Naples is an incredible base if you love the idea of mixing city buzz with coastal views and island escapes. Within an hour or two, you can be wandering Roman streets frozen in time, hiking up a volcano, or sipping a spritz above the sea. These five day trips give you very different sides of the region.
1. Follow the Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is the postcard version of this part of Italy, with steep cliffs, pastel houses and roads that twist along the edge of the sea. Towns like Positano, Amalfi and Ravello sit on terraces above the water, with lanes full of lemon products, ceramics and tiny cafés. It is busy and not exactly cheap, but if you want a day that feels special and very “this is Italy”, it really delivers 💛
You can spend your time wandering the streets, taking boat trips between towns, stopping for long lunches with a view and dipping your feet in the water on small beaches.
If this is your first time and you only have one day, I would pick two stops rather than trying to race through every town. A simple but lovely combo is Positano in the morning then a boat to Amalfi, with a late afternoon coffee or gelato before heading back.
2. Capri Island
Capri feels like a little world of its own, with jagged cliffs, clear blue water and a mix of luxury boutiques and simple family‑run places. You can stroll through Capri town, take in the views from Augustus Gardens, ride the chairlift up to Monte Solaro on the Anacapri side and, if the sea is calm, take a boat trip to see caves and rock formations like the Faraglioni. It is glamourous in parts and very touristy in peak season, but the views are so good that it is still worth it.
If you like the idea of a slower island day with a mix of walking, viewpoints and long lunches, Capri is ideal 🌊
3. Walk the ancient streets of Pompeii Archaeological Site
Pompeii is one of those places that stays with you. It is a whole Roman city, buried when Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, with streets, houses, bathhouses and even bars that you can still walk through. You see frescoes on the walls, mosaic floors under your feet and public spaces like the forum and theatres. It is a big, open‑air site, so it feels more like exploring a ghost city than a museum.
This is a must if you are at all interested in history, and even if you are not, it is hard not to be impressed by the scale of it.
Trains run frequently from Napoli Centrale / Piazza Garibaldi on the Circumvesuviana line to Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri station. The ride takes around 35–40 minutes, then it is a short walk to the main entrance of the site.
4. Hike up Mount Vesuvius
Mount Vesuvius is that volcano you can see from the city, and honestly, hiking up to the crater rim is a pretty cool adventure! The walk is short but steep and on gravelly ground, with views over the Bay of Naples opening up behind you as you climb. At the top, you can peer into the crater, see wisps of steam on some days and circle part of the rim on a clear path. It is a great way to add something active to your trip.
If you’re visiting Pompeii and Vesuvius in one day, visit Pompeii in the morning and then schedule a later afternoon time for the volcano. The light is softer, temperatures are a bit lower, and watching the bay from up there as the day cools down feels pretty special.
5. Slow things down in Sorrento
Sorrento is often treated as a base for the Amalfi Coast, but it also works nicely as a relaxed day trip from Naples. The town sits on cliffs above the sea, with a compact old centre full of shops, limoncello bottles, leather sandals and hidden courtyards. You get viewpoints over the bay, small marinas below, and plenty of bars and restaurants for long, lazy meals.
It is less intense than central Naples and less hectic than the tightest parts of the Amalfi Coast, so it is a good choice if you want something easy and scenic without a complicated plan 🙂
Across these five day trips, you get a good mix of history, scenery and relaxed days by the sea.
