Museum Tickets and Tours in Naples

Naples is an Italian city steeped in history. Its rich artistic and cultural heritage is reflected in its museums, whose collections celebrate art, creativity and innovation, offering a unique and unforgettable experience.

There is a wide range of museums in the city, which you can incorporate into your list of things to see and do in Naples. Enjoy the sacred art at the Museo del Tesoro di San Gennaro, see ancient art and artefacts at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, discover the history of Neapolitan medicine at the Museo delle Arti della Salute and much more.

Naples Cathedral is home to the famous Museo del Tesoro di San Gennaro. There, you will enjoy an extensive collection of sacred art from the 13th to the 18th century, which will allow you to delve into local history and traditions.

The museum is associated with the veneration of the patron saint of Naples, San Gennaro. In its rooms you will see an interesting collection that will take you into the history of the saint and the miracles attributed to him. This is through some religious objects, sculptures and paintings by artists such as Giordano and Caravaggio.

With tickets to the Museo del Tesoro di San Gennaro you will also have the opportunity to see the exhibition of jewellery and goldsmith's work, with diadems and crowns decorated with precious gems. There is also a series of relics and sacred objects used in ceremonies: reliquaries, chalices and more.

If you are interested in continuing to discover the religious heritage of the city, after exploring the rooms of the museum you could pay a visit to the Catacombs of San Gennaro. This burial complex contains the tomb of the patron saint of Naples and is only a 15-minute drive from the museum.

Useful Information

• Admission: Tickets start at around €12 per person.
• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday (9am-5pm), Sunday (9am-2pm).
• Location: Via Duomo, 149, 80138 Napoli NA, Italy.

Another of the city's finest cultural institutions that is not to be missed is the Archaeological Museum of Naples. Its history dates back to the late 18th century and it is now considered one of the most important museums in Europe thanks to its impressive collections of ancient art and artefacts. All of them are mainly focused on Roman civilisation and Greek culture.

Visiting the National Archaeological Museum is like travelling back to antiquity. In its rooms you will see a section dedicated to the Greek period, which includes a collection from the 8th to the 3rd century BC, made up of ceramics and sculptures representing gods and mythological beings. There is also the Roman exhibition with mosaics, frescoes and more.

Another collection that will amaze you is that of Pompeii and Herculaneum, which shows what life was like in ancient Rome through a series of objects (kitchen utensils, tools, busts, frescoes, mosaics) recovered from the excavations carried out in Pompeii after the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D. You can enjoy all this and more by purchasing tickets to the National Archaeological Museum.

Useful information

• Admission: around €3 per person.
• Hours: daily from 9:00 am to 7:30 pm.
• Location: Piazza Museo, 19, 80135 Napoli NA, Italy.

If you want to make the most of at least 1 day trip to Naples and immerse yourself in Italian art and culture, you must visit the Capodimonte Museum. Its large halls exhibit a vast collection of more than 47,000 works ranging from the Middle Ages to the 21st century: paintings, sculptures and decorative art.

In 1957 the museum was founded and established in the former royal residence, the Palace of Capodimonte. It is a neoclassical building whose origin dates back to 1738, when King Charles VII of Spain commissioned the architect Giovanni Antonio Medrano to build it.

Among the collections on display are paintings by Renaissance artists such as Raphael, Titian and Caravaggio. There are also sculptures by Bernini, Antonio Corradini, Francesco Queirolo, among others. And, in the decorative art area, you will find samples of Neapolitan ceramics, collections of historic furniture, decorations and more.

You can explore the rooms on your own or join a private tour of the Capodimonte Museum. The latter will allow you to delve deeper into the history of each work and the artists, thanks to the detailed commentary usually provided by the guide.

Useful information

• Admission: the price starts at about 10€ per person.
• Opening hours: daily from 8.30 am to 7.30 pm.
• Location: Via Montalbino, 1, 80131 Napoli NA, Italy.

A place to discover science and technology in an interactive way is undoubtedly the Museo Città della Scienza. Its rooms house a series of surprising exhibitions that explore the mysteries of the universe, the fascinating world of insects, the human body and more scientific topics.

Città della Scienza is a museum with an original concept, capable of providing an immersive experience. The interior of the building is divided into several rooms with temporary and permanent exhibitions, offering both interactivity and experimentation. All this, focusing on specific themes associated with science and technology.

A popular room at the Museo Città della Scienza is often the Bugs&Co exhibition, which shows the characteristics, strengths and weaknesses of more than 150 million bugs and invertebrates . Such is the case of ants, cockroaches, hermit crabs and so on. You will also see exhibits with scientific experiments.

Another exhibition area included with the ticket for the Museo Città della Scienza is the CORPOREA. This is a museum dedicated to health that will allow you to explore the human body in a totally interactive way. Definitely a good option if the timing of your 3 or 5 day itinerary in Naples allows it.

Some useful information

• Admission: approximately €11 per person.
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday (9:00 am to 5:00 pm). Closed every Monday.
• Location: Via Coroglio, 57/104, 80124 Naples NA, Italy.

The history of medicine and healthcare through the centuries in Naples has its place in the Museum of the Arts of Health. This fascinating museum is housed in the former Hospital of Naples and houses a collection of unique medical tools and rare anatomical pieces, among other things.

This local history museum focuses its exhibits on ancient medicine and the techniques that existed to treat illnesses. The exhibits are spread over three floors, where you can discover amazing surgical instruments, anatomical models, books and medical documents.

The collections include a malformation room and an exhibition showing art from the perspective of health. There is also a display of jibar heads and a pharmacy area with traditional medicines and potions.

A visit to this museum usually lasts between 90 minutes and 2 hours, so once you've finished, you'll have time to continue exploring the city. Perhaps you could join a guided tour of Naples or hop on one of the Naples sightseeing buses.

Some useful information

• Admission: The entrance fee starts at around €10 per person.
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday (9.30am-1.30pm). On Saturdays access is by reservation only. Closed on Sundays.
• Location: Via dei Tribunali, 292, Naples. Italy.

In the historic centre of Naples is the Museum of Contemporary Art Donnaregina, also known by the acronym Madre. Opened in 2005, the museum is housed in a restored 14th century convent, and houses an outstanding collection of contemporary art including paintings, sculptures and more.

In the rooms of the Madre Museum you will have the opportunity to discover contemporary art through different artistic expressions. You will see paintings, installations and sculptures, belonging to iconic artists such as Joseph Beuys, Andy Warhol, Anish Kapoor, among others.

In addition, the museum often presents some temporary exhibitions with emerging artists and special cultural events. Although the dates and times vary yearly, if you are in Naples in summer, you will have a better chance to enjoy these activities, as it is high season.

Useful information

• Admission: about €10 per person, approximately.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday (10:00 to 19:30). Closed every Sunday.
• Location: Via Settembrini, 79, 80139 Naples NA, Italy.

The San Martino Museum, located on the Vomero hill in Naples, offers a fascinating insight into Neapolitan history and art. Its history dates back to 1866 when it first opened its doors to the public after the unification of Italy. Its interior houses impressive works of art, sacred objects, furniture and more.

The museum's collection includes pieces from Neapolitan churches and convents. You can see an impressive 18th-century nativity scene, made with more than 160 terracotta figures. There is also an exhibition with valuable porcelain pieces from the Royal Capodimonte Factory, founded by Charles VII of Bourbon.

In another of the rooms you can enjoy the masterpieces of important Baroque artists. Some of them are the Spanish Jusepe de Ribera, the Neapolitans Luca Giordano, Francesco De Mura, among other painters.

In the museum you will also have the opportunity to explore the 14th century Benedictine monastery, which is located in the same complex. You will see the cells of the former monks, a couple of cloisters, the church and the hanging gardens overlooking Naples.

Useful information

• Admission: the cost starts at €6 per person.
• Opening hours: Thursday to Tuesday from 8.30am to 6.30pm. Closed every Wednesday.
• Location: Largo S. Martino, 5, 80129 Naples Largo S. Martino, 5, 80129 Naples NA, Italy.

The Pignatelli Museum, housed in an elegant 18th century noble palace, is another of the city's treasures. This fascinating museum preserves an important part of Neapolitan history and art, through the private collection of the Pignatell family, which includes antiques, furniture, paintings, among others.

In the rooms of this noble palace, the Pignatelli family's passion for decorative art and refined taste is evident. Among the most outstanding exhibits you will see a collection of silver objects, ceramics, glass and porcelain.

In addition, the museum has collections of paintings and sculptures by Italian and European artists from the Baroque, Neoclassical and Romanesque periods. Francesco Solimena and Giovanni Battista Castello are some of them. You will also see an exhibition of antique furniture and Italian tapestries.

Whether you visit Naples in winter, summer or any other time of the year, if you are an enthusiast of decorative arts and history, then the Pignatelli Museum is a must-see destination. You will have a unique experience.

Useful information

• Admission: approximately 6€ per person.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 19:30. Closed every Monday.
• Location: Via Domenico Morelli, 2, 80121 Naples NA, Italy.

The Ascione Coral Museum is a fascinating destination, housed in a former palace in the centre of Naples. The site takes its name from the ancient Ascione Coral Factory, whose legacy of handcrafted jewellery has endured over the centuries in the Neapolitan region.

In the first section of the museum you will get an in-depth look at the different types of coral and its origin, as well as the fishing methods and tools used for its extraction. You will also learn about the process of making cameos, from the shells to the final stages of production.

The next area of the museum exhibits an amazing collection of jewellery made of coral, lava stones and cameos. It includes more than 1600 pieces from the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century, showing the rich artisan tradition of the region.

You can also learn about the history and importance of the legendary Ascione factory through photographs, documents and some objects of interest. Without a doubt, a visit to the Ascione Coral Museum is an activity you should take into consideration during your 3 days or longer trip in Naples.

Some useful information

• Admission: between 5 and 10 euros per person.
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday (10:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm). Usually closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Location: Galleria Umberto I, Piazzetta Matilde Serao, 19, Naples, Italy.

The Zoological Museum of Naples was founded in 1813 by King Gioacchino Murat. Its rooms house important finds related to biodiversity and natural history, from exchanges with other museums and donations from famous scientists such as Stefano delle Chiaje and Gabriele Cost, among many others.

Inside the building you will find an exhibition area of about 1,200 square metres. This space is divided into a pair of halls: the Salone Maggiore, which is the main hall, and then the Salone Minore. Both spaces were inaugurated on the occasion of the VII Congress of Italian Scientists in 1845.

The museum's collections include the exhibition of preserved skeletons, where you can see different species and learn about preservation methods; the exhibition of fossils, which reveals the evolution of species over the centuries. You will also have the opportunity to see the collection of ecosystems, with various representations that include the biodiversity that inhabits them.

Useful information

• Admission: from €5 per person.
• Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (9:00 to 13:30). Meanwhile, on Monday, Thursday (9:00 am to 1:30 pm and 2:15 pm to 4:30 pm). Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Location: Via Mezzocannone, 8, 80134 Naples, Italy.