After arriving in Naples in the afternoon, I went out to explore a bit of the city. The small streets and the harbor were beautiful, but the hills really surprised me—being from the Netherlands, it felt like climbing a mountain just walking around.
I did some shopping and then found a place that was both a pizzeria and a small bookstore. They had this beautiful idea called “pizza sospesa”—you can pay for an extra pizza, so someone who needs it can come get it later. I thought that was really special.
The food was great, and I also picked out a short book by a German poet about his travels in Naples. It was amazing to read about someone who had been in the exact same place I was more than a hundred years ago. That is one off the things that make travel so special to me.
Friday was my favorite day of the trip.
Mid-morning, I walked from my hotel in Naples to the station—about 25 minutes—and at the ticket counter I met a Swedish couple, a bit older than me. We ended up helping each other figure out the right train tickets for the Circumvesuviana line. We had a nice conversation while waiting, and took the train together to Pompeii.
When we arrived, we joined the same tour of the ruins. A small tip for anyone visiting: if it’s not high season, don’t bother buying tickets online. I bought one through Headout, but it turned out to be a voucher. You still have to exchange it at the counter for a real ticket, since the machines at the entrance only accept barcodes—not QR codes. In short, you’ll stand in line either way. Just buy your ticket (and tour ticket, if you want one) at the station.
The tour lasted about 2.5 hours, and it was very informative. Our guide explained things I hadn’t heard before, and it made the place feel very real. After the tour, we had lunch at the only restaurant inside the site. I was relieved to see they had salads and paninis—I hadn’t had many veggies or fruit in days, and all the breakfast pastries had been sweet, with pizza or pasta for lunch and dinner. The salad was great, though also one of the most expensive items on the menu, which felt a bit strange compared to home.
Over lunch, the couple told me they were heading to Sorrento, and I decided to join them. It was spontaneous, but I’m so glad I did. We took the same train again, about 40 minutes further to the final stop. Sorrento is technically just outside the Amalfi Coast, but it has that same feeling: beautiful views, cliffs, stairs carved into the rock, and small streets to get lost in.
We took some photos, had a small seafood dinner at a local place, and then it was time to say goodbye. They headed back to Rome, I went back to Naples, and I felt really happy to have said yes to something unplanned.
After a few packed days, I took it slow on Saturday morning. My feet were sore from all the walking, so I slept in a bit. Late morning, I headed to the Naples National Archaeological Museum. Our guide in Pompeii had mentioned that many of the original statues and artworks from the city were housed there, so I was curious to see them.
I bought a ticket at the entrance—just a short 5-minute wait—for €20. The museum was much larger than I expected. I spent about three hours exploring, including a break at the MANNcaffè, the museum's café. The collection was impressive, with massive statues and intricate mosaics from both Pompeii and Herculaneum.
After the museum, I went out for lunch and found a place serving an Asian-inspired black rice bowl, which was a nice change. It was around 3:30 PM when I finished, so I spent the afternoon shopping. I picked up some gifts for people back home and found some interesting clothing items, including a blazer with open sides—just bands.
In the evening, I returned to my hotel to freshen up and then went out for dinner at K&I Sushi, a spot near my hotel. They offered an all-you-can-eat concept, and the service was great. The food was enjoyable, and it was a bit cheaper than similar places back home. By the time I got back to the hotel, it was about 9 PM. I took a shower and went to bed, feeling content after a relaxed and enjoyable day.
On Sunday, I let myself sleep in—it was much needed after all the walking. Around 10 AM, I had a lazy breakfast at a café near my hotel. Just after 11, my taxi arrived a bit earlier than expected to take me to Naples Airport, where I caught my flight home.
It was a short but packed trip, full of good food, beautiful places, and unexpected moments. I know I’ll be back to Italy sometime soon.