3 days in Naples: day-by-day itinerary
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 2 of 10 free; 8 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 3 days, 9:30 to 16:51 each day
- Start and finish
- Naples Waterfront → Herculaneum
- On foot
- ≈ 46 min in total
- Transport
- 3 rides, ≈ 1 h 15 min
- Lunch
- around 13:20
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn. Climb Vesuvius on a clear, calm day.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Naples09:30–16:51 · 6 places · 7 h 20 min
Naples Waterfront
· 1 h · Free
- 20 min · transport or taxi
Castel dell'Ovo
· 45 min · Free
- 15 min on foot
Royal Palace of Naples
· 1 h 30 min · Square free, palace paid
- Lunch · 1 h
- 4 min on foot
Galleria Umberto I
· 20 min · Free
- 6 min on foot
Castel Nuovo
· 1 h · Courtyard free, museum paid
- 21 min on foot
Cappella Sansevero
· 40 min · Paid, timed entry
Day 2 · Naples09:30–15:19 · 2 places · 5 h 50 min
National Archaeological Museum of Naples
· 2 h 30 min · Paid
- Lunch · 1 h
- 19 min · transport or taxi
Museo di Capodimonte
· 2 h · Museum paid, park free
Day 3 · Naples09:30–16:06 · 2 places · 6 h 40 min
Mount Vesuvius
· 3 h · Paid, timed ticket
- Lunch · 1 h
- 36 min · transport or taxi
Herculaneum
· 2 h · Paid
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
2 of 10 are free; 8 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 2 | Castel dell'Ovo | 46 | 45 min | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Royal Palace of Naples | 39 | 1 h 30 min | Square free, palace paid |
| 5 | Castel Nuovo | 42 | 1 h | Courtyard free, museum paid |
| 6 | Cappella Sansevero | 40 | 40 min | Paid, timed entry |
| 7 | National Archaeological Museum of Naples | 34 | 2 h 30 min | Paid |
| 8 | Museo di Capodimonte | 32 | 2 h | Museum paid, park free |
| 9 | Mount Vesuvius | 49 | 3 h | Paid, timed ticket |
| 10 | Herculaneum | 44 | 2 h | Paid |
| Other 2 places | 1 h 30 min | Free | ||
| Total | 14 h 50 min | 2 of 10 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Naples Waterfront. The pedestrian seafront to Mergellina: sunset, Capri views and pizza by the harbour. Free.
- 2
Castel dell'Ovo. Naples' oldest castle on its islet off the waterfront. Usually free, with Vesuvius views from the ramparts.
- 3
Royal Palace of Naples. The Bourbon palace on Piazza del Plebiscito: grand staircase, royal apartments and hanging garden. The square is free; the palace is ticketed and closed Wednesdays.
- 4
Galleria Umberto I. The glass-domed 19th-century arcade opposite the San Carlo theatre. Free, and a good place for an espresso at the bar.
- 5
Castel Nuovo. The Angevin castle by the port with its marble triumphal arch. Arch and courtyard free; museum and terraces ticketed.
- 6
Cappella Sansevero. Sanmartino's Veiled Christ. Timed entry, best booked online; no photos inside.
Day 2
- 7
National Archaeological Museum of Naples. Pompeii's frescoes and mosaics and the Farnese Hercules and Bull. Closed Tuesdays; allow 2 to 3 hours.
- 8
Museo di Capodimonte. Titian, Raphael and Bruegel in a hilltop palace, with a free park around it. Closed Wednesdays.
Day 3
- 9
Mount Vesuvius. A 30 to 40 minute path to the crater from the car park; timed ticket online, bus from Ercolano or Pompeii station.
- 10
Herculaneum. A small Roman town better preserved than Pompeii. Train to Ercolano Scavi ≈ 20 minutes; two hours is enough.
Who this route is for
- An unhurried trip to Naples
- Lovers of history and antiquity
- You want to see the volcano
- Capri and Amalfi: separate days
- Young children: Vesuvius isn't buggy-friendly
Spring and autumn. Climb Vesuvius on a clear, calm day.
What to see in Naples in 3 days
The route puts the museums before the ruins: on day two you see mosaics, frescoes and bronzes from Pompeii and Herculaneum in the Archaeological Museum, and on day three the houses and streets by Vesuvius. The museum and Capodimonte are on one axis, linked by bus.
Day three is the fullest: a morning bus from Ercolano station to the Vesuvius car park, 30 to 40 minutes up the path, then Herculaneum after lunch. Book the crater ticket online in advance.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, add something nearby, and the timings update.
Day two: two great museums
Spend the morning at the Archaeological Museum: the Farnese Hercules and Bull on the ground floor, the House of the Faun mosaics and Pompeii frescoes upstairs. Allow 2 to 3 hours; it's closed on Tuesdays, so swap days if needed.
After lunch, take the bus up to Capodimonte for Titian, Raphael, Bruegel and the queen's porcelain room, with a big free park and bay views around it. Capodimonte closes on Wednesdays.
Day three: Vesuvius and Herculaneum
Catch an early Circumvesuviana train to Ercolano Scavi, then the bus to the crater. It's cool and windy at the top, so bring a layer. After coming down, explore Herculaneum: two-storey houses, mosaics and baths, in about two hours.
If Pompeii is a must, swap it in for Herculaneum: it's bigger and takes half a day, so move Vesuvius to another morning.
More to see
On a fourth day, visit Pompeii, take a tour of the Teatro di San Carlo, or head to Capri and the Amalfi Coast.
How to do it right
- See the museums before the ruins; the ancient towns make more sense that way.
- Book the Vesuvius crater ticket online ahead.
- Churches require covered shoulders and knees, and large backpacks are often refused.
- Italy uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; carry a little cash for cafés and markets. Buy museum tickets ahead on official sites, where closing days are listed too.
- Check closing days: the museum on Tuesdays, Capodimonte on Wednesdays.
Questions
What should I see in Naples in 3 days?
The seafront centre and the Sansevero Chapel; the Archaeological Museum and Capodimonte; Vesuvius and Herculaneum.
Can you do Vesuvius and the ruins in one day?
Yes: a morning bus to the crater from Ercolano station, Herculaneum after lunch.
How many days do you need in Naples?
Three to four for the city, museums, Vesuvius, Herculaneum and Pompeii; add a day for the islands.
When are Naples' museums closed?
The Archaeological Museum on Tuesdays; Capodimonte and the Royal Palace on Wednesdays.
How do I get to Capodimonte?
By bus from the Archaeological Museum or Piazza Dante, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- UNESCO: Historic Centre of Naples (no. 726); Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata (no. 829)
