Travel tips · Naples · Italy
Naples travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Richard Nevell, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Naples is passionate, theatrical and fiercely proud. Life happens in the street, family and faith run deep — from devotion to San Gennaro to street shrines — and football, especially the memory of Diego Maradona, is close to a religion. Neapolitans are warm and quick with humour, and gestures are part of conversation.
Key facts
- Language
- Italian and Neapolitan
- Currency
- EUR
- Plugs
- Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink, though many locals buy bottled water.
- Emergency
- 112 (European emergency number)
Things to know
- Greet shopkeepers and bar staff with 'Buongiorno' or 'Buonasera'.
- Cover shoulders and knees in churches, and avoid visiting during Mass.
- Stand at the bar for coffee like locals; it is quicker and cheaper.
- Be patient with chaotic queues at pizzerias and ferries; put your name on the list and wait.
- Speak respectfully about San Gennaro and the city's football club; both matter deeply to locals.
- Book Sansevero Chapel and the Veiled Christ ahead: Queues are long and entry is limited; book a timed ticket online.
- Pizza and street food make Naples one of the best-value food cities in Italy.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected; a cover charge is usually included. Rounding up or leaving a couple of euros for good service is appreciated.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buongiorno | Good morning / hello |
| Un caffè, per favore | An espresso, please |
| Il conto, per favore | The bill, please |
| Grazie | Thank you |
| Jamme! | Let's go! (Neapolitan) |
What to wear
Casual but tidy; comfortable shoes with grip are essential on basalt paving stones. Cover shoulders and knees for churches.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink, though many locals buy bottled water.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- Good mobile coverage across the city; EU roaming applies to European SIMs, and many cafés and hotels offer Wi-Fi.
- Time zone
- Europe/Rome
Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are the main risks, especially around Piazza Garibaldi, on buses and on the Circumvesuviana. Traffic is chaotic, so cross roads carefully, and keep phones out of reach on busy streets.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Italy's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Naples?
Tipping is not expected; a cover charge is usually included. Rounding up or leaving a couple of euros for good service is appreciated.
+Can you drink the tap water in Naples?
Tap water is safe to drink, though many locals buy bottled water.
+What plugs are used in Naples?
Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Naples?
Italian and Neapolitan.