Beyond Pompeii: Off-the-Beaten-Path Family Friendly Naples and Amalfi Coast

For those lucky enough to linger just a little bit longer on holiday in the family friendly Naples and Amalfi Coast regions, so many enchanting sites and excursions await beyond the requisite visit to Pompeii or Herculaneum (which, of course, are absolutely worthwhile!). We’ve selected some of our favorite historical and educational sites for visiting Naples and Amalfi Coast with kids that offer unique glimpses into the cosmopolitan and vibrant ancient past of the Campania, a region known to the Romans as Campania felix—the fortunate countryside—for its natural abundance.

The Campania ArteCard

The Campania ArteCard, available for purchase at local tourist offices, bus & train stations, newsstands, and museum ticket booths, offers families an unlimited pass for local transportation as well as nice discounts on admittance to most historical sites, museums, and local attractions. The card also includes discounts to certain events. There are a variety of cards available, with many choices designed to be most advantageous for select regional or thematic itineraries. Visit the Campania ArteCard website and use their interactive itinerary planner to determine which card is best for your family!

Baia Sommersa

The underwater archeological wonders preserved as part of the Parco Archaeologico di Baia, to the west of Naples in the Phlegrean Fields area, are the remnants of what was a chic Roman resort dating back to the 2d century BC, when members of the Roman elite built opulent villas here as seaside getaways on an area of coastline that began to submerge due to a volcanic caldera as early as the 4th century A.D. Underwater villas, the ancient port, roadways, and also naturalistic attractions can be viewed from boats with special underwater viewing galleries, as well as guided scuba expeditions.

Consider visiting Baia in the morning, then head to Pozzuoli for a nice seafood lunch in the picturesque marina.

Parco Archeologico di Baia
Porticciolo di Baia
Tel. 081 524 8169
Open Tuesday-Sunday 9:30-1:30 & 3:30-7:30
Boat tickets 10 euro adults/9 euro children/free for ages 3 and under

Astroni Nature Reserve

Another wonder of the Phlegrean Fields for budding young naturalists is the Astroni Nature Reserve, a large volcanic crater between Pozzuoli and Naples that is home to World Wildlife Fund protected birds and local animals. Families can pack a picnic and explore the park along marked pathways. Don’t forget the binoculars!

Astroni Nature Reserve
Via Agnano agli Astroni
80125 Naples
Tel. 081 588 3720
Open daily from 10:00-4:30

Citta della Scienza

Complete your family’s naturalistic exploration of the Campania with a visit to the Citta della Scienza science museum and planetarium in Bagnoli, also between Naples and Pozzuoli, which hosts permanent and special interactive exhibits for kids along with fun workshops and a play area.

Citta della Scienza
Via Coroglio 104
Bagnoli
Tel. 081 735 2111

Museo della Carta

In Amalfi, kids can explore the history of papermaking, a regional tradition of different degrees throughout Italy, at the Museo della Carta (Paper Museum), in an ancient local paper mill. The exhibits include antique equipment used in papermaking along with documents and exhibits on the history of this important craft.

Museo della Carta
Via delle Cartiere (walk past the Duomo until you see the Paper Museum on the left)
Amalfi
Tel. 089 830 4561

Duomo di Amalfi

Saints’ bones seem to always be a big hit with kids, and particularly important saints even more so. In addition to being an impressive architectural site dating to the early 13th century, the Amalfi Duomo also houses the skull of St. Andrew, one of Jesus’ apostles, in an adjacent crypt decorated with impressive 17th-century frescoes. Among the many other things to see at the Cathedral, the garden in the Cloister of Paradise is a nice site for family friendly Naples and Amalfi Coast activities.

Duomo di Amalfi
Largo Filippo Augustariccio
84011 Amalfi, Salerno
tel. 089 871324

Paestum

Pack up the hats and sunscreen and go early or late (that is, not midday), to visit the ancient Greek ruins at Paestum, a marvel of Magna Graecia standing proudly just south of Salerno. A series of stately temples and ancient buildings dating from the 6th century BC, including the Temple of Neptune, the Temple of Hera, considered one of the most pristine examples of Greek architecture from this era, and the Temple of Ceres. The site also includes sacrificial altars, a 1st-century BC Roman forum and Roman buildings and roads, and Christian churches and sanctuaries, as well as the adjacent archeological museum with artifacts from the site.

Museo Archeologico Nazionale
Via Magna Grecia 917
Paestum
Tel. 0828 811023

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Author Shannon Kenny is the Founding Editor of Italiakids.com, Director of the Arte al Sole children’s arts and cultural programs in Italy and Founding Partner of Elaia Travel, a boutique travel concierge specializing in custom travel to Italy and Europe