1. Pizza in Naples — The Holy Grail

Naples is the birthplace of pizza, period. The UNESCO-recognised art of the Neapolitan pizzaiuolo is taken seriously here. Real Neapolitan pizza has a soft, elastic crust with charred leopard spots, San Marzano tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil — and it costs about the same as a sandwich. You haven’t had pizza until you’ve had it in Naples.

Where to go:

• L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele — the most famous (Mangia, Prega, Ama)
• Sorbillo — on Via dei Tribunali, consistently excellent
• Starita a Materdei — a local favourite since 1901
• Concettina ai Tre Santi — modern but respectful interpretations

2. Pompeii — A City Frozen in Time

Pompeii is one of the world’s great archaeological treasures. When Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, it buried the entire Roman city under metres of ash and pumice, preserving everything — streets, houses, shops, baths, brothels, bakeries, and even the haunting plaster casts of the victims frozen in their final moments. Walking its cobbled streets is the closest you can come to walking through an actual Roman city.

Location: 20 minutes south of Naples by Circumvesuviana train.

History: Founded in the 7th–6th century BC, Pompeii was a prosperous Roman port city of about 12,000 people. The eruption of Vesuvius on August 24, AD 79 buried it under 4–6 metres of volcanic material, preserving it for almost 1,700 years before its rediscovery in 1748.

Highlights:

• The Forum — the centre of public life with temples and the basilica
• The House of the Vettii — luxurious frescoed villa of wealthy merchants
• The Amphitheatre — the oldest surviving Roman amphitheatre (80 BC)
• Plaster casts of victims in the Garden of the Fugitives
• The Lupanare — remarkably well-preserved brothel with explicit frescoes

3. Herculaneum — Better Preserved than Pompeii

Herculaneum is smaller, quieter, and in many ways more impressive than Pompeii. While Pompeii was buried by falling ash, Herculaneum was engulfed by a pyroclastic surge that carbonised wood and preserved organic materials — you can still see wooden furniture, doors, food, and even a baby’s cradle. The thermal baths and frescoed villas are remarkably intact, and the smaller crowds make for a more contemplative visit.

Location: 15 minutes from Naples, closer than Pompeii.

History: A wealthier, smaller resort town than Pompeii, Herculaneum was buried under 20 metres of pyroclastic material. The deep burial preserved upper storeys, wooden structures, and organic materials that Pompeii’s shallower ash layer did not.

Highlights:

• The Suburban Baths — virtually intact with marble floors and frescoes
• The House of the Deer — original wooden beams and carbonised furniture
• The Boat Sheds — where skeletons of over 300 people were found huddled
• The Palestra — large exercise ground with a bronze fountain

4. Mount Vesuvius — Hike the Volcano

No trip to the Bay of Naples is complete without hiking to the crater of Vesuvius. The volcano that destroyed Pompeii still looms over the bay, and from its 1,281-metre summit you can see across the entire Gulf of Naples, including Capri, Sorrento, and the Amalfi Coast. The crater itself is a dramatic, steaming gash in the earth’s crust — a stark reminder of nature’s power.

Location: Between Naples and Pompeii, accessible by bus or tour from both.

History: Vesuvius is the only active volcano on the European mainland. Its AD 79 eruption was one of the deadliest in history. It last erupted in 1944 during World War II, destroying nearby villages.

The hike: A 20-minute uphill walk from the parking lot to the crater rim. Steep but manageable for most fitness levels. Stay on the marked trail — the ground is unstable.

5. Naples National Archaeological Museum

This is one of the world’s great museums and the essential companion to a Pompeii visit. It houses the Farnese Collection — some of the finest classical sculptures ever unearthed — plus the secret Gabinetto Segreto (erotic art from Pompeii). The mosaic collection is extraordinary, including the famous Alexander Mosaic from the House of the Faun.

Location: Piazza Museo Nazionale, central Naples.

Highlights:

• Farnese Hercules and Farnese Bull — colossal Roman marble sculptures
• Alexander Mosaic — the most famous mosaic from the ancient world
• Gabinetto Segreto — remarkably explicit Roman erotic art
• Daily life frescoes from Pompeii and Herculaneum

6. Naples Historic Centre & Spaccanapoli

Naples’ historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most vibrant urban spaces in Europe. Spaccanapoli (literally “Naples-splitter”) is the long, straight street that cuts through the old city like a knife — lined with churches, artisan workshops, street-food stalls, and crumbling palazzos. The Napoli Sotterranea (Underground Naples) tour takes you 40 metres below the city through Greek aqueducts, Roman ruins, and WWII bomb shelters.

Location: The historic centre between Piazza del Plebiscito and Via Duomo.

Highlights:

• Chapel of San Severo and the Veiled Christ — a masterpiece of marble
• Santa Chiara monastery with its majolica-tiled cloister
• Napoli Sotterranea (Underground Naples) tour
• Via San Gregorio Armeno — the famous nativity scene street
• Piazza del Plebiscito and the Royal Palace