Campania is one of Italy’s grandest stages: Greek colonies, Roman villas, Bourbon palaces, and seaside towns all compressed into a region that feels both theatrical and deeply lived-in. Naples, its capital, helped shape pizza as the world knows it, while nearby Pompeii preserves an entire Roman city in ash, as vivid as a caught breath.

There are pleasures here beyond the headline sights. Lemons on the Sorrento Peninsula become glossy bottles of limoncello; volcanic soils on Mount Vesuvius produce the distinctive Lacryma Christi wines; and ferries knit together a maritime world of Capri, Ischia, and Procida. You are never far from a church dome, a cliffside terrace, or a plate of seafood so fresh it seems to remember the tide.

For practical planning, this 7-day Campania itinerary works best with two bases: Naples for history, street life, and easy airport access, then Sorrento for the coast and island excursions. Expect a lively urban rhythm in Naples and a more polished resort feel in Sorrento; wear sturdy shoes for stone streets, book boats early in warmer months, and keep some flexibility in case sea conditions affect ferry schedules.

Naples

Naples is not a city that whispers. It sings from market stalls, church interiors, espresso bars, and laundry-strung lanes, with Vesuvius watching from the bay like an old god who never quite left.

This is the ideal opening act for a Campania trip because it gives you the region’s history, food, and pulse all at once. You come for pizza and archaeology, certainly, but stay for the city’s raw intelligence: Baroque chapels beside graffiti, aristocratic palaces near bustling quartieri, and pastry counters laden with sfogliatella at breakfast.

Where to stay: Browse apartments and sea-view stays on VRBO Naples or hotels on Hotels.com Naples. For a first stay, look around Centro Storico for atmosphere, Chiaia for a more refined base, or near Piazza Municipio if you want easier ferry and airport connections.

Getting there: For flights into Campania, compare schedules via Omio flights. Naples International Airport to the historic center usually takes about 20-30 minutes by taxi or shuttle depending on traffic; budget roughly €6 for the Alibus or €20-30 for a taxi to central neighborhoods.

• Top sights: Naples National Archaeological Museum for Pompeii treasures, the Duomo and the Chapel of San Gennaro, Spaccanapoli, Via Toledo, the Spanish Quarter, and the waterfront along Lungomare Caracciolo.
• What to eat: Pizza margherita, pizza fritta, sfogliatella riccia, babà al rum, ragù napoletano, and fried seafood cuoppo.
• Coffee stop worth seeking out: Gran Caffè Gambrinus, a storied belle-époque café near Piazza del Plebiscito, ideal for espresso and pastries in a setting that feels almost operatic.

Viator pick from Naples: If you want a polished sea day without changing bases, consider Boat Day from Naples to Capri Island, a strong option for seeing Capri by water with a local skipper.

Day 1 – Arrive in Naples

Morning: Not scheduled, as this itinerary assumes an afternoon arrival into Campania.

Afternoon: Arrive in Naples, check into your hotel, and keep the first hours gentle. Start with a short orientation walk through Piazza del Plebiscito and the Lungomare, where the bay opens toward Vesuvius and the light often turns silver by late day.

Evening: For your first dinner, go straight to the city’s signature dish at L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele if you want a classic, pared-back pilgrimage, or try Gino e Toto Sorbillo on Via dei Tribunali for a more expansive menu in the heart of the old city. If you still have energy, finish with espresso or a pastry at Gran Caffè Gambrinus; its mirrored interiors and old-world polish offer a graceful contrast to Naples’ streetwise edge.

Day 2 – Historic Naples in Depth

Morning: Begin with breakfast at Scaturchio in Piazza San Domenico Maggiore, known for strong coffee, sfogliatella, and the famous ministeriale chocolate sweet. Then walk Spaccanapoli, the long, straight artery cutting through the historic center, and dip into the Chiostro di Santa Chiara for its tiled cloister, one of the loveliest calm pockets in the city.

Afternoon: Visit the Naples National Archaeological Museum, which gives vital context for the days ahead by displaying mosaics, frescoes, and artifacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum. For lunch, seek out Tandem Ragù for a slow-cooked Neapolitan ragù, or grab fried street food from Di Matteo, beloved for pizza fritta and quick, satisfying bites.

Evening: Spend the evening in the Spanish Quarter and along Via Toledo, now one of the city’s most energetic strolling districts. For dinner, La Locanda Gesù Vecchio is a reliable choice for pasta and seafood in the centro storico, while Trattoria da Nennella offers a more boisterous, unmistakably local atmosphere if you want dinner with a side of Neapolitan theater.

Day 3 – Naples Underground, Markets, and Waterfront

Morning: Take breakfast at Caffè Mexico, famous among coffee devotees for its potent espresso, then head into the old center for Naples Underground or the Sansevero Chapel area. If the chapel fits your interests, its Veiled Christ is one of the most startling sculptures in Italy, admired for marble rendered with impossible softness.

Afternoon: For lunch, try Concettina ai Tre Santi if you want another superb pizza in a historic neighborhood, or head to Pignasecca Market for a more improvisational meal among produce, fish, and street snacks. Later, make your way to Castel dell’Ovo and the seafront for a broad, beautiful promenade that shows Naples at its most open and cinematic.

Evening: Dine in Chiaia at a seafood-focused table such as Osteria della Mattonella nearby for traditional cooking and a deeply Neapolitan feel, or choose a modern bistro in the area if you want a quieter end to the day. If you enjoy a nightcap, order a limoncello or amaro with a view of the bay rather than bar-hopping at random; in Naples, setting matters as much as the drink.

Sorrento

Sorrento occupies a cliff above the Bay of Naples, poised between polished resort life and the working traditions of the peninsula. Its lanes smell faintly of lemon peel, sea air, and polished wood from the marquetry workshops that once made the town famous.

For a 7-day Campania itinerary, Sorrento is a shrewd second base. It connects easily to Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast, while offering evenings that are easier and calmer than the logistical puzzle of staying in smaller cliff towns.

Where to stay: Search holiday rentals on VRBO Sorrento or hotels on Hotels.com Sorrento. Stays near Piazza Tasso are convenient for trains and restaurants, while properties slightly west of the center often offer better sunset views and a quieter night.

Travel from Naples to Sorrento: Depart in the morning on Day 4. The Circumvesuviana train usually takes around 1 hour 10 minutes from Naples to Sorrento and is the budget option, often around €5-6; for schedules and alternatives, compare on Omio trains or Omio buses. A private car is faster door-to-door, usually about 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes depending on traffic, but at a much higher cost.

• Top sights: Marina Grande, Piazza Tasso, the cloister of San Francesco, Bagni della Regina Giovanna, and the marinas for ferries and boat trips.
• What to eat: Gnocchi alla sorrentina, seafood crudo, local lemons in every form, and walnut or citrus pastries from neighborhood bakeries.
• Why base here: Sorrento makes day-tripping easier while still giving you handsome evenings, good dining, and quick access to ferries for Capri.

Viator pick: For travelers who want Pompeii and coastal scenery in one well-organized outing, consider Pompeii and Amalfi Coast Private Day Trip with Pick Up.

Viator pick: Capri is one of Campania’s great pleasures by sea, and the Capri & Blue Grotto Semi Private Boat Day Trip from Sorrento is a strong choice if you want a small-group day with the island’s most famous waterside highlights.

Viator pick: For a memorable final-night style experience, the Sorrento Coast Sunset Boat Tour: Small Group, Swimming & Dinner pairs golden-hour scenery with a leisurely dinner on the water.

Viator pick: Wine lovers should note the Organic Wine Tasting & Lunch Experience on Mt Vesuvius, which combines volcanic landscapes with local food and Lacryma Christi wines.

Day 4 – Travel to Sorrento and Settle In

Morning: Check out of Naples and travel to Sorrento by train or car. If you take the train, leave early to maximize your day; the route itself is practical rather than scenic, but it places you directly in town.

Afternoon: After check-in, have lunch at Enjoy the Little Things Bistrot if you want a contemporary light meal, or at one of the trattorias near Piazza Tasso for your first plate of gnocchi alla sorrentina. Spend the afternoon walking to the Villa Comunale viewpoint and down toward Marina Grande, the old fishing quarter where pastel houses and bobbing boats give Sorrento a softer, older face.

Evening: Dine at Trattoria da Emilia in Marina Grande for simple, well-regarded seafood in a setting that feels more local than polished, or choose O’Parrucchiano La Favorita for a garden setting and a classic Sorrento atmosphere. After dinner, take a slow passeggiata through the center and stop for gelato or a limoncello tasting; Sorrento after dark is made for unhurried walking.

Day 5 – Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius

Morning: Start with coffee and pastry at a central Sorrento bar, then leave early for Pompeii. You can travel independently by train via the Circumvesuviana, usually around 30-40 minutes to Pompeii, or streamline the day with a guided car-based excursion.

Afternoon: Spend several hours at Pompeii, focusing on the Forum, the amphitheater, bath complexes, and a few preserved homes with frescoes; the site is large, exposed, and richer when approached selectively rather than as a race. For a memorable lunch afterward, the Organic Wine Tasting & Lunch Experience on Mt Vesuvius is an excellent pairing, letting you taste volcanic wines where the mountain’s shadow still shapes the land.

Evening: Return to Sorrento for dinner at Inn Bufalito, a dependable place to try buffalo mozzarella in multiple forms alongside regional dishes, or at L’Antica Trattoria for a more polished meal. Keep the evening easy; archaeological days are rewarding but physically demanding, and tomorrow is best enjoyed with fresh energy.

Day 6 – Capri by Boat

Today is ideal as a dedicated sea day. Book the Capri & Blue Grotto Semi Private Boat Day Trip from Sorrento if you want a sociable small-group outing, or upgrade to the Capri Private Boat Tour from Sorrento, Positano or Naples for a more flexible, slower-paced day. Capri has been adored since Roman times for good reason: white rock cliffs, startling blue water, and that peculiar mix of natural grandeur and polished island style.

If sea conditions permit and timing works, the Blue Grotto is worth seeing for its otherworldly electric-blue light, though queues can be long in peak season. Once on Capri, many travelers enjoy a brief stop in Anacapri or around Marina Grande, but the true magic is often from the boat itself, circling the Faraglioni and swimming in coves where the island seems to rise sheer from the sea.

Back in Sorrento, choose a relaxed dinner rather than anything too elaborate. A seafood pasta near the marina or a pizza in town is the right answer after sun and saltwater.

Day 7 – Amalfi Coast and Departure

Morning: On your final full stretch, take in the Amalfi Coast with an early departure. If you want comfort and efficiency, the Private Tour of Amalfi Coast from Sorrento is an excellent way to see Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello without wrestling with peak-season transport.

Afternoon: If traveling independently, ferries can be a scenic alternative when operating, and you can compare options on Omio ferries or buses on Omio buses. Focus on one or two towns rather than trying to collect the entire coast: Positano for dramatic vertical beauty, Amalfi for maritime history and the cathedral, or Ravello for elevated gardens and sweeping views.

Evening: Return in time for your afternoon departure plans from Campania, or, if your departure is later, finish with one last waterfront lunch in Sorrento before heading onward. For onward rail or airport planning back toward Naples, check Omio trains and Omio flights.

This 7-day Campania itinerary balances grand archaeological sites, urban energy, cliffside leisure, and time on the water without turning the trip into a checklist. By pairing Naples with Sorrento, you get both the soul of Campania and its postcard beauty, with enough structure to travel smoothly and enough room to linger where the region is most irresistible.