Naples in 3 days: two days in the city and a day trip
With three days in Naples you can see the city and add a day trip: the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum or an island in the bay. Here is how to plan them.
At a glance
- Days 1 and 2
- As in Naples in 2 days: historic centre; Archaeological Museum, Vomero and seafront
- Day 3, option A
- Pompeii (morning) and Herculaneum or Vesuvius, on the Circumvesuviana
- Day 3, option B
- Procida or Capri by hydrofoil from Molo Beverello
- Where to stay
- The Historic Centre; for train day trips, the Central Station area too
Day 1 and day 2
Follow the Naples in 2 days itinerary: the first day in the old centre (Cathedral, Spaccanapoli, San Gregorio Armeno, Sansevero Chapel, Napoli Sotterranea), the second between the Archaeological Museum, the Vomero, the Spanish Quarter and the seafront.
Day 3: choose your day trip
Option A: Pompeii (and Herculaneum)
Set off early from Garibaldi on the Circumvesuviana, the local commuter train: in about 40 minutes you are at Pompei Scavi. Spend the morning and early afternoon at the excavations; if you still have energy, stop at Herculaneum on the way back (about 20 minutes from Naples), smaller and better preserved. In winter, last entry to Pompeii is at 15:30.
Option B: an island
From Molo Beverello take the hydrofoil to Procida (about 40 minutes), the smallest and most authentic, or to Capri (about 50 minutes), the most spectacular. Catch one of the first departures and check the weather: with rough seas hydrofoils can be cancelled.
Tip: do the day trip on the day with the best weather and keep the city for a possible rainy day. If your third day is a Tuesday, that is the right moment for the trip: in the city the Sansevero Chapel, the Archaeological Museum and the Certosa di San Martino are closed.
Day trips
- PompeiiCircumvesuviana, ~40 minutes
- HerculaneumCircumvesuviana, ~20 minutes
- Procidahydrofoil, ~40 minutes
- Caprihydrofoil, ~50 minutes
Frequently asked questions
Are three days enough for Naples and Pompeii?
Yes: two days for the city and one for Pompeii (and possibly Herculaneum).
Pompeii or an island for the third day?
If you love archaeology, Pompeii; if you want the sea and a relaxed atmosphere, Procida or Capri.
Where to stay for three days in Naples
202 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.
