The bay is roughly 35 km across and 20 km deep, bounded by Cape Miseno to the northwest and the Sorrento Peninsula to the southeast. Vesuvius dominates the eastern shore, rising to 1,281 metres above the flat volcanic plain that includes both Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Capri sits at the tip of the Sorrento Peninsula, visible from the Naples waterfront on a clear day. Ischia, the largest island in the bay, lies to the northwest. Procida, the smallest and least visited of the main islands, sits between Ischia and the Campi Flegrei volcanic fields.
The Amalfi Coast runs along the southern side of the Sorrento Peninsula — the opposite side from Naples. To reach it, you drive through Sorrento and then along the famous cliff road. This geography explains why the Amalfi Coast takes longer to reach from Naples than a map might suggest: you have to round the peninsula.
Campi Flegrei (Burning Fields) to the west of Naples is a lesser-known volcanic zone of craters, hot springs and ancient Roman monuments. Less visited than Vesuvius and Pompeii, it offers a different geological experience for travellers on a second visit.
Highlights
- Vesuvius: the dominant eastern landmark at 1,281 metres
- Capri: visible from the Naples waterfront on clear days
- Sorrento Peninsula: the land bridge to the Amalfi Coast
- Ischia: volcanic island with thermal spas and medieval castle
Tips
- On a clear day, look south from the ship for your first view of Vesuvius rising above the plain
- The geography explains the travel times: the Amalfi Coast is on the far side of the peninsula
- Capri is closer to the shore as a ferry crossing than it is by road around the peninsula
- Ischia is larger and less crowded than Capri — worth considering on a second visit