A First Timer’s Guide to Naples, Italy

Most people treat Naples, Italy as a place to pass through on the way to somewhere prettier. I almost did too.

But Naples is where Italy gets loud, delicious, and unapologetically real. It’s the birthplace of pizza, home to nearly 2,800 years of history, and the easiest launchpad for internationally renowned places like Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast.

It isn’t polished, and I won’t pretend otherwise. The streets are crowded, the traffic is chaotic, and I was initially shocked by how grungy some of the architecturally intricate buildings were (I am coming from the New World after all).

But if you enjoy places with real character, where locals fill the neighbourhood bars and laundry hangs over narrow alleys, then you may find that Naples is more than just a transit hub and see its magic that many tourists miss!

In this guide, I share five essential travel tips for first time visitors to Naples, Italy!

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<3 Dominique

1) Exercise big city safety precautions while in Naples, Italy

As a solo, female traveller, I didn’t feel particularly unsafe while in Naples. But I am a city girl with city girl instincts. I may take for granted that not all my readers come from one of the largest cities in the Americas.

Naples is the third-largest city in Italy with a population of about 905,000 people within its city limits. Like most big cities anywhere in the world, it may seem chaotic if that’s not your norm. Serious crime there rarely involves tourists. Even so, I exercised big city precaution while I was there. Opportunistic, petty crime (like theft) can happen anywhere and Naples is no exception.

The main petty crimes for visitors to be mindful of while in Naples are pickpocketing, bag-snatching and phone-snatching in busy areas like central tourist areas, the train station, and metro stations. The risk of these crimes can be mitigated with a cross-body bag worn close to your body and away from the street. Mopeds also travel down the smaller alleyways in the centre, so stay alert when walking, even on streets that look pedestrian-only.

2) Download useful apps before you arrive in Naples, Italy

Communication

I recommend downloading the following apps to help with communication around Naples:

• WhatsApp – besides keeping you connected with friends and family at home, you will find local hotels, drivers, tour operators, and restaurants use it constantly for managing bookings.
• Google Lens and Translate – Google Lens can help translate signs and menus on the fly. Google Translate can help with translating Italian and Neapolitan to your preferred language. Remember to download the local language and your preferred language so that it can translate offline.

eSIM

To stay connected, I recommend looking into installing an eSIM before you arrive. An eSIM is a digital version of a SIM card. Instead of buying a little plastic chip and swapping it into your phone, you just download an eSIM. It connects your phone to a local network in whatever country you’re visiting — no stores, no waiting, and no fiddling with tiny cards.

My favourite eSIM has been Airalo. Just make sure your phone is eSIM compatible. To save 15% on your first Airalo eSIM use the following code: THRILLOFPURSUIT.

Food

• TheFork – helps you discover local eats and make reservations. Also offers in app discounts.

Navigation

To help get around, the following apps are pretty useful for finding your way around Naples:

• Google Maps/Apple Maps – download offline maps just in case.
• Waze – is the preferred app by the locals for for live traffic, police checks, and speed camera alerts.

Transportation

The following ride-hailing apps work in Naples, Italy:

• FREENOW – the most reliable and popular app for booking official city taxis in Naples with upfront pricing.
• WeTaxi – another reliable and widely used app for official city taxis
• Uber – works in Naples but hails regular taxis (UberX and Uber Black are not available in Italy)

For intercity travel:

• Trenitalia/Italo Treno – the official apps for booking and managing high-speed (Frecciarossa/Italo) and regional trains to and from Naples (such as to Rome, Sorrento, or the Amalfi Coast).

3) Consider how many days you have to spend in Naples, Italy

The recommended number of days to allocate to your Naples visit is a subjective one.

If you are only interested in seeing Naples’ iconic sites, two days would be sufficient. Spending three days in Naples would allow you to see the iconic sites and either spend a free day to travel deeper into one of the neighbourhoods or go on a day trip. Staying beyond three days would allow visitors to really experience the culinary scene, explore locales at a more relaxed pace (travel deeper beyond the surface, if you will) and go on multiple awesome day trips.

4) Get the an Artecard

Consider getting an Artecard if you are:

• planning on staying a few days in Naples
• planning on visiting a number of popular tourist sites in and around Naples

The Artecard is a Naples tourist card. Depending on which version you get, the Artecard grants you entry to a range of tourist attractions which includes Pompeii and Herculaneum and unlimited public transport in Naples. Purchasing an Artecard may save you money over paying the entrance fee at each individual site + transport costs.

5) Plan for how you’re getting around

Naples is an ancient city. It is over 2,800 years old to be more precise. Its streets are narrow and traffic jams happen frequently. These cobbled streets were not designed with modern cars in mind. On top of everything, parking may be hard to find.

On the up side for those who do not have a driver’s license (like myself), Naples is a very walkable city. In fact, I would recommend walking to get around Naples, followed by public transportation (which is unlimited if you choose to buy an Artecard). Naples’ public transportation systems can be considered attractions themselves.

Naples has some of the most beautiful metro stations in the world! While artwork displayed at every level in all stations, there are some metro stations that are architecturally interesting as well. Some examples include the Toledo and Chiaia stations.

You can also ride a funicolare up one of the many hills around the city. The funiculars of Naples are over 100 years old and their design definitely evokes style from a bygone era. To get down from the hills, you can take a pedamintina – long stairways leading up and down the hills of Naples. The most famous pedamintina is San Martina. It is over 700 years old and connects the scenic San Martina neighbourhood to the historic centre via its 414 steps. For sea side pedamintine, check out Petraia and Calota San Francesco.

Plan your itinerary by proximity to get the most out of your days in Naples!

Hi! I’m Dominique.

I am the writer, photographer, and illustrator behind this travel blog.

I designed The Thrill of Pursuit to help you choose your next adventure, plan the journey, and help you navigate once you arrive at your destination.

Find out more on my About Me page.

Comments and questions are always welcome. If you have any corrections or questions about your visit to Lima, Peru, leave a comment below!