Naples in one day: a walking itinerary from Phaedra House

One day in Naples is not much, but if you plan it well you can see the best of the city on foot: the old town with its churches and alleys, the great Via Toledo, Piazza del Plebiscito and the seafront at sunset. This itinerary starts at the door of Phaedra House and is done almost entirely on foot, with just one metro ride to get back.

Before you set off

• Comfortable shoes: you will walk a lot, often on stone paving.
• Start early: in the morning the historic centre is quieter and the churches are more peaceful.
• Book the most popular visits: for the Sansevero Chapel and Napoli Sotterranea it is best to book in advance. Times and tickets change: check the official website.
• Water and a hat in summer: between June and September it is hot; use churches and cloisters for a cool break.

Morning: the Cathedral and Via dei Tribunali

[foto da caricare] Via dei Tribunali in the morning

Leave the apartment and in a few minutes you reach the Duomo, the cathedral with the Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro. Then take Via dei Tribunali, the decumano maggiore: along the street you will find the Pio Monte della Misericordia with Caravaggio's Seven Works of Mercy and, in Piazza San Gaetano, San Lorenzo Maggiore with the excavations of the ancient city. If you have booked, this is the right moment to go down into Underground Naples.

For a break: a coffee at the counter and a freshly baked sfogliatella.

Late morning: San Gregorio Armeno and Spaccanapoli

From Piazza San Gaetano walk down Via San Gregorio Armeno, the street of nativity scenes, and reach Spaccanapoli. Head west: Largo Corpo di Napoli with the statue of the Nile, Piazza San Domenico Maggiore and, a few steps away, the Sansevero Chapel with the Veiled Christ. Then Santa Chiara with its majolica cloister and, opposite, the Gesù Nuovo. We describe all these stops in our guide to Spaccanapoli and San Gregorio Armeno.

Lunch: pizza in the old town

It's pizza time. You can head back towards Via dei Tribunali and choose one of the historic pizzerias near the Cathedral, or grab a folded pizza a portafoglio to eat as you walk. If you prefer to sit down in a trattoria, you will find ideas in our guide to where to eat in the historic centre.

Afternoon: Via Toledo and Piazza del Plebiscito

From Piazza del Gesù take Via Toledo, the great shopping street, and head down towards the sea. Along the way look to your right: the steep little streets are the Quartieri Spagnoli, lively and full of colour. You will then reach the Galleria Umberto I, with its glass and iron dome, the Teatro di San Carlo, one of the oldest opera houses in Europe, and the vast Piazza del Plebiscito, framed on one side by the colonnade of the basilica of San Francesco di Paola and on the other by the Royal Palace.

A sweet break before the seafront is well deserved: a babà or a sfogliatella in one of the historic cafés in the area.

Sunset: the seafront and Castel dell'Ovo

[foto da caricare] Castel dell'Ovo and the Gulf of Naples at sunset

From Piazza del Plebiscito it only takes a few minutes to reach the sea. Walk along Via Partenope to Castel dell'Ovo, the castle on the islet of Megaride, linked to the legend of Virgil's magic egg. In front of you lie the gulf, Vesuvius and, on clear days, Capri on the horizon. At sunset it is one of the most beautiful places in the city; around the Borgo Marinari you will find restaurants and bars for an aperitivo.

Evening: dinner and back home

For dinner you have two options: stay on the seafront or head back to the historic centre for dinner in a trattoria near the apartment. To get back, take metro Line 1 from Municipio or Toledo station to the Duomo stop, about 300 metres from Phaedra House. Alternatively, if you still have energy, it is about 30–40 minutes on foot.

Variations for every need

If it rains

Move the afternoon indoors: the National Archaeological Museum can be reached on foot or by metro from the historic centre, and its mosaics and frescoes easily fill a few hours. Alternatively, the Royal Palace in Piazza del Plebiscito and the Galleria Umberto I keep you sheltered during your walk. We talk about them in our guide to the must-see museums of Naples.

With children

Shorten the morning in the historic centre and choose a stop that will win them over: the candle-lit visit to Napoli Sotterranea, the nativity street with its figurines or the castle on the sea. A fried pizza or a babà will do the rest.

On a Sunday

On Sundays some shops are closed, but the seafront and Via Toledo are full of Neapolitan families out for a stroll: a lovely way to see the city as it really is. Book lunch or dinner in good time, as places fill up.

In summer

Reverse the order of the day: historic centre early in the morning, a long break at the apartment during the hottest hours and the seafront from late afternoon, when the cool breeze comes in from the sea.

If you have more time

With an extra day you can add the Vomero, the great museums or a day trip out of town: you will find everything in the itinerary Naples in three days and in our practical tips for getting around the city.

Your base in the historic centre

Phaedra House is in Piazzetta Sant'Arcangelo a Baiano, a few minutes' walk from the Cathedral and Via dei Tribunali: the ideal starting point for this itinerary. Discover the apartment and see where we are.

For more ideas, browse the Itineraries section of our guide.