9 of the Best Museums in Naples and How To Visit

Variety is a given at the Naples National Archaeological Museum, which houses everything from Egyptian mummies and hieroglyphics to ancient Roman sculptures and frescoes. Also on display are artifacts from pre-eruption Pompeii and Herculaneum, so you can learn about daily life in these ancient cities, even if you don’t have time to tour the archaeological parks. The museum’s collection is vast, and a private tour will ensure you see all the highlights with an expert guide offering insight as you go.

Don't miss: The Farnese collection, which consists of rare marble sculptures and gems collected by one of Italy’s most powerful families.

With a dizzying array of artwork by greats including Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Raphael, Botticelli, and Titian, it’s no surprise that the Capodimonte Museum is high on the list of must-see museums in Naples. Book a private tour to see the Renaissance and baroque headliners with the narration of a guide, while a hop-on hop-off bus is a convenient way to get there and see other Naples attractions along the way. Once you’ve finished browsing, relax in the surrounding park, located in a hilltop district overlooking Naples.

Don’t miss: Caravaggio’s Flagellation of Christ and the sumptuously decorated royal apartments.

Visiting Naples museums is a surefire way to see art and architecture from centuries past, and a trip to the Charterhouse and Museum of San Martino is no exception. Originally a Carthusian monastery dating back to the 14th century, the art-filled complex features a dramatic main cloister with marble skulls and a museum that explores monastic life at the charterhouse. If you don’t have time for a private tour, spot the massive structure soaring atop Vomero Hill while on a guided Vespa ride around Naples.

Don’t miss: One of Italy’s most comprehensive exhibits dedicated to the Neapolitan nativity scene.

Built in the 1200s, Castel Nuovo has seen Naples through many eras, acting as a royal residence under the Angevins, a fortress under the Aragonese, and serving many purposes in between. It’s now one of the most important Naples historical museums, and its waterfront location makes it a popular stop on most city walking tours. Inside the storybook-like castle is the Civic Museum, showcasing Neapolitan paintings and sculptures that shed light on the city’s past from the 15th to the 20th centuries.

Don’t miss: The Palatine Chapel—the only part of the castle left from Angevin rule—and its frescoes, including fragments of a project by Giotto.

When Naples was under Bourbon rule, the 17th-century Royal Palace was among the city’s most lavish Renaissance residences. That luxury is on full display in the royal apartments, with an intricately painted throne room, marble Staircase of Honor, and terrace garden overlooking Mt. Vesuvius, plus a museum that explores the site’s residential past. Guided Royal Palace tours get you skip-the-line entry and an expert’s commentary, while most Naples architecture tours stop by to see the palace’s facade before visiting surrounding sights such as Piazza del Plebiscito.

Don’t miss: The richly decorated Court Theater, which still hosts music and theater performances today.

Initially built as a chapel and then enlarged in the 17th century to become a mausoleum and temple for the aristocratic di Sangro family, the Sansevero Chapel is now one of the most important art museums in Naples. Giuseppe Sanmartino’s hyper-realistic Veiled Christ, hailed as one of the greatest sculptures of all time, is its claim to fame. As with most Naples museum tickets, Sansevero Chapel bookings are best made in advance. Tour the chapel with a guide to hear the stories behind the museum’s masterpieces, or explore on a tour that includes a visit to the Santa Chiara Cloister, too.

Don’t miss: The Underground Chamber’s unnerving Anatomical Machines, two human skeletons with remarkably reconstructed circulatory systems.

When deciding which Naples art museums to visit, don’t overlook contemporary gems such as the Donnaregina Contemporary Art Museum (also known as the Madre Museum). Located in a 19th-century palazzo in Naples Historic Center, the collection spotlights modern art by the likes of Jeff Koons and Anish Kapoor, plus works created specifically for the museum by Neapolitan artists. If you’d like to see more from local creatives, a Naples street art tour makes a great follow-up to the museum.

Don’t miss: Mimmo Paladino’s untitled horse sculpture positioned on the panoramic roof, which is one of the Madre Museum’s most recognizable pieces.

Unlike other Naples archaeological museums, Naples Underground is not housed in a single building—it’s a network of ancient tunnels beneath the city. The remains date back as far as 2,400 years, and they include Roman aqueducts and World War II bomb shelters. Book a guided tour with skip-the-line access to make sense of the complex ruins, or pair Naples Underground with a walking tour to see the best of the city above and below ground.

Don’t miss: The Bourbon Tunnel, a 19th-century military passage with artifacts on display from its days as an air-raid shelter and vehicle depot.

Caravaggio painted The Seven Works of Mercy, one of his most famous works, specifically for Pio Monte della Misericordia, a charitable museum-and-chapel complex dedicated to helping Naples’ impoverished. Uncovering the symbolism of Caravaggio’s painting is enough to justify a visit, though you’ll also find notable Neapolitan artworks from the 15th to 19th centuries, as well as a contemporary collection. Steps from the Naples Cathedral, it’s easy to combine a trip to the museum and a private tour of central Naples.

Don’t miss: The 17th-century paintings surrounding Caravaggio’s work, which elaborate on Pio Monte della Misericordia’s charitable endeavors.