Naples is a city overflowing with great things to do and sights to see. It’s internationally known for its beautiful architecture and history, both of which are preserved at landmarks throughout one of Italy’s most illustrious cities. It’s a fashion hub and a place to find ancient sites at the same time.
Exploring things to do in Naples
You’re not likely to run out of interesting things to do in Naples, and we’ll help you find the best of them, including its world-famous shopping spots.
Unrivalled art treasures beneath Mount Vesuvius
Naples contains some of the most important artworks in the world in its palaces and museums. It also has ancient underground labyrinths adorned with frescoes that transport you far back in time. In the distance looms Mount Vesuvius, and you can take a drive from Naples to see the ruins of Pompeii. The city also has a vibrant social scene centred around its many cafes, restaurants, and nightclubs. After you’ve read this, you can discover even more things to do in Naples with our Naples Travel Guide.
Top things to do in Naples, Italy
If you’re not staying too long and only have time for a few things to do in Naples, your first destination should be the beach and waterfront of Lungomare. From here you can see the fabled Mount Vesuvius towering over the ruins of Pompeii. It’s also where you’ll find the city’s oldest castle, Castel Ovo, with the Ethno-Prehistory
Museum inside.
Walk through ancient catacombs
The Catacombs of San Gennaro are one of the city’s true marvels. Dating to the 2nd century, their passages and ancient tomb chambers are decorated with paintings and frescoes. There’s even an underground basilica, cut into the stone over centuries, along with the smaller Crypt of the Bishops. You’ll find it on Via Capodimonte.
A fortune of antiquities
The Museo Archeologico Nazionale has few rivals for being one of the most comprehensive collections of antiquities in the world. There’s a huge marble statue from Rome’s great Baths of Caracalla, a collection of bronze sculptures from Pompeii and the entire art treasure of the kings of Naples. There are ancient wall paintings and mosaics, including the world-renowned depiction of Alexander’s Battle, over 18 feet long. To get there, simply head to Piazza Museo – it’s on the square.
The theatre of your dreams
Teatro di San Carlo is a sumptuous theatre, with its lavishly ornate boxes in gilt and burgundy. It was built in the 1730s by King Charles of Bourbon, and it’s the oldest opera house in Europe that has been continuously active. It’s known for its superb acoustics and has served as a model for the perfect opera house in other cities all over Europe. It’s best to book ahead of time, and you’ll find it on Via San Carlo.
The artisanal side of Naples
The district of Santa Lucia is the place to go for finding exquisite little bakeries and cafes. It’s an energetic neighbourhood, with children playing in the streets during the day and nightclubs pumping at night. You’ll also find lots of little artisan workshops showcasing all manner of arts and crafts. Head to the west of Piazza del Plebiscito to find this utterly enchanting part of Naples.
The wonderful architecture of Naples
The city is as famed for its architecture as it is for its historical heritage. One of the best things to do in Naples is spend an entire day serendipitously walking its streets and taking in all these iconic buildings. If you hire a car, you can also visit those on the outskirts. Here are a few prime recommendations.
A cathedral with layers of civilisation
Naples Cathedral lies in a sprawling complex of architecture from various eras. The building itself was built in the 13th century, and its centrepiece is the silver bust on its main altar, containing the skull of San Gennaro, patron saint of Naples. Here you can also visit the Basilica Santa Restituta – built way back in the 4th century, it’s the oldest church in the city. And don’t miss San Lorenzo Maggiore, where you can see the architecture of successive civilisations layered upon one another, from Greek and Roman to Byzantine and Medieval.
A visit worthy of royalty
Capodimonte Royal Palace and Museum on Via Milano was built as a hunting lodge for King Charles III and contains a vast collection of royal treasures. For a start, the National Gallery is here, possibly Italy’s finest art collection. You can feast your eyes on works by the likes of Botticelli, Raphael, Titian and El Greco. The museum is also known for its fine tapestries and furniture, and keep your eyes open for Salottino di Porcellana, a little room totally lined with porcelain.
The seat of the Bourbon kings
Head to Piazza Plebiscito to see the imposing Royal Palace of Naples, dating to the 1600s. It contains marble statues of the eight kings who ruled the city and an elaborate white marble grand staircase. There are also vintage tapestries and furniture, as well as a theatre. You’ll get a free audio tour when you visit.
Social and cultural things to do in Naples
One of the best places in Naples for souvenir shopping is on Via San Gregorio Armeno. Here you’ll find dozens of small, colourful stalls selling the city’s hallmark terracotta Nativity scenes, known as presepi. You can get hand-made ceramic figures, too, and intricately carved wood miniatures of furniture and animals. This is the place to go for unique Naples memorabilia created by the city’s finest craftspeople.
Hang out with the locals
In the evenings, head to Quartieri Spagnoli. It’s an old district with tiny streets in the heart of the city, where locals escape in the evenings for entertainment and dining a la Napoli. The food and drink are cheap and you’ll really be immersed in the local culture and social life. The narrow alleys even have traditional clothes lines spanning them.
The famous Naples shopping experience
Shopping is one of the best things to do in Naples, a city renowned for its high fashion and designer goods. For the grandest shopping experience, Galleria Umberto I, on Via San Carlo, stands out from the rest. Built in 1887, it has four wings containing dozens of shops, cafes, and restaurants. You can also stop and admire the many paintings and sculptures that line the passageways.
Unusual and fun things to do in Naples
The rich history of Naples has left a myriad of unusual places to explore and things to see. The Bourbon Tunnel on Vico del Grottone is a great example. It’s an underground tunnel connecting the Piazza Vittoria to the Royal Palace and was originally an escape route for the Naples royal family in the mid-1800s. It served as an air-raid shelter in WWII and is now filled with fascinating relics, from vintage scooters to old fascist statues.
Ancient caves and labyrinths
Another interesting and much older place to visit in Naples is Cimitero delle Fontanelle on Via Fontanelle. This is a complex of ancient Roman and Greek tunnels, combined with tufa mines and natural caves. These were used to hold plague victims in the 17th-century Naples Plague. The place now draws thousands of visitors, who leave candles, gifts, and prayer requests.
Learn to cook a real pizza
Naples gave pizza to the world; therefore, what better place to learn to make it the traditional Neapolitan way than in the city of its birth? There are a few places where you can do so, with the Cookly branches being the most well-known. You can taste local wines while you’re learning and then sample the produce markets. If you really want a true taste of Naples, this is where to get it.
Surreal subway station
A subway station is normally one of the last things that would come to mind when looking for Naples tourist attractions, but Toledo Metro Station near Via Toledo is a world of its own. Blue and silver mosaic shapes and swirls cover its walls and roof, giving an otherworldly effect. It’s meant to represent the themes of water and light, and the station can justly call itself one of the prettiest things to see in Naples.
