One Day in Naples, Italy: Cruise Port Guide & Best Things to Do

Naples is Italy on steroids.

It can be chaotic, noisy and frenetic. But equally, it has a rich historical and cultural heritage, a spectacularly scenic setting and its restaurants serve arguably the best pizza in the world.

In 2019, Naples cruise port handled almost 1.4 million passengers, making it one of the busiest stops on Mediterranean cruises. But if you are visiting Naples on a cruise or on a day trip from Rome, how do you see the best that it has to offer?

Get a taste of this lively city with this guide to the best things to do during one day in Naples along with suggestions for day trips from Naples. Finally, if you are visiting on a cruise, I’ve also included a useful Naples cruise port guide.

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Best Things to Do in Naples in One Day

Without further ado, let’s dive into the ten best things to do during one day in Naples.

Visit Castel Nuovo 

Start your day in Naples at Castel Nuovo. Looming over the harbour, this is an enormous military castle with striking and eccentric round towers.

Built by Charles of Anjou in 1279, most of what you see today is the work of the Catalan architect Guillermo Sagrara who was also responsible for the Exchange in Palma de Mallorca.

The castle’s main entrance is an intricately carved 15th-century white marble triumphal arch tucked in between two of the towers. Inside, there are frescoes by Giotto in the Cappella Palatina and a collection of artwork by Neapolitan painters from the 17th to early 20th Centuries.

Stop for a coffee in Galleria Umberto I 

Galleria Umberto is a ten-minute walk from Naples cruise port.

This light-filled shopping arcade was built at the end of the 19th century as part of a project to rebuild and renovate much of Naples. Crowned with a domed glass and steel roof, and decorated with elegant murals and sculptures, the Galleria Umberto is part of the UNESCO listing of the Historic Centre of Naples as a World Heritage Site.

Galleria Umberto was used extensively as a shooting location for the 2021 film The Hand of God, one of the best films set in Italy

Admire Piazza del Plebiscito

After languishing as a car park between the 1960s and 1994, this immense and elegant square has been restored to its former splendour. Named after the 1860 plebiscite that brought Naples into the unified Kingdom of Italy, and constructed from volcanic rock from Vesuvius, work began on Piazza del Plebiscito in the first half of the 19^th Century.

Piazza del Plebiscito is flanked by two majestic buildings.

Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace), one of four royal residences around Naples used by the Bourbon Kings, occupies its southern edge. Facing the Palazzo Reale, Basilica San Francesco di Paola embraces the piazza with its curving colonnades.

Stroll the streets of the historic centre of Naples

A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995, the historic centre of Naples is a warren of old churches, small shops, cafes, and bars. Naples was founded by Greek settlers in 470 B.C. and has retained the imprint of the successive cultures that have occupied the city.

The historic centre is roughly bounded by the waterfront on the south, Via Toledo and the Spanish Quarter to its western edge and Via Floria on the northern edge. For tourists, Via Duomo marks its eastern side.

Spaccanapoli, meaning ‘Split Naples’ does exactly that. Lined with grocery barrows and one-of-a-kind shops, and inhabited by arch-Neapolitan characters, this is the heart of old Naples.

You may struggle to find Spaccanapoli on your map. Look instead for Via Benedetto Croce and Via San Biagio dei Librai.

Don’t miss Via San Gregorio Armeno, which is tucked between Spaccanapoli and Via dei Tribunali. This charming lane is known across Italy for its artisan shops selling handcrafted pastori, or nativity-scene figurines.

Go underground at Galleria Borbonica 

Naples is a city with buried secrets. Tunnels, caves, and catacombs lace their way under the city, and I recommend going underground at least once during your day in Naples.

Galleria Borbonica (Bourbon Gallery or Bourbon Tunnel) has a fascinating history.

It housed immense water tanks in the 1600s and served as an escape for the Bourbon royal family. It was an air-raid shelter during World War II and an impound lot.

A section of the tunnel is a Vespa graveyard, populated with confiscated souped-up scooters that have exceeded the 50km/hour speed limit.

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Visit Naples Cathedral

Naples is home to more than 450 churches but the most important of these is Naples Cathedral. The cathedral is dedicated to San Gennaro, the patron saint of the city, and is variously known as the Duomo di Napoli, Duomo di San Gennaro and the Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral.

It was built in the 13th Century on the remains of the ancient temple dedicated to the god Apollo. In the late 17th century it was reworked in flamboyant Baroque fashion with the later addition of a late nineteenth-century Neo-Gothic façade.

With a golden Byzantine mosaic and frescoes galore, the best stuff is on the inside. But most importantly, the cathedral is the home of the skull of San Gennaro and an ampoule that encloses his blood.

It is said that the saint’s blood liquefies twice a year. If the miracle of liquefaction doesn’t occur, misfortune will strike the town.

Learn more at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples

Naples National Archaeological Museum (MANN) is one of the great museums of the world.

Starting life as an army barracks in the 16th century, it was converted into a museum in the 19th century. This massive museum is spread across four floors and is home to an extensive collection of Greek and Roman antiquities, as well as artefacts from Ancient Egypt.

Visiting MANN is one of the best things to do in Naples if you are planning to visit Pompeii or Herculaneum. Valuable treasures from these two sites are displayed here, giving you greater insight into daily life in Pompeii and Herculaneum.

The museum’s other highlight is the Farnese Collection. This collection of classic sculptures and objects from the villas of ancient Rome is one of the world’s most important Greco-Roman exhibitions.

Admire views of Vesuvius with a walk through Santa Lucia

Walk along the Lungomare waterfront in the Santa Lucia district of Naples for views across the Bay of Naples and of Mount Vesuvius, looming menacingly on the other side of the water.

Santa Lucia’s fishermen were evicted following an enormous landfill project and this attractive area is now home to restaurants and some of Naples’ finest hotels.

Visit Castel dell’Ovo

At the end of the Lungomare, on the Borgo Marinaro island, is Naples’ oldest, and most picturesque, castle.

Castel dell’Ovo was built by the Normans in the 12th century. Prior to that, the site played host to the last western Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustulus, during his exile.

Today, the castle today is used for events and temporary art exhibitions, but you can take a walk around its fortified walls for free.

Eat pizza

There is one thing that you must do if you have just one day in Naples. Eat pizza!

One of the best reasons to visit Italy is to feast on pizza and Naples is where it all began.

In 1889 King Umberto I and Queen Margherita needed a respite from their relentless diet of French Haute Cuisine. It just goes to show that you can get too much of a good thing.

Amongst the selection presented to the royal couple, the queen preferred the pizza topped with mozzarella, tomatoes and basil (coincidentally, the colours of the Italian flag).

And so Pizza Margherita was born.

L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele is reputed to make the best pizza in Naples. This is also where Julia Roberts munched on a slice of pizza in the movie Eat, Pray, Love.

The pizzeria is on Via Cesare Sersale, close to Naples Cathedral and a 20-minute walk from Naples cruise port. Expect to queue.

Guided Tours of Naples

But perhaps you do not feel completely comfortable exploring Naples on your own, or you are looking for greater insight into Naples’ history and culture and way of life? If so, consider joining an organised walking tour.

Loneliness is a key concern of solo travellers. If you are travelling alone, joining a tour is an excellent way to meet other travellers.

I use GetYourGuide to source and book day excursions. Not only does the platform offer an extensive selection of tours from independent operators, but there is also a very generous cancellation policy.

Here are a few tours related to the activities in this article:

Historic Centre of Naples Walking Tour

This 2.5-hour walking tour takes in the streets around Spaccanapoli and includes a visit to Cappella San Severo where the Veiled Christ is housed.

>>> CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Naples: Street Food Tour with Local Guide

If sampling the local cuisine is more your thing, try some of the tastiest street foods in Naples as you stroll around the city’s historic centre. As you might expect, pizza is included as is a shot of limoncello and gelato.

>>> CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Best Day Trips from Naples for Cruise Passengers

Maybe you’ve visited Naples before and want to explore the beauty of the Amalfi Coast or the historic sites of Pompeii or Herculaneum? All of these places are easy day trips from Naples, even if you are a cruise passenger.

As with any onshore activities, always check that you will be able to make it back to the ship in plenty of time. If in doubt, select an organised excursion that guarantees to deposit you back at the port before your ship sails away.

Getting away from Naples

By train

Choose between Porta Nolana or Garibaldi stations, from where you can catch the Circumvesuviana or Campania Express train services.

From Porta Nolana

The closest railway station to Naples cruise port is Porta Nolana, a 30-minute walk northeast. If you prefer, you can take metro line 1 from Colombo station near the marina to Garibaldi – Circumvesuviana.

Otherwise, the Naples Alibus Airport Shuttle leaves from outside Stazione Marittima and stops outside Napoli Centrale station. From here, it’s a ten-minute walk to Porta Nolana.

From Garibaldi station

Alternatively, Garibaldi station, on the lower level of Naples’ main railway station, is located just over two miles from the cruise terminal. To reach Garibaldi station by public transport, take the metro line 1 from Municipio station to Piazza Garibaldi, or the Naples Alibus Airport Shuttle from the port.

Circumvesuviana train service

From Naples Garibaldi or Porta Nolana, the private Circumvesuviana train service connects the city to Sorrento via Pompeii and Herculaneum, with countless stops along the way. I recommend starting your journey at Porta Nolana station as this is the terminus and you stand a better chance of getting a seat.

Fares are low and services are frequent. But as this is predominantly a commuter line, it can get crowded. Timetable here.

Campania Express

The Campania Express is a faster and more comfortable alternative to the Circumvesuviana train. However, it is a more expensive and less frequent service that runs between April and October only.

Although these trains run on the same route as the Circumvesuviana, they stop only at popular tourist sites, including Pompeii, Herculaneum and Sorrento.  Again, trains depart Naples from Napoli Porta Nolana and Garibaldi stations.

By ferry and hydrofoil

As Naples Cruise Terminal is located next to its ferry dock, it’s easy to jump on a boat across the Bay of Naples.

Sorrento

Sorrento was the first place that I visited on the Amalfi coast over 30 years ago. Famous for its lemons and high-pedigree hotels, this laid-back town has been popular with tourists since the Grand Tours of the 19th Century.

This is the place to replenish your supplies of limoncello.

Stop for a coffee or lunch in one of the small cafes Piazza Tasso, Sorrento’s main square. Pick up gifts in the town’s famous small ceramics, lacework and marquetry (woodwork) shops.

But, best of all, take in the dramatic views over the Bay of Naples from Sorrento’s lofty clifftop location.

Island of Capri

Capri is an enchaining garden of Eden with more than 8,000 species of flora tumbling over a sheer chunk of limestone, eroded over the millennia into fantastical forms.

The Blue Grotto (Grotto Azzura) is Capri’s headline act. The shimmering, iridescent blueness of the water in this sea cave is due to the reflection of light on the water in the morning.

Renowned as a playground for Roman Emperors, artists and the Hollywood glitterati, Capri’s jaw-dropping beauty comes at a hefty price. Capri town is awash with designer boutiques and jewellery shops, and the island also prides itself on its fine dining.

Pompeii

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pompeii barely needs an introduction.

Pompeii was once a cosmopolitan resort town inhabited by wealthy Romans. All this ended in 79 A.D when the town was buried under the volcanic ash of Mount Vesuvius.  

Today’s visitors to Pompeii can stroll along the town’s ancient paved streets and view the remains of its lavish villas, elegantly bathhouses, temples and massive 20,000-seater amphitheatre.

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I have been to Pompeii twice, once with a guide and once without. To make the most of your visit, this is one place where it is worth paying for a guided tour.

Pompeii’s ruins are huge and sometimes confusing with little signage. A map and guidebook are unlikely to cut it here.

>>> Visit Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius on a day tour from Naples. Click here for further information and to book.

Herculaneum

For a different perspective, visit Herculaneum, a few stops along the Circumvesuviana train line towards Naples or Sorrento.

Herculaneum suffered the same fate as Pompeii when Vesuvius erupted. However, its buildings are better preserved than those of its neighbour, many having their upper storey intact.

The tragedy of Herculaneum feels immediate.

The town’s boathouses are home to the skeletons of hundreds of people sheltering from the eruption. Whilst waiting for a boat to rescue them, their flesh was vaporised by an intense wave of hot gas, leaving only their charred bones.

Along with Pompeii, Herculaneum is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Naples Cruise Port Guide

Where do ships berth in Naples?

Most cruise ships dock at Molo Beverello, the main pier of Stazione Maritima, Naples’ cruise terminal. This is in the south of the city, situated next to the marina and ferry port terminal, from where services depart for Capri, Ischia, Sorrento and other cities.

How to get from Naples cruise port to the historic centre

Naples historic centre is an easy 10-minute walk from the cruise terminal.

Once you leave the cruise terminal, follow the passenger walkway that will take you to the Piazza del Plebiscito in the heart of the historic city centre.

How to get around Naples in one day

Walking is the easiest way to explore Naples.

If you want to visit places that are further out or reach the city’s main railway station, your best option is line 1 of the city’s metro system, also known as the “Art Line” thanks to the works of art decorating its stops.

In 2022, a single ticket costs €1.50 and is valid for 90 minutes. Day tickets offering unlimited journeys are also available for 4.50 EUR.

Municipio is the closest metro station to the cruise terminal.

It’s worth going underground to take a look at the multicoloured Toledo metro station, thought to be the most beautiful in Europe. 

There is also the ubiquitous hop-on-hop-off (HOHO) bus. There is a bus stop outside the terminal, adjacent to Castel Nuovo that you’ll spot upon exiting the terminal building.

The HOHO bus follows two different routes stopping at principal sights and attractions in Naples. In the summer months, a third route takes you to the San Martino Monastery. An audio commentary is included.

Whilst this is a hassle-free way of getting around Naples, the city’s traffic is legendary and there’s every chance that you will spend a chunk of your time in clogged streets.

>>> CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR HOHO BUS TICKET

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