10 things to do on a weekend in Naples

4 days and 3 nights in Naples

Ciao Napoli! That was my motto last Saturday. We wanted to spend my birthday in a cool city, and thanks to fantastic flight prices, Naples triumphed over Rome.

And there we were, at the start of a weekend in Naples, on our way from the main station, Stazione Garibaldi, to our (100% recommended) B&B Parthenope Suite in the heart of the historic old town. By the way, even though people often think so, the moped and car drivers in the super-narrow streets are not out to kill you! 😁

Here are my top 10 things to do on a wonderful, sunny weekend in Naples!

1. Alleys and narrow streets

The most important thing about your weekend in Naples? Just go with the flow! Explore the many tiny alleys of the old town, discover small restaurants, drink Aperol Spritz (typically Neapolitan: with tonic instead of soda) and enjoy the hustle and bustle and loud charm of the city!

2. Enjoy the harbour promenade

On a sunny day, Via Partenope at the harbour is the place to be! There is a succession of restaurants and bars. From a good spot, you can watch the crowds and ships while enjoying a drink and practising ‘la dolce far niente’ (the sweet art of doing nothing). By the way, you can order your Aperol Spritz to go in the bars. Then you can sit down at the railing on the shore and have a front-row seat!

The prominent Castel dell’Ovo (Egg Castle) offers (supposedly) the best view of Vesuvius, the city and Capri. However, we only admired it from the outside, and even that was wonderful.

On the way back to the city, it is best to walk through the impressive Piazza del Plebiscito. You can also visit the beautiful courtyard of the Palazzo Reale there.

3. Chiesa di San Domenico Maggiore

The best way to enter the church is via Piazza San Domenico Maggiore. The portal is not particularly impressive and leads into a well-kept vestibule. From there, take the stairs upwards and let yourself be swept away by the pompous, magnificent church! A beautiful nave awaits you. It is truly hard to believe what lies behind the simple (rear) entrance.

By the way, Piazza San Domenico Maggiore offers two great places for a coffee or an aperitif: San Domenico and Jamón!

4. Complesso Monumentale di Santa Chiara

Santa Chiara offers many attractions in itself, but the real reason you should pay the entrance fee is the inner courtyard. Inside, you will find a wonderful orange garden, hand-painted tile benches and fantastic archways. Here, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, you can enjoy a wonderful stroll. 

5. Forza Napoli!

The Neapolitans live for good wine, delicious food and SSC Napoli. I am definitely not a football fan, quite the opposite in fact. But watching a match of the local club surrounded by passionate Neapolitans is definitely a must-see for me! If there's an exciting football match during your stay in Naples, make sure you get a good seat in a bar (reserve in advance!!). This way, you can experience the proverbial Italian temperament up close and personal from the front row. I also filmed it, and you can find the video on YouTube.

Incidentally, you will find a portrait of Diego Maradona in every other shop. The former star player of SSC Napoli is practically a saint here! 

6. The ruins of Pompeii

Pompeii (Pompei in Italian) is one of those places you simply have to see in your lifetime. But there are two things you should bear in mind if you want to have a great time there:

1. Don't go during peak holiday season or on weekends.
2. The motto is: get up early! Pompeii opens its doors at 9:00 a.m. Be there shortly before 9:00 a.m. and be among the first to enter.

If you search for ‘Pompei’ on Google Images, you will find hundreds of pictures of the ancient city without other people. That's how we experienced our time there, too. Those interested in history can take an audio guide. However, it is just as satisfying to simply drift through the narrow streets, visit the interiors and let everything sink in. Particularly impressive is the ever-present threat of Vesuvius, which is almost constantly visible.

Getting there is easy: just take the Circumvesuviana train from the main station. For just a few euros, it will take you directly to one of the entrances to Pompeii in 30 minutes.

7. Off to the underground!

For those who do not suffer from claustrophobia, I would highly recommend Napoli Sotteranea . The guided tours through a small section of the 170 km long underground aqueduct are a truly memorable experience. 35 m below the streets of Naples' historic old town, you can learn all about the city's former water supply system.

Btw, there is only one really narrow section: with a candle, you pass through a 150-metre-long tunnel that is only 50 centimetres wide. If you don't feel confident enough to do this, you can simply skip the passage and wait for the group to return.

8. La Cappella Sansevero

The small Capella Sansevero only takes 30 to 45 minutes of your time and is one of my top highlights in Naples. Inside, you will find a small, rectangular chapel with Baroque sculptures. But what really leaves you speechless is the famous figure Cristo Velato by Giuseppe Sanmartino. It is impossible to describe or even capture in pictures how beautiful this work is. It looks as if a silk cloth is covering the figure of Christ. It is hard to believe that it is all carved from marble.

One floor below, in a room that was originally intended to be a crypt, are the Macchine Anatomiche (the ‘Anatomical Machines’). These are a man and a woman whose skeletons and all their arteries and veins have been preserved. Incidentally, it is still unknown today how the preservation process worked.

Unfortunately, photography is prohibited in the Cappella, so I couldn't take a photo of Cristo Velato. However, you can see everything on the website linked above.

9. La Galleria Umberto I

The Galleria is a shopping arcade in Naples, not far from Piazza del Plebiscito. It is very impressive and lovely to stroll through. Incidentally, at the exit, you can find what are said to be the best sfogliate (see next point, ‘Food and drink’) in all of Naples, but unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to try them.

10. Eating and drinking in Naples

Hey, es ist Italien! Essen und Trinken gehören genauso zum Sightseeing wie Gebäude und Museen.

As already mentioned, Aperol Spritz is served here with tonic water instead of soda waterHowever, if, like me, you are not a fan of tonic water, you can of course order the classic version.

Alongside Pizza Margarita , the famous Ragú alla napoletana is THE classic dish of local cuisine. Ragù is similar to our Austrian gulash. The sauce is served with pasta as a primo, and the meat as a main course, but usually both are served together.

If you're a fan of fried food , Naples is the city for you! As you walk around, you'll come across little shops selling freshly fried vegetables, potatoes and seafood in paper cones. Grab a cuopp' (a cup of fried delicacies), grab a beer, sit down at one of the mini tables and enjoy life!

The city's most famous dessert is sfogliata, a puff pastry filled with ricotta cheese. Forget about the calories, it's the holidays!

 

Have you ever been to Naples and the surrounding area? Do you have any other must-sees and must-eats that are missing here? I'm always happy to receive tips for my next visit!

 

Incidentally, Barbara from the blog Reisepsycho.com has also written about ‘Naples for beginners.’ You can find her insightful article here.
And Karin from the blog Lemons & Volcanoes also gives you some great tips for Naples.

 

 

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