Naples in 2 Days: everything you need to know

Looking for what to see and do in Naples? Great! This article will be of great help to you. The tour touches on various parts of the city trying to give you an overview of the city of Vesuvius.

Since we are in the south of Italy, the route includes some gastronomic stops recommended by the locals. Ready to lick your fingers?

Your two days in Naples must necessarily begin in Piazza Plebiscito, an iconic place in the capital of Campania.

Start your visit at Piazza del Plebiscito

It isthe symbol of Naples and the most important square in the city. The Palazzo della Prefettura, Palazzo Salerno, Palazzo Reale and the Church of San Francesco di Paola enclose an area of more than 25 thousand square metres.

In the centre are the two equestrian statues dedicated to Charles III of Bourbon and his son Ferdinand I, created by Canova and his pupil Antonio Calì.

Before the unification of Italy, this square was known as "Largo di Palazzo" and was given its present name in October 1860 when a plebiscite established the union of the former territories of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies with the newly born Italian monarchy.

As in other cities, in the 1960s it became a large car park and cars stood in the square until 1994.

Fortunately, today it is completely pedestrianised and due to its large size it hosts events of all kinds, from concerts to political demonstrations. If you visit Naples at Christmas time you will admire the large tree that adds a festive touch to the square.

Breakfast at the Gran Caffè Gambrinus

To start the day with the right amount of energy, there is nothing better than a sfogliatella, a typical dessert with a history dating back to the Middle Ages.

It is a puff pastry with a crunchy crust and a filling of ricotta (ricotta cheese) and semolina. Traditionally there were two versions, riccia and frolla, but today there are dozens of modern recipes.

In the heart of Naples, the best place to try them is the Gran Caffè Gambrinus. It is a historic bar characterised by elegant Art Deco interiors and, of course, by the quality of its creations. It is located on Via Chiaia 1, a stone's throw from Piazza Plebiscito.

Visit the Castel Nuovo

From the Gran Caffè Gambrinus, go past Piazza del Carciofo and take Via San Carlo. You will soon arrive in front of Castel Nuovo or Maschio Angioino, the fortress built at the behest of Charles I of Anjou after defeating the Suevi in 1266. This victory was very important for the city as it marked the transfer of the capital of the kingdom from Palermo to Naples.

The castle has a trapezoidal ground plan surrounded by five towers. The courtyard includes Catalan elements such as the portico with segmental arches and the external staircase in magmatic rock. The main room is the Sala dei Baroni, which once housed the throne and a series of frescoes by Giotto.

You can visit it from Monday to Saturday, from 9:00 to 19:00. As for the price, you'll have to pay around €6. Occasionally, admission is free on Sundays.

Stroll around the Galleria Umberto I

This elegant pedestrian promenade was built at the end of the 19th century with a double function: commercial and monumental. The main entrance is on Via San Carlo, a stone's throw from the Maschio Angioino.

When you arrive here you will see its exedra façade and the four marble statues representing Europe, Asia, Africa and America.

Shortly after its inauguration it became the epicentre of the Neapolitan Belle Epoque. The exponents of the local bourgeoisie came here to stroll under the splendid glass and steel vault, shop and enjoy the shows at the Salone Margherita, Italy's first cafè-chantant.

More than a century later, the Galleria Umberto I remains the salon of Naples and an essential stop on any trip to the city.

To get to the next stop, take the Via Toledo entrance that leads to the shopping street of the same name.

Follow the road on Via Toledo

Exit the gallery in the opposite direction to the sea and you will come to the most important street in Naples. It was built in the 16th century at the behest of Viceroy Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, which is why it is dotted with elegant buildings such as Palazzo Zevallos and Palazzo Doria d'Angri.

It is also the city's shopping street and is completely pedestrianised. Here you will find the best known brands - H&M, Disney, Pull & Bear, etc. - but also bars and historical shops.

If you have time, I recommend getting off at the metro station of the same name, the third most beautiful in Europe according to CNN.

Admire the jewels of Cappella Sansevero

A few minutes' walk from Calle Toledo is a haunted place: the Sansevero Chapel. Its most famous icon is the Veiled Christ, an extraordinary marble sculpture that reproduces the texture of a veil. The other statues and the structure of the temple are no less beautiful and certainly worth a visit.

The church is normally open from 9:00 to 18:30 but you should book in advance. There are often queues and capacity is limited.

To organise your visit, I recommend you read carefully the article on tickets and visits to the Veiled Christ of Naples.

Enjoy the view at the Belvedere San Martino

After the visit, exit the chapel and reach the Montesanto funicular stop (line F2). You will get off at Morghen, which is about 600 metres from this marvellous viewpoint.

There are several viewpoints in the city, but this one has something special: from here you can see a 360º view of the entire city, from the gulf to the summit of Vesuvius.

Spend the afternoon at the Vomero

The Vomero is a neighbourhood in the hills of Naples conceived as a residential area for the wealthy classes. Belvedere San Martino is in the same district, although the central area is at the foot of Castel Sant'Elmo.

Fortunately, to get there you only have to go down the Pedamentina, a historic staircase that connects the old town with the castle of Sant'Elmo.

Its crown jewel is Villa Floridiana, a neoclassical mansion built for Lucia Migliaccio, Duchess of Floridia and wife of Ferdinand IV of Bourbon. It is surrounded by a large park - one of the largest in Naples - criss-crossed by paths and adorned with statues, columns and other architectural elements reproducing Greco-Roman ruins.

It is a paradise for children who can run and play in the large lawns. Children's playgrounds are near the entrance to Via Cimarosa, a stone's throw from the camellia grove.

The opening hours depend on the season: from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm in winter and from 8:30 am to 7:30 pm in summer.

By the way, if you are looking for other activities designed for the little ones, I recommend you read the post about visiting Pompeii with children.

Shopaholics will find their ideal destination in the Vomero. The most famous shops are concentrated in the streets Via Luca Giordano and Via Alessandro Scarlatti. However, the neighbourhood's side streets and alleyways are home to lesser-known shops where you can find some great bargains.

Delight your taste buds at Buatta

In the Vomero neighbourhood is Buatta, a restaurant serving delicious traditional cuisine.

It defines itself as a "Trattoria di conversazione" (inn of conversation); this means that you can enjoy both the food and the popular atmosphere without rushing: in Naples they know well the value of the after-dinner conversation!

One of their star dishes is genovese, an excellent pasta sauce made with beef and plenty of onions. Another special recipe is spaghetti d'o puveriello, prepared with eggs, pork fat and cheese. A classic of poor cuisine. The restaurant is located in Via Filippo Cifariello 14.

If you are passionate about good food I recommend you to read the post about the best gastronomic tours in Naples. The city of Vesuvius has a wide range of street food and traditional snacks.

The route of the second day starts in a place of medieval Naples: the Complesso Monumentale di Santa Chiara. If you are not staying nearby, you can get here by getting off at the metro stops "Duomo" or "Università".

Delve into the history of the Complesso Monumentale di Santa Chiara

The Complesso Monumentale di Santa Chiara is a Franciscan citadel dating back to the 14th century. It was built by the will of King Robert of Anjou and his wife, Sancha de Mallorca, and occupies a fairly large area in the centre of Naples.

The architects Gagliardo Primario and Leonardo di Vito designed this temple in Provençal Gothic style. The sculptures were made by Tino da Camaino who specialised in funeral monuments.

To decorate the interior, Robert of Anjou chose the best painter of the time, Giotto, although some believe that the frescoes were painted by one of his pupils.

The most famous part is undoubtedly the Chiostro Maiolicato, a cloister decorated with majolica tiles with floral motifs. It is an oasis of peace with a discreet charm. If you want to get an idea, you can take a look at its Instagram profile. Open daily from 9:30am to 5:30pm (Sundays from 10:00am to 2:30pm).

Find a souvenir in Via San Gregorio Armeno

A Naples Christmas classic that can be enjoyed in any month of the year. This street in the old town houses the ancient workshops of the artisans of the crib.

Via San Gregorio Armeno's vocation predates Christianity. In ancient Roman times, the Temple of Ceres was located here and the shops in the area sold terracotta statuettes offered to the goddess of fertility.

Today, here you can find everything from classic Neapolitan nativity scene figures to statuettes of famous contemporaries. As for the shops, these are the most historic:

• Fratelli Capuano, in 2002 they were in charge of the nativity scene at the Royal Palace in Madrid (Via San Gregorio Armeno 28).
• Sciuscià, a shop specialised in "scogli", nativity scenes that revive 17th century Naples (Via San Gregorio Armeno 3).
• Gambardella. In addition to the traditional figures, you will find reproductions of Freddie Mercury, Diego Maradona, Fidel Castro and other characters (Via San Gregorio Armeno 40).
• Di Virgilio, another temple of Neapolitan nativity scenes. Here you can even order personalised statuettes. The quality is very high (Via San Gregorio Armeno 18).
• Ferrigno, in addition to the figurines you can buy home fragrances, lucky charms, hand-painted ceramics and much more (Via San Gregorio Armeno 8).

Order a margherita at Antica Pizzeria da Michele

Naples is synonymous with pizza and the establishment on Via Cesare Sersale is its temple. Although we are used to long menus and elaborate toppings, here only two versions are served: marinara (tomato, oregano, basil) and margherita (tomato, fiordilatte and basil).

Contrary to what you might think, no bell buffalo mozzarella is used, but fiordilatte, a fresh cheese made exclusively from cow's milk. The choice of ingredient is reflected in the cooking: it is firmer and guarantees a better result.

Another myth to dispel is linked to the oil: Antica Pizzeria da Michele uses seed oil and not olive oil so that the intense flavour of the latter does not cover the flavours.

The restaurant is open every day of the week from 11:00 to 23:00. It is very well known and you will often have to wait a little while to get in, but I assure you it is worth it - Da Michele has been baking pizzas since 1870!

Enter the Duomo

The Neapolitan cathedral is in Gothic style, with a Latin cross structure and three naves. However, the construction we can see today is the result of several modifications. One of its naves leads to the Basilica of Santa Restituta, a church dating back to the early Christian period.

It can be visited from Monday to Saturday from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm (with a break between 1:30 and 2:30 pm) and on Sundays from 8:00 to 7:30 pm with a break between 1:00 and 4:30 pm.

Tour the Archaeological Museum

If you are passionate about Roman and ancient art, a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Naples should be on your list.

The itinerary is divided into three sections: the Pompeian collections, the Farnese collection (which belonged to the noble family of the same name) and the Egyptian collection, the third largest in the world after Cairo and the Egyptian Museum in Turin. The museum is open from 9:00 am to 7:30 pm.

Experience Naples at its most authentic in the Rione Sanità

Until a few years ago, the Rione Sanità remained off the beaten tourist track, whereas today it is a very popular destination.

Before the 17th century the area was practically abandoned but everything was destined to change. The construction of the basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità and some residences of the wealthy classes changed its appearance.

In reality, the real protagonist of the district is the Maddalena Cerasuolo bridge, which connects the centre with the Reggia di Capodimonte. If on the one hand it improved the connections with the rest of the city, on the other hand it maintained the essence of the district.

Strolling through the streets of the Rione Sanità means soaking in the most popular Naples, between clothes hanging outdoors and the buzz of simmering tomato sauce.

Here you can go on a graffiti trail (in Vico Misericordiella, Vico Buongiorno, Vico Lammartari and Salita Fontanelle, among others), try the tuna and provola sandwich at Alimentari Carmine (Via Sanità 115) or visit the Church of San Severo outside the walls.

No stroll through the neighbourhood should exclude a walk underneath its elegant buildings. The most famous are Palazzo Sanfelice (its monumental open staircases are very scenic) and Palazzo dello Spagnuolo, one of the most beautiful examples of Neapolitan baroque.

Discover the ritual of Cimitero delle Fontanelle

The Rione Sanità has another illustrious guest: the Cimitero delle Fontanelle. It is an ossuary containing the mortal remains of an undetermined number of people who died mainly during the 16th century, the darkest chapter of Naples.

The city suffered famines, epidemics, earthquakes, five eruptions of Vesuvius and popular uprisings.

The cemetery is known for a unique ritual, the "anime pezzentelle". In practice, Neapolitans adopted an abandoned skull (called "capuzzella") in exchange for divine protection. Inside the ossuary you will see well-preserved skulls placed in various types of containers.

The Cimitero delle Fontanelle is a place where religion and superstition mix. There are no similar cases in Europe and perhaps the only famous similarity is the Mexican Day of the Dead.

You can visit the ossuary free of charge all week from 9:00 to 16:00 while guided tours are usually organised on weekends.

End the day at the Cantina del Gallo

To end the day, there is nothing better than dinner at a good, nice and cheap restaurant. La Cantina del Gallo is a historic tavern that offers the classics of Neapolitan cuisine in an informal atmosphere.

I recommend trying the Pizzicotti (pizza dough stuffed with fried peppers, aubergines and turnip greens), Montanara (a particular type of fried pizza) and Crocchè, a typical potato croquette with a mozzarella filling and a touch of pepper. The restaurant is located in the Rione Sanità itself (Via Alessandro Telesino 21).

It depends on your tastes and time of year. If you are looking for a city break, two days are sufficient. If you like ancient art, a weekend is not enough.

Naples hosts one of the most important archaeological museums in the world and two Roman cities buried under stones and ashes: Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Also, if you have booked a flight between May and the beginning of September , you should take the opportunity to explore the coastline. You can go from Naples to Capri or visit the Amalfi Coast by renting a car or booking an organised tour.