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Italy is undisputedly one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
It is home to countless iconic landmarks, including Rome’s ancient Colosseum, the UNESCO-listed canals of Venice, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, to name a few. tens of millions of visitors every year.
Nevertheless, this authentic cultural city is still bypassed by visitors due to its proximity to the trendy Amalfi Coast, which typically generates almost all of the region’s tourism revenue.
Here are 7 reasons why you should visit criminally underestimates Naples in 2024:
It is one of the most culturally charged cities in Europe
First and foremost, we must reiterate that Naples is easily the third largest city in Italy and the largest coastal metropolis.
Needless to say, there is no shortage of fascinating sights scattered throughout the historic center – and even beyond.
This is one of the oldest cities in Europewith a history dating back to the second millennium BC, and from the monumental fortresses to the underground maze of Roman catacombs to the ornate chapels, there is a hidden gem to be discovered in every corner.
When you explore this UNESCO-listed city, make sure to include the historical Piazza del PlebiscitoFlanked by the majestic Royal Palace and a colonnaded basilica, put the 13th-century Castel Nuovo and the medieval Cathedral of Naples on your list of places to visit.
It is not your average open-air museum
Naples has developed a reputation for being rougher than the average Italian city.
It certainly looks less ‘polished’ and glamorous than the touristy parts of Rome, Florence or Venice, but this is exactly why it is unique and why it shouldn’t be so easily dropped from your itinerary.
It feels distinctly Italian, or more specifically, Southern Italian: this is far from just another open-air museum for ancient history buffs, and although many cultural sites are listed, it is still very much a Neapolitan haven livework and socialize.
In short, Naples is a sprawling metropolis with a big heart, but will not bend to every whim of a visitor: the locals are probably not proficient in English, old Naples is not the typical, colorful port on the Mediterranean, which is ready for a postcard, and not everything is about tourism.
It’s full of character
While it’s true that certain neighborhoods in Naples look less clean and, to some, less beautiful than the typical Italian tourist spot, how spotless or aesthetically pleasing do you expect an ancient maze of winding alleys to have looked almost 3,000 years ago?
However, where tourists are likely to see destroyed buildings and underdevelopment, travelers will find instead a city full of characterwith streets so narrow that clothes hang to dry between opposite houses, hidden bookstores-turned-bar evening and local pasticcery.
In all honesty, yes, it is overwhelming at first, but it only takes a few days to explore a lively Quartieri Spagnoli or watch cheerful Neapolitans going about their daily business, rarely if ever noticing the presence of Amalfi -bound Americans register. falling in love with the organized chaos.
A gastronomic Mecca
Besides being considered Rome’s edgier southern sister, Naples is a gastronomic mecca of the first order. the birthplace of pizza, caprese salad, buffalo mozzarella and other world-famous dishes you probably grew up with but didn’t know came from here.
Whether you are actively looking Restaurants with Michelin starsor you feel your happiest sightseeing while grabbing street snacks to take away, Naples and its diverse selection of fine dining establishments, street markets and rustic family businesses trattoria will simply blow your expectations.
You can’t go wrong with a classic, and it’s no wonder that Naples’ signature Neapolitan pizza, usually made with San Marzano tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, is officially the the fourth best dish in the world (there’s no way you can leave the aptly nicknamed ‘City of the Sun’ without trying).
Naples has perfect weather
This brings us straight to point number five: Naples is perfect for sightseeing Whatever the season, being so far south of the Italian peninsula the weather remains pleasant all year round, unlike Milan, Turin or Bologna where sub-zero temperatures are common.
The current temperature in Naples is a pleasant 79°F, and it will only get warmer as we approach summer before a scorching 100°F (or higher) is recorded; If we can make a suggestion: March to May is the best time to be in Naples.
The days are long and sunny, with… limited rainfall expected, there will be no heat waves and you will find it less crowded, as the vast majority of tourists heading to the south of Italy – more specifically to the neighboring Amalfi Coast – will do so from June onwards.
The gateway to beautiful Campania
Of course, no visit to Naples would be complete without adding a day trip to one of the many attractions in the wider Campania region, and if you are staying for more than three days we highly recommend a short visit to a from these places:
- The Amalfi Coast: where your Italian dolce vita dreams will come true as you ride Vespas along a beautiful, rugged stretch of coastline interspersed with charming hilltop villages and eat lemon gelato as the sun sets over the Mediterranean.
- Capri: an island easily distinguishable for its jagged mountain peaks and pebble beaches, which you can see from the Sorrento mainland, and a luxury leisure destination with small-scale, chic hotels where you can escape the hustle and bustle of Amalfi.
- Pompeii and Herculaneum: These formerly bustling Mediterranean cities were buried under volcanic ash after a devastating eruption in the 1st century AD, and with their preserved villas and temples offer a glimpse into life in an ancient Roman city in the 1st century AD.
Naples is safer than the media suggests
A quick Google search will reveal numerous articles describing Naples as unsafe and dangerous for tourists.
There may be some truth in these statements, but there is also a lot of exaggerated risk and fear mongering.
Crime is slightly higher than in other Italian countries, but Naples remains a fairly safe destination for a cosmopolitan center of this size: Numbeo’s World Crime Index ranks it as the 95th most dangerous city in the world, just 15 places above Rome. 110.
Additionally, Statistics According to reports, there are 3,500 crimes per 100,000 inhabitants, including all crimes from the petty kind to outright violence, which is unlikely to affect tourists and is mostly limited to mafia wars in peripheral districts.
Ultimately, urban problems will likely become more noticeable Naples, which has 3 million inhabitants, than in smaller cities. Like any other major city, Naples has rules that tourists must follow to protect themselves, and their main concern remains pickpockets.
From May 23Delta Air Lines will launch nonstop flights from New York (JFK) to Naples for the first time, proving growing demand among American travelers for vacations in southern Italy.
Learn more about the new service here and start planning your trip.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
