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Naples is made of unique stories , stories you have to know , see and hear . We try to tell them, we try to enclose in our videos that Neapolitan essence in order to transmit it to as many people as possible.

We describe, the beauties , the colors , the sounds , the flavors of Naples , we condense them into short videos that can be a quick and fun way to learn something about this wonderful city and, why not, inform yourself before or during your trip to Naples.

Visit Naples and do it right. You won't regret it.

Walk Naples

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Naples Travel Guide

Last Updated: August 23, 2023

Naples, made famous as the birthplace of pizza, is a gritty city home to a wealth of historical treasures. The medieval Naples Cathedral, the 18th-century Villa Comunale park, and nearby Pompeii make Naples a must-see destination for history buffs and foodies alike.

Naples is the gateway to the south of Italy so you’re very likely to come here if you’re crisscrossing the country. Its location near Pompeii, Capri, and Sorrento makes it the perfect starting point for exploring the region.

Best of all, it’s a foodie city like no other; I ate my weight in pizza during my visit!

This Naples travel guide can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your time in this iconic Italian city!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Naples

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Naples

1. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Naples

This museum has one of the world’s best collections of Greek and Roman artifacts from both the city of Naples and nearby Pompeii. There’s ancient jewelry, mosaics, bronzes, sculptures, and a cast of a girl who perished in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. The museum also contains a room that is referred to as the “Secret Cabinet,” a collection of 1st-century Roman erotic art from Pompeii and Herculaneum. Admission is 15 EUR.

2. Check out Villa Comunale

King Ferdinand IV designed this strip of seaside land as a park for Bourbon royalty in the 1780s. Except for special events, it was closed to the public until 1869 after the unification of Italy. In addition to beautiful walkways and gardens, there is a vintage aquarium and several ornate fountains lining the 1-kilometer (0.62 miles) promenade.

3. Hike Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius is the volcano that wiped out Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 CE, killing thousands of people in the process. The hike is a fairly steep climb, but a short one (it’s just 30-60 minutes). At the top, you’ll be able to look into the volcano’s crater and out across the Bay of Naples. The entry fee is 10 EUR and it must be purchased online in advance. It’s easy to get here from Naples by taking the train and then transferring to a shuttle bus.

4. Explore Pompeii

The archaeological site of Pompeii lives up to the hype. Buried under 4-6 meters (13-20 feet) of volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted, the ancient Roman city was preserved as a snapshot in time. Today, you can wander the expansive, 160-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site with its excavated villas, baths, amphitheater, mosaics, frescoes, and gruesome casts of victims in their final moments. It’s a fascinating place, and I spent a whole day here. You can visit the site on your own for 16 EUR, but the best way to make the most of your time is to take a guided tour to get the context of all the buildings and remains.

5. See the Duomo

The Duomo is a 13th-century Gothic cathedral dedicated to the city’s patron saint, San Gennaro. The church is decorated with frescoes, reliefs, and mosaics from across the centuries. You can also descend into the crypt to see the archaeological remains of the ancient paleo-Christian church that the cathedral was built on top of. Every year, the Duomo hosts the Festival of San Gennaro, where a vial of the saint’s dried blood is taken out of storage in hopes that it will liquefy. Legend states that if the blood does not liquefy, tragedy will befall Naples.

Other Things to See and Do in Naples

1. take a free walking tour.

One of the first things I do in a new destination is to take a free walking tour. It’s the best way to see the main highlights and learn about the city from a local guide who can answer all your questions. Free Walking Tour Napoli offers a solid free tour that covers all the main sights. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end!

2. Shop at Piazza del Mercato

This market has been Naples’ main market square since the 13th century. It sells everything from household goods to fresh produce and handmade souvenirs. During the Christmas season, this place is jam-packed with even more stalls selling festive goods.

3. Watch a show at Teatro San Carlo

Opened in 1737, this is the world’s oldest opera house, having survived wars, fires, and revolutions. The inside, with blue upholstery, gold décor, sparkling chandeliers, and almost 1,400 seats gives off a lavish and ornate atmosphere. If you can’t catch a show here, at least do a guided tour for 7 EUR.

4. Explore Herculaneum

Herculaneum is the lesser-known cousin of Pompeii. It used to be a fishing village of about 4,000 inhabitants who all befell the same fate as the citizens of Pompeii. The site is also very well preserved and usually has fewer tourists. While I wouldn’t skip Pompeii, you should also try to work in a visit here too. Tickets are 11 EUR. If you want to do a guided tour with an archeologist , tours are 45 EUR.

5. Watch a film under the stars

Every summer there is an open-air film festival held here called N’ato Cinema. It starts at the beginning of June and then runs every week until the end of July, with screenings of international films and family films. Tickets are just 4.50 EUR.

6. Visit Villa Floridiana

Originally built in 1816 as a gift from King Ferdinand I to his second wife Duchess Lucia Migliaccio, this estate has beautifully manicured gardens, expansive views over Naples Bay, and an ornate fountain filled with turtles. It also houses the National Museum of Ceramics. With over 6,000 pieces in the collection, you’ll see everything from Japanese Edo ceramics to European pieces. It’s 4 EUR to visit the museum.

7. Tour the Anfiteatro Flavio

This was once the third-largest amphitheater in all of Italy, dating back to 1 CE (only the Roman Colosseum and the amphitheater in Capua are larger). Started under Emperor Vespasian and completed by his son, over 40,000 people used to gather here to watch gladiator matches and other entertainment. Today, you can tour the various fallen columns and learn more about the history of the stadium and its events. Admission is 4 EUR.

8. Visit Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte

This is the Neapolitan National Gallery, a museum featuring work by Baroque and Renaissance artists. Some of the big names here include Giordano, Caravaggio, Bellini, El Greco, and Titian. Works date from the 13th to 18th century. Admission is 12 EUR.

9. Wander through Castelnuovo

Castelnuovo is a large medieval castle that stands out along the coastline. Come here to visit the art museum, which houses a gallery of 17th-19th century Italian paintings, including works from Luigi Crisconio and Carlo Vanvitelli. It’s 6 EUR to visit and you will get some great views over Naples and the coast too.

10. Take the Underground Tour

This was my favorite activity in Naples. Located in the city center, you can take an underground tour to explore some of the historic ruins of the city, including ancient reservoirs and the remains of a Roman-era theater. You’ll learn about how the city has been built upon and changed over its 2,400-year history. It costs 80 EUR, but it’s worth every penny.

For more information on other cities in Italy, check out these guides:

• Cinque Terre Travel Guide
• Florence Travel Guide
• Milan Travel Guide
• Pisa Travel Guide
• Rome Travel Guide
• Sorrento Travel Guide
• Venice Travel Guide

Naples Travel Costs

Hostel prices – A dorm bed in a hostel with 4-6 beds costs 28-35 EUR per night, while a bed in a room with 8-12 beds costs 20-27 EUR per night. Private rooms range from 75-100 EUR per night. Prices don’t fluctuate much with the seasons. Hostels usually include free Wi-Fi and some also include free breakfast.

For those traveling with a tent, camping is available outside the city for as little as 10 EUR per night for one person and a basic plot without electricity.

Budget hotel prices – There aren’t many two-star budget hotels in Naples. For a three-star budget hotel, prices range from 60-100 EUR per night. Expect basic amenities like free Wi-Fi, AC, TV, and a coffee/tea maker. Some also include free breakfast.

On Airbnb, you can find private rooms for 35-60 EUR per night. Entire apartments cost closer to 100 EUR per night but expect prices to double if you don’t book early.

Average cost of food – Italian cuisine is beloved around the world, though every region in Italy offers its own distinct flavor. Tomatoes, pasta, olives, and olive oil form the backbone of most meals, with meat and fish and various cheeses rounding out the menu.

Pizza, popularized here in the 18th century, is a must when you’re in Naples. Spaghetti alla puttanesca (spaghetti with capers) and Caprese salad (a fresh salad with tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella) are two other local favorites.

Overall, you can eat very cheaply in Naples. As the birthplace of pizza, there is no shortage of options under 10 EUR. Try Pizzeria Sorbillo (it’s famous for a reason). Most casual restaurants offer pizza or pasta dishes for 10 EUR or less.

For other affordable eats, head to just about anywhere along Via dei Tribunali. Chinese takeout is another low-cost option, costing 5-7 EUR for a dish.

If you want to splash out, a three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant serving traditional Italian cuisine costs around 25 EUR.

Fast food (thick McDonald’s) costs around 8 EUR for a combo meal. Beer is around 3 EUR while a latte/cappuccino costs around 1.50 EUR. Bottled water is less than 1 EUR.

If you’re staying somewhere with a kitchen, a week’s worth of groceries costs 50-60 EUR. This gets you basic staples like pasta, seasonal produce, and some meat.

Backpacking Naples Suggested Budgets

On a backpacking budget of 60 EUR per day, you can stay in a hostel dorm, cook all your meals, limit your drinking, take public transportation to get around, and do mostly free activities like strolling the parks and taking free walking tours. If you plan on drinking, add 5-10 EUR to your daily budget.

On a mid-range budget of 135 EUR per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb, eat out for most meals, enjoy a few drinks, take the occasional taxi to get around, and do more paid activities like visiting the museums and taking a day trip to Pompeii.

On a “luxury” budget of 230 EUR or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat out for all your meals, drink more, rent a car or take more taxis, and do whatever tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

Use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in EUR.

Naples Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Naples isn’t as expensive as northern Italian cities like Rome or Florence but it’s still easy to blow your budget if you eat out a lot and do lots of activities. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to save here too. Here’s how you can save money in Naples:

• Eat on the cheap – Have a pizza or take a sandwich to go for just a few dollars to help manage your spending. Pizza is the best food in Naples and won’t break the bank.
• Get the Visitalia Tourist Card Napoli – If you are going to do lots of sightseeing, this tourist card provides discounts on the top museums, tours, and attractions. It’s priced to save you money compared to buying separate tickets and includes free public transportation. A one-day pass costs 14.50 EUR, a two-day pass costs 19 EUR, and a three-day pass costs 23.50 EUR. There’s even a week-long pass for just 26.80 EUR.
• Buy wine instead of going to a bar – You can buy a great bottle of wine for just a few euros at the store. It’s a lot cheaper than drinking at the bar.
• Stay with a local – Accommodation is quite expensive in Italy, even in the hostels. Use Couchsurfing to stay with locals who have extra beds and couches for free. It’s a great way to save money and connect with locals who can share their tips and advice. Just make sure to send your requests early.
• Go on a free walking tour – This is a great way to learn the history behind the places you are seeing and to avoid missing any must-see stops. Free Walking Tour Napoli runs regular tours to help you get your bearings and see the main highlights. Just don’t forget to tip your tour guide!
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Naples

Looking for an affordable place to stay when you visit? Here are some of my recommended places to stay in Naples:

• Hostel Mancini
• Hostel of the Sun
• La Controra Hostel

How to Get Around Naples

Public transportation – When it comes to public transportation in Naples, it’s best to get a TIC (Ticket Integrato Campani) ticket, which works on all city metro, bus, and funicular services. A single ticket costs 1.60 EUR and is good for 90 minutes. A one-day pass is 4.50 EUR and a weekly ticket is 15.80 EUR.

The bus isn’t the most efficient way to get around Naples, but it’s useful for navigating Corso Umberto (the long main commercial street) since there is a designated bus lane.

Naples has a metro, but it doesn’t have an extensive network so the bus is usually a better idea.

Train – The Circumvesuviana trains from Napoli Centrale runs to Sorrento for 4.50 EUR, and Herculaneum for 2.20 EUR. Pompeii costs just 2.80 EUR. The Ferrovia Cumana trains run to Pozzuoli for 2.20 EUR.

A great resource to use when planning your trip via train is ItaliaRail .

Taxis – Taxis are not cheap here. Meter rates start from 4.25 EUR and cost 1 EUR per kilometer. Skip the taxis if you can as they add up fast. If you do need a taxi, make sure the driver uses the meter so you don’t get ripped off.

Bike rental – Naples is a bike-friendly city and rentals can be found for as little as 10 EUR per day.

When to Go to Naples

Thanks to its location on the Mediterranean, Naples is warm year-round. The summer months (June-August) are the most popular time to visit but they are also scorching, with temperatures usually above 31°C (88°F). July is also the driest month of the year. Many Italians take their vacations in August, so it gets particularly crowded here then. Expect accommodation to be booked well in advance (and to be more expensive) during this time.

Personally, I think the shoulder seasons are the best time to visit Naples (April-May and September-October). You’ll avoid peak tourism season and you’ll still have nice weather. Temperatures average around 22°C (72°F) which is much more tolerable.

This is especially a good time to visit Naples if your priority is going to Pompeii or Herculaneum. There will be fewer crowds and you will be a lot more comfortable exploring the ruins in cooler temperatures. There isn’t much shade at these sites and very few places to sit and take breaks.

December to February are the coldest months, with daily highs around 8°C (46°F). This isn’t the best time to visit, but prices will be a little lower and the crowds are gone.

How to Stay Safe in Naples

Naples is a very safe place to backpack and travel but often gets a bad rap for being a bit grittier than other places in Italy. Pickpocketing is the most common crime you’ll encounter here so you need to stay vigilant in crowded areas (especially on public transportation). Always keep your valuables secure and out of reach.

When taking a taxi, always make sure they use the meter so you don’t get ripped off.

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here, however, the standard precautions apply (don’t leave your drink unattended at the bar, don’t walk around alone at night intoxicated, etc.).

While scams here are rare, if you’re worried about getting ripped off you can read about common travel scams to avoid here.

The Spanish Quarter is a little sketchy at night, so avoid that area after dark or if you’re alone.

If you’re walking everywhere, stay alert! The traffic in Naples is crazy, and drivers do not respond to traffic lights very well. Be careful when crossing the street.

If you experience an emergency, dial 113 for assistance.

Always trust your gut instinct. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Naples Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• HostelPass – This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money. They’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and glad it finallt exists.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• The Man in Seat 61 – This website is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. They have the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions. If you are planning a long train journey or some epic train trip, consult this site.
• Rome2Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. It will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost.
• FlixBus – Flixbus has routes between 20 European countries with prices starting as low 5 EUR! Their buses include WiFi, electrical outlets, a free checked bag.
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!
• BlaBlaCar – BlaBlaCar is a ridesharing website that lets you share rides with vetted local drivers by pitching in for gas. You simply request a seat, they approve, and off you go! It’s a cheaper and more interesting way to travel than by bus or train!

Naples Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling Italy and continue planning your trip:

The 6 Best Hotels in Florence

Where to Stay in Florence: The Best Neighborhoods For Your Visit

Where to Stay in Milan: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

The 6 Best Hotels in Milan

The Best Walking Tours in Florence

The 8 Best Hotels in Rome

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Everything you need to know before your trip to Naples

Dec 2, 2021 • 5 min read

The fun and vibrant city of Naples is perfect for your next vacation © Alessandro Biascioli / Getty Images / iStockphoto

Naples, Italy's third-largest city, thrives on contradictions. As one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban areas in the world, Naples is both chaotic and cultured, opulent and gritty, exuberant and understated, with architectural gems to discover around every corner.

Founded by Greeks in the first millennium BCE, Naples has witnessed over 2500 years of history unfold from its magnificent perch along the Mediterranean Sea, with Mount Vesuvius looming in the distance. 

We can thank Naples for inventing pizza, but culinary delights abound, and caffè culture is found in its many charming coffee bars. Many tourists skip Naples as they make their way to the Amalfi Coast or Pompeii archeological park , but this intriguing city, with its captivating architecture, rich history, and mouth-watering culinary traditions, is not to be missed. Here's everything you need to know before your trip to Naples, Italy.  

Best time to visit Naples

The best time to visit Naples is in the late spring, before the summer crowds arrive, or the early fall when the hectic tourist season has come to a close, yet the weather is still sunny and warm. Though winter is less crowded, offering more opportunities to meet the locals, the weather can be rainy.

The Christmas season is hectic in Naples, but the many festivities and holiday traditions, including the Neapolitan tradition of creating elaborate presepe (nativity scenes) , make it worth a visit despite the holiday crowds. 

Where to stay in Naples

If it's your first visit to Naples, consider staying in the bustling "Centro Storico," the heart of Naples. Naples' entire central district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, complete with cobbled streets, elegant palazzos, and historic churches around every corner. 

For a more relaxed stay, Chiaia, Naples' seafront neighborhood, offers luxe hotels with stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. Chiaia is best known for its many independent fashion boutiques, but you'll also find high-end shops here such as Prada and Armani.  

Families will enjoy a stay in Posillipo, a quieter, more residential neighborhood located along the northern coast of the Gulf of Naples. Posillipo is home to several beaches and parks. Don't miss Virgiliano Park, a green oasis in the city where terraces overlooking the whole Gulf of Naples offer vistas of the beautiful islands of Ischia, Capri, and Procida.

Italian is the official language in Naples. That said, most people in Naples and Campania speak the lively Napolitano (Neapolitan) regional dialect. You'll find English spoken in most hotels and restaurants, but pack an Italian phrasebook and learn a few key phrases before your trip so you can communicate with locals. 

The Euro is the official currency of Naples and the rest of Italy. Credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) are widely accepted, but street market vendors, taxi cab drivers, smaller shops, and eateries may not accept credit cards and usually prefer to be paid in cash. Tipping is not standard in Italy, but it is common to add about €1 per diner to tip restaurant waitstaff for good service or round up the bill. At a bar, for example, leave 1 Euro for an 80 cent espresso. 

Getting Around Naples

Naples' main tourist attractions are centered along the seafront and Centro Storico, so it's easy to get around on foot. The city has an extensive public transportation system with Metro trains, buses, trams, and even funiculars (incline railways) that transport rides up prominent hills in the city. Regional trains connect visitors to Pompeii, Herculaneum, and towns on the Amalfi Coast, including Sorrento. Naples International Airport is connected to the city by bus. 

Renting a car in Naples isn't advised since parking is scarce, the narrow, one-way streets can be challenging to navigate, and traffic is always an issue, so opt for walking or taking public transportation.  Taxis are plentiful, but never enter one without negotiating the price beforehand to avoid being overcharged. 

Sightseeing passes

If you plan to spend a lot of time sightseeing in Naples, save money with a Naples ArteCard . The pass includes free admission to up to three museums and a 50% discount admission to attractions thereafter, plus free travel on all public transportation. Some attractions have limited capacity, so you may need to book a few visits in advance. The ArtePass also includes tourist sites and museums outside of Naples, in the surrounding region of Campania, including museums in Pompeii.

You can buy it online and receive it immediately via email or app, but be sure to activate it manually on first use at any UnicoCampania transport network turnstile or at the ticket office of any participating museum. Visitors aged between 18 and 25 will save even more money with the Naples ArtePass 3 days Young pass.

Is Naples a safe city to visit?

Naples is generally safe to visit, and most major U.S. cities outrank Naples in terms of crime levels. Violent crime is rare, but petty crime remains an issue. Pickpockets can be a problem in crowded places, around tourist landmarks, on the metro and at train stations, so keep your belongings secured in a money belt. 

In the case of a medical emergency, dial the free number 118 anytime, anywhere in Italy, to request emergency assistance or an ambulance. Finally, Mount Vesuvius is an active volcano, and earthquakes are also possible, so keep an eye on the news before your trip. 

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22 Essential Things to Know Before Visiting Naples, Italy

• Isabelle Hoyne
• February 15, 2024

** Disclosure: some of the links on this site are affiliate links and should you make a purchase through these, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!**

Following my own numerous explorations of Naples, this guide arms you with crucial insights to be aware of before you visit the city. From history to food, accommodation to day trips and getting there and around, here are 23 essential things to know before visiting Naples, Italy .

Naples is a well-known city in southern Italy, but it is also one that is gravely misunderstood. Many travellers skip through its airport on their way to the Amalfi Coast and don’t give this diverse, historic city a look-in. That, in my opinion, is a grave error. 

Those who know a little about Naples might allocate half a day to head into city centre and sample from the source the city’s most delectable dish – pizza. Others may tack on a night in Naples so they can use it as a base to go and explore nearby Vesuvius or the ancient city of Pompeii.

While these visitors are on to something, they’re still a bit wide off the mark as to just what this city is all about. 

Rough around the edges, the historical centre of Naples is a hodge-podge of narrow, cobbled streets. Apartment buildings are strung with a festoon of sheets and unruly scooters play cat and mouse with pedestrians, beeping with indignity when the crowds fail to part in prompt fashion. 

Thought that was a pedestrian zone? 

Well think again, for here they march to the beat of their own drum and shopping, walking, driving, eating and living all mesh together as one with all activities often taking place within a few square metres of each other.

With a fascinating history that stretches back to the ancient Greeks, the city of Naples followed a slightly different path to other places in Italy.

You’ll notice it when you get there, especially if you’re a regular visitor to Italy – the food is different, the architecture is in a class of its own and the people, as a generalisation, have much more time for tourists when compared to other large cities in Italy.

This Naples city guide will help you navigate through the many nuances of Naples. Navigating the vibrancy and chaos of Naples can be an exciting adventure, yet knowing where to focus your attention can truly enrich your experience.

Discover, amongst other things, why I think you should prioritise a visit to the serene Catacombs of San Gennaro over the more chaotic Naples Underground, as well as what you need to know about safety in Naples.

This guide, honed by my visits and extensive research, is designed to navigate you through the many layers of Naples’ charm. From savouring pizza to strolling the historic streets, get ready to uncover the unexpected surprises of visiting Naples, Italy.

Useful resources for your trip to Naples, Italy

Trains: Check Omio to search schedules and buy tickets Flights: Find the cheapest flights on Skyscanner Ferries : Search ferry schedules and book tickets here Airport transfer : Get a quote & book here Top rated Naples attractions & tours ⭑ Naples Underground ⭑ Catacombs of San Gennaro (*Cultured Voyages top pick*) ⭑ Street Food Tour with Local Guide ⭑ Small Group Naples Pizza Making Experience Best day trips from Naples ⭑ Naples or Sorrento: Full-Day Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius Tour ⭑ From Naples or Sorrento: Amalfi Coast Full-Day Trip ⭑ Island of Capri Full-Day Tour with Lunch Cultured Voyages recommended accommodation ➡ Quatrum Napoli ( plush guesthouse with rave reviews ) ➡ Grand Hotel Santa Lucia ( waterside luxury with sea views ) ➡ Decumani Hotel De Charme ( central hotel with old school charm ) ➡ Artemisia Domus ( extremely well-located luxe-for-less pad ) ➡ La Casa Sul Nilo ( old world luxury on a budget ) Don’t forget to pack! Ricks Steve’s Naples & Amalfi Coast // In the Shadow of Vesuvius: A Cultural History of Naples // compression packing cubes (my #1 travel item) // good walking shoes (these are my tried and tested favourites of all time!)

Things to know before visiting Naples, Italy

It’s gritty, but that’s part of its charm.

One arrives in Naples and is met by an assault of the senses. The first thing that hits you is a sheer cacophony of sound. A barrage of lilting Italian voices fight to be heard over the sound of revving engines, beeping horns and the rattle of tyres over worn cobblestones. It’s all one big great, beautiful chaos.

Grandiose buildings erected in wealthier times now have faded, peeling facades and many today carry graffiti (although efforts are being made to renovate some of these). Sheets are strung from balconies, as well as across narrow, winding alleyways to dry and neighbours shout across the narrow voids to each other.

Naples is a densely populated city, with many living in the confined spaces of apartment lodgings and life, naturally enough, spills over into the streets sometimes.

With that comes a bit of a rubbish problem – Naples is by no means the cleanest city you’ll ever visit – and you will have to be prepared to see quite a bit of rubbish in the streets, piled up around bins.

From the 1990’s to 2010’s, the Camorra (Campania’s branch of the Mafia) infiltrated the waste business, which led to a rubbish crisis in Naples. Local government has since taken back control and there has been a vast improvement, but do expect to see some rubbish about.

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Naples is distinctly different to other cities in Italy

Naples simply bursts with attitude and unlike the – dare I say it – more sterile cities further north in Italy, the hubbub and helter-skelter aspects of the city are more akin to major urban centres in South-East Asia .

The root as to why Naples is so different from the rest of the country lies in its history and the fact that it’s operated rather independently for centuries; millenia even.

The city dates back some 4,000 years and is one of the oldest cities in the world. Having first been established by Greek settlers, by the 6th century BC the ancient city of Neapolis had been erected and with it, the Neapolitan culture that Naples is famous for – even the Romans couldn’t shake it when they conquered the area.

Following the Romans, Naples was ruled by a succession of Goths, Byzantines, Lombards and Normans, before it became part of Kingdom of Sicily, of which it became the capital in 1266.

After a few more power shifts, Naples played a major role in the Italian Renaissance of the 15th century and subsequently nurtured some of the greatest artists the world has ever known, including Renaissance bad-boy Caravaggio and master of sculpture, Bernini.

The Neapolitans tried to go it alone in the 17th and 18th centuries, but both its attempts to establish a republic failed. It unified with the rest of Italy in 1861 (although from conversations I had with locals while there, still feels a little cut off from the north of the country today).

Continuing on the theme of independence – you can’t keep a Neapolitan down – in 1943 they were the first Italian city to rise up against Nazi occupation. When Allied forces arrived in town, Naples, they discovered, was already free.

With a past that differs to Italian cities further north, Naples presents a unique tapestry.

This city layers its distinct aspects one upon another. Its cuisine, the life it had under the grip of the Mafia, and its obsession with Maradona – footballing legend and Naples’ Argentinian born, adopted son – all contribute to its character.

Additionally, there’s an underlying gritty, yet bohemian edge. You’ll come to see that Naples really is different to anywhere else you’ll visit in Italy.

RELATED READING | Where to stay in Naples, Italy

Football is a religion, and Maradona is a God

In the pulsating heart of Naples, football transcends mere sport; it’s a fervent religion, and Diego Maradona, its undying deity.

The city’s passion for its beloved team, Napoli, is palpable in every corner, every chant, and in the sea of azure that floods the streets. This fervour reached a crescendo in early 2023, when Napoli clinched their first Italian Serie A title in 33 years .

Wander through Naples, and you’ll find the streets festooned with football banners and flags, a vivid tapestry of blue and white that flutters in the Mediterranean breeze.

Souvenir shops overflow with Napoli memorabilia, each item a sacred relic to the local faithful.

But it’s the reverence for Maradona that truly encapsulates the city’s love affair with football. The Argentine legend, who led Napoli to its previous Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990, is not just remembered; he is venerated.

In the labyrinthine alleys of the Spanish Quarters, Maradona’s legacy is immortalised in a huge, vibrant mural and the subsequent shrine of sorts that’s built up around it.

Maradona’s story is inextricably linked to Naples – his extraordinary talent mirrored in the city’s own gritty resilience and flamboyant flair. To understand Naples, one must understand this unbreakable bond with football, where every goal is a communal heartbeat, and Maradona seems to forever be its guiding spirit.

It sits in the shadow of an active volcano

There’s no getting away from this one – Naples sits in the shadow of a humdinger of a volcano, the infamous Mount Vesuvius. Astonishingly, more than two million people live in its vicinity.

Vesuvius is highly monitored and has been studied intensely due to its eruptive past. At the moment, the volcano is in a period of ‘active rest’, and visitors can today hike the paths of Vesuvius National Park , even walking to the top of the crater if they so desire.

At its highest point, Vesuvius is 1,127 metres tall, with a crater that measures 450 metres in circumference and reaches a depth of 300 metres.

Thought to be around 400,000 years old, Vesuvius in its present form is actually the union of two cones – the older Mount Somma cone, which sits on the outside, and the younger internal cone that is Vesuvius.  

The soils in the area of Vesuvius are rich in minerals and the area has become synonymous with food production as a result – more on that later in this post.

The slopes of Vesuvius are planted with orchards and vineyards and wine produced there is called Lacrima Christi , which is Latin for “Tears of Christ “.  

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Pompeii and Herculaneum are a stone’s throw away

Vesuvius is most famous for its most fatal eruption of 79AD, which today has left us with the preserved Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Both these towns had a different eruption experience, which has led to two different types of remains today.

In the first phase of Vesuvius’ eruption, a huge column of volcanic ash, gas and rock shot into the air and rained down on nearby Pompeii.

It trapped inhabitants in the town under falling buildings, which led to a far higher human cost than in nearby Herculaneum, where many inhabitants had the chance to escape.

The second phase of the eruption became horrifically fatalistic. Pyroclastic flows seeped from the crater with intense speed and ferocity. Pompeii was covered under ash 4-6 metres deep, while Herculaneum was buried under an astonishing 25 metres of ash. 

Today, visitors can walk the streets the ancient Romans once did and marvel at fast-food outlets, sporting arenas, public baths, brothels, places of worship and gathering and private homes, some with vivid frescos and mosaic floors. Archaeologists remain at work and there are regular discoveries still to this day. 

The best of these you will find in Herculaneum.

Under its 25 metre covering of ash it found better protection against the march of time, along with the fact that the upper floors of Pompeii’s buildings did not survive the barrage of volcanic rock in phase one of the eruption, so more of Herculaneum remains intact. 

| Plan a visit: See all visiting options for Pompeii and Herculaneum here

It’s home to an ancient underground system of caverns and catacombs

The city of Naples and the area surrounding it sits on a fantastic natural resource, and that is the marvellously durable material of tuff rock.

Inhabitants of the area have been wise to this fact for many years and when building their city of Neapolis in the 4th century BC, the Greeks extracted this tuff rock in large quantities, using it to build the city walls, temples and underground tombs.

The rock extraction process left great underground caverns and later, the Romans came along and applied their engineering prowess to repurpose these into aqueducts, which supplied water to the city of Naples.

Over time, these grew into a vast network stretching to some 450km under Naples.

A new aqueduct was built in the early 1600’s but this eventually fell out of use by the early 1900’s, when a more efficient water system was created.

These underground caverns and passages were abandoned, until they found great purpose as bomb shelters during the Second World War – at 40 metres below the surface, it is estimated that the tunnels saved some 200,000 lives.

It is now possible to visit Naples Underground , to explore some of the water cisterns, bomb shelters and ancient caverns. 

In addition to this, is the much younger in comparison Bourbon Tunnel. The masterplan of Ferdinand II, who was a Bourbon king of Naples and Sicily in the 19th century, the tunnels were constructed as an escape route by an increasingly paranoid Ferdinand. They stretched from his palace to the army barracks. 

Never used by Ferdinand, they found purpose during WWII as bomb shelters, but not before Mussolini dumped many wrecked vehicles, which can still be viewed today, eerie and dust-covered, during a guided visit to the Bourbon Tunnel. 

Finally, are the spectacular catacombs in Naples, of which there are three. The largest are the Catacombs of San Genaro , who is Naples’ patron saint.

Stretching to some 60,278 square feet, they contain around 2,000 burial recesses, 500 sarcophogi held within wall niches and some remarkable 5th-6th century frescoes. It’s an extremely worthwhile visit and one I highly recommend. 

History and culture buffs will fall in love with Naples

On the basis of the city’s long history already outlined in this post, history buffs are guaranteed to fall in love with Naples. Having passed through so many hands throughout the millenia, most ruling entities left a mark on the city that can still be viewed today. 

The earliest of those marks is the vast, ancient cave system underneath the city, where you can still see the chisel marks left by Greek slaves in the tuff rock thousands of years ago.

This, you will be able to explore in more detail via a guided tour of Naples Underground , with tours led in a variety of languages. You’ll also be able to see the remains of some of the original, 4th century BC city walls in Piazza Bellini .

I’d also recommend a visit to one of Naples catacomb systems. The spectacular San Genaro catacombs were recovered through a local initiative and they are managed by “ La Paranza, ” a group formed by local youths.

Their renovation and opening to tourists has led to a regeneration of the area and provides an opportunity for you to contribute to and support a very worthy social initiative. 

The National Archaeological Museum of Naples  is world famous and holds within its walls a vast collection of artefacts, including many of the frescoes and some tiled mosaics, from the destroyed cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

If you’re planning a visit to nearby Pompeii and/or Herculaneum a visit to the museum should also be a must in your itinerary. 

It is possibly the Bourbons who left the most visual impact on what we see of Naples today in terms of its architecture in the historic centre.

You can learn more about them in the Royal Palace of Naples located in Piazza del Plebiscito and their impressive art collection, which contains masterpieces by artists from every Italian school of painting, is housed in the Capodimonte Museum , a grand palazzo that overlooks the city centre from on high. 

Naples is also home to one of the most famous important sculptures in the world; The Veiled Christ . Completed by Giuseppe Sanmartino in 1753, the veil and its folds on this masterpiece are carved with exquisite delicacy and tickets to see it book out well in advance, so make sure to purchase yours a few weeks before you head to Naples city.

There is an ever-evolving street art scene

Naples’ streets are an open-air gallery, where the walls narrate stories through vibrant street art. This art form, blending the contemporary with the traditional, is an integral part of Naples’ urban landscape and offer insights into its soul.

One cannot miss the iconic “ Madonna with a Pistol ” by Banksy, a piece rich in irony, juxtaposing religious imagery with a symbol of organised crime. It’s a striking commentary on the complex interplay of faith and societal issues in Naples.

In East Naples, the Murales Park , birthed from a collaboration between “INWARD” and Arteteca, is more than art; it’s a social project.

Here, Jorit Agoch’s “Ael. Tutt’egual song’ e criature” portrays a Romany child, symbolising integration and hope. Similarly, his hyper-realistic “Gennaro” at Forcella intertwines the familiar with the divine, merging the face of a friend with that of San Gennaro, the city’s patron saint.

As you meander through Naples, the works of Exit Enter, with their whimsical stickmen, and Alice Pasquini’s mysterious women, add layers of intrigue and strength to the cityscape. Blu’s large-scale mural at the Ex-OPG Je so’ Pazzo, depicting the horrors of imprisonment, is a powerful, unsettling presence.

In the Quartieri Spagnoli, the immense Maradona mural by Jorit , a tribute to the football legend, is one of the most visited pieces of street art in the city.

Each piece of street art in Naples tells a story, a blend of history, culture, and social commentary, making the city’s walls a canvas of collective expression.

Naples is safe for tourists…

When most people hear ‘Naples’, they immediately think ‘Mafia’. This, unfortunately, is a little unfair to Naples as there is a whole lot more to this life-filled city.

Naples is a safe city for tourists to visit. It is a city on the up and has made great strides in recent years to shake off its former associations to crime, poverty and corruption. 

While the Camorra does still operate in the city (as they have done for around 400 years) you need to think about this a little more logically if that fact makes you nervous – basically, they have bigger fish to fry than your average tourist.

Cities in the US like Philadelphia and Chicago rank higher than Naples in terms of crime.

It is more in your line to worry about the more ‘regular’ mishaps that befall tourists when visiting any busy city – pickpockets and petty theft. This can be avoided by ensuring you don’t wear anything too flashy and by ensuring your belongings can’t be accessed easily.

Wear a secure, cross body bag that you can safely close and if you are wearing a backpack, to make sure you wear both straps properly over your shoulders. 

Like most major cities, the area around the train station ( Garibaldi ) is a bit dodgy so pay attention around here. While the areas around the Archaeological Museum and the Spanish Quarter are fine during the day, exercise more caution at night and stick to well lit areas.

Naples is a place that is full of narrow, cobbled streets (i.e. great escape routes if you know these streets well), so to counteract this I would just stick to the main thoroughfares at night as you’re not familiar with the city.

All of the above being said, while according to Numbeo crime rates in Naples fall on the higher side, these tend not to be related to tourism. 

…but you should avoid the train station at night

As dusk falls over Naples, the vibrant hum of the city takes on a different tone, especially around Napoli Centrale, the main train station. It’s wise to exercise caution here after dark, particularly if laden with luggage.

Thefts, often swift and non-violent, are not uncommon, even in the broad light of day. As it gets darker and quieter later in the day, the area becomes a fertile ground for opportunistic pickpockets and luggage snatchers, who are adept at exploiting a moment’s distraction.

This isn’t to paint a picture of pervasive danger but to advise vigilance.

In Naples, as in any major city’s central station, there’s a heightened risk of petty crime. The key is not paranoia, but preparedness. Keep your belongings close, your backpack in front and your valuables securely tucked away.

In crowded areas, maintain a firm grip on your luggage and stay alert to your surroundings.

Remember, these are mostly crimes of opportunity, not aggression. Naples’ rough-around-the-edges charm requires a street-smart approach.

Look confident, be aware, and you’ll navigate the city’s nuances with the savvy of an experienced traveller.

Locals are extremely welcoming, but there may be a language barrier

The citizens of Naples are incredibly proud of their city and of being ‘ Neapolitan ‘.

Despite what would appear to be an initially gruff demeanour, Neapolitans are exceptionally helpful, friendly and interested in where you’re going, what you’re up to and if you’re enjoying your time in their city.

I’d actually go as far as saying that out of all of the larger cities and touristic destinations in Italy that I’ve been to (which would encompass the likes of Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice, Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, to name but a few).

I really felt like Neapolitans have time for you and actually want to engage in conversation and share their opinions (side note – the same can be said for the residents of nearby Ischia ).

It’s definitely useful to have a few Italian phrases prepared – while many Neapolitans speak English, there are also a lot that don’t.

While some of these are happy to gesticulate, nod and smile enthusiastically in the face of any language barrier, do both yourself and the lovely people you will meet a favour and learn some simple and commonly used phrases. 

Many of Naples’ most authentic restaurants won’t have menus in English – nor should they, for that matter as we’re the ones visiting their country!

To get around this, however, there is a simple solution if you don’t speak Italian and that is to download the Google Translate app. From there, you can use the camera icon in the translate box to hover over menus and voila – instant translation to English. 

RELATED READING | The Perfect Rome, Naples & Amalfi Coast itinerary

There’s a hip edge to Naples

While Naples is very much a city steeped in history and tradition, I definitely feel that there’s a distinctly hip undercurrent at play.

I felt this to be particularly apparent on my most recent visit to Naples at the end of 2023, even compared to the same time a year earlier. The city, always vibrant, thrums with a new, youthful energy, a testament to its evolving character.

On my recent visit, sipping a cocktail in a bar nestled between Piazza Bellini and Piazza Dante, I was struck by the scene around me. The crowd, a mix of stylishly dressed young locals, exuded an air of effortless cool.

The areas around Piazza Bellini, Spaccanapoli, and Via Tribunali seem to be the epicentres of this up-and-coming vibe.

Here, the narrow, cobbled streets, once just historical pathways, are now pulsating with the lifeblood of a new generation. Students and young creatives appear to flock to these quarters, infusing them with an infectious, hip energy.

Amidst the ancient facades, a new scene is emerging.

Bars selling craft beers and artisanal cocktails dot the landscape, each with its own unique flair yet unmistakably Neapolitan. Artisanal shops and boutique clothing stores line the streets, offering a blend of contemporary style and traditional craftsmanship.

This is the new Naples – vibrant, edgy, and unmistakably cool.

It’s the home of the pizza

And so we get to the pizza.

There’s a difference to actual Neapolitan pizza and the ‘Neapolitan-style’ pizza you may have been hoodwinked into ordering at home.

There are very strict guidelines in place for what constitutes a true Neopolitan pizza and these have been put in place by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN).

This organisation provides strict guidelines, together with a certification that deems a pizzeria to be an official provider of Neapolitan pizza. 

So what constitutes a Neapolitan pizza? 

First, is a wood-burning oven, heated to around 900F (485C). Pizzas are cooked for around 90 – 120 seconds.

They must be 30-35 cm in diameter with a raised outer crust but its with the ingredients where the wheat really gets sorted from the chaff, for in order to be designated as Neapolitan pizza, all ingredients must come from Naples own region of Campania.

This might not sound like much, but here I must remind you of Mt. Vesuvius and those rich, fertile soils in its radius. Until you’ve actually tasted tomatoes grown in the region, or mozzarella made from cows who have been reared near to Naples, then you may just be missing a trick. 

When you get to Naples, you’ll discover some of the best and most famous pizzerias in the world.

The headline act here is L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele (tip – go really early if you want a table here, or order a takeaway pizza instead, the earlier the better too), which found immortal fame after Julia Roberts featured in a scene from the movie Eat, Pray, Love here.

Then you have Sorbillo , another guidebook favourite on the Neapolitan pizza scene.

I enjoyed a rather fabulous pizza at the more upscale Palazzo Petruchi Pizzeria as well, but the pizza I’m most pining after is the star-shaped, ricotta-stuffed delight from Pizzeria Da Attilio . Don’t miss out on this no-fuss, no-frills neighbourhood pizzeria. It truly is outstanding. 

There’s more to eat than just pizza

So what do you eat in Naples if you’re not a pizza lover, or want to sample something else? The answer is lots!

Naples is home to some rather delicious food besides from pizza and much of this is focussed on the local produce from sea and land that they have available. 

Pasta lovers should ensure that they try three dishes; any form of pasta alla Genovese , Neapolitan ragu and spaghetti alla Vongole, a relatively light pasta dish made with fresh local clams, garlic, olive oil and parsley.

There may be a dash of white wine and some tomatoes thrown in from time to time too.

The Genovese and ragu options are similar – both include a hearty, slow-cooked base of meat and onions. The ragu has the additional element of tomatoes in the recipe.

Both are truly delicious – the Genovese has a comforting, gloopy, caramelised sauce, whereas the ragu comes with large chunks of meat and a richer sauce.

Two establishments I can recommend for each are Tandem Ragu for, naturally enough, the ragu and La Locanda Gesu Vecchio for a mouthwatering pasta alla Genovese. You will need to book both in advance. 

Also, while you are in Naples, make sure you eat a truck load of their deliciously creamy mozzarella and incredibly flavoursome homegrown tomatoes – there is beauty in simplicity sometimes and Campanian produced tomatoes and mozzarella are truly exquisite. 

Finally, for those with a sweet tooth the local sugary snack is the clam shaped sfogliatella,  a flaky pastry with many folds that give it a somewhat mermaid-like quality.

Some are even filled with creamy ricotta and dusted with sugar. They are perfect to grab with a quick espresso while on the move.

Traffic is nuts and their own rules of the road apply

When it comes to the traffic in Naples, you’re going to have to cast to one side the motoring rules with which you are familiar and adopt to the horn beeping, reckless melee. 

Simply put, the traffic situation will seem positively bonkers to someone who comes from a place where people generally follow the rules of the road. That’s not to say that the Neapolitans don’t have their own system – for all the mania that ensues, it all somehow, someway, seems to work.

Whatever about cars, what you will need to be most careful of are the scooters, on which people bulldoze up pedestrian-filled streets with a cursory beep here and there – you will quite literally need to watch your back.

A lot of people don’t seem to wear helmets and of those who do, some of these bizarrely choose not fasten the chin strap!

If you need to cross a road, don’t expect anyone to stop unless you’ve actually made the commitment and are on the zebra crossing. Even at that, expect cars on the lane that you haven’t reached yet to keep driving, and don’t be surprised if a scooter keeps coming and simply drives around you.

It’s easy to both reach and get around in Naples

One fabulous bonus point that Naples can lay claim to is how well connected it is and how relatively easy it is to get there from many places in Europe.

Getting to Naples by train

The train system within Italy is great, and Naples is extremely well connected to other main urban centres in Italy via the fast train network. It’s also very well connected to France via Milan, as it is to the likes of Zurich and certain cities in Germany via the same route.

Munich, cities in Austria and Prague are easily connected too, via Rome and Bologna. This is just a small example of other cities in Europe that you can reach Naples from should you wish to travel by train.

| Search & book : Check train routes and purchase tickets in advance here (you may have to wait until closer to your journey to book your train tickets.

Flying into Naples Airport

Naples Airport is extremely accessible from the city and without traffic, is only around a 15-20 minute drive from city centre, and vice versa.

The airport is serviced by approximately 20 airlines , including European budget favourites like Ryanair and easyJet, meaning that you’ll be able to get to Naples by air from a lot of cities in Europe.

Naples also services some international airlines, but you may have to travel through larger airport networks like Rome, Frankfurt, Dubai etc if you’re coming from further afield.

| Search & book : Search for flights here .

Getting from Naples Airport to city centre

One thing that makes Naples an excellent city to visit is how relatively short and easy it is to get to city centre from the airport, which is only around 6km from city centre.

While there is no train running from Naples train station to Naples Airport, the Naples Alibus Airport Shuttle schedules plenty of buses that run throughout the day.

Tickets cost €5 and the bus stop is located in close proximity to the entrance of the airport. It has two stops in the city; Central Train Station and Molo Beverello Port. You can find more information here .

Alternatively, you’ll find that there are plenty of taxis available outside the airport. Again, they are right outside the door.

It can be a little overwhelming when you come out the door of arrivals at Naples Airport, and you’ll likely be approached once or twice with the offer of a transfer as you make your way outside.

Ignore these, as they are likely unlicensed drivers, and just keep going and you’ll spot the rank across the road right outside of the arrivals hall.

Rates are pre-determined and your driver can give you an indication of what this will be when you get into the car – they usually have a printed off sheet in the car. There may also be some surcharges if you are travelling with luggage and several people.

| Find a driver : If you’d like to schedule a transfer in advance, you can search for and book drivers here.

How to get around Naples

Naples is extremely walkable, and you may find that you won’t need to use public transport much, if at all during your visit, with the exception of getting to and from the airport (and perhaps taking the funicular up to Sant’Elmo – there’s no way I’d be walking that!).

While you can also take buses, here are three main ways you can get around Naples, besides from on foot:

Metro | There are two lines (line 1 and 2). On line 1 (which lays claim to Naples’ famous ‘art stations’) tickets cost €1.10 for a single journey, but you can also purchase daily and weekly passes, at €3.50 and €12.50 respectively.

You’ll most likely take this line when visiting the city.

Tram | There are three tram lines in operation. Those you’ll likely use are Line 1 from Piazza Garibaldi to Piazza Vittoria and Line 4 from San Giovanni to Piazza Vittoria. Tickets cost €1.50 onboard from the driver, or €1.10 when purchased in advance from a newspaper stand.

Funicular | Naples is a very hilly city and there are four funiculars in operation to take locals up the steep hills of certain neighbourhoods.

The one you are most likely to take as a tourist is the Funicolare di Montesanto from Montesanto to Castel Sant’Elmo. Tickets cost €1.20 each way and can be purchased at the station.

If you need to use a mixture of public transport options, you can purchase a TIC (Ticket Integrato Campani)  which will cover you for metro, bus and funicular services. There are a mixture of single tickets, one-day and weekly passes, starting at €1.60 for a 90-minute period.

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The Amalfi Coast is at your fingertips

Naples is a gateway to the Amalfi Coast   and many people choose to combine their time in Naples with some time on one of the most famous stretches of coastline in the world. 

Depending on where you are going along the Amalfi Coast, getting to your final destination can prove to be a little tricky. In general terms, it’s easiest to first get yourself to either Sorrento or Salerno by train and then make your way to your town of choice. Search schedules and book train tickets here . 

If you can, always opt for the ferry to get you as close as possible to your accommodation – that way, you’ll be able to better avoid the infamous traffic that clogs the tiny road that snakes its way along the sea.

In high season, I would strongly recommend booking ferry tickets online in advance for peace of mind. Search ferry routes and book tickets here . 

If you’re tight on time in Naples but still want to see some of the Amalfi Coast, then your best bet is to take an organised tour – that way, you’ll be rid of the complications that logistics would otherwise cause.

This well-reviewed Amalfi Coast full-day tour  takes in Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Ravello and offers the add-on of an optional boat trip while in Amalfi too. 

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It’s the perfect base for island hopping

Naples sits within the Bay of Naples, which is home to three islands; Capri , Ischia and Procida.

Contrary to popular opinion, Capri doesn’t actually form part of the Amalfi Coast (which sits within the district of Salerno), but gets included in many Amalfi Coast itineraries due to its close proximity to both Positano and Sorrento (which, as a side note, is also not part of the ‘official’ Amalfi Coast, although it is very popular as a base for exploring same). 

Capri is the most famous of these islands of the Bay of Naples. It has been drawing in the rich and famous for many a century and is home to the sprawling clifftop ruins of Villa Jovis, where the infamous Roman Emperor Tiberius holed himself up in the 1st century AD.

Many others flocked to Capri in subsequent centuries, drawn by the astonishing natural beauty and seclusion that the island offered.

Seclusion today, however, is relatively hard to come by as Capri is heavily visited. Home to a host of luxury hotels and boutiques, it is an upscale destination with prices to match and receives many day-trippers, amongst those others who chose to stay a little bit longer.

RELATED READING | Escape to Paradise: The Insider’s Guide to Visiting Capri

Ischia is a real underrated gem on this part of the Italian coast. This volcanic island is a special one, in that it boasts healing thermal waters which you can visit and bathe in if you so wish.

A relatively small island of six separate communes, there is also much else to be discovered on this more slow-paced island. Its most famous attraction is the unique Castello Aragonese, built on a small separate islet and today home to a hotel and large museum complex. 

RELATED READING | Capri or Ischia: Which Island Paradise Should You Choose?

Procida is the smallest of the islands of the bay, but it does it is oh-so charming and perfect for a day trip, during which you’ll be able to see much of the island.

Completely under the radar until recently, when it was voted as Italy’s Capital of Culture for 2022, this tiny island is home to charming pastel houses and some beautiful beaches. It’s also less than an hour from Naples by ferry.

You won’t find too many hotels in the historical centre

One thing that really stood out to me when both searching for accommodation and wandering through the streets when I got there was that there are very few hotels in Naples centro storico.

I don’t see any problem in that whatsoever though, as what it does mean is that much of the accommodation in this atmospheric part of town comes in the form of unique guesthouses in beautifully tall, historic buildings that have been renovated recently to make the most of their charms ( like this fabulous one ).

If you do prefer hotels, you’ll find a handful of lovely ones in the vicinity of the port and Piazza del Plebiscito.

Some of these offer sweeping views of the shimmering waters of the Bay of Naples, where you’ll be able to pick out the islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida and gaze on the hulking presence of Mount Vesuvius on the horizon. 

While you might come across some hotels offering good value around Garibaldi (which is located in the wider San Giovanni a Teduccio area), I would shy away from those.

It’s one of the dodgier areas of the city as it’s close to the train station and you would do better to stick to the centro storico areas around Via Tribunali, Via Toledo and Plebicito. 

Search all Naples accommodation using the map below, or read my dedicated post of where to stay in Naples . It goes through each of the best neighbourhoods to visit one by one, with recommendations of where to stay for each.

Naples travel guide – common question to have before visiting Naples

Is naples worth visiting.

As outlined thoroughly in this post , Naples is a city like no other and is absolutely worth visiting. Full of history, bursting with culture and home to a bustling, vibrant atmosphere, this city in southern Italy offers a different experience to any other city that you will visit in Italy.

While it can be said that the majority of cities in Italy offer the same three factors – history, culture and atmosphere – Naples has had a somewhat alternative history as part of different kingdoms throughout the centuries.

This has shaped the city in a different way and has led to unique outputs in terms of culture.  

RELATED READING | Is Naples Worth Visiting? 17 Pros + 5 Cons to Help You Decide

How much time to spend in Naples

While you can easily visit Naples as a two-day weekend city break , I think you need three full days to explore Naples properly ( see my 3-day Naples itinerary ). This is especially true if you want to visit Pompeii or Mount Vesuvius.

If you’re a history buff, a day in itself could be spent exploring the National Museum, which doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for eating pizza, or discovering peculiarities to Naples like the Christmas-decoration filled Via San Gregorio Armano.

If you’d like to visit some of the islands or the Amalfi Coast as day trips, and use Naples as a base, then I would add on an extra day for each additional destination you would like to visit. 

When is the best time to visit Naples

Naples is pretty pleasant all year round, although both its hottest months of July and August should be avoided. March and October see the most rain, so by the process of elimination, this leaves the shoulder months of April/May/June and September to be the best time to visit.

I visited in early October and found it to be perfect sightseeing temperature. The weather was warm and it was mainly sunny.

It did rain heavily on one day, however, when we were staying nearby on the island of Ischia but this was throughout a 10 day period when on the rest of the days, the weather was a consistent 24 degrees celcius and very sunny. 

Is Naples safe at night

Like any city, you should take precautions when out at night, especially if you are not familiar with the place. 

Stick to main, well-lit streets at night that have some foot fall on them, and don’t wander outside of the main areas.

Close to the city centre, there are a couple of areas that you’ll want to take extra care in at night (or just stay away from them if you don’t have to go there) – the Spanish Quarter, Piazza Garibaldi and the Museo area. 

Where to go next – more Naples posts

• One day in Naples | Best of Naples in One Day – What to See, Eat & Do
• Two days in Naples | A Perfect 2 Days in Naples Itinerary for Culture & History Buffs
• Three days in Naples | How to See Naples in 3 Days – Where to Go, Eat & Stay
• How many days in naples italy |   How Many Days in Naples are Enough? Essential Tips & Itineraries
• Naples wine tours |   Top 14 Naples Wine Tours [2024] + Tips To Choose The Right One
• Things to do in Naples | 40 Captivating Things to Do in Naples, Italy
• Naples accommodation guide | Secret Naples: Where to Stay in Naples Italy – Best Areas & Accom modations
• Is Naples worth visiting |  Is Naples Worth Visiting? 17 Pros + 5 Cons to Help You Decide
• 10 days in Amalfi Coast | The Perfect 10 Day Amalfi Coast Itinerary For A Luxurious But Authentic Trip
• 4 days on Amalfi Coast | A Blissful 4 Day Amalfi Coast Itinerary – Sun, Sea & Scenery
• Rome, Naples & Amalfi Coast | A Rome, Naples, Amalfi Coast Itinerary for Culture, Food & Scenery

Amalfi Coast

• 10 days on Amalfi Coast  |  The Perfect 10 Day Amalfi Coast Itinerary For A Luxurious But Authentic Trip
• 4 days on Amalfi Coast  |  A Blissful 4 Day Amalfi Coast Itinerary – Sun, Sea & Scenery
• Ravello travel guide  |  Best things to do in Ravello – a complete Ravello Travel Guide
• Sorrento wine tours | 10 Best Sorrento Wine Tasting Tours & Experiences
• Capri travel guide |  Escape to Paradise: The Insider’s Guide to Visiting Capri
• Capri or Ischia  |  Which Island Paradise Should You Choose?
• Ischia travel guide |   Ischia Travel Guide: 27+ Essential Things to Know in 2024
• Is Ischia worth visiting |   Is Ischia worth visiting? 17 Pros + 4 Challenges To Help You Decide

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Hi there! I'm Isabelle, aficionado of immersive travel experiences and unique, luxurious hotels. You'll most likely find me camera in hand, or nerding out on research in advance of my next trip. A major foodie, history and scenery lover, nothing makes me happier than soaking in the atmosphere and culture of the destination I'm visiting.

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Naples is history, culture and nature : a beautiful, vibrant, full-of-life destination. Our travel guide contains up-to-date, personal information on everything from what to see , to when to visit , where to stay and what to eat ! 

• General information
• What to see
• Getting there
• Where to stay
• Where to eat

Why visit Naples?

A city of organized chaos with a legendary history,  incredible architectural and cultural heritage, and beautiful natural landscapes , Naples is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy and the third biggest city after Rome and Milan . It's located in the south of the country, in a region called Campania.

Naples is steeped in history, and around every corner, you'll find impressive castles, churches and palaces with legendary stories to tell. Even if you don't visit inside the  Castel dell'Ovo , the Duomo , the San Francesco di Paola Basilica  or the  Royal Palace of Naples , just wandering around the picturesque streets is enough to enchant any visitor.

It's not just Naples that's full of charm: the entire region is home to countless fascinating places to visit , making the city a great base for day trips to Pompeii , Capri , Amalfi , Sorrento , Positano , and  Mount Vesuvius .

After all this sightseeing, you're bound to be hungry. What better way to finish off a day of exploring than indulging in typical Neapolitan cuisine at a traditional local restaurant ? This is, after all, the birthplace of pizza!

Where to start?

If you're planning a trip to Naples and you don't know much about the city yet, the first thing to do is to learn all about its legendary history - understanding the past will help you understand the present. Next, check out our practical hints and tips on traveling to the city before discovering which of its most important museums , monuments , and attractions interest you most.

Looking for a place to stay?

Booking your accommodation in advance is the best way to get great discounts. Our detailed guide on where to stay in Naples  will help you decide which neighborhood you'd like to look for hotels or apartments in, and our hotel search engine will find you the best deals!

top activities

Day Trip to Pompeii 24th of August, year 79. A.D: the ground begins to tremble, the sky blackens and Vesuvius unleashes its wrath. Join us to r elive the history of Pompeii .

On this tour, we'll discover a hidden side of this city by venturing underground to discover the history of the tunnels that lie below the Spanish quarter .

Capri and Pompeii Day Trip Fall in love with the beauty of Capri and travel back in time at the archaeological UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pompeii on this tour of contrasts!

Naples Pizza Making Class Get your recipe notebooks ready and discover all the steps to making the star product of Italian food in this workshop in the home of pizza: Naples.

Free Walking Tour of Naples Old Town Legendary stories of Ancient Greeks and Romans await you on this free walking tour of Naples Old Town. Explore the city's most historic streets!

Naples Private Tour With this private walking tour of Naples , you'll enjoy an exclusive tour in English around the city center. The best way to discover the region's capital!

Pompeii & Vesuvius Day Trip Lava and ash petrified the citizens of Pompeii , leaving them frozen in time. Get to know it on this excursion which  includes climbing the volcano itself .

Capri Boat Tour Don't leave Naples without having spent a day in Capri . Discover the island's beautiful surroundings by boat and explore it at your lesuire on foot.

Sorrento & Amalfi Coast Day Trip Discover Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast & allow yourself to be seduced by one of the most beautiful areas of the Mediterranean . 

Herculaneum Tour Step back in time to Ancient Rome with this tour of the Herculaneum ruins . A unique trip to an archaeological UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Amalfi Coast Day Trip Cliff side houses and the most colourful scenery awaits in Positano, Amalfi and Ravello with this tour along the breathtaking Amalfi Coast.

Neapolitan Songs Concert at Napulitanata Attend a traditional Neapolitan music concert at the Napulitanata Theater and fall in love with the most iconic songs of Naples.

Naples Pass Discover Italy's third-largest city with this Naples Pass. Visit some of the most important museums in Naples and discounts for its best attractions.

Spanish District Street Art Tour Are you looking for unique plans in Naples? With this urban art tour you'll discover the many graffiti and colourful murals that decorate the streets of Naples.

Naples Pasta Workshop Are you passionate about Italian cuisine? Learn how to prepare a delicious dish of tagliatelle or stuffed ravioli, with this Naples Pasta Workshop.

Naples Sightseeing Bus Explore the stunning Italian city of Naples and its beautiful bay when you take this fantastic open-top sightseeing bus tour !

Basilica of San Lorenzo Underground Tour Discover Naples' fascinating past -  explore the undergrounds of the Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore and visit Naples Cathedral !

Amalfi & Positano Boat Excursion Allow yourself to be seduced by the charm of Amalfi & Positano on this boat excursion. Two of the most beautiful towns on the Amalfi Coast await!

Combo: Naples, Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Tour Visit the city's historic center, the Pompeii archaeological site, and Mount Vesuvius with our Combo: Naples, Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius tour.

Gulf of Naples Boat Tour Admire the incredible views along the Italian coastline on this boat tour of the Gulf of Naples ! You'll enjoy a pleasant crossing of the Tyrrhenian Sea .

Naples Food Market Tour The streets of Naples have so much to offer, with this walking tour you'll see the best of the city centre and visit a traditional food market .

Capri and Anacapri Day Trip On this excursion , you'll explore Capri , one of the most popular Italian islands to visit, and its most naturally beautiful town, Anacapri !

Tour of Naples & Pompeii This offer is ideal if you want to enjoy the best of Naples and Pompeii in one day . Taking both tours on the same day, you will save both time and money.

Discover the ancient city of Pompeii and explore the archaeological site of Herculaneum on this excursion from Naples and climb to the top of Mount Vesuvius !

Are you in Naples and want to explore the surrounding area? This excursion to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast will take you to two of Campania's must-see places .

Pompeii and Sorrento Shore Excursion If you're arriving in Naples on a cruise and want to know the area, this tour of Sorrento and Pompeii is for you. History and beautiful views await you .

Naples Street Food Tour Enjoy the exquisite Italian cuisine in this gastronomy tour of Naples. You will taste the most delicious sweets and dishes of this captivating city.

Naples Legends & Folklore Free Tour Uncover the intriguing history behind the capital of Campania with us on this free Neopolitan legends and folklore tour .

Naples Castle Tour Discover the history of Borgo Marinari and the Castel Nuovo , two of the most symbolic monuments of the capital of Campania, with this Naples Castles Tour !

Ticket to Pompeii + Train Ride from Naples This activity includes tickets to Pompeii and round-trip train transportation from Naples , making it a hassle-free way for you to explore this historic gem.

Pompeii and Sorrento Day Trip Decipher the enigmas hidden in the ruins of Pompeii with this excursion which also takes you along the seductive Sorrento coast.

Naples, Pompeii & Sorento Tour Explore the captivating trio of Naples, Pompeii, and Sorrento . Immerse yourself in the rich history , breathtaking viewpoints, and iconic landmarks of Campania.

Naples Mysteries and Legends Tour Discover the mysteries and legends of Naples with this magical tour of the city's secret side. Goblins, fairies, amazing miracles and more await you!

Naples Guided Tour A charming blend of curious history, beautiful art and delicious cuisine... Get to know the capital of Campania with this Naples Guided Tour.

Train and Ticket to the Royal Palace of Caserta Visit one of the largest palace complexes in Europe with this ticket to the Royal Palace of Caserta with round-trip train tickets from Naples included !

Mount Vesuvius Day Trip Climb to the peak of Mount Vesuvius and enjoy the stunning panoramic views of the Neopolitan bay offered by the summit of this volcano.

Visit one of the most outstanding archaeological sites in Italy & walk around the volcano that buried it on this excursion to Vesuvius and Herculaneum .

Private Tour of the Capodimonte Museum Discover the Museo di Capodimonte - one of Naples' most important collections of artwork housed in an elegant former royal palace - on this private guided tour.

National Railway Museum of Pietrarsa On this guided tour of the Railway Museum of Pietrarsa , we'll learn about old locomotives and wagons, and visit a botanical garden. 

Campania Pass With the Campania Pass , you'll have access to numerous museums and tourist attractions in the region and to public transportation.

Pompeii+ Mount Vesuvius Excursion On this  excursion from Naples we'll visit the  ruins of Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius  and enjoy a wine tasting. A day of history, gastronomy, and nature!

Archaeological Park of Paestum Ticket + Train Discover life in the Classical era with this ticket to the Archaeological Park of Paestum , one of the most important Greek sites in Italy.

Naples Electric Bike Tour Tour the capital of Campania in comfort and style! On this electric bike tour of Naples , you can choose the route you like the most!

Naples Tour for Cruise Ships  If you're arriving in the Campania capital by sea , don't miss out on this walking tour of Naples and visit  significant monuments that will captivate you!

Underground Naples Tour If you want to take a journey back in time in the heart of Naples , don't miss this interesting tour through the undergrounds of Piazza San Gaetano !

Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro Guided Tour Join us to discover the history of the patron saint of Naples on this guided tour of the Royal Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro !

Tour of the Naples National Archaeological Museum On this tour of the Naples National Archaeological Museum , we'll admire the mosaic of Issus, the sculptures of the Farnese collection, and much more!

Pedamentina Stairs Free Tour On this tour of the Pedamentina Stairs , we'll have the opportunity to learn an important part of the history of Naples and marvel at the breathtaking views.

Ischia Self Guided Tour This self guided tour of Ischia is the best way to discover the beautiful attractions of this island in the Gulf of Naples  at your own pace. 

Private Excursions from Naples Book one of our private excursions from Naples and explore some of the most fascinating locations in the south , such as Salerno, Caserta, Potenza or Avellino.

Naples National Archaeological Museum Private Tour Travel through history with exhibitions at the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. You'll see sculptures from the Roman Empire and objects from Pompeii.

Naples & Pompeii e-Bike Tour If you like sports & sustainable tourism, this electric bike tour of Naples and Pompeii is the best way to get to know the capital of Campania!

Royal Palace and Bourbon Tunnel Guided Tour Discover the oppulence and mystery of Naples with this fantastic guided tour of the Royal Palace of Naples and the enigmatic Bourbon tunnel.

Procida Island Boat Trip Discover the charming island of Procida on this boat trip from Naples . Plus, you'll enjoy a mouth-watering lunch of Italian delicacies!

Night of Opera in the Salotto Barbaja at the Medici Acquaviva Palace If you're after an unforgettable evening in Naples, this o pera concert in the Salotto Barbaja at the Medici Acquaviva Palace is perfect for you!

If you're in Naples, don't miss this boat excursion to Ischia and Procida, two of the most charming islands on the Amalfi Coast!

Free Walking Tour of Naples Let yourself be captivated by the historic city of Naples on this free walking tour. Discover ancient castles, picturesque piazzas and impressive churches.

Spaccanapoli + The Veiled Christ Tour Stroll down the old streets of Naples to admire the city's most famous sculptures on this  tour of Spaccanapoli and the Veiled Christ !

Naples Maradona Tour Wander through the historic centre of the Italian city and follow in the footsteps of the famous Argentinian footballer on this Naples Maradona Tour.

Naples Christmas Market Tour Christmas has arrived in Campania! And there's no better way to enjoy it than on this  Christmas   tour of Naples . Are you ready?

Why is our Naples travel guide the best?

Introducing Naples is a  city guide written by travellers for travellers , and contains personalised advice to help you make the most of your trip to the city on everything from what to see , to when to visit , where to stay and what to eat ! 

All the information in this guide is valid as of October 2022. If you find any errors or have any comments, please feel free to contact us.

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The city of Naples , perched on the Gulf of Mexico in Southwest Florida, is famous for its high-end shopping , world-class arts and culture , sophisticated dining , family fun, and wild outdoors .

Within an hour of Naples and Marco Island are millions of acres of federal and state parks, preserves, and wildlife refuges. At one, a special orchid’s every bloom is recorded by caretakers. At another, endangered Florida panthers wear tracking devices. This corner of Florida is both a destination for ecotourism and a base for exploration of the vast Florida Everglades .

Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South are the focal points for Naples shopping in the historic downtown area, with numerous art galleries, chic clothing boutiques, and home decor shops.

When it comes time for lunch or drinks and dinner , enjoy your meal with a water view, whether you choose a Naples beachfront resort or a funky bayside bar.

Plan your trip to Naples .

See how Florida’s Paradise Coast got its name by visiting Naples beaches and exploring the many miles of beautiful shoreline.

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Beaches and water parks emphasize the wet and wonderful, and the zoo and gardens educate and enlighten with flora and fauna.

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MUSEUMS, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Calusa and Seminole Indians were the original Floridians here. Everglades City and Chokoloskee reflect pioneer Florida.

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OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

See America’s largest subtropical wilderness by airboat, explore the Ten Thousand Islands, and fish the day away.

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PET-FRIENDLY ADVENTURES

Naples has plenty of pet-friendly resorts, outdoor areas, restaurants, and even a water shuttle .

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ACCESSIBILITY

In addition to accessible restaurants and hotels, Naples has a number of wheelchair-accessible beach access points, and beach wheelchairs are available at Lowdermilk Park.

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Dine in the birthplace of the stone crab industry. “Catch of the day” can mean many delicious choices.

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Upscale is a serious vibe here. Outlet centers offer affordable alternatives.

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WELLNESS TRAVEL

Naples, an active community consistently ranked as one of the top places for happiness and wellness, offers a variety of spas, retreats, and yoga with unspoiled nature as the backdrop.

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INCLUSIVITY

The inclusive community of Naples welcomes all visitors, and the Naples Pride Center offers a variety of resources.

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Golf some of Florida’s best courses in Naples.

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PLACES TO STAY

Marriott and Ritz Carlton are here, as is the Everglades Rod & Gun Club.

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Your Trip to Naples: The Complete Guide

TripSavvy / Christopher Larson

Visitors seeking to scratch beneath Italy's sometimes idealized surface should head south to Naples, the third-largest city in the country and the capital of the Campania region. With its colorful regional language and international population, Naples offers a real slice of urban Italian life, from the crowded, narrow streets of the centro storico to its busy seafront. It's rich in history, hearty food, character, and scenery, and it's the stepping-off point for trips to Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast and points further south. And once you've gotten to know Naples, you'll feel like a real Italy insider.

Planning Your Trip

Best Time to Visit :  Naples is most crowded in the summer months and at the Christmas and Easter holidays. Winter is less crowded but can be quite rainy. For that sweet-spot combination of weather and fewer crowds, we pick late spring and early fall as the best times to visit.

Language:  Italian is the official language in Naples, though throughout most of Naples and Campania, you'll hear Napolitano (Neopolitan), one of a related group of regional dialects spoken in the south of Italy. It's mostly interchangeable with standard Italian, so your phrasebook or rudimentary Italian should get you by. You'll find English spoken in most hotels and many restaurants, but less-so in smaller shops and eateries.

Currency:  Naples and all of Italy uses the euro, and other currencies are not accepted. Credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, though some restaurants, most street food stalls, market vendors and smaller, independent merchants will want you to pay in cash. American Express and Diner's Club are less widely accepted in Italy. Be sure to confirm in advance with your hotel or restaurant if you intend to pay with one of these cards.

Getting Around:  Most of Naples's tourist attractions are concentrated within the seafront and centro storico, both areas with either little or gradual elevation change. Both zones are walkable and are within a one- to two-mile walk of one another. If you'd like to rest your feet, Naples has a comprehensive public transportation network of Metro trains, buses, and trams. Funiculars take residents and visitors to several prominent hills in the city, such as the top of the Vomero, site of the Certosa e Museo di San Martino and Castel Sant’Elmo, and regional trains connect to Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Sorrento. Naples International Airport is connected to the city by buses. We strongly advise against renting a car or driving in Naples—a car is unnecessary, parking is scarce, there's a confusing maze of one-way streets and traffic is often at a standstill.

Travel Tip:  If you plan to spend a lot of time sightseeing in Naples and also figure on visiting Pompeii and/or Herculaneum, the Naples Pass is a worthwhile investment. Sold in three- or seven-day increments, it includes free and discounted admission to attractions, plus free travel on all public transportation.

Things to Do

Visitors come to Naples for its Greek and Roman underground, its numerous mosaic- and relic-filled churches and its museums stuffed with art and archaeological treasures. Then there's the food—Naples is famous for pizza, seafood, fried everything, and decadent pastries. And as much as anything, visitors come to Naples just to be in Naples, and witness the soulful authenticity of the city. Here are some of the top things to see in Naples.

• Museums:  Naples's National Museum of Archaeology has the world's preeminent collection   of Greek and Roman antiquities from Italy, including artifacts from Pompeii. The collections of the San Martino complex has an extensive collection of Italian art within a beautiful, clositered monastary. The Palazzo Reale Museum contains collections of Italian art and historical documents, plus royal apartments and grand public spaces.
• Churches:  Naples's most important church is the Duomo, the seat of the Festa Di San Gennaro honoring Naples favorite saint. Not far away, the San Severo Chapel is home to the breathtaking "Veiled Christ" by Giuseppe Sanmartino and a host of other sculptures.
• Castles: The number of major castles and fortresses in Naples speak to its strategic importance through the centuries. Castel dell'Ovo slouches along the waterfront, with turretted Castel Nuovo nearby. On top of the Vomero Hill, imposing Castel Sant'Elmo looms over the city.
• Underground: Unless you're claustrophobic, plan to spend some time exploring Naples' fascinating subterranean layers. The Catacombs of San Gennaro and the Naples Underground tours are both highly recommended.
• Shopping:  Naples is known for its hand-carved nativity figures, some of them with an amazing attention to detail. Buy yours, or a Christmas ornament, on Via San Gregorio Armeno , known as Christmas Alley.

Explore more things to do with our full-length articles on the  top things to do in Naples and the best day trips from Naples.

What to Eat and Drink

Thanks to the southern Italian diaspora   at the turn of the 20th century, the Italian food you'll taste in Naples is more akin to Italian food in the U.S. Pizza, pasta, seafood, fried foods, and rich pastries dominate, and Naples is an excellent destination for street food. Find the top destinations for traditional Neopolitan pizza , or try pizza fritta (fried pizza), which is not as heavy as it sounds. A cuoppo, usually eaten as street food, is a paper cone filled with freshly fried seafood or vegetables. Arancini are deep-fried rice balls filled with ragu or vegetarian fillings. Fresh fish and fish and seafood-based pastas are quite popular. For sweets, try sfogliatella, a crunchy layered pasta with creamy ricotta filling, or babà, a soft, rum-soaked cake filled with whipped cream. Read more about what to eat in Naples .

Falanghina and Greco di Tufo are two reliable white wines grown in the Campania. For reds, try Aglianico and Piedirosso. The evocatively named Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio (Christ's Tears of Vesuvius) grapes grow in several varieties on Mount Vesuvius and are used in red, white, and rose wines.

Where to Stay

For a look at what part of the city to stay in, check out our article on the top neighborhoods in Naples . There are a cluster of hotels of every price point and quality located around Napoli Centrale train station, convenient if you have an early or late train. Otherwise, most people head to the centro storico or the seafront for their lodgings. The majority of hotels in Naples are three- and four-star, and there are plenty of bed-and-breakfast and Airbnb options.

Getting There

Unless you fly into Naples International Airport, you'll probably arrive to the city by train, at Napoli Centrale station  . From there, you can catch the Metro, a taxi or a bus to your destination. This is also the point of departure for trains to Herculaneum, Pompeii, and Sorrento, gateway to the Amalfi Coast.

If you've rented a car in Italy and are driving to Naples, get very specific instructions from your hotel on how to reach the property and where to park your car. (Confirm ahead of time that the hotel offers secure parking.) Under no circumstances do we recommend driving in Naples, unless it's to pick up or drop off a rental car as you're leaving or arriving to the city.

For more on train travel in Italy, see our articles on  getting around Italy by rail  and  what to know about traveling by train in Italy .

Culture and Customs

While there aren't any strict customs to adhere to in Naples, keep in mind that it is an extremely religious city, and residents take their religious holidays, festivals, and other observations quite seriously. You won't be allowed to enter a church unless your knees and shoulders are covered (that goes for men, too), nor should you try to, as it will be viewed as disrespectful. If you stumble upon a procession or other religious observation in the street, be quiet and respectful—if you can't discreetly move on, just be patient and wait until it's over. Other than that, basic good traveler rules apply—no dipping your feet or other body parts in fountains, no matter how hot it is outside; avoiding public drunkenness; and generally, just behaving politely.

Some other tips to keep in mind in Naples:

• Dinner is eaten later in Italy, especially in the summertime. Most restaurants won't start serving until 7:30 p.m. or so, and may not fill up until 9 p.m.
• Your waiter won't bring you the check ("il conto") unless you ask for it.
• Tap water is not served in Italy, so bottled water it is.
• If "servizi" or "pane e coperto" is listed on your restaurant bill, this counts as a tip. If your server has been particularly attentive or helpful, don't hesitate to leave a few euros on the table.
• Keep an eye on your personal belongings at all times, especially in crowded areas and where mopeds and motorcycles are zipping by (that means everywhere). Do not wear gold jewelry, expensive watches, or other valuables while walking around, and keep wallets and cellphones in a secure front pocket.
• While most everyone working in hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions and shops speaks some English, it's always polite and appreciated to offer a few basic niceties in Italian, such as buongiorno (good day), per favore (please) and grazie (thank you).
• Read more about customs and culture in Italy with our list of 10 things not to do on your Italian vacation.

Money Saving Tips

Naples is less expensive to visit than many Italian cities, and you can save a few more euros by following these tips:

• Travel in the off-season, when hotel prices are markedly lower.
• Save with street food; Naples has gloriously good street food, which you should eat even if you're not trying to save money. Follow the Neopolitans—if a place has a long line, it's because they make the best of whatever it is they're selling.

Wikipedia, List of museums of Greek and Roman antiquities, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_museums_of_Greek_and_Roman_antiquities#cite_note-1, 15 March 2020

Library of Congress, The Great Arrival, https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/italian/the-great-arrival/, October 30, 2020

Ferrovie dello Stato Italiano, https://www.fsitaliane.it/content/fsitaliane/it/innovazione/tecnologie-per-i-trasporti/le-principali-stazioni-av/napoli-centrale.html

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The Top 18 Things To Do In Naples, Italy: The Naples Travel Guide

Updated December 2023, The Top 18 Things To Do In Naples, Italy: The Naples Travel Guide was originally published in August 2020

My fascination with Napoli is multi-faceted. My Mom’s family spent some time living there before boarding a ship bound for New York in the earlier part of the 20th century.

In my early 20s when I finally made it to Italy I was more fascinated by Sicilia and the Ionian Sea coast of Calabria where my family had hailed from originally, so Naples hadn’t landed on my must-visit list- but a woman I met on an overnight train to  Syracusa  (who was on her way home from a weekend in dirty Napoli) whipped out a switchblade and told me and my friend that she never travels to Naples unarmed piqued my interest.

Naples has a bad reputation for being polluted, piled with trash, riddled with crime, and infested by the Camorra for several decades. Despite all that, Naples has experienced a bit of a renaissance in recent years with a movement that has sought to clean the city up starting with the trash and pollution. Of course, things aren’t perfect in Naples, but is it really anywhere?

Personally, I have a soft spot for Naples as it is my favorite place to eat in Italy without a doubt, and a perfect little weekend escape. In this guide, I’ll include the best things to do in Naples and more.

Start planning your trip around the  South of Italy

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A Quick History Of Naples, Italy

Settled in the second millennium BC by the Greeks, on to become a colony known as Parthenope in the 9th century BC, and then founded as the city of Neapolis in the 9th century BC, Napoli has quite the long history.

An important center of the Magna Graecia, a capital of the Duchy of Naples, the Kingdom of Naples, and finally of the Two Sicilies before the Unification of Italy in 1861 Naples has been a center of culture, the arts, and politics.

Naples wasn’t always so prosperous though. The 19th and 20th centuries saw droves of Neopolitians emigrate to the US, Argentina, and Australia citing poverty and fading opportunity (a common theme throughout Southern Italy in general at the time). During WWII Naples was badly damaged in bombing campaigns by the Allied Forces.

Things To Do In Naples, Italy

Order a pizza at gino sorbillo’s.

Before I headed down to Naples for a weekend after my arrival at my temporary home in  Terracina  back in 2018 I asked my friend Igor who grew up between Itri and Naples where to grab a pizza and instantly he whipped back “Gino Sorbillo’s of course!”

This place is well known, and you’ll likely have to wait in line for quite some time, but in all honestly, it’s totally worth it- this is the pizza you’ve been dreaming of (I still dream about to this day now that I’m far far from Italy). Gino is a third-generation pizzaiolo, who is widely regarded (arguably) as the best in all of Italy. His ethos behind the perfect pie is the art of keeping it simple.

The family’s original restaurant opened in 1935 along Via dei Tribunali in the historic center of Naples and is still there to this day.

Metro stop:  Dante

Santa Chiara Complex

The Santa Chiara Complex is a religious complex centered around the Santa Chiara Basilica and features a monastery, the tombs of the King Robert of Naples and Queen Sancha of Majorca, and an archeological museum. The church was badly damaged during WWII, but has since been renovated.

Entrance to the Santa Chiara Complex:  €6

Visit Castel St. Elmo

Castel St. Elmo is now appreciated for its amazing panoramic views of Naples and for its Museo del Novecento housing numerous 20th century Neopolitian pieces, but it was originally a church built in honor of Saint Erasmus. in the 14th century the church as converted into a castle and fortified.

Entrance to Castel St. Elmo:  €5

Metro stop:  Vanvitelli

Wanna see Italy’s lesser-known side? Check out my favorite  off the beaten path destinations in Italy

Explore The Quartieri Spagnoli

The Quartieri Spagnoli (Spanish Quarter) is a colorful and the most densely populated neighborhood of Naples. The Spanish Quarter came to be as a garrison for Spanish troops in the 17th century when the Kingdom of Naples was ruled over by the Spanish. Now it’s a maze of colorful, crumbling and peeling buildings crisscrossed by alleys so narrow some pavement never sees the sunlight.

Metro stop:  Toledo

Take A Break At Piazza del Plebiscito

Piazza del Plebiscito is the grandest and largest public square in Naples, home to the Basilica of San Francesco da Paola, Palazzo Reale, Palazzo della Prefettura, Palazzo Salerno, statues of Charles III of Spain and Ferdinand I, and the Gran Caffe Gambrinus. The Piazza del Plebiscito is one of the best places in Naples to just sits and watch.

The Palazzo Reale is Naples’ royal palace, attached to the Teatro di San Carlo. The palace served as one of the four residences of royalty during the Kingdom of Naples and the Kindom of the Two Sicilies. It now houses the Museo del Palazzo Reale.

Entrance to the Palazzo Reale:  €6

Metro stop:  Municipio

Catch An Opera At Teatro di San Carlo

Located next to Piazza del Plebiscito, Teatro di San Carlo is Naple’s opera house and the longest continuously opera house in the world.

Teatro di San Carlo Tickets:  Prices range from €30-250 depending on the show and seating choice

Get Underground At The Napoli Sotterranea

Explore Naples underbelly by getting underground and diving into the Napoli Sotterranea. The Napoli Sotterranea is a labyrinth of passageway, aqueducts, and cisterns originally laid out by the Greeks to mine tufa stone and channel water from Mount Vesuvius, but later expanded by the Romans, and then on to serve as air-raid shelters during WWII.

Tours are mandatory and are offered in English every two hours starting at 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, 4 pm, and 6 pm. Tours in Italian run every hour on the hour between 10 am-6 pm.

Napoli Sotterranea Tickets:  €10

Castel dell’Ovo

Meaning ‘castle of the egg’ Castel dell’Ovo is Naples’s oldest castle, built by the Normans in the 12th century. The site of Castel dell’Ovo is also where the Greeks first settled the city in the 7th century BC naming the island the castle now sits upon Megaris.

Entrance to the Palazzo Reale:  Free

Shop At Mercato di Porta Nolana

Located right outside the Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi Metro Station/Napoli Centrale, the Mercato di Porta Nolana is one of the best places to begin your walking tour of Naples from. You can find almost anything along here, from greengrocers fishmongers, bootleg movies to fast-food snacks.

Metro stop:  Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi

Continuing on the Basilicata? Don’t miss  Castelmezzano & Pietrapertosa

Check Out The Museums

Museo archeologico nazionale.

• Museo Archeologico Nazionale entrance: €12
• Metro stop: Museo or Piazza Cavour
• Madre entrance: €7
• Metro stop: Piazza Cavour

San Lorenzo Maggiore

• San Lorenzo Maggiore Archeological site and museum entrance: €9 (entrance to the church is free)
• Metro stop: Museo

Pio Monte della Misericordia

• Pio Monte della Misericordia entrance: €7 (entrance to the church is free)

Certosa e Museo di San Martino

• Certosa e Museo di San Martino entrance: €6
• Metro strop: Vanvitelli

Galleria di Palazzo Zevallos Stigliano

• Galleria di Palazzo Zevallos Stigliano entrance: €5
• Metro stop: Municipio

Palazzo Reale di Capodimonte

• Palazzo Reale di Capodimonte entrance: €8
• Metro stop: Materdei

Castel Nuovo

Built by Charles I of Anjou in 1279, Castel Nuovo served as a royal residence. Now it houses the city council and two museums.

Castel Nuovo entrance:  €6

Metro stop:  Municipio

Where To Sleep In Naples

Hotel Zara Napoli |  Booking.com  |  Hotels.com  |

Hotel Piazza Bellini |  Booking.com  |  Hotels.com  |

Romeo Hotel |  Booking.com  |  Hotels.com  |

Where To Eat In Naples

Naples is one of my favorite cities to eat my way across in all of Italy. Here are just a handful of restaurants I loved and dishes you should try in Naples.

Gino e Toto Sorbillo

Naples is famed for its pizza, and Gino Sorbillo is likely the most famous pizzaiolo in Naples. If you missed it in the earlier part of this post with Gino Sorbillo’s pizzeria being listed as one of the best things to do in Naples, here it is again! The pizzas are wood-fired perfection.

Best Arancini

La Sicilia Di Serafino Napoli

Arancini hail from Sicily of course, created in 10th century Sicily when the island was under Arab rule. These little fried balls of heaven are traditionally stuffed with a ragu consisting of a tomato-based meat sauce, mozzarella, and rice, though there are countless variations (I’ll admit the traditional arancini al ragu are my favorite). I’ve stopped by and grabbed an arancini (or three) at La Sicilia Di Serafino Napoli when I was passing by (typically to go wait in line at Gino e Toto Sorbillo down the street), however, you can find plenty of delicious arancini at many streetside vendors all over the city.

Best Sfogliatelle

Sfogliatelle Attanasio

These popular little pastries, shaped like a seashell are an easy breakfast favorite. Sfogliatelle translates to little leaves- pointing to its appearance of little leaves stacked together. The origins of Sfogliatelle actually trace back to nearby Conca dei Marini along the Amalfi Coast. Sfogliatelle Attanasio is regarded as one of the best purveyors of the flaky sfogliatelle in Napoli, but you can easily find them in patisseries all over Naples as well as the rest of Italy.

Pizza Fritta

La Masardona

Pizza Fritta is an essential street food and quintessentially Neopolitan. Did you know that deep-fried pizza predates the oven-baked pizza known the world over? La Masardona is a longstanding Napoli landmark, still family owned and operated, and is regarded among the best fried pizzerias in Naples.

Things To Do Near Naples

Visit pompeii.

Pompeii is among the most important archeological sites in all of Europe. The bustling Roman city was wiped off the map in 79 AD when Mount Vesuvius blew, though luckily for its residents most had already evacuated 17 years prior due to a massive earthquake that struck the ancient city. You can easily reach Pompeii by grabbing a train from Naples and getting off at the Pompeii-Scavi Train Station

Pompeii entrance:  €13

 Explore Herculaneum

Smaller and easier to navigate than Pompeii, the Herculaneum ruins are still very much worthy of a visit. Numerous archeological finds have been discovered here. From the Ercolano-Scavi Train Station, the Herculaneum ruins can easily be reached on foot.

Herculaneum entrance:  €6

Climb Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius is famous for blowing its top over 30 times since its major explosion in 79 AD. You can view the volcano from just about anywhere along the shores of the Bay of Naples, but the view from the top looking down is outstanding. The cheapest way to get to Mount Vesuvius is by using the public EAV bus.

Mount Vesuvius entrance:  €6

Explore The Gorgeous Amalfi Coast

The  Amalfi Coast  is something of legend. This gorgeous stretch of Campania extends south from the southern edge of the Bay of Naples, encompassing a promontory jutting out into the sea.

After traveling the Amalfi Coast back in 2018, I thoroughly recommend renting a car from Naples and making your own itinerary if you’re not visiting in high season. But if you are taking on the Amalfi Coast in the height of summer I would recommend utilizing the ferry system between the gorgeous towns that dot the coast. Read more about the Amalfi Coast and start planning your trip  here .

Check out my  quick guide to the Amalfi Coast

See Why All The Celebrities Go To Capri

The natural beauty of Capri has drawn in crowds for centuries, from the Romans to modern-day celebrities. Sapphire blue grottos, sky-high cliffside views, crazy rock formations, and more seem to elicit a visit (except me, because we couldn’t get there when I was in Naples due to bad weather!). You visit Capri for a few days, staying on the island, or you can take a ferry across the bay from Naples and make it a day trip. Shop Capri accommodations  here .

Get Off The Beaten Path In Procida

Procida honestly was the island I was most sad not to visit when I traveled around Campania, Basilicata, Puglia, and Calabria with my friends in 2018. We had our crosshairs set on Procida, but because of the horrible weather and rough seas, the ferries were canceled.

A couple of friends that have made it to Procida have described it as the ultimately perfect Mediterranean island with colorful buildings and charming beaches.

One thing that I was told by Italian friends is that Procida can be quite crowded in July and August because it’s no secret among the Italians (Italians are privy to the best secret spots that foreign tourists don’t seem to know about). So if planning to visit Procida in July-August, I’d suggest locking in your plans well in advance. Shop Procida accommodations  here .

Check Out Big Little Ischia

Ischia is the largest and most developed of the islands in the Bay of Naples. I noticed most of the friends I made in  Terracina ,  Sperlonga , and Itri while I was based up that way would say that Ischia was their favorite of the Bay of Naples Islands, over Capri because of the affordability and lower tourist numbers. Shop Ischia accommodations  here .

Have Any Questions About Visiting Naples?

Ask in the comments section below.

More Posts from Italy:

A Quick Guide To Castelmezzano & Pietrapertosa, Italy

Lampedusa Travel Guide: Italy’s Southernmost Island

Sperlonga: Lazio Region’s Best Kept Italian Secret

Southern Italy Road Trip: From Heel To The Toe

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A Quick Amalfi Coast Travel Guide

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Ultimate Travel Guide for Naples, Italy

Are you planning a trip to naples – italy’s city of pizza, volcanoes, and nativity scenes.

This is my ultimate travel guide for Naples or Napoli , as the city is called in Italian. It’s designed to make your travel planning easy, logical, and enjoyable. It will also help you experience the largest city in Southern Italy in the most authentic way.

Built on a caldera and with a heart as passionate as a volcano, Naples is a vibrant, stimulating place where you can rediscover the joy of life. Good food, strong coffee , excellent art, and quaint experiences are easy to come across here and even a simple thing like the abundance of vibrant colours and the buzzing hubbub of Neapolitan daily life can make you feel alive inside.

Yet, Naples is also one of the most polarising cities in the world. Travellers either sing its praises or don’t spare negative words. Densely built, Naples is a maze of streets many of which can trace their outlines to the city’s ancient Greek urban plan.

Exhilarating and overwhelming in equal measures and often at the same time, the city has been growing with an unstoppable verve for almost three millennia. The result is an immense metropolis that spans the picturesque Gulf of Naples, shoulders the iconic Mount Vesuvius and buzzes with the voices of the million people who call it home.

This is a place that over the centuries has accumulated a staggering collection of architecture and art. They reflect both ancient local traditions and a wide array of outside influences on account of the many foreign rulers that Naples has had. This makes it both Italy’s most international city and the Italian city with the strongest identity.

Naples’ churches, palaces, artisan workshops, and streets tell many captivating stories. You just need to have the ear to listen and the eye to perceive them beyond the graffiti-covered facades, the economic difficulties, and the rubbish bags that pile up on street corners every night.

The financial distress that the city experiences obviously puts some travellers off Naples for life. That’s a real shame! For this is a raw and real place, far from the polished images that social media deals with, and yet full of energy and with hidden depths.

Take Naples at face value and you will see that while it’s not picture-perfect, it influences us on many levels. Over the last three millennia, the city has originated fables, movements, and trends time and time again. Its heritage speaks volumes. To see and experience everything that Naples has to offer – from ancient ruins and modern art to food and coffee rituals – would take a lifetime.

In other words, more than a city, more than a destination to visit as a tourist, Naples is a state of mind. As such, come here with an open heart and ready to discover things about history, art, beliefs, gastronomy, and yourself that may push your limitations beyond your comfort zone.

So, to help you plan your trip to Naples, I have researched, photographed, and written this ultimate travel guide. Scroll down and browse through its sections. All the usual topics like how to get to Naples, where to stay in Naples, what to eat in Naples, and what are the best things to do in Naples are covered.

In addition, you will find my answers to many more pertinent and curious questions. For example:

• Is Naples safe?
• Where to see the best presepi in Naples?
• How to explore Naples with kids?
• What are some hidden gems to discover in Naples and what day trips to take nearby?

I have included maps, lots of practical details, and numerous real-life photos to give you an idea of what to expect. You will also find the best times to visit Naples, tips for navigating this traffic-heavy city, and practical packing suggestions. These are followed by the best guidebooks and books for Naples, the best tours you can take here, as well as a list of the artisan Neapolitan products to shop for.

Scroll down to the end of this guide to see my top five tips for visiting this stimulating on so many levels city in Southern Italy. Finally, read the five things you should never do in Naples. They are always good to keep in mind!

Have a look and enjoy your Naples trip!

The information in this travel guide reflects my first-hand experience. It may contain affiliate links and if you click and make a purchase through them, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. The ads on this page help me keep this blog free and produce new travel content for you to enjoy. Full details in my  Disclosure .

WHERE IS NAPLES?

Naples is the largest city in Southern Italy and the capital of the Italian region of Campania. With just under a million people living here, it is the country’s third-largest city after Rome and Milan .

It lies along the Gulf of Naples – a 15-km wide bay along the southwestern coast of Italy. The densely built-up city sprawls from the supervolcanic area of the Phlegraean Fields ( Campi Flegrei ) to the iconic Mount Vesuvius.

The adjacent map shows you the city’s exact location in Southern Italy. You can click on it to zoom in and out in order to see further details.

Naples ranks among the ten most visited cities in Italy. It attracts just over a third of the number of tourists that head to the country’s most popular destination – Venice .

The city has an incredibly rich offering in terms of historic and artistic heritage. Its gastronomic traditions are at the basis of several worldwide famous and beloved dishes topped by pizza.

Naples is a must-see place in itself. It also offers quick and easy access by road, sea, and railway to several other popular destinations in Italy. From the historic ruins of Herculaneum, Pompei, Pozzuoli, Capua, and Paestum to the picturesque coastal towns of Amalfi, Positano, and Ravello, Naples is the starting point for many exciting and enriching trips in Italy. A ferry ride from Naples away, you can also visit the beautiful islands of Capri, Ischia, and Procida.

IS NAPLES WORTH A VISIT?

The short answer is yes, Naples is very much worth a visit. Almost three millennia old, the largest city in Southern Italy is a vibrant stimulating place dotted with iconic must-see sights and offering the best cuisine this side of Europe.

Hugging the curve of the Gulf of Naples and sprawling in the shadow of the infamous Mount Vesuvius, this city has a passionate character marked by sharp contrasts.

Built on several layers – from ancient catacombs to multi-storey Baroque palaces and modern-day skyscrapers, in Naples, the past, the present, and the future blend into an exciting synthesis.

This is a city where you can walk along streets which follow the outline of ancient Greek and Roman roads, where deeply entrenched superstitions and folk traditions mingle with the most heartfelt Catholic faith, and where dishes made of simple seasonal foodstuffs have been elevated to nourishment for the soul.

Naples is also a place where poverty exists right next to the most splendid pinnacles of European architecture and art; where people ride pillion with no helmets on (and sometimes have their dog on the scooter, too); where the crowds, the smells, the colours, the graffiti, and the constant play of shadows and light in large courtyards and narrow streets make you suddenly feel reenergised, full of purpose, and ready to live your most exciting life.

Yes, Naples is worth a visit as here you never know what to expect next. Around every corner, there is a new surprise. It could be the Immacolata Obelisk which, they say, at sunset reveals Death holding a sickle. Or it could be the Sanfelice Palace that seems plucked out of an Escher’s print.

In fact, Naples is worth numerous visits as there is always something new to see and experience here, a new wave of excitement to wash all over you. It is one of those precious places that make travelling an adventure that you’ll remember and recall with love and passion when the humdrum of daily life gets too much.

WHAT IS NAPLES CALLED IN ITALIAN?

In Italian, Naples is known as Napoli . In the Neapolitan language , the city is called Napule . In both cases, the accent falls on the first syllable. Both Napoli and Napule have evolved from the Ancient Greek name of the city – Neapolis, meaning ‘New City’.

Naples is also sometimes referred to as the città dalle 500 cupole , or the City of 500 domes in English, on account of the large number of churches dotted along its streets. Another of Naples’ monikers – città dei sette castelli – is also linked to its architectural heritage. The locals claim that theirs is the only city with seven castles in the world.

La città obliqua is a poetic reference to Naples, too. It comes from a famous song by the singer-songwriter Edoardo Bennato who was inspired by the unique Neapolitan landscape – neither entirely horizontal nor fully hillside. And so he sings:

It’s not flat, it’s not vertical it is a line that goes up the hill it is a road that starts from the sea The path of the oblique city.

More often than not, however, you will hear napoletani refer to themselves as partenopei and to their city as the città partenopea or the Parthenopean City. This is based on the foundation myth of Naples which is linked to the siren Parthenope – a mythical creature with a bird’s body and woman’s head.

Parthenope had a beautiful voice. Sailors were so bewitched by her singing that they would forget to steer their ships which would then crash against the rocky shore of what nowadays is known as the Sorrento Peninsula.

To avoid a similar fate, the Greek hero Ulysses made his men plug their ears with wax and bind him to the mast of his ship. This way, he could enjoy the siren’s song without sacrificing his ship and his crew.

Unable to make Ulysses fall in love with her and thus lure him to his death, Parthenope threw herself off the rocks. Her body washed on the island of Megaride where the local people found it and buried it. A settlement carrying the siren’s name quickly grew around her burial site. It was also known as Palaepolis (Old City) as around 470 BC, Neapolis (New City) was founded right next to it by Greek settlers.

Nowadays, Naples has expanded significantly beyond the limits of the original Palaepolis and Neapolis. The island of Megaride, today is a peninsula in the Gulf of Naples and houses the city’s oldest fortress – Castel dell’Ovo .

Finally, as you saw at the start of this Naples travel guide, I called it the City of Pizza, Volcanoes, and Nativity Scenes. The first is self-explanatory as the pizza napoletana is famous all over the world (especially the Naples-born pizza Margherita prepared with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and basil leaves). With the volcanoes of the Phlegraean Fields and Mount Vesuvius playing a major role in the geology and the history of the area, the second part of the moniker is also clear.

As for Nativity scenes, Naples is famous for its tradition of artisan presepi . These are intricate Christmas cribs representing the Holy Family in the stables in Bethlehem. Beloved all over Italy, the best ones are handmade in Naples. I mention them in more detail below under the headings Best Presepi in Naples and What to Buy in Naples .

NAPLES AND ITS QUARTERS

Naples is a large sprawling city divided into 30 quarters. Here are the main urban areas to visit in order to see the best that it has to offer:

Centro Storico – a UNESCO World Heritage Site , Naples’ historic centre is a vast area in the heart of the city where you will find the most famous landmarks – from the Veiled Christ in the Sansevero Chapel and the tiled cloister of the Monastery of Santa Chiara to Piazza del Plebescito and the Royal Palace. Follow Spaccanapoli – the long artery of straight streets that flow one into another and in the process splits the city in two. Look out for the large obelisks dotted along its route. Stuff yourself with pizza in all its Neapolitan varieties along Via dei Tribunali . Dodge the constant traffic of scooters and evade the persistent greeters trying to get you to enter their eateries. Find temporary peace and quiet in Naples’ former water cisterns .

Rione Sanità – a former no-go area, this authentic corner of Naples is where you can visit the striking Catacombs of San Gennaro – my absolutely favourite landmark in Naples. A short walk away don’t miss the macabre Catacombs of San Gaudioso underneath the resplendent Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità. The Palazzo dello Spagnuolo and the Palazzo Sanfelice are a must for lovers of architecture.

Quartieri Spagnoli – with a name that is a throwback to when Naples was ruled by the Spanish Bourbons, this Neapolitan quarter epitomises the city. Expect narrow streets, laundry flapping above your head, and lots of graffiti. Don’t miss the Pignasecca market – a hub of activity that is quintessential Naples.

Vomero – hop on a funicular for an exhilarating ride to the top of the Vomero hill and enjoy the unparalleled panoramas of Naples flanked by Mount Vesuvius. Then visit the proud Castel Sant’Elmo and the former monastery of Certosa di San Martino .

Chiaia – this upmarket quarter of Naples is a great place to stay in if you want to be close to the sea, the luxury boutiques, and the Villa Comunale expansive lush park.

Santa Lucia – standing right where the original settlement of Parthenope (or Palaepolis) first grew, Santa Lucia is a historic quarter of Naples where you can visit the mysterious Castel dell’Ovo , marvel at the imposing Fontana dei Giganti , and indulge in fresh seafood in the fishermen’s Borgo Marinari .

BEST AIRPORT FOR NAPLES

Naples has its own airport – Aeroporto Internazionale di Napoli Capodichino (IATA airport code: NAP). It is one of the busiest airports in Italy and it’s only four km away from the city centre.

It is served both by low-cost and full-service carriers, making Naples easy to reach from all corners of Europe and the world. The flight from London Gatwick, for example, is just over two and a half hours, so Naples is a great destination for a long weekend.

The official website of Naples Airport has a lot of useful information – from how to reach the airport to what shops and restaurants you will find here.

Shopping is excellent with many international chains and high fashion brands having stores here. There are also numerous eateries which is handy especially when you know that you are about to leave Naples and you want to have one last delicious pizza or sfogliatella pastry for the journey ahead.

AliBus is the coach line linking Naples Airport to the city centre. You can take it either to:

• Piazza Garibaldi – in front of the city’s main train station, Napoli Centrale ; or
• Port of Naples – a short walk away from the centrally located Piazza Municipio .

We were lucky as we were met by a friend of a friend upon our arrival in Naples. He drove us to the flat we had rented in the historic centre giving us our first taste of the famous Neapolitan driving style.

On the way back, we found getting a taxi to reach the airport from the historic centre very handy as we were lugging a heavy suitcase. The journey door to door took less than half an hour and cost us around 30 euros.

HOW TO REACH NAPLES?

Naples is very easy to reach by railway, road, and ferry from anywhere in Italy and abroad.

High-speed and regular trains connect Naples all throughout the day to many towns in the region of Campania and major cities all over Italy. You can check timetables and book your tickets on:

• Omio – which pulls up results for both state-run and private railway companies in Italy;
• TrenItalia – which covers the state-run train network of Italy.

Here are some sample travel times by high-speed train from the Italian capital and other large Italian cities to Naples’ main train station, Napoli Centrale :

• Rome to Naples – from 1 h 13 mins;
• Florence to Naples – from 3 h;
• Bologna to Naples – from 3 h 31 mins;
• Milan to Naples – from 4 h 45 mins;
• Venice to Naples – from 5 h 22 mins;
• Turin to Naples – from 6 h 3 mins.

The following ferry companies connect Naples to the nearby islands of Capri, Ischia, and Procida, the Aeolian Islands, as well as to the towns on the Amalfi Coast and further away destinations like Sicily: SNAV , Caremar , and Medmar .

You can drive to Naples from anywhere in Italy, too. Toll roads (called autostrada , sing. and autostrade , pl. in Italian) connect the city to other large Italian cities and smaller towns. Here are the autostrade you can use here:

• A1 Autostrada del Sole – Milan to Naples
• A3 – Salerno to Naples
• A16 – Canosa to Naples
• A56 Tangenziale di Napoli – this is Naples’ ring road from Arco Felice to Capodichino

This useful website will give you up-to-date information about navigating Italy’s autostrade , the current traffic conditions, as well as how to calculate and pay the toll fees (called pedaggio in Italian).

If you are planning to visit Naples by car, you need to prepare yourself mentally for the busy traffic and the assertive driving style of the city. Make sure that your car insurance covers all eventualities. Ideally, arrange for a parking space in advance. Some travellers report that in some corners of the city, you may be asked to pay an additional fee to have your car ‘looked after’.

It is also advisable to familiarise yourself with Naples’ ZTL or zones with restricted traffic which can be traversed by car only if you have a special dispensation. This website may come in useful when you look into ZTL and the respective restrictions.

HOW TO NAVIGATE NAPLES?

You can navigate Naples on foot as well as by bus, metro, funicular, and taxi. In some parts of the city you can get a tram and/or a trolleybus. There are also regional trains which connect Naples to several adjacent suburbs, towns, and landmarks nearby.

Naples’ historic centre and quarters are best explored on foot so that you can fully immerse yourself in their atmosphere. The narrow streets here often lack pavements and at all hours of the day experience a hectic flow of scooters, delivery vans, and cars. It pays to be vigilant at all times, especially next to turns and corners. Drivers are skilled but very impatient and expect you to move away asap. Otherwise, they keep pushing forward and whizz right past you.

Buses (as well as metro lines, trams, and trolleybuses) are very convenient if you want to save time walking from one quarter to the next. For example, we took a bus from the edge of the historic centre to the top end of Rione Sanità – a journey which took us about 15 minutes (inclusive of walking to the bus stop and time waiting for the bus) instead of the 30 minutes which walking there would have taken us.

Four funiculars connect Naples’ lower grounds to its hilly parts. They are very handy, especially on a hot day when you can’t bear to walk uphill for miles.

For up-to-date information about public transport in Naples, have a look at the official websites of Comune di Napoli and ANM – Agenzia Napoletana Mobilita . You will find exhaustive information about the different ways to travel here either by bus , funicular , metro , tram , or trolleybus , as well as about the different types of tickets and where to purchase them. At present, the websites seem to be only in Italian, so you may want to use Google Translate to get the gist of the information.

Taxis circulate through the historic quarters and can quickly take you anywhere in Naples, as well as to the nearby archaeological excavations, picturesque towns, and even Mount Vesuvius. You can download an up-to-date rate table from the official website of Comune di Napoli .

To reach the excavations of Herculaneum and Pompei by public transport, you will need to get the Circumvesuviana regional train. Use the EAV – Ente Autonomo Volturno’s website to check prices and timetables. There is a useful section in English.

To reach the towns and the archaeological parks in the Phlegraean Fields ( Campi Flegrei ), use the EAV website, too and check the timetables for the Cumana and the Circumflegrea train lines.

WHAT TO PACK FOR NAPLES?

The most important thing to pack for a visit to Naples in any season is a pair of comfortable shoes. You will be walking long distances over all types of historic surfaces many of which are uneven. You will also spend time standing up and moving at a variable pace over long periods of sightseeing.

Make sure that your feet are as comfortable as possible. Choose shoes with a good grip that cushion your heels and support your ankles at all times. Even on the hottest of days, it’s advisable to wear closed shoes or shoes that at least cover your toes, especially if you are planning to explore the historic centre, Rione Sanità , or the Quartieri Spagnoli as they are very busy and spillages next to markets and small businesses may occur.

In winter, bring warm layers to stave off the chills produced by the high levels of humidity and yet can be quickly peeled off when the sun makes an appearance. In summer, bring a hat, sunglasses, and suncream to counteract the bright sunlight that bounces off the large facades and floods the wide piazzas. Invest in fabrics that dry quickly, are crinkle-free, and let your skin breathe through them. A rainproof jacket will come in handy in autumn when rainy days are plenty.

Even when it’s very hot, make sure that your outfits are appropriate for city living and respectful sightseeing. Shoulders and knees should be covered in churches and landmarks. Swimsuits are not acceptable attire on the street.

In any case, don’t overpack as navigating Naples with heavy luggage can be difficult, especially if you are planning to use the busy public transport. Instead, select pieces that can be matched with one another, producing outfits that look different every day but rely on the same small number of core pieces.

Leave expensive and ostentatious jewellery, watches, and accessories at home. Invest in a cross-body bag with a sturdy strap. Put a bottle of hand gel in it as well as your favourite mosquito and bug repellents, albeit a spray, a roll-on or a bracelet .

BEST TIME TO VISIT NAPLES

Naples is exhilarating in any season and there are lots of things to do here no matter the weather. So, visiting Naples is always a good idea – from a weekend break to a long holiday, the City of Pizza, Volcanoes, and Nativity Scenes offers an exciting immersion into the art, food, and heritage of this corner of Italy and Europe.

The shoulder season – from the end of March to May and then from the end of September to the start of November – is easily the best time of the year to visit Naples. Expect temperatures between 17 and 27 degrees Celsius and some rainy days but mainly clear skies.

Summers are hot and humid. With temperatures between 30 and 40 degrees Celsius, you will need to pace your sightseeing as being out and about in the throng of tourists and locals can quickly become tiring and overwhelming.

At the same time, summer is when Naples is full of vibrancy and life, so take long gelato breaks, linger over lunch, and commit to no more than two major sights a day (and a couple of smaller ones) to make the most of the sunny days and people-watching. If possible, return to your accommodation in the afternoon for a sweet little nap which will give you strength for a leisurely stroll (called passeggiata in Italian) in the early evening followed by a proper Neapolitan supper.

Winters in Naples are mild in comparison with most of Europe. The thermometer can go as high as 16 degrees Celsius. While this is not sunbathing weather it’s still a welcome escape from the minus temperatures in the northern European destinations. The Christmas season is especially lively. Expect lots of local events culminating in beautiful exhibitions of Nativity scenes and heartfelt celebrations.

You may also want to visit Naples for one of the city’s main festivals. Have a look at the heading Events in Naples further below to see what’s on and when. Then make your travel plans to experience quirky centuries-old traditions.

HOW LONG TO STAY IN NAPLES AND A 4-DAY ITINERARY

There is so much to see and do in Naples, that a plan to visit the city can quickly become an overwhelming jumble of ideas, intentions, and half-baked itineraries.

The best way to approach Naples is to be clear with yourself from the start that the city cannot be seen and done in a day or two and that no matter how long you spend here, there will always be sights and monuments to see on your next visit.

So, don’t overstretch yourself and don’t rush around like mad trying to squeeze in as much sightseeing as you can. Especially, if it is hot! Instead, either:

• focus on a particular period , for example, ancient ruins or Baroque art and architecture;
• pick a couple of Naples’s historic quarters to explore in detail; or
• pencil two major sights a day to see at leisure and then fill the rest of the time with culinary experiences and spontaneous visits to any church, quirky shop, and hidden gem of a landmark you walk past.

In other words, instead of treating Naples as one endless list of sights that you have to tick off, tailor your visit according to your interests, willingness to walk long distances, and your curiosity. Be open to spontaneous experiences and let the city surprise you.

For a first visit to Naples, ideally, I would suggest four full days. These can be as packed up or as relaxed as you wish. Take your pick from this busy four-day Naples itinerary below:

Day 1: Traverse Naples’ historic centre. Pop in and out of churches (Duomo, Monastery of Santa Chiara, and the Church of Gesù Nuovo are a must but there are many more), explore the city’s charming piazzas, walk along Spaccanapoli , take an underground tour , shop for Christmas decorations on Via San Gregorio Armeno , visit some of the major sights here like the Sansevero Chapel and Pio Monte della Misericordia . Later in the afternoon, head to Piazza del Plebescito with Naples’ Royal Palace , as well as Teatro di San Carlo and the elegant shopping arcade Galleria Umberto I nearby.

Day 2: Begin the day with an early morning visit to the Museum and Royal Wood of Capodimonte . Then explore Rione Sanità with the Catacombs of San Gennaro and San Gaudioso , Palazzo dello Spagnuolo , Palazzo Sanfelice, and the Fontanelle Cemetery (when it re-opens). Spend the afternoon in MANN – Naples’ outstanding archaeological museum where you can see Pompeiian frescoes and mosaics, ancient statues, and so much more. If you still have some energy left, end the day in Museo Madre – Naples’ outstanding museum of contemporary art.

Day 3: Spend the day visiting either Herculaneum or Pompeii followed by a hike up Mount Vesuvius . There are many different ways to do it either independently or with an organised tour. To reach the excavations of the two ancient Roman towns, you need to get the Circumvesuviana train. The respective stops are Ercolano Scavi and Pompeii Scavi – Villa dei Misteri . You can buy your tickets for the archaeological sites either in advance to skip the queues or in situ. Once there, if you want, you can pay an additional fee for a private guide or a guided tour or just explore the ruins independently. To reach Mount Vesuvius from the train station Ercolano Scavi , you can get the Vesuvio Express which includes roundtrip transport and a ticket for Vesuvius National Park. There is also a similar option to visit Vesuvius from Pompeii. Otherwise, you can buy tickets for the roundtrip bus and for the Vesuvius National Park separately. Alternatively, you can book a guided tour which takes all three – Herculaneum, Pompeii, and Vesuvius – in a day.

Day 4: Spend your last day in Naples by exploring some of its other quarters. Chiaia, Santa Lucia , Vomero , and the Quartieri Spagnoli offer a vibrant mosaic of sights, smells, and views. Once again, don’t expect to cover all four in a day, so pick a major sight in a couple of them or simply amble through one of them.

This four-day itinerary for Naples will give you a good introduction to everything that this exciting Southern Italian city has to offer. Any return visits to Naples then can be of any length to catch up on anything you have missed and to discover yet more sights, museums, and corners of the city.

In any case, if you don’t have four days to spare and still you really want to see Naples, just come. Even if it’s just on a day trip from Rome. Enjoy your time (however short!) in the city and before you know it you will be making plans to return again and again.

WHERE TO STAY IN NAPLES?

There is a huge selection of places to stay in Naples in any season and for any budget.

You can choose a historic building that nowadays functions as a luxury hotel. You can opt for a comfortable B&B . Or you may prefer an accommodation with its own kitchen to enjoy a home-from-home experience.

When picking accommodation in Naples consider carefully its location. Depending on what you want to do and see here, you may prefer to stay closer to the major landmarks, a bus or metro stop, or in a hidden corner of the city that offers peace and quiet.

If your focus is sightseeing in Naples, then it pays to stay in the historic centre. For more of an upmarket experience, look into the quarter of Chiaia . The area around Piazza Garibaldi and the main train station, Napoli Centrale , is convenient in terms of public transport but it made me feel on the edge every time we needed to walk through it.

Here are some suggestions for places to stay in Naples. All come highly recommended:

Luxury: Grand Hotel Vesuvio , Palazzo Doria Napoli , The Britannique Hotel Naples, Curio Collection by Hilton

Mid-Range: Relais della Porta , Artemisia Domus – Centro Storico , La Lepre Bovio

Budget:  Ostello Bello Napoli , Leone Suites Toledo , EMME Napoli

Alternatively, use the map included here to get a quick visual idea of the available accommodation options in Naples, Italy. You can zoom in and out, type in your specific travel dates, and then click on the different price points for detailed information about the hotel you want to know more about.

In addition, have a look at this blog post which explains the different types of accommodation you can book in Italy. It will give you plenty of ideas to look into for the best and quirkiest places to spend the night at here:

• Where to Stay in Italy – 19 Types of Accommodation to Suit Any Budget

WHAT TO EAT IN NAPLES?

Neapolitan food is excellent. Eating here is a great experience that nourishes not just the body but the soul, too. Every meal in Naples has the potential to be absolutely unforgettable. So don’t waste any chances to tuck into yet another delicious local dish.

From inexpensive street food to the freshest seafood and local variations of pasta, Naples has a lot to offer even to the pickiest of eaters.

Pizza is always a good choice in Naples. Deep-fried foods taste so good after a long day of sightseeing. If you have a sweet tooth, you will be delighted with the rich displays of cakes and pastries. And you can finish it all off with a proper Neapolitan coffee prepared with a traditional flip pot called cucumella . Alternatively opt for a local liquor – from the world-famous limoncello to the herbal Strega , a distinctive digestif drink the name of which means ‘witch’ in English.

Here are some of the best Neapolitan foods and dishes to sample during your Italian holiday:

Taralli – this typical for Naples snack is circular in shape and traditionally made of lard, toasted almonds, and black pepper. Nowadays, it comes in many different flavours. Take your pick from the wide selection at Taralleria Neapolitana .

Pizza – you have to have a pizza or two when in Naples! Try as many of the traditional varieties as you can. Take your pick from pizza Margherita (tomato sauce, mozzarella, and fresh basil), pizza Marinara (tomato sauce, extra virgin olive oil, oregano and garlic), pizza fritta (a Calzone-shaped pizza stuffed with different fillings and deep-fried), pizza Montanara (open fried pizza topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil), and pizza portafoglio (a smaller pizza Margherita or pizza Marinara folded in four and eaten on the go. Or choose any other pizza with classical and innovative toppings offered in Naples’ best pizzerias. Many of them are clustered along Via dei Tribunali in the historic centre. It’s the city’s veritable pizza paradise!

Ziti alla Genovese – this is an iconic Neapolitan dish and it doesn’t have anything to do with the city of Genoa, although there are many theories as to how it got its name. Ziti is a type of extruded pasta typical for the Southern Italian region of Campania of which Naples is the capital. The genovese sauce is made of ground beef, cherry tomatoes, celery, carrots, and lots and lots of onions. It has a slightly sweet taste and it is very more-ish. Order it at La Locanda del Monacone .

Ragù – this Neapolitan meat sauce is absolutely delicious. Tomato-based, it’s made with beef and densely stuffed sausages left to simmer for hours. Try the ragù dishes of Tandem – a famous Neapolitan chain of ragù-centric restaurants. My favourite dish consists of thick slices of provola cheese served with an extra-generous helping of ragù on top.

Cuoppo Napoletano – this paper cone filled up with fried finger foods is proper Neapolitan street fodder. There are two main varieties – cuoppo di terra and cuoppo di mare . The first is a mix of battered and deep-fried chopped veggies, rice balls (known as arancini ), potato croquettes, and my favourite – zeppoline (delicious dough balls). The latter is a mix of battered and deep-fried seafood – from calamari to sardines. Try the cuoppo at Passione di Sofi .

Babà (also babà al rum ) – you will see these mushroom-shaped and rum-infused sponges all over town. Treat yourself to one when you are in the mood for something sweet and boozy. For added delight, have your babà with lots of whipped cream and strawberries, too.

Sfogliattella – this pastry is typical for Naples and comes in two varieties – riccia (made of overlapped sheets of filo pastry crisped to perfection) and frolla (made of thick shortcrust pastry). Both the sfogliatella riccia and the sfogliatell frolla are stuffed with a delicious filling of ricotta and candied citrus peel. Try the ones sold at Sfogliate e Sfogliatelle .

For an expert introduction to Neapolitan food and Naples’ best food joints, treat yourself to a specialised guided tour. This  street food experience  will take you around the city’s historic centre to sample traditional dishes in secret eateries frequented by the locals.

Alternatively, taste the best that Naples has to offer with this private tour . Expect ten drink and food tastings and the expert commentary of a foodie guide. If you would rather learn to cook the Neapolitan way, then get busy making your own pizza Margherita or pasta dish followed by tiramisu .

BEST THINGS TO DO IN NAPLES

There are many wonderful and exciting things to do in Naples to suit all types of travellers and personal interests. This beautiful city has a lot to offer to the history buff, the art lover, the architecture aficionado, the foodie, the photographer, and above all the person who wants a vibrant and stimulating travel experience.

Here are the main things and activities you can enjoy in Naples. Specific examples for each one of them are provided up and down this page under the different headings of this ultimate travel guide for Napoli .

Sightseeing – Naples is studded with world-famous museums, millennia-old catacombs, and imposing churches with priceless art. With preserved outlines of its ancient Greek and Roman urban plans and plenty of historic spots to explore, this is one of the world’s best cities for sightseeing and landmark visiting.

Eating – Neapolitan cuisine has originated several of the world’s most famous foods with pizza holding the triumphal top spot. Eating here is a cultural experience. Try something new every single meal! Then take a food tour visiting historic deli shops and tiny eateries frequented by the locals. Even better, learn to make pizza the Neapolitan way yourself.

Water-Based Activities – here you are never far from the sea. You can take a ferry or a boat to the islands off the coast of Naples. Or you can enjoy a boat trip around Castel dell’Ovo and snorkelling in the gulf. If you want to combine water and history, then head to the Phlegraean Fields ( Campi Flegrei ) next door to Naples. In the Submerged Archaeological Park of Baia, you can enjoy a trip on a glass-bottomed boat and even a once-in-a-lifetime diving experience to see Roman mosaics and statues underwater.

Shopping – take advantage of exciting shopping opportunities when in Naples. Invest in a traditional Neapolitan Nativity scene (or at least in a small handmade figurine) on Via San Gregorio Armeno . Buy a selection of cornicelli (Naples’ protective amulet) to give as presents to family and friends. Get a cucumella – Naples’ traditional flip coffee pot. Splurge on handmade cameos and coral jewellery. Shopping in Naples is fun as each traditional, locally-made item has a story to tell.

Daytripping – Naples is a great base for day trips in this corner of Italy. From the world-famous Amalfi Coast to the archaeological ruins of Herculaneum , Pompeii , and Paestum , a long list of exciting destinations are only a short train ride away from Naples.

MAJOR LANDMARKS IN NAPLES

There are many must-see sights in Naples. These five major landmarks should be on top of your Neapolitan bucket list.

Spaccanapoli – one of the most iconic urban arteries in the world. This is a sequence of long straight streets which flow one into another and thus bisect Naples in two. Go for a walk along Spaccanapoli to sightsee and people-watch. Many of the city’s most interesting sights, for example, the Monastery of Santa Chiara , are on it or next door to it.

Sansevero Chapel – visit this small chapel in the heart of Naples to marvel at one of the most famous and most extraordinary statues in the world – the Veiled Christ. The chapel is a work of art in itself and was designed by the Italian soldier, alchemist, and inventor Raimondo di Sangro, Prince of Sansevero. Don’t miss the statues of the Veiled Truth and of Disillusion which are striking by themselves and were dedicated to the prince’s parents. The two 18th-century anatomical machines in the chapel’s basement are creepy yet incredibly intricate. You won’t be able to take your eyes off them!

MANN – National Archaeological Museum of Naples – a splendid museum with many excellent collections covering the ancient civilisations of Egypt, Magna Graecia, and Rome. The Pompeiian frescoes and mosaics are absolutely stunning. If you don’t blush easily, check out the Gabinetto Secreto for some ancient erotic art. To make the most of your visit, consider booking a museum tour . An expert guide will take you around the cavernous building pointing out precious artefacts and sharing the stories behind them for a truly enriching experience.

Piazza del Plebiscito – this expansive square is flanked by the imposing buildings of the Royal Palace and the Basilica of San Francesco di Paola. From Piazza del Plebiscito (a word which means ‘referendum’ or ‘vote’ in English), you can easily walk to several other must-see places in Naples. Among them is the oldest opera theatre in the world, Teatro di San Carlo , the elegant shopping arcade Galleria Umberto I , and the historic Gran Caffè Gambrinus – the oldest still in operation coffee house in the city.

Castel Nuovo (also known as Maschio Angioino ) – standing on the waterfront, this 13th-century fortress is one of Naples’ seven historic castles. Notice the large triumphal arch inserted around its main gate. It is one of the pinnacles of Italy’s Renaissance art.

BEST MUSEUMS AND ART GALLERIES IN NAPLES

There are many exciting museums dotted all over Naples. In addition to MANN – National Archaeological Museum of Naples and the Royal Palace (see the entry above), here are five of the best among them:

Capodimonte Museum – built to house the renowned Farnese Collection of art, this former royal residence is surrounded by a lush park (originally, a hunting ground). Here you can see and enjoy an endless number of masterpieces by the likes of Botticelli, Titian, and Caravaggio as well as a number of renowned collections of art, porcelain, tapestries, and contemporary works.

Pio Monte della Misericordia Monumental Complex – run by a religious charity founded at the start of the 17th century, this is one of the must-see stops for lovers of art in Naples. It includes an octagonal chapel and a picture gallery housed in an elegant historic palace. Caravaggio’s famous painting ‘The Seven Acts of Charity’ was painted specifically for the chapel and it takes pride of place above its altar. Next door, you can browse a beautiful selection of Baroque and contemporary masterpieces and enjoy a lovely view of the Obelisk of San Gennaro and the dome of Naples’ Duomo.

Gallerie d’Italia – Napoli – I am partial to this group of art galleries which also has branches in the Italian cities of Milan , Vicenza , and Turin (you can see all their works of art on this link ). The permanent collection in Naples is eclectic and ranges from Attic and Magna Graecia pottery to works by Neapolitan, Italian, and foreign artists. This gives you a chance to explore the developments in art from ancient history to the 20th century. Caravaggio’s last painting ‘The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula’ is the crowning glory of this must-see art gallery in Naples.

N.B.: Calling all Caravaggio lovers! To learn more about the Neapolitan periods of the great Baroque master, have a look at this guided tour . It takes in the masterpieces and the places frequented in Naples by the painter of darkness and light.

Certosa e Museo di San Martino – this former Carthusian monastery nowadays functions as a museum complex with lush gardens. Here you can spend many stimulating moments looking at art used in all its forms to emphasise and decorate the impressive architecture. The charterhouse’s hilltop position opens splendid panoramic views of Naples and Mount Vesuvius. Next door, you can also explore the military fortress Castel Sant’Elmo .

Museo Madre – if by now you are feeling a bit overwhelmed by ancient ruins and Baroque splendour, a visit to Museo Madre and its excellent collection of contemporary art is just what you need to refresh your eyes and enrich even further your impressions of Naples.

BEST CHURCHES AND MONASTERIES IN NAPLES

Naples is dotted with countless churches, monasteries, and religious buildings. It’s not in vain after all that one of its monikers is the City of 500 Domes!

From the tiniest chapels to the imposing basilicas, Neapolitan churches guard priceless art repositories and unique local traditions. They are also an intrinsic part of the city’s architectural mosaic. Visiting them you can trace the development of building styles and decorative programmes from the Early Christian chapels nestled in the underground catacombs to the Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque shrines and sanctuaries of Naples.

Here are some of the city’s must-see churches:

Duomo and Museum of the Treasure of San Gennaro – Naples’ cathedral has a millennial history and a cavernous body that incorporates two earlier churches built at the same site. One is the Church of Santa Restituta, allegedly founded in the 4th century by Constantine – the emperor who made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. Nowadays, Naples’ Duomo preserves many priceless artefacts. Among them are the relics of San Gennaro or St. Januarius in English – the city’s main patron saint. It is here that the ritual of liquefying the saint’s blood takes place three times a year – an important event in the Neapoltan calendar (see the heading Events below). Next to the Duomo, don’t miss the Treasure of San Gennaro. Among the many exhibits here, you can see one of the most expensive pieces of jewellery in the world – the saint’s necklace.

Church of Ges ù Nuovo – this absolutely massive building was erected in 1470 as a princely palace. A century later it was sold to the Jesuit Order and converted into a church. Lavishly frescoed and ornamented in the Baroque style inside, its main point of interest is its unusual facade. This is made of piperno, a stone formed from volcanic magma, and fully covered by countless small pyramids. Unusual symbols are chiselled in some of these. Recently, it has been suggested that the symbols correspond to musical notes. When played, the resulting piece was, apparently, intended to attract good energy to the building.

Monastery of Santa Chiara – widely famous for its cloister decorated with lavish majolica tiles and Baroque frescoes, this monastery also has an onsite museum and guards the remnants of an ancient Roman bath. Its enormous Gothic basilica was almost completely destroyed during the Second World War (after Milan, Naples was the most bombarded Italian city) and then it was painstakingly restored to its former glory.

Museum Complex of Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio ad Arco – this is one of the main centres of Naples’ curious cult of the souls in purgatory or anime pezzentelle in Italian. It consists of two churches. The decoration of the upper one explores the themes of death and salvation. The underground one is where many of Naples’ poor and destitute citizens were buried in the past. The locals, believing them to be stuck in purgatory, would come here to pray over their remains. This gave rise to the idea that the dead could serve as intermediaries between the living on Earth and the saints and God in heaven. So skulls were treated with special care and requests would be addressed to them.

N.B.: If you want to learn more about the cult of the anime pezzentelle , make sure that you also visit the Fontanelle Cemetery (due to re-open in 2024), the Monumental Complex of St. Anne of Lombardi, and the Church of Santa Luciella ai Librai.

Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità – built over the Catacombs of San Gaudioso , this resplendent Neapolitan church is notable for its elevated altar and the double staircase that leads to it. Covered with bright majolica tiles, its large domes reflect beautifully the light, especially on a sunny day. If you book to see the catacombs (one of Naples’ best underground sights), the guide will tell you a bit about the church and the cult of San Vincenzo Ferrer – the patron saint of the quarter of Sanità and to whom the locals address prayers when they want to have a child.

Church of San Francesco di Paola – inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, this expansive Neapolitan church brims the city’s main square, Piazza del Plebescito , with its long colonnade. Built in the early 19th century in the Neoclassical style, it stands out with its portico and enormous central dome.

HIDDEN GEMS IN NAPLES

A city like Naples has a lot of secrets and hidden corners. Try to uncover as many of them as possible for a truly memorable trip. Make a note of the sights below and step off the beaten path.

Madonna con la Pistola by Banksy – up to 2019, this was the only documented mural by the artist in Italy. You can see it on Piazza dei Girolamini and it represents the Madonna with a gun where her halo should have been.

N.B.: Naples is a great place for street art. Everywhere you go, you will see murals and graffiti of differing quality adorning the facades of both historic and modern-day buildings. Keep an eye out for the graffiti of Trallalà – the moniker of the Naples-born artist Alfonso de Angelis. His fleshy ladies (known as ciaciona in Neapolitan) are particularly iconic.

Incurables’ Monumental Complex – come here to learn about the history of medicine in Naples and to visit the splendid Pharmacy of the Incurables, the Museum of the Sanitary Arts, the 16th-century cloister, and the medical garden.

Library and Monumental Complex of the Girolamini – a beautiful church with cloisters and a splendid historic library. From precious art to rare books, there is much to be seen and admired here far from the tourist crowds.

Monumental Complex of St. Anne of Lombardi – this 15th-century church preserves extraordinary works of art. In the sacristy, you can see the Sistine Chapel of Naples – an important fresco cycle by Giorgio Vasari, the Tuscan Renaissance painter and art historian. In the Crypt of the Abbots (or Hypogeum), you can learn about the Neapolitan scolatoi or draining holes where the bodies of the deceased underwent a somewhat gruesome and long procedure to liberate the bones from the flesh in an act which was believed to expiate the soul.

Naples’ Stairways – about 200 stairways and ramps connect the city’s flatter parts to its hilltop quarters. Following one of these inclined paths weaving past houses, churches, and monuments, is a great way to explore Naples and enjoy splendid panoramas of the urban sprawl and Mount Vesuvius. Among the stairways with the best views are the Pedamentina a San Martino , the Montesanto Stairs, and the Gradini del Petraio .

CATACOMBS AND UNDERGROUND SPACES IN NAPLES

Almost 3,000 years old, Naples is a city of layers. Many of these run deep under the streets and are keepers of marvellous stories that oscillate between the sacred and the macabre. Often within the same space below the surface.

Uncovering Naples’ underground secrets is a major portion of getting to know this one-of-a-kind city in Southern Italy. There is a bewildering number of underground tours and experiences for you to choose from. Here are some of the best:

Catacombs of San Gennaro and Catacombs of San Gaudioso – visiting these catacombs was my favourite experience in Naples. Both are accessible on the same ticket via guided tours. You will need to book your entry times in advance. I suggest that you head first to the Catacombs of San Gennaro on the far end of Rione Sanità (near the Capodimonte Museum and Park and next door to the imposing Basilica of the Crowned Mother of God). Here you will learn about the early Christian history of Naples and see prized frescoes and mosaics from the first millennium AD, as well as tombs chiselled directly in the volcanic tuff rocks. The focus of the guided visit to the Catacombs of San Gaudioso, on the other hand, is on the funeral ritual of scolatura . This was practised by Naples’ nobility and clergy of the 16th and 17th centuries and prescribed the draining of the bodies after death of all fluids in order to liberate the bones from the sinful flesh. Leave at least an hour between your visits to the two catacombs and explore Rione Sanità . If you can’t see both on the same day, your ticket for San Gaudioso is valid for 12 months after your visit to San Gennaro.

Napoli Sotterranea – Naples’ most popular underground tour. It takes in the city’s ancient water cisterns, the ruins of the ancient Roman theatre, stories from World War II, and even a recently planted underground garden. An exciting experience on many levels which culminates with a short walk down pitch-black narrow corridors to reach water pools with amphoras suspended above them. People suffering from claustrophobia can skip this part and wait for the rest of the group in a spacious underground chamber before continuing with the tour.

Bourbon Tunnel – built in 1853 and heavily used during the Second World War, this space below the surface of Naples has many stories to tell spanning four centuries. Especially photogenic are the abandoned cars and motorcycles that line up the tunnel. Next to them are stored statues from the fascist period.

Spanish Quarters Underground Guided Tour – winding tunnels will take you to the remains of the Neapolitan aqueduct deep beneath one of the city’s liveliest and most authentic quarters. From the ancient Greeks to the Second World War, you can trace Naples’ history as you walk along the dimly lit corridors.

San Lorenzo Maggiore and Neapolis Sotterrata – a wonderful journey through time that gives you a chance to trace Naples’ development from the 5th century BC to the 18th century AD both below and above ground. Here you can see the remains of a 1st-century AD Roman market, visit the imposing basilica where the 14th-century Renaissance humanist and writer Bocaccio met his muse Fiametta for the first time, and amble through historic halls decorated with splendid frescoes.

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore alla Pietrasanta and LAPIS Museum – this imposing 17th-century church stands at the spot of an early Christian basilica that was preceded by an ancient Roman temple dedicated to the goddess Diana. 35 m underneath it, you can visit Naples’ museum of water. Expect Greco-Roman cisterns and a submerged portion of the Roman Decumanus (the east-west oriented road that bisected the city in the past). Once you return to the surface, stop for a coffee in Diaz Microtorrefazione (one of Naples’ best coffee shops) in the shadow of the church’s 11th-century bell tower.

Church of Santa Luciella ai Librai – it’s easy to walk past this small church in the historic centre of Naples and not even suspect the stories and curiosities it keeps. The skull with ears takes the central place among them. They say that in the past, Neapolitan women would come to pray to it and whisper in its ears their innermost secrets and desires. The church’s crypt can be visited with a short guided tour. In the past, the funerary ritual of scolatura was practised here, too.

Underground Stations of Art – 15 stations along Line 1 and Line 6 of Naples Metro host over 200 works of art by 90 artists both from Italy and all around the world. Started in 1995, the project Stazione di Arte has produced some of the most beautiful metro stations in Europe with Stazione Toledo the receiver of many awards and accolades. Other metro stations worth a mention here are Università , Dante , Museo , Materdei , and Garibaldi . Even just travelling around the city of Naples is already an experience of art.

CURIOUS THINGS TO SPOT AROUND NAPLES

Here are five curious things that made an impression on me as I was exploring Naples with my family. You will come across them all around the city. They make it the lively, crazy, multilayered place that it is. I am mentioning them here to give you yet another angle (or angles) from which to approach Naples, experience its traditions, and capture truthfully its character.

Courtyards – a nucleus of authentic Neapolitan life, the courtyard is where you will find in no particular order parked cars and mopeds, rows of post boxes, the obligatory clotheslines, pots with plants, recycling bins with strict instructions on what to put in each, and so on. Providing an island of tranquillity in a densely built city, courtyards here are usually square or rectangular and flanked by balconies and rows of windows. Huge wooden gates block access to the courtyard from the street. These have a small door cut out in them to allow residents to walk in or out when the gates are closed.

Baskets – in a multi-storey city such as Naples, baskets come in handy when you don’t want to rush downstairs every time a delivery driver rings the bell. Instead, people drop a basket suspended by a cord from their balcony and then pull it up with the delivered item safely inside. Pure genius!

Mopeds/Scooters – these two-wheel vehicles are everywhere in the city. They are the main form of transport here, especially in the historic quarters. From teenagers to octogenarians, everyone rides them. Often, you can see a whole family with the baby and the dog on a single moped. You will quickly learn to jump out of the mopeds’ way, especially on the narrow historic streets with no pavements. Your head will be on a swivel at all times and you will subconsciously start to double up any walking time predicted by Google Maps, as by your first afternoon in Naples you will know that walking with a constant stream of mopeds right next to you is very time-consuming. Neapolitans seem to think that helmets are optional. I certainly don’t recommend not wearing one if you decide to brave the local traffic and ride around on a moped yourself.

Shrines – in Italian, they are known as edicole votive or edicole sacre . These are shrines attached to the walls of houses and buildings. You will see dozens of them as you walk around the city. A heartfelt expression of popular devotion, they vary in size and are decorated with religious images, candles, rosary beads, and plastic flowers.

Basso (pl. bassi )- also known as ‘o vascio in the Neapolitan language, these are small ground-floor flats with doors that open directly on the street. As you walk around town, your eyes will spontaneously look through the windows and the doors of many bassi giving you glimpses of real life. Some of these flats are so small that the marital bed stands right opposite the kitchen sink. In others, the occupants have reclaimed a corner of the street by fencing it off as a small verandah or placing large pots with plants to turn it into a personal garden. The family’s laundry flaps on freestanding driers placed directly on the pavement or on makeshift clotheslines. Some bassi have been turned into shops or workshops where you can buy bread or fresh fish or have your moped repaired if you need.

BEST PRESEPI IN NAPLES

A presepe (also known as presepio in Italian and a Nativity scene in English) is a figural representation of the Holy Family in the stables of Bethlehem. It is the focal point of festive decorations in Italian homes during the Christmas season. You can read more about presepi in this blog post:

• Presepe or 15 Facts about Italy’s Nativity Scenes – History, Traditions, and Meaning

Naples is Italy’s main centre of presepe -making. Handmade Neapolitan presepi are recognised for their beautifully carved and sculpted figurines, complex settings, and the introduction of folk characters, scenes of daily life, and even representations of modern-day celebrities in the Biblical Nativity scene.

A visit to Via San Gregorio Armeno is a must when you are in Naples. This is the street in the heart of the historic centre where you will find the largest concentration of presepe -making workshops. It’s Christmas all year round here.

As part of your sightseeing in Naples, don’t miss the following large-scale and very intricate presepi in the city:

Presepe Favoloso in the Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità – this is my favourite Nativity scene in Naples. Four metres long and two metres high, it has over 100 figurines and it was made in 2021. The curious thing about it is that it incorporates figural representations of countless Neapolitan folk stories and contemporary happenings. As such, the Holy Family is surrounded by weird and wonderful characters that make you want to learn more about Naples’ myths and traditions. You can see this presepe as part of the guided tour of the Catacombs of San Gaudioso .

Cuciniello Nativity in the Museo Nazionale di San Martino – this large and complex  presepe  is composed of figurines of 173 people, 42 angels, and 80 animals (including two monkeys!). 450 miniature objects complete the scene.

Presepe del Banco di Napoli in the Capella Palatina of the Royal Palace – this lavish Nativity scene is composed of 354 pieces dating to the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th centuries. All of them were designed and handmade by famous artists of the time, for example, Giuseppe Sanmartino, the sculptor of Naples’ most famous statue – the Veiled Christ.

Presepe by Fratelli Capuano in their bottega on Via San Gregorio Armeno – this Nativity scene was made in 2006 by the artisans of one of Naples’ most renowned presepe -making workshops. In the style of an 18th-century Neapolitan presepe , it is incredibly detailed and expansive in size. There is a nominal charge of one euro to see this presepe .

Sala del Presepe in the Monastery of Santa Chiara – this large-scale Nativity scene is composed of 18th-century pieces commissioned during the reign of Ferdinand IV. The king himself was a big fan of presepi

Don’t worry if you don’t manage to see exactly these five Neapolitan presepi . Large-scale Nativity scenes are installed all over Naples, especially in the local churches. The best time of the year to see them is obviously around Christmas but they add a touch of whimsicality and wonder to your memories of this Italian city no matter the season.

EVENTS IN NAPLES

Naples has a rich calendar of events. From art exhibitions and religious festivals to culinary get-togethers (called sagra ) and street celebrations, there is always something fun and exciting to do in the largest Southern Italian city.

Here are some of the most important events in Naples to enjoy together with napoletani :

January – 6th January or Epiphany is the day of Befana, an old long-nosed lady who rides around on a broom. As one of Italy’s five Christmas gift-bearers, she brings presents to the well-behaved Italian kids. What do the naughty ones get instead? Find out here . On 17th January, Naples celebrates the day of St. Anthony the Abbot, the protector of animals, with traditional bonfires.

January/February – travel to Naples for Carnevale . This is a period of confetti, costumes, music, and fun in the city. It’s also an opportunity to spot a Pulcinella or two out and about in the historic quarters. With a black mask with a protruding nose, this is the commedia dell’arte character who hails from Naples. In English, he is also known as Punchinello and originated the British puppet character Punch (as in Punch and Judy).

N.B.: If you can’t make it to Naples specifically for Carnival, then head to Vico del Fico al Purgatorio , a dark portico right off Via dei Tribunali , at any other time of the year. Here you can see the famous bronze bust of Pulcinella by the local artist Lello Esposito. Tourists touch the bust’s nose for good luck which explains its shiny surface.

March/April – Easter is one of the major celebrations in the Neapolitan calendar. Spend the Holy Week here and immerse yourself in centuries-old religious rites and popular traditions. For example, the sepolcri and the giro delle sette chiese . The sepolcri are specially decorated altars or chapels in Naples’ churches. The giro comprises visiting seven churches to pray for benevolence. Tuck into local festive dishes such as zuppa di cozze (mussel soup eaten on Holy Thursday) and pastiera (a shortcrust pie filled with ricotta-based cream).

April – twice a year (on the 5th of April and on the first Tuesday of July) the historic quarter Rione Sanità celebrates its patron saint, the Spanish Dominican friar Vincenzo Ferrer. Known as O’Munacone – the Big Monk – it is believed that the cholera epidemics that decimated Naples in 1836 only ended after the saint’s statue was carried along the quarter’s streets.

N.B.: You can see the shrine of San Vincenzo in the Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità. The locals pray to the saint when they want to have a child.

April/May (then Septembe r and December ) – Naples’ major celebration takes place three times per year: the Saturday preceding the first Sunday of the month of May, then the 19th of September, and the 16th of December. This is when napoletani flock to the city’s Duomo and pray for the Miracle of Liquefaction. The blood of Naples’ patron saint San Gennaro was collected in a glass vial after he had been beheaded during the persecutions of the Christians spearheaded by the Roman emperor Diocletian. Over the centuries, the blood dried and turned solid. However, on these particular dates, it becomes liquid again after a complex ceremony performed in front of the people of Naples. A successful liquefaction of the saint’s blood is a sign of forthcoming prosperity. A failure to liquefy is interpreted as misfortunes to befall Naples and the world in the months to follow.

September – visit Naples around the 8th of September for the annual Feast of the Madonna of Piedigrotta. Expect float parades, firework displays, and concerts.

December – the Christmas season is especially heartfelt in Naples. Head to Via San Gregorio Armeno to immerse yourself in the festive hubbub of shoppers seeking new pieces for their presepi . Visit the city’s churches to see their intricate Nativity scenes. Enjoy traditional Christmas desserts such as struffoli (fried balls of sweet dough covered with hot honey and colourful sprinkles) and roccocò biscuits.

NAPLES WITH KIDS

Is Naples a good place to visit with kids? This is a very valid question considering the city’s incredibly busy historic centre, the obvious social contrasts, and the large number of sights and museums where one can spend many hours walking around to full exhaustion.

My personal opinion is that Naples is a great place to visit with kids who are eager to learn new things, who love to eat, and who have vivid imaginations. Also, kids who don’t mind walking around for long stretches of time and who love exploring new places and cultures.

Here are a handful of places and sights which you may enjoy visiting particularly with your kids in Naples:

Aquarium of Naples – this is the oldest aquarium in Italy. It was opened in 1874 by the German Darwinist Anton Dohrn. Two years before that he had founded the world’s first zoological research station in Naples. The aquarium is housed in Villa Comunale – an important historic garden in the quarter of Chiaia. It has 200 animal and plant species in 19 basins and represents nine different habitats of the Mediterranean Sea. Near the aquarium, you can also visit the Museum Darwin-Dohrn .

Botanical Garden of Naples – this verdant oasis is a pleasure to visit with the family, especially on a hot day.

Ospedale delle Bambole – this Dolls’ Hospital is a very whimsical place in the heart of Naples. It first opened its doors in the 19th century and since then it has been run by four generations of the same family. It specialises in the repair of antique dolls and it has a small museum.

Città della Scienza – right next door to Naples you can visit Italy’s first interactive museum dedicated to the different branches of the sciences. A fun and educational destination for the whole family.

Below you can read my 10-year-old child’s honest opinion about visiting Naples in Italy:

Naples is a busy and lively city. With the noise, tight roads, and scooters, it gives you an air of happiness. But it is also very warm and within five days your feet can start hurting within five minutes of walking.

Children might enjoy the Napoli Sotterranea guided tour because of the dark and tight passages and the underground pools of water. One part of this tour includes something that you wouldn’t imagine being in an ordinary house but I won’t give any spoilers. (Especially as it’s underneath the bed!)

I also enjoyed seeing the Nativity scenes, especially the moving ones. Naples’ amulets – cornicelli – were everywhere.

The veiled statues made me feel a bit sad but you must visit not just the Veiled Christ in the Sansevero Chapel but also the Veiled Son (see the heading 5 Curious Facts About Naples below to find out why). In the Sansevero Chapel, you will also find a statue with an impressive fishing net around it.

I really liked Naples’ tight little streets and the way the delivery system works with baskets tied on ropes. You will find out soon enough!

Be warned! Maradona is everywhere! But I liked the fact that Naples’ colour is light blue (my favourite colour).

If you go to Herculaneum, there is a house which I liked. It has orange and red walls, which I describe as tropical. There are also some ancient Roman snack bars, but if you get hungry you can get an ice cream or a snack from the vending machines by the ruins. I liked walking around, looking into the ancient houses and naming them. Herculaneum is the perfect size to explore with kids and they even have cats who live there. I saw two of them – Ciuccio and Ercolina.

In Naples, you must go to the best ragù restaurant in the world – Tandem. And also you obviously have to taste gelato and pizza. A pizzeria to have in mind is the Pizzeria del Purgatorio. The sfogliatella riccia is quite difficult to bite, so watch it! Another thing to try are the Neapolitan taralli.

Let me tell you one thing! In Naples, they not only have granita (similar to slush puppy) but they even have watermelon and melon flavours. They are delicious!

The combination of hot, blazing sun and a full belly is not good. In this case, I suggest that you follow the Italian tradition of afternoon nap which is called riposo .

I would definitely return to Naples! I am happy that I got a Neapolitan cornicello , a fridge magnet, and some pieces for a Neapolitan Nativity scene. Naples is worth it! Especially for the food.

BEST ORGANISED TOURS IN NAPLES

Booking an organised tour in Naples with a reputed tour guide or travel company is a shortcut to getting to know on many different levels this vibrant, stimulating, and often overwhelming city. It’s like stepping through a secret door to discover Naples’ best corners and hidden gems which otherwise may be difficult to come across one by one on your own.

With a millennial history, a rich catalogue of art, delicious local food, and many traditional crafts with outstanding output, Naples is a must-see city in Italy. This is a place that keeps many secrets that it reveals to only those in the know. No matter how many books or guidebooks you may read about Naples before coming here, the City of Pizza, Volcanoes, and Nativity Scenes can still be a shock to the system. You may find yourself ambling through its ancient streets unsure where to head to first and what to delve into next.

It is at this point that an expert local guide or a reputable tour company can be of great help. With a structured approach and offering tours covering specific fields of knowledge or tailored to your personal interests, you can see and experience the maximum of Naples within the shortest amount of time.

Here are some of the best and most highly recommended tours to take in Naples organised by category:

• Sightseeing: Hop-on Hop-off Bus ; Walking Tour with Underground Ruins ; Walking Tour with the Most Famous Monuments
• History: Pompeii with an Archaeologist ; Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius ; Pompeii and Herculaneum
• Food: Street Food Tour ; Do Eat Better Experience ; Secret Food Tour

Alternatively, select directly local tours and activities in Naples on GetYourGuide , Viator , and Tiqets .

Even if you decide against booking a tour and then you change your mind at the last moment, don’t worry! Tour guides can be hired in situ in many museums and sights in Naples. For example, when you visit Herculaneum, you will see the tour guides’ desk next to the entrance.

BEST VISITOR PASSES FOR NAPLES AND CAMPANIA

There are several visitor passes for the city of Naples and the region of Campania in Italy. In general, they cover a period of one, three, or seven days and provide free and discounted access to the best and most popular sights and museums here. Most of them also include free transport either as an included perk or as an add-on option.

The most popular visitor passes for Naples and Campania are issued by the following companies:

Campania ArteCard

Naples Pass

Both offer different options in terms of pass duration and number of free sights covered by each pass. So browsing their websites and choosing the right card for you is worth the time.

On Tiqets you can also find visitor passes just for Vesuvius and Pompeii, too.

We purchased the three-day Campania Artecard as we wanted to be able to use it on our day trip to the Phlegraean Fields, too. In my personal experience, the card was useful but it had some shortcomings.

Only the seven-day card is physical. The others are virtual. You have to download an app on your phone which provides you with special QR codes to scan every time you use public transport or visit a sight. This meant that we needed to make sure that we had enough battery left at all times and that the internet was working wherever we were.

Often, the QR code wouldn’t scan easily, especially at the train stations, so we had to go find someone to let us in through the barrier. In the process, we would get approached by small-time crooks offering to open the barrier for us in exchange for a small tip.

As far as we understood, children travel for free on the parent’s card if they are under a meter tall. As our child is over a meter, we needed to go buy tickets for her with all the queuing this entailed. I would have loved to be able to pay a bit more for the card but to have my child’s travel on it or simply to have the option to buy a child’s card from the get-go.

Another thing to have in mind is that the card seems to cover a specific number of days and not a specific number of hours. In other words, no matter how early or how late in the day you activate it, it counts the day of activation as a full day.

Otherwise, the card is handy as it saves you quite a lot of money. Especially, if you plan your visits in such a way that you head to the most expensive sights first. It also allows you to jump the queues at museums and sights which is a great timesaver. The app has a lot of excellent information about the sights and landmarks to see in Naples. This can give you lots of ideas for places to explore which makes your stay in Naples even more exciting.

BEST DAY TRIPS FROM NAPLES

For everything that Naples has to offer, right next door to this vibrant Italian city you will also find an almost overwhelming number of must-see destinations. No matter what you are after – ancient ruins, picturesque towns, coastal villages, diving trips, natural beauty or panoramic views – take your pick from this list:

Ancient Roman Cities and Landmarks – Herculaneum and Pompeii don’t really need an introduction. Destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, today the excavations of these two ancient Roman towns are a must-see if you love history and archaeology. If you have time to spare, don’t miss the Virtual Archaeological Museum of Herculaneum and Boscoreale , Oplontis , and Stabiae in the vicinity of Pompeii. Take the Circumvesuviana train and you can easily get from Naples to all of these ancient Roman hotspots by yourself. Alternatively, you can also book this highly recommended day tour which takes in Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius. If you have little time to spare, then this two-hour visit to Herculaneum in the company of an archaeologist is a great option to consider.

Phlegraean Fields ( Campi Flegrei ) – a truly exciting yet little-visited by mass tourists area right next to Naples. Here you will find small towns with fresh seafood, impressive ruins, and volcanic heritage. From the enormous Flavian Amphitheatre and the ancient Roman macellum in Pozzuoli to the Archaeological Park of Cuma and the Piscina Mirabilis in Miseno, this is the best day trip from Naples you have never heard of. I particularly loved the Roman baths in Baiae. The sea here guards the remains of once lavish Roman villas. Protected as part of the Submerged Archaeological Park of Baia, they can be seen as part of a diving or snorkelling trip.

N.B.: If little-known historic sites are your thing, then make sure that you also head to the Archaeological Site of Pausilypon halfway between Naples and the Phlegraean Fields. You can read more about it here .

Islands near Naples: a handful of beautiful islands are a short ferry ride away from Naples. The most famous one of them all is Capri but if you have the time, don’t miss Ischia and Procida. Check ferry timetables and ticket prices at the official websites of the ferry operators SNAV , Caremar , and Medmar . Don’t forget to book a boat tour of Capri in advance for maximum fun during your time on the island.

Amalfi Coast ( Costiera Amalfitana ) – this beautiful stretch of coastline along the Gulf of Salerno is dotted with small towns that are the essence of picture-perfect Italy. Amalfi, Positano and Ravello are the most famous among them and every high season suffer the effects of overtourism. Head there in the low season to avoid the crowds and for a more authentic experience. To simplify your travel arrangements, you can also book an organised day tour . Alternatively, make a plan to discover for yourself the lesser-known corners of the Costiera Amalfitana , for example, Vietri sul Mare and Atrani.

Other destinations to visit from Naples – here in no particular order but all deserving a day trip (or a longer stay) are some more must-see places for you to easily explore coming from Naples: Royal Palace of Caserta , Archaeological Park of Paestum and Velia , and the towns of Sorrento, Benevento, and Gaeta. If you have little time but you want to see the most, then you can book an organised tour taking in Sorrento and the highlights of the Amalfi Coast.

IS NAPLES SAFE?

The question ‘Is Naples safe?’ surely is one of the first things that pop into the mind of any traveller considering a visit to Naples in Italy.

For decades, books, films, and news stories have all presented this vibrant city as a beautiful yet decaying place where danger lurks around every corner. Speaking truthfully, Naples definitely is an edgy city. The consequences of limited financial means are easy to stumble upon even right next to major landmarks. Some areas here seem to experience real penury.

On the plus side, however, I felt that Naples is a friendly city where it was immensely enjoyable to walk around and talking to people felt natural and easy.

Some time ago I used to live in Northern Italy which I got to explore in depth. Yet, I always felt like an outsider and even in the city that my family called home for six years – Vicenza – there were people who refused to talk to me on account that I was a foreigner and others who kept me at arm’s length and took obvious offence to the fact that I would speak to my own child in my mother tongue instead of Italian.

In contrast to this, Naples felt easy to slot into. While I was situationally aware at all times, this didn’t interfere with my feeling relaxed, happy to explore, and at ease to talk to people. We all have been fed with cliches about Italy and some of us may have been left disappointed when some of these cliches didn’t live up to reality. Naples for me lived up to some of the best expectations people may have of Italy – friendliness, ease of communication, and the strive to create beauty in any and all circumstances. It’s a shame that this striking in so many ways city has been experiencing financial deprivation over such a long period of time. This, obviously, has left a deep imprint on its fabric!

The friend of a friend who met us at Naples Airport gave us some safety advice which I found applicable to any other large, lively city in the world. For example, no flashy jewellery, expensive watches, or branded accessories (which was easy for me as I don’t wear any jewellery when I travel), sticking together after dark (we are a family of two parents and a small child, so we tend to stick together when we walk around), and not exploring deserted areas at night (this we don’t do in principle).

Depending on where you come from and what urban environment you may be used to, what you may find unsettling in Naples at first glance are the quantities of rubbish towards the end of the day, the proliferation of graffiti (some of them are rather good), and (in some corners of the city) the obvious signs of people living rough. This is not exclusive to Naples. I live in a rather economically deprived town in England, so locally we have some of these issues affecting the community at large, too.

Before travelling to Naples, I didn’t know what to expect and I had seen all the negative reviews online. I am glad to report that I found Naples a joy to explore. It was stimulating on so many levels and offered such a rich list of things to do that I felt I could return to this city time and time again to get to know it better. Naples is full of life and this was such a wondrous thing to see and experience.

Safety is always a concern when travelling. I am speaking as the almost victim of a violent mugging in a public place in a large European city (not in Italy!), so you can be sure that when I am in a new place, especially with my child and my camera around my neck, I have my head on a swivel.

Naples is a city of great contrasts. Poverty is not conveniently hidden away here. You can see that survival is tough for many people. Beauty and decay occupy the same spaces. So, if you want to spend your holidays in a highly presentable and polished environment, then maybe Naples is not your destination. If, on the contrary, you are looking to see a place that has nurtured life in all its manifestations – from the creative to the destructive – for close to three millennia, then Naples is an excellent choice to consider.

As in all other places, be travel-smart. Keep your belongings close to you, be aware of your surroundings, in control of your abilities, and don’t engage in conversations with overly friendly people who approach you first. They are running a small-time scam where they give you some information and then ask for a tip. And, if you need a good list with lots of common-sense safety tips applicable to all destinations, have a look at this article on my blog.

BEST TRAVEL GUIDES FOR NAPLES

WHAT TO BUY FOR NAPLES

WHAT TO BUY IN NAPLES

Shopping in Naples is an exciting experience on many levels. From artisan products and luxury goods to treat yourself to heaps of imaginative and colourful souvenirs to take home for family and friends, you will be tempted to spend, spend, spend time and time again.

Artfully arranged shelves and windows tempt you with handmade Nativity scenes , hand-painted Neapolitan tambourines, beautiful ceramics, hand-carved cameos , antique books, and so many more weird and wonderful, unusual and eclectic, rare and irresistible things.

Prices accommodate every budget! So, here are some cool things to buy in Naples and some of the best local makers to purchase them from:

Handmade Neapolitan Nativity scenes from Fratelli Capuano , La Scarabatola , and the shops along Via San Gregorio Armeno . Handmade Nativity scenes (known as presepe or presepio in Italian) are an intrinsic part of Naples’ artisan heritage.

Corno portafortuna (also known as cornicell o ) – you will see these chilly-like horns all around Naples. Traditionally red, nowadays they come in all sizes, colours, and variations. The locals believe that this Neapolitan amulet protects you and brings you good luck. For it to work, however, it needs to be handmade and given to you as a present. Apparently, you can’t just buy your own! D’Auria Artigiani make a large selection of cornicelli . Otherwise, you will find these amulets all over Naples.

Cameos by Gerolomini Gallery – this elegant shop has a wide selection of beautiful handmade cameos and coral jewellery. It also has a small museum dedicated to the delicate art of cameo-carving which is typical for the area around Naples.

Handmade bags and purses by Jiji Lovemade – I fell in love with Jiji’s colourful, vibrant bags during my week in Naples this summer. With beautiful patterns, they are both practical and elegant, perfect for city living and weekend travel.

Neapolitan tombola – a cheeky lotto-like game that Neapolitan families play together, especially at Christmas. Many small shops along Spaccanapoli and Via San Gregorio Armeno sell it.

Artisanal chocolate by Gay-Odin – this over a century-old Neapolitan company makes high-quality chocolates and chocolate-based products.

Cucumella – this traditional Neapolitan flip pot produces smooth and strong coffee. With its elongated design, it is a great conversation starter and is a great gift for the coffee lover in your life.

BEST BOOKS ABOUT NAPLES

5 CURIOUS FACTS ABOUT NAPLES

1. Naples has 52 patron saints – one for each week of the year. The city’s main patron saint is San Gennaro with whom napoletani signed a notarised contract on 13th January 1527 stipulating that the saint was to protect them from plagues and eruptions of Vesuvius.

2. In Naples, you can see not just the worldwide famous sculpture of the Veiled Christ , but also the sculpture of the Veiled Son. Both are carved from a single block of marble and the latter is the work of Jago – an Italian sculptor currently residing in New York. The Veiled Christ is in the Sansevero Chapel. The Veiled Son is in the Basilica of San Severo fuori le Mura. Both are a must-see!

3. Via di San Gregorio Armeno (also known as Via dei Presepi ) is Naples’ famous street that houses the workshops of the artisans who make the famous Neapolitan presepi . These intricate Nativity scenes include dozens of figurines and represent the Holy Family in the stables often surrounded by purely Neapolitan characters and settings. Curiously, millennia ago, this same street was lined with workshops producing terracotta figurines which people bought and left as votive offerings at the adjacent temple of Ceres – the Roman goddess of agriculture.

4. Naples’ historic city centre is one of the largest in Europe. Its many layers – from the deepest catacombs and underground water cisterns to its tall obelisks and church domes covered with majolica tiles – are the result of 27 centuries of history. Its surface encloses 1,700 hectares, 1,021 of which were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995!

5. Napoletani are football-mad and are particularly obsessed with Maradona. Hailing from Argentina, the legendary footballer played for S.S.C. Napoli from 1984 to 1991 and took the Neapolitan team to the top of the game. To this day, Maradona has a god-like status in the city. Everywhere you go you will see his face on flags, murals, and even packets of crisps.

MY TOP 5 TIPS FOR NAPLES

• Explore Naples area by area. This is a large and exciting city with lots to see and do. Group the sights you want to visit based on their proximity to one another instead of exhausting yourself by running all over town every day of your stay.
• Where possible, book entry tickets and tours in advance. This will minimise waiting times and will allow you to make the most of your day. Tiqets is a great resource for tickets for Naples’ best museums and landmarks. Viator is my favourite tool for booking guided tours.
• Bring your appetite. Naples is a city where eating is akin to an elevated cultural experience. From bakeries and family-run trattorias to restaurants with sea views and unmissable gelaterias, Naples runs on excellent food. Don’t skip a meal!
• Embrace Naples’ joy of life! This is a vibrant city that stimulates the senses on many different levels. Let it get under your skin!
• Indulge in people-watching. Naples is as much about its historic and artistic heritage as it is about its people. Take time every day to just stop and take in little scenes of daily life. Many napoletani are worthy of a book and you can read their story on their faces, in their gestures, and in a conversation with them.

5 THINGS NOT TO DO IN NAPLES

• Don’t expect to see the whole of Naples in a day or two. This is a large city with lots of major sights and plenty of hidden gems.
• Don’t hire a car. Traffic in Naples is intense, the driving style is incredibly assertive, and the historic quarters are akin to mazes of narrow streets. Free parking spaces can be very difficult to come across, so parking needs to be organised in advance. Most importantly, Naples has several ZTL’s (limited traffic zones) which are accessible only with special dispensations (for example, local residents and hotel guests) and more or less cover the areas with the biggest concentrations of landmarks and sights.
• Don’t buy counterfeit luxury and designer goods . Heavy fines are in place for tourists tempted to buy knock-offs which you may see being sold from sheets spread directly on the ground around town.
• Don’t be negative about Naples and/or its icons. As with every large city with a millennial history, Naples has its own specific problems which are easy to spot. The least a visitor to the city can do is to show respect to the people who have to deal with them on a day-to-day basis. Neapolitans have also elevated certain personalities to a god-like status. Disrespect is not tolerated no matter how well-based your opinion about them may be.
• Don’t accept unsolicited offers for help. Most often than not they will be followed by a request for a tip. At busy spots around town, for example, train or metro stations, you may be approached by a smiley person eager to explain how to get from point A to point B. Don’t engage! If you really need directions, it’s best to ask at the ticket office or a uniformed employee.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ITALY

I have been blogging about travel in Italy for almost ten years now providing detailed and first-hand tried and tested information about the best things to do in this beautiful country. It’s all based on my close to twenty years of visiting Italy solo and with my family. Six of them, we actually spent living in  Vicenza  in the  north of the country .

If you are after in-depth researched and illustrated with dozens of original photos articles about Italy, have a look at the following categories and blog posts:

• Italy  – a full list of all my blog posts about Italy
• 10 Reasons to Visit Northern Italy
• Veneto ,  Trentino ,  Emilia Romagna ,  Umbria  – full lists of all my blog posts about these Italian regions
• Venice ,  Padua ,  Lake Garda ,  Lake Como , Milan  – full lists of all my blog posts about these must-see destinations in Italy.

In addition, right at the end of this page, you will find a list with links to some of my most popular blog posts about many beautiful and exciting cities, towns, and regions to visit in Italy. So, just scroll down and then click on the ones you want to know more about.

Finally, Italy’s  official tourism website  is a great source of the latest news about travel in Italy. Otherwise,  this is one  of the best guidebooks about Italy.

THANK YOU FOR READING

Have a look also at my ultimate travel guides for Venice , Lake Como , and Lake Garda .

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The Complete (Detailed) One Day in Naples Itinerary + Travel Guide

Naples, more than any other city we have seen in Italy, surprised us–and even if you only have one day in Naples, we want it to surprise you in all the best ways too!

Sadly, of all the Italy trip itineraries that make it to the Campania region, very few of them leave time for Naples: sure, maybe they’ll spend a night in the city en route to Pompeii or the Amalfi Coast, but Naples itself is often overlooked, and that is a shame.

Yes, Naples is a bit “dirtier” than many Italian cities. Yes, it feels distinctly different than northern Italian cities like Florence and Milan.

Yes, it is chaotic and hilly and layered and hard to get a handle on–and all of that makes it absolutely wonderful.

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Naples is also incredibly historic: its recorded history dates to 7th century BCE, and the history likely dates back further than that. Naples has been a notable city on the European stage for more than a thousand years, both conquering and being conquered as the centuries passed, and in recent history, endured the most severe WWII bombings seen in Italy.

Give Naples a chance (actual Naples, not just its jaw-dropping neighbors), and you may be surprised at just how much you enjoy this epic city.

Here’s our suggested one day in Naples itinerary–follow this, and you’ll experience a little bit of everything the city has to offer, from historic castles to waterfront views to abandoned tunnels and–of course–classic Napoli pizza.

Table of Contents

The Perfect One Day in Naples Itinerary

More than one day in naples, getting around naples, where to stay in naples.

Start at the Piazza del Plebiscito.

The Piazza del Plebiscito is not only beautiful and centrally located in Naples, it’s also surrounded by significant buildings and can essentially be considered the main square of the city.

Here are just a couple of interesting things you’ll find there–if you’d like to go in either and experience the interior, be sure to get an early start to the day–this one day in Naples itinerary will keep you busy all day long!

Church of San Francesco di Paola

As one of the most iconic buildings in Naples, the 19th-century Church of San Francesco di Paolo dominates a large portion of the Piazza del Plebiscito and is built to be somewhat reminiscent of the Pantheon in Rome.

Palazzo Reale

Originally built in the 18th century for a royal visit that never materialized, the Royal Palace eventually played host to several rulers over the centuries, including King Charles III of the Bourbons and Ferdinand I who ruled over the Two Sicilies.

Today, you can tour the opulent interior of the palace, including the private apartments of the queens.

Book your visit to Palazzo Reale today!

Head to Caffe Gambrinus.

Opulent, gorgeous, and home to delicious coffee served on their iconic china, Caffe Gambrinus is both the perfect place to grab a Neapolitan-style breakfast and get sufficiently caffeinated enough to tackle Naples in one day, and it’s also a piece of history.

This gorgeous cafe was an iconic feature of the city during the Belle Epoque, pulling in writers, artists, and intellectuals from all over Europe.

Times changed, however, when Mussolini came to power, and Caffe Gambrinus was closed for being anti-fascist.

Post-Mussolini, the cafe reopened and is a popular spot in Naples to this day.

Due to its beauty, fame, and prominent home next to the Piazza del Plebiscito, you will pay a bit more for coffee at Caffe Gambrinus than elsewhere in Naples–but it’s still worth stopping by.

Munch on a sfogliatella.

You can grab one of these delicate, layered pastries either at Caffe Gambrinus or at one of the stalls near Galleria Umberto I if you want to save a bit of money–but either way, be sure to sample one!

Light, sweet, and stuffed with a variety of treats (cream, fruit, and cheese are all popular), sfogliatelle are native to the Campania region and a must-have breakfast staple in Naples.

Not all pastries taste as good as they look, but sfogliatelle definitely do.

Duck into the Galleria Umberto I.

If you’ve traveled to Italy before (or just scrolled through Italy-themed hashtags on Instagram), odds are that you’ve seen the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, the famous mall topped with a glass dome.

Well, the Galleria Umberto I in Naples looks… pretty much exactly like that.

The architect who designed it in the late 19th century, Emanuele Rocco, was, shall we say, heavily inspired by the masterpiece in Milan.

Though the Galleria Umberto I is smaller and has not been as well looked after as Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (though there is hope: the Galleria Umberto I is currently being restored), it is still absolutely worth adding to your one day in Naples itinerary!

Optional: Tour the San Carlo Theatre.

The beautiful San Carlo Theatre, which is home to gorgeous operas and predates even the famous La Scala Theatre in Milan, is high on the list for many theatre buffs visiting Naples, but with only one day in the city, you may or may not be able to enter.

Guided tours are given a few times per day , so plan ahead if you want to visit–but know that tours are often shut off for needs of the theatre, including rehearsals.

Descend into the Bourbon Tunnel.

Naples, in general, is a city with plenty of (literally) buried secrets.

Tunnels, caves, and catacombs all abound under the city, and no one day in Naples could be complete without ducking below the surface at least once.

The Bourbon Tunnel may make for a slightly unorthodox addition to a one day Naples itinerary, but it’s definitely worth making the effort to visit: touring this tunnel is incredibly memorable and absolutely fascinating for anyone even slightly interested in either history of disappearing underground.

Very long story very short, the Bourbon Tunnel has served as part of an aqueduct system, as an (incomplete) royal escape route, as an air-raid shelter, as a military hospital, and as an impound lot–and those are just the highlights!

Remains of each era of the tunnel are immediately evident throughout the tour, and I found myself captivated by the entire experience.

Since the tours are guided and happen at specific times , be sure to check the schedule before starting your day in Naples! If you are the adventurous sort and plan ahead, adventure and spelunking tours are also offered.

If you’d like to get underground in Naples but the Bourbon Tunnel doesn’t appeal to you, you can also take a look at the more well-known Naples Underground or the San Gennaro Catacombs … but after visiting, I think there’s very little chance that you’ll regret a foray into the Bourbon Tunnel.

Book your visit to the Bourbon Tunnel today!

Check out the Castel dell’Ovo.

A castle set against the sea: it’s hard to imagine anything more picturesque!

This site–though not the exact building–has been important to Naples and the surrounding area for thousands of years, and even played host to a very memorable (and unwilling) occupant during his exile–the last western Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustulus.

Today, Castel dell’Ovo is set along a beautiful promenade, and a walk along it will give you a chance to admire not only the castle but the Bay of Naples and powerful Mount Vesuvius standing tall on the other side of the water.

Enjoy a pizza lunch.

If there’s one food that Naples is known for, it’s pizza–and even with only one day in Naples, two rounds of pizza wouldn’t be a bad thing! Start with lunch, and, well–we’ll see what you feel like for dinner.

To find the best pizzerias in Naples, we created our own, self-led Naples pizza tour. Our favorites included L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele and Pizzeria Brandi (where margherita pizza was invented), but there are plenty of pizzerias to choose from in Naples!

If you’d rather learn than simply eat, consider taking a pizza-making class–you may have to trim something else from your one day in Naples itinerary to squeeze it in, but if you’re a pizza lover or cook at heart, it’s hard to think of a better way to spend an afternoon!

Book your pizza-making class in Naples now!

Head up Via Toledo.

Via Toledo is one of the main arteries of Naples: this is where you’ll find colorful buildings, endless shopping, and plenty of small restaurants and cafes.

A stroll up Via Toledo is a great way to get a taste of life in Naples, whether you’re planning on shopping or not.

Technically, you could walk all the way up the (very large) hill to the National Archaeological Museum to finish out your one day in Naples, however, that is a very long, steep walk.

We recommend walking as far as the Via Toledo metro stop and then hopping a train the rest of the way–not only will you save your feet, it’ll give you an opportunity to view what has been called one of the most beautiful metro stations in Europe .

Detour into San Domenico Maggiore Church.

This beautiful Gothic church is definitely worth a quick peek inside during your one day in Naples, however, the detour isn’t just to see the church: it’s also to see the piazza of the same name, as well as give you an opportunity to wander the surrounding streets, including the gorgeous Spaccanapoli.

Fall in love with Spaccanapoli.

The narrow street of Spaccanapoli is absolutely, unequivocally, iconically Naples: crowded, beautiful, and exciting, this street is home to shops and restaurants crowding every corner, salesmen selling just about anything imaginable every few feet, lovely architecture, the occasional car improbably trying to make its way across the crowds, and even laundry hanging outside apartment windows.

Every level and every layer adds together to make Spaccanapoli overwhelming delightful to the senses.

Pay a visit to the National Archaeological Museum.

Want to see some of the best treasures found in Pompeii?

Well, they’re not in Pompeii–many of the best pieces were moved to the museum in the 18th century per the request of then-King Charles III.

King Charles III also moved several other archaeological artifacts, many of which he had inherited, to the museum, and eventually, the pieces were added to and the museum became the impressive place it is today.

The museum is large, so be sure to pick your focus depending on your interest–gemstones? Ancient Roman history? Ancient history in Naples?

Whatever part of Naples’ (or even Italy’s!) history you are interested in, you can find it at the National Archaeological Museum.

Get your ticket for the National Archaeological Museum today!

No one day in Naples itinerary could hope to cover everything there is to see in the city–if you’re lucky enough to have more time in Naples, consider paying a visit to Castel Nuovo, checking out the San Gennaro Catacombs and the Naples Underground , ascending to Castel Sant’Elmo for amazing views, or taking yourself on a tour of Naples’ best pizzerias like we did!

Theatre buffs may want to spend an evening taking in a show at the San Carlo Theatre (plan ahead as much as possible for that), and history lovers can be charmed by the interior of the Palazzo Reale .

And, of course, many of the truly magnificent things to do in Naples stand just outside its borders: take a day trip to the island of Capri , peer into the crater of Mount Vesuvius, stroll along the streets of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and road trip along the iconic Amalfi Coast.

While this one day Naples itinerary is primarily designed to be walkable, keep in mind one fact about Naples when planning your trip: it is absolutely covered in hills.

The bulk of this Naples itinerary focuses on attractions near sea level, but in the afternoon, you will ascend quite a bit.

Plan on using the Naples metro a few times throughout your stay, especially after visiting Via Toledo and possibly to get to and from your hotel, depending on where you stay.

Looking for the perfect Naples accommodation ? The city is packed with options at all budgets–we recommend looking for a fairly central location that’s easy to get in and out of (keep Naples’ many steep hills in mind as you choose a place to stay!).

GuestHouse Marcanto — If you’re looking for a clean, basic place in Naples to lay your head at night, GuestHouse Marcanto is an excellent option!

There are escalators nearby that make ascending and descending to and from the guesthouse to the lower section of Naples a breeze, and the guesthouse itself is comfortable–just be sure that you are able to contact the owner once you arrive, as the entrance is in a courtyard and a bit hard to spot.

Check rates & book your stay at GuestHouse Marcanto!

Le Ortensie — Located in the heart of Naples and right around the corner from several restaurants, Le Ortensie is perfect for the traveler looking for a central location and a friendly, helpful staff. Rates also include a basic breakfast–but be sure to save room for at least one sfogliatella later in the morning, too!

Check rates & book your stay at Le Ortensie!

Palazzo Alabardieri — Elegant, beautiful, and located a short walk from many of the stops on this one day Naples itinerary, this extremely popular hotel is the perfect way to treat yourself to a bit of luxury while in Naples (and Naples is the perfect city to splurge, as your money goes further here than in Venice or Rome!). At Palazzo Alabardieri, the beautiful rooms, impressive breakfast spread, and perfect location all get rave reviews.

Check rates & book your stay at Palazzo Alabardieri!

About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

2 thoughts on “The Complete (Detailed) One Day in Naples Itinerary + Travel Guide”

I visited Naples last year in April and I haven’t stopped thinking about it. I was only there for one day, but boy did it make an impression. And that da Michele pizza!!! I dream of returning one day.

Ah yes, that pizza is amazing! We were lucky enough to have several days in town, but it definitely wasn’t enough (especially since we wanted to see Pompeii and Vesuvius too). Naples is such an interesting, unexpected city for sure–we hope to go back again too.

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Naples Travel Guide

Our Naples Travel Guide is your gateway to experiencing the heart of Southern Italy. Discover Naples, famous for its rich history, iconic pizza, and breathtaking coastal views. Explore the city’s historic treasures, from ancient Spaccanapoli to the Royal Palace. Delight in Naples’ culinary wonders, savor pizza in its birthplace, and relish local street food. Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture, learn about Naples’ passionate traditions, and find the best spots for authentic espresso. Whether you’re a curious traveler or a seasoned explorer, our Naples guide helps you embrace the beauty, culture, and flavors of this captivating Italian destination.

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Best Things To Do in Naples

Visit Naples Italy - N°1 Napoli Travel Guide

Naples travel guide - tips for tourism in naples city (napoli).

All sightseeing, tourist attractions information and tourism tips for the city of Naples such as visiting the sights and highlights. What to visit in Naples (Napoli) and Pompeii in Italy? Your travel starts on NaplesPompeii.com

What to visit in Naples (Napoli)?

Naples , or Napoli for Italians, is a major port city in the south of Italy in the Campania region. With 4.4 million inhabitants ('Neapolitans'), it is the third largest city in Italy. The chaotic city has everything for an inspiring city trip because of the rich history, the Italian cuisine and especially in the field of art and culture, the city has a lot to offer. In addition, a short distance from the city of Naples are famous places of interest such as Pompeii , Herculaneum and the Vesuvius volcano. South of the city lies the colorful and beautiful coastal strip of the Amalfi Coast and you can easily reach the beautiful islands such as Capri off the coast of Naples by ferry. All these highlights ensure that you can easily spend a week in Naples Italy and the surrounding region. We are happy to help you during your travel with our travel guide NaplesPompeii.com !

Things to do in Naples Italy

Naples city has a history of about 3000 years and is one of the culturally richest cities in Europe. Although the messy city initially has a somewhat dilapidated and neglected appearance, the city has many beautiful churches, museums and monuments. In addition, it is the city of pizza, espresso and football legend Diego Maradona, who played for SC Napoli. Naples has been attracting tourists for years as a destination for a city trip and it is becoming more popular every year, although you will experience less of the feeling of mass tourism here as in Rome or Venice . A number of places of interest highlighted:

Impressive churches

The Neapolitan churches in Baroque and Renaissance style all have their own atmosphere and identity. So you have the Duomo di Napoli , the cathedral with the treasures of patron saint San Gennaro. Three times a year his clotted blood liquefies. When it doens't happen it would bring disaster upon Naples city. The San Gregorio Armeno has a baroque interior and, despite its busy interior, is a place of tranquility amidst the bustle of nativity scenes sellers in Via San Gregorio. The funerary chapel Cappella Sansevero was erected for Santa Maria della Pietá and houses large statues by the 18th century sculptors Corradini and San Martino.

Historic castles

In addition to these church buildings, there are also many castles in Naples Italy. So you have Castel Sant'Elmo on top of the Vomero hill. Here you have amazing views of the city, islands and Phlegraean fields. Castel dell'Ovo is also known as the Egg Castle. Legend has it that Roman poet Virgil placed an egg in the foundation. Should the egg break, the castle would perish. It still stands today. Yet little of the castle remains today, but it is definitely worth a visit and see the Bay of Naples.

Naples region

In the Naples region you will find the well-known places like Pompeii that you really shouldn't miss. In AD 79, the volcano of Mount Vesuvius destroyed the city and also the nearby city of Herculaneum . Today, the excavations and remains are one of the most popular attractions of a visit near Naples Italy. In addition, you have the Amalfi Coastline, which is beautiful to visit with an excursion. With several cute villages and the sea at your feet, you will have a great time at the Amalfi Coast.

Other activities in the city of Naples

These days Naples is a bustling city, but the Italian city also has a special underground network of streets and air-raid shelters. This system was already built by the Greeks and Romans and later used as air raid shelters during the war. Today you can book a tour and immerse yourself in the hundreds of kilometers of caves, tunnels and other underground passages. Official routes of Naples Underground include the Napoli Sotterranea, Galleria Borbonica and Neapolis Sotterrrata. Naples city also has a beautiful open square called Piazza del Plebiscito with the Royal Palace 'Palazzo Reale' and the Church of San Francesco di Paolo.

Top 25 Things to do in Naples

Neighborhoods in Napoli Italy

You need a lot of time to see and fully explore all the neighborhoods of Naples. The area you should definitely not miss is the busy and lively historic center ' Centro Antico ' with highlights such as the Spaccanapoli, beautiful churches and the nativity scene of Via San Gregorio Armeno. You also have Rione Sanità , perhaps the most beautiful neighborhood of Napoli . Nearby is the popular National Archaeological Museum . Rione Sanità is a neighborhood that breathes history. It was very popular, because in the past the king braved the streets with his carriage. The horses were replaced by oxen in the district, because only oxen were strong enough to carry the carriage to the hill of Capodimonte . Nowadays you will find coffee shops, restaurants and stalls everywhere here.

The Vomero district: best views of Napoli city

Higher up in Napoli city is Vomero . From this district you have an amazing view of the center of Naples. You can easily reach this district via cable car. Vomero is by no means boring, because here too there are cozy bars and restaurants with important sights nearby. For example the Carthusian Monastery ' Certosa di San Martino ' and the castle ' Castel Sant'Elmo '. Again, you will have an incredibly beautiful view of the city. Vomero is a neighborhood to escape the bustle of the center for a while.

Authentic Neapolitan life in Quartieri Spagnoli

The Quartieri Spagnoli is a typical Neapolitan working-class neighborhood that served as housing for the Spanish army in the 16th century. The reason was to suppress the Neapolitan revolts. Nowadays, in this neighborhood with its typical narrow streets you will find the most authentic life that the people from Naples Italy lead. Laundry hanging in the streets, screaming people and residents who keep a close eye on things on a chair in front of the house. You will also find colorful street art here that you have to see with your own eyes.

Popular in the Naples travel guide

Visit Pompeii

In AD 79, the city of Pompeii was completely buried under a layer of ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The city was completely excavated from this layer of ash in the 18th century, where you can admire old Roman buildings, frescoes and mummies. The absolute top attraction in Naples.

25x Naples things to do

What to do in Naples Italy? Would you like to know what the most important sights, monuments and activities are during your holiday or city trip in Naples? Check out this article with tourism tips about the 25 most visited highlights in Naples so that you can make your perfect itinerary.

• Top 25 Naples

• Mount Vesuvius

Close to the city and not to be missed in the Neapolitan skyline is the volcano Vesuvius. It is possible to visit the volcano and take a hike to the top where you can see the crater and have a great view over Napoli.

• Naples Underground

Beneath Napoli city is a whole network of old streets, squares and tunnels that tell the rich history of the city, from the Romans to the Second World War. You can, for example, make tours through Napoli Sotterranea and the Galleria Borbonica.

Naples Activities & Tours

In Naples you will find a wide range of activities, tours and excursions with a guide. In the article you can read more about these fun or original activities, such as a bike ride or excursions in the beautiful region of Naples city.

• Tours & Activities

Naples day trips & Amalfi Coast

Perhaps the region surrounding Naples is even more beautiful than the city itself. Visit picturesque places on the Amalfi Coast such as Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi. Or take a day trip by ferry to islands such as Capri, Procida or Ischia.

• Excursions from Naples

Brief history 'Napoli'

• The first inhabited area: The history of Naples begins with the legend of Parthenope, a mythical figure from Greek mythology. She fell into the sea by Odysseus and drowned. Her body washed ashore and, according to legend, was buried in what is now the boulevard and Castel dell'Ovo. Thus, that area was also named after Parthenope.
• Naples 470 BC: The Etruscans, who won a victory over the Saracens, created a new area next to Parthenope called Neapolis. The historic city of Naples was built during this period by the Greeks. In the old center of Naples you can still see the street plan of the Greeks today.
• Naples during the Roman period: Neapolis was taken over by the Romans in 326 BC. In the following centuries, Naples became a place for rest and recreation. Many Roman villas were built and slowly the language changed from Greek to Latin and later Italian.
• Eruption of Mount Vesuvius: In the year 79, the volcano Vesuvius erupted, causing that the cities Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed and buried in volcanic ash. Naples also suffered massive damage.
• Part of the Spanish: In the 15th century, Naples became part of the Spanish kingdom. This time is characterized by the many palaces to accommodate the nobles.
• The reign of the Bourbon dynasty: In the 18th century, Naples fell under the rule of the Bourbon dynasty from Spain. During this period, the villages of Chiaia and Posillipo developed which later joined Naples and are now neighborhoods of the city. Also in this period the well-known Palazzo Reale di Capodimonte , the Palace of Caserta and Teatro San Carlo were built.
• Unification with Italy: In the 19th century, Naples became one with Italy and lost its title as the capital. The city fell into a major crisis due to the cholera epidemic.

Best time to travel to Napoli Italy

In the city of Naples ( Napoli ) it is about 30 degrees in the high season (June to August) and 12 degrees in the low season. In the high season it is very busy with many tourists, which you have to take into account. If you want to see major sights, don't visit Naples city in July and August. You then meet crowds of people and will have long waiting times. Better opt for less busy months such as April to June, September and October. The weather is then slightly less warm and the city is also a lot less crowded. Another period of great bustle in the city is the month of December due to the Christmas atmosphere in streets such as San Gregorio Armeno.

Transport in Napoli

In Naples, several sights of the historic center are within walking distance of each other, but for a number of other highlights you'll have to rely on public transport. Naples has an excellent metro network of two metro lines and some of the hills can be reached by the 'funicolare'. For transportation to the archaeological areas of Pompeii and Herculaneum you can use good train connections that leave from the central station. You can also use the many ferries that leave from the port of Naples and connect the beautiful islands such as Capri, Procida and Ischia.

More info transport in Naples

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Naples, Italy   Travel Guide

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Why Go To Naples, Italy

The third-largest city in Italy is chock full of history, art, architecture and delicious food, yet it gets a bad rap for its crime and grime. While these blemishes are certainly a reality for residents, they're far from ubiquitous, especially where tourism is concerned. Choose to literally find higher ground at places like Certosa e Museo di San Martino and you'll be rewarded with truly spectacular views. Stroll the Via Caracciolo e Lungomare di Napoli  or chat with the friendly locals and you'll start to experience some of the magic that this port city holds. And, of course, you can't forget the transcendence that comes from that first bite of Neapolitan pizza (in the city credited with inventing the pizza pie), nor that perfect sip of espresso. 

You can't judge a book by its cover, and you most certainly can't judge a city for its rough edges – doing so would make it easy to miss out on its real treasures, including underground frescos, royal palaces, Tuscan architecture and so much more.

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Best of Naples, Italy

Best hotels in naples, italy.

• # 1 in Hotel Palazzo Decumani
• # 2 in Hotel Palazzo Alabardieri
• # 3 in Grand Hotel Vesuvio

Best Things to Do in Naples, Italy

• # 1 in Via Caracciolo e Lungomare di Napoli
• # 2 in Museo Cappella Sansevero (Sansevero Chapel Museum)
• # 3 in Certosa e Museo di San Martino

Popular Tours

Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi Day Trip from Naples with Pick Up

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Day Trip to Capri, Anacapri and Blue Grotto with a Small Group

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from $ 154.09

Full-day Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, and Pompeii Day Tour from Naples

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from $ 141.71

Naples, Italy Travel Tips

Best months to visit.

The best time to visit Naples is between March and April when the weather is mild and the tourist crowds aren't quite so thick. Summertime is characterized by hot and humid weather and makes touring everything but the beach sticky and sweaty. In the fall, you'll experience a drop in temperatures, but this is accompanied by ample rain showers. Between December and February, you'll find mild winters (highs hover in the mid-50s) with sunny days alternating with gray, gloomy ones – but the lineup of Christmas-related events and low season lodging rates may be worth the relatively chilly temps.

Weather in Naples, Italy

Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center

What You Need to Know

• It's a football city Don't whisper a word against the Napoli professional football team or its star – retired player Diego Maradona – or you might find yourself in hot water.
• It's got some grit Naples has a reputation when it comes to its trash (overflowing dumps and mafia interference are to blame). Don't be surprised if you see household garbage strewn across city streets and sidewalks (an especially smelly nuisance come summertime).
• It's hilly, yet walkable.  Although Naples sprawls across 45 square miles, its historic city center is compact (albeit hilly), making it perfect for pedestrians.

How to Save Money in Naples, Italy

• Eat pizza and drink wine Buying your slices on the street and purchasing wine by the bottle will make both your taste buds and your wallet happy.
• Buy a tourist card If you're planning to tour all of the city's top attractions, buy a Visitalia Tourist Card , which offers discounted entrance fees.
• Don't rent a car Rather than sinking your money on a rental car, rely on your own two feet to get around , or take the train or bus to reach attractions located outside the city center.

Culture & Customs

Naples has a far-reaching religious history. The first cathedral was raised over the site of one of Apollo's temples back in the fourth century. Throughout the centuries, Naples has also developed and maintained some unique rites, such as bringing pillows and gifts to skeletons in tombs. Although rituals like these aren't widely practiced anymore, there are nonetheless a plethora of religious-themed festivals that take place annually, including the Festa di San Gennaro. 

Unfortunately, Naples has a notorious history of crime, as the city is home to the Camorra, an Italian mafia syndicate. Although it's unlikely that you will encounter any kind of activity related to the Camorra, it's still wise to be aware of your surroundings, especially at night in off-the-beaten-track areas and places prone to crime, such as Piazza Garibaldi (which sits near the city's largest train station – a magnet for petty crime) and the Spanish Quarter. 

Naples moves at a slower pace, which is probably the result of its laid-back populace and the heat and humidity that settles in the city come summertime. This means that public transportation tends to be inefficient at times, and restaurants and other businesses may take the day off. 

As with other cities in Italy, Italian is the official language in Naples and the euro is the official currency. The euro is equal to about one U.S. dollar, but since the rate fluctuates, plan to check it before you go . Tipping at dining establishments isn't obligatory like it is in the States. Many professionals employed in the tourist industry – hoteliers, restaurateurs and travel guides – will likely know some English, but many locals will not, so it's best to memorize some common Italian phrases. Say "hello" with  buon giorno  or  buona sera , depending on the time of day. You can say "excuse me" with mi scusi and "thank you" with grazie .

What to Eat

The Naples dining scene in one word? Pizza. Made with San Marzano tomatoes and mozzarella Campana, Margherita pizza was invented in Naples – according to lore, at Pizzeria Brandi – but it's a staple throughout the city. For another great taste of the Neapolitan original, visit L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele . 

Other delectable foods can be found at Spaccanapoli, a street located adjacent to Christmas Alley. Spaccanapoli is home to Neapolitan specialties like frittatina (fried pasta served with tomato sauce and cheese) and cakes, such as ricotta-stuffed sfogliatella , orange-infused pastiera and rum-flavored baba . And for a cool treat on a warm night, try any one of the gelato cafes that ring Naples' Mergellina Bay. 

Along with pizza and gelato, coffee is another Italian specialty you won't want to miss while in Naples. Caffè Mexico and Gran Caffè Gambrinus are among the city's most beloved coffee bars. (Down an espresso at the bar to experience coffee like a true Italian.) While you're at it, check out granita – a refreshing drink usually made with fruit, syrups and ice, which is also said to have originated in Naples. You can find it at nearly every cafe in the city, especially those that border the water.

Getting Around Naples, Italy

The best way to get around Naples is on foot. Most of the city's attractions are located within walking distance of one another, plus you'll get the full Naples experience by strolling its cobbled streets. When you need to reach places farther afield, such as the Museo di Capodimonte and Certosa e Museo di San Martino , you can jump on one of Naples' funiculars. Of course, hopping in a taxi is always an option, too. You can also traverse the city via bus, but because of road traffic, you're often better off walking. The metro is another option, though it's better suited to commuters who travel from the suburbs into the city during the work week. 

The closest airport is Naples International Airport (NAP), which also goes by the name Capodichino Airport. It's located a short 2.5 miles from the heart of Naples. A taxi ride from the airport to the historic city center will cost a flat rate of 16 euros (about $18).

According to recent travelers, the sweeping views of Naples and Mount Vesuvius are reason enough to plan a visit to the Certosa e Museo di San Martino .

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