Key facts
Campania at a glance
Areas and places
Campania area by area
Each area has its own page, with its own character, plans and map.
Plan the trip
Campania, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Campania
April, May, June, September and October: the sea is warm from June, boats run full timetables and the heat is bearable for Pompeii. July and August are very hot, expensive and crowded on the coast and the islands. From November to March, Naples is still lively but many hotels on the Amalfi Coast and Capri close and boats are reduced.
How you travel
Campania your way
The ways of travelling that suit Campania. We are writing a guide to each one: where to stay, how to get around and which services you will need.
By planeCar-freeLuxuryOn foot
Nearby
Near Campania
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
42.47° N · 13.57° E
Abruzzo
By carBy campervanCampingOn footBy bikeBy motorbike
41.89° N · 12.48° E
Lazio
By carBy planeBackpackingCar-freeLuxury
40.55° N · 17.75° E
Apulia
By carBy plane
43.07° N · 12.62° E
Umbria
By carBy planeCar-free
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Pompeii first thing
Go in at opening time with water, a hat and comfortable shoes. In high season there is a daily visitor limit, so buy online.
- 2Herculaneum if you only have half a day
It's smaller than Pompeii, takes three hours to walk round and preserves wood, upper floors and colours.
- 3Sleep in Sorrento if you're on a budget
It has trains to Naples and Pompeii, and boats to Capri and the Amalfi Coast, at lower prices than Positano.
- 4Capri as a day trip, not a base
By day it's crowded and expensive; at sunset it empties. If you're not sleeping there, go back before the last boat.
Traffic jams, number plate restrictions and extremely expensive parking. The boat and the bus are faster and prettier.
Which part of Campania should you choose?
Campania brings together three very different trips in a small space: a big, chaotic, lively city, the best-preserved Roman ruins in the world and one of the most beautiful coastlines in the Mediterranean. It all fits into a week if you don't try to do everything from the same base.
Naples is the gateway and deserves three nights on its own: the historic centre of Greek streets, the underground passages beneath Via dei Tribunali, the Veiled Christ in the Sansevero Chapel, the Archaeological Museum with the Pompeii mosaics and, of course, pizza. It's noisy and untidy, and that's exactly why it hooks you.
Pompeii and Herculaneum, at the foot of Vesuvius, can be visited from Naples on the Circumvesuviana train. Pompeii is huge and needs a day; Herculaneum is smaller, better preserved and can be seen in half a day. You climb to Vesuvius's crater on foot from the car park, with a ticket bought online.
The Amalfi Coast, between Positano and Vietri, is a vertical coastline: villages hanging over the sea, terraced lemon groves and the Path of the Gods hundreds of metres above the water. It's best enjoyed by boat and on foot, sleeping in Amalfi, Positano or Ravello. Sorrento, on the other side of the peninsula, is cheaper, has a train to Naples and boats to Capri and the coast.
The islands are the fourth plan. Capri is the most famous and the most expensive, good for a day trip. Ischia is bigger, with thermal baths and beaches, and Procida, small and full of coloured houses, is the quietest. To the south, the Greek temples of Paestum, among the best preserved outside Greece, open the way to the Cilento park. To the north, the Royal Palace of Caserta, with its garden of waterfalls, is an easy excursion from Naples.
A good split for a week: three nights in Naples with Pompeii and Herculaneum, and three or four on the coast, in Sorrento, Amalfi or Positano, with a day for Capri.
How do you get there from Spain?
By plane, to Naples-Capodichino airport, with direct flights from Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Málaga, Alicante, Palma, Menorca and Tenerife, among others. From the airport, the Alibus takes you to the central station, in Piazza Garibaldi, and continues to the port at Molo Beverello, where boats leave for the islands and the coast.
Another option is to fly to Rome: the high-speed train takes just over an hour from Rome to Naples.
How do you get around Campania?
Without a car. In Naples the traffic is chaotic and you don't need one. The Circumvesuviana links Naples with Herculaneum, Pompeii and Sorrento. Hydrofoils and ferries leave from Molo Beverello and Porta di Massa for Capri, Ischia, Procida and Sorrento, and in season for the Amalfi Coast. On the coast you travel between the villages by boat and on the SITA buses to Ravello and Agerola. For Paestum, take a regional train from Salerno.
By car, only for the Cilento or the interior. The Amalfi Coast road, the SS163, is narrow, winding and congested, and on the busiest days ANAS restricts traffic by odd or even number plate; parking in Positano or Amalfi is expensive.
When should you go and what does it cost?
Spring and early autumn. In May and June the lemon trees bloom and the sea warms up; September and October have warm water and fewer people. In July and August Pompeii is an oven at midday and the coast is packed. In winter Naples is a good city break, but the coast and Capri close a good part of their hotels.
Naples is one of the cheapest cities in Italy for eating: a margherita pizza in a classic pizzeria costs very little. The Amalfi Coast and Capri are at the opposite extreme: in summer, among the most expensive places in the country to sleep. Sorrento, Salerno and Vietri are good mid-range bases.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need for Campania?
A week: three nights in Naples with Pompeii and Herculaneum, and three or four on the coast with a day for Capri.
Where should I stay, in Naples or on the coast?
In both: Naples for the city and the ruins, the coast for the sea. If you only want one base, Sorrento has trains to Naples and boats to everywhere.
Can I get to Pompeii from Naples independently?
Yes, on the Circumvesuviana, Naples–Sorrento line, stop Pompei Villa dei Misteri, next to the entrance. Herculaneum has its stop at Ercolano Scavi.
Do I need a car for the Amalfi Coast?
No, and it's better not to bring one. Boats link Amalfi, Positano and Salerno, and SITA buses climb to Ravello and Agerola.
Is Naples safe?
Like any big city: watch your wallet on the metro, the Circumvesuviana and in crowded areas, and don't leave anything visible in the car.
Which island should I choose, Capri, Ischia or Procida?
Capri for a famous and expensive day trip. Ischia for staying several days with thermal baths and a beach. Procida for a quiet day in a fishing village.