- Naples sits atop a complex network of ancient Greek and Roman cisterns, quarries, and tunnels that span over 450 kilometers.
- The city is home to the oldest continuously operating public opera house in the world, the Teatro di San Carlo, which opened in 1737.
- Naples has the highest density of historic churches in the world, with over 400 structures within the city limits.
- The traditional Neapolitan pizza is protected by UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status, with specific guidelines regarding wood-fired ovens and ingredient sourcing.
- Naples is the only city in Italy that was ruled by an independent kingdom for several centuries, leading to a unique linguistic and cultural identity distinct from the rest of the country.
About Naples
Naples is a sprawling Mediterranean metropolis built atop ancient layers of history, serving as the gateway to the Phlegraean Fields and the ruins of Pompeii. The city is renowned for its dense, vertical urban layout and a historical center recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visitors can explore the intricate history of the region at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli [31856] or delve beneath the streets at Underground Naples [788]. The city's cultural heritage is further defined by the artistic mastery found in the Sansevero Chapel Museum [31757] and the expansive collections within the Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte [1146].
Highlights of Naples
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Museums
View the Veiled Christ, a marble sculpture famous for its incredibly realistic, translucent appearance.
Museums
Examine one of the world's most significant collections of Greco-Roman artifacts, including mosaics salvaged from Pompeii.
Museums
Descend into the city's ancient subterranean water supply tunnels and WWII air-raid shelters.
Historical places
Reach the summit of the hill to access a medieval fortress offering panoramic views over the Bay of Naples.
Museums
Browse a vast collection of Renaissance art housed in a former Bourbon hunting lodge and estate.
Temples
Walk through the majolica-tiled cloister, a quintessential example of local 18th-century decorative art.
Places of interest
Explore the expansive paleochristian burial chambers that contain some of the earliest Christian frescoes in southern Italy.
Venues
Visit the site named in honor of the legendary footballer who defined the city's sporting culture.
Top things to do in Naples
The 478 highest-rated places in Naples, ranked by travellers.
1
Museums
The Sansevero Chapel Museum in Naples houses the Veiled Christ, a 1753 marble sculpture by Giuseppe Sanmartino noted for...
2
Museums
The Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (MANN) is one of the world's most significant institutions for Classical arch...
3
Historical places
Castel dell'Ovo, or Ovo Castle, is a seaside fortification situated on the former island of Megaride in Naples. It is th...
4
Museums
Underground Naples is a network of tunnels and cisterns located 40 meters beneath the historic center of Naples. The sit...
5
Historical places
Castel Sant'Elmo is a medieval star-shaped fortress situated on the Vomero hill, offering a 360-degree panoramic view of...
6
Historical places
Castel Nuovo, also known as Maschio Angioino, is a 13th-century fortress featuring a triumphal marble arch that serves a...
7
Temples
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, also known as the Naples Cathedral, serves as the city's primary religious site an...
8
Museums
Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte is housed within a massive 18th-century Bourbon palace surrounded by a 134-hectare his...
9
Venues
Stadio Diego Armando Maradona is the home ground of Serie A club SSC Napoli and one of the largest stadiums in Italy. Or...
10
Temples
The Church of the New Jesus, or Gesù Nuovo, is distinguished by its unique ashlar facade, repurposed from the 15th-centu...
11
Temples
The Complesso Monumentale di Santa Chiara is a 14th-century religious complex in Naples, most renowned for its Majolica...
12
Places of interest
The Catacombs of San Gennaro are the largest early Christian underground burial site in southern Italy, carved directly...
13
Historical places
Galleria Umberto I is a public shopping gallery in Naples, Italy, designed by Emanuele Rocco and constructed between 188...
14
Museums
The Royal Palace of Naples served as the primary residence for the Bourbon kings during their rule of the Kingdom of the...
15
Venues
Teatro di San Carlo is the oldest continuously active opera house in the world, having opened in 1737. It predates both...
16
Places of interest
Naples Underground, known as Napoli Sotterranea, is a complex network of subterranean tunnels and cavities located 40 me...
17
Museums
The Charterhouse & Museum of San Martino is a former Carthusian monastery situated on the Vomero hill, overlooking the B...
18
Places of interest
The Catacombe di San Gaudioso represent the second-largest early Christian burial site in Naples, located beneath the Ba...
19
Temples
The Royal Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro is a Baroque masterpiece integrated into the Naples Cathedral, establish...
20
Places of interest
Belvedere San Martino is a public terrace located at the highest point of the Vomero hill in Naples, offering an unobstr...
21
Museums
Palazzo Zevallos Stigliano is a historic palace on Via Toledo that serves as a permanent venue for Gallerie d’Italia. Th...
22
Historical places
Piazza Vincenzo Bellini is a vibrant public square in the historic center of Naples built directly over the excavated ru...
23
Venues
Teatro Diana is a historic 1,000-seat theater located in the Vomero district of Naples, operating continuously since its...
24
Parks
Villa Comunale is a historic public park running parallel to the Lungomare Caracciolo seafront in Naples. Originally com...
25
Places of interest
Porta Capuana is a 15th-century Renaissance triumphal arch that served as the primary eastern entrance to the city of Na...
26
Venues
Teatro Augusteo is a historic multi-purpose performing arts venue located in the heart of Naples, situated directly adja...
27
Museums
The Madre Museum is housed in the Palazzo Donnaregina, a former 19th-century palace in the historic center of Naples. It...
28
Museums
Pio Monte della Misericordia is a historic charitable institution and museum housing Caravaggio’s 1607 masterpiece, The...
29
Museums
Galleria Borbonica is a subterranean passage commissioned by King Ferdinand II of Bourbon in 1853, originally intended a...
30
Museums
The Museo del Tesoro di San Gennaro houses one of the world's most valuable collections of gold, silver, and gemstones,...
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Naples on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Naples
May to June or September to October, when mild temperatures facilitate walking tours and outdoor exploration without the extreme humidity of summer.
3-4 days to balance urban exploration with day trips to Pompeii, Herculaneum, or the Amalfi Coast.
The city is served by a metro system, funiculars, buses, and a historic center that is largely pedestrianized and highly walkable.
Stay in the Quartieri Spagnoli or the Chiaia district for immediate access to historical sites and the waterfront.
Generally considered a mid-range destination with a wide variance in costs between street-food-focused stays and luxury waterfront hotels.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 478 curated attractions in and around Naples, ranked by traveller ratings.
Sansevero Chapel Museum is the highest-rated place to visit in Naples right now.
The largest category is temples, with 225 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Rome, Milan, Galatina.
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