3.5/5 stars Naples…read morereminds me a lot of NYC or Paris, minus things to do and green spaces or charm. TBH I was only here for a few days for pizza and Pompeii. Loved my Airbnb. Loved a couple cafes. The city is fun to walk around for a day, but I can't imagine spending more than a few days max. I don't believe Naples is a fair representation of Italy; it's just a dirty big city that gets incredibly crowded from huge cruise ship tourists pouring in daily.

Napoli is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city in Italy, after Rome and…read moreMilan. As of 2022 population was 909,048 within the city's administrative limits. Now it has been a while since I visited but since my maternal grandfather was born in Napoli I have to review. When I was there I saw why my grandfather loved spending the second half of his life in South Florida. I felt like I was at home. To me the food was a memorable experience. Delicious fresh pasta and seafood combination at a family owned restaurant. I have old photos that are precious to me. I'm recommending you visit and take your own!

One of the best experiences I've ever had. We had an archaeologist-led private tour and couldn't…read morehave asked for more. Amazing history, absolutely huge - I didn't understand the scale of Pompeii until we were there. Worth the trip to Napoli to visit Pompeii alone! Spectacular 10/10 highly recommend!!

The Scavi di Pompei is the English name for the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, which is an ancient…read morecity once buried by ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. It's one of the most remarkable sites in Italy for visiting, and I would suggest at least make it a half day trip or a minimum three hours visit here.

The Blue Grotto ... is an AMAZING little tourist attraction that is gorgeous. It's beautiful to see…read morethe water sparkle blue and to have to take a small boat inside. To get inside is 13 euro, but it's worth it especially your first time to Capri. The guys who are on the boat tell you the history of the Blue Grotto and do some singing also (I'll save the history for you to experience.) You aren't supposed to swim inside.. but they usually will let you anyways. They probably only let you spend about 20 minutes in here tops, because there's a constant rush of tour groups trying to get in. Come here by boat or if you are already in Anacapri, take a bus labeled Grotta Azzura and you are on your way!

Is this a tourist trap? Yes, absolutely, they know it and at every turn you are paying or tipping…read moresomeone. But, is this a must do experience? Yes, absolutely. I had to see that blue water for myself and I'm so happy I did it. Having been to Capri once before and not seeing the Blue Grotto, this trip we made sure to schedule this first thing in the morning and went with a private tour to simplify the process. Since it's popular and the grotto itself is small, there is often a long wait for your small boat to enter the cave. Especially in high season. Best advice, get there early, before it even opens at 9am otherwise you can wait 1-2 hours. That's waiting in a small boat in choppy waters! Also be aware that if the weather is bad and the water is too rough, the boats can't access the cave. We took a ferry from Sorrento to Capri then hopped on a boat that took the 25 of us over to the Blue Grotto. The ride there was about 15 minutes with beautiful views everywhere. We got there early before the cruise ship passengers and other tourists so the small boats and rowers immediately came over to us and explained the process which I will share, because if you are like me, the details matter. We sat on the edge of the larger boat and stepped down into the small boat with the help of the skipper and then immediately sat flat on the floor, legs stretched out. Each boat can hold 3 or 4 passengers based on weight,, 2 per side, and the second person sits within the legs of the first. Since we were the first boats this day, we didn't get wet but later in the day, I can imagine you will definitely be laying in water. The skipper took us over to a larger boat where you pay an entrance fee. After some discussion and showing proof that we already paid, they let us pass. Be prepared because they will try to get more money from you! The skipper then rowed us over to the cave entrance where we all had to lay flat as he grabs a metal chain attached to the inside wall of the cave and pulls the boat into the cave. It takes just a few seconds and then you can lift your head and marvel over the iridescent blue water inside. The water is as blue as the pictures, a result of the sunlight passing through an underwater cavity that shines upward creating a spellbinding blue color. It's truly one of natures miracles and wonders. The cave is small, much smaller than I envisioned. I assumed once we went through the opening it would be a large pool of water. It's not. It's a small area and there are 10 or 15 other boats and they row around in a circle. All of the skippers serenade their passengers but not in unison! It's quite an experience. It was challenging to get good pics inside. I recommend taking a video as that provided the best capture. After just a few minutes, the ride is done and you exit the cave, once again laying down. The skipper takes you back to the larger boat. This is when I got nervous wondering if I could get out without falling or tipping the boat! You step onto a wooden board that goes across the small boat, then sit on the edge of the larger and turn to bring your legs inside. Phew! Made it. The skippers are aggressive about tips but mine didn't have to be. I happily gave him $5 euros for the experience and for getting me out of the darn boat safely! So yes, it's touristy, but for me, it was a bucket list item and I'm happy I experienced it. Others in my group had been to Capri before and did the Blue Grotto so they passed and just spent more time exploring the shops and cafes. When I go back to Capri, I'll do the same as this is not something I have to experience twice.

You're greeted with beautifully carved pillars and arches with details that tell you stories. The…read moremassive doors are dramatic! Do some neck and shoulder stretches before visiting because looking up and around is required. It's a castle on the outside and a Civic Museum inside. For €6 entry, you get a lot for your visit. An audio guide is optional for €4 more. Note that you're able to get a brochure with a map in English. After entry, you step into a huge courtyard. It appeared an event was being set up the day of my visit. I headed to the left toward the stone steps to start my self-paced tour into the: BARON'S HALL - it looks like a courtroom. Awesome ceiling architecture! Tried to follow the map; forget about going in alphabetical order. On the ground level you'll find the: PALATINE CHAPEL - closed doors for preserving artwork; so full of emotion. No flash photography. Place your camera glass to glass against the doors. Up more stairs to the: 1st FLOOR - find a bronze door with a cannon ball stuck in it. This floor has a lovely collection of religious paintings from 15th-18th centuries. 2nd FLOOR - you'll see more of paintings with war stories and lifestyles from 18th-20th centuries. 3rd FLOOR - modern day collections. Note that these floor exhibits are not directly above each other. Refer to the map and legend on the brochure for your preferred route. Art lovers and appreciators can take their time. Definitely a recommended visit for tourists. Don't forget to catch a breeze and take in views of the Tyrrhenian sea.

Constructed in 1279, and for centuries the Royal residence of Naples' kings into the 16th century,…read morethe gothic exterior of this massive fortress with five towers is a magnificent reminder of Napoli's medieval history and maritime prowess, with an entrance over the largest man-made moat I've seen. Arriving at 5pm on a weekday afternoon, I scrambled (ie. speed walked for half a mile) to make it before their assigned last entry time, which I thought was 5pm for a 6pm closing time, though apparently it's last entry at 5:30pm. Well...I got an extra workout. There's a small ticket window to the left inside the main doors, which takes cash or card, and can also validate your city/museum pass (I had a Naples Pass). Regular admission is €15, tickets for local residents €10, free for children under 18. However because of ongoing renovations to major sections, they were offering reduced admissions of €10 and €6 respectively. Inside what's available to view as of mid-April 2026 are several components. To me each stands alone and feels a bit disjointed to the others, though given its lengthy history and different functions over time perhaps the range of spaces truly embodies the story of the castle, one embued with varied relevance and purpose. - Palatine Chapel: an austere chapel with stone block floors, inset with ledger stones.* - Archaeological route and former Armory room: this is where the ruins can be viewed below a glass floor--of what's believed to be past of a lavish Roman villa from 1st century BCE beneath the castle. Tours need to be pre-booked in advance if you want to descend to the underground level to visit these. - Hall of the Barons: this is the kind of grand hall I'd imagine medieval royalty to preside over, with a massive octagonal star-shaped arched stone ceiling and central round skylight, though it was actually a later construction in the 15th century. The layout includes a U-shaped wooden seating arrangement where the current Napoli city council meets. - Chapel of the Souls of Purgatory: single room with entrance off the courtyard to the right of the entrance to the Palantine Chapel, the frescos are colorful though space is small. - First floor Civic Museum - Art Gallery: this is up a flight of steps (aka the second floor for those of us across the pond), a gallery of about 50 works ranging from 15-18th century religious Neapolitan art, transferred here from other historic buildings that are no longer in use. - terrace on second floor with partial view of the port: I was a little disappointed since I thought the roof of the castle would be accessible though I'm glad I didn't rush here on my first day in Naples and instead went to Monte Echia nearby where the views were much better, more panoramic. It took about 30 minutes to walk around the parts that were open, there are more extensive galleries on the upper stories that were under renovation. I felt it made sense to reduce the price since some portions were closed. For more info: https://www.comune.napoli.it/vivere-il-comune/luoghi/castel-nuovo-maschio-angioino/#orari_apertura https://www.naplesinsider.com/en/e/castel-nuovo-maschio-angioino *an inscribed stone slab usually laid into the floor of a church to commemorate or mark the place of the burial of a deceased person. (as per Wikipedia)

Thanks to social media, we found this shop. We put this on the itinerary to try the Sorbetto di…read moreLimone. When we arrived, we discovered that they sold all things inspired by lemon from lemon-flavored oils to lemon-infused pasta and many lemon-centered items in between. The overall ambiance was fresh, bright and surprisingly quite interesting. When we arrived, one of the staff members offered samples of Limoncello in two flavors. Since it was all about the experience, we tried both; however, we were eager to get to the main attraction. We also sampled the lemon-flavored chocolate covered almonds. To be such a small store, it was quite crowded. After finally reaching the counter, we observed a variety of lemon-flavored sorbet and gelato options. I selected the lemon basil and lemon cheesecake. The Amalfi lemon was filled with a scoop of each and served with the lemon top for presentation. The lemon basil was my favorite. It was so lemony and refreshing with basil for a little kick. The cheesecake flavor was underwhelming in my opinion. I would have preferred two scoops of the lemon basil. Once I got to the bottom of the lemon, I observed that they had not fully removed the interior of the lemon. By leaving the pulp in the inside, it took up space for the sorbet, which gave the illusion that you were getting more than was actually inside the lemon shell. Additionally, a lot of the sorbet was trapped at the bottom. At first we thought that there was only one location, but as we navigated throughout Rome, we discovered quite a few locations along with other shops selling the same item. On other visits during our trip, we purchased the lemon granita, Limoncello to take home, a variety of oils and pasta and some of the best lemon-flavored chocolate covered almonds. Overall, it was a great experience.

Woo hoo! Limoncello is made here. We got to meet the (distiller? brewer?) and taste this amazing…read morestuff. A fantastic stop on our food tour and I returned later to purchase a 100ml bottle to bring home, since that's the limit for carry-on. They have other lemon stuff, even pasta! [Review 19210 overall - 361 in Italy - 180 of 2023.]

As our Tour Guide mentioned, the queue for the chair lift starts to get longer as the day…read moreprogresses. Around 9:45, it took about 1/2 hour to get to the Lift. 12 minutes up, 12 minutes down. Breathtaking views both ways and hold on tight to phone, hats etc. saw a few items below on the trip up. We got lucky and it wasn't windy as were told it was windy yesterday, can't imagine riding up when there are gusts. The reward is on top where you have panoramic views of Anacapri. Well worth the ride with some butterflies included roundtrip. There is a restaurant if you want to enjoy cocktails/food with the view. Take a Euro for the restroom if you don't visit the restaurant. The chairs are constantly moving and don't stop-the Gentlemen were doing a good job of getting passengers on safely. Overall, a must experience!

A must if you are visiting Capri! Though if you are afraid of heights, this one may not be for you…read more It's a chairlift that is continuously moving, and it slows down a bit for you to hop on, where a moveable metal bar acts as your protection from falling out of the chair. Though I made that sound pretty terrifying, it seems relatively safe. As long as you're not shifting about while you're up there, which you probably wouldn't want to anyway. Seats are for single riders, unless you have a small child, in which case, they'll have to sit on your lap. Tickets are €11 one way or €14 round trip. But I can't imagine why you would buy a one way. Perhaps you can hike up/down? But I didn't see anyone doing that. It takes about 7 minutes each way, and we spent maybe 30 minutes at the top taking pictures/walking around. There is a little cafe at the top, and a toilet but it costs €1. If you want to see Capri from way up above, this is the thing to do!