One-day trip from Naples: 10 unmissable itineraries

Start from Naples and in one day you can visit Pompeii: the fascinating archaeological site that will take you back in time, and then head towards Herculaneum to visit the other ancient Roman city destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius. Pompeii is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Here you can admire the remains of ancient houses, temples, baths, and theaters, all perfectly preserved by the Vesuvius eruption of 79 AD.

Herculaneum, on the other hand, is less known than Pompeii, but certainly not less important. The archaeological site is located in a privileged position, at the foot of Vesuvius and near the sea. Here you can admire the houses, shops, and temples, all well-preserved, and discover the daily life of the Roman city of Herculaneum. Don't miss the great Roman villas of Stabiae such as Villa Arianna or Villa San Marco, where you can enjoy unique mosaics, architecture, nature, and panoramas.

Depart from Naples towards the beautiful Amalfi Coast, a panoramic coastal road between the mountains and the sea, which extends for about 50 km between Sorrento and Salerno. Here you can admire the picturesque towns of Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, famous for their beauty and culture. As for beauty, you will be spoiled for choice: for example, Positano is a charming town with an elegant walk along the beach, while Amalfi is a historic town with a beautiful cathedral and a museum dedicated to the production of paper. Ravello, finally, is a city with breathtaking views overlooking the sea, famous for its gardens, architecture, and old-world atmosphere. A day trip is highly recommended!

Take a ferry from Naples (or even from Sorrento) to Capri and spend the day exploring the island, visiting its breathtaking landscapes and tourist attractions, such as the famous Blue Grotto. Capri is a limestone island located off the Sorrentine coast, consisting of two municipalities: Capri and Anacapri, the latter located higher up, next to the top of Mount Solaro. In addition to the Blue Grotto, a crystal-clear marine cave illuminated by an intense blue light, take a cable car ride and reach the highest point of the island. You will spend a wonderful time and have the embarrassment of choice on what to do: visit the Gardens of Augustus, the Certosa di San Giacomo, Villa Lysis, and take a boat trip among the Faraglioni. It will be a memorable day, you will see!

Take a day to visit the Royal Palace of Caserta, one of the largest royal palaces in Europe, and admire the beauty of its gardens and fountains. The Royal Palace of Caserta was built in the 18th century for the King of Naples, Charles III of Bourbon, with the aim of surpassing the size and splendor of the palace of Versailles in France. Luigi Vanvitelli's masterpiece is the link between Baroque splendor and the monumentality of the new season of Italian Neoclassicism. Its architecture is wonderful and all to be discovered, as well as the beauty of its gardens, which extend over more than 120 hectares of land, including furnishings, sculptures, fake ruins, and even a large waterfall. Don't miss it!

As with Capri, take a ferry from Naples to Ischia and spend the day exploring the island, visiting its thermal gardens, beaches, and cultural attractions, such as the Aragonese Castle. Unlike Capri, Ischia is larger, the largest of the Gulf islands, and offers a wide range of tourist attractions, entertainment, refreshment, and things to do. Take a dip in its thermal gardens, on its historic beaches such as Maronti, and explore all the municipalities of the island: Barano d'Ischia, Forio, Ischia, Lacco Ameno, Serrara Fontana; each with its points of interest, geology to discover, art places or even discos, entertainment, and much more. Ischia will surprise you!

Explore the Campi Flegrei, north of Naples, visit its volcanoes, thermal baths, and ancient Roman cities. The Campi Flegrei is a volcanic area located north of Naples, above the gulf of Pozzuoli, which includes a series of volcanic craters and fumaroles and is characterized by a unique and delicate ecosystem.

Here you can admire the remains of the ancient Roman city of Pozzuoli, visit the thermal baths of Agnano and Baia, and admire the panorama from the top of the Solfatara volcano, from where you can see its intense volcanic activity manifested through suggestive fumaroles.

All the islands of the Gulf are worth a day trip. So here too, take a ferry from Naples to Procida and spend the day exploring the island, visiting its breathtaking landscapes and tourist attractions, such as the famous Terra Murata. Procida is the smallest island in the Campanian archipelago, located off the coast of the Flegrean Fields, not too far from the larger island of Ischia. Despite being the smallest and least touristy, it is famous for its natural beauty and for having been a perfect setting for some masterpieces of Italian Cinema such as Il Postino. Hurry to Procida and admire its breathtaking landscapes, get lost in the village of Terra Murata and enjoy the colorful, picturesque, and spontaneous architecture of the island.

If you're in Naples, you absolutely can't miss a visit to Italy's most famous volcano, Vesuvius, known for the eruption that destroyed (and paradoxically preserved forever) the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Discover the geology, flora, and fauna of a unique place and enjoy the breathtaking view of the Gulf of Naples. Admire the beauty of the volcano, marvel at nature, and remember: for Neapolitans, Vesuvius is like family, always treat it with respect.

Pick a day and visit the ancient Roman city of Baiae, now Baia, a small village in the municipality of Bacoli known for its thermal baths and archaeological remains. Explore all the wonders of the Phlegraean coast, discover its ancient history, and admire the submerged baiae, waiting to be discovered aboard the Cymba boat. Visit the nearby Piscina Mirabilis, a large cistern and masterpiece of Roman engineering, and explore the Archaeological Museum and Park of the Phlegraean Fields to not miss anything of this wonder.

If you want to discover a totally different side of Campania from the fascinating and hectic life of Naples, we recommend moving around and exploring the countryside for at least a day. Start your journey from Naples towards Avellino, a city famous for its production of wines, and explore the picturesque Sabato Valley, known for its natural landscapes and tourist attractions, such as the Castle of Gesualdo. At a short distance, about 30 km, you can choose to visit Benevento, a historic city in Campania, a UNESCO heritage site as part of the places of the Lombards in Italy. Here, you can see the famous Arch of Trajan, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, and the Roman Theatre.

The area less developed from a tourist point of view than the coastal cities has many points of interest. For example, there is the Valle Caudina, known for its ancient Roman roads and picturesque hilltop villages. Here, you can visit the picturesque village of Montesarchio and the ancient ruins of the Roman town of Aeclanum. If you love ancient history and want to immerse yourself in a rustic and less chaotic reality than the city, the Campania countryside is the right place for you!