One of Naples' crowning museums, the artifacts here complement a visit to Pompeii in the same trip,…read moresince the collections span archaeological finds from Pompeii, Rome and beyond. From sculpture, sacred and funerary objects, mosaics, paintings, household items and furniture, to architectural models and decorative elements, there's plenty of intriguing objects to pique various interests. On a grey Sunday morning in April, I arrived at 10am, and was glad I didn't come later! There were two lines, one for those purchasing tickets at the entry and those with pre-booked tickets online in advance. The latter was a fairly short line, maybe about 10 people, while the former was about 20ish. When I left a couple hours later both lines had more than doubled in length. Inside, the exhibit halls begin with sculptures unearthed during archaeological finds, with the direction of visit encircling one of the smaller inner courtyards. They do an excellent job of providing Italian and English translations for didactic labels and descriptions, and I was able to learn much about a) the background and provenance of sculptures and other finds, b) key figures in archaeological excavations which discovered many of the pieces now housed here, and c) the history of this museum. The route of visit continues to a columned hall with some waiting area seating and contemporary local art pieces, (apparently where school groups rest before touring the museum with docents), which lead up a pair of curved stone staircases where you can look upwards at a central dome. On the second floor highlights include a collection of watercolor works from watercolorist Luigi Bazzani, who captured colorful paintings of Pompeii at the turn of the 20th century, a collection of elaborate furniture, and many rooms of artifacts from steles, ceramics, blown glass and tableware. Many colorful wall paintings found in villas and homes were transferred from archaeological sites to this museum. There's a curious collection of erotic art from antiquity called the Secret Cabinet* too. Unfortunately both these sections were closed: a) the mosaic floor where they previously allowed visitors to enter wearing cloth covers over shoes, and b) the sprawling mini replica of Pompeii that looked to be at least 12 x 15 feet. The latter I glimpsed thru a walkway that was cordoned off. The Sundial Hall, named after (you guessed it) a functional sundial installed in the SW corner of the room, was one of the most impressive rooms in the museum, originally serving as the Bourbon** Royal Library of Naples, then later as the National Library. The beautifully restored ceiling fresco depicts the Bourbon royalty as patrons of the arts. Among the most famous group of objects here are items from the Farnese Collection, begun by then Cardinal Alessandro Farnese (1468-1549), who later became Pope Paul III. Theses works were displayed in various settings notably the Farnese palace, villa and gardens in Rome, then subsequently passed down to descendants. Farnese Hercules, Farnese Artemis, the Farnese Bull and the Farnese Cup are all sublimely sculpted pieces. The total time recommended is easily 2.5-3 hours, additional if you want to read more of the placards. Free lockers, coat check and bathrooms are available. Admission is €20.00 for regular tickets, €2.00 for 18-25 year olds, free for teachers, disabled and those with certain city passes including Artecard and Naples Pass. Hours: 9.00 am - 7.30 pm with last entry at 6.30 pm Closed Tuesdays. *did not post these pics as I didn't want to get flagged for posting explicit content! lol **Bourbon as in the royal dynasty that ruled southern Italy from 1734 until 1860. Not the whisky made with a higher percentage of corn from the southern United States. =)

It was the highlight of our visit to Naples. We skipped it after seeing Pompeii over 10 years ago…read more There was no way that we were going to pass it up this time. This is where you'll find the original statues, artifacts, and frescoes unearthed from Pompeii, Herculaneum, Ancient Rome, and even more archeological sites in Italy. The experience was everything that I imagined it would be and more. Some people wonder whether they should visit it before or after seeing Herculaneum or Pompeii. In my opinion, it should be after. The location of where some of these pieces were found is still fresh in my memory. It all came back to me when reading the descriptions. I was also very amazed with the Farnese Collection. These statues are colossal in size. The Farnese Bull has to be the largest sculpture ever unearthed. It's so incredible when you see it up close and personal. Very impressive! It's a very well organized museum. Well worth the admission fee. There's a nice café inside as well as a bookstore. My only disappointment was that they had sold out of the English museum guides that I collect when traveling. They did have the Italian version. Do purchase your tickets online in advance. There was a line of people trying to buy tickets. The situation gets worse when a tour group arrives. Especially when there are 4 cruise ships in port. Also, make sure you scan the QR code to download the museum app for free audio guides and maps. It makes it so easy to find everything. Give yourself more than an hour. There is so much to see. It's a popular attraction for a reason.

Visited in April 2026, and was really blown away by the detail in the marble sculptures. The way…read morethe sheerness of the fabric captured all the folds and wrinkles over the forms of the Christ and Modesty sculptures was stunning. My mind can't even begin to comprehend how Genoese sculptor Francesco Queirolo carved the life-like roped fishing net texture and structure draped over the two human figures out of solid stone for Disillusion. He certainly was a virtuoso in this art form. The other statues in the room were incredibly elaborate and detailed as well. As other reviews have mentioned, the chapel has a strict no photography policy, there are multiple security guards posted around this room and they watch with hawk eyes so don't even try. The "anatomical machines" portion of the exhibit was two open bodies one male, one female, preserved for scientific study, showing possibly the most complete real life version of the human cardiovascular system including veins and arteries. Fascinating, though could present an ick factor for those that aren't into seeing explicit internal organs. Open daily 9am-7pm except Tuesdays. Regular admission is €12.00 for adults, €6-8 for students, handicapped, youth 10 yrs and over. Free admission to 9 yrs and under. Audio guides are available for an additional €3.50 fee. Regular admission feels steep for essentially access to 1.5 rooms, given the amount of people, had to dock a star. A lot of info available on their website below, I don't think you need the audio guide if you can read thru the descriptions in advance, though cell service isn't great inside, so wouldn't recommend trying access it live. https://www.museosansevero.it/en

Visited May 20, 2022. Booked tickets online. Great small museum. Don't worry if you don't score a…read moreticket online. There seemed to be a short line for those who didn't have tickets. The highlights are the Veiled Christ, Modesty & Disillusioned. It really was something else to see that kind of artistry with marble. Be sure to go downstairs and check out the 2 anatomical studies which display all the veins in a human body.

This was another highlight during our visit of Naples. It's not to be missed if you're a WWII buff,…read moreor have any personal connections to this era. We purchased the standard tour (there are 3) which starts at the entrance of Vico del Grottone. It's close to the Piazza del Plebiscito. There are timed entries. We just happened to get there just before the guided English tour at 11:00am. The timing was perfect. I would rethink this one if you have mobility or night vision issues. The very first thing you'll do is walk down a very high, narrow, and dimly lit stairway with pumice walls surrounding you. I'm pretty sure our tunnel guide said it was 90 steps down. The good news is that you won't have to climb up at the end. You'll exit out into a covered parking area along Via Monte de Dio. Our guide was so passionate & knowledgeable. I think his name was David. He also made sure that every question was answered. It's quite a long & rocky history of why the King had it built, and the obstacles they had building around the aqueducts and holding tanks. The vision was never fully realized after the fall of the Bourbon monarchy. It was abandoned until WWII when it was used as a shelter from bombs. It's an incredible story, and you can see how the residents of Naples lived under the brutal conditions of war. Some lived there longer because they had nowhere else to live after houses were destroyed. We were very impressed with how well the tunnels were restored, and hearing about how all these secrets (artifacts) were uncovered. It had been hiding under Naples all these years until being rediscovered some time in 2005. I don't think it even opened to the public until 2010. It was a very memorable & unique experience. Very much worth the small admission fee. Definitely seek it out if you are in Naples. It only takes an hour, and it's well worth the time.

An inspiring tour to take. Long history of use in Naples. Started hundreds of years ago and used…read morethrough WWII and after. Excellent tour guides. Multiple tour options ranging from easy to more involved requiring hard hats. Unique antiques shop included as part of tour. Well worth the price of 10€ to see this amazing underground area.

You're greeted with beautifully carved pillars and arches with details that tell you stories. The…read moremassive doors are dramatic! Do some neck and shoulder stretches before visiting because looking up and around is required. It's a castle on the outside and a Civic Museum inside. For €6 entry, you get a lot for your visit. An audio guide is optional for €4 more. Note that you're able to get a brochure with a map in English. After entry, you step into a huge courtyard. It appeared an event was being set up the day of my visit. I headed to the left toward the stone steps to start my self-paced tour into the: BARON'S HALL - it looks like a courtroom. Awesome ceiling architecture! Tried to follow the map; forget about going in alphabetical order. On the ground level you'll find the: PALATINE CHAPEL - closed doors for preserving artwork; so full of emotion. No flash photography. Place your camera glass to glass against the doors. Up more stairs to the: 1st FLOOR - find a bronze door with a cannon ball stuck in it. This floor has a lovely collection of religious paintings from 15th-18th centuries. 2nd FLOOR - you'll see more of paintings with war stories and lifestyles from 18th-20th centuries. 3rd FLOOR - modern day collections. Note that these floor exhibits are not directly above each other. Refer to the map and legend on the brochure for your preferred route. Art lovers and appreciators can take their time. Definitely a recommended visit for tourists. Don't forget to catch a breeze and take in views of the Tyrrhenian sea.

Constructed in 1279, and for centuries the Royal residence of Naples' kings into the 16th century,…read morethe gothic exterior of this massive fortress with five towers is a magnificent reminder of Napoli's medieval history and maritime prowess, with an entrance over the largest man-made moat I've seen. Arriving at 5pm on a weekday afternoon, I scrambled (ie. speed walked for half a mile) to make it before their assigned last entry time, which I thought was 5pm for a 6pm closing time, though apparently it's last entry at 5:30pm. Well...I got an extra workout. There's a small ticket window to the left inside the main doors, which takes cash or card, and can also validate your city/museum pass (I had a Naples Pass). Regular admission is €15, tickets for local residents €10, free for children under 18. However because of ongoing renovations to major sections, they were offering reduced admissions of €10 and €6 respectively. Inside what's available to view as of mid-April 2026 are several components. To me each stands alone and feels a bit disjointed to the others, though given its lengthy history and different functions over time perhaps the range of spaces truly embodies the story of the castle, one embued with varied relevance and purpose. - Palatine Chapel: an austere chapel with stone block floors, inset with ledger stones.* - Archaeological route and former Armory room: this is where the ruins can be viewed below a glass floor--of what's believed to be past of a lavish Roman villa from 1st century BCE beneath the castle. Tours need to be pre-booked in advance if you want to descend to the underground level to visit these. - Hall of the Barons: this is the kind of grand hall I'd imagine medieval royalty to preside over, with a massive octagonal star-shaped arched stone ceiling and central round skylight, though it was actually a later construction in the 15th century. The layout includes a U-shaped wooden seating arrangement where the current Napoli city council meets. - Chapel of the Souls of Purgatory: single room with entrance off the courtyard to the right of the entrance to the Palantine Chapel, the frescos are colorful though space is small. - First floor Civic Museum - Art Gallery: this is up a flight of steps (aka the second floor for those of us across the pond), a gallery of about 50 works ranging from 15-18th century religious Neapolitan art, transferred here from other historic buildings that are no longer in use. - terrace on second floor with partial view of the port: I was a little disappointed since I thought the roof of the castle would be accessible though I'm glad I didn't rush here on my first day in Naples and instead went to Monte Echia nearby where the views were much better, more panoramic. It took about 30 minutes to walk around the parts that were open, there are more extensive galleries on the upper stories that were under renovation. I felt it made sense to reduce the price since some portions were closed. For more info: https://www.comune.napoli.it/vivere-il-comune/luoghi/castel-nuovo-maschio-angioino/#orari_apertura https://www.naplesinsider.com/en/e/castel-nuovo-maschio-angioino *an inscribed stone slab usually laid into the floor of a church to commemorate or mark the place of the burial of a deceased person. (as per Wikipedia)

If you have a short amount of time when visiting Napoli (Naples) and want to see ancient Romans,…read morethen Herculaneum is a great option. Highlights/Tips: + Can be reached by public transportation; however, there is a bit of a walk from the stop + Extremely well preserved + While smaller than Pompeii, there are less crowds and you can easily see all structures and key sites with a 2.5 hour visit depending upon how long you stand and look. + If you really want a more in depth understanding of the site, I'd go with a guide. While you can do a self guided tour, I feel that a guide can provide much more context and clue you in on additional things + Accessibility- some may find the experience a bit strenuous; however, the roads/ paths into the structures are much easier to navigate than Pompeii. They seem to be much flatter and not as steep. If you are a wheelchair user, I would highly recommend seeking recommendations from other individuals as I can't speak to this. +Shade- This is especially important during the summer months. There are more shady spots to be found in the Herculaneum. I would recommend going in the Gymnasium cave like area if you really need to cool down. ***Watch your step, especially if it has rained and/or just in general. Some of the areas for walking are uneven stones and I saw quite a few older individuals slip and cause themselves potentially ending vacation injuries on the day I went.

We wanted to tour some Vesuvius ruins, and like most people assumed Pompeii was the place to go…read more But luckily while researching I found Herculaneum...the much smaller and closer option for our brief stay in Naples. The train station was a short walk away. They provide (and require) free lockers for large backpacks. The grounds are fairly small and therefore quite manageable to wander in a couple hours. Everything was neat and clean, signed well, and easy to tour on your own...although there are guided tours of course.

One of the best experiences I've ever had. We had an archaeologist-led private tour and couldn't…read morehave asked for more. Amazing history, absolutely huge - I didn't understand the scale of Pompeii until we were there. Worth the trip to Napoli to visit Pompeii alone! Spectacular 10/10 highly recommend!!

The Scavi di Pompei is the English name for the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, which is an ancient…read morecity once buried by ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. It's one of the most remarkable sites in Italy for visiting, and I would suggest at least make it a half day trip or a minimum three hours visit here.

Checks the box off for interesting tour to take in a foreign city. Tour itself was 5 stars, the…read morewait and the crowds dropped it a star. Underground tours in Naples are very popular with multiple sites and entry points, this one being the main location. Entrance is via an alley along Via dei Tribunali, one of the main stretches in the historic center, and on a Sunday noon it was packed with visitors waiting for their tour times. Like probably 70-80 people waiting in a 12 x 20 foot area...a fair number of staff on hand wrangling the lines, telling people/groups with pre-bookings to line up in front of those without. Each person basically has to talk to a staff member to figure out exactly who they should be standing behind. Then there are staff members calling out times for each tour at the front, Italian then English alternately. I'm not sure why they don't implement an easier, more straightforward system, for each language--one line for prebooked and one line without. Tickets can be booked in advance online by tour language and they ask you to be there 15 minutes prior to your time slot. This is most certainly not only recommended, but required if you want to avoid inadvertently missing your timeslot due to the confusing line as mentioned above. Also their website refers to the online tickets as "skip-the-line" though to be clear you are essentially just booking a spot in advance, you still need to wait in line at the entrance. And hands down book in advance. They "guarantee" entry at the door (as I heard a few different staff members mention to certain people in line), however what they don't initially mention is this is only after all pre-booked visitors enter, so this could mean an indefinite wait of 30 minutes, an hour, 1.5 hours...who knows. For safety reasons entry is only possible via guided tour, and there are limits to the size of each group. They definitely push it though, considering my group of about 35ish was one of several groups to go down in staggered times of about 15-20 minutes apart. Once the guide directs the group to enter the pathway leading underground, they make you line up along the stairs while another group exits, then your group can enter. It's several flights down (then back up) so I saw some elderly with walking handicaps and families with strollers struggling. Honestly I wouldn't recommend coming here if you fall into either group. I imagine it could be dangerous for the former (think slippery stone in some areas) and there was a toddler crying during two-thirds of my tour that made for a very distracting experience if you consider the cavernous reverberations. After waiting in line for about 15-20 minutes outside, then another 10-15 minutes on the stairs inside, the tour itself lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes after we finally got downstairs. It was very informative and our guide tried her best to crack jokes and maintain a light-hearted atmosphere while at the same time projecting her voice as loud as possible and telling other nearby groups to keep their voices down (yes, bc there were a few different groups in close proximity sometimes so she had to practically yell to be heard). She shared about the history, functions (aquifer, munitions storage, landfill, war bunker, etc) and unique conditions (cool temps and high humidity) that makes this subterranean complex such an integral part of Naples' story. The last 20 minutes was dedicated to visiting the ruins of an ancient Roman amphitheater only a few minutes walking from the Sotterranea entrance/exit. It's in a separate building altogether on a residential street and it was intriguing to see the intersection of antiquity and modern life. Tickets are €18 for adults, €15 for students 11-24 yrs old, €10 for children 5-10 yrs old. Time slots available on the hour from between 10am to 7pm daily, last entry at 6pm. For more info: https://www.napolisotterranea.org/en/

The underground tour itself is interesting and one of the kind of experience in Naples. It takes…read moreabout one hour and twenty minutes, approximately one hour under the ground, and two more exhibit rooms above the ground. The staff working here is terrible though, unfortunately you can only go through with their tours. The woman organize the lines and sells the tickets is absolutely the worst. She yells at people and gave misleading information, while said only 15 people in the tour group when selling the tickets, but it ended up filling near 35 people in the same group once you get into the line for your time stamped tickets, and you can imagine how crowded it could be. This tour is not recommended for claustrophobic people.

A very small art museum We only spent 1/2 hour here. As with all modern art museums, you will some…read morepieces you like and some you hate. But, they do make you think.

Madre, Naples' sole contemporary art museum, won't be to everyone's liking. Three in my party…read moreenjoyed the experience; one did not. I was in the majority but I come with bias, harboring an affinity for contemporary art while knowing full well that this is not what anyone comes to Naples to experience. Certainly not among the best of contemporary art museums, Madre spans 3 floors and much of what's on display can be walked through quite quickly. A few things with English write-ups below them caused me to stop and linger but many more things caused me to walk on by while observing. Truth be told, you could be in and out of here quite easily inside of an hour if you don't slap on headphones to listen to something or pause to see if what's written is of interest to you. Madre is an "ok" museum that's maybe worth a visit if you're in the area with nothing else on your calendar.

Looking for that picture perfect postcard view of Naples? This is your spot!…read more Perched atop Vomero Hill, this fortress was built in 1329 as the residence of King Robert of Naples, expanding upon an existing 13th century structure. In 1537 it was further extended under viceroy don Pedro de Toledo to its six-pointed star design, and additional renovations were made thru subsequent centuries. Tufa, a yellow volcanic stone often used in much ancient construction throughout Naples, is also used here. On entering the grounds at 5pm a short line at the ticket office is unavoidable, since after 4:30pm tickets are reduced from €5 to €2.50. A short five minute walk brings you around a corner to an expansive with tall, broad walls, and a short overpass over a shallow ravine brings you to the gate. A few more turns up a gently sloped path thru the ramparts and the panoramic views start coming into sight. At the top of the fortress, the inner ward encircled by the battlements is wide and open, uncrowded on a Sunday afternoon in April. The Museo Novecento is located here which features modern Italian art from 1910-1980 though closes at 5pm, a small museum with about 170 works. Worth dropping by for a look, admission is included in the fortress ticket. Aside from the museum, there's a location of the well-known bakery/café Scaturchio (see my sep review for their Centro Historico location) here where you can grab a coffee or traditional Italian merenda, or afternoon snack. Surprisingly to me there were a number of offices here too, apparently related to cultural heritage administration and art history and documentation. Multiple stairways lead up to the walkways along the top edges with merlons*. Picturesque views appear in every direction, even on a cloudy day you could see miles around the city of Naples, island of Capri, parts of the Amalfi coastline, and the Matese mountains. Spending about an hour and half here, I felt like this was adequate time to walk around the main sections of the fortress without accounting for the art museum. If I ever find myself back in Naples, would certainly come by again, and hopefully catch a sunny day! *in a defensive wall with repeating pattern of ridges, this is the raised block of the ridge used by defenders for cover. Crenels refer to the narrower lowered sections between the ridges used for archers to shoot thru.

The castle itself is located on the hill, and it takes quite a lot of stairs getting there from…read morepublic transportation, and even more steps to the top of the castle. The view on each spots and on the top platform is breathtaking. You can overlook the volcano and city views from different angles.

For the casual tourist, while not necessarily the largest cathedral, the Duomo di Santa Maria…read moreAssunta, aka Duomo di Napoli, aka Cattedrale di San Gennaro--still presents a visual feast for the eyes. For the spiritual visitor, this cathedral is the city's central catholic parish, seat of the Naples archdiocese, dedicated to the city's principal patron saint. San Gennaro (Saint Januarius)*, was a bishop martyred in 305 AD under Roman emperor Diocletian, later buried here. While little is known about his life, his body was transferred a few times, lastly in 1497 to Naples. This was at the behest of Cardinal Oliviero Carafa, where his remains were kept in the Succorpo, a richly decorated crypt constructed for this specific purpose. The most notable religious relics housed here include: 1) ampoules of the saint's blood that supposedly liquify three times a year in a miracle to show the favor of the saint upon the city, and popes that visit. For this reason it's become a pilgrimage site for those hoping to witness the miracle of liquefaction. It's debated what type of liquid is contained within the hermetically sealed vials, though scientific evidence is scant considering the contents cannot be removed in fear of damage to its contents. 2) the treasure of San Gennaro (for which a separate ticket must be purchased €13) consists of the many works bestowed upon or donated to the cathedral over seven centuries from royalty and lay persons, as signs of devotion. Paintings, busts, ex-votos, objects made with precious metals and jewels are included in this collection. While there are a few sections of the cathedral that are currently not open regularly to the public, including a) the Santa Restituta, where the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Fonte is located (part of the church built earlier in the 14th century--you could peak in from the side though couldn't enter), b) the Chapel of the San Gennaro Treasury, c) the Minuto Chapel, --the parts the were open were very impressive. In the cathedral, highlights include the colorful soaring dome, golden coffered ceilings, and the decorative statue "Assumption" at the main altarpiece by Pietro Bacci (1739). Mid-afternoon lighting thru the windows cast a bright warm glow making the statue look like it was shining. The Succorpo was also one of the most ornate crypts I've ever seen. Open daily 9:30am-17:00pm, general admission is free and there are tours available with advance booking required (€10 adult, €8 student, €6 6-15yr olds, €0 for 5 and under and those with disabilities.) Tickets for rooftop access are €6. Good-sized gift shop. For more info - their website is very informative about the duomo's history and visiting details: https://duomonapoli.it/en/ *This is the same saint for which an annual festival Feast of San Gennaro is held.

Spiritually Full and Completely in Awe…read more Duomo di Napoli took my breath away the moment I stepped inside. I can't even fully put it into words... the calmness that washed over me was unreal. My heart felt full... my spirit felt fed... and I could've stayed there for hours just soaking it in. The architecture is beyond anything a photo can capture: the detail, the artistry, the reverence in every corner. You feel the history... the faith... the devotion... all around you. If you're visiting Naples, do not miss this cathedral. It's not just a tourist stop... It's an experience for your soul. Absolutely beautiful.