Naples is arguably the best base in Italy for weekend trips. Pompeii is 30 minutes by train, Capri is a ferry ride, the Amalfi Coast starts at your city limits. This is the honest, student-budget guide to the seven trips actually worth your Saturday — with real transport costs, timing, and where the "influencer traps" hide.
The system: how to move around Campania cheaply
Three networks cover 90% of trips from Naples:
- Circumvesuviana train (EAV) — Naples Porta Nolana / Piazza Garibaldi to Pompeii, Ercolano, Sorrento. Single ticket €3-5 depending on distance. Old trains, no air conditioning, often crowded. Watch your bag.
- Trenitalia regional trains — for Caserta, Salerno, Benevento. €3-8 one way. Modern and reliable.
- Ferries from Molo Beverello and Calata Porta di Massa — Capri, Ischia, Procida, Sorrento. Fast ferry (aliscafo) is quicker and pricier; traghetto slower and cheaper.
None of these accept student discounts by default; the Campania Unico ticket only helps if you're combining metro + regional train inside the metro area.
Trip 1 — Pompeii and Herculaneum
Both are on the Circumvesuviana line. Pompeii Scavi station drops you at the gate; Ercolano Scavi is a 500 m walk downhill to the ruins.
- Transport: Circumvesuviana Naples → Pompeii Scavi, ~35 min, ticket around €3-4 one way
- Entry: Pompeii archaeological park roughly €18 full price; EU citizens 18-25 pay a reduced fee (usually around €2); under 18 free. Bring an ID.
- Free first Sunday of the month — the standard national programme applies. Expect crowds.
- Time: half a day for Herculaneum, full day for Pompeii. Wear real shoes, not flip-flops. Water fountains inside are free.
Herculaneum is smaller, better preserved, and less crowded. If you have limited time, it's the better first trip. Pompeii is the big one — plan a Sunday when the weather is mild.
Trip 2 — Amalfi Coast day trip: Positano, Amalfi, Ravello
The Amalfi Coast is unaffordable to sleep on for most students. As a day trip it is entirely doable.
The ferry approach (spring-summer)
- Alilauro or Travelmar ferry from Molo Beverello to Sorrento, Positano, or Amalfi
- Direct Naples → Positano is roughly €22-30 one way in season
- Runs approximately April to October; nothing outside that window from Naples direct
The train + bus approach (year-round)
- Circumvesuviana Naples → Sorrento (~1h10, ~€5)
- SITA Sud bus Sorrento → Positano → Amalfi (~€3-5 depending on distance, roughly 40-90 minutes)
- Ravello is a 25-minute uphill bus from Amalfi
The bus is scenic but slow and crowded. Off-season (November-March) is genuinely enjoyable. Positano in July is a stress test.
What to actually do
Amalfi town is small — the Duomo, the paper museum, one gelato at Andrea Pansa if you want the local classic. Positano is prettier from the ferry deck than from ground level. Ravello is the real hidden gem: quiet, hilltop, Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone gardens for €7-8 each. Save your day for Ravello if you like architecture and gardens.
Trip 3 — Capri
Capri is expensive on the island but reachable cheaply.
- Fast ferry (aliscafo) Naples → Capri: around €22-25 one way, ~45 minutes. Return around €21-30. Companies: Alilauro, NLG, SNAV.
- Slow ferry (traghetto): around €14-17 one way, ~80 minutes
- On the island: €2 funicular to Capri town; €2 mini bus to Anacapri; Blue Grotto entry ~€18 plus rowing-boat fee (contingent on sea conditions and often skipped)
Trick: skip Capri town shopping and go straight to Anacapri. Chairlift to Monte Solaro costs about €14-16 return and gives you the best view on the island. Bring a packed lunch — restaurants in town are €25-40 per plate.
Trip 4 — Procida
Italian Capital of Culture 2022. Smaller, quieter, and much cheaper than Capri. Genuinely the most student-friendly of the Gulf islands.
- Ferry Naples → Procida: about €14-19 one way, ~40 minutes fast ferry; slower Caremar traghetto around €12
- What to do: walk from Marina Grande up to Terra Murata (the fortified old town), swim at Chiaia beach, eat lemon pasta anywhere on the island
Half a day is enough for the essentials, a full day if you want a swim. In April-June and September-October the balance of weather and no crowds is close to perfect.
Trip 5 — Ischia
Bigger than Procida, thermal spa culture, real inland villages. More of a full-day or overnight trip.
- Ferry Naples → Ischia Porto: around €19-22 fast ferry, ~1h; traghetto €13-15 in ~1h30
- On the island: Aragonese Castle entry ~€12; public buses cross the island for €1.50 per ride
- Thermal parks (Poseidon, Negombo) charge €30-40 admission — skip unless you actually want the spa day
The town of Sant'Angelo on the south coast and the village of Forio are the most photogenic spots. Public buses are your friend.
Trip 6 — Caserta and the Royal Palace (Reggia)
The largest royal palace in the world by volume. A UNESCO site, and a 30-minute regional train from Napoli Centrale.
- Trenitalia Naples → Caserta: ~€3.60 one way, 30-40 minutes
- Entry to the Reggia: around €15 full price, reduced for EU 18-25
- Time: half a day is enough for the palace and gardens; the English Garden is the highlight
Winter light and empty rooms make November-February surprisingly good for this trip. Summer heat in the gardens is brutal.
Interested in AY 2027/28?
Cosmica Student Housing at Vicoletto Mauro in Naples is a PNRR-candidate residence with 18 beds opening September 2027. From €150/month for DSU students. Central location, walking distance to Line 1 metro — so weekends actually start on Friday evening.
Apply nowTrip 7 — Rome (yes, it's doable as a weekend)
Frecciarossa and Italo trains connect Naples Centrale to Rome Termini in 1h10 to 1h30. Book 2-3 weeks in advance and you can get €19-29 one way; last-minute is €50-70. If you leave Friday evening and return Sunday night, you can do Rome for under €150 all-in with a hostel bed.
What is not worth your money
- Full-day organised bus tours from Naples to the Amalfi Coast — €60-90 for what you can DIY for €15-25.
- Blue Grotto queue in July — 2-hour wait for a 5-minute row.
- Positano restaurants on the beach — €35-60 primi, worse than what you eat in Naples for €10.
- Vesuvius crater guided tour when you have the Circumvesuviana ticket already — the €12 entry to the crater is the only cost you actually need.
Rules that actually save money
- Book intercity trains 2-3 weeks ahead. Naples-Rome or Naples-Salerno prices roughly double last-minute.
- Check first-Sunday-of-the-month free entry. Applies to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Reggia di Caserta, most state museums.
- Bring your student card + passport. The 18-25 EU reduction is real and often saves €10-15 per site.
- Skip Capri in July-August. Same island, half the price and none of the crowds in April-May or October.
- Pack your own water and a sandwich. A €1.50 supermarket lunch replaces a €15 tourist panino at any of these destinations.
The best weekend loop
If you have one perfect Saturday to spend, this is it: 8:30 AM Circumvesuviana to Ercolano, tour the ruins until 12:00, back on the train to Sorrento, SITA bus to Positano for late lunch, ferry Positano back to Naples at sunset. Total transport under €25, memory permanent.