Quick answer: Naples runs about EUR 95 per day mid-range - noticeably less if you eat local and walk. Cheapest window: April-June and September-October - warm and clear, ideal for Pompeii and ferry days; August is hot, humid and holiday-crowded.
What things actually cost
| espresso at the bar | 1.20 EUR |
| pizza margherita | 5.50 EUR |
| sfogliatella | 2.50 EUR |
| metro or funicular single | 1.30 EUR |
| Pompeii entry | 18 EUR |
| cuoppo of fried seafood | 6 EUR |
Eat well for little
- Pizza margherita at L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele or Sorbillo5.50-7 EUR, expect a queue
- Sfogliatella riccia warm from Pintauro or Attanasioabout 2.50 EUR
- Cuoppo (paper cone of fried seafood or fritters) in the centro storico - about 6 EUR
- Pasta alla genovese (slow onion and beef ragu) at a family trattoria - about 10 EUR
- Espresso standing at the barabout 1.20 EUR; it comes short, strong and pre-sugared unless you say 'amaro'
Money mistakes to avoid
- Using Naples only as a Pompeii basethe centro storico and the Archaeological Museum deserve two full days on their own
- Carrying your phone loose in hand on the Circumvesuviana or in dense crowds - use a front pocket or zipped bag
- Renting a car for the citytraffic is intense and parking scarce; trains, funiculars and ferries cover everything
- Doing Pompeii without water, a hat and a downloaded mapthe site is vast and shade is scarce
Transport without the tourist tax
The Alibus shuttle links Capodichino airport with the center and the port in 20-30 minutes for about 5 EUR. The centro storico is best on foot; singles for metro, funiculars and buses cost about 1.30 EUR, and Metro Line 1's art stations are worth riding for their own sake.
Planning the full trip? Start with the 4-day Naples itinerary.