If you are wondering how many days to visit Naples you need, it really depends on whether you want to visit the main attractions of the city like many tourists do, or whether you want to see everything there is to see (and trust me, there is a lot) and get to live the city, get to know the people who live there and, at least for a few days, live like a true Neapolitan would.

Many things have been said about Naples in the news over the last few years, and many of them haven’t been particularly positive. However, if you want to visit Naples (and you really should), you must get there with an open mind because, unlike many cities who are extremely popular among tourists thanks to the hype they receive from the media only to turn out to be very underwhelming in reality, Naples is one of those destinations that are very rarely talked about yet make thousands of people fall in love with it every year.

Depending on how many days to visit Naples you have, you can take things slowly or not. A good place to start from is the extremely beautiful Piazza Plebiscito which dates back to the 19th Century. While you are there, play a popular game which consists of standing at the back of the square with your eyes covered and, attempting to walk in a straight line, pass between two equestrian statues on the other side of the square. As soon as you uncover your eyes you will realize you were heading in a complete different direction to the one you thought you were going to.

Also depending on how many days to visit Naples you have, you can take short trips to other nearby towns to explore some incredible places like the ancient Roman city of Pompei, a UNESCO World Heritage site. There you will see the archaeological remains that the eruption of the Mount Vesuvius left behind in 79 AD. From the thermal baths to Pompei’s brothel and ash statues of people who were trying to escape, Pompeii will be one of those sights that will impact you so much you will never be able to forget about.

Another great place to visit is the Museo di Capodimonte where you will see masterpieces such as Caravaggio’s Flagellation of Christ or Andy Warhol’s Vesuvius. But the collection in this museum is beyond impressive. In fact, there are three different floors filled with art that span from the 13th to 20th Century where you can find pieces from all over the world and from different eras which makes it one of the best art museums in the whole of Italy.

Being such an ancient city full of history, you will find many different castles in Naples, all of them worth visiting. One of them is the Castel Sant’Elmo which is on the hill known as Vomero. It started as a fortress in the 14th Century, but what you will find today is a beautiful 16th Century military architecture designed by Viceroy Don Pedro Alvarez de Toledo and Pedro Luis Escriva. From the top you will have the most fantastic 360° panoramic views of the city and of the bay.

But probably the most beautiful castle in Naples is also the oldest one. Castel dell’Ovo was built in the 12th Century and it’s located in the very trendy Borgo Marinaro which comes to live at night thanks to all the cool bars you can find there. Allegedly, Virgil buried an egg where the castle can now be found and warned everyone that, when the egg breaks, both the castle and the entire city will be destroyed. Just in case this ever happens, make sure you visit the city and the castle because not only is it extremely beautiful, the entry is completely free and you will have some gorgeous views of the sea and the coast.

Naples has extremely diverse sights which is why even the biggest cemetery in the city can become a great point of interest to visit. In the Cimitero delle Fontanelle there are literally thousands of people buried, many of which were never identified because they were buried there during a plague which took over the city in the 17th Century. That is why the extremely caring population of Naples, by the end of the 19th Century, started adopting skulls and praying for their souls, because they knew nobody else would.

But apart from some incredible sights, this Italian city has a lot to offer to those who love shopping more than anything else. Visit Via Chiaia, very close to Piazza Plebiscito, to find a wide variety of very sophisticated shops. Once you reach the end you will find yourself in the charming Piazza dei Martiri and, right at the bottom of it, you will see a very small street called Via Calabritto, where you will find the most luxurious stores in the whole city.

If you decide to walk down Via Calabritto, you will find yourself standing just about 100 meters from the gorgeous seaside which makes everyone fall in love with the city. Mergellina is the name of the area, and from there you will have the chance of taking a look at the stellar harbor and spot important places in the distance such as Mount Vesuvius or Castel Dell’Ovo. Comparing the views you will find to a postcard is not an exaggeration but a fact.

Also in Mergellina you will have the opportunity to visit the Villa Comunale, which was designed by Luigi Vanvitelli for the Bourbon royalty that used to live in the city. This is an extremely large park filled with gardens, plants and trees and lots of people just relaxing or keeping fit practicing jogging or simply walking their dogs. Also here you will find the aquarium which is unlike any other one you might have seen in the past. Despite the fact it’s very small, inside you will find some great species.

Naples is a very religious city, just like the rest of Italy, which means there are dozens of churches in it. One of the most loved ones both by the locals and the tourists is Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo from the 15th Century which is a mixture of sobriety and harsh Baroque art. Relatively close to it you will find the extremely popular Via San Gregorio Armeno, an extremely narrow street where it’s Christmas every day of the year thanks to all the artisan workshops that sell the most beautiful nativity scenes and figurines in the whole world.

As you must have noticed by now, there are lots of places of interest in the city, but during your stay in Naples you must make sure you get lost just walking around at least once. That is how you will come across the most typical, extremely narrow streets decorated with clothes the locals hang from their balconies in order for them to get dry. That way, you will also come across the best small bars and restaurants where you will have the chance of eating the finest pizzas (which were created in the city).

And what about the desserts? Every bar in Naples, as well as serving the tastiest coffee ever, is filled with the most delicious desserts such as babà or sfogliatella. After getting lost and asking for directions to some of the locals or by simply walking into a bar and sitting down to have lunch, you will soon realize the inhabitants of the city are some of the warmest, most friendly and welcoming people you will ever have the luck of meeting during a trip and you will wish you could be part of their gang forever.

But in order to enjoy Naples as much as possible you will have to find a comfortable place to stay, which is why we invite you to book a room in our pretty bed & breakfast where, as well as having your own room and bathroom and be served breakfast every day, you will find an extremely friendly and helpful staff at your service. The bed & breakfast is located close to Spaccanapoli, a street which is filled with great stores and restaurants and from where you will have access to public transport to reach any part of Naples.

Photo credits:

Piazza Plebiscito: Miguel

Castel Sant Elmo: Antonio Manfredonio

Pizza Margherita: Young Sok Yun

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