Naples
Italy · Country profile
Naples is the great southern capital of Italy, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth and a place of an extraordinary, chaotic, overwhelming vitality that has made it both the most loved and the most feared of the Italian cities. The historic centre, a world heritage, spreads its ancient churches, its narrow lanes, its baroque palaces and the noisy, theatrical street life of the Spanish quarter, while the city looks out over the bay with the volcano of the Vesuvius beyond. The food of Naples is legendary, home of the pizza and the golden age of the southern cooking, and the culture of the city, from the opera to the folk traditions to the famous warmth of its people, is among the richest in Europe. Loud, layered and gloriously alive, Naples is Italy at its most authentic and its most intense.
About Naples
Naples is a city in Italy. The city's documented population is around 910,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Euro (EUR) and Italian is spoken; the dialling code is +39. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Naples International Airport.
The Historic Centre, the Churches and the City of the Chaos
Naples is a dense, historic, endlessly theatrical city whose energy is its great attraction. The historic centre with its churches, its lanes and its cafes is one of the great urban experiences of Europe, and the bay, the volcano and the islands give the city one of the most spectacular settings on the continent. It is a city of contrasts, of staggering beauty and gritty chaos, and it rewards the visitor who leans into the noise rather than retreating from it. The food is extraordinary and the people are famously warm and funny. It is the perfect base for the ruins of the region, from the buried city to the villas of the coast.
The Spring Season, the Cash and the Funiculars of the Hills
The best seasons are the spring and the early autumn, when the city is warm and the crowds are manageable; the summer is hot and busy and the winter is mild and rainy. The historic centre is walkable and made for wandering, and the metro and the funiculars of the city climb the hills above it. The famous pizza, the museums and the underground tunnels of the city are the essential sights, and the street food of the lanes is part of the experience. The euro is the currency and the card works widely, though the cash helps in the small shops. The city has produced its famous street-level challenges, so keep the valuables close and move with the usual big-city awareness.
The Underground, the Vomero and the Pizzas of the City
The historic centre, one of the largest and the oldest in Europe, is the essential walk, and its churches, from the great baroque masterpieces to the hidden gems, its lanes and its coffee bars make it a place to simply get lost. The underground of the city, the tunnels of the Greek and the Roman era, gives a different layer of the history. The seafront of the city and the hill of the Vomero with its castles give the classic views over the bay and the volcano. The regional museum and the museums of the city hold the treasures of the ancient world. The best pizza of the city is the whole point, and the famous pizzerias of the centre are a scene in themselves. Take the boat and the train to the islands and the ruins and the whole region opens up.
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- Country
- Italy
- Population
- 910,000
- Coordinates
- 40.8860, 14.2908
- Capital
- Rome
- Region
- Europe
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Languages
- Italian
- Calling code
- +39
- Country code
- IT
Entry requirements for Italy
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Italy for tourism.
Getting to Naples
Airports we list for Naples:
Other airports in the area:
Cities in Italy
Other cities we cover in Italy:
Frequently asked questions
Is Naples the capital of Italy?
No — the capital of Italy is Rome.
What currency do I need in Naples?
The local currency is the Euro (EUR). Languages spoken in Italy include Italian.
What is the dialling code for Italy?
The international dialling code for Italy is +39.
Which airport should I fly into for Naples?
Naples International Airport (NAP) is the airport we list for Naples.
How far is Naples from the nearest airport?
Naples is about 199 km from Rome Fiumicino Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit Italy?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda and Argentina currently enter Italy visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Naples? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.