10 Best Things to Do in Naples

Piazza del Plebiscito is a historical square located just west of the port of Naples. Built in the early 19th century, it’s adjacent to the Royal Palace and surrounded by splendid palazzos (stylish mansions), a church and the Prefecture Palace. As the largest square in Naples, it’s a popular gathering spot. The nearby bars and restaurants, including the famed Gran Caffè Gambrinus, offer pleasant places to grab a snack and drink of the local favorite, caffè stretto, before exploring the nearby Naples Old Town.

The Naples National Archeological Museum displays ancient Roman remains, prehistoric archeology, and treasures of Renaissance art. Naturally, there's a wide collection of artifacts from nearby Pompeii, including breathtaking floor mosaics and intriguing 1st-century graffiti. Other marvels include Iron Age jewelry, medieval coins, a mummified crocodile, and a 3,000-year-old Egyptian book of the dead.

The museum occupies a 17th-century palace in Piazza Museo. Don't miss the vibrant, almost luminous fresco by Pietro Bardellino on the ceiling of the former library. Evening activities include 'meet the curator' events, craft workshops, wine testings, archeological recipes, and jazz concerts. Audio guides are available in English and explore 90 of the museum's most fascinating objects.

Ovo Castle (Castel dell'Ovo) is a majestic 12th-century castle that stands on the tiny island of Borgo Marinaro. The castle has served as a military defense, a penitentiary, and a royal palace throughout Naples' history. Explore the corner towers, the monastic cells carved into the rock, and the ancient cannons on top of the battlements.

Take a stroll along the ramparts for exhilarating views over Naples on one side and the Gulf of Naples and Mount Vesuvius on the other. The castle also hosts cultural events and temporary art exhibitions. An adjoining marina was once used by smugglers but is now filled with waterfront restaurants and bars.

Stretching between Piazza Dante to the north and (near) Piazza del Plebiscito to the south, Via Toledo is one of the buzziest shopping streets in the heart of Naples. From cheap souvenirs shops to high-end fashion designers’ boutiques, you mostly can find anything on Via Toledo. The upside is that even in the upscale stores, prices are generally lower than in Milan and Rome. You can make pauses in the many bars and restaurants interspersed between the myriad of shops that line this 1-kilometer-long lively commercial street.

The oldest part of Naples historical center is located around Spaccanapoli, a street that stretches between Piazza del Gesù Nuovo and Via Duomo. It's 600 meters north of the Port of Naples. Spaccanapoli is like a 5-meter-wide paved corridor, lined with tall vintage houses, boutiques, bars and restaurants. This historical neighborhood is the typical Neapolitan cliché; it’s like a maze filled with beautiful palazzos, religious buildings, and lively small squares busy until late at night. There’s no better place to experience the flavors and tempo of Naples.

Located a 30-minute drive southeast of Naples Old Town, Pompeii Archeological Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an iconic attraction of Naples. This Roman city engulfed under 4 to 6 meters of ashes by the eruption of Mount Vesuvio in 79 AD, was literally frozen in time. You can rental a guide or join a tour to visit this huge site, but you can also visit it at your own pace with an audio guide available at the ticket desk.

From a Greek-Roman aqueduct to a Roman theatre, Naples Underground takes you for a unique ride through history, 40 meters below the narrow lanes of the Old Town. Featuring many different entrance ways all around the historical center of the city, Naples Underground is a labyrinth of tunnels carved in the volcanic rocks on which the city is built. Head to Piazza San Gaetano, one of the most famous entries to this splendid underground site. The visit also includes a look at air raid shelters from WWII.

Piazza Bellini is a popular spot by day and by night. Located 1 km north of the port, the square and nearby streets are lined with quaint bars and restaurants, many of them with terraces offering great people-watching spots. A popular gathering place for students, you can spend the night in a movie-like décor with views of the 4th-century ruins of the Greek city wall, stone paved streets, and the vintage buildings of the Old Town. It’s the right place to mingle with locals and to get a close look at the lively local life after dark. Have a drink at Bar Lemmelemme on Piazza Bellini for a start, before moving to Bourbon Street, a cool Jazz club on Via Vincenzo Bellini.

Held every Thursday morning on Viale Virgilio, 4 km southwest of Naples Old Town, Posillipo Market is an outdoor market with a good choice of fashion clothing, shoes, household articles and second-hand clothes at bargain prices. Situated in a charming district of Naples, a stroll away from a park offering panoramic views of the bay and Capri Island, a stroll through Posillipo Market gives you the opportunity to mingle with locals and get a glimpse of the passionate and loud way to make a deal in southern Italy.

Museo Cappella Sansevero (Sansevero Chapel Museum) is one of the most striking museums to visit in the city. From the unique and magnificent Veiled Christ marble statue to the mysterious Anatomical Machines, the museum hosts an impressive collection of somehow disturbing works of arts from 18th-century Italian artists. Despite the fact photographing is not allowed inside, it’s one of the most visited museums in Naples, and certainly a place that will trigger your interest. The museum is 800 meters north of the Port of Naples.