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Naples Travel Guide 101 : Historic Center and More

Naples, located in the Campania region of Italy, is the third largest city in the country, after Milan and Rome. Although it is often seen as a pizza stop on the road along Pompeii and Amalfi Coast, this bohemian city is full of surprises and deserves at least a 2-day visit. You will understand why Goethe said, “See Naples and die.” Here’s a Naples travel guide with local tips from me!

Castel dell’Ovo & Lungomare di Mergellina

I suggest you to start Naples from the seaside. While walking, you will adore to the beauty of Gulf of Naples, embraced by Castel dell’Ovo and the active volcano Vesuvio. There are many restaurants and bars along the way, I wouldn’t recommend eating in these because you will find more budget friendly restaurants and more delicious food in the historic centre of the city.

Lungomare di Mergellina

The seaside of Naples, where locals do their morning runs and home to important events, particularly the pizza festival, is crowded especially if the weather is nice. You can rent a bicycle or e-scooter.

Castel dell’Ovo, the Egg Castle, takes its name from a legend. Legend says that Roman poet Virgit placed eggs on the floor of the castle, and if that egg breaks, the city will experience a major disaster. Believe it or not, while you’re in Naples, go up to the ceiling of this free-to-enter castle and enjoy the spectacular view.

Naples sightseeing guide
Castel dell’Ovo
Naples sightseeing guide
Gulf of Naples from Castel dell’Ovo

Local Tip : You will see Sorbillo, which is always crowded, in the seaside. Do not eat pizza there! The original Sorbillo is in the historic center of the city.

Piazza del Plebiscito

Locals’ meeting point, background of news, shooting point of series and a must for Naples travel guide, Piazza del Plebiscito. You will reach Piazza Plebiscito when you finish walking by the seaside and turn left. There is Palazzo Reale at one end and a church at the other. It is essential to walk in the cisterns of the church and photograph the statues of lions positioned left and right!

Naples sightseeing guide
Piazza Plebiscito
Naples sightseeing guide
Piazza Plebiscito

Caffe Gambrinus, Naples’ most historic and touristic coffee bar, is located in this square. In my early years in Naples, I was prejudiced against Gambrinus for being a tourist attraction. My prejudice was not that I doubted the taste of its coffee, but that the level of coffee prices was above the city average. However, years later, I did not want to pass up the experience of drinking coffee for once in this charming place; I’m glad I did. Espresso on the bar is 1.20 euros.

Caffe Gambrinus

I have never visited Palazzo Reale, because it is always more attractive to me to discover the streets of the city. However, from what I can see from the pictures, the palace is very beautiful. If you have time and interest, do not neglect.

Local Tip : If you don’t go straight and turn left where Piazza Plebiscito ends and Via Toledo starts, you will reach Via Chiaia. Unlike Naples’ chaos (I don’t care, I love it) I recommend Via Chiaia for a more stylish atmosphere, I will write about it in detail in another post.

Via Toledo & Galleria Umberto

Via Toledo is a shopping street about a mile long, with one end to Piazza Plebiscito and one end to Piazza Dante. The side streets connecting to the street, which is home to Italian and world brands as well as local boutiques, are full of surprises! Quarteri Spagnoli, the Spanish square, is the site of narrow, dark streets with laundry hanging from the ironic pictures of Naples. In addition, delicious smells are always rising from these streets, the ideal place to explore trattorias!

One of the things you shouldn’t pass up on Via Toledo is the Galleria Umberto similar to The Vittorio Emanuale in Milan but less spectacular, the dates of their construction are very close. Don’t forget to take a tour of the Galleria Umberto and have a coffee at Anna Bellavita.

Naples sightseeing guide
Galleria Umberto

There is a stop on the funicular line to Vomero on Via Toledo and a metro stop in Toledo. The Toledo metro stop is like an exquisite work of art, be sure to note.

Local Recommendation : Enter the all-out street opposite the MAC on Via Toledo, past the barbershop for an Aperol Spritz at the first bar on the right. Close your eyes as Vespas pass by, the smell of espresso in the air and enjoy the serenity you catch in the center of the city. I love this anonymous, ordinary little bar!

The world’s most delicious aperole for me, Via Toledo
Centro Storico di Napoli : Spaccanapoli and Via dei Tribunali

We’ve come to the places where Naples become Naples. The heart of Naples beats in Spaccanapoli, which includes a thin, long street called Via dei Tribunali. Narrow and dark streets, laundry hung between windows, Vespas parked on corners and cobbled roads… The area starts at Piazza del Gesù, while ends at the intersection of Via Duomo. When the city is viewed panoramicly from Castel Sant’Elmo, Via dei Tribunali appears as a subtle black straight line; the one that divides the city in two.

Spaccanapoli
Centro Storico, UNESCO world heritage site

Roaming around the city, walking unplanned is my favorite thing, but since I am writing Naples travel guide, I don`t want you to pass without seeing these in the historical center:

Basilica di Santa Chiara is a complex of monasteries, tombs and archaeological ruins. I love the ceramics in the garden, it is a pleasant place especially if the weather is nice. Entry is paid. If you have time, I suggest you stop by.

Naples sightseeing guide

Cappella Sansevero is a charming chapel. The statue of Veiled Jesus in it is a wonderful work that should never be passed up.

San Gregorio Armeno is a street where there are too many souvenir shops and more religious symbols are sold. It’s always crowded.

San Gregorio Armeno

Naples Sotteranea is an ancient city discovered under the ground of Naples. At certain hours of the day, you can visit the under-ground city, which can be entered in groups with tours, with candles in your hand with a guide. It’s a really different experience.

The historic center of Naples has very satisfying options in terms of eating , drinking and shopping. If you want to buy gifts for yourself or your loved ones in Naples, I suggest you look at the shops here. Besides, prices are more economical than around Via Toledo. Capodimonte, cornicello and pulcinelli objects are popular gift options.

It’s unlikely to eat bad ice cream in the city, but you can see the branches of Gay Odin, Casa Infante and Leopoldo. Coffee in Naples is a topic I can talk about for hours, but Centrale del Caffè, Bar Nilo (a bar dedicated to Maradona) and Bar Mexico in the historic center are the ones that came to mind in the first place.

Bar Nilo in memory of Maradona

In this city that has brought pizza margherita to the world, I suggest you be picky about the place, even if pizza smells rise from everywhere. Gino Sorbillo for ‘the best pizza in the world’, Dal Presidente Pizzeria, Pizzeria Donna Sofia are the ones I tried. You can enter all pizzerias with AVPN certificate with eyes closed. Get ready to wait for hours, especially in Sorbillo; but it’s worth it!

Waiting in line to eat the best pizza in the world.

I can write longer about Naples… I have memories in the every corner of the city. My firsts, my excitements, my surprises, my sorrows and my discoveries. A city where I meet myself, shape my interests that make me who I am. Wherever I go, I will not be able to replace it and I will always miss it so much.

This was the start of my Naples travel guide series, others on the way.

If you plan a trip to Naples, don’t forget to write to me, I would be happy to prepare a personalized Naples travel guide for you and answer your questions.

Naples is the city where you will eat the most delicious pizza in the world. I suggest you read my article on the best pizzas in Naples!

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