The best 15 things to do in Naples: livin' la dolce vita

14.12.2023 - 17:10 / lonelyplanet.com

Founded by Greeks in the first millennium BCE, Naples is one of the most ancient cities in Europe – and it remains alluring to this day.

Situated on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, with Mt Vesuvius towering in the distance, Italy's third-largest city is home to an incredible wealth of art and architecture. Ancient Greek wall fortifications, a Roman-era theater and a Norman castle testify to its long, rich history. And around every corner in the city’s UNESCO-designated historical center, you’ll find baroque churches, splendid Renaissance-era piazzas and charming cafes.

“Rome is the heart of Italy, but Naples is its soul,” say the Italians – and, indeed, Neapolitans have mastered the art of la dolce vita ("the sweet life"). Get a taste of how they live with this list of the best things to do in Naples.  

Spaccanapoli – literally, “Naples splitter” – is the bustling narrow street that traverses Naples’ Centro Storico (historical center). Buzzing Vespas, neighbors debating politics from opposing balconies, tiny artisan workshops humming with the noise of hammers: Spaccanapoli is the vibrant heart of this irresistible city. You’ll find some of the city’s most famous churches along this UNESCO World Heritage–designated street, too, including the circa 1470 Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo and the Cappella Sansevero, renowned for its marble sculpture Veiled Christ by Giuseppe Sanmartino.

The delicious aroma of freshly baked dough wafts through the air in Naples, where pizza was born. Resident Raffaele Esposito is often credited with creating the first Pizza Margherita to commemorate the 1889 visit of Italian queen of the same name – though local street vendors had been peddling wood-oven-baked flatbreads with toppings long before then. Pizzeria Gino Sorbillo is one of the best in the city, thanks to its focus on organic ingredients and local produce from the surrounding Campania region. You’d be hard-pressed to find a mediocre slice of pizza in Naples, where the craft of pizza making has been elevated to a high art. 

Naples has a tradition of presepi (nativity scenes) dating back 1000 years. Every year on December 8, families prepare a presepe with statues of the Holy Family and the animals and townspeople of Bethlehem as a celebration of the Christmas season. And all year long, the narrow alleyway of Via San Gregorio teems with traditional presepe artisans. Here, you’ll find all the nativity figurines you need to create your own display.

Built between 1313 and 1340 by Queen Sancha of Majorca and her husband King Robert of Naples, the Santa Chiara monastic complex in Naples’ Centro Storico includes the Baroque-style Basilica di Santa Chiara, a monastery, tombs and an archeological museum. Take a breather from the