Day Trips From Naples: 8 INCREDIBLE Options
Discover The Best Day Trips From Naples
Day trips from Naples – yeah, they’re kind of a thing.
You’ve got maybe three or four days in southern Italy, and you’re trying to figure out which day trips are actually worth the early wake-up call. Should you hit Capri? Is Sorrento too touristy? Can you actually do Positano without losing your entire day to traffic? And what about Pompeii and Ercolano – are they both necessary, or is one enough?
These are real questions because your time matters.
I spent one week bouncing around this region, and honestly, every single place has something different going for it.
But here’s what I learned: you don’t need to see everything. You just need to see the right things for what you’re looking for.
The best decision I made was climbing Mount Vesuvius on a morning when half the bay was wrapped in clouds. We got to the crater rim, caught our breath (that path is no joke), and just stood there while the wind picked up.
Then the cloud cover broke apart like someone pulled back a curtain, and suddenly the entire Bay of Naples spread out below us. Capri is sitting there in the distance. The curve of the coastline. The city is tucked against the water. It was one of those moments where you forget to take photos because you’re too busy actually being there.
Whether you’re travelling solo and want maximum flexibility, or you’re with your person and trying to nail that romantic coastal vibe, the trips you take from Naples can completely make your time in this part of Italy.
So let’s talk about what’s actually worth your limited vacation days.
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🇮🇹 Day Trips From Naples – Quick Guide 🇮🇹
Best Time To Visit Naples: April to June for mild weather and fewer crowds
Where To Stay:
Hotel Europa *** Schilizzi Hotel *** Vecchia Napoli Vesuvio ***
Getting Around Naples And Campania: Train, bus or rent a car.
Day Trip To Consider: Mount Vesucius, Pompeii, Ercolano, Capri, Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, Salerno
Before You Go
Read my 2 Day Naples Itinerary.
Day Trips From Naples To Capri
A great way to spend some time in Naples is to take a day trip to Capri.
Travellers normally depart from Molo Beverello or Calata Porta di Massa and make the one-and-a-half-hour boat ride there.
When I visited Naples, I actually made the trip from Porto di Sorrento. Still, many people who don’t venture further south along Italy’s coastline can take it from Naples.
When I landed at Porto Turistico di Capri, I was blown away by the peaks all around the island.
We even took a boat ride around the island, and it was stunning. The blue waters and the world-famous Faraglioni rocks were incredible. We also stopped close to the coast to see Grotta Bianca and Grotta Rossa up close.
For a great Capri boat tour, I recommend booking an island boat tour, including the grottos, because we had a driver who spoke English and used a megaphone to tell us all about what we could see. Top experience!
For me, the best part was walking along the peaceful paths. The views from the Gardens of Augustus onto the sea were sublime. We even saw the former homes of Sophia Loren and Benito Mussolini.
Once we were done there, we took some photos at the observation deck overlooking Porto Turistico di Capri. To get there, we took a funicular from the marina, which only lasted about five minutes. The cost for a ride up was €2.40 per person, and the views were lovely too.
If you don’t opt for this route, you’ll have to walk or drive up the long and winding road to the viewpoint, which I don’t recommend if you’re short on time.
Claim Your Seat On A Naples Day Trip To Capri & Anacapri Ferry Group Tour
Naples To Positano
You’ll fall in love with Positano if you haven’t already from the pictures.
Whenever I googled Sorrento, Naples, or Amalfi, Positano was often the first image that popped up. This incredible coastal town is just an hour and ten-minute drive from Naples.
It’s one of the best day trips you can do from the city.
When I visited Positano, I did feel a little unwell from the tall bus and windy roads that stretch from Sorrento all the way there. However, once I arrived, I didn’t care anymore.
Every corner of the bendy and hilly streets offers insane views of the sea.
The real beauty is when you’re down on Positano Spiaggia. When we visited in November, the entire beach was free of sun beds, and the weather was so nice we could even swim in our swimsuits. In November – who would have guessed?
This is where you can get some of the best photos of the famous colourful apartments along the coast. It’s easily one of my favourite parts of all of Italy.
When walking around the streets, be aware that when it’s hot, you’ll find it hard.
These streets are inclined, so it will soak up your energy fast.
Don’t miss out on a visit to the beautiful Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta. We stumbled across this church when we were looking for a way out onto the beach.
For the best sunset view in Positano, I suggest you head to Terrazza Celè for a drink or meal and watch the sky change its colours.
Book This Premium Tour of Sorrento, Positano, And Amalfi
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Naples To Ercolano (Herculaneum)
Ercolano is a somewhat underappreciated day trip from Naples.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s pretty famous and popular. But compared to Pompeii or Sorrento, it doesn’t get as much attention.
I’ll admit I didn’t know much about this place before visiting. Most people talk about Pompeii, the ancient city covered in ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted back in 79 AD.
Ercolano suffered the same fate. It was discovered in 1709 when a well digger unearthed remnants of ancient life.
What I loved about doing a day trip from Naples to Ercolano was how close the two places are. It’s only 12.4 kilometres and about 30 minutes on train number 1 or 4, which departs every 20 minutes, so you can easily get there.
The train station near Ercolano is about 600 metres away, so there’s a short walk. But when we visited, it was incredible arriving at the entrance and discovering something unearthed from the ash.
We bought our tickets at the entrance and it cost us €16.00, but you can include the exhibition centre for an extra €3.00.
What I loved about this place was how much lower it sits compared to today’s ground level. The most interesting things to see here were the Casa di Galba and the Antica Spiaggia di Herculaneum.
It’s not so big (20 hectares approximately), so I recommend at least 2 hours to explore here.
I recommend eating at Bistrot De Paris Ercolano, close to the train station, for some good pizza. When we ate there, the staff were so full of energy and curious about our trip! Of course, the food was good too.
If you’re tight on time, you could do Ercolano and Pompeii in one day. But if you have lots of time, split them into separate days.
Book Your Herculaneum Skip-the-Line Guided Tour to Avoid Long Queues
Naples To Pompeii
Pompeii is one of the best day trips you can do from Naples.
You can take the FlixBus from Itabus fermata Napoli, which takes 35 minutes, but I recommend taking the train because of the scenic views along the way.
From Porta Nolana Staz EA, you can leave, and it takes a little over an hour to get to Pompei Scavi Villa Dei Misteri. From there, we walked about one minute to the archaeological park entrance.
It might sound cliché, but walking through Pompeii is like going back in time.
The city is frozen, literally under metres of ash. Today, you can see the pots and pillars that once held the town together before the eruption.
What was most moving for me was the skeletons frozen in their last moments. Bodies lying in curled up foetal positions, capturing their last moments only to be restored for us to see hundreds of years later.
Another highlight is the Casa e Thermopolium di Vetutius Placidus, where you can see what a Roman kitchen looked like back in 79 AD.
You could easily spend days here. While you may only have one day to see Pompeii from Naples, like many travellers do, I’d recommend staying longer for an in-depth experience to cover every part of the site.
A standard entry ticket costs €18.00. When we visited, we also purchased an audio guide, which really brought us deeply through the site and educated us on the key dates and events from before the eruption right up until the present day.
They do it very well in Pompeii, and it’s easily one of my favourite day trips from Naples.
I Recommend Taking This Highly Rated Skip-the-Line Pompeii – Small Group Tour.
Naples To Sorrento
Another popular place to visit from Naples is the beautiful coastal town of Sorrento.
You can read my guide to the best things to do in Sorrento, but for me, it’s a really nice place to see at least once.
You can explore the beautiful beaches below the cliffs of Sorrento or try some of the locally produced and fresh limoncello.
For foodies, I recommend eating at La Locanda Del Gusto and Fauna Bar. Amazing, authentic Italian food with superb staff.
Another cool place to spend time is the hidden gem of Bagni Regina Giovanna, an old Roman ruin with a natural swimming pool protected by rocks. It’s a truly beautiful escape from the town. It only took us 45 minutes to walk from the centre of Sorrento, or you can get a taxi there.
When we visited Sorrento, we actually stayed for a couple of nights, and it was a great experience. The food here is fantastic and there are loads of free things to do.
I recommend staying at least one day in Sorrento when visiting Naples.
Naples To Mount Vesuvius
You can’t mention day trips from Naples without talking about Mount Vesuvius.
It’s probably Europe’s most famous volcano, and after visiting Herculaneum and Pompeii, it feels even more fascinating and relevant. This mighty volcano was responsible for the deaths of thousands and for burying both cities back in 79 AD.
We took a group tour bus from the centre of Naples, and in about 50 minutes, we arrived at the base, facing only a short walk to the top. We booked through our hotel, but I recommend booking here to ensure you get a space.
I expected the climb to be much harder, but to be honest, the bus does most of the work for you.
At the bottom, before the incline begins, you’ll find souvenir stalls selling magnets and Mount Vesuvius memorabilia, but it’s better to wait until you’re on the way down to buy them.
When we visited, the crater was completely covered in clouds at first.
After a few minutes, though, the sky began to clear, and suddenly we found ourselves looking out over epic views across the Bay of Naples. You can see the city and the coastline stretching as far as the eye can see.
I felt a little uneasy up there, but the adrenaline kept me going. It’s truly an experience from Naples that I’ll never forget.
We went with an organised tour, so we were allowed about an hour to explore the top, which was plenty. There’s even a small stall selling tea and coffee right at the summit, surprising to see all the way up in the clouds.
Unless you’re driving yourself, I recommend taking a group tour because it can take up to two and a half hours using public transport to get there, and that’s too long when you only have one day trip from Naples to enjoy.
I Recommend This Skip-the-Line Ticket And Audio Guide Tour From Naples.
Bonus: Places I Haven’t Visited Yet
Naples To Amalfi
The Amalfi Coast is one of Italy and Europe’s most popular summer destinations.
Though I didn’t get to visit myself, the journey from Naples mirrors the route to Sorrento. You can travel south by bus and train, either independently or with a group tour.
Amalfi town sits almost 17 kilometres past Positano and offers travellers a beautiful escape from city life.
According to a friend, the must-see attraction is the Cathedral of St Andrew the Apostle.
The interior features stunning colours you won’t forget. It’s also just 100 metres from the beach, so you can enjoy both magnificent cathedrals and Mediterranean sunshine along Italy’s coast.
Book This Boat Tour of Amalfi, Positano, and Ravello to Make Lasting Memories
Naples To Salerno
I haven’t visited Salerno myself yet, but I’m absolutely dying to see it.
It’s about 55 kilometres from Naples, and you can take the train there in around an hour.
The journey takes you along the beautiful Campanian coast, offering some stunning views along the way.
From what I’ve researched, Salerno is a beautiful coastal town that’s much bigger than Sorrento or Positano for sure. It has a completely different vibe from the smaller towns along the coast.
The town has a lovely historic centre with medieval streets and a beautiful waterfront promenade that stretches for miles. I’ve heard the Duomo di Salerno is absolutely spectacular, and there’s also a stunning medieval aqueduct that runs through the town.
What really appeals to me about Salerno is that it’s less touristy than places like Positano or Capri, so you get a more authentic Italian experience. It’s also a perfect base for exploring the southern Amalfi Coast and is much more affordable.
I’d recommend at least a full day here to explore the old town, walk the lungomare (seafront), and enjoy some local cuisine at one of the many trattorias.
Book This Salerno Walking Tour For A Full Experience
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Final Thoughts/Conclusion
There are plenty of day trips from Naples to keep you busy and curious about this region of Italy.
Find out where to stay in Naples with my in-depth guide.
My personal favourites were reaching the summit of Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii, and Positano.
However, all are worth a visit in my view.
The history of Ercolano and the dynamic beauty of Capri are next level. While Naples has so many great things to do and see, you can venture further from the city and discover some gems that attract people from all over the world annually.
I strongly recommend booking tours well in advance, especially during high season. While I travelled to this part of Italy in winter (we still had great weather), it can be much more expensive and harder to secure spaces on tours during peak season.
Just something to keep in mind.
Any questions? Just drop me a message.
Thanks for reading,
James
FAQs
Where To Go On Day Trips From Naples?
You can take day trips from Naples to Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii, Ercolano, Positano, Amalfi, and many more destinations. Thanks to the bus services, trains, and group tour options available in Naples, travel is a breeze. Take advantage of group tours so you don’t have to stress about missing the bus or train. No matter which day trip you choose, you’re likely going to witness some of Italy’s most impressive historic sites, beaches, and food.
What Are The Cool Towns Near Naples?
The coolest towns close to Naples include Sorrento, Pompeii, Ercolano, Amalfi and Positano. You can arrange some amazing day trips from Naples to these towns for reasonable prices. When we visited Naples, we took advantage of the public transport, like the train and bus and got to see Pompeii, Ercolano and Vesuvius and many more places.
Where Can You Go By Ferry From Naples?
Thanks to the city’s port, you can experience many great day trips from Naples. Capri, Salerno, and Sorrento are some of the best places to visit. Naples has excellent public transport—trains and buses can take you to the best spots along the coast. You can also book group or private tours for your day trips. We tried a mix of both public transport and self-guided tours, but found the group tours much easier.
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