Overview:
Naples is a City of
Contrasts
With a
population of 4.5 million residents, Naples is a huge
city. The city is crowded, noisy and contains extensive
poverty. Many feel that the city is also dirty and
unwelcoming. Naples is the major port for southern Italy
and has been for centuries. Unfortunately for Naples
tourism, it is a;sp the gateway to some of Italy's most
wonderful destinations.
Cruise
Port Location and Information:
Docked in Naples, Italy
Cruise
ships dock at the new cruise terminal right in the heart
of downtown Naples. One can easily walk off the ship and
into downtown in a matter of minutes. Also, the ferry
terminals that provide service to Capri, sorrento,
Positano and Amalfi is located right next to the cruise
ship terminal making it easy to explore on your own.
Exploring on Your Own:
Naples' Castel Nuovo (Maschio
Angioino)
Naples
is not exactly user friendly for exploring on your own.
The Castel Nuovo is located directly across the street
from the cruise ship terminal. This is a 14th century
castle that currently houses a museum of sculptures and
art from the period. If you have decided to spend the
day exploring Naples, the best way to do it is on the
HoHo bus.
Shopping Tips:
Naples Apartments
Shopping in Naples takes place a few blocks back from
the port along a long pedestrian street known for its
shopping. Be aware though, that many of the stores serve
the local population and there are few tourist oriented
stores.
Naples Launderia
Don't
get me wrong, Naples really has some cool stuff if you
are into monuments, churches and public buildings and
don't mind a lot of traffic, noise and chaos. I have
explored it thoroughly trying to find some positive
things to say about it, maybe an undiscovered element
that would make it a really "cool" place to visit, but
have been unsuccessful so far.
Port
Highlights:
The Church by the Train
Station
Since
you will probably be in Naples for the day, my
suggestion to you is to invest your day in visiting some
of Southern Italy's wonderful destinations. The ferries
are located right directly in the ferry terminal in
front of the ship. This is unbelievably convenient, but
the train station where the Circumvesuviana (the line
from Naples to Sorrento) train operates from is about a
20 to 25 minute walk away. Before you disembark your
ship, go to the top deck and look to the eastern side of
Naples. You will see the church tower pictured above.
This is where you want to walk to.
The church Tower
When
you get to the church tower, go to the very next street
where the streetcars also turn to the left. You will see
the train station on your right 2 blocks up the street.
The Road You need to
Cross Before th Merger
Note
that the road that follows the port merges with another
large street creating several medians that need to be
crossed to get to the church. BE CAREFUL! Drivers
in Naples are not as nice as the drivers that you are
used to.
Where to Go on the Ferries:
Capri and Anacapri: There is a continual flow of
hydrofoils and ferries that make their way from Naples
to Capri. It is extremely easy to do, just disembark the
ship through the new cruise terminal and walk across the
parking lot to the ferry terminal. The best ones to take
are the hydrofoils because they travel so much faster
than regular ferries. Also, only purchase one-way
tickets, as there are three different ferry companies
serving Capri and when you want to return (or continue
on to Sorrento) you can purchase a ticket on the next
ferry to depart.
Sorrento: Sorrento is a fabulous
destination from Naples and many people arrange to visit
Capri first and then continue on to Sorrento before
returning to Naples. This is an excellent way to spend
the day, as Sorrento and Capri are very different.
Positano and Amalfi: Located along the Amalfi coast
famous for its cliffs and villages clinging to the sides
of the cliffs, Positano and Amalfi are considered some
of the premier destinations in all of Italy. There are
non-stop hydrofoils from Naples to Positano and then on
to Amalfi. Check out the website metrodelmare.com for
schedules when you are traveling. The best way to visit
both villages is to continue to Amalfi and explore the
village climbing all the way up to the highway (such as
it is) catch the local bus to Positano and then explore
Positano on your way down to the ferry terminal where
you can catch the ferry back to Naples.
Where to Go on the Train:
Pompeii Ruins
Pompeii and Herculanium: Pompeii is a short 30-minute
train ride from Naples. Simply walk to the
train station as described above and purchase a train ticket to Pompeii.
Debark the train when you get to the Pompeii Scava Station. The
Pompeii train station is about 100-feet from the main
entrance so it is very easy to find. You can easily
spend the entire day in Pompeii, so it is best to preplan
your stay there. It is also possible to visit
Herculanium is said to be even better preserved than
Pompeii. To get to Herculanium disembark the train at the Ercolano Station,
which is before you get to Pompeii.
Herculanium is about a 15-minute walk from the train
station. Alsp, when you enter both sites you will be
approached by "tour guides" offering to take you through
the parks. Just ignore them. They may try to scare you
by saying it isn't safe to go without one...it is just a
sales pitch.
Sorrento: Sorrento is a fabulous
destination from Naples and many people arrange to visit
Pompeii or Herculanium first and then continue on to
Sorrento before returning to Naples. This is an
excellent way to spend the day, as Sorrento and Pompeii
are very different.
Off the
Beaten Path:
Ischia and Procida: Farther out from Capri is the
island of Ischia. Ischia features fabulous beaches and a
wonderful Italian experience. Ischia is not on the
regular tourist itinerary, so one can really enjoy their
visit here and soak up its abundant charm. Notedfor its
thermal pools and spas, Ischia also has white sandy
beaches, which are a rare find on the Mediterranean.
While there are direct ferries to Ischia, many of the
ferries also stop at Procida on their way to Ischia.
Procida is a small fishing village, but known best for
it abandoned prison that used to house prisoners who
were serving life sentences.
Dining
and Drinking Suggestions:
None
that I can make. Since you will probably be out on your
own in a destination other than Naples, you will
numerous places to enjoy an excellent dining experience.
Must Do
List:
Boy, I
would give all of the options surrounding Naples a "Must
do" rating. It would be difficult to assign it to the
most important destination, but I might think that
Pompeii would get the nudge. It is simply an
unbelievable experience.
On Your Own
Reviews
(How to Venture On
Your Own with Detailed Information)
Amalfi
and Positano On Your Own Shore Excursion By Jeannine
Cantine: Thinking of heading to
Amalfi and positano on your own? Here is exactly how to
do it.
Capri and
Anacapri On Your Own Shore Excursion By Jeannine Cantine:
Capri and Anacapri are
awesome! Here is how to do it one your own.
Pompeii On Your Own By Tom Ogg:
Pompeii is an awesome way to spend your day in Naples.
Here is exactly how to do it on your own.
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ePortReviews
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