Free museums in Naples on 1 and 4 November 2026: MANN, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Capodimonte and Caserta
Two days of free state museums in early November: Sunday 1 for Domenica al Museo and Wednesday 4 for National Unity Day. At Pompeii you walk in without a ticket until 20,000 visitors have entered.
At a glance
- Dates
- Sunday 1 and Wednesday 4 November 2026
- Ticket
- Free at state museums and archaeological parks
- Hours
- Each site's regular hours; arrive early
- Booking
- Recommended or required where applicable: Musei Italiani app
- Pompeii
- No booking, straight to the turnstiles, 20,000 daily cap
Sunday 1 November: Domenica al Museo
- MANN: 9am-7.30pm, booking optional.
- Royal Palace: Royal Apartments 9am-8pm (last entry 7pm). Hanging Garden closed; Caruso Museum 9am-2pm by booking only, 30 people per slot.
- Museo Pignatelli: 9.30am-5pm (last entry 4pm); Carriage Museum closed.
- Certosa and Museum of San Martino: 8.30am-6.30pm (last entry 5.30pm).
- Capodimonte, Castel Sant'Elmo, Villa Floridiana: free, regular hours.
- Royal Palace of Caserta: free ticket with a time slot; some online via TicketOne (max 5 per account), the rest on site from 8.30am.
Nearby, the Herculaneum and Campi Flegrei archaeological parks are free too.
Wednesday 4 November: National Unity Day
| Site | Hours | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| MANN | 9am-7.30pm | not needed |
| Capodimonte | 8am-6pm | no, free ticket at the desk or online |
| Castel Sant'Elmo | 8.30am-7.30pm (last entry 6.30pm) | not required |
| Herculaneum | 8.30am-5pm | not required |
| Pompeii | 9am-5pm (last entry 3.30pm) | none |
At MANN the Egyptian and Magna Graecia sections and the Secret Cabinet stay closed for safety reasons. Capodimonte is closed on Thursday 5 November.
Pompeii on both days
- Go straight to the turnstiles: no ticket office, no named ticket.
- Entry stops once 20,000 visitors are in.
- Oplontis, Villa Regina at Boscoreale and the Stabiae villas are free too.
Tip: on free days queues start at opening time. Arrive by 9am and watch the last entry, which in winter is mid-afternoon.
Visit for free
- National Archaeological MuseumMANN and its treasures
- Naples to Pompeiihow to get there and what to see
- Naples to Herculaneumthe ruins below Vesuvius
- Royal Palace of Casertapalace and royal park
- Castel Sant'Elmoviews over the bay
Frequently asked questions
Which museums are free in Naples on 1 November 2026?
State museums and archaeological parks, including MANN, Capodimonte, the Royal Palace, Museo Pignatelli, Castel Sant'Elmo, the Certosa di San Martino, Villa Floridiana, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Campi Flegrei and the Royal Palace of Caserta.
Do I need to book?
It depends on the site: the Ministry says booking is recommended or required where applicable, via the Musei Italiani app. Pompeii takes no bookings; at Caserta the free ticket has a time slot.
Why are museums free on 4 November?
It is National Unity and Armed Forces Day: since 2023 it has been one of the free-entry days at Italian state museums, together with 25 April and 2 June.
What happens if Pompeii reaches 20,000 visitors?
Entry stops once the daily cap is reached. That is why it pays to arrive at the 9am opening, especially on Sunday 1 November.
Where to stay near the Archaeological Museum
203 places to stay in the Historic Centre on Napolibnb.it, the Naples holiday-rental portal: you contact the host directly, with no booking fees. Every listing shows its official CIN code.
