We’ve been to many places in Italy, but we haven’t yet visited its southern part. Luckily, on the cruise we did from Rome, one of the stops was Naples in August 2025.
As always, before arriving at a new destination, I conducted some research to understand what we could do there with our daughters, Maya (5.5) and Sophie (2.5). The truth? I found quite a few nice ideas, but I quickly realized we would need much more time to see everything, so we focused on a few key activities and there’s no doubt we’ll need to return to Naples again 🙂
In the meantime, I decided to write a post about the things we did and also share a list of places and experiences we saved for next time. 
A bit about Naples
Naples is a city in southern Italy located on the coast, facing the Gulf of Naples, with Mount Vesuvius nearby. The city is large and lively, offering a mix of history, narrow streets, markets, and famous local food, especially the pizza Naples is known for. How to get to Naples
You can reach Naples via direct flights from many European cities. Airlines like Ryanair and Wizz Air fly there, so it’s often possible to find cheap tickets.
We arrived in Naples as part of a cruise, which docked at the city’s port. The port is very close to the center, which allowed us to explore the city on foot without needing a taxi or bus. Nuovo Castle
One of Naples’ most famous landmarks, located right by the port, making it very easy to reach, especially if you arrive on a cruise. It’s an impressive 13th-century castle with tall towers and a huge stone gate that immediately catches the eye. Inside, you can walk through large rooms like the Barons’ Hall, enter the Palatine Chapel, see paintings and sculptures from the 15th to 19th centuries, and also climb to viewpoints overlooking the city and the bay. Kids love exploring it – Maya, for example, was thrilled to wander through the rooms and feel like she was in a fairy tale.
The castle is generally open Monday to Saturday, from morning until late afternoon (last entry around 17:30). The price is about €6 per adult, and children under 18 enter for free. A visit can take about 1–2 hours, depending on how long you spend in the exhibits and rooms. Even if you don’t go inside, it’s worth passing by to see it from the outside. Directions. 
Piazza del Plebiscito
Any place with a large open space is always good with kids 🙂 In this case, it’s also very beautiful. Piazza del Plebiscito is the largest central square in Naples, surrounded by impressive buildings like the Royal Palace on one side and the Church of San Francesco di Paola on the other.
The square has plenty of space for kids to run around and burn off energy, and you can also enjoy the historic buildings around it. Sometimes there are events, performances, and open exhibitions. Even if you visit in the middle of the day, it’s a nice spot to stop, take photos, or just rest a bit during the city tour. Directions. 
Coffee and Pastries
Well, the coffee is less for kids 🙂 but I tried a type of coffee I hadn’t had before and really liked it. It’s called Cremosito, a mix of coffee and dessert, with a sweet and creamy texture. We had it at Gran Caffe Al Centro, and the timing was perfect because it started raining (in mid-August!).
The café offers a wide variety of sweet and savory pastries, pizzas, and desserts. For Maya, we ordered hot chocolate, and for the girls, we got two pastries – one with ricotta that wasn’t great and another with cheese noodles, which was a big hit. Definitely a nice stop during a city walk.
Royal Palace of Naples
The Royal Palace is located in Piazza del Plebiscito and is one of the most impressive buildings in the city. You can explore the large, magnificent rooms, see historical furniture, paintings, and painted ceilings, and get a sense of how the kings and nobility lived. The palace is usually open Thursday to Tuesday, from 9:00 to 20:00 (last entry at 19:00).
Admission is €15 for adults, free for children under 18. A 1–2 hour tour is enough to see the main rooms, and you can also combine it with a visit to the gardens or exhibitions. The palace is stroller-friendly and close to public transport, making it easy to include in a city tour with kids. Directions. 
Street Leading to the Sea
One of my favorite streets in Naples is the one we continued to from Piazza del Plebiscito. It leads to the sea and overlooks the bay, offering wonderful views of the city and the water. It’s very stroller-friendly, with beautiful viewpoints along the way. The street is in the Via Acton Ferdinando area and is recommended for walking with kids. Directions. 
Fontana Park
Our daughters love parks and birds, and this park was perfect for them. What we especially liked was the variety of birds and even a sign explaining all the species you can see there. The girls enjoyed learning the names of each bird and chasing them while exploring. It’s not a spectacular park, but it’s plenty of fun for kids, and there are benches for parents to rest. Directions.
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Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
In Rome and Barcelona, we tried the Hop-On Hop-Off bus and loved it – it makes exploring the city comfortable with audio explanations at each site. In Naples, we didn’t have enough time to try it, but it’s definitely worth considering, especially with kids.
There are two main routes:
- Route A – City Center and History: Piazza Municipio / Largo Castello, Piazza del Gesù, Dante – Port’alba Decumani, Archaeological Museum, Porta San Gennaro, Palazzo Caracciolo, Corso Umberto I, Garibaldi Train Station, and Piazza Bovio/Università.
- Route B – Views and Gulf of Naples: Parco Castello, Piazza Vittoria, Viale Anton Dohrn, Mergellina, Le Stanze Capo Posillipo, Parco Virgiliano, Via Petrarca, Castel dell’Ovo, and Piazza Vittoria – Galleria Borbonica.
The buses run daily from April 1, 2025, with the first departure at 9:45 and the last at 17:15, every 30 minutes. Tickets are valid for 24 hours and allow unlimited stops. It’s a convenient way to explore Naples with kids without too much walking, and to enjoy the beautiful views of the Gulf and historic city.
To book Hop-On Hop-Off bus tickets with free cancellation 
Day Trip to Pompeii
A friend of Roman really recommended a trip to Pompeii, but unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time. The drive from Naples to Pompeii is not long – about 30–40 minutes by car or train.
Pompeii is a fascinating archaeological site where you can see the remains of the city destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in the 1st century AD. It gives a unique glimpse into ancient Roman life, with houses, squares, shops, amphitheaters, and painted walls. For those who prefer organized tours, there are full-day or half-day trips available, including transport and a guide – very convenient when traveling with kids.
To book a small group tour of Pompeii and Herculaneum with an archaeologist, with free cancellation Boat Trip to Capri Island
Another place we really wanted to see but didn’t manage was Capri. At first, I wondered if we should dedicate the whole day to it instead of exploring Naples, but since we were already on a cruise, I felt another boat trip would be too much for us, haha. Still, the island looks amazing and is definitely worth visiting – Capri offers a mix of stunning nature, picturesque beaches, dramatic cliffs, charming towns, walking paths, viewpoints, and the famous Blue Grotto. You can reach it via full-day or half-day tours, including boat trips around the island or guided tours of Anacapri and Capri, making it easy and fun even with kids.
To book a small group boat tour to Capri Island from Naples with free cancellation Pizza-Making Class
Another activity that looked really fun with kids is a pizza-making class with a local chef in Naples.
To book a pizza-making workshop with a local chef in Naples with free cancellation
Summary, In short, even though our visit to Naples was short, we managed to experience some of the main attractions with the kids – Nuovo Castle, Piazza del Plebiscito, the Royal Palace, Fontana Park, and a coffee stop with pastries. We kept a list for next time: Pompeii, Capri, and a pizza-making class. The city offers a great mix of history, nature, culture, and food, proving it’s possible to enjoy Naples even on a short trip with children.
I hope my post was helpful! If so, I’d love to hear your comments, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments or reach out via the blog’s social media: Facebook and Instagram.
Looking for more information about Italy? I have plenty of other posts about Italy on the blog. Pin below to save on Pinterest
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