Guide to visiting Naples for foreign tourists

The city is buzzing. The good weather has already arrived in the Neapolitan February and the people continue to daydream thanks to the historic performances of the team led by Spalletti. Betting sites from all over the world are offering very high odds for Napoli's rivals to win the championship, indicating a predictable end to the season (we won't add anything else for fear of superstition).

It seems to be experiencing a true rebirth for one of the most beautiful places in the world, often unfairly criticized or represented in a distorted way. In today's article we will try to give some useful advice to our readers who would like to visit Naples.

Prejudices never die

Some "authoritative" newspapers continue to underline how Naples is not among the most popular destinations among foreign tourists. These are often bad rumours, considering that the personal data they tell a very different reality.

The numbers speak clearly

The 22nd annual report on Italian tourism, published by the CNR, offers a complete overview of this sector. Let us remember that Italy boasts 53 sites protected by UNESCO and more than 3 million people who find employment thanks to tourism.

In total, there would have been 117 million visitors on an annual basis, with an increase of 10 million compared to the previous period. Returning to Naples, the records mainly concern foreign visitors, the protagonists of this article.

The annual growth rate is 2,5% during the period from 2011 to 2016. The main share of visitors from abroad comes from Germany, with a whopping 56 million visitors. They are followed by the French and the British, with 13 million cumulative visitors.

1. 117 million visitors.
2. 56 million German tourists from 2011 to 2016.
3. Annual tourism growth rate of 2,5%.

Many good reasons to visit Naples

First of all, it is important not to be discouraged by the bad reputation that surrounds Naples. Although some people may have heard bad things about the city, the testimonies of many foreign tourists on the important site Reddit, tell a very different experience.

We are talking, after all, about the city that gave birth to the Margherita pizza, strictly cooked in a wood-fired oven. Lovers of this bomb of flavor cannot miss a visit. For those seeking the true taste of tradition, the Antica Pizzeria Port'Alba, the oldest in the city, is a must. But pizza is not the only delight that the city has to offer.

Those who love Naples have had the opportunity to appreciate the many pasta dishes, seafood dishes and the masterpieces created by the masters of our pastry shops.

So much art and history

In addition to its rich culinary offerings, Naples is an excellent starting point for discovering important tourist sites in the area. We are obviously talking about Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. Perhaps not many people know that Naples also hosts one of the most prestigious archaeological museums in the country.

Housed in an eighteenth-century building, the museum houses the very famous Farnese Bull and the Ephesian Artemis, not to mention the frescoes and mosaics preserved in the aforementioned Pompeii.

Art lovers cannot miss a visit to the Capodimonte Museum. Inside, you can admire a collection that is incomparable with that of the Uffizi in Florence. Here you can find masterpieces by masters such as Raphael, Michelangelo and Botticelli.

The whole South is waiting to be discovered

Tourism in Campania and Naples is recording growth rates higher than the Italian national average. Obviously, the peak periods are the summer and during the main holidays. There are so many attractions to discover, both for Italian and foreign tourists. Our cultural and artistic heritage is waiting to be discovered by new travellers of all ages.

For readers who are still not convinced whether it is worth visiting Naples, we hope that this article has been useful in removing any doubts. With these short paragraphs we have tried to highlight the potential of a city that has a great desire to rise up again with pride.