Continue to Page 2: What to See in Naples
Naples Introduction:
Naples,
Napoli in Italian, is the third most-populated city in Italy and the biggest city in Southern Italy. Its name comes from the Greek
Neapolis meaning new city. Its close proximity to many interesting sites, such as Pompeii and the Bay of Naples, makes it a good base for exploring the area. Naples is a lively and vibrant city, full of wonderful historical and artistic treasures and narrow, winding streets with small shops, making it worth at least a few days visit.
Naples Location:
Naples is in the region of Campania in Southern Italy, about 2-hours south of Rome. It sits on the coast on the northern edge of the Bay of Naples, one of the most beautiful bays in Italy. Its harbor is the most important port in Southern Italy.
Transportation to Naples:
Naples is the main transportation hub for southern Italy with several major train lines. The train and bus stations are in the huge
Piazza Garibaldi, on the eastern side of Naples. Naples has an airport,
Aeroporto Capodichino, with flights to other parts of Italy and to Europe. A bus connects the airport with
Piazza Garibaldi. Ferries and hydrofoils run from Naple's Molo Beverello to the islands of Capri, Ischia, Procida, and Sardinia.
Naples Transportation:
Naples has good public transportation and lots of traffic problems so it's best to avoid having a car in Naples. Naples has a large but crowded bus network, trams, a subway, funiculars, and a suburban train line, the
Ferrovia Circumvesuviana, that will get you to Herculaneum, Pompeii, and Sorrento. More about
Day Trips from Naples and
Naples Transportation Options.
Naples Tourist Information:
There are tourist offices in the main train station, Piazza Gesu Nuovo, and Piazza Martiri.
Naples Food Specialties:
Pizza, one of Italy's most famous foods, originated in Naples and pizza is taken very seriously here. You'll find lots of great pizza places but be sure you look for one with a wood-burning oven! Spaghetti also became popular in Naples and today the best is with clams or mussels. Seafood is abundant and very good in Naples, too.
Naples Hotels:
Naples hotels (book direct), rated and reviewed by users, can be viewed on
Venere with photos and maps of the hotels. Here are the
Top Guest Rated Hotels in Naples Historic Center based on Venere.com guest ratings.
Naples Weather and When to Go:
Naples gets quite hot in summer so spring and fall are probably the best times to visit. Since Naples is near the coast, it's more temperate in winter than interior cities of Italy. Here are details about
Naples Weather and Climate.
Naples Festivals:
Naples has one of the best New Year's Eve fireworks displays in Italy. During Christmas, hundreds of Creches or nativity scenes decorate the city and the street
Via San Gregorio Armeno in central Naples is filled with displays and stalls selling Nativity scenes. More about
Nativity Scenes in Italy. There are many decorations for Easter, too, and a huge parade. Two huge religious festivals are held in September, the
Festa di Piedigrotta on the 7th and
San Gennaro on the 19th. During the summer, there are music festivals, too.
Naples Pictures
Take a look at these
Naples pictures on Europe Travel.
Naples Top Attractions:
Top attractions in Naples include the
National Archaeological Museum, Duomo,
Spaccanapoli district, shopping, the harbor, castles, and other museums. To read more about what to see and do in Naples, go to
Page 2: Naples Attractions.
