I recently decided to travel to Naples, Italy for the first time.
I had a long weekend and a great desire to go somewhere for a couple of days.
I went to skyscanner, chose the departure airport, the dates when I am free, and entered anywhere for the destination and ordered the flights from the cheapest to the most expensive.
The result of my search was Naples. Cheap plane ticket, close enough to jump for few days and relatively cheap.
We bought plane tickets, packed our backpacks (yes) and headed to the airport.
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Neapolitan pizza for breakfast is great idea when travel to Naples
Given the early arrival in Naples, the plan was to have pizza for breakfast. BUT not just any pizza.
Have you seen the movie eat, pray, love? Well, that scene in which Julia Roberts eats a Neapolitan pizza is so iconic that this particular pizzeria has become a real tourist attraction for travel to Naples.
I knew that the movie took place in Naples. Now we just had to find the name of the pizzeria and where it is located.
Just type “Julia Roberts eats pizza Naples” into Google and the name immediately popped up – L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele Napoli.
A visit to L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele Napoli is an experience for itself. First of all, you have to research well which time of day is ideal to come, considering that there is a huge crowd at lunch and dinner time. Once you get to the pizzeria, you get a number like from a queue machine and wait for them to call you. If you choose the “sit and eat” option, you will wait an hour on average for a table inside. Warm recommendations for this! If you choose to take a pizza out, the wait is usually no longer than 15 minutes.
Pizza making course – a great and cheap workshop, and where else to learn how to make pizza than in the city where pizza originates during your travel to Naples!
P.S. did you know that at L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele Julia Roberts has her own table and seat! You will recognize it by the fact that her photo is right next to the table.
From the airport to the center of Naples
There is a shuttle bus from the airport to the main station in Naples that only takes about 15 minutes.
I put the link to buy tickets here.
My advice is to buy tickets in advance, because if you buy earlier or when you arrive, it can matter, there is no time or seat reservation and everyone stands in the same line.
In addition, there are always a few taxi drivers who offer a ride for few euros more per person compared to the price of the bus but there is no waiting. You will most likely share the ride with other tourists. They leave then they are full.
Booking transportation to and from the airport is also an option if you need safe transportation at a specific time.
How to spend a weekend while travel to Naples – what to see
Few days is quite enough to see most of the interesting things in Naples. In addition, Naples is one of the cities that is always worth returning to.
Prepare for a lot of walking and even more good food!
Places I visited in Naples during my stay:
Piazza Bellini is an adorable square where the remains of the old town are located. This is one of the locations in the city that you must see. In addition to the remains, there are several cafes that are an ideal place to take a break from sightseeing.
Via S. Gregorio Armeno is a shopping street that extends to many small streets. It gives the impression of a shopping labyrinth. This is perhaps my favorite part of Naples. It has the special atmosphere of southern Italy. The offer is varied, from souvenirs to jewelry and clothes.
Quartieri Spagnoli, the Spanish quarter of Naples, spreads through regular, narrow streets – calle. The Spanish Quarter is a favorite place for cheap bars.
Galleria Umberto I—for some reason, this gallery is a favorite place for photos. I must admit that the light there is really ideal for photography. It is somewhat reminiscent of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan.
Castel Nuovo – a medieval castle located on Piazza Municipio. It was built in 1282. If you are interested in castles, this is a great tour of the Nuovo Castle and the Castle dell’Ovo in Naples!
Piazza del Plebiscito is one of the largest squares. A frequent venue for various street events. Absolutely worth a visit, especially at sunset.
Santa Lucia is one of the neighborhoods in Naples. It’s worth a walk if you have extra time.
Dell’Ovo Castel—right at the end of the Lungomare di Napoli—is this medieval castle. When you walk along Lungomare, you can see the castle. Super photogenic place! Dell’Ovo is located on a peninsula.
Lungomare di Napoli – one of the most beautiful promenades I’ve ever seen. There are cafes and restaurants in the whole row. I would single out the Cafe Parthenope bar!! We drank aperol there at a pretty good price, and with the drink, we got a bunch of free snacks!
Castel Sant’Elmo – another medieval castle. This one is located in a slightly higher place in the city. More precisely on the Vomero hill. The view from the castle overlooks the entire city. Apart from the castle itself, the whole part of the city is beautiful with views of Naples. This castle can also be reached by funicular, and Castel Sant’Elmo can even be seen from Piazza del Plebiscito.
Toledo Metro Station—Toledo Art Station is something truly unique. I’ve heard a lot of stories about the fact that everyone must see the Toledo metro station, but it was never clear to me what was so interesting about a metro station. I went anyway, and when I got there and saw it, everything was clear to me.
Excursion and ascent to the Vesuvius volcano during travel to Naples
One morning we decided to go to Mount Vesuvius and climb to the top of the volcano.
We took a tour from this website which turned out to be a great idea.
It can be painful to make it there on your own from Naples, especally on a weekend or on a busy day. Also, it is impossible to reach the top of the volcano without a toured transportation (unless you are into a half-day hike).
Here I am leaving few tours and options you can check out and pick from:
- From Naples: All-Inclusive Mount Vesuvius Half-Day Tour
- From Ercolano: Vesuvio Park Entry Ticket and Roundtrip Bus
- Naples: Mount Vesuvius Skip-the-Line Ticket and Audio Guide
- From Pompei: Vesuvius Easy Tour Transfer
- From Naples : Herculaneum+Vesuvius+Pompeii Tour
- From Naples: Pompeii Ruins & Mount Vesuvius Day Tour
- Naples or Sorrento: Full-Day Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius Tour
Where to get accommodation when travel to Naples and is the city safe?
For accommodation, I recommend the Vomero district as by far the best and safest option.
In terms of safety, Naples does not have the best reputation. It is true that it is not recommended to walk alone, especially for tourists and at night.
Let’s go back to accommodation. There are far more tourists than available accommodation in Naples, so finding accommodation can be a challenge.
Apart from Naples itself, there are accommodation options in the vicinity of Vesuvius and Pompeii. I found accommodation for 15 euros per night per person in Vomer by spending a few hours on booking.com and refreshing the page. I was lucky that someone canceled the accommodation, so I booked it at the speed of light.
Find accommodation in Naples and its surroundings:
Other tours/tickets and ideas for trips to Naples:
- Pizza making course – great and cheap workshop, and where else to learn how to make pizza than in the city where pizza originates!
- Pompeii & Vesuvius one day trip
- Sorrento and Amalfi coast day trip
- Amalfi day trip
- Day trip along the Amalfi Coast
- Pompeii, Herculaneum & Vesuvius tour– great tour to see it all!
- One day trip to Pompeii
- Herculaneum tour
- Capri boat tour
- Capri and Anacapri one day trip
- Capri and Pompeii trip
- Free Walking Tour of Naples (Old Town)
- Other tours in Naples
Read other articles on Italy here:
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