Naples

Naples is located in southern Italy on the western coast, overlooking the Bay of Naples along the Tyrrhenian Sea. The city sits in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, one of Europe’s most famous volcanoes, and is near the Sorrentine Peninsula and Amalfi Coast.

The best month to visit Naples depends on what you’re looking for. Do you want the best weather, fewer crowds, or the best value? Following are our suggestions for each.

The best weather is a personal preference. We find the best weather for exploring a city is around 55° F and sunny. The weather in Naples can be very hot in July and August, so plan accordingly if you’re visiting during the summer.

Below is a chart showing the average high and low temperatures for each month so you can decide what is best for you.

The shoulder season in Naples falls in spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October), offering mild weather, thinner crowds, and more affordable prices. It’s an ideal time for sightseeing, outdoor dining, and exploring the city’s historic and coastal attractions without peak-season congestion.

November and March are good months to visit Naples for the best value and with fewer crowds. The weather during these months can be cool in the mornings, but, if you dress appropriately, it can be very comfortable for walking all day.

If you are planning a trip to Naples, there are plenty of excellent places to stay. However, for the best experience, we strongly recommend staying in the Historic Center (Centro Storico). The castle marker on the map below is the heart of the HIstoric Center. We suggest staying as close to it as possible, depending on your budget and preferences.

Here’s a map with hotel and apartment options that can be filtered to meet your needs. Select your travel dates to get specific availability and prices.

The main airport serving Naples and the surrounding Campania region is Naples International Airport (IATA: NAP), also known as Capodichino Airport.

Located about 7 km northeast of downtown Naples, it is one of southern Italy’s busiest airports, handling over 10 million passengers annually.

The airport offers good connections to the city center by taxi, bus, and shuttle services, with travel times typically around 15–20 minutes.

The main train station in Naples is Napoli Centrale, the city’s central rail hub and a key junction for regional, national, and high-speed trains.

Located about 1.5 km north of the Old Town, Napoli Centrale is roughly a 15–20 minute walk or a short metro ride from historic sites like Spaccanapoli.

The station serves Trenitalia’s high-speed Frecciarossa and Italo trains, regional Circumvesuviana lines to Pompeii and Sorrento, and offers seamless connections to local buses and the Naples Metro network.

Naples is in the Central European Time zone (CET, UTC +1). Daylight Saving Time is observed from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, during which the city switches to Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC +2).

The official currency in Naples is the Euro (€), used throughout Italy and most of the European Union.

Italian is the official language spoken in Naples, with Neapolitan dialect commonly heard in everyday conversation. English is widely understood in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants.

Citizens from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia do not require a visa to visit Italy for stays of 90 days or less within a 180-day period. This applies to tourism, business, family visits, and short-term studies.

However, starting in 2026, travelers from these countries will need to obtain an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) authorization before entering Italy. The ETIAS is an electronic travel authorization, not a visa, and is valid for three years or until passport expiration. It costs €7 and is processed online.

For more information on visa-free travel in Italy, check out our article on traveling visa-free.

Italy uses Type C, F, and L electrical outlets, all of which have two or three round pins. The standard supply voltage is 230V with a frequency of 50Hz.

Travelers from countries like the United States, Canada, and Japan will need a plug adapter and possibly a voltage converter for some devices. For convenience, using a travel power strip with multiple USB ports and outlets is recommended, so you only need one adapter to connect several devices at once.

Travelers will want a SIM card for Italy. You can get either a local SIM card or an eSIM card.

To get a local SIM card, you have to find a local cellular service provider, often stand in line for assistance, show your passport, and complete some paperwork. The SIM cards work great, but purchasing them is somewhat inconvenient. This option is best if you need more than 5GB of data.

We use eSIMs exclusively because they can be purchased through an app prior to arrival in a new country and activated when you hit a cell tower in the country. We use Airalo eSIMs. They work great, and I recommend them if you plan to use less than 5 GB of data during your stay or if you need internet immediately on arrival.

The fantastic train system in Italy makes rental cars unnecessary for most destinations. However, rental cars are needed to reach smaller towns and explore the countryside. In addition to the major car rental companies found in the United States, Sixt and Europcar are common throughout Europe. For a comparison of rental car offers from large, international brands and smaller regional brands, we recommend Discover Cars.