1. Pompeii

The city of Pompeii was once a thriving Roman city until the massive volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD covered the city with a thick layer of ash. Now Pompeii is one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites and you can visit to see the remains of gardens, homes, and businesses. It’s easiest to drive here, and once you arrive you should plan to spend several hours exploring Pompeii, and it’s recommended that you rent an audio tour to help guide you through the area. You can also choose to hire a certified guide either in advance or when you arrive.

2. Herculaneum

The ancient town of Herculaneum was another once-thriving city that was destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, raining ash down on the area below. However, there’s a major difference between the two archaeological sites thanks to the specific type of rock that covered the city. Herculaneum was affected by pyroclastic rock, which means that organic material in the city was preserved so items like wood, food, beds, and even papyrus scrolls have been at least partially recovered and studied. Like with Pompeii, it’s easiest to drive here. When you visit, you can also take a guided tour or hire a guide, or you can choose to explore at your own pace.

3. Positano

Positano is a lovely getaway and one of the most popular cities to visit on the Amalfi Coast. It’s also a popular destination for photographers, and you’ve probably seen photos of the picturesque town before. The contrast between the warm hues of the buildings and the greens and blues of the natural coastline creates a beautiful and unforgettable view. One of the perks of Positano is the nightlife, which features exciting nightclubs, restaurants, and bars. Additionally, you can enjoy the beaches and outdoor spaces here by planning a hike or simply a day relaxing on the sand. There are several busses and ferries that one can take along the Amalfi Coast, but an afternoon spent driving up and down the scenic Italian coastline is an experience in itself.

4. Sorrento

Sorrento is one of the Amalfi Coast’s northernmost settlements, famed for both its gorgeous architecture and the manufacturing of Limoncello, a lemon-flavored liquor. Marina Grande’s lovely port is a must-see where you can find many fine-dining options, including some fantastic seafood dishes made with freshly caught fish. Old Sorrento’s historic district is a wonderful spot to visit, with an abundance of shops, restaurants, and quaint sidewalk cafes. Like with Positano, Sorrento is best accessed with a car or a bus.

5. Vietri Sul Mare

Less than an hour south of Naples by car is Vietri Sul Mare, a hidden gem of the Amalfi Coast. It has many of the same perks as the more well-known towns along the coast but is far less busy and crowded. The beaches here are quiet and peaceful, and there are many local shops to explore. Vietri Sul Mare is known for its ceramic production and you can see fine examples of tilework, pottery, and more throughout the town. You can also purchase some to take home as a souvenir.

6. Royal Palace of Caserta

The Royal Palace of Caserta was built in the 18th century and is a shining example of Baroque architecture. It was built by the then-kings of Naples, the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, and is the largest royal palace in the world in terms of square footage. It’s a short drive away, and you can book a ticket to visit the palace, and there’s an optional upgrade that allows you to see the palace gardens.

The beautiful palace has been used as a filming location for many movies, including the chronologically first two episodes of the Star Wars series.

7. Parco Nazionale del Cilento

Located just about an hour and a half from Naples by car, Parco Nazionale del Cilento is an Italian National Park that was established in 1991 to protect the natural beauty of the area and protect it from an influx of tourism. When you visit you can spend your time hiking and enjoying the majestic coast.

8. Ischia

Just a short ferry ride away from Naples is Ischia, a picturesque island that is known for its hot springs and natural spas. It’s worth spending a few days exploring the historic coastal towns and the lush tropical landscape of the island. Once you arrive by boat, you’ll want to rent a car to get around and make sure you see the best of what Ischia has to offer. Don’t miss the seaside town of Ischia Ponte, known for its medieval castle.

9. Capri

The stunning island of Capri is a well-known travel destination and many celebrities and notable figures vacation here. It’s also just about an hour’s ferry ride away from Naples, which isn’t too bad considering how amazing the view is from the boat. Make sure you relax on the beautiful beaches of the island and make time to eat a traditional Caprese salad. This dish consists of fresh basil leaves, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese drizzled with olive oil and makes for a refreshing but filling bite to eat during a day spent enjoying the gorgeous Italian sun.

10. Pozzuoli

Although technically part of Naples’ larger metropolitan area, Pozzuoli is just about 45-minutes away from the Naples city center by car making it one of the best day trips from Naples. When you arrive you’ll be impressed by this charming coastal town, which is the largest along the Phlegrean Peninsula.

One of the best historic sites to visit in Pozzuoli is the Flavian Amphitheater, the third largest ancient Roman amphitheater in Italy. The core structure of the Flavian Amphitheater is surprisingly well preserved and you can tour them today if you visit.

11. Procida

The island of Procida is located just off the coast of Naples and is easily accessible via ferry. Although incredibly small, Procida has plenty to offer and is relatively unknown to tourists. Defined by pastel structures, sunny beaches, and fantastic historic sites, you could easily spend several days exploring the island – but it’s well suited for a day trip from Naples as well. There’s also a fantastic nature reserve called Isola di Vivara, which is only open a few days a week. Although that may make it tricky to plan a visit, it truly helps preserve the incredible natural beauty of the inlet and the island as a whole.

Video Guide: 11 Best Day Trips from Naples, Italy

Related Posts:

Need help planning a trip to Naples, Italy?

Want to plan a trip to Naples with some of the best day trips from Naples but don’t know where to begin? If you find this type of multi-city trip planning to be too complicated to plan on your own, we’re here to help!

At MultiCityTrips, multi-destination travel and complicated itineraries such as a trip to Naples, day trips from Naples, or trips that include visiting multiple cities, and countries throughout Europe are our specialties. Contact us today to learn more about how one of our experienced travel experts/destination specialists can personalize your multi-city European trip and craft your European vacation package at the best price.

Don’t want to start from scratch and need some trip inspiration? Check out our marketplace for customizable pre-designed packages available right now for many amazing destinations in Europe.

To learn more about how our process of trip planning works in detail, please see our “How It Works” page or check out our video on “How to Plan a Multi-City Trip to Europe in  5 Easy Steps”  here.

Have questions for us? Schedule a FREE Call with us here or contact one of the travel experts/destination specialists at [email protected], call/text us at (888)223-2316 today

Private Travel Coaching & Consulting Call

Want to plan and book your upcoming trip yourself? If this is your first time traveling to any of the European destinations or you are new to multi-city, multi-country travel but prefer to manage every part of your trip on your own, this option is for you! 

For just $150 per hour, our destination expert can answer any questions you might have as you plan and book your dream trip. From assisting with route planning, and destination selection, recommending the best areas or places to stay, the best transportation options, things to do and see, saving tips and so much more! 

Ready to plan your trip with our help? Book your private coaching session with our destination expert now and we’ll confirm your appointment within 24 hours!

Travel Resources for Planning Your Own Trip

To make planning your European trip on your own easier, in addition to what already mentioned in our travel guide, we included some of our recommended travel resources below. You can search and find the best flights, transportation options, hotels to stay in, tours/activities, and things you can do in any destination using these travel resources:

European River Cruises:

Uniworld River Cruises: The world’s best and most awarded luxury river cruise line—offers itineraries in spectacular destinations throughout Europe, Russia, Egypt, Asia, and Peru. The company’s European fleet features luxurious ships with an average capacity of 120 guests, the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the river cruise industry, enticing shore excursions, world-class gourmet cuisine, impeccable hospitality, and numerous other all-inclusive benefits.

Pre- and Post-cruise/Tour Extensions: Uniworld curated pre-and post-cruise/tour extensions make it easy to add a few days to the front or back end of your trip while leaving the planning to them

The packages include a variety of hotel options, transfers, and a dedicated destination expert to escort you along the way.

Flights: 

Agoda: Search thousands of destinations around the world & quickly compare prices to find amazing deals on the best flights.

CheapOAir: You can find airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and vacation packages all on one site!

Kiwi.com: What we like about Kiwi is the fact that they are able to create combinations of flight, train, and bus tickets and offer them in a single itinerary. Also, Kiwi has what they called “Nomad” which helps you find the best way of visiting multiple destinations, saving you time and money.

JetRadar: You can search and compare airfares from 726 airlines and dozens of travel agencies and systems.

Hotels

Agoda: Agoda is one of the world’s largest online travel accommodation platforms with a network of over 2,000,000 vacation rentals and hotels worldwide.

Hotellook: They have more than 250,000 hotels in 205 countries, working with data from more than 10 online booking systems, such as Booking.com, Agoda.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, and others.

Airport Transfers & Transportations: 

Airport Transfers: GetTransfer offers both airport transfers & car rentals with a personal driver. Other airport transfer options are KiwiTaxi and Viator.

TrainEuroRailTrainline, or RailEurope are all great sites for train tickets as well as Rail Passes if you would like to add more flexibility to your trip. They are good for most trains throughout Europe. For trains in Italy, we like and recommend ItaliaRail. As for Portugal, you will need to go to the official website for Comboios de Portugal (the Portuguese train company) to book your train tickets when traveling in Portugal.

BusFlixbus: Very affordable (as low as $6) and convenient way to transfer between cities in Europe.

CarRentalsAutoEuropeEconomyBookings, or  GetTransfer (transfers & car rentals with a personal driver)

Bike RentalBikesBooking is a great site for bikes & scooter rentals

Transportation ComparisonOmio (search, compare, and book tickets for buses, trains, and flights all in one site)

Tours & Activities:

TakeWalks (WalkofItaly): This is our favorite site for walking tours & day trips.

Tiqets: Great site for entrance tickets. It offers directly bookable, instantly available, and completely mobile tickets for museums, shows, and attractions all over the world.

Musement: They have good activities and tours in Italy and Spain, also many great day trips you can choose from.

GetYourGuide: A large number of tours, excursions, and other travel activities

Viator: The largest one. It has everything from tours, attractions, shore excursions, and private guides in over 2,700 destinations worldwide. It also has many transportations and transfers options and some unique experiences we didn’t find anywhere else.

Travel Insurance:

Travel Guard:  Their comprehensive travel insurance programs, starting at $30, include per-trip & annual plans, coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, medical expenses, baggage loss & more! Travel Guard provides 24/7-customer service with a personal touch through its World Service Center.

DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links, MultiCityTrips may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.

Trip by Travel Experts

Need help planning a trip and find the best vacation package for your multi-city trip to Europe? If you find this type of trip planning to be too complicated to plan on your own, we’re here to help!

At MultiCityTrips, multi-city, multi-country European vacations, and complicated itineraries are our specialties. Contact us today to learn more about how one of our experienced travel experts/destination specialists can personalize an amazing multi-city trip to your dream destinations in Europe.

Ready for a trip? Check out our planning options and get in touch with us today!

Featured Pre-Designed Packages

These air-inclusive, pre-designed multi-city European vacation packages can be personalized to suit your needs!

Private Travel Coaching & Consulting Call

Want to plan and book your upcoming trip yourself? If this is your first time traveling to any of the European destinations or you are new to multi-city, multi-country travel but prefer to manage every part of your trip on your own, this option is for you! 

For just $150 per hour, our destination expert can answer any questions you might have as you plan and book your dream trip. From assisting with route planning, and destination selection, recommending the best areas or places to stay, the best transportation options, things to do and see, saving tips and so much more! 

Ready to plan your trip with our help? Book your private coaching session with our destination expert now and we’ll confirm your appointment within 24 hours!

Schedule a FREE Consultation

Not sure or can’t decide which planning option is right for you? Schedule a free 30-minute call with one of our travel experts to discuss your travel needs today!