RunCity

Naples on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 11 of Naples's best-known sights, including Castel dell'Ovo, Piazza del Plebiscito, Galleria Umberto I and more. It is about 6 km on foot, roughly 2.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Naples leaderboard.

  • 11Stops
  • about 6 kmDistance
  • 2.5 hoursWalking
  • about 58 minRunning
Play Naples in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Naples
Photo: Richard Nevell · CC BY-SA 4.0

This route climbs from the Naples seafront into the dense streets of the historic centre, about 6 km. It starts at Castel dell'Ovo on its little island off the waterfront, then reaches the huge Piazza del Plebiscito, the glass-domed Galleria Umberto I and the round towers of Castel Nuovo. From there it heads up into the old town: the diamond-point façade of Gesù Nuovo, Vanvitelli's curved colonnade on Piazza Dante and the student cafés of Piazza Bellini.

Piazza San Domenico Maggiore lies on Spaccanapoli, the straight street that splits the old town, and the bonus stop is Via San Gregorio Armeno, lined with nativity-scene workshops. The route ends at the cathedral and the red façade of the National Archaeological Museum, home of the finds from Pompeii. Keep valuables out of sight and watch for scooters in the narrow lanes.

Coming from a cruise ship

The Stazione Marittima cruise terminal sits right beside Castel Nuovo, which is a stop on this route, so you can walk straight off the ship. Do Castel dell'Ovo and Piazza del Plebiscito first, then head up into the old town to Spaccanapoli and the Archaeological Museum. Pompeii is a separate half-day by train from Garibaldi station.

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Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. Castel dell'Ovo

    Castel dell'Ovo Photo

    The sea fortress on its little island, seen from the causeway.

    Photo: PaestumPaestum · CC BY-SA 4.0

  2. Piazza del Plebiscito

    Piazza del Plebiscito Photo

    The colonnade of San Francesco di Paola across the huge square.

    Photo: Baku · CC BY-SA 4.0

  3. Galleria Umberto I

    Galleria Umberto I

    The glass dome and cross-shaped arcade.

    Photo: Berthold Werner · CC BY-SA 3.0

  4. Castel Nuovo (Maschio Angioino)

    Castel Nuovo (Maschio Angioino) Photo

    The round towers and triumphal arch of the Angevin castle.

    Photo: Little john at Italian Wikipedia · Public domain

  5. Gesù Nuovo

    Gesù Nuovo Photo

    The faceted diamond-point stone façade.

    Photo: Berthold Werner · CC BY-SA 3.0

  6. Piazza Dante

    Piazza Dante

    The curved Vanvitelli colonnade around Dante's statue.

    Photo: Unknown author · Public domain

  7. Piazza Bellini

    Piazza Bellini

    The sunken square with ancient Greek walls and student cafés.

    Photo: Mister No · CC BY 3.0

  8. Piazza San Domenico Maggiore

    Piazza San Domenico Maggiore Photo

    The baroque obelisk and the church apse on the square.

    Photo: IlSistemone · CC BY-SA 3.0

  9. Via San Gregorio Armeno

    Via San Gregorio Armeno Bonus

    The nativity-scene workshops that line the narrow street.

    Photo: Photo2023 · CC BY 4.0

  10. Naples Cathedral

    Naples Cathedral

    The cathedral façade on Via Duomo.

    Photo: Marco Ober · CC BY-SA 4.0

  11. National Archaeological Museum

    National Archaeological Museum

    The long red façade of the museum on Piazza Museo.

    Photo: Elliott Brown from Birmingham, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0

Play Naples in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Naples on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 11 stops on this route add up to about 6 km, roughly 2.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Naples is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Naples?

    Open Naples in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Naples leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at Castel dell'Ovo and finishing at National Archaeological Museum. In the game you can take the stops in any order.

    Can you walk into Naples from the cruise port?

    The Stazione Marittima cruise terminal sits right beside Castel Nuovo, which is a stop on this route, so you can walk straight off the ship. Do Castel dell'Ovo and Piazza del Plebiscito first, then head up into the old town to Spaccanapoli and the Archaeological Museum. Pompeii is a separate half-day by train from Garibaldi station.

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