When we were planning our vacation to Italy, Naples was not really on our list . I wanted to do a quick stop over in Naples on our way to Amalfi to try the Pizza . Based on my googling nothing else the city had really interested me .

Why Naples ?

My husband convinced me to stay two nights in Naples . He mainly picked due to the difference in cost between using Naples as a base to explore Herculaneum and Pompei vs us using Sorrento as a base .

In hindsight if you are cost conscious you can also use Naples as a base on the day you do a day trip to Capri . Two to Three days of your Amalfi Coast trip can be spend in Naples . Use it as a base for Herculaneum , Capri and Pompei. Will definitely help with cost and gives you exposure to a grimy city with awesome food choices !

What is Naples Like ?

Naples can be overwhelming when you get out of the train station. Compared to other major cities of Italy it is grimy . There are tons of graffiti and sketchy looking people everywhere. Everything is also built close . We were told it has 30 percent unemployment. Which explains some of it .

Having been there we didn’t find it unsafe . However we are originally from a third world country so we are very much aware of our surroundings. We stick to areas frequented by tourist or crowded areas , and we make sure to stay aware of our surroundings. We also don’t carry too much cash or flaunt our valuables.

Top Things To Do In Naples

We mainly walked everywhere in Naples from our hotel . We stayed at Renaissance Naples Hotel Mediterraneo.

Castle Sant’Elmo – Walked to this castle. Didn’t go inside but it looked cool from outside. Cool to do if you are here but not something I would go just to visit . Others recommend going inside and checking out the view .

Piazza Del Plebescito – This is a huge Piazza surrounded by the Royal Palace and a church . Gave off Vatican Piazza vibes but you can see the grimy ness of Naples that the entire city is smothered in . Interesting place to walk around at and to sit in and ponder life ! Very empty compared to the Piazzas of Rome . We just sat on steps in the Piazza people watching and it was really nice . The port is not too far so there is always a pleasant breeze . Saw a wedding party go into the church .

Walk Along The Waters – Naples has a huge port . Good place to take an late afternoon stroll to catch the breeze and watch Mount Vesuvius.

Food – Naples is the birth place of Pizza ! Need I need to say more . There are all kinds of awesome food options. Will write a dedicated Naples Food Post .

Naples At Night

We did walk back from dinner one night and felt safe . Some areas are sketchy so be very aware of your surroundings if do decide to do a night stroll .

Conclusion

Overall Naples added a very different dimension and depth to our visit to Italian cities. Definitely worth a stopover. Highlight for us was the food and cost savings!