Discover Naples in two days
If you have little time but still want to enjoy the Neapolitan atmosphere, the Napoli Essenziale itinerary is designed just for you. In a couple of days you will stroll along the seafront of the city, relax in the shopping streets on the Vomero hill and immerse yourself in the millennial history of the decumani of Naples.
The itinerary is designed imagining to arrive in the city in the late afternoon of Friday to leave in the afternoon of the following Sunday. It is, of course, transferable to any day of the week. It therefore provides for a two-night stay. Given the short time frame, it does not include visits to museums. Obviously it is a personal choice that you are free not to share and modify, therefore, the itinerary. I believe, however, that when visiting a big city for the first time it is better to explore its most important neighborhoods and areas to savor its atmosphere. So I hope that this itinerary will entice you enough to make you want to return as soon as possible and, this time yes, visit some of the great sites that the city offers (National Archaeological Museum, Capodimonte Museum, Pompeii excavations, etc.).
First day (Friday evening): seafront, seaside village and via Chiaia, 3.2 km
For the first evening of the Napoli Essenziale tour I propose an entirely pedestrian path, crowded with tourists and residents and full of restaurants and pizzerias able to satisfy all tastes and all budgets.
Imagining arriving in the city around seven in the evening, you may be ready to go out for dinner around 8:30 pm, after settling into the hotel. Starting from Piazza del Plebiscito, easily accessible from anywhere in the city and close to metro stations (the nearest is Municipio) and the central funicular, walk on Via Cesario Console in the direction of Via Nazario Sauro on the seafront. After passing the Royal Palace you can immediately see Vesuvius on your left and, further away, the lights of the Sorrento peninsula.
Once on the seafront, keep right and continue on via Nazario Sauro, first, and on via Partenope, then, until you reach the charming seaside village and Castel dell’Ovo.
After visiting the small village, continue on Via Partenope until you reach the municipal villa. From here, to return to Piazza del Plebiscito, turn right leaving the sea front. Past Piazza Vittoria, enter the elegant shopping streets, via Calabritto, via Santa Caterina and, finally, via Chiaia that takes you back to the starting point in Piazza del Plebiscito.
Second day (Saturday): decumani, Spaccanapoli and via San Gregorio Armeno, perimeter of the area about 2km, full day
After visiting the seafront and the eighteenth-century district of Chiaia, the Napoli Essenziale tour offers you to take a step back in time and enter the heart of Greek-Roman Naples.
The decumani area, which includes the famous Spaccanapoli and Via San Gregorio Armeno, is an essential stop for those arriving in Naples for the first time. This area is part of a larger area recognized as a UNESCO heritage site and extends from Via San Sebastiano in the west to Via Duomo in the east. The decumani, however, extend beyond the latter to the Forcella district. With a perimeter of about 2 km, the area of the decumani follows the ancient road route of Greek origin and is the heart of the vast historic center of the city, the largest in Italy with an area of 17 km2.
It is an area full of places of interest, churches, historic buildings, archaeological sites and underground routes, but it is itself an attraction thanks to its charming alleys and typically Neapolitan atmosphere. I recommend, therefore, to spend a whole day walking quietly, letting yourself be tempted by the many restaurants, pizzerias, takeaways and pastry shops that you will meet on the street and visiting the places that most attract your attention.
As a starting point, I suggest you refer to Piazza del Gesù Nuovo, not far from Via Toledo and easily accessible from the Università, Toledo and Dante metro stations.
Third day (Sunday): Vomero, Spanish Quarters and Toledo
For the last day of the Napoli Essenziale tour I propose you to climb the hills, to Vomero, for a pleasant walk through elegant nineteenth-century buildings crowded with shops and animated by street artists.
If you are not already staying here, I suggest you reach the neighborhood with the central funicular that starts from Via Toledo and go down through the pedestrian path of Pedamentina. This will allow you, among other things, to cross the picturesque Spanish quarters. If, on the other hand, you are already staying at Vomero, you can take the route in the opposite direction always going down the Pedamentina and going up with the central funicular.
For the walk, taking as a reference Piazza Vanvitelli al Vomero, I suggest you go down Via Scarlatti and, then, turn right on Via Luca Giordano. Arrived at the end of Via L. Giordano, in Piazza degli Artisti, you can redo the route in the opposite direction and, this time, continue uphill beyond Piazza Vanvitelli always on Via Scarlatti. Walking always slightly uphill in a few minutes you will reach the San Martino viewpoint. From here you can enjoy a splendid view over the Gulf of Naples, Vesuvius and Spaccanapoli. If you have time you can also visit the nearby Castel Sant’Elmo from which the view is even better. From the belvedere also starts the Pedamentina of which I have already spoken.
With this itinerary you should be able to stay at the hotel by 4 pm ready for the return home.
