Why spend a long weekend in just one destination when you can squeeze in several? Our latest escape took us on a three-night adventure to Naples, with day trips to Pompeii, Sorrento, and the city’s incredible underground world—plus plenty of food worth travelling for.

Flying Manchester to Naples: What You Need to Know

Naples is an easy 2 hr 45 min direct flight from Manchester with Ryanair. Before you go, beware of their now-infamous baggage policy. If you’re not flying Priority, you can only take one small under-seat bag. No cabin wheels allowed.

We booked front-row seats which include Priority boarding, two cabin bags and the quickest exit. Add fast-track security and, at around £60 total for two people, it was absolutely worth it. Watching half the plane beg to swap seats because they hadn’t paid to sit together… less enjoyable. The stress is avoidable—just book ahead!

Front row perks also meant first dibs on drinks. With a G&T and Kevin Bridges on my iPad, the flight genuinely flew by.

A quick taxi (20 minutes / €20) brought us to the Ramada Naples, right by the city’s main train station. The neighbourhood isn’t Naples’ prettiest—those honours go a good hour’s walk away—but for convenience? Ideal.

The room was spacious but dated. Staff were brilliant, although breakfast service needed a coffee or two itself. Still, for a place to sleep and access perfect transport links, it did the job.

First Afternoon: Exploring Naples on Foot

We dropped our bags and walked toward the marina, passing cruise terminals and ferry ports. From here, ferries to Capri run every 30 minutes (€40pp each way, 50–70 minutes), which we earmarked for day three.

A 45-minute stroll took us through Naples’ historic heart and into Piazza del Plebiscito, past the grand Castel Nuovo and the Royal Palace of Naples—yes, the same Bourbons that inspired the name of the biscuit, though not the creators!

Don’t miss the Galleria Umberto I, a gorgeous glass-domed arcade perfect for a coffee stop. I ordered an espresso and a local speciality: sfogliatella—a crisp pastry filled with sweet ricotta that’s reason alone to visit Naples.

Dinner: Authentic Neapolitan Pizza (and Fried Pizza!)

Dinner was at La Figlia Del Presidente, a cosy, cavern-like restaurant famous for its Pizza Fritta (fried pizza). Don’t picture a Scottish deep-fried oddity—this is light, crispy and utterly divine. Topped with tomato, mozzarella and basil, it cost just €6.50 and tasted better than some £20 pizzas I’ve had elsewhere.

I also couldn’t resist arancini, while India ordered a creamy white pizza. Both excellen

There were plenty of other options for pizzas and India decided to go for a ‘White Pizza’ – these have no tomato base, instead it uses a white sauce – this again was a real treat.

Day 2: Pompeii & Sorrento

No trip to Naples is complete without visiting Pompeii. It’s incredibly easy to reach: a 40-minute local commuter train costing under €6 return.

The train itself is an experience—packed with locals, views of Vesuvius, and even an accordion performance halfway through.

Entry to Pompeii is €15, including a map and guidebook (audio guide optional). Tour groups get just two hours, which is nowhere near enough. We spent around five hours wandering through ancient homes, baths, amphitheatres and frescoed rooms—and still barely scratched the surface.

Instead of heading back, we continued to Sorrento (30 mins, €2.40). It’s beautiful, polished and packed with tourists. Lovely for a wander, but Naples felt more authentic—and the food better priced.

Day 3: Rainy Days & Hidden Naples

We’d planned to visit Capri, but heavy rain scrapped that plan. The archaeological museum had queues around the block, so instead we found something even better: Naples Underground.

Online tickets are £22, but by heading straight to the office we paid €10 each for the English tour.

What followed was incredible:

• Ancient Greek-carved chambers used as water storage
• WWII shelters hidden under the streets
• Narrow tunnels carved through soft stone
• And the highlight: entering a modern family home and discovering their basement was part of the original Roman amphitheatre buried beneath the city.

It’s an absolute must-do—rain or shine.

Dinner was Tandem Ragu, a restaurant famed for its slow-cooked sauces. My gnocchi smothered in rich ragu with half a litre of wine for €14 total? Perfection.

Day 4: Wine Tasting on the Slopes of Vesuvius

With only a few hours left, I booked a half-day wine experience at Sorrentino Winery, set on the fertile slopes of Vesuvius. We were driven around for a panoramic view of the city before arriving at the vineyard.

Lunch included local tomatoes on bruschetta, fresh spaghetti, cheeses, meats, apricot pie and a tasting of Falaghina, Caprettone, Piedirosso, Aglianico and rosé wines.

A peaceful stroll through the vineyards made for the perfect end to the trip.

Final Thoughts: Is Naples Worth a Weekend Break?

Absolutely. In just three nights, we:
✔ Explored Naples’ historic centre
✔ Ate some of the best pizza of our lives
✔ Visited Pompeii
✔ Popped over to Sorrento
✔ Discovered the underground city
✔ Enjoyed wine tasting on Vesuvius

Naples is raw, chaotic, authentic and fascinating. Many people choose to stay in the “nicer” areas, but being near the station put us in the heart of real Naples—close to trains, ferries, local restaurants and everyday life.

I’ve never left a city break thinking, I need to come back because there’s still so much more to see. Naples is that city.