2. Museums of ancient wonders and Renaissance masters
Naples boasts two museums that are destinations in themselves.
The Museo Archeologico Nazionale houses one of the world’s most important collections of Roman antiquities. Here you’ll find mosaics, sculptures and everyday objects excavated from Pompeii and Herculaneum; fragments of daily life frozen in time.
Further uphill, the Museo di Capodimonte sits within a former Bourbon royal palace, surrounded by greenery. Its vast galleries include masterpieces by Caravaggio, Botticelli and Raphael, offering a journey through Italian Renaissance and Baroque painting.
3. Underground Naples: the silence beneath the city
Surprisingly, just steps from the crowded heart of the historic center, near Piazza San Gaetano, a narrow staircase descends into another world. This is Napoli Sotterranea, the underground city carved into soft tuff stone.
Beneath the vibrant chaos of Spaccanapoli lie Greek cisterns from the 4th century BC, fragments of Roman aqueducts, and WWII air raid shelters, all woven into a labyrinth that tells of a city in constant adaptation. This is Naples at its most resilient, where necessity shaped ingenuity, and the very earth became both refuge and record.
And there’s more to explore below ground. North of the center, the Catacombs of San Gennaro reveal another layer: quiet, sacred and centuries deep. With early Christian frescoes still visible on the walls, these catacombs are larger and older than their Roman counterparts, and one of the best places to go in Naples to uncover its spiritual heart, hidden in stone.
4. Rione Sanità and the Ipogeo dei Cristallini
Rione Sanità is one of Naples’ oldest neighborhoods, a vibrant district where history and everyday life intertwine.
This is Naples at its most unfiltered: lively, complex, and unmistakably local. Alley walls are covered in street art, while hidden sites like the Ipogeo dei Cristallini, a Greek-Roman burial chamber recently reopened to the public, offer a rare glimpse into the city’s ancient past.
The neighborhood is full of resilience, community spirit, and pride. It’s an off-the-beaten-path stop that reveals a more intimate side of Naples.
5. Piazza del Plebiscito: a breath of grandeur
Vast and solemn, Piazza del Plebiscito is where Naples seems to catch its breath.
One of the largest public squares in Italy, it’s flanked by the Royal Palace, once home to Bourbon kings, and the Basilica of San Francesco di Paola, whose sweeping colonnade evokes Rome itself.
Over the centuries, the square has hosted coronations, military parades, and political protests; a true civic heart of the city.
Nearby, the Teatro di San Carlo, opened in 1737, is the oldest continuously active opera house in Europe, where the spirit of Naples sings in velvet and gold.
Opposite San Carlo, Galleria Umberto I dazzles with its glass dome and ornate architecture: a 19th-century gem still buzzing with shops and cafés.
6. The pulse of the Spanish Quarters
The Quartieri Spagnoli, or Naples’ Spanish Quarters, may not always make the top travel guides, but they’re one of the best places to go in Naples if you want to feel the city’s raw, beating heart.
Just behind the elegant Via Toledo, the Quartieri Spagnoli rise in a dense patchwork of alleyways. Originally built in the 16th century to house Spanish soldiers, this neighborhood has grown into one of Naples’ most authentic and misunderstood places.
Balconies overflow with plants, laundry, and flags. Tiny shrines flicker with candles. Murals of Maradona, local hero, watch over scooters darting through the chaos.
But beyond the noise, you’ll glimpse the everyday life of Naples: old men playing cards at folding tables, a grandmother singing as she stirs the sauce, kids juggling footballs on uneven stones.
7. Vomero and Castel Sant’Elmo: Naples from above
Rising high above the historic core, accessible by funicular or a steep walk , the Vomero hill offers a different perspective on Naples. Here, space opens up. The sounds of scooters fade. The city below becomes a canvas of rooftops, church domes, and volcanic skyline.
At its summit stands Castel Sant’Elmo, a 14th-century star-shaped fortress that once served as a military outpost, prison, and lookout post for centuries of rulers. Its strategic position made it a keystone of Naples’ defense, and today its ramparts offer one of the most spectacular panoramic views of the city: from Mount Vesuvius to the beauty of Spaccanapoli.
Just next door, the Certosa di San Martino, a former Carthusian monastery turned museum, adds another layer of history and art to your hilltop visit.
Together, they make Vomero not just a scenic overlook, but one of the best places in Naples to grasp the city’s scale, past and present.
8. Naples by the Sea: from legend to life
Where land meets sea, Naples slows down. The walk from Castel dell’Ovo to Mergellina traces a shoreline of memory, myth, and everyday magic.
Perched on the islet of Megaride, Castel dell’Ovo is the city’s oldest standing fortification. Its name (literally Egg Castle) comes from a medieval legend: the poet Virgil, thought to be a sorcerer, hid a magical egg in its foundations. If the egg were to break, legend said, the fate of Naples would collapse with it.
But history speaks louder than myth here. From Roman villa to Norman fortress to Bourbon prison, the castle has seen the city evolve, crumble, and rebuild. Today, its ramparts offer some of the most iconic views over the Gulf of Naples.
From here, the lungomare (waterfront promenade) stretches westward. Locals stroll arm in arm. Fishermen cast their nets. Cafés hum with conversation. Artists, musicians, and children give the path its rhythm.
9. Pompeii: the city under ash
Just a short drive from Naples lies Pompeii, one of the world’s most important archaeological sites.
Originally founded as a small Oscan settlement around the 7th century BC, Pompeii developed into a thriving Roman city by the 1st century AD; until the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD buried it under meters of volcanic ash and pumice.
The eruption preserved Pompeii almost intact, providing a detailed snapshot of everyday Roman life. Walking along streets marked by chariot ruts, stepping inside homes decorated with frescoes and mosaics, and exploring public spaces like the forum, amphitheater, and baths, visitors can see a city frozen in time.
Visiting Pompeii it’s an opportunity to engage directly with a well-preserved piece of history.
10. Wine on the slopes of Vesuvius: a taste of volcanic Naples
Just south of Naples, the slopes of Mount Vesuvius reveal a rare landscape; where violent eruptions gave way to mineral-rich soil that now nurtures native vines.
Grapes like Piedirosso and Falanghina thrive here, producing the region’s signature wine: Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio, or Tears of Christ.
Here, visiting is more than a tasting. You walk among vines rooted in volcanic earth, with sweeping views of the sea under the shadow of the crater, then sit down to a long lunch where each glass reveals more of the unique character of the volcanic land.
Want to experience it for yourself? Join our Naples, Pompeii and the Vineyards of Mount Vesuvius tour for an unforgettable day among volcanic vineyards.
Unforgettable Naples: the best places to visit and the stories they tell
Naples isn’t just a city you see, it’s one you experience. Every street, every taste, every sound reveals another layer of its rich history and vibrant culture. It’s a place where the past and present meet in unexpected ways, inviting you to explore deeply and feel truly connected.
This is a city that stays with you long after you’ve left; in the warmth of its light, the pulse of its life, and the stories etched into every corner.
