Where to stay · Naples · Italy
Where to stay in Naples
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Centro Storico. Greek street grid of churches, pizzerias and nativity workshops. Best alternatives — families: Santa Lucia and the Lungomare; nightlife: Chiaia.
Key facts
- First visit
- Centro Storico
- Families
- Santa Lucia and the Lungomare
- Budget
- Centro Storico
- Nightlife
- Chiaia
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Centro Storico | Greek street grid of churches, pizzerias and nativity workshops |
| Families | Santa Lucia and the Lungomare | Seafront hotels facing Castel dell'Ovo and Vesuvius |
| Couples | Chiaia | Elegant shopping streets and aperitivo bars between Piazza dei Martiri and the sea |
| Budget | Centro Storico | Greek street grid of churches, pizzerias and nativity workshops |
| Luxury | Chiaia | Elegant shopping streets and aperitivo bars between Piazza dei Martiri and the sea |
| Nightlife | Chiaia | Elegant shopping streets and aperitivo bars between Piazza dei Martiri and the sea |
| Food lovers | Centro Storico | Greek street grid of churches, pizzerias and nativity workshops |
| Solo travellers | Quartieri Spagnoli and Via Toledo | Dense grid of washing lines and street shrines beside the main shopping street |
| Shopping | Chiaia | Elegant shopping streets and aperitivo bars between Piazza dei Martiri and the sea |
| Quiet stays | Vomero | Hilltop residential district reached by funicular, with views and Castel Sant'Elmo |
| Beach | Posillipo | Hillside villas and sea views on the headland west of the city |
Naples neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, food lovers, culture and budget
Centro Storico
The UNESCO-listed old centre follows the three ancient decumani, including Spaccanapoli and Via dei Tribunali. It holds the Sansevero Chapel, Santa Chiara, the Cathedral, Naples Underground and most of the famous pizzerias, and Piazza Bellini is its evening meeting point. It is the most atmospheric base, but streets are narrow, noisy and dense.
- Good
- Walk to the main sights and pizzerias; Good-value B&Bs; Endless street life
- Watch out
- Noisy day and night; Scooters in narrow lanes; Few large hotels
- Nearby
- Sansevero Chapel, Via San Gregorio Armeno, Naples Cathedral, National Archaeological Museum
$$$ · Best for couples, shopping, nightlife and luxury
Chiaia
Chiaia is Naples's polished side, with fashion boutiques on Via dei Mille and Via Calabritto, the long Villa Comunale park along the seafront and a cluster of small bars, the baretti, around Vico Belledonne a Chiaia. It is calmer than the centre, with a funicular up to Vomero and an easy walk to the Lungomare.
- Good
- Calmer, well-kept streets; Good restaurants and bars; Near the seafront
- Watch out
- A 20-minute walk to the historic centre; Pricier than the old town
- Nearby
- Villa Comunale, Lungomare, Piazza dei Martiri, Chiaia funicular
$$$$ · Best for couples, luxury, families and first-timers
Santa Lucia and the Lungomare
The pedestrianised seafront along Via Partenope and Via Caracciolo is lined with the city's grand hotels, looking across the bay to Vesuvius and Capri. Castel dell'Ovo and the Borgo Marinari harbour are on the doorstep, and Piazza del Plebiscito and the Royal Palace are a short walk away.
- Good
- Sea and Vesuvius views; Pedestrian promenade for evening walks; Calmer than the old centre
- Watch out
- Expensive hotels; Seafront restaurants are touristy
- Nearby
- Castel dell'Ovo, Piazza del Plebiscito, Royal Palace, Teatro di San Carlo
$$ · Best for budget, food lovers and solo travellers
Quartieri Spagnoli and Via Toledo
Built in the 16th century to house Spanish troops, the Quartieri Spagnoli are a steep grid of narrow alleys rising from Via Toledo, the city's main shopping street. Small trattorias, street murals including the Maradona mural, and very local life make it a characterful base, with Toledo metro station nearby.
- Good
- Central and inexpensive; Authentic street food; Close to metro and funiculars
- Watch out
- Steep, crowded alleys; Scooter traffic; Can feel chaotic at night
- Nearby
- Via Toledo, Toledo metro station, Galleria Umberto I, Montesanto funicular
$$ · Best for quiet stays, families and budget
Vomero
Vomero sits on the hill above the centre, reached by three funiculars. It is a quieter, middle-class district of shopping streets around Via Scarlatti and Piazza Vanvitelli, with Castel Sant'Elmo and the Certosa di San Martino offering the best panoramas over the bay. Evenings are lively with local bars.
- Good
- Calmer and cleaner streets; Panoramic views; Funiculars into the centre
- Watch out
- Funicular or metro needed for most sights; Fewer historic restaurants
- Nearby
- Castel Sant'Elmo, Certosa di San Martino, Villa Floridiana
$ · Best for culture, budget and food lovers
Rione Sanità
North of the Archaeological Museum, the Sanità grew outside the ancient walls in a valley of tufa quarries and catacombs. Community cooperatives run tours of the Catacombs of San Gennaro and San Gaudioso, and the area has striking baroque staircases such as Palazzo dello Spagnuolo and celebrated pizzerias.
- Good
- Very local atmosphere; Low prices; Unique underground sites
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Can feel rough after dark; Steep walk up to Capodimonte
- Nearby
- Catacombs of San Gennaro, Museo di Capodimonte, National Archaeological Museum
$$$ · Best for couples, beach, quiet stays and luxury
Posillipo
Posillipo is a green, affluent ridge along the coast with villas, gardens and rocky swimming spots such as Marechiaro and the Gaiola underwater park. Parco Virgiliano has views towards Procida and Capri. It is the place for sea air and summer swimming, but buses or taxis are needed to reach the centre.
- Good
- Sea views and swimming; Calm and green; Romantic seafood restaurants
- Watch out
- Far from the main sights; Limited public transport
- Nearby
- Parco Virgiliano, Marechiaro, Gaiola Underwater Park, Mergellina
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Centro Storico | $$ | Sansevero Chapel, Via San Gregorio Armeno, Naples Cathedral, National Archaeological Museum |
| Chiaia | $$$ | Villa Comunale, Lungomare, Piazza dei Martiri, Chiaia funicular |
| Santa Lucia and the Lungomare | $$$$ | Castel dell'Ovo, Piazza del Plebiscito, Royal Palace, Teatro di San Carlo |
| Quartieri Spagnoli and Via Toledo | $$ | Via Toledo, Toledo metro station, Galleria Umberto I, Montesanto funicular |
| Vomero | $$ | Castel Sant'Elmo, Certosa di San Martino, Villa Floridiana |
| Rione Sanità | $ | Catacombs of San Gennaro, Museo di Capodimonte, National Archaeological Museum |
| Posillipo | $$$ | Parco Virgiliano, Marechiaro, Gaiola Underwater Park, Mergellina |
Getting to your hotel
Naples International Airport (NAP, Capodichino) is about 7 km northeast of the centre. The Alibus shuttle runs to Piazza Garibaldi and the Molo Beverello ferry port in about 15–35 minutes depending on traffic, and taxis charge fixed fares to central zones.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Naples for first-time visitors?
Centro Storico. The UNESCO-listed old centre follows the three ancient decumani, including Spaccanapoli and Via dei Tribunali.
+Where should families stay in Naples?
Santa Lucia and the Lungomare: Sea and Vesuvius views.
+Which area of Naples is best for a budget stay?
Centro Storico ($$): Greek street grid of churches, pizzerias and nativity workshops.