What to Do in Naples: Sights, Food and Underground Tours (2026)

Deciding what to do in Naples starts with one fact: the city packs 2,500 years of history into a dense, noisy, very alive center. However, the best days here mix a few big sights with long walks and plenty of food. This guide sorts the essentials, suggests an order and flags what to book ahead.

Last updated: September 26, 2026

What to do in Naples at a glance

Walk the historic center first

The heart of Naples is a UNESCO World Heritage site. According to UNESCO, the Historic Centre of Naples has been on the list since 1995 (checked September 2026). In fact, the old Greek street grid still shapes the city.

Start on Spaccanapoli, the long straight street that splits the old town in two. Then turn onto Via dei Tribunali, which runs parallel and holds many classic pizzerias. Along the way, step into the churches: Santa Chiara has a majolica-tiled cloister, and the Gesù Nuovo has a striking stone facade. Similarly, the Duomo holds the chapel of San Gennaro, the city’s patron saint.

Also, walk down Via San Gregorio Armeno, the lane of nativity-scene workshops. Craftsmen sell figures all year, and the street fills up in December. Meanwhile, keep an eye on your bag in crowded lanes, as you would in any big city.

See the Veiled Christ and the city’s great art

Above all, the Sansevero Chapel holds the Veiled Christ, carved in marble by Giuseppe Sanmartino in 1753. The veil looks transparent, and that is the reason people queue. According to the official museum site, the chapel is closed on Tuesdays, and last entry is 30 minutes before closing (checked September 2026). So buy a timed ticket online, since the room is small.

For painting, Caravaggio left two major works here. First, The Seven Works of Mercy hangs at the Pio Monte della Misericordia, a small charity church near the Duomo. Then, his Flagellation of Christ is in the Museo di Capodimonte, a former royal palace in a large park above the city.

Visit the National Archaeological Museum

If you plan to see Pompeii, visit this museum as well. Many of the best mosaics, frescoes and objects from Pompeii and Herculaneum are here, not on site. According to the MANN official site, the collections include the Farnese sculptures and gems, the mosaics and the Secret Cabinet of erotic art. Also, the museum closes on Tuesdays (checked September 2026).

In addition, the site notes that the famous Alexander Mosaic is under restoration, with viewing points onto the work. So check its status before you go if it is your main reason to visit. Allow at least two to three hours.

Go underground

Naples has a second city below the streets. The Greeks quarried tufa stone here, and the Romans built aqueducts through it. Later, as the Napoli Sotterranea site explains, people used the old cisterns as air-raid shelters in World War II (checked September 2026). Visits are guided, and some passages are narrow, so skip them if you dislike tight spaces.

A guided Naples underground tour covers the tunnels and usually the remains of the Greek-Roman theater hidden inside ordinary houses. By contrast, the Catacombs of San Gennaro, near Capodimonte, show a very different early Christian underground.

Eat your way through Naples

Food is one of the best answers to what to do in Naples. The art of the Neapolitan pizzaiuolo, the pizza maker, has been on the UNESCO intangible heritage list since 2017. So order a margherita or a marinara in a classic pizzeria, and expect a queue at the famous ones. To compare guided options, see our guide to the best food tours in Naples.

• Pizza fritta: fried, stuffed pizza, a street-food classic.
• Sfogliatella: a shell-shaped pastry filled with ricotta and semolina.
• Babà: a small yeast cake soaked in rum syrup.
• Coffee: short and strong, drunk standing at the bar.

For context and tastings, a Naples street food tour works well on a first day. Alternatively, a pizza-making class in Naples lets you shape your own dough. For more ideas, read our guide to pizza in Italy and browse our food tours in Italy.

The seafront and the royal quarter

Next, head downhill to Piazza del Plebiscito, the city’s largest square. The Royal Palace faces it, and the Teatro di San Carlo opera house stands next door. Then walk to the Galleria Umberto I, a glass-roofed arcade from the late 1800s.

From there, follow the waterfront to Castel dell’Ovo, the castle on a small island linked by a causeway. At sunset, the promenade toward Chiaia offers views of Vesuvius across the bay. Finally, for the classic panorama, take a funicular up to the Vomero hill and Castel Sant’Elmo.

Day trips from Naples

Naples is also the natural base for the bay. Pompeii and Herculaneum sit on the local train line, while ferries reach Capri, Ischia and Procida. For the choice between them, see our guides to the best day trips from Naples and to Pompeii from Rome or Naples.

If you prefer to skip the logistics, a Pompeii and Vesuvius day trip from Naples combines the ruins and the crater in one day. Likewise, the Pompeii and Amalfi Coast day trip adds the coastal drive. For the city itself, our Naples travel guide covers neighborhoods and practical tips.

How many days you need

Two full days in the city cover the center, the museums, the underground and the seafront. Then add one day for Pompeii and one for an island or the Amalfi Coast. As a result, three to four nights is a comfortable stay. In fall, the weather is still mild and the crowds are thinner than in summer, which makes it a good season for this plan.

Would rather go with a guide? Our comparison of Naples tours covers the underground, the Veiled Christ, the catacombs and day trips.

Arriving from the capital? Read our guide to the Rome to Naples train for times, stations and luggage tips around Napoli Centrale.

Visiting in December? Read our guide to Christmas in Naples for Via San Gregorio Armeno and the holiday food.

Naples raised its city tax on May 1, 2026; see the new rates in our Italy tourist tax guide.

Want these sights in a plan? Our Naples itinerary groups them into 1, 2 and 3-day routes by area, around each site’s weekly closing day.

Arriving at Capodichino? Our guide to Naples airport to city center compares the bus, taxi and transfers.

Naples also has a Banksy. Our guide to street art in Italy shows where to find it.

Staying overnight in Naples? Compare places to stay below, and see our Naples itinerary to plan the rest of the trip.

Affiliate links: if you book through them, Italy2Love earns a commission at no extra cost to you.

Also, if you are planning a night or two, our guide to where to stay in Naples and on the Amalfi Coast helps you pick the right area.

On a cruise stop? Our page on Naples shore excursions compares Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.

What to do in Naples: frequently asked questions

What should I not miss in Naples?

The historic center along Spaccanapoli, the Veiled Christ in the Sansevero Chapel, the National Archaeological Museum and a pizza in a classic pizzeria.

Which museums in Naples close on Tuesdays?

Both the Sansevero Chapel and the National Archaeological Museum list Tuesday as their closing day. Check the official sites before you go.

Do I need to book the Sansevero Chapel?

Buying a timed ticket online is the safest choice, because the chapel is small and busy.

How many days do I need for what to do in Naples?

Two days cover the main city sights. Add a day for Pompeii and another for an island or the Amalfi Coast.

Can I visit Pompeii from Naples in a day?

Yes. Pompeii is on the local train line from Naples, and many day tours combine it with Vesuvius.