Hello,

My boyfriend and I will be going to Italy in April/May. So far, our itinerary is:

Venice (2 nights)
Florence (2 nights)
Rome (3 nights)
Naples/Pompeii (2 nights)

Besides Naples being a stepping stone to Pompeii, is there any reason to be staying there? What's there to do in Naples?

Our other plan was to stay in Naples for 1 night and Venice for 3. Any advice? Thanks!

Naples is worth seeing, but I think that with 9 nights, I would only do 2 or 3 stops.

So assuming this is your first trip to Italy, I would cut Naples/Pompeii and see Venice (2/3), Florence (3), and Rome (4/3).

However, if you tell us the things you specifically want to see on your trip (and it involves something about Naples-area sites) there is an argument for dropping one of the others to have Naples. I would not do all four.

I don't like to move too much - it makes me too tired when I return and I think you get more out of a trip savouring each place. Just my opinion though!

You'll have a wonderful trip regardless!
Sally

Hi Sally,

Yes this will be our first trip to Italy. Ideally, we would love to stay in Italy for several weeks, but alas, we're broke graduate students and have time constraints.

We definitely want to see the historic sites and experience the culture in Italy (which is why we left out the fashion/shopping capital Milan). We want to see the canals of Venice, the Colosseum in Rome, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and Pompeii. Those are "musts". With those interests in mind, we have no choice but to go to all 4 places, even in such a short amount of time. And yes, although we can certainly visit Italy again in the future, our goal is to travel to as many countries as possible. There is just too little time, and too many other places to see!

So about Naples - can you or anyone name something specific there that is worth seeing? Any historical sites? monuments? neat shops? Thanks.

Sights to see in Naples:

1. The Duomo
2. Castel D'Ovo
3. Castel Nuovo
4. The Lungomare (walk along the bay)
5. Piazza del Plebiscito
6. Galleria Umberto
7. Teatro San Carlo (Opera House)
8. Archeological Museum (where they put the stuff they found in Pompeii & Herculaneum. Nice to see if you are interested in Pompeii)
9. Spaccanapoli (historic section)
10. Sansevero Chapel (great sculpture)

There are many other things to do including eat great pizza and shop at markets.

If Naples appeals to you, Fodors has a pretty good book called Naples' 25 Best. The map is not very good in it though so I would get a different map. You will find plenty to do in Naples. I think you can fit everything in you want to do although it will be a whirlwind trip. Go for it if you are up to it!

Yes, the archeological museum is a real treasure trove, and that's the number one reason to go to Venice. The city is also a great base to see Pompeii and also Herculaneum.

I don't know how much you care about food but Naples has the best pizza in the entire world. It might sound crazy, but I would stop there just to experience a neopolitan pizza. Of course, it is also the stopping point to get you to Capri, the Amalfi coast, and Pompeii. With 2 nights, you'd have to narrow it down. You can do Pompeii on the way to Positano and make that a day trip. Then another day to Capri.

I hope you're flying into Venice and out of Naples.

Uh, they're back, if they ever went.

Is the Naples garbage collection strike still on?

We spent a week there last year, loved it & would go back. But it was our 16th trip to Italy.

In addition to the sights listed by Scullysioux, we were particularly impressed by the catacombs of San Gennaro and the archaeological excavations under the Duomo and other churches. And there was so much to do in Naples, we didn't even make it to Pompei.

Hi R,

>We want to see the canals of Venice, the Colosseum in Rome, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and Pompeii. Those are "musts".<

May I suggest that you have dozens of years ahead of you in which to check these sights off your list?

With only 9 nights on your first visit, I suggest:

A: Venice and Florence (Side trips to Siena and Pisa)
B: Venice and Rome
C: Venice, Florence and Rome