You’ve been dreaming about it for months, years really, and now you’ve finally booked that trip to Italy. You only have a few days for your first time in Italy so you’re wondering where to start and what to plan? Let me help you.
I’ve visited Italy a few times over the past few years and my trip in May of 2018 was probably my favourite trip to Italy so far. My Canadian friend, who I met during my semester abroad on Vancouver Island, was backpacking through Europe for a couple of months and along with hosting her in Frankfurt, Germany, I decided to join her for a few days in Italy. This was two weeks before our birthdays and we would celebrate our early birthdays together in beautiful Italy. We were planning this trip a few months in advance and ended up booking flights and hotel approx. 2 months prior. We flew from Frankfurt to Naples which is where our hotel was located.
Naples itself has a lot to offer but it is also a great base to explore beautiful destinations nearby. Here are my top 5 suggestions for day trips from Naples:
Day 1 – Sorrento
You can reach this beautiful town by train, bus, taxi or rental car. We travelled from Naples to Sorrento via train and I would recommend avoiding driving yourself as the roads are quite narrow and parking is limited. Public transport is quite regular and reliable but it is up to your personal preference.
Sorrento itself is famous for its sea cliffs and the town’s steep slopes which overlook sky blues waters to Capri, Ischia and the Bay of Naples. Sorrento offers some excellent hiking trails with breathtaking views. If you’re looking for more adventure, there are some great options for diving, sea fishing and boat cruises. There were so many ripe orange trees and the smell was divine. Sorrento caters to the needs of many different types of holidaymakers and is at a perfect distance for a day trip from Naples so should not be overlooked.
Day 2: Capri
We travelled to this stunning island by ferry early in the morning to really make the most of our day. Capri has so much to offer including beautiful gardens, stunning landscapes and fun boat tours around the island to see the unique grottos, for example the Blue Grotto. A highlight was taking the boat through the Faraglioni rock formation. It is one of Capri’s most iconic sights.
I loved exploring the island and soaking in the beautiful spring weather. We also took the funicular (cable car) from the Marina Grande to the Piazzetta in Capri town above, which only took a few minutes and provided beautiful views. After wandering around the charming town of Capri and indulging in gelato, we proceeded to the Garden of Augustus to soak in the jaw-dropping views of the rugged coastline and the Faraglioni. I would highly recommend this spot to anyone visiting Capri.
Day 3: Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius
For a day of history and mystery, a visit to Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius would be the perfect day out. We travelled by train from Naples then took a bus to Mount Vesuvius, where we walked up approx. 20 minutes to reach the top of the volcano and walk around the top of the steep inner rim.
It was a pretty grey and slightly foggy day when we went and it even started drizzling at some point which only added to the mood of the place. After walking around and taking in Mount Vesuvius, we took the bus back down and entered Pompeii. We learnt about the history and locations of different part of the old city before it was destroyed by the volcano eruption in 79 AD. It felt so surreal to see this place and where people were living. Many buildings had been preserved (or partially preserved) under the volcano ashes. After this deep dive into this amazing, historical location, we went to a restaurant nearby where we had some delicious Italian food. All in all, a great day out!
Day 4: Rome
Rome definitely deserves more than just a day but if you are strapped for time but really want to visit, then it is definitely possible in a day. Take the train from Naples to Rome which will only take approx. 2-3 hours. I would definitely recommend leaving as early in the day as possible, which is what we did to make the most of our time there.
We walked from the station to the town centre to see more of the city along the way. We explored the city on foot and were able to see many of the main bucketlist tourist attractions in Rome. This included the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, where we also briefly saw a beautiful bridal party.
We had lunch at a small restaurant near the Colosseum and it even rained a bit during our day in Rome but it wasn’t too bad as it didn’t last long and we came prepared with umbrellas. Rome is mesmerising regardless of the weather.
Day 5: Positano, Amalfi Coast
Last but not least, Positano, the perfect place for a day trip. Highly anticipated, picturesque and absolutely stunning. Read my short guide on how to spend 12 hours in Positano.
Reaching Positano was easy by train from Naples to Sorrento and then a bus specifically for tourists going to Positano. Enjoy the scenery and gorgeous viewpoints dotted around as you descend and get closer to the beach. There is beauty on every level and unique architecture to be admired close by or from afar. It is truly a dreamy destination that cannot be missed.
These are my day trip recommendations based on my experience staying in Naples. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did and I can’t wait to go back one day and explore the area even further.
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below or feel free to send me a DM via instagram if you want to know more about a specific place.
I hope you found this useful and if you enjoyed reading this blog post, make sure to share it with friends and anyone who might be considering travelling to Italy soon!
Thank you for your love and support as always!
With love, Wania
This looks amazing. You’re making me want to go to Italy again. I’ve only been to Rome, Venice and Verona but now adding Positano to my list! Thank you!
Thank you for the sweet words, I’m so happy to hear that you’re adding Positano to your list! Hope you enjoy it whenever you get to go! xoxo