Planning your first trip to Naples?? We just got back from a week-long family holiday, and can’t say enough about it. While we were somewhat prepped on what to do in Naples beforehand, it was totally different than we expected after visiting other Italian cities. We experienced so much in just a few days, from relaxing at seaside cafes to exploring historic castles, and endless pizza in between! Now we’re here to share all the best things to do in Naples, Italy in this fun travel guide.
Our Naples Italy Travel Guide
Flights to Naples
If you’re coming from the U.S. or abroad, you may want to look into flying through Rome. This can often be less expensive, and you can easily get to Naples, Italy, in one hour by train. We’ve used the trains to get all around Northern Italy and found them to be quite dependable.
Yet, on our first trip to Naples, we were traveling from Spain by plane. We always use Skyscanner to find cheap flights. In fact, it only cost us 23 Euros to get from Alicante to Naples!
Bus, Train & Taxis
When it came to actually getting around Naples, we used all the different modes of transportation. One tip for the taxis is to make sure the driver switches their meter on before you leave. Unless you’re going to or from the airport, where the route has set rates.
There are many bus routes that go all around Naples, Italy. However, we found the Naples Metro to be much more reliable. To buy tickets for both, just head to any of the small tobacco stores called “tabaccherias.” They’re pretty much on every corner around the city.
Since we were with a bigger group, we typically used taxis or the train to get from place to place. Another advantage of using the metro is that the stations are an attraction in themselves! Many are adorned with beautiful art and even sculptures tied to Naples rich history.
Where to Stay in Naples Italy
Downtown near the water around the Lungomare Caracciolo neighborhood was our favorite part of the city. The area is easy to get around, plus very central so you can walk most places. Below we’ve listed some of the most highly-rated hotels to check out on your trip to Naples.
Imperatrice Suites – Nice hotel right on the water with rooms overlooking the sea.
Napoli Tree – Lungomare – Fun guesthouse with large bright rooms that are decorated in a uniquely bold Italian style.
Chiaia Suites – Historic guesthouse-style accommodation in the center of the city.
Domus Sibyllina, Galleria Umberto I – This hotel is unique because it is located inside the famous Galleria (more about this soon!)
Hostel of the Sun – Most popular hostel in Naples, which has everything from bunks to private family rooms.
Staying Safe in Naples
Naples gets a bad wrap for pick pockets and petty theft. Honestly, this kind of stuff happens in every major European city.
Watch your belongings and stay aware, especially in the most crowded sections of old town. We know tons of travelers who use money belts to store credit cards and personal items that can easily be tucked under your shirt. Also, cross body bags like this have become super popular over the last few years.
Another Naples travel tip is to always buy your tickets from the official websites or stands for major attractions. For instance, at famous historic sites like Pompeii, we noticed they were selling knock off entrance tickets before you get to the gate.
8 Best Things to Do in Naples Italy
1. Visit the Three Naples Castles
It should come as no surprise that many of the best things to do in Naples Italy are the historic sites. This goes for almost every travel destination in Italy, as its incredible past is on full display.
What’s so awesome about Naples, is there are actually three different castles to see! We recommend visiting at least one or more depending on how much time you have.
Castel dell’Ovo: Let’s start off with the oldest of the three Naples castles! Translating to the “Egg Castle,” this former villa dates back to the Roman times.
Its name comes from a legend that the poet Virgil hid an egg inside. If it was to break, the city of Naples would fall!
Castel dell’Ovo was later fortified by the Normans and Angevins to protect the Bay of Naples. Today, it’s free to enter, and offers amazing views over the water.
Castel Sant’elmo: The Sant’elmo Castle sits high on Vomero Hill above Naples. It was first constructed as a Norman watchtower in the 14th century, and later converted into a giant fortress and prison.
Not only is it now used as a museum and venue for concerts, but it also has one of the very best views of Naples!
Castel Nuovo: Just down the coast near the port sits the “New Castle.” It was built in 1279 by Charles I of Anjou as his royal residence.
Castel Nuovo is easy to spot with its massive towers that look out over the bay and Piazza Municipio. We made a point to visit here and toured the Naples Civic Museum that is housed inside.
Here we would learn all about the history of the city and the many dynasties that once controlled it.
2. Eat Pizza Daily
We’re not exaggerating when we tell you we ate pizza every single day during our week in Naples. I mean… it is the pizza capital of the world after all!
This is the very place that modern pizza was invented in the 18th century. The Margherita was even named after the Queen of Savoy who tried it on her visit to Naples.
According to most culinary experts, Naples has some of the top pizza restaurants in the world. We tried Diego Vitagliano Pizzeria and 50 Kalò while in town, and honestly pizza will never be the same.
You’ll also want to try Pizza Fritta, which is fried instead of baked. Really, most random hole in the wall spots in Naples will probably be better than anything you can get back home. However, if you want to hit one of the famous restaurants, then make sure to make a reservation in advance.
If you have the time, we recommend joining a pizza making class like this one. You could also try a bunch of different specialties form the city on a street food tour!
3. Explore Naples Old Town
One of the very best things to do in Naples Italy is to simply stroll around the old town. This area is located up in the city away from the port and water.
Naples Old Town is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, small souvenir shops, and really anything you can think of. The vibrant walking streets are small and narrow, with flags and locals laundry fluttering in the wind.
Another thing that’s hard to miss is Naples love and admiration for Diego Maradona. We were visiting just after the local soccer team won their 4th Serie A title, but we still saw more Maradona jerseys around than any of the current players!
One of our days in Old Town, we went for lunch at La Locanda Gesù Vecchio. This Michelin star restaurant ended up being one the best meals we had in Naples.
We ordered the burrata antipasto to start, but for us the best plate was the Genovese! This is a classic Naples pasta dish slowly cooked with beef and onions.
4. Via Toledo & Galleria Umberto I
Via Toledo is an ancient shopping street that is now filled with many popular bands and stores. Even if you’re not looking to buy anything, it’s a fun area to walk around and visit.
It’s also where the famous Galleria Umberto is located. This stunning shopping centre is similar to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II if you’ve already been to Milan Italy.
We didn’t stay for long as it was quite crowded in the middle of the day. Still, it is worth taking a walk through to admire the architecture.
5. Try an Exploding Lemonade
There is a small stand close to the Galleria (location) called Acquafrescaio. You can grab a cold lemonade here… or try an exploding lemonade!
The Cosce Aperte is a tart lemon water where a dry powder is is poured in so it fizzes up over the glass. The goal is to drink it quickly, so it doesn’t spill all over your shoes! Some call it the “open legs lemonade” as you’ll have to avoid getting it all over your pants.
To be honest, we knew it was coming and were still surprised when it erupted over the top of the glass. This is one of those fun traditions and things to do in Naples Italy that every traveler will appreciate.
6. Chalet Ciro Breakfast & Funicular Views
This was one of our favorite mornings to share in our Naples travel guide! First, head to Chalet Ciro, which is a famous coffee house that has been open since 1952.
Our go to order was cappuccinos and a Graffa. This is a typical breakfast from Naples that Chalet Ciro is well known for. It’s a fried dough essentially made from flour, potato, yeast, sugar and eggs. The graffa comes in a circular form and topped with sugar.
You can pick from a few different toppings, but the best for us was the pistachio cream. We also enjoyed another pastry called bombolone that was similar to a donut, and had a cream topping with candied cherries.
After breakfast at Chalet Ciro 1952, you’ll be right across the street from the funicular at Mergellina station. We rode it two stops up to Sant’angelo a Posillipo before getting off.
If you walk just down the road from here, you’ll have one of the most amazing views in Naples Italy! It was so wild to see how big the city was from above, with the Mount Vesuvius volcano in the distance.
From there, you can go on further through the neighborhood and even walk back down to the water. This is definitely one of the most unique things to do in Naples Italy, and not to be missed.
7. Naples Italy Harbor Stroll
This part of the city is all about the scenic harbor! If you’re not too tired from your morning atop the city, then it’s perfect to continue along the water from the bottom of the funicular. You can walk all the way to Castel Nuovo, which is just under two miles (3.1km) away.
About half way there, we stumbled upon the only public beach in Naples. Personally, we chose to wait for our trip to Ischia to swim, as it was quite small.
There are many many restaurants and cafes to pick from as you get closer to the castle. We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Pizzeria Errico Porzio Lungomare and it was so good!
8. Spend the Morning at Pompeii
You can’t talk about what to do in Naples without mentioning Pompeii. Although it’s technically outside of the city, most travelers include it on their visit.
Our best advice is to leave the city early and try and be there at least 15 minutes before the doors open. It was only about a 30 minute ride from Naples central station to the ancient city.
For exactly what to expect, read our complete guide for making a Naples to Pompeii day trip. It just so happened that we were visiting during a holiday and entrance was free!
Once we entered Pompeii, we couldn’t believe that we practically had it to ourselves. By starting at the far end of the massive complex and working our way back, we avoided the big crowds that often descend by late morning. This strategy completely changed our experience!
However, when leaving a few hours later, it was definitely packed with tourists. We can’t stress enough showing up early for your day at Pompeii.
Where to After Naples Italy?
For many travelers, Naples will be just a small part of a longer Italy trip. We combined our visit to the city with a relaxing 2 day Ischia Island itinerary.
It was an easy place to add on to our vacation, as it takes less than an hour to get there by boat. Check out our tips for the Naples to Ischia ferry before you go.
The stunning Amalfi Coast is right around the corner from Naples, and the island of Capri lies just off the coast. You’ll also be just a short train or plane ride away from cities such as Rome Italy, Florence, Bergamo, and historic sites like the leaning tower of Pisa.
Have any questions about this article or want to share more of what to do in Naples Italy? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
