Weekend to discover Naples, two days dedicated to breathtaking landscapes, good food and traditions. Ready to go?
"See Naples and then die": this is how the German poet Johan Wolfgang van Goethe described the UNESCO World Heritage city. The city of the sun, with its breathtaking landscapes, its history and its people offers its visitors an unforgettable experience.
If you want to spend a weekend in a breathtaking setting, full of good food and discovering the Neapolitan traditions, you are in the right place!
Weekend in Naples: planning the itinerary
Art, food, natural beauty: a weekend in Naples should be carefully planned so as not to miss anything worth seeing. As concentrated and walkable as its historic center is, there are several neighborhoods to visit, sometimes slightly dislocated.
Our first advice is to consider a way to get around Naples by public transportation, perhaps purchasing a city pass that also gives you free access to major tourist attractions.
It now remains to figure out what to see. We have created for you a list of must-see essentials for a weekend in Naples. Read on to build your two-day Naples itinerary with us.
Discover more about Naples Pass ❯Spanish Quarters: the veracity of Naples
First morning dedicated to the most folkloristic district of Naples: the Spanish Quarters and its people fill the city with sounds and colors and are an unmissable stop if you want to discover the true essence of Naples.
Immerse yourself in the alleys of the neighborhood and look up to see the clothes hanging out in the sun, the traditional "panari", the wicker baskets lowered from the balconies for the transport of objects and the Street Art that distinguishes the Spanish Quarters.
Colorful murals portray some of the most famous people who have made the history of the city: among them, Diego Armando Maradona, Totò, Massimo Troisi and Pino Daniele. Visit the picturesque streets of the neighborhood for an experience that will strike your senses!
Toledo: the most beautiful metro in the world in Naples
From the Spanish Quarters, take the metro from the Toledo stop and get off at the Duomo stop to reach San Gregorio Armeno.
Toledo is considered the most beautiful metro station in Europe and in the world!
Raise your eyes to be fascinated by the beauty of the "Crater de luz", the cone of light that crosses the 40 meters deep of the station. Keep your cameras at hand: play of light and shadow will give you a breathtaking view!
San Gregorio Armeno: the street of the Neapolitan cribs
After taking the metro to Toledo, get off at the Duomo stop and in a few minutes you will find yourself in the famous alleys of the artisan shops of San Gregorio Armeno.
San Gregorio Armeno is the famous Neapolitan street to admire statuettes and cribs handmade by master craftsmen.
The best time to visit it is between November and December, to breathe the true Christmas atmosphere, however, it is also worth a visit at other times of the year, where you can appreciate the work of the artisans with more tranquility.
Indeed, you will not only find Christmas nativity scenes, but also statuettes of Neapolitan tradition such as Pulcinella or statuettes depicting politicians and famous people of Italian and international news.
For lunch, treat yourself to the typical Neapolitan pizza, Italian pride and appreciated all over the world, with more than four centuries of history. We recommend you taste the original Margherita pizza, with tomato, mozzarella and basil, created in honor of Queen Margherita visiting Naples in 1889.
A few minutes walk from San Gregorio Armeno is the renowned “Antica Pizzeria Da Michele” open for more than a century! Or choose from the best 10 pizzerias in Naples!
The Umberto I Gallery
From the Duomo metro stop, get off at Municipio and roll your eyes again to admire the dome of the Galleria Umberto I, which is 57 meters high.
The Gallery was built between 1887 and 1890 in honor of the King of Italy Umberto I, visiting Naples together with Queen Margherita, to whom the homonymous pizza was dedicated.
It is an impressive architectural work, which extends for 147 meters in length and which uses 4 entrances: Via Toledo, Via Santa Brigida, Via San Carlo and Vico Rotto San Carlo.
Leaving the Gallery, pass by the Gran Caffè Gambrinus to taste the traditional Neapolitan espresso and sfogliatella, a typical dessert of the city, and reach Piazza Plebiscito.
Plebiscito Square: the heart of Naples
Do not miss a visit to Piazza Plebiscito (Plebiscito Square), the majestic square from which to admire the Basilica of San Francesco di Paola and the Royal Palace. With its 25,000 square meters, it is one of the largest squares in Italy!
Legend has it that no one is able to cross the square blindfolded and pass between the two equestrian statues keeping the trajectory straight.
It is said that it was Queen Margaret who cast this curse on her prisoners. Anyone who succeeded in the feat would be granted freedom, but no one ever succeeded.
In reality, the surface of the square is very bumpy, so this seems to be the reason why it is difficult to walk the 170 meters blindfolded without losing the sense of orientation.
Will you be the lucky one? You just have to blindfold yourself and attempt it!
The seafront of Naples and Ovo Castle: a breathtaking view of Vesuvius
From Piazza Plebiscito you reach the seafront of Naples. For over 3 kilometers you will enjoy the famous view of Vesuvius, which will leave you breathless!
Get excited with the magnificent colors that will be reflected on the waters and admire one of the most beautiful and famous landscapes in the world!
In front of you, you will find the imposing Castel dell'Ovo (Ovo Castle), the oldest castle in the city that stands on the waters of the sea.
Legend has it that the poet Virgil hid an egg inside, which would have protected Naples from misfortunes and plagues, until it would have remained intact.
To enjoy the wonderful view even in the evening, we recommend dinner in Borgo Marinari, the area of bars and restaurants under Castel dell'Ovo, close to the sea.
Naples Underground: the city as you've never seen it before
On the second day, set off to discover the unmissable Underground Naples: subsoil that has a 2400-year-long story, full of tunnels, cisterns, catacombs and aqueducts (discover here how to get there).
You will immerse yourself in a journey to 40 meters deep in which you will discover all the secrets of Underground Naples and you will be fascinated by its beauty and its curiosities.
From the Greco-Roman aqueducts to the air raid shelters of the Second World War, you will admire a Naples like you've never seen it before!
To reach the next stop – Sansevero Chapel – you will pass by many restaurants where you can enjoy the typical Neapolitan cuisine.
The Veiled Christ: the amazing work in the Sansever Chapel Museum
You can't end your weekend in Naples without admiring the Veiled Christ, the magnificent sculptural work created by Giuseppe Sanmartino in 1753.
The marble sculpture represents the lifeless body of Jesus Christ wrapped in the shroud. But the magnificence of the work lies precisely in the meticulousness with which the marble shroud was made, to the point of seeming real.
Indeed, it allows us to glimpse the features and the suffering expression that transpires from the lifeless body of Christ.
It seems that the work has caused many visitors the Stendhal syndrome... Let yourself be fascinated by this masterpiece!
The weekend in the city of the sun ends here. We are sure that after this trip, Naples will never leave your hearts!