The southern Italian region of Campania (Campagna in Italian) is famous for its dramatic coastline and picturesque seaside towns, rich culinary traditions, and ancient archaeological sites. It is one of Italy’s most densely populated regions, thanks largely to the sprawling city of Naples (Napoli), which sits in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. And while Naples, the archaeological park of Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, and the islands of the Bay of Naples are among the biggest draws here, Campania is much more than just its bucket list destinations.
Beyond its heavy-hitter sights, Campania is all about authentic small towns, wild coastlines, and small-scale wineries and food producers. This must-do list of experiences offers advice on how to eat, sip, and sightsee your way through some of Campania’s best-known destinations, plus expert insights into less-visited locations that are equally worthy of your time.
Savor Naples’ street food and soulful history

People who travel for immersive culinary experiences can explore Naples’ busy street food scene at the Pignasecca Market in Montesanto, a neighborhood in the historical center of Naples. It’s just one of many places to indulge in the city’s rich food culture. Photograph by Gianni Cipriano/The New York Times/ Redux
The history, energy and anima, or soul of Naples, seem to ooze from its chaotic streets and ancient stone walls and echo in the sounds of shouting merchants and buzzing mopeds. The best way to experience Italy’s third largest city is to dive into the daily, pulsating rhythm of La Bella Napoli on Spaccanapoli (Via San Biagio Dei Librai), the narrow, crowded and vibrant street that divides the city’s historic center. It, along with parallel Via dei Tribunali, is also Naples’ street food central.
As you explore nearby sights like the Duomo of Naples, the Naples Underground, and the San Severo Chapel, home to the astounding Veiled Christ sculpture, sample savory handheld treats like fried pizza from Gino Sorbillo, salty almond cookies from Taralleria Napoletana, or paper cones of fried seafood from Il Cuoppo. Finish it off with a sfogliatella, Naples’ signature pastry, at Sfogliate e Sfogliatelle. Consider booking a food tour to hit (and taste) all the highlights.
(Related: 10 must-do experiences in Italy’s Lazio region.)
Visit the Amalfi Coast’s lesser-known towns
The most famous towns of the Amalfi Coast are Positano, Ravello, and Amalfi—each beautiful, rife with Insta-friendly panoramas, and, from May to October, overrun with visitors. Of the three, tour operator Cherrye Moore prefers Amalfi, especially in the evening, when day-trippers have cleared out. But for her guests seeking a more local vibe, she recommends nearby Atrani, where, she says, “you’ll still see residents out having dinner at local restaurants that are not just geared to tourists. Plus, it’s not like the great views stop once you leave Amalfi!” She also likes Praiano for those looking for a quieter stay.
No matter what towns you visit along the coast, Moore recommends seeing them by sea, rather than from a bus or car on the always-clogged Amalfi Coast road. “Get out on the water and visit the villages by boat, maybe stopping for lunch along the way.”
Island-hop in style

Adventurous travelers can arrange a guided rowboat tour of the 196-foot-long Blue Grotto sea cave when visiting Capri, but only if the sea is calm and the wind conditions are favorable. Photograph by Toni Anzenberger, Anzenberger/Redux
Of the three geographically diverse islands in the Bay of Naples, Capri is the best known, famous for its jet-set appeal and illustrious past residents and guests—from Roman emperors to Russian revolutionaries to Mariah Carey. The enchanting Blue Grotto is here, as are the Faraglioni, the massive sea stacks where the sirens may have tempted Odysseus. Equally tempting for modern visits are a bevy of luxury hotels, designer shopping, and gardens and villas turned into museums.
In contrast, the larger, more low-key island of Ischia is known for its thermal spas, fed by mineral springs bubbling up in this volcanically active area. The island’s Bay of Sorgeto is surely one of the most unique beaches in the world, where hot water spills into the sea and bathers soak in a 90°F natural “hot tub.” When you visit Ischia, allow time for a stop at tiny, pastel-colored Procida, where Il Postino and The Talented Mr. Ripley were filmed.
(Related: Here are 10 not-to-be-missed things to do when visiting Sicily.)
Get an immersive look at Pompeii
With its miles of stone streets, unrelenting Mediterranean sunshine, and often dense crowds, it’s easy to just scratch the surface of the Pompeii Archaeological Park. That’s why Moore so heartily recommends Journey to Pompeii, a virtual reality tour that can be done with or without an accompanying guide. “It is knock-your-socks-off excellent,” she says. The experience recreates life in ancient Pompeii and follows residents as they go about their daily lives in the hours leading up to the catastrophic eruption of Vesuvius.
If VR (virtual reality) is not your style, Moore recommends hiring a private guide to take you through the site. “You’ll see more in a few hours with a guide than you might in an entire day on your own.”
Tour Greek ruins and a buffalo mozzarella farm
Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum get all the attention thanks to their dramatic demise. But further down the coast, the Archaeological Park of Paestum offers three magnificently preserved Greek temples and plenty of uncrowded space to revel in their scale and beauty. The remains date to the 5th to 6th centuries B.C.E., when Campania was part of Magna Grecia, the settlements founded by Greek immigrants. An on-site museum houses the most important finds from Paestum, including several whimsical tomb paintings.
Paestum’s proximity to the Campanian heartland makes it easy to combine ancient culture with … dairy culture. The region is Italy’s top producer of mozzarella di bufala, or buffalo mozzarella, a protected product that is to mozzarella what champagne is to sparkling wine. Travel planner Madeline Jhawar prefers sending clients to Tenuta Vannulo, a historic buffalo farm that’s well-organized for foodie tourism.
Buy limoncello right from the source
Campania’s ubiquitous lemon-flavored digestivo, limoncello, is made across the region, but it’s most strongly associated with sunny Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, where everything seems to have a lemony theme. A short distance from Sorrento’s historic center, several distilleries produce limoncello, and at some, you can visit the lemon groves, view the assembly line, and, naturally, sample and shop. Arrange recommended tours at the family-run Azienda Agricola Galano and the larger facility at Sorrento Excellence.
Farther along the Amalfi Coast, you can hike the fragrant, scenic Path of Lemons, and stop for a tour and tasting in a lemon grove.
(Related: The essential guide to visiting Italy’s Sardinia region.)
Explore the wild coast of Cilento
The Campania coast extends for more than 300 miles, much of it well off the map of mass tourism, especially when you enter Cilento National Park, with its untamed beaches and mountainous interior marked by tiny, isolated hilltowns. Tour operator Danielle Oteri says the small villages along the Cilento coast, including Santa Maria Castellabate, Pioppi, and Acciaroli, are like what the Amalfi Coast was 50 years ago, with clear views of Capri and Amalfi but hardly any crowds outside of August. The southern edge of Cilento may be the best-kept secret in all of Europe. Most of its beaches, she says, can only be reached by boat or via steep hikes.
Oteri adds that the area is a prime anchovy breeding ground. Cilento Blu in Marina di Camerota offers night fishing excursions, which conclude with a cookout of freshly caught fish on a secret beach.
Eat the world’s best pizza
“If Italy has the best pizza in the world, and you eat at the best pizzeria in Italy, then you’re eating the world’s best pizza,” reasons Moore when speaking of Pepe in Grani, located in the humble hilltown of Caiazzo. She’s a fan of their tasting menu and signature spritz cocktail. Caiazzo may be out of the way, but the pizza is popular enough that reservations are recommended.
Consider booking well in advance to try the pizza at Caserta’s I Masanielli. According to writer Laura Itzkowitz, the chefs at both pizzerias have truly elevated pizza to gourmet food, and you should visit at least one of them when visiting Campania.
(Related: These are the must-see sights of Italy’s Abruzzo region.)
Go for Baroque at Reggia di Caserta

Located 21 miles north of Naples, the 300-acre Royal Palace of Caserta (Reggia di Caserta), touted as the largest former royal residence in the world, has an extensive garden and park, and also features a collection of furniture, historical documents, and paintings from the 16th to 19th centuries. Photograph by Imago, Alamy
Less than an hour inland from Naples, travel back in time to the late Baroque era, where the Royal Palace of Caserta (Reggia di Caserta), surpasses France’s Versailles in scale and ambition. Built by the House of Bourbon, the French-Spanish dynasty that once reigned over southern Italy and Sicily, the palace contains 1,400 rooms across five floors, with every hall and salon as ornate as the next. Outside, there are vast gardens with fountains, grottoes, statuary, side gardens, and a cascading waterfall, which is reached via a two-mile (3.3-km) canal-side promenade. The entire palace complex has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997.
The entrance to the palace is right in front of the Caserta train station, which is about a 40-minute train ride from Naples’ main station, Napoli Centrale.
Sip wine on the slopes of Vesuvius
Over the millennia, the numerous eruptions of Mount Vesuvius have left their mark on the region, and not just on the poignant remains of Pompeii and neighboring sites. Like Sicily’s Mount Etna, the volcanic terrain on the slopes of Vesuvius is mineral-rich, and highly suited for growing grapes. The signature wine of Vesuvius is Lacryma Cristi, or the “tears of Christ,” which comes in red and white varieties. Archaeologists have determined it’s very similar to the wine consumed at Pompeii in antiquity.
Many Vesuvius producers offer vineyard and winery tours that culminate with tastings, usually accompanied by lunch or light snacks of local products.
Getting around
Travelers to Campania will most likely arrive in Naples via high-speed Trenitalia or Italo trains from Rome, or by flying into Naples International Airport. From Naples, it’s possible to reach Pompeii, Herculaneum, Sorrento, and Caserta by train, or catch ferries to the Bay of Naples Islands. Ferries from Naples or Sorrento to several towns of the Amalfi Coast run year-round, with more frequent trips in the summertime.
Where to stay
In Naples, Casa d’Anna is an art-filled boutique hotel in the increasingly trendy Sanità area, while on the seafront, Grand Hotel Vesuvio offers 5-star comforts.
Luxury hotels abound on Capri, with Grand Hotel Quisisana undoubtedly the grandest of the dames. Nearby, La Residenza Capri is a relaxed, affordable 4-star with a nice pool area. On Ischia, resort-like Mezzatore has its own beach and thermal spa.
Near Amalfi, the elegant Hotel Santa Caterina features a cliffside elevator descending to a sea-level swimming pool. Farther down the coast, Borgo La Pietraia is a breezy boutique option, while in Paestum, Savoy Hotel & Spa offers a restful beach break and proximity to the archaeological park.
Lede Image: Planning a visit to Italy’s Campania region? Travelers should consider relaxing at Marina Piccola on the island of Capri, known for its rugged landscape, upscale hotels, and luxury designer shopping.
2nd: People who travel for immersive culinary experiences can explore Naples’ busy street food scene at the Pignasecca Market in Montesanto, a neighborhood in the historical center of Naples. It’s just one of many places to indulge in the city’s rich food culture.
3rd: Adventurous travelers can arrange a guided rowboat tour of the 196-foot-long Blue Grotto sea cave when visiting Capri—only if the sea is calm and the wind conditions are favorable.
4th: Located 21 miles north of Naples, the 300-acre Royal Palace of Caserta (Reggia di Caserta) has an extensive garden and park, and it also features a collection that includes furniture, historical documents, and paintings from the 16th to 19th centuries.