The 8 Best Naples Day Trips For Families
Naples is such a beautiful city, and one of the most exciting cities in Italy for families. We fell in love with the chaos and the vibrancy of this endlessly fascinating historic city. But the reality is that some of the very best things to do in Naples actually involve….leaving Naples! And Naples day trips are some of the best in Italy.
You wouldn’t dream of coming this close to the ancient ruins of Pompeii without going to check them out, for example! Or dip your toes in the famous waters of Capri. From ancient ruins to volcano hikes and nearby iconic colourful seaside towns, Naples is the perfect base to explore Southern Italy. That’s why i’m sharing the best 8 Naples day trips for families, all tested by us, or highly recommended by travelling families that we love. Let’s dive right in….
And if you want to make sure you’re making the most of your time in Naples too? You can check out our full two-day itinerary for Naples here.
Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!
1. Naples Day Trips To Pompeii
Why it’s great for families:
Pompeii is one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in the world and you’d be crazy to get this close to it and not check it out for yourself! In fact, the main reason we took our trip to Naples was so the boys could realise their dream of visiting Pompeii. This is the best of the Naples day trips in my opinion.
If you’re not familiar, Pompeii is a city that was frozen in time when the nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted, covering and preserving the city in ash. There are ancient houses, bakeries, theatres, and streets frozen in time. The highlights of the trip are the amphitheatre and the tile murals in the bathhouses, but my boys will never forget seeing the plaster casts of the people that were buried then preserved by the ash here.
🕍 You can read our essential guide to visiting Pompeii with kids here.
Best for: Ages 6+ as the trip involves a lot of walking and the cobbles can be tricky to navigate (I would hate to try it with a pushchair!)
Travel time: 30–40 minutes from Naples
Book it now to avoid disappointment:
- Pompeii ruins admission tickets (with optional guided tour)
- Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius one day combo tour from Naples
🎁 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get 5% off no matter which tour you choose
This is one of the BEST and most popular Naples attractions. We’ve been, we loved it, and it’s definitely worth adding to your itinerary!
2. Mount Vesuvius: Hike a Volcano
Why families love it:
Have you ever wanted to hike to the top of a real-life volcano? Well, just outside of Naples, you can! It’s not every day you can look inside the crater of the volcano that destroyed Pompeii! This is such an iconic experience, and you can even combine it with a trip to Pompeii, as the two attractions sit side by side.
Hiking might not be a natural fit for all families, but actually the hike is doable for most kids, and the views over the Bay of Naples are incredible when you get to the top. We didn’t do this tour with our boys, but Mike has done it, and was gutted that we didn’t have to time to fit it in on this trip.
Best for: Ages 7+
Travel time: 45–60 minutes
Book it on Klook to save time and money:
- Mount Vesuvius entry ticket and guidebook
- Pompeii and Vesuvius full-day guided experience from Naples
🎁 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get 5% off, no matter which tour you choose
3. Take A Ferry Ride To Capri
Why it’s one of Italy’s most family-friendly islands:
If Naples is a rough and ready slice of Italian chaos, Capri is it’s posher, more luxurious counterpart. Capri is colourful, beautiful, and totally different to Naples. Naples day trips don’t get much better than this! Think Sophia Loren, in a big hat and big sunglasses, lounging by a pool.
But it’s actually a surprisingly family-friendly place to visit too, and while hotels here can be spendy, it doesn’t have to break the bank if you just take a day trip. Kids love the funicular, lemon ice, and the thrill of boat trips around the coastline.
Best for: All ages
Travel time: 50–60 minutes by fast ferry
Book it on Klook:
- Full day Capri island Tour from Naples with hotel pick up
- Capri Island and iconic Blue Grotto tour from Naples
🎁 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get 5% off, no matter which tour you choose
4. Amalfi Coast (Positano, Amalfi & Ravello)
Why it’s great for families:
The Amalfi Coast is iconic: and that means that it can be insanely busy during the summer months. But if you’re visiting Naples in the shoulder seasons (like we did) then there’s no better place to be. Colourful towns, beaches, gelato, boat views, the Amalfi Coast is dreamy for parents and children alike.
TOP TIP: Driving the coast yourself is stressful: my dad actually did it last summer and the roads are so narrow he ended up taking the door off his hire car! So my advice? Book a family-friendly tour instead.
Best for: All ages
Travel time: 1–1.5 hours
Book it on Klook:
- Amalfi Coast bus tour from Naples
- Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast Day Tour from Naples
- Sorrento Amalfi Coast Half-Day Private Vespa Tour (I think this would be so much fun!)
🎁 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get 5% off, no matter which tour you choose
5. Sorrento: The Easiest Day Trip From Naples
Why families love it:
By far the easiest coastal day trip from Naples is a ride out to Sorrento: one of my husband’s favourite places in the world, and a great place to relax and unwind as a family. It’s safe, walkable, pretty, and calm compared to Naples, which can often feel none of those things(though that is part of its own unique charm). The marina area and gelato shops are a hit with kids, and there’s nowhere better to eat lemon ice cream so good you’ll wonder how you lived without it!
Best for: All ages
Travel time: 1 hour
Book it in advance for the smoothest experience:
- Sorrento Half-Day Cheese & Local Food Small Group Experience
- Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi from Naples combined day tour (perfect if you want to see as much as possible in a single day)
🎁 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get 5% off, no matter which tour you choose
6. Herculaneum: A Smaller, Easier Alternative to Pompeii
Why it works so well for kids:
It’s smaller, better preserved, and easier to explore in hot weather. It also doesn’t attract quite the same crowd levels as Pompeii, which makes it feel more manageable with little ones, although it isn’t as big or impressive as Pompeii. Many of the buildings here still have original wood and mosaics, so it’s a wonderful slice of the past that’s been beautifully preserved.
Best for: Ages 5+ (younger than Pompeii, because there’s much less walking here)
Travel time: 20–25 minutes (Herculaneum is closer to Naples than Pompeii)
Book it on Klook:
- Archeological park ticket in Herculaneum
- Pompeii, Herculaneum & Mount Vesuvius Scenic Drive Tour from Naples
🎁 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get 5% off no matter which tour you choose
7. Caserta Royal Palace: Italy’s Versailles
Why families love it:
Our friends recommended that we check out Caserta Royal Palace when we were in Naples and I’m gutted to say that we just couldn’t fit it into our schedule. But I would love to see this place with my own eyes. It looks absolutely spectacular with its huge rooms, grand staircases, and beautiful gardens and fountains. Outside it also has a great space for kids to explore and run around, so it will work for the whole family.
Best for: Ages 4+
Travel time: 30–40 minutes
Book it on Klook:
🎁 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get 5% off, no matter which tour you choose
8. Paestum: Ancient Greek Temples Without the Crowds
Why it’s a hidden family favourite:
You don’t really think of Greece when you’re in Italy, do you? Buy actually Paestum is one of the very best examples of Greek architecture, right in the heart of Italy. This site boasts three massive Greek temples (better preserved than anything in Athens!), a small museum, and is surrounded by countryside. It’s less busy than Pompeii too, perhaps because the travel time to get here is longer!
Best for: Ages 7+
Travel time: 1hr 30min
Book it now to avoid long queues:
Final Thoughts: Why Naples Is the Perfect Family Base
Naples puts you within easy reach of islands, ruins, volcanoes, beaches, stunning coastline, and ancient history, all in one destination. But I do want to say that although the Naples day trips are spectacular (with so much to see and do) please don’t neglect Naples itself. It’s chaos, its noisy, it’s smelly in parts. But it’s still a beautiful and historically rich city in its own right, and worth dedicating a day of your trip to exploring.
And when you’re ready to leave Naples? Whether you’re exploring Pompeii, cruising to Capri, or walking through a royal palace, these day trips offer unforgettable experiences for the whole family.
As an added bonus, when you book with Klook (our go-to for all our own excursion tickets), planning becomes simple because they offer:
skip-the-line tickets instant bookings great prices exclusive discount codes (I’ll pop THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK here again!) stress-free transfers
Ready to plan your Naples adventure? It’s a great place to visit as a family, and if you’re trip is anything like ours you’re going to have an amazing time! And when it comes to planning your day trips, this list is the perfect place to start.
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Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!
