Tracey A.
Yelp
As the best museum in the city of Naples, the question is not whether you should schedule a visit to this, the national archeological museum, but rather, should you schedule it before or after your visit to Pompeii?
Unlike the museums of say, Florence, the museums of Naples are both less grand and less crowded. Part of that's a testament to the fact that they hold fewer Italian treasures and the other part is that Naples is far less opulent than some of its more northern neighbors. The Museo Archeologico Nazionale though, is the jewel in Naples' crown. Though less immaculate than other museums in Italy, its contents are remarkable. There's so much here that you don't just get tired of looking but you also inadvertently miss things you'd probably enjoy.
It's fair to say your attention span will wane long before you've seen everything there is to see here and I mean that as a compliment to the museum. The collection is vast.
Travel writer, Rick Steves, has apparently suggested that you visit this museum in advance of your visit to Pompeii. Though no travel expert, I visited following a day at Pompeii and I personally thought that was the optimal plan for me. It gave context to much of what I was seeing in the museum though I suppose the reverse could be true as well, should you visit the museum in advance.
Either way though, visit the museum. It's a bit overwhelming but in a good way.