Where to stay in Campania: the 6 areas to know in 2026
In Campania, everything is an hour from everything else, and the best of it is over by ten in the morning. Capri is for before the day boats arrive, Pompeii for before the heat, the Amalfi Coast for before the coaches. Sleep as close as you can to your first visit of the morning.
In Naples, a decent room for two starts at $79*; on the Amalfi Coast and on Capri, the same comfort often costs more than $280* in summer. Six areas, from the city to the Cilento park.
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One base or several?
Two bases for a week: a city or Sorrento for Pompeii and the islands, then the sea. Changing hotels wins you back your mornings, the only hours without crowds.
- A long weekend: One base, in Naples: the city, Pompeii by train and Vesuvius.
- A week: Two bases: three nights in Naples or Sorrento, then three or four on the Amalfi Coast.
- Ten days: Three bases: Naples, Ischia or Procida, then the Amalfi Coast; add two nights at Paestum if you are leaving from Salerno.
How much driving between two bases?
By train, bus or boat: a car is of little use here.
| Route | Driving time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Naples → Pompéi | 35 min | on the Circumvesuviana |
| Naples → Sorrente | 1 h 15 | on the Circumvesuviana |
| Naples → Capri | 50 min | by hydrofoil |
| Naples → Ischia | 1 h | by hydrofoil |
| Sorrente → Positano | 50 min | by bus, longer in summer |
| Positano → Amalfi | 40 min | by bus or boat |
| Salerne → Paestum | 35 min | by regional train |
At a glance: our picks by traveller type
Pick the profile that fits you and go straight to the recommended area.
Map of the areas in Campania
See how the areas sit relative to one another before choosing your base. Click a name to jump to its description.
Naples and the foot of Vesuvius The historic centre, the seafront, Pompeii and Herculaneum
for the city, the museums and Pompeii by train
The liveliest base, and the cheapest. In the historic centre, you sleep between pizzerias and Baroque churches; on the seafront, facing Castel dell'Ovo, the view runs all the way to Vesuvius. Trains leave the central station for Pompeii and Herculaneum, and boats leave the port for the islands.
Yes, there is a lot of activity, you have to watch where you walk, and you need to keep an eye on your belongings, but nothing more than that.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Grand Hotel Vesuvio Luxury
A 5-star hotel on the seafront, facing Castel dell'Ovo, with a panoramic restaurant on the ninth floor.
Decumani Hotel De Charme Mid-range
A palazzo in the old centre where breakfast is served in an 18th-century ballroom, two hundred metres from Santa Chiara.
Hostel of the Sun Budget
A hostel in the port district, a few minutes from the boats at Molo Beverello, with dorms and private rooms.
Pros
- The lowest prices in the region
- Trains to Pompeii and boats to the islands from the city itself
Cons
- A noisy city with heavy traffic
- No beach for swimming in town
Sorrento and its peninsula Sorrento, Sant'Agnello, Massa Lubrense, Vico Equense
for a practical base between Pompeii, Capri and the coast
Perched on its cliff, Sorrento is the crossroads of the region: the train from Naples and Pompeii ends here, and the boats to Capri and the Amalfi Coast leave from here, as do the buses. Further out, Massa Lubrense is quieter, close to the bay of Ieranto, one of the few wild coves left on this coast.
Whether it is Naples, Mount Vesuvius, or the coast, Massa Lubrense is a great place to explore the region while staying in a quiet area.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria Luxury
Three historic buildings in a park on the cliff at Sorrento, with a lift down to the harbour.
Hotel Antiche Mura Mid-range
A 4-star hotel near Piazza Tasso, with a pool in a citrus garden.
Seven Hostel & Rooms Budget
A design hostel in Sant'Agnello, with a rooftop terrace facing Capri and Vesuvius.
Pros
- Train, boats and buses all in one place
- Lively evenings without the noise of Naples
Cons
- The sea is reached by a steep staircase or a lift
- The beaches are mostly paying platforms
The Amalfi Coast Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Praiano, Maiori
for sleeping with the sea in front of you, between two villages
Stepped villages clinging to forty kilometres of cliff. Positano tumbles down to its beach, Amalfi keeps its cathedral and small harbour, Ravello looks down on everything from its gardens. Here you get around by bus or boat, and climb a great many steps. Rooms with a view are the most expensive in the region.
To get back to Naples, we had to book a minibus for the group.
The towns in this area
Where to stay in this area
Hotel Santa Caterina Luxury
An Art Nouveau villa on a rock near Amalfi, with a pool cut into the cliff and a private beach.
Hotel Graal Mid-range
A 4-star hotel a hundred metres from the centre of Ravello, with a pool and views over the Gulf of Salerno.
Hostel Brikette Budget
The only hostel in Positano, at the top of the village, with a panoramic terrace over the sea.
Pros
- The finest views of the bay from your room
- The Path of the Gods and the villages on foot
Cons
- Very high prices from June to September
- Steps everywhere, and little transport in the evening
Capri and Anacapri The town of Capri and the village of Anacapri
for seeing the island once the day boats have gone
By day, Capri fills with visitors off the boats from Naples and Sorrento. In the evening they leave, and the island changes completely: the Piazzetta empties, and the Gardens of Augustus fall quiet again. Anacapri, higher up, is calmer and cheaper, close to the Blue Grotto.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Hotel Quisisana Luxury
The island's grand historic hotel, five minutes from the Piazzetta, with a garden, two pools and a spa.
Hotel Villa Sarah Mid-range
A 4-star hotel among the lemon trees, a ten-minute walk from the Piazzetta, with a pool.
Hotel Bussola Budget
A family-run hotel in Anacapri, with a large terrace and the Blue Grotto bus close by.
Pros
- The island without the crowds, early in the morning and in the evening
- Anacapri, calmer and more affordable
Cons
- The highest prices in the region
- Most hotels close from November to March
Ischia and Procida Ischia Porto, Forio, Lacco Ameno, Procida
for thermal baths, beaches and quieter islands
Bigger than Capri and less crowded, Ischia lives off its thermal waters: you bathe in parks full of hot pools, such as the Poseidon gardens at Forio. The Aragonese Castle guards the entrance to Ischia Ponte. Next door, Procida lines up its pastel houses around the harbour of Corricella.
Where to stay in this area
Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa Luxury
A 5-star hotel built around a 16th-century tower on the headland of San Montano, with a thermal spa.
Albergo Il Monastero Mid-range
A former convent inside the Aragonese Castle, 113 metres above the sea, with a visit to the castle included.
Callia Rooms Procida Budget
A B&B on Procida, two minutes from Chiaia beach, with a rooftop terrace.
Pros
- Thermal baths, sandy beaches and lower prices than on Capri
- Procida, the most authentic island in the bay
Cons
- An hour by boat from Naples
- Many hotels closed in winter
Paestum and the Cilento Paestum, Castellabate, Agropoli, Palinuro
for the Greek temples and cheaper beaches
South of Salerno, the coast opens out into long beaches. At Paestum, the Greek temples rise from the countryside, among the buffalo farms. Further south, the Cilento park strings together villages like Castellabate and coves as far as the cape of Palinuro and its sea caves.
Where to stay in this area
Savoy Hotel & Spa Luxury
A 5-star hotel with a spa and private beach, less than two kilometres from the temples of Paestum.
Hotel Villa Sirio Mid-range
A 4-star hotel on the seafront at Santa Maria di Castellabate, with direct access to the beach.
B&B degli Aranci Budget
A B&B two minutes from Ficocella beach in Palinuro, with a terrace and garden.
Pros
- Sandy beaches and lower prices
- The temples of Paestum a few minutes away
Cons
- Far from Naples and the islands
- A car is almost essential
Our tips for booking the right place
- Book the Amalfi Coast early: Rooms with a view in Positano and Ravello go months ahead for the summer. If you leave it late, sleep in Sorrento or Maiori and reach the coast by bus or boat.
- Check opening dates outside summer: On the coast and the islands, many hotels close from November to March. Out of season, Naples and Sorrento remain the safest bases.
- Leave the car behind: On the Amalfi Coast, the road is narrow, parking is scarce and expensive, and traffic runs on an alternating plate system on some of the busiest days. The train, buses and boats cover nearly everything.
- The Amalfi Coast in August with nothing reserved: the few rooms left cost a fortune.
- A room on the main street of Positano or Amalfi if you sleep badly: buses and scooters go by early and late.
- Capri for a single night in August: prices there are the highest in the bay, for an island packed by day.
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