Private tours of Naples: six days that are all yours

A private tour of Naples should feel like a day with a friend who lives here: no group, no flag, no fixed script, just the city opening up around you. Here are six ways to spend it, all on foot, with the odd metro ride. Mix them, shorten them or ignore them entirely; with Ines as your host, the day is shaped around you.

Still deciding who to spend the day with? Read looking for a private guide in Naples first.

1 · The classicThe historic centre

The heart of Naples is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its streets still follow the plan of the ancient Greek city. Walk Spaccanapoli, the long straight street that splits the old town in two. Step into the majolica-tiled cloister of Santa Chiara, wander Via San Gregorio Armeno with its nativity workshops, and visit the Duomo, home to the treasures of San Gennaro.

Best for: a first visit. Pace: gentle, with plenty of stops.

2 · For food loversEat your way through Naples

Coffee standing at the bar, a crisp sfogliatella, the noise of the Pignasecca market, pizza the way it was meant to be, a paper cone of fried treats and a rum-soaked babà to finish. Ines reads the menus, chats with the cooks and steers you to where the regulars eat. The full story is in a day of eating in Naples, hour by hour.

Best for: anyone with an appetite. Pace: slow, deliberately.

3 · Royal Naples and the seaPalaces, castles and the waterfront

From the grand Piazza del Plebiscito and the Galleria Umberto I, walk down to the sea and along the waterfront to Castel dell'Ovo, the castle of the magic egg. Carry on through elegant Chiaia and, if you like, ride the funicular up to the Vomero for the view over the whole bay and Vesuvius.

Best for: big views and sea air. Pace: easy, mostly flat until the funicular.

4 · Off the mapThe Sanità and Naples below ground

The Rione Sanità is one of the most alive neighbourhoods in the city and one most visitors never reach. Look up at the winged staircase of Palazzo dello Spagnolo, descend into the catacombs of San Gennaro and, if you dare, the Fontanelle cemetery. See hidden gems of Naples for more.

Best for: return visitors and the curious. Pace: moderate, with some steps.

5 · Art undergroundThe metro art stations and Via Toledo

Ride Line 1 through the art stations of the Naples metro: Toledo's glittering sea-blue crater of light, Università's pinks and greens, Municipio's medieval tower. Come up on Via Toledo and slip into the Quartieri Spagnoli, with its washing lines, street shrines and murals.

Best for: hot afternoons, rainy mornings and design lovers. Pace: light on the legs.

6 · Short on timeA day ashore from a cruise ship

Cruise ships dock right in the city, a short walk from Piazza Municipio and the historic centre. That makes Naples one of the easiest cruise stops in the Mediterranean to explore on foot: a coffee and sfogliatella, the old town, a proper pizza for lunch and back to the ship with time to spare. Ines plans the day around your all-aboard time.

Best for: cruise passengers and day-trippers. Pace: well-planned, never rushed.

Planning tips for a private day in Naples

• Wear comfortable shoes. Cobbles, stairways and lava-stone pavements are part of the charm.
• Cover shoulders and knees for churches. A light scarf in your bag does the job.
• Start early in summer. Mornings are cooler; save the metro and museums for the hottest hours.
• Leave room to wander. The best moments in Naples are rarely on the plan.
• Pace yourself at lunch. You will want space for something sweet later.

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