I’ve lived in Napoli since January 2018. I’ve tried to explore as much of the city as possible, but I think you could live a lifetime here and never see it all. You can read my love letter here.
It goes without saying that the food is unreal. There’s a list of favoured places here. I’ve put on a few pounds since I moved here, any regrets? Nope.
The quote is “See Naples and die” so I’ve compiled a few places that I love.
Views
It is essential that you view Napoli from a good vantage point. Here are a few good places.
- Certosa di San Martino: 6€
- Castel Sant Elmo: 5€
- Scale del Petraio: Free
- Parco Floridiana: Free
- Parco Virgiliano: Free
- Capodimonte: Free
- Lungomare
Churches & Resting Places
The Duomo – A must see. Try to go during a service, but respect the silence. You can’t walk around the outside of the Duomo, you can only see the facade. Visit the crypt under the altar.
Gesu Nuovo – Don’t judge a book by its cover. A behemoth of a church, brutal from the outside, opulent as anything on the inside.
Santa Chiara – Modern church built within the ruins of an ancient church. Beautiful cloisters with original Majolica tiles and access to the remains of a Roman Bath.
Sansevero Capella – The most incredible sculptures you’ll ever see. Book tickets in advance to beat the queues.
Cimitero delle Fontanelle – Bones. Piles upon piles of bones. Read the history before visiting.
San Gaudioso Catacombs – You must do the guided tour, the story of the preparation of the bodies is pretty intense.
Piazzas
Plebiscito – a beautiful, expansive Piazza, the church in the centre of the curved columns is stunning.
San Domenico Maggiore and Piazetta Nilo – where the students hang out. Lots of bars and places to sit and take a pause.
Piazza Bellini – another favourite with students.
Markets
Porta Nolana Market – vibrant food market!
Pignasecca Market – fruit, fish, clothes… it’s full of hustle and bustle.
Instagram Spots
Santi Marcellino e Festo
Palazzo della Borsa
Palazzo dello Spagnuolo
Museums and Buildings
MANN – Archeological Museum, lots to see.
Madre – Modern Art Museum, can easily be seen in around 1.5 hours, but worth a trip.
San Carlo – If you can’t see a show here, make sure you do one of the guided tours. It’s the oldest theatre in the world.
Palazzo Reale – The staircase in the Royal Palace is incredible, as is the private theatre.
Castel del’Ovo – The ‘Egg Castle’ in the sea is a beautiful
Napoli Tips
- Scooters – Don’t jump out of the way of scooters. They’ll go around you.
- Crossing the road – You must be brave and simply walk out on the road, otherwise you’ll be standing there forever.
- Metro – It’s useful for long distances, but it’s often quicker to walk.
- Coffee – At the bar is cheaper than at the table. Amaro = no sugar. The cup will be v hot.
- Taxis – They are incredibly expensive. Always check the price against the chart on the back of the Driver’s chair.
- Language – A little ‘grazie’, ‘buongiorno’ and ‘buonasera’ will get you a long way. Neapolitans are incredibly friendly and fiercely proud of their culture.