Naples is the third-largest city in Italy, after Rome and Milan. It is also the regional capital of Campania. Naples is situated in the Gulf of Naples, on the western coast of southern Italy. In 1995, the historic centre of Naples was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
For some people Naples is just a transit stop on their way to the Amalfi Coast, but this city is so much more than that! After living in Naples for a year I fell in love with this city, its streets and the sea, the view of Vesuvius and of course – the food! In this blog post, I’ll tell you about the top 18 things to see in Naples, Italy.
Before we go into detail I’d like to tell you something about Naples from my point of view. I completely fell in love with this city. It’s big and loud and looks like it never sleeps. Naples has amazing history and beautiful architecture – it can easily be called an open air museum. You can find some of the most beautiful views of the Tyrrhenian Sea in the city. And one very important thing – in Naples you’ll eat the best pizza in the world and have the best espresso! Now, we can begin with the top 18 things to see in Naples, Italy.
This is the list of my top 18 things to see in Naples, Italy:
- Piazza del Plebiscito
- Royal Palace – Palazzo Reale
- Lungomare Mergellina and Chiaia
- Castel dell’Ovo
- Cafe Gambrinus
- Piazza Trento e Trieste
- Via Toledo and Quartieri Spagnoli
- Teatro di San Carlo
- Castel Nuovo
- Posillipo
- Vomero
- National Archaeological Museum
- Chiostri di Santa Chiara
- Museo e Bosco di Capodimonte
- Metro station art
- Galleria Umberto I
- Piazza Dante
- Napoli Sotterranea
- Piazza del Plebiscito
Let’s start from one of the most beautiful squares I’ve ever seen – Piazza del Plebiscito.
Piazza del Plebiscito in Naples got its name after the plebiscite that took place on October 21, 1860. This brought Naples into the unified Kingdom of Italy, under the House of Savoy. The square is very close to the gulf of Naples. It is bounded by the Royal Palace on the east and the Church of San Francesco di Paola on the west. The church is the first sight you see when you’re at the square. It has hallmark twin colonnades extending to each side. Other noted adjacent buildings include the Palazzo Salerno and the Prefecture Palace.
Piazza del Plebiscito covers the area of 23,000 square meters!
Interesting thing about Piazza del Plebiscito is that the surface here is made out of Vesuvian Volcanic rock!
Occasionally, Piazza del Plebiscito is used for open-air concerts. Artists who have performed here include popular Italian and Neapolitan artists, such as Franco Battiato and Pino Daniele, as well as international stars including Sir Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Maroon 5 and Muse.
- Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale)
I’ve already mentioned Royal Palace. It is located in Piazza del Plebiscito and it is definitely one of top 18 things to see in Naples.
The Royal Palace of Naples (Palazzo Reale di Napoli) is a palace, museum, and historical tourist destination. It was one of the four residences near Naples which House of Bourbon used during their rule of the Kingdom of Naples (1735–1816) and later the Kingdom of the two cities (1816-1861).
When you enter the Palace you can feel the serenity this place gives. When inside, you can visit the Historical Apartments, designed as a museum, which you can access through the staircase of honor, a majestic work that Montesquieu defined as the most beautiful in Europe. The Royal Apartment is composed of many rooms. Here you can see prestigious masterpieces made by the most famous painters of the Bourbon period.
Tickets for Palazzo Reale cost 4 euro per person.
- Lungomare Mergellina and Chiaia
One of the best things about Naples is that it has a beautiful boardwalk by the Tyrrhenian Sea. If you go down to Mergellina you can have a really nice stroll looking at the sea and the Vesuvius in the background. It is definitely one of the things that will stay in my mind forever. When you get close to the part where all the restaurants are, you can have lunch or a coffee break. After that I suggest walking a bit uphill where you can wander the cutest streets of Chiaia. In the main streets of Chiaia many luxury brands have their shops.
This is one of the prettiest areas in Naples and it is worth a visit.
- Castel dell’Ovo
Another place of the top 18 things to see in Naples is this beauty. Since you’re walking on Mergellina you can’t miss Castel dell’Ovo. The literal translation of Castel dell’Ovo is – Egg Castle. The castle’s name comes from a legend about the Roman poet Virgil. According to the legend, Virgil put a magical egg into the foundations to support the fortifications. Had this egg been broken, the castle would have been destroyed and a series of disastrous events for Naples would have followed.
You can easily climb the castle and enjoy the view – from up here you can see Mergellina, Vesuvius and the endless blues of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
- Cafe Gambrinus
Maybe you didn’t expect to see a coffee shop on the list of 18 things to see in Naples, but believe me, you need to visit this one!
If you walked up the streets of Chiaia from Mergellina, you’ll find yourself close to Piazza Trieste e Trento and also to Piazza Plebiscito. One place located between these two squares that you should visit is Caffe Gambrinus.
Here are the words that I found on the official website https://grancaffegambrinus.com/en/ of Caffe Gambrinus: “Since at least 1800 ad, coffee has been more than just a drink in Naples, a ritual habit which is deeply rooted in the every social class, a phenomenon that makes a simple moment of refreshment an opportunity of culture and sociability. For one hundred and fifty years this precious coffee spread the ancient and eternal aroma of Neapolitan espresso coffee in the Gran Caffè Gambrinus’ elegant halls of art nouveau.”
This is the oldest coffee shop in Naples and when you get inside you feel like you entered an art gallery. Try their desserts and coffee of course but don’t forget to go inside and take a look around. It is truly one of the most beautiful coffee shops you’ll ever see.
- Piazza Trieste e Trento
While sitting in Cafe Gambrinus you can see the beautiful little Piazza Trieste e Trento. It is located in the center of Naples, at the junction of major avenues: Via Toledo, Via Chiaia and Via San Carlo. Piazza Trieste e Trento is immediately next to Piazza del Plebiscito. Some of the most beautiful buildings are surrounding this little square – the San Carlo Theater, the Royal Palace is also here, the Palace of Cardinal Zapata, the Baroque Church of San Ferdinando, and a little bit further Via Toledo is the Umberto I Gallery. There’s a small coffee shop right across the street from Cafe Gambrinus where you can spend a cozy afternoon having a cup of coffee or Aperol Spritz.
- Via Toledo and Quartieri Spagnoli
The main pedestrian street in the center of Naples is Via Toledo. Here you’ll find many shops, small coffee shops and fast food kiosks. During winter holidays you can see beautiful decorations and the street full of people, especially in the evenings. Via Toledo is more than 1 km long – it starts at Piazza Dante and ends at Piazza Trieste e Trento. Some of the things you should see in this street are the beautiful Galleria Umberto I, Palazzo del Banco di Napoli, Palazzo Buono, Chiesa di San Nicola alla Carità.
A neighbourhood close to Via Toledo is Quartieri Spagnoli (Spanish Quarters). I’ve seen so many people on Instagram referring to this area as a “dodgy one in Naples” but I honestly don’t know how they came to this conclusion if they only stayed in Naples for a day.
It’s probably true that some people won’t like this area since it’s real and authentic. It’s not a place made for tourists to like, it’s a residential area for many people. The houses and buildings don’t look representative nor you’ll find much to see (except a lot of churches) but read any book about Naples and you’ll see how writers describe it. I still think it’s worth a stroll. Little cobblestone alleys with small shops and vespas parked everywhere, the laundry hanging from the windows and balconies, old facades, doors painted in different colours, really small tucked in restaurants that only locals know about…
Go up from Via Toledo and wander these little streets.
Quartieri Spagnoli were created in the 16th century to house Spanish garrisons (hence the name) whose role was to quench revolts from the Neapolitan population.
If you’re interested to know whether Naples is safe, click here to read my blog post on this subject.
- Teatro di San Carlo
Teatro San Carlo is one of the most beautiful places you can visit in Naples. It is an opera house connected to the Royal Palace. Teatro di San Carlo was opened in 1737 which makes it the oldest continuously active opera venue in the world. The opera season runs from late January to May, with the ballet season taking place from April to early June.
Click on this link to the official website of San Carlo Theatre to read more about it and see the beautiful images. You can visit the theater even if you’re not coming to see the opera or ballet performance. Just book a guided tour, but make sure you do it in advance since the tours get full really quickly. There are only two tours in English daily while there are four in Italian. They last about 30 minutes.
- Castel Nuovo
Another beautiful castle in the center of Naples is Castel Nuovo (you can also find it by the name Maschio Angioino). It is a medieval castle located in front of Piazza Municipio and the city hall. Castel Nuovo is one of the main landmarks in the city and one of top 20 things to see in Naples, Italy.
Today the castle is the venue of cultural events and also houses the Municipal Museum.
A tour of the museum takes from the Armoury Hall, the Palatine or Saint Barbara Chapel, the first and second levels of the southern courtyard and the Charles V Hall and the Sala della Loggia which host exhibitions and cultural events.
- Posillipo
A neighbourhood where we spent some of our most relaxing afternoons definitely deserves to be on the list of top 18 things to see in Naples.
One of the most beautiful parts of Naples is the Posillipo area. This is a residential area overlooking the sea. From Posillipo you can enjoy beautiful views of Vesuvius and the island of Capri. Take a stroll through Posillipo, admire the views and gorgeous houses. Here you can have the best seafood in the city.
- Vomero
Another beautiful area in Naples is Vomero. I would always recommend this place as one of the top 18 things to see in Naples. There’s a beautiful pedestrian part here where I enjoyed coming for a stroll and some shopping. Here you’ll also find pretty coffee shops and nice restaurants.
What else can you do in Vomero? You can visit Castel St Elmo (a medieval fortress) and Certosa di San Martino, the highest point of this neighbourhood. Pedamentina San Martino are the steps that will lead you from the top of hilly Vomero to the center of Naples. From Belvedere San Martino you’ll have a magnificent view of the city.
- National Archaeological Museum
National Archaeological Museum (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli) is one of the top 20 things to see in Naples.
Its collection includes works from Greek, Roman and Renaissance times. What is very important are Roman artifacts from nearby Pompeii, Stabiae and Herculaneum. If you want to visit this museum even before you actually go to Naples take a virtual museum tour – a part of Google Arts and Culture project. Just click here to see the amazing collections of the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.
- Chiostri di Santa Chiara
Santa Chiara is a religious complex in Naples that includes the Church of Santa Chiara, a monastery, tombs and an archaeological museum. The Basilica church of Santa Chiara faces Via Benedetto Croce, which is the easternmost leg of Via Spaccanapoli (the longest street in the city). The church facade of Santa Chiara is diagonally across from the church of Gesu Nuovo.
You can visit the inside of the complex or walk through its beautiful garden.
- Museo e Bosco di Capodimonte
The monumental Palazzo di Capodimonte was originally designed as a hunting lodge for Charles VII of Bourbon. Building began in 1738 and it took more than a century to complete it. Today it is home to the Museo di Capodimonte, southern Italy’s largest and richest art gallery. Its vast collection ranges from exquisite 12th-century altarpieces to works by Botticelli, Caravaggio, Titian and Warhol.
This is one of the museums I would always recommend visiting. Beside the amazing works of art, the surroundings are beautiful as well. You can actually have a picnic on the grounds and enjoy an afternoon in this big garden. Not to mention the views this place has. You can see almost all of Naples from Real Bosco di Capodimonte (Royal forest of Capodimonte). It is honestly a wonderful place to spend your day at.
- Metro station art
If you’re not using the metro while in Naples, you need to get down at least once to see what some of the metro stops in Naples look like. It’s like an underground museum and the price is simply a metro ticket.
My favourite metro art station is Toledo (Naples city center). This stop has been considered the most beautiful station in Europe by CNN and the Daily Telegraph.
It was completed in 2012 and was designed by the spanish architect Oscar Tusquets Blanca. Other metro stations in Naples that you can visit to admire the art are Garibaldi, University Station and a few more. I hope you’ll visit at least one and that you’ll like it!
- Galleria Umberto I
Galleria Umberto I is a public shopping gallery in the center of Naples.
It is located directly across from the Teatro San Carlo. The Galleria got its name after Umberto I, who was King of Italy at the time of construction. The building is part of the UNESCO listing of the HISTORIC CENTER OF NAPLES as the World Heritage Site.
- Piazza Dante
Another beautiful square in Naples that is worth a visit. Piazza Dante got its name after the famous poet Dante Alighieri. At the center of the square stands a large statue of Dante Alighieri. There are four monumental churches in Piazza Dante: the Immaculate Conception of the Sanitary Operators,Santa Maria di Caravaggio, San Domenico Soriano and San Michele in Port’Alba.
- Napoli Sotterranea
We got to the last of the top 18 things to see in Naples, Italy. If you made it this far I want to thank you for reading this blog post. It means a lot to me!
So, the last thing on this list is Napoli Sotterranea or Naples Underground. What I’ll write here are the words from the official website of Napoli Sotterranea (you can find it by clicking here):
“Forty meters below the characteristic and lively streets of the Historic Center of Naples, you find a different world, unexplored, isolated by time, but deeply connected with the world above. It’s the heart of Naples, and the place from which the city was born. To visit it is to travel to the past, a world 2400 years old.” It continues – ”Naples is a city of exceptional beauty, a city of art, but few know the underground reality of the city. Naples Underground is the most famous and fascinating guided tour underneath the city of Naples. Our guides will take you on a journey through 2,400 years of history, from the ancient Greeks to modern times, unveiling the “womb” of Naples from an archaeological, historical, anthropological and geological point of view.”
I hope this convinces you to visit something really incredible. As I already said, you can find all the information you need by visiting https://www.napolisotterranea.org/en/naples-underground/
If you liked this blog post you may also be interested in how we used to spend our weekends in Naples.
And if you’re planning a trip to the Amalfi Coast you can find everything you need to know if you click here!
Thank you so much for reading! I really hope this post will help you if you’re planning a trip to Naples, Italy. If you have any questions about this unique Italian city I’ll be glad to answer them. You can contact me here or send me a DM on Instagram.
