Things to Do in Campania, Italy: City Guides

Campania is a region of southern Italy where ancient cities, volcanic landscapes, islands, mountains and Mediterranean coastlines come together. The region is worth visiting for its archaeological sites, historic towns, distinctive food and the cultural energy of Naples. Neywo offers free audio guides for 7 cities in Campania, with 814 narrated places in total.

What to see and do in Campania

Explore Naples, the region’s cultural centre

Naples is Campania’s regional capital and the heart of its most densely populated area. Its history reflects the layers that shaped the region: Greek settlers, Roman power, medieval rulers and the kingdoms that followed.

The city preserved Greek language and customs for centuries, developing into an important centre of Hellenistic culture within the Roman world. Later, under Frederick II, it became home to the University of Naples Federico II, described as the world’s oldest state university.

Today, Naples combines historic monuments, museums and urban life. Neywo’s guide covers 653 narrated places, including Teatro di San Carlo, the Farnese Atlas, the Royal Palace of Naples and Museo di Capodimonte.

Visit Pompeii and the archaeological sites

Campania’s ancient past remains especially vivid at the archaeological excavations of Pompei. The site is one of the region’s most important places for understanding life in the Roman world. Other highlights include the Villa of the Mysteries, the Temple of Apollo and the House of the Vettii.

Pompeii belongs to a wider archaeological landscape that also includes Herculaneum and Paestum. Together, these places reflect the different cultures that met in Campania, from Greek settlement to Roman rule.

See the volcanic landscapes of Vesuvius and Campi Flegrei

Volcanic ground is one of Campania’s defining features. Mount Vesuvius rises near the coast, while the volcanic area of Campi Flegrei forms another distinctive part of the landscape. Vesuvius is also included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

The region’s geography changes quickly: coastal plains give way to hills, inland mountain massifs and volcanic terrain. Campania also has a high seismic risk, an important part of understanding the forces that have shaped its settlements and landscapes.

Discover the Amalfi Coast and Amalfi

The coastline around the Gulf of Salerno is one of Campania’s most recognisable landscapes. Amalfi offers a compact introduction to the area’s history, with 15 narrated places including Amalfi Cathedral, the Arsenale and the Diocesan Museum of Amalfi.

The coast is part of a broader region where steep terrain, maritime connections and historic towns meet. Its scenery has helped make Campania a long-standing destination for visitors, alongside Naples, the islands and the archaeological sites.

Spend time on Capri

The island of Capri belongs to Campania’s Tyrrhenian landscape and has 30 narrated places in the Neywo guide. Among them are Museo Diefenbach, Museo Ignazio Cerio and the Chiesa di Santa Maria del Soccorso.

Capri is one of the region’s best-known islands, but it forms part of a larger island group that also includes Ischia, Procida, Vivara and Nisida. Together, these islands give Campania a strong maritime identity.

Discover Ischia and its history

Ischia is another important island destination. Neywo’s guide includes 18 narrated places, among them the Museo del Mare, the Museo Diocesano di Ischia, Santa Maria Assunta and Aragonese Castle.

The island shows how Campania’s cultural history extends beyond the mainland. Maritime connections, religious buildings and historic fortifications all form part of the region’s varied heritage.

Visit Salerno

On the Gulf of Salerno, Salerno brings together public spaces, religious architecture and museums. Its Neywo guide includes 53 narrated places, with Piazza della Libertà, Salerno Cathedral, the Complesso Monumentale di Santa Sofia and the Diocesan Museum of Salerno among the highlights.

Salerno also helps explain Campania’s position between coast and interior. The region’s landscape rises into hills and mountain massifs away from the sea, while maritime routes continue to connect its coastal cities.

Walk through Sorrento

Sorrento reflects the meeting of the traditions associated with Naples and Salerno. Its 11 narrated places include the Museum Correale, Sorrento Cathedral, Torquato Tasso and Sedile Dominova.

The town sits within a region where food, landscape and history are closely connected. Sorrento’s position between the Gulf of Naples and the Salerno area makes it a useful base for understanding the coastal character of Campania.

Taste Campania’s food and wine

Campanian cuisine changes from one part of the region to another. Seafood plays a major role in Naples, while the areas around Caserta and Aversa are especially associated with fresh vegetables and cheeses. Sorrento brings together culinary influences from both Naples and Salerno.

Pizza is closely associated with Naples, and spaghetti is another well-known dish of southern Italy and Campania. The region also produces wines including Lacryma Christi, Fiano, Greco di Tufo and Taurasi. Together, these foods and wines show that Campanian cooking is not a single tradition, but a collection of local habits shaped by coast, countryside, produce, cheese and wine.

A region of coast, islands and mountains

Campania faces the Tyrrhenian Sea and includes the gulfs of Naples, Salerno and Policastro. Its coastal areas have warm, sunny and sultry summers, with mild and rainy winters. Inland, winters are colder, and snow can fall at higher elevations, although it is rare by the sea.

This variety helps explain the region’s appeal. Campania can offer urban culture in Naples, archaeological history at Pompeii, island landscapes around Capri and Ischia, and coastal scenery around Amalfi, Salerno and Sorrento.

Explore Campania with Neywo

Download Neywo’s free Campania audio guide to explore 7 cities with 19 walking tours and 814 narrated places in total. Narration is available in 11 languages.

The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule. Use it to explore Naples, Amalfi, Capri, Ischia, Pompei, Salerno and Sorrento while moving through Campania on your own terms.