Best Things to Do in Salerno

From impressive Byzantine monuments where the art and perfect architecture of that generation of creators stands out, to incredible beaches drawn by nature, the varied landscape of Salerno offers you endless things to do.

On your trip to Salerno you can't miss the Neapolitan gastronomy, that's why in this list of things to see and do in this city, I also recommend some culinary activities to experience whether you're travelling with your family, on business or as a couple.

One of the main sights you have to see if you go to Salerno is undoubtedly its Cathedral, which is located just around Via dei Mercanti. It is one of the oldest buildings. You will surely love to admire the palaces and churches, which go from the Arechi Arch to the east.

Before visiting this place, I recommend you to read information about the Cathedral entrance tickets, opening hours and everything you need to plan your visit. As one of the most important places to visit in this place, it is logical that it can be quite crowded almost all year round.

Inside the facilities of this ancient building you will find medieval and baroque works of art, which adds even more value to your visit, since you will not only be admiring the architecture of the place, but also its artistic exhibition. When visiting the place you should keep quiet and dress in a manner befitting a religious precinct.

Towards the south side of Salerno Cathedral you will see the bell tower, whose existence dates back to the 12th century. In its structure it is easy to see how this bell tower is inspired by Arab architecture.

Interesting details

• Price: The entrance to the Crypt and the Basilica is free. But if you want to visit only the Crypt, you will have to pay a price of approximately one euro.
• Opening hours: It is open from 8:30 to 20:00. While the Crypt opens from 9:00 and closes equally at 20:00.
• Location: The Cathedral of Salerno is specifically located in Piazza Alfano I in Salerno.

As soon as you arrive in the city, one of the first things you should do is sign up for one of the best tours of Salerno, taking you around the historic centre. If there's one thing you' ll love about the city centre, it's that it's filled with many multi-purpose buildings, especially the religious structures and narrow streets.

Walking around the Rione Duomo district will give you a taste of local life in the city. At the same time it will help you to get an idea of the rich culture of the south-west side of Naples.

Among the most important and interesting buildings you will find in Rione Duomo are the Villa Comunale, the Duomo and the Provincial Archaeological Museum. Each of these spaces can be visited on a city tour, or you can visit each of them separately.

Piazza della Libertá is another of the must-see sites in the itinerary of a visit to the historic centre. Here you could not only stay and take some pictures, but it is also a good place to sit down and relax for a while before continuing your city tour. Most of its narrow streets are ideal for fun photos.

Interesting details

• Price: You can walk around the historic centre on your own, or you can take a tour for around 30 euros per person.
• Time: I recommend you to visit in the morning hours, although at night you will also find a good atmosphere in the city centre.
• Location: The historic centre of Salerno is located in the north-west of the city.

Among the most special places to see in the city, the Provincial Art Gallery of Salerno is without a doubt one of the top places. From the outset you will be delighted to appreciate the location of this gallery, which is none other than Palazzo Pinto, a building dating back to the 17th century. The gallery is on the first floor.

This building was once owned by one of Salerno's most important families in noble times. Inside the Provincial Art Gallery of Salerno you will find art exhibits by different artists, so it will be quite a complete tour through the creation of Francesco Solimena and an exclusive section where you will see the work of foreign artists.

There are also a couple of sections that are divided chronologically, which you will enjoy as well: one of them shows art from the 15th to the 18th century, and another section offers a quite complete exhibition of Salernitani and Costaioli. It is one of the first places you should think about visiting as soon as you transfer from the airport to Salerno.

Interesting details

• Price: Admission is free.
• Opening hours: The Pinacoteca is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 19:45. Closed on Mondays.
• Location: The Provincial Art Gallery of Salerno is specifically located in Via Mercanti, 63 in the city.

One of the best places to visit in Salerno if you want to breathe some fresh air is undoubtedly the Lungomare Trieste promenade. It is a promenade of almost two kilometres of coastline, where you can also appreciate an endless number of palm trees, not only to take nice pictures, but also to enjoy the contrast between the sun and the shade.

From the promenade of Lungomare Trieste you can watch the boats leaving the harbour, and maybe you can get excited about taking one of the best boat trips in Salerno to see the Lungomare from the sea, or take a trip to other parts of the Amalfi Coast.

It's one of the best places to walk both during the day and at night. You will also love it because it has a large number of places to have a drink or an aperitif. It is the perfect place to have lunch or dinner, while contemplating the sea and the landscape.

Interesting details

• Price: It is free to stroll along the Lungomare Trieste, but if you want to eat something, you will have to pay the consumption which may vary according to the menu of each restaurant.
• Opening hours: It is open all day long, although I recommend you to visit the place towards sunset to see the sunsets.
• Location: This promenade is located on the north side of the city.

Salerno is about 50km from Naples, which is world famous for its pizza, so there' s no better place to sample this dish than here. Being in such a touristy place, you can also sign up for one of the best excursions from Salerno to another tourist site in Naples.

But, although Salerno is one of the best places to try pizza, the truth is that the difference between Neapolitan and Salerno pizza is very big. In fact, the pizza in Salerno is a little thinner and has a higher crust.

Some of the best pizza places to go are Carminuccio a Mariconda and Pizzeria La Smorfia. The first of these places is a pizza institution in the city and the pizzas here have a very unique taste. Since 1982 this pizza place started operating with a wood-fired oven. Since then it has become an important part of Salerno's culinary culture.

The second of these places is located in the historic centre of Salerno, and although it is not a very big place, this place has well laid out tables and a wood-fired oven, a place where you can eat some of the best flavours of pizza.

Interesting details

• Price: To visit these places you don't have to pay an entrance fee, but you do have to pay for the different pizzas you want to try. Prices depend on the menu of each restaurant.
• Opening hours: These pizzerias have different opening hours, although the best time to visit these places is in the evening.
• Location: Both pizzerias are located in the centre of Salerno, in the north-west of the city.

You can visit a real garden within the city of Salerno, and that place is none other than the Villa Comunale. Its history goes back to the year 1874, since it was built. Since then it has been nothing less than a place of rest, which over the years has become a favourite place to breathe fresh air for locals and tourists alike.

Inside the park you will find a large fountain where you have to take a couple of pictures before you continue touring the place. You will also see a lot of statues and you will surely love the Mediterranean vegetation inside this area.

The Villa Comunale is one of the most famous in Salerno as in winter it becomes the venue for one of the most charming events of the season, the Luci d'Arista. Here various luminous works of art are exhibited.

But summer is also a good season to go and enjoy the different events organised in the village, where you can see the different exhibitions of handicrafts and rare flowers and plants.

Interesting details

• Price: Visiting the Municipal Village is priceless, unless you want to go to one of the festivals, in which case you will have to buy a ticket, the prices of which can vary between 100 and 200 euros per person.
• Opening hours: Every day the Village is open from 8:00 to 00:00.
• Location: The Salerno Municipal Villa is located on the Via Roma in Salerno.

Italian gastronomy is very rich and multiform, and Salerno is no different. That's why on your trip here you can't miss the opportunity to become a pizza maker for a day. And one of the best ways to do this is to take part in a cooking class where you can learn how to cook pizza and tiramisu.

One of the best features of this type of gastronomy class is that you will be able to cook under the guidance of a Cesarino chef who will open the doors of his home to you. The Cesarino will teach you everything you need to know about the dishes you are preparing, and at the same time will accompany you throughout the whole process.

You can choose to do this activity privately, where you will share with the Cesarino and his family, and learn the secrets of Italian cooking. At the end of the class you can always enjoy the pizza and tiramisu you have prepared, with the company of the rest of the guests and a selection of local wines.

After the activity, you will have the opportunity to take home all the recipes and knowledge you have learned, just so you can surprise your friends and family with your new culinary skills. The best thing about this experience is that you can bring children of all ages.

Details of interest

• Price: You can get these experiences for prices starting at 100 euros per person. The value varies according to the type of experience you want, either shared or private.
• Timetable: The timetable is to be coordinated with the Cesarino chef, but generally you can have this experience in the evening or during lunch.
• Location: The location of the cooking class will be determined by the chef. But Vietri sul Mare is further west of the historic centre of Salerno.

If there's one good Salerno restaurant you can't miss during your trip, it's Cicirinella. It is a place with a wide reputation, thanks to the quality of its preparations and also for its pleasant atmosphere.

This place is strategically located in the historical centre of the city, specifically in Via Antonio Genovesi, very close to the Cathedral and the Provincial Museum, so it is a good place to visit if you are planning to visit any of these places.

It is not for nothing that it is one of the best restaurants in the city, in fact, this title has been given to it by the locals, who guarantee that this place serves not only a wide variety of Italian food, but also manages to concentrate the true flavours of home, far away from the elegance of haute cuisine.

Interesting details

• Price: The price range of this restaurant is between 20 and 40 euros per plate. Prices may vary according to the size of the portion and also the type of dish you want to order.
• Opening hours: It is a night restaurant, so it is open between 20:00 and 23:00 on weekdays. On weekends it is open from 13:00 to 15:00 and from 20:00 to 23:00.
• Location: The restaurant is located at number 28 Via Antonio Genovesi in the Historic Centre of Salerno.

Although Salerno doesn't have a lively nightlife or a wide variety of bars, you do have a good option for a night out after dark at the Black Roses Irish Pub.

It is one of the most popular nightspots and has a very good atmosphere. Here you can enjoy some good beers, taste some wines and any other liquor you want to choose from. If there is something you will like about this place, it is its cosy decoration, as well as the friendly staff.

If you want to dine here, you can do it too, because they have a wide range of Irish food, excellent to take a break from Italian food. Of all things, the Black Roses Bar is a good place to visit if you're with friends for a round of drinks in the evening.

Details of interest

• Price: Prices may vary according to the menu, the variety and the type of dish you order.
• Opening hours: The venue opens late in the evenings, so closes around midnight.
• Location: It is located on Via Leonino Vinciprova, number 38 in the northeast of the city.

The coast of Salerno is famous for its many beaches. If there is one thing to highlight about the beaches in Salerno, it is that you can always find a relaxing spot for you and your family or friends.

These places are really appreciated by locals and visitors alike thanks to the tranquillity they offer. However, it is not all idyllic, because one of the notable disadvantages of the landscape is the lack of natural shade, but this is not a problem if you bring a good umbrella.

Although, this disadvantage is certainly not a problem when you realise that the beaches are far away from the busy city, so visiting the coast in Salerno is always a good option if you want to get away from it all. In addition to the beautiful scenery, you'll be able to do water sports on these beaches and meet the marine fauna.

Among the most recommended beaches to visit are Playa Grande and Marina di Praia Beach, not only for their beautiful scenery, but also for their pleasant atmosphere.

Interesting details

• Price: Visiting the beaches of the Salerno coast is free, although sometimes you may have to pay to visit private beaches.
• Hours: You can go at any time of the day or night.
• Location: Salerno's beaches are north of the city, so you'll need to get there by taxi or bus.