Travel to Naples

Travel to Naples

A favourite Italian destination for tourists, Naples offers an energetic, charged atmosphere that is difficult to resist. It features winding narrow roads, busy street markets, old churches, stunning galleries and museums, as well as a plethora of cafs, bars and restaurants.

Transportation to Naples

Just eight kilometres northeast of Naples, Capodichino Airport serves the whole of southern Italy with limited long haul flights as well as regular flights from all major European centres. Transportation to the city is cheap and frequent.

By car, you can reach the city from the major north-south Autostrada del Sole (A1) from Rome and Milan and the A4 from Salerno and Reggio di Calabria. The A30 rings Naples to the northeast, while the A16 arrives from the direction of Bari. Thirty trains daily go between Naples and Rome. You can also reach the city by boat or ferry from various cities, including Capri, Sorrento, Palermo, Cagliari, and Tunisia.

What to see

The must-see attraction of Naples is the 800-year-old Duomo, located near the central piazza. Opposite is an equally worthy sight, the lovely baroque Chiesa dei Girolamini.

The Chiesa del Gesu Nuovo, nestledin the robust piazza of the same name, is also worth seeing, along with the Palazzo Reale. Additionally, the magnificent Castel Sant Elmo affords fabulous views out over the bay and the city itself.

Art lovers will find the collection of Renaissance art in the 18th century Palazzo Reale di Capodimonte quite spectacular. Visitors can view Greco-Roman art as well as artefacts discovered at Pompeii and Herculaneum in the National Archaeological Museum.

Day trips

Thereare plenty of gorgeous coastlines south of Naples and much to explore in the areas surrounding the city. Sorrento and Positano are cities dangling on the side of a mountain, and the journey along 50kms of winding roads to get to them provides breathtaking views of sparkling blue sea and quaint villages.

An absolute must-see if you are in the region is the infamous town of Pompeii, which was buried under ash and mud during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The well-preserved ruins give an amazing insight into Roman life of ancient times. You can even stand at the rim of the crater of Vesuvius, now dormant.

Activities and leisure

If all the sightseeing wears you out, take a nap in the Via Floridiana, a verdant public park spilling down from the Vomero to Mergelina. For some relaxing entertainment, visit Italy's oldest opera house, the Teatro San Carlo. Theres also plenty of good nightlife with lots of bars and nightclubs.

Safety issues

When holidaying in an unfamiliar city, you should remain alert for pickpockets and thieves. Water sports, outdoor activities and driving all place you at greater risk of having an accident. Additionally, strange routines can result in missed travel arrangements or problematic bookings. We strongly recommend you take out travel insurance for you and your family when visiting Naples and the surrounding area.