City trip to Naples: travel to the soul of Italy!

Among Italian cities like Rome, Florence and Milan, which serve as one big open-air museum full of splendour, Naples is often forgotten. A shame, because despite its bad reputation, this city has a lot to offer. The real soul of Italy can be found here. It is not for nothing that Goethe already said it in his Italienische Reise: ‘Vedi Napoli e poi muori’. See Naples first and then die.

Naples' history dates back to ancient Greek times, when the city was still called Néa Pólis (New Town). The street plan from this era has always remained intact and can still be seen in the city today. A walk through the centro storico cannot be missed during your city break to Naples. The long and narrow street Spaccanapoli (literally: divided Naples) is surrounded by tall buildings and splits the city centre into two parts. Strolling under the washing lines and balconies, you will pass several market stalls and trattorias here where you can enjoy the local life. Don't forget to turn into the side streets and walk down the famous Via San Gregorio Armeno, where you can look for the cutest Christmas decorations all year round. 

The Quartieri Spagnoli is a district that until years ago was known for the mafia and therefore was to be avoided at all times. Today, the Spanish Quarter serves as the vibrant heart of Naples' nightlife. If you are looking for cosy places to enjoy the Neapolitan cuisine, this is the place to go. Naples is not inferior to other Italian cities in culinary terms, but rather takes a leading position here. Pizza and espresso, for instance, were born in this city and are truly of a different quality. In the morning, therefore, you pop into a coffee shop for breakfast and have an espresso at the bar. As a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage item, a Neapolitan pizza has to meet strict requirements, but the taste certainly won't disappoint!

If there is one thing you will see on every street corner of Naples, it is Diego Maradona in a blue and white t-shirt. Since his glory days with football club SSC Napoli, this Argentine footballer has been given a place next to Naples' city saint San Gennaro and is honoured everywhere. A stroll through the city therefore goes hand in hand with witnessing a lot of street art; in all shapes, forms and sizes, Pelusa is honoured.

- Laundry lines between balconies decorate Naples' narrow streets!

For stunning views of Naples - and peace in the chaos of the city - visit the Vomero district. This family neighbourhood is set against a hill and can be reached in several ways. For instance, you can get to the city's highest point by foot, where from the Castel Sant'Elmo you will be rewarded with vast views of the city and its surroundings. A cable car train also goes there, or you can get to the district by metro. In the Parco Villa Floridiana, you will find peace and quiet, as it is pleasantly quiet here in a busy city like Naples.

With its long history, the city is rich in museums and churches, which are also well worth a visit. The National Archaeological Museum is one of the most important of its kind in the world and houses a wide range of archaeological history. The Cathedral of Naples also has a rich history and is dedicated to San Gennaro, the city's patron saint, which you can see in many places. Of course, a visit to a museum or church is also the ideal way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

- Naples is known for its cosy and busy street life, which you will definitely find in the Quartieri Spagnoli!

Whether you go on a city trip to Naples or visit the city as part of a longer motorhome tour; there is plenty to do in the surrounding area too! A trip to the ruined city of Pompeii, climbing the volcano Vesuvius or touring by motorhome along the Amalfi Coast are recommended ways to spend days around the city.

Considered one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, the Amalfi Coast is truly a bucket list thing. With colourful houses built against the cliffs, cute villages to wander through and fine beaches to cool off in the sea, we understand why. The Strada Statale 163 Amalfitana (SS163) winds above the Amalfi Coast and is also nicknamed ‘the road of a thousand turns’. Across the Sorrento peninsula, this road takes you all the way along the coast to the final destination of Salerno. You can drive this route by motorhome, but be prepared for little to no parking facilities. Other options are to travel from Naples to Sorrento by train, or park your motorhome a bit higher up in the mountains at a motorhome stopover. Along the coast there are buses and boats that stop and moor at various places, or you can explore the Amalfi Coast by Vespa. The highlights can be seen in one day, but it is of course more fun to be able to visit everything at your leisure. In addition, bear in mind the travel period. In summer, Italians spend their holidays on the coast and it is not only crowded, but also incredibly hot in this part of the country. In spring and autumn, on the other hand, it is much quieter and also comfortable in a pleasant temperature of around 25 °C.

- On the idyllic Amalfi Coast, it's like looking at a postcard!

In Naples, spend the night at Parking IPM, or in nearby Pozzuoli at Castagnaro Parking. From both motorhome stopovers you can easily reach the centre of Naples by public transport.

Spend the night on the Sorrento peninsula at Agriturismo Costiera Amalfitana in Tramonti, at Cava de' Tirreni or in Salerno. These motorhome stopovers are not directly on the coast, but a bit higher up in the mountains.

Also in Pompeii and close to Vesuvius you can park your motorhome and spend the night, for example at Villa Julia Pompei, at Camping Pompei or at La Terrazza di Hermès.

Time to go see Naples! Would you like to extend your motorhome trip to Italy? Then take a look at the destination page of Italy for more inspiration!