Naples & Puglia

BA 526 arrives. Through arrivals, taxi or bus to hotel — ~45 min.

Via Carbonara 112. Check-in from 15:00.

The great straight street through the old city — street shrines, market stalls, organised chaos. Just minutes from the hotel. Best experienced slowly on foot.

Pizzeria Gino Sorbillo — Via dei Tribunali 32 (5 min walk). Arrive 10 min before opening. Try the Margherita DOC.
L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele — Via Cesare Sersale. Cash only. Margherita or Marinara only. No bookings. The legendary pilgrimage option.

The world's greatest collection of Graeco-Roman art — all the finest finds from Pompeii and Herculaneum. Plan 3 hours.
Highlights: Farnese Bull, Alexander Mosaic, Pompeii frescoes, Secret Cabinet (erotic art — fine for 17+).
Metro Line 1 to Museo stop, or 15 min walk from hotel.

The authentic neighbourhood just north of MANN. Concettina ai Tre Santi (Via Arena alla Sanità 7) — creative Neapolitan pizza, less touristy than the Via dei Tribunali spots. Book ahead.
Or grab street food: frittatina di pasta (fried pasta cake) or a cuoppo from any friggitoria.

Piazza San Gaetano 68. 90-minute guided tour through 2,400-year-old Greek tunnels, Roman cisterns, and WWII shelters. Genuinely fascinating — and about 15°C underground, so bring a layer.
Book English session in advance: booking.napolisotterranea.org — €15/adult.

Grid of narrow streets west of Spaccanapoli — Maradona shrines, washing lines, cheap trattorias. Street food dinner: pizza a portafoglio, fried zeppole, arancini. Gelato wherever the locals are queuing.

Early start is essential — Pompeii is fully exposed and 35°C+ by midday.

Sorrento line. ~40 min to Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri. Trains every 20–30 min. €2.80pp (free if Artecard includes transport).

Guide options: Private guide recommended (~€120–180 for the group, 2–2.5 hrs) — worth it for a history-focused group and keeps you on schedule. Book via pompeiitourguides.com or Viator. Or download the free Rick Steves Audio Europe app before you go — genuinely good self-guide backup.

Highlights route: Forum → Stabian Baths → Lupanar → House of the Vettii → Garden of the Fugitives → Villa of the Mysteries (don't skip this — extraordinary frescoes, included in Pompeii+).

Bring: lots of water, hats, sunscreen. Almost no shade inside.

~20–25 min. 10-min downhill walk to Herculaneum entrance.

Quick stop near the station before heading into the site.

Smaller, better preserved, far less crowded, more sheltered — and many who've done both say it's the more affecting experience. Buried under volcanic mud rather than ash: wood, fabric, and organic materials survived.

Highlights: Boat Houses (hundreds of skeletons), House of Neptune & Amphitrite (finest mosaic in either site), the intact thermopolium (Roman street food counter), Suburban Baths.

~20 min. Back at hotel by 17:00. Rest. You've earned it.

The smarter neighbourhood, 15 min walk from hotel. Da Ettore (Via Santa Lucia 56) for old-school trattoria and seafood pasta. Or La Stanza del Gusto for something more modern with a good wine list.
Late stroll to Castel dell'Ovo (free, great Vesuvius views at dusk) if energy permits.

Vico Ferrovia 2, near Piazza Garibaldi. Best sfogliatelle in the city, fresh from the oven. Queue. Buy several. Eat immediately. This is non-negotiable.

Historic café near Piazza Plebiscito. Touristy but worth one visit. Stand at the bar.

~3.5–4 hours via A3 and A16 motorways. Arrive Ceglie Messapica ~16:00 — in time for Airbnb check-in at 16:00.