Things to do in Naples

Visible from just about everywhere in the Bay of Naples, hiking Mount Vesuvius is one of the best things to do in Naples. The only active volcano on mainland Europe, it’s dominated the lives of residents since AD 79, when it first erupted and buried the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. After climbing up crimson gravel, you’ll be greeted by the Martian-esque landscape of the crater and occasional curling gusts of smoke.

Though this southern city is usually red hot, if you’re wondering what to do in Naples on a rainy day, a visit to the National Archaeological Museum is sure to perk up even the soggiest of spirits. While the museum has an exceptional collection of mosaics and classical sculptures, its main allures are in the Gabinetto Segretto (Secret Room), which displays paintings and sculptures from the brothels, baths and bars of Pompeii and Herculaneum. From outrageously phallic lamps, to sensual mythological art, these chambers of erotic art offer a revealing peep into the Ancient Roman psyche.

The Central Funicular of Naples is one of the most used funicular railways in the world and has served the city since 1928. Take the train from Piazza Montesanto to the fourteenth-century Castel Sant’ Elmo, a star-shaped fortress perched atop Naples’s highest peak. Originally a church, and later a prison and fortress, today it’s home to museum of 20th century Neapolitan art and the city’s best views of the bay.

History-lovers looking for things to do in Naples should definitely take the Napoli Sotterranea (Naples Underground) tour. From its Ancient Greek origins, to its reincarnation as a WWII air-raid shelter, Naples’s 280-mile network of subterranean tunnels has seen some sights in its 2500-year history. The tour takes you 120 feet into the earth to explore ancient aqueducts, cisterns, catacombs and caves. Highlights include seeing the remains of a Greco-Roman theatre, where Emperor Nero had a private dressing room. Claustrophobics be warned, though: the passages are chillingly narrow in places and you’ll be given a candle to find your way through the pitch dark, though you can duck out when the going gets tight.

The imposing island fortress of Castel dell’Ovo has a pleasant seaside setting and legendary associations. It’s said that Virgil planted a magic egg in its foundations to support its fortification – if the egg breaks Naples will fall. Until that happens, the castle is the perfect endpoint to an early evening amble along the bay. After exploring its halls, terraces and cannons, and ogling the views from the battlements, head down to Borgo Marinaro quayside for Neapolitan pizza and refreshing glass of Prosecco. For Naples holidays with extra flavour, this is the place to be.

Once a sophisticated Roman city, Pompeii was buried beneath metres of ash in the devastating eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, just sixteen years after it was struck by a severe earthquake. While it’s definitely not off-the-beaten-track, the sheer scale of the site means it’s possible to explore the excavated streets and villas, and view the mosaics, paintings and calcified bodies, at your own pace, and avoiding the hoards. With so many things to do here, you can easily make a whole day of it.

The ash-buried city of Herculaneum might be smaller than its sister city of Pompeii, but its ruins are better preserved, its atmosphere lingers longer, and it’s less crowded too. The pyroclastic material that covered Herculaneum carbonized, preserving organic materials like food, paper and wood. This, and the presence of hundreds of petrified humans, gives the site an eerie atmosphere, with relatable domestic scenes frozen in time.

Mythological home of the seductive Sirens, chic Capri has a long history of attracting hedonists. Some 2000 years ago it was the private love island of Roman emperors. Then, in the eighteenth-century, the Marquis de Sade discovered the island’s charms. While the days of Emperor Tiberius’s debaucheries are long gone, Capri’s allure lives on in its beautiful beaches and lush interior landscape. What’s more, it takes just 45-minutes to get here via the fast ferry from Naples. So what are you waiting for? Slip on some oversized sunglasses and follow in the well-heeled footsteps of Sophia Loren, Jackie Kennedy and Grace Kelly, all of whom have connections to this achingly attractive island.

Just over an hour by train from Naples, the cliff-top resort town of Sorrento is a maze of medieval alleys and sweet-scented piazzas, with plenty of boutiques selling quality local woodcrafts alongside the usual “All I got was this lousy t-shirt” tat. Away from the centre, savouring seafood on the seafront is one of the best things to do here. Sit back and sip something cool to a soundtrack of gently lapping waves.