Hotels
The best hotels in Naples: eight places to stay, seafront to old town
On Spaccanapoli, the street that slices straight through the old town, there is barely room for a Vespa between the stalls. Someone shouts from a balcony, the air smells of espresso and frying dough, and washing hangs overhead. Ten minutes downhill the bay opens up, with Vesuvius on one side and Capri on the horizon. Naples is loud and beautiful, and your hotel decides how much of each you get.
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Naples is Italy's third city and one of the oldest in Europe, founded by Greek settlers nearly 3,000 years ago. The historic centre, the Centro storico, is UNESCO listed and still follows the grid of the ancient Greek streets. Along the water runs the Lungomare, the seafront promenade, past the Castel dell'Ovo, while the hills of Vomero and Posillipo rise above the city with views across the whole bay.
Many visitors use Naples as a base for Pompeii, Capri, Ischia and the Amalfi Coast, so staying near the port or the station makes sense. Others come for the food, churches and museums and want to be in the thick of the lanes. Naples can be chaotic, but it is also warm, funny and full of life. We have chosen eight hotels across the seafront, the old town and the hills. Links go to Hotels.com, and we always choose the hotel before the link.
In short: where to stay in Naples
On a first visit, stay on the Lungomare or in Chiaia, with bay views, calmer streets and an easy walk to both the old town and the port. For food, churches and life outside the door, the Centro storico is right, but expect noise. If you are heading on to Capri or Amalfi, the hotels by the port are practical.
Our first choice: Palazzo Alabardieri. Check availability and prices
Best for romance: Grand Hotel Vesuvio
Best for families: Eurostars Hotel Excelsior
Best for a first visit: Palazzo Alabardieri
Best for value: Hotel Il Convento
Best for design: Romeo Hotel
How to choose a hotel in Naples
Sea or back streets: seafront hotels offer views and calm, the old town offers food and life. They are only half an hour apart on foot.
Catching a boat: ferries to Capri, Ischia and Sorrento leave from Molo Beverello. Stay near the port if you have an early departure.
Noise comes with the city: scooters, church bells and street life carry on late. Ask for a courtyard room if you sleep lightly.
Taxis and funiculars: the funiculars climb to Vomero in minutes. Taxis are fine, but agree a fixed fare or insist on the meter.
Pickpockets: as in any big city, watch your bag and phone in crowds, especially around the main station and on buses.
The building
Grand Hotel Vesuvio from the outside.
The Lungomare: the seafront and the bay
Along Via Partenope and the promenade stand the classic grand hotels, looking across the bay to Vesuvius and Capri. The seafront is traffic-free and calm in the evening, and the old town's pizzerias are a short walk away.
Grand Hotel Vesuvio: the grand hotel by Castel dell'Ovo
Grand Hotel Vesuvio stands on the seafront opposite the Castel dell'Ovo, with classic rooms and views across the bay to Vesuvius. Its rooftop restaurant has one of the finest views in the city.
It gets our vote as the romantic pick, offering classic Italian luxury, a balcony over the sea and sunsets behind Posillipo. It appeals to couples and anyone celebrating. It is formal and expensive and the style is traditional, but you step straight onto the promenade and can stroll to the restaurants of Borgo Marinari beside the castle.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Grand Hotel Vesuvio
The terrace
The terrace at Eurostars Hotel Excelsior.
Eurostars Hotel Excelsior: a classic grand hotel on Via Partenope
Eurostars Hotel Excelsior stands on Via Partenope next to Castel dell'Ovo, in one of the old grand hotels on the seafront. Many rooms look over the bay, and the hotel has a terrace, a restaurant, a bar and a gym.
It is our family pick, because you stay on the car-free promenade with room for a pushchair and an ice cream. Piazza del Plebiscito and Via Toledo are within walking distance. It also suits couples who want classic style and a sea view. Breakfast costs extra on some rates, and street-facing rooms are less peaceful than those facing the water, so ask for a sea view when you book.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Eurostars Hotel Excelsior
The pool
The pool at Romeo Hotel.
Romeo Hotel: modern design by the port
Romeo Hotel stands by the port, close to the terminal for boats to Capri and Sorrento, in a modern building of glass and steel. Rooms are designed with art, dark tones and large windows over the harbour or Vesuvius, and the top floors hold a spa and restaurant.
It takes our design pick and a strong choice if you are moving on by boat. It suits couples and business travellers who want a contemporary hotel in a city of old palazzi. The road outside is busy, and the surroundings have less charm than the seafront.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Romeo Hotel
The courtyard
The courtyard at Hotel Piazza Bellini.
The Centro storico: the old town
The old town is Naples at its most intense, with Spaccanapoli, churches, catacombs, pizzerias and the nativity workshops of Via San Gregorio Armeno. It is dense, noisy and alive from morning until late at night.
Hotel Piazza Bellini: a garden and a library in the old town
Hotel Piazza Bellini occupies an old palazzo on the square of the same name, a couple of blocks from Spaccanapoli and the archaeological museum. It has 56 rooms, a garden, a small library and a bar, and some rooms are apartments with their own kitchen.
It suits travellers who want to sleep in the heart of the old town and still have a calm place to return to after a day in the lanes. It works well for couples and friends. Guests praise the breakfast and the location. Piazza Bellini fills with bars and students in the evening, so there can be life beneath your window until late.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Piazza Bellini
The terrace
The terrace at Hotel Il Convento.
Hotel Il Convento: a small hotel in the Quartieri Spagnoli
Hotel Il Convento is in the Quartieri Spagnoli, the dense neighbourhood just west of Via Toledo, a short walk from Piazza del Plebiscito and the Molo Beverello ferry port. It is small and personal, and breakfast is included.
It earns our value pick, because you stay centrally between the old town, the shopping streets and the port at a sensible price. It suits couples and anyone who wants to walk everywhere. The neighbourhood is lively, narrow and full of scooters, and the rooms are not large, but some of the city's best simple trattorias are right outside.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Il Convento
The lobby
The lobby at Palazzo Alabardieri.
Chiaia and Vomero: elegance and views
Chiaia is the city's most elegant district, with boutiques, wine bars and quieter streets between Via Toledo and the sea. Above it rises Vomero, reached by funicular, with views over the entire bay.
Palazzo Alabardieri: an elegant base in Chiaia
Palazzo Alabardieri is in Chiaia, the most elegant part of Naples, on a quiet street of boutiques and wine bars. The sea and Piazza dei Martiri are a couple of minutes away. Galleria Umberto, Piazza del Plebiscito and Castel dell'Ovo are all within walking distance.
It is our pick for a first visit, because you stay somewhere calm and safe yet right between the old town, the seafront and the shopping streets. It suits couples and families who want a classic hotel with good service. Guests praise the helpful staff and the location. Most rooms have no view, but the promenade along the bay is just round the corner.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Palazzo Alabardieri
The building
Grand Hotel Parker's from the outside.
Grand Hotel Parker's: the bay from the hillside
Grand Hotel Parker's sits on Corso Vittorio Emanuele on the slope above Chiaia, with views over the whole bay from many rooms. It is one of the city's most classic hotels, with antiques, a library and a roof terrace.
It is right for travellers who want views and quiet above the city, with Chiaia just below. It is a good fit for couples and older travellers. The hillside position means you will often take a taxi or funicular down to the centre.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Grand Hotel Parker's
The view
The view from San Francesco al Monte.
San Francesco al Monte: a monastery above the city
Hotel San Francesco al Monte occupies a former monastery on the slope below Vomero, with rooms in the old monks' cells, terraced gardens and a pool overlooking the bay.
It is a strong pick for travellers who want somewhere different, with peace, gardens and views, and who do not mind a taxi or funicular down. It works well for couples. Rooms are simple and fairly small, as the cells once were, and there are plenty of steps.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at San Francesco al Monte
When to book
Spring and autumn: April to June and September to October are the best months, warm and often perfect for boat trips.
Summer: July and August are very hot, and many Neapolitans leave the city in August. Choose a hotel with air conditioning and ideally a pool.
Christmas: December is lovely for the nativity scenes on Via San Gregorio Armeno and the atmosphere in the old town, with lower rates than summer.
Our first choice in Naples
Palazzo Alabardieri
We recommend Palazzo Alabardieri because you stay safe and calm in Chiaia, midway between the old town, the sea and the shopping streets. It sits on a street of boutiques and wine bars, a couple of minutes from Piazza dei Martiri. Guests single out the helpful staff and the location.
Hotels in Naples: frequently asked questions
Where is the best area to stay in Naples?
The Lungomare or Chiaia for views and calm, the Centro storico for food and history, and near the port if you are catching a boat. Chiaia is the calmest and most elegant district, and the Lungomare looks out towards Vesuvius.
Is Naples safe for tourists?
Most visits pass without trouble. Keep valuables close in crowds, particularly around the main station and on busy routes. Keep your bag in front of you in the Spanish Quarter and on the metro, and use official taxis with fixed fares. In the evening Chiaia and the Lungomare are calm and busy with people.
How do you get from Naples airport to the city centre?
The Alibus runs from the airport to the main station and the port in about 20 minutes. Taxis charge fixed fares to the centre. Agree the fare with the taxi driver before you set off, and check it covers your part of the centre. Buy the Alibus ticket on board or at the kiosk.
Can you do a day trip to Pompeii from Naples?
Yes, the Circumvesuviana train reaches Pompeii in about half an hour. Start early to avoid the heat and the biggest groups. Tickets for Pompeii can be bought in advance, which pays off in high season. Bring water and a hat, as there is little shade.
How many days do you need in Naples?
Two or three days cover the city. With a week you can add Pompeii, Capri and the Amalfi Coast. Naples makes a good base because trains and boats leave from there. Stay near the port or the station if you plan many day trips.