Gabriela R. Proietti

There’s a reason we once named Naples as the world’s best city for food. Worldwide recognition has been a long time coming for the city, as its rich gastronomic heritage has been thriving for centuries. This is the birthplace of pizza, after all! But it’s not just pizza here to shout about. Naples’s chefs are masters at transforming simple, humble ingredients into world-class pasta dishes, deep-fried goodies, and seafood specialties. With a deep-rooted tradition of using local ingredients – Sorrento lemons, Vesuvian tomatoes, Gragnano’s renowned pasta flour and locally caught Clams – Neapolitan cuisine is a celebration of tradition, quality, seasonality, and bold flavors.  RECOMMENDED:🍕 The best pizzerias in Naples📍 The best things to do in Naples🏠 The best Airbnbs in Naples🏨 The best hotels in Naples This guide was recently updated by Gabriela Prioetti, a writer based in Naples. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Naples is quickly becoming one of the hottest spots in Italy (and we don’t just mean the weather. Although, that too). This year, we voted it the best city for food in the world, but it’s not just the pizza and pasta that keeps us coming back here time and time again.  Our list of the best things to do in Naples covers everything from world-renowned museums to hidden street art, and leaves plenty of time for discovering its hidden corners. After all, to really experience Naples, you’ve got to have an itinerary that leaves room to soak it all up. The best of the city comes out when you’re able to get under its skin. Here are the best things to do in Naples.  RECOMMENDED:🍽️ The best restaurants in Naples🍕 The best pizza in Naples🏘️ Where to stay in Naples🏠 The best Airbnbs in Naples🏨 The best hotels in Naples This guide was recently updated by Gabriela R. Prioetti, a writer based in Naples. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Sandwiched between Mount Vesuvius and the sea, Naples has become a city at the top of everyone’s travel bucket list in recent years. And characterised by nearly 3,000 years of history, great food and a fair bit of intoxicating chaos, it’s no wonder. Being Italy’s third-biggest city, don’t settle for the first district you see on Airbnb. Each of Naples’s neighbourhoods is totally unique, known for heritage sites, chic hotels, organic wine bars, famous pizza and much, much more. To make life that bit easier, we’ve picked the five best spots to stay in, right here (and where to eat in them too). Here’s where to stay in Naples.  RECOMMENDED:🏠 The best Airbnbs in Naples🏨 The best hotels in Naples🍕 The best restaurants in Naples📍 The best things to do in Naples Gabriela R. Prioetti is a writer based in Naples. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Welcome to the birthplace of pizza, where the cheese is melty and the tomato sauce is oh-so-sweet. We can promise you won’t be disappointed: here in Naples, the pizza is the real deal. And the best part? There’s absolutely tons to choose from.  Here you’ll find everything from the world-famous pizza from Eat, Pray, Love to the inventor of the Margherita himself casually slinging out pizza pies, and a load of great under-the-radar spots alongside them. We’ve got all the city’s best pizza, right here. Happy eating.  RECOMMENDED:🍝 The best restaurants in Naples📍 The best things to do in Naples🏠 The best Airbnbs in Naples🏨 The best hotels in Naples This guide was recently updated by Gabriela R. Prioetti, a writer based in Naples. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

What is it? One of the world’s biggest archeological museums, the National Archaeological Museum of Naples is renowned for its vast collections of Greek and Roman antiquities from cities like Pompeii and Herculaneum, Egyptian artifacts, and ancient works of art offering visitors a look into the former Mediterranean world.  Is it worth visiting?  Housed in a 16th century Neoclassical building that was a former cavalry barracks and later converted into a university, the grand structure offers a rich historical experience from the entrance. With world-class collections and comprehensive exhibits, many visit to explore one of the world's most complete collections of Pompeii wonders, offering an intimate look into local history in Naples’s Campania region.   How much are tickets? Tickets are available on the museum’s official website, at the ticket office or on Get Your Guide, but be prepared to queue during peak tourist season. At €22 per person, tickets are a little pricey, but you should set aside at least two to three hours to explore all the collections and marvels, which end up being well worth the money. Where’s good to eat nearby? Bordering Naples’s historic Rione Sanità neighborhood, some of the city’s most notable eateries are right around the corner. For morning breakfast, head straight to Pasticceria Poppella and eat a Fiocchi di Neve, a soft brioche-like bun filled with not-overly sweat cream. It is no trip to Naples without pizza, and Pizzeria Concettina ai Tre Santi

What is it? Located in Naples’s UNESCO World Heritage Site centro storico, Gesu Nuovo, the New Jesus Church, is a 15th century palace that was later acquired and transformed into a church by the Jesuits in the 16th century. Its exterior is really something, a diamond-shaped stone facade, but the warm Baroque interior, lavishly decorated with altarpieces, sculptures, ceiling frescos, and marble flooring is something else entirely.  Is it worth visiting?  The interior of Gesù Nuovo is a treasure chest of art by celebrated artists including Francesco Solimena, Luca Giordano, and Giovanni Lanfranco. For those interested in the spiritual and religious aspects, Gesù Nuovo is an ongoing active place of worship enhanced by its beautiful surroundings.    What are the prices like? The church is free of entry and has become a popular pit-stop for tourists visiting the Neapolitan city and has remained a worshiping center for the Jesuit community. Take a quick stroll through or admire the marble works of some of the city’s most talented marble artists of the 16th century through the 19th century.  Where’s good to eat nearby?  Located in the bustling UNESCO World Heritage historic center, you’ll find corners overflowing with bars and restaurants. If it’s early in the morning and your stomach is rumbling, or an afternoon pick-me-up is in order, right around the corner is one of the city’s most historic coffee bars, Bar Mexico. Head to the counter for a smooth shot of espresso paired with a

What’s the vibe?  Located in Naples’s sophisticated seafront neighborhood Chiaia, this historic family-run restaurant and pizzeria is warm and inviting serving all the Neapolitan classics, including hearty pasta dishes, fresh seafood, and don’t skip out on the pizza. With a welcoming staff and no-frills decor, it is the perfect place for casual affairs or special occasions for lunch or dinner on the intimate terrace or inside for a family-feeling environment.  What are the prices like?  Prices are justifiable for high-quality cuisine. Expect to pay around €9 for a classic Neapolitan style pizza and €22 for speciality plates of pasta.  What should I order?  The menu is consistent and unchanging, honouring traditional Neapolitan cuisine. During the warmer months, don’t skip the spaghetti with clams or mussels, an ode to the seaside city. But any time of year, you can’t go wrong with a marg or a hefty plate of pasta with potatoes and provolone. What’s worth visiting nearby?  Experience the luxury and vibrance of Chiaia strolling down its two main shopping strips, Via Chiaia and Via Gaetano Filangieri. For a cultural experience, escape into the Quartieri Spagnoli and get lost in its interlocked streets or pay a visit to Naples’s most prominent piazzas, Piazza Plebiscito.  📍 Discover more of the best things to do in Naples

What’s the vibe?  What may be one of the most recognisable restaurants in Naples, Trattoria da Nennella is a Neapolitan institution, partly for its food, sure, but mostly for the Nennella experience. Dating back to 1950, not much has changed over time – think Neapolitan folklore music, waiters dancing and singing, traditional cuisine, and smashing dinner plates. The interiors are painted in red and white and guests will leave full, happy, and smiling.  What are the prices like?  The daily fixed menu includes a first course, second course, and a seasonal side dish will cost 15 euros a person.  What should I order?  The menu changes daily, but the selections are always top-notch. Look out for classics including pasta and potatoes, risotto with seafood, sausage with sauteed rapini, paccheri pasta with seafood, but you can’t go wrong with much. Don’t forget to get a liter of house wine to share with the table.  What’s worth visiting nearby? Mercato della Pignasecca, one of the city’s oldest open-air markets, is a stone's throw away, offering visitors a taste of Neapolitan daily life full of flavor, commotion, and color. Take a stroll down Via Toledo, the epicenter of shopping, history, and culture, or venture to Galleria Umberto I, a public shopping gallery with a blue stain-glass dome.  📍 Discover more of the best things to do in Naples

What’s the vibe?  Hidden away inside Mergellina’s covered market and tucked in a little back corner, Cibi Cotti is an old-school gem that’s been welcoming locals and passerbyers for over 50 years. There are few tables, no menus, and lots of authentic love poured into the daily dishes. What are the prices like?  For a table of two, prices range from €10-20 for 2-4 dishes plus a drink.  What should I order?  Open only for lunch from 12-3pm, the menu changes daily and food is displayed on the glass counter to point to and choose from. There is no fixed menu, so be open to tasting various first courses and second courses, from seasonal Neapolitan sautéed vegetables to pasta with lentils and tender meats. Don’t be afraid to ask the owners what they recommend!  What’s worth visiting nearby? Located around the corner from Naples’s Riviera, take a post-lunch walk along the waterfront to admire the city’s seaside life. For an afternoon treat, visit Chalet Ciro and indulge in a sugary-fried-like donut native to Naples called Graffa, or head up the hill to Posillipo at one of the beach clubs for an afternoon dip in the sea. 📍 Discover more of the best things to do in Naples