Best Day Trips from Naples: Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, Capri and More

Naples may be chaotic, noisy and covered in excellent pizza, but it is also one of the best-positioned cities in Italy for day trips. The Circumvesuviana commuter train runs east and south for Pompeii and Herculaneum; ferries and hydrofoils serve Capri and Sorrento; the SITA bus winds along the Amalfi Coast. Here is what to know for each - and where to find guided day tours from Naples if you want the logistics handled.

Pompeii: The Frozen City

Distance: 25 km | Travel time: 35 minutes by Circumvesuviana | Train cost: approximately €2.80 each way

Pompeii is the essential day trip from Naples and one of the most visited archaeological sites in the world. The Circumvesuviana train departs from Napoli Centrale’s lower concourse (follow signs to EAV/Circumvesuviana) and terminates at Pompei Scavi–Villa dei Misteri, a 5-minute walk from the main entrance.

Site entry is approximately €20 as of 2026, or approximately €24 combined with the Virtual Reality Experience. Book online at the official ticketing site (ticketone.it or pompeiisites.org) - in peak season, the walk-in queue can add 45 minutes to your morning. The site itself is massive: the preserved streets, frescoed villas, bakeries and amphitheatre cover roughly 44 hectares and require a minimum 3 hours to cover the highlights.

Guided option: A guided Pompeii tour from Naples with a licensed archaeologist guide costs approximately €35–60 per person on GetYourGuide or Viator. The combination of Pompeii plus Vesuvius summit (approximately €15 entry to the national park, then an uphill walk of about 30 minutes) is popular and full-day tours covering both run from approximately €65–90 per person.

Herculaneum: The Better-Preserved Alternative

Distance: 12 km | Travel time: 20 minutes by Circumvesuviana to Ercolano | Train cost: approximately €2.20 each way

Herculaneum was also buried in the 79 AD Vesuvius eruption, but because it was covered in solidified volcanic mud rather than loose ash, the preservation is extraordinary - wooden beams, furniture, frescoes and even food remains have survived. The site is far smaller than Pompeii (covering about 4 hectares of excavated area) and easier to cover in 2 hours.

Entry is approximately €15 as of 2026. The site entrance is a 10-minute walk downhill from Ercolano Scavi station. Combining Herculaneum in the morning with a Vesuvius crater walk in the afternoon is the classic itinerary for archaeology enthusiasts, and the timing works well - both are close together.

Guided option: Herculaneum half-day tours from Naples start from approximately €30–45 per person. Most guides also offer a Naples city tour as a morning extension before the Circumvesuviana journey.

Capri: Island Glamour

Distance: 30 km offshore | Travel time: 50 minutes by hydrofoil from Molo Beverello | Hydrofoil cost: approximately €25–30 each way as of 2026

Capri is Italy’s most glamorous island and extremely crowded in high summer. Go on a Tuesday–Thursday in May, June or September for the most manageable experience. The hydrofoil from Molo Beverello (near Castel Nuovo) or Calata Porta di Massa runs to both Marina Grande and Marina Piccola.

From Marina Grande, the funicular to Capri Town runs approximately every 15 minutes (approximately €2 each way). Monte Solaro, reached by chairlift from Anacapri (approximately €13 up, €18 return), is the highest point on the island and has views across to the mainland on clear days. Villa Jovis - the cliff-top ruins of Emperor Tiberius’s palace - charges approximately €8 and is a 45-minute walk from Capri Town through olive and lemon groves.

The Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) is famous but logistically complicated on a day trip: the rowboat ride costs approximately €18 on top of the sea taxi from Marina Grande (approximately €18 one-way), and the cave closes if seas are rough or tourist numbers are high. Budget 2 hours if you plan to attempt it.

Guided option: Capri boat tours departing from Naples that include a circumnavigation of the island and a Blue Grotto visit cost approximately €65–95 per person. Some include lunch on board.

The Amalfi Coast

Distance: 50 km to Positano | Travel time: 2+ hours by SITA bus from Sorrento, or ferry | Cost: SITA bus approximately €2.60 per leg; ferry from Salerno approximately €8–14 one-way

The Amalfi Coast is spectacularly beautiful and can be genuinely difficult to access efficiently on a day trip from Naples. The recommended approach: take the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento (1 hour 10 minutes, approximately €4.50), then the SITA bus along the coast road to Positano (approximately 1 hour, €2.60) and Amalfi (another 45 minutes, €2.60). Alternatively, take the fast ferry from Naples to Amalfi directly in summer (approximately €25–30 one-way, seasonal).

The coast road (SS163) is one lane each way and is heavily congested in summer - buses run all day but can be extremely crowded. Positano is the most photogenic town: coloured buildings cascading down to a pebble beach. Amalfi itself has a Norman-Arab cathedral (entry approximately €3) worth visiting. Ravello, reached by bus from Amalfi, is quieter and higher - the Villa Rufolo gardens charge approximately €7 and have extraordinary sea views.

Guided option: Small-group Amalfi Coast day tours from Naples that cover Positano, Amalfi and Ravello cost approximately €60–95 per person and include private transport on the coast road, bypassing the bus system entirely. These are particularly good value in July and August when the public buses are congested.

Sorrento

Distance: 50 km | Travel time: 1 hour 10 minutes by Circumvesuviana | Train cost: approximately €4.50 each way

Sorrento is one of the most pleasant bases on the Bay of Naples and easy to reach by the Circumvesuviana from Napoli Centrale. The clifftop old town, with its citrus groves and views across to Vesuvius, rewards a leisurely 2–3 hours. Limoncello is the local specialty - tasting sessions at producers like Limonoro on Via San Cesareo are free. The MuSo museum covering Sorrento’s cultural history charges approximately €8 as of 2026.

Sorrento is often used as a launching point for the Amalfi Coast rather than a destination in itself, but it makes a relaxed alternative if the Amalfi road sounds too stressful.

Caserta: The Italian Versailles

Distance: 30 km | Travel time: 40 minutes by regional train from Napoli Centrale | Train cost: approximately €3.50 one-way

The Royal Palace of Caserta (Reggia di Caserta) is Europe’s largest royal palace by volume and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its formal gardens extend for 3 km with fountains, cascades and a hunting reserve. Entry to the palace and gardens costs approximately €10 as of 2026, or approximately €16 for the full combined ticket including the English Garden and silk factory. Allow at least 4 hours.

Trains from Napoli Centrale run regularly; the palace is a 10-minute walk from Caserta station.

Best Season for Day Trips from Naples

April, May, June and September, October are the best months. The Amalfi Coast in July and August is intensely crowded and hot - the SITA buses run standing-room only and Positano’s beach is packed by 10 am. Pompeii and Herculaneum are manageable year-round (the sites are open daily) but scorching in August midday heat - aim for an 8 am opening visit. Capri in shoulder season is a completely different experience to August.

Booking Tips

Circumvesuviana tickets are bought at the EAV ticket windows inside Napoli Centrale’s lower concourse. Buy outbound and return at the same time. For Capri hydrofoils, book online at caremar.it, snav.it or alilauro.it - particularly important in July and August when morning departures sell out. Pompeii entry tickets should be booked online at the official Pompeii ticketing site well in advance in summer. We recommend booking guided day tours from Naples through GetYourGuide; for the Amalfi Coast specifically, operators including City Wonders and Walkofitaly offer small-group tours with knowledgeable local guides and private transport, which removes the main logistical headache of the coast road.