24 hours in Naples

The city of Naples, located at the foot of the Vesuvius volcano, is one of Italy's most historic cities. Look beyond its rough exterior to find beauty in every back street and magnificent food at every turn. Spend only 24 hours in Naples, and you're sure to fall in love with this diamond in the rough.

9AM // Castles in the morning

Magical eggs and bloody Barons

Grab a morning coffee and start your tour at the Castel dell'Ovo (Egg Castle). This is the oldest fortress in Naples, dating back to the 6^th century BC. Legend has it that the castle rests upon a magical egg, and if it were to break it would mean the destruction of Naples.

Head northeast along the shore to find the impressive Castel Nuovo, seat of power for the medieval Kings of Naples. In 1486, a group of noblemen famously walked into a trap here - expecting to attend a royal wedding, they were instead arrested and executed. Game of Thrones, anyone?

11AM // The back streets of Naples

Crowded streets and quiet chapels

The historic centre of Naples, listed as a a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a labyrinth of narrow alleyways, full of little shops and Baroque churches. Check out the impressive Archeological Museum, famous for its Roman mosaics from nearby Pompeii.

Being the home of the pizza, Naples has many excellent pizzerias for you to enjoy your lunch. Afterwards, visit the Capella Sansevero to see the Veiled Christ sculpture. This masterpiece shows the figure of Christ underneath a marble veil so thin you'll believe it to be actual cloth!

2PM // Pompeii uncovered

Mountain views and Roman remains

By now you will surely have seen Mount Vesuvius looming menacingly over the city. This volcano is famous for burying the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under layers of ash in 79 AD. This tragedy has caused the city ruins to be extremely well preserved.

From Naples, you can reach Pompeii by train in less than 40 minutes. Stroll around the ancient buildings and try to imagine the sheer level of destruction that took place here. Next, if you're up for it, climb the still-active volcano for an astonishing view of the ruins and the Bay of Naples.

Ships in the bay of Naples | 24 hours in Naples

5PM // The many levels of Naples

Deep tunnels and seaside strolls

Make your way back to the city and take a tour through Subterranean Naples – an 80-kilometre string of caves below the city. It was used throughout the centuries for mining, storing water and protecting citizens from bombing raids.

Visit Naples' old harbour and enjoy views of the bay as the sun slowly sets. Grab some ice cream along the way and circle back to the centre through the always lively Santa Lucia district. If you feel like doing some shopping, check out the historic Galleria Umberto I.

8PM // An Italian evening

Perfect pizzas and busy bars

For dinner, feel free to go for a second round of Neapolitan pizza. Alternatively, try the local snack pizza fritta (deep-fried pizza) and get some sweet Sfogliatelle for dessert. Football fans should grab a coffee in Bar Nilo, where there's an actual shrine to Diego Maradona.

Naples never quiets down, so you can expect the nightlife to be bustling. Go for a drink at one of the bars on the Piazza Bellini, or check out the student bars on the Via Paladino. Clubbing is always an option in Naples, although in summer many clubs relocate to the nearby beaches.