One Day in Naples From Cruise Ship: Amazing Itinerary & Tips

Are you looking for a one-day itinerary for Naples from the cruise ship? Then you are in the right spot.

Not long ago, I went to Naples on a Mediterranean cruise. But for this itinerary, I needed some more insider info, so I asked my friend Lisa to help me out with that.

Lisa is an Italian mom passionate about travel and writing. She writes about her travels in her blogs Rome Travelogues and I’m Learning Italian.

In this post, she’ll reveal her favorite and proven itinerary to see Naples in one day. 

Naples is one of Italy’s most beautiful cities. Since you can visit Naples as a day trip from Rome, where Lisa lives, she is a recurring visitor.

In this post, I will also cover the essential information to have the perfect day in Naples: what to see, where to eat, and valuable tips for visiting the most stunning city in southern Italy.

And now, let’s dive into the best things to do in Naples in one day!

How To Get To Naples From Airport/Cruise Port

The historic center of Naples is full of things to see, so I recommend you start your exploration there early in the morning.

Naples Capodichino International Airport is about 6 km from the historic center of Naples. You can get there by a short cab ride that will cost about €20.

Otherwise, you can take the Alibus shuttle, which will take you directly to the center. You can buy tickets from the automatic machines in the “arrivals” area of the airport.

The airport shuttle will drop you off at the Central Train Station in Piazza Garibaldi.

If you arrive on a cruise ship, you can simply walk from the cruise terminal to the city center. It is about 10 minutes of walking. Alternatively, you can also take the shuttle buses from the Naples Cruise Port.

Naples is a great port of call because you can spend a day in Naples from the cruise ship without having to worry about transportation.

1. Taste The Sfogliatella

An Italian traveler to Naples would start his day on a sweet note. Whether you like eating sweets for breakfast or not, you must try the city’s iconic pastry: sfogliatelle.

A nun from a convent on the Amalfi Coast invented this dessert in the 17th century. Sfogliatella is many layers of puff pastry filled with a semolina-based custard. It is best accompanied by espresso coffee. Naples coffee is said to be the best in Italy.

Tip: Be sure to ask for “caffé” and not “espresso,” otherwise they will immediately know you are a tourist.

If you arrive in Naples by public transportation, you can taste sfogliatella right near the Central Station at the pastry shop “Cuori di Sfogliatella.”

2. Get To “Spaccanapoli”

Ask a local what there is to see in Naples, and he will answer without hesitation, “Spaccanapoli.” It literally translates to “Cutsnaples.”

Spaccanapoli is a street of ancient origin, in fact dating back to the time when the Greeks founded the city in the 4th century BC.

Today it consists of as many as seven streets and connects the Forcella neighborhood to the Spanish quarters.

It is the “beating heart of the city,” as along it and in the narrow streets that unravel from it, you will discover the main points of interest in Naples. 

You will also immediately notice how much life flows along this artery and discover the warm and playful character that defines southern Italians.

3. See Naples Cathedral

The first stop along the infamous Spaccanapoli street is the Cathedral of Naples or Duomo di Napoli. You reach it with a short subway ride from the Central Station (Piazza Garibaldi) to the Duomo stop.

The cathedral dates back to the early 14th century and stands on the site where Catholic worship began in Naples a few centuries after Christ’s death. 

Everyone calls it Duomo of Saint Gennaro because one of its chapels is dedicated to the patron saint of Naples, a Christian martyr from the 4th century AD. 

The spirit of Saint Gennaro is believed to have saved the city several times from natural disasters, such as earthquakes and eruptions of the nearby volcano Vesuvius.

The cult of St. Gennaro among the Neapolitan people is strong and is celebrated 3 times a year when the “miracle of St. Gennaro” occurs. During this occasion, the church is packed with the faithful and non-faithful. 

The archbishop of Naples extracts from a reliquary two ampullae with relics of the saint’s blood and shakes them, incited by the faithful: in a few minutes, the blood liquefies in front of the jubilant crowd.

Inside the cathedral, you can access the San Gennaro Chapel and the Museum of the Treasure of San Gennaro (€12), where priceless devotional objects donated by the people and noble families are kept.

To return to the contemporary, enjoy the beautiful mural depicting Saint Gennaro by Jorit Agoch at the intersection of Via Forcella St. and Via Rocci St.

4. Walk on San Gregorio Armeno St.

Return to Spaccanapoli, which here takes the name Via di San Biagio ai Librai St. 

The next stop on the itinerary among the best things to see in Naples in a day is the city’s most characteristic little street.

Here, you will find dozens of artisan workshops displaying nativity figurines. The nativity scene is a staple of Neapolitan and Italian Christmas traditions. It is a miniature reproduction of the nativity scene of Jesus in Bethlehem in wood and other materials.

The specialty of Neapolitan nativity artisans is to reproduce, alongside traditional characters, current characters and symbols in a satirical key.

4. Have “pizza fritta”

The Via di San Gregorio Armeno is slightly uphill. Once you have walked it and admired the workshops, turn back onto Spaccanapoli.

It’s time to devote yourself to tasting one of the typical Neapolitan street foods, “pizza fritta,” a kind of fried sandwich with tomato, mozzarella, and ricotta cheese inside.

Tip: Try it at Antica Pizza Fritta da Zia Esterina Sorbillo, it costs € 5. Be prepared to wait a few minutes in line before enjoying this local specialty.

6. Visit the San Severo Chapel Museum

If you are a lover of sculpture, your next stop must be the San Severo Chapel Museum.

It was built in the late 16th century and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who appeared here and performed miracles.

The noble Sansevero family built the chapel over several generations. During the second half of the 18th century, the chapel took on its current appearance.

In the center of the building, you will find the Veiled Christ, an incredible work of art by sculptor Giuseppe Sanmartino.

The white marble sculpture depicts Christ lying on a bed and covered by a shroud.

The rendering of the shroud, that is, the veil, is one of Italy’s masterpieces of sculpture.

Tip: You must purchase a €10 ticket to enter the San Severo Chapel. Reservations are required. It is essential to book well in advance because this is one of the most popular places in Naples.

7. Eat The Perfect Neapolitan Pizza

After viewing all these works of art, you will need to recharge with something tasty. I recommend you do it with one of the best foods in the world: pizza.

Naples is the home of pizza, and one of the best pizzerias in Naples is a short walk from San Severo Chapel on Via dei Tribunali St.: Gino and Toto Sorbillo.

The classic Pizza Margherita costs €5.50 and the others a few euros more. I assure you that Naples is the place in Italy where pizza costs the least.

Culinary scholars for decades have tried to understand why Neapolitan pizza is so good and unparalleled.

Some think that the water in this city is special and that this water mixed with flour and genuine ingredients, makes magic.

8. Visit Palazzo Venezia

The hours pass quickly in Naples. You are already planning your next trip because you have realized that one day in Naples is not enough.

Continue along Spaccanapoli, named here after Benedetto Croce, one of Italy’s greatest philosophers.

The architecture of the buildings facing this street, all from different eras and different from each other, is fascinating. Some have a truly irresistible decadent tone, such as the Palazzo Venezia.

This ancient palace dates back to the early 15th century, when it was the diplomatic residence of the Republic of Venice to the Kingdom of Naples.

Inside, there are many rooms, some used for art and craft exhibitions, and a roof garden where you can enjoy coffee and drinks.

Admission is sometimes subject to a fee of €10 or €15 if there are events.

9. See Piazza And Church of Gesù Nuovo

Walk another stretch of the street that cuts Naples in half to see the Piazza and Church of Gesù Nuovo. The church has a very distinctive facade made of ashlar-worked pepper stone.

As for the square, in the center stands a marble obelisk with a bronze statue of the Virgin Mary.

There is a curious folk legend about this obelisk, erected in the early 19th century with taxes on the Neapolitan people.

It seems that at sunrise and sunset, looking at the back of the statue of the Virgin, the features of the Devil appear!

10. Admire Artwork in Toledo Metro Station

It’s time to leave Spaccanapoli and add some contemporary art to this itinerary through Naples’ historic center.

Head to Via Toledo, specifically to the Toledo metro station. It is worth buying a metro ticket and walking down to the platforms and then immediately going back up.

From the escalator, you will enjoy the spectacle of the ceiling decorated with thousands of tiny tiles in many shades of blue. The work of Catalan architect Oscar Tousques Blanca makes the Toledo Metro Station the most impressive in the world, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The decoration represents the ocean.

Via Toledo is also one of the city’s shopping streets. Take advantage of it if you are in the mood.

11. Stroll Around Plebiscito Square

Continuing on Via Toledo toward the waterfront, you will encounter Piazza del Plebiscito. Concerts are often held in this large space, which is over 25k square meters. 

Every year, on December 31, Neapolitans gather here to attend the concert that opens the New Year’s Eve celebrations. 

The Piazza is named after the day the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, of which Naples was a part, joined the Kingdom of Italy.

The Piazza del Plebiscito is overlooked by the Basilica of San Francesco da Paola and the Royal Palace. 

The Royal Palace was the center of power in southern Italy for more than 3 centuries. If you want to admire its majestic halls, gardens, terraces, and works of art, you can purchase a €10 ticket.

12. Reach Naples Seafront

Walk a few minutes from Piazza del Plebiscito to reach the waterfront.

If you still have time, walk to Castal Dell’Ovo, a medieval castle on the water from which spectacular fireworks start on the last night of the year.

If you don’t have time, you can still admire the profile of the volcano Vesuvius, which watches over the city silently. The volcano is, however, not entirely asleep. 

Perhaps this volcano, with its heat, makes Neapolitans so welcoming and creative. Say goodbye to it as the countdown to your next trip to Naples begins.

How to Get Around in Naples from a Cruise Ship

Naples’ historic center teems with art, culture, and delicious food. The only way to explore it properly is by walking.

If you have trouble walking about 2 miles in a single day, then you can use the subway, but consider that it is very crowded.

Since you can walk from the cruise port to the city center, there is no need to arrange transportation on one day in Naples from the cruise ship.

Where to Eat in Naples

In my one-day itinerary in Naples, I suggested a great pizzeria near Spaccanapoli.

If eating pizza is your main goal on a visit to Naples (as it is for me), then go to Antica Pizzeria da Michele on Via Cesare Sersale, not far from the Duomo.

This pizzeria has made the rounds thanks to the movie Eat Pray Love by Julia Roberts.

Despite having lots of food on your cruise ship, you should still get at least a slice of pizza on your one day in Naples.

Wrap-up | One Day in Naples From Cruise Ship

I guess by now, you will be looking forward a lot to your port of call Naples on your Western Mediterranean Cruise.

In this one day naples itinerary we’ve seen stunning places, like galleria umberto, castel dell’ovo, the Bay of Naples, Sansevero Chapel, the most beautiful metro station in Europe and the National Archaeological Museum. 

Obviously, we’ve tried some street food – in places where only locals eat. 

When docking with your cruise ship in Naples, you can also check out the Vesuvio, Herculaneum, the Campania Region or the ruins of Pompeii. There are so many highlights in the area, it can be hard to choose. 

If you want to avoid extra cost, stick to this walking itinerary of the city. I hope you love Naples as much as I did on my cruise!

If you want to see more of Italy, why not head to Florence or go on a Northern Italy Road Trip?

Awesome One Day in Cannes Itinerary – From Cruise Ship

Awesome One Day in Genoa Itinerary: From Cruise Port

Best of Casablanca & Rabat in One Day: From Cruise Port

How to Spend One Day in Tenerife From Cruise Ship

Lanzarote Cruise Port: How To Spend A Perfect Day in Lanzarote

Malaga in 1 Day – Amazing Itinerary For Cruise Ship Guests

One Day in Barcelona From Cruise Ship: Amazing Itinerary

One Day in Corsica Itinerary: From Ajaccio Cruise Port

One Day in Gibraltar From Cruise Ship – Ultimate Guide

One Day in Marseille From Cruise Ship: Ultimate Itinerary

One Day in Malta Itinerary: From Valletta Cruise Port

One Day in Rome From Cruise Port Itinerary (Civitavecchia)

One Day in Porto Itinerary: From Cruise Port Leixoes