Things to see in Naples
Latest update: 31 January 2024
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There are so many sides to this fascinating city and through the pages of this website I aim to point you in the direction of the highlights, the hidden gems and the best things to see in Naples.
Naples is one of the oldest cities in Europe and was once one of the biggest in the world. Walking its streets now you'll find history seeping from every pore and behind the facade of almost every building you'll find an intriguing story. There's also a city underneath the city, an underground labyrinth of tunnels and secret passages that are equally as interesting as the sprawling metropolis above ground. |
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A good starting point for any tour of Naples is Piazza del Plebiscito; this is the main square in the city and central to the major sights. At one end of the piazza is the distinctive Basilica di San Francesco di Paola while directly opposite across the square there's the Royal Palace of Naples. There are in fact two royal palaces in the city; the Royal Palace of Capodimonte being the other one and requires a bus or taxi from the centre.
Attached to the Royal Palace of Naples is one of the city's proudest landmarks: the Teatro San Carlo which is the longest continually active theatre on the world and one which you can take a guided tour around. Across the road from Teatro San Carlo is the Galleria Umberto I, a magnificent shopping arcade built at the end of the 19th century and along similar lines to Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
A short walk from the Galleria Umberto I brings you to the Castel Nuovo, one of three castles in the city. Castel dell'Ovo guards the shoreline in the Chiaia district while Castel Sant'Elmo sits in a commanding position overlooking the city in the hills of Vomero. Just next door to Castel Sant'Elmo is the Certosa di San Martino and from just outside, you can get one of the best views of Naples from the Belvedere San Martino.
Vomero is one of several places in Naples that can be reached via a funicular railway and there are other interesting ways to get around beside this. The city has a growing underground Metro system that's quite unlike any other. There are several Metro stations that are works of art in themselves such as Toledo and Università with their incredible modern designs. You can also travel from Naples by sea to many places; ferries and hydrofoils can whisk you off to the nearby islands of Ischia, Capri and Procida or along the Bay of Naples to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast beyond.
Naples' National Archaeological Museum is renowned as being one of the best of its kind in Italy, while other museums of note include the religious museums of the Sansevero Chapel where you'll find the famous Veiled Christ. Also, don't miss the complex of the beautiful Santa Chiara and another church: Santa Maria Donnaregina Vecchia. Naples Cathedral can boast a second church within it (the Basilica di Santa Restituta), as well as the Cappella di San Gennaro, the chapel in honour of the city's patron saint.
As alluded to a little further up, there's much of Naples that can be discovered underground. One of the most intriguing places is the Cimitero delle Fontanelle with its endless collection of skulls and bones while there are various ancient catacombs to discover such as the Catacombs of San Gennaro. Of the Underground Naples experiences, my favourite is the Galleria Borbonica where you'll find abandoned old Vespas and vintage cars left over from its days as a world war two bomb shelter.
I've only really scratched the surface of things to see and enjoy in Naples with these few lines but there's so much more. This is a city where you need to soak up the atmosphere which can be electric at times. It's noisy, chaotic and the most vivacious of all Italian cities but with a spirit of pride and warmth.
I can't write so much about Naples with mentioning the pizzas; they are another source of great pride and most pizzerias in the city centre will provide you with pizzas you'll never forget (for a good reason!). You should also stop for coffee throughout whenever possible, the smaller cups are meant to be drunk quickly and are so strong that you'll have plenty of energy to visit some of the sites mentioned above.
Attached to the Royal Palace of Naples is one of the city's proudest landmarks: the Teatro San Carlo which is the longest continually active theatre on the world and one which you can take a guided tour around. Across the road from Teatro San Carlo is the Galleria Umberto I, a magnificent shopping arcade built at the end of the 19th century and along similar lines to Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
A short walk from the Galleria Umberto I brings you to the Castel Nuovo, one of three castles in the city. Castel dell'Ovo guards the shoreline in the Chiaia district while Castel Sant'Elmo sits in a commanding position overlooking the city in the hills of Vomero. Just next door to Castel Sant'Elmo is the Certosa di San Martino and from just outside, you can get one of the best views of Naples from the Belvedere San Martino.
Vomero is one of several places in Naples that can be reached via a funicular railway and there are other interesting ways to get around beside this. The city has a growing underground Metro system that's quite unlike any other. There are several Metro stations that are works of art in themselves such as Toledo and Università with their incredible modern designs. You can also travel from Naples by sea to many places; ferries and hydrofoils can whisk you off to the nearby islands of Ischia, Capri and Procida or along the Bay of Naples to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast beyond.
Naples' National Archaeological Museum is renowned as being one of the best of its kind in Italy, while other museums of note include the religious museums of the Sansevero Chapel where you'll find the famous Veiled Christ. Also, don't miss the complex of the beautiful Santa Chiara and another church: Santa Maria Donnaregina Vecchia. Naples Cathedral can boast a second church within it (the Basilica di Santa Restituta), as well as the Cappella di San Gennaro, the chapel in honour of the city's patron saint.
As alluded to a little further up, there's much of Naples that can be discovered underground. One of the most intriguing places is the Cimitero delle Fontanelle with its endless collection of skulls and bones while there are various ancient catacombs to discover such as the Catacombs of San Gennaro. Of the Underground Naples experiences, my favourite is the Galleria Borbonica where you'll find abandoned old Vespas and vintage cars left over from its days as a world war two bomb shelter.
I've only really scratched the surface of things to see and enjoy in Naples with these few lines but there's so much more. This is a city where you need to soak up the atmosphere which can be electric at times. It's noisy, chaotic and the most vivacious of all Italian cities but with a spirit of pride and warmth.
I can't write so much about Naples with mentioning the pizzas; they are another source of great pride and most pizzerias in the city centre will provide you with pizzas you'll never forget (for a good reason!). You should also stop for coffee throughout whenever possible, the smaller cups are meant to be drunk quickly and are so strong that you'll have plenty of energy to visit some of the sites mentioned above.
Museums and Art Galleries of Naples
Royal Palace of Capodimonte, Naples
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Religious Buildings of Naples
Basilica di San Francesco di Paola, Naples
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Underground Naples
Catacombs of San Gennaro, Naples
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Squares of Naples
Piazza Municipio, Naples
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Castles of Naples
Castel dell'Ovo, Naples
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Archaeological Sites around Naples
Pompeii
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Islands Close to Naples
Nisida
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Landmarks of Naples
Galleria Umberto I, Naples
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Parks and Gardens of Naples
Villa Comunale, Naples
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Theatres of Naples
Teatro San Carlo, Naples
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Panoramic Viewpoints of Naples
Belvedere San Martino, Naples
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Areas of Naples
Borgo Marinari, Naples
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Famous Streets of Naples
Spaccanapoli, Naples
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