Naples turned out to be a city full of life and color, but also one that hides quiet, panoramic corners. It’s a place of incredible food and intense energy, an energy that truly takes a bit of time to get used to. At the same time, it’s a city that glorifies Maradona, you’ll see his image on almost every street corner. We arrived on Friday at noon and left on Monday afternoon, which felt perfect for a weekend getaway. For one of the days, you can head to the Amalfi Coast, just like we did, explore one of the islands like Capri or Ischia, or go on a guided tour to Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius.

I will start with one of my favourite parts of the city, Vomero, start with Mercato Antignano, grab some fresh fruit, then pick up a few treats from Panificio di Antonio Rescigno or Leopoldo by Casa Infante. What I loved about the desserts here and in Napoli in general is that many come in small portions, so you can mix and match. Our favorites were the tiny cream and wild strawberry tarts, mini donuts filled with fluffy ricotta cream, and the small babà. You can also find delicious mini sfogliatelle at Mary’s Sfogliatella in the Umberto I Gallery.

Take a walk through Vomero, it’s beautiful and lively, especially on weekends. You can wander down quiet streets or enjoy the buzz of places like Via Luca Giordano. Here, you’ll find hidden gems like Casa Esposito, a small cantina with absolutely delicious food. We grabbed some takeaway and enjoyed it in a nearby little park, tried braciola for the first time and had amazing pasta with zucchini. And also a friendly local helped us choose the best dishes, one of the things we appreciated about Napoli was the kind and friendly people.

Also in the area, stop for some nice specialty coffee at Ventimetriquadri, then head toward one of the city’s viewpoints, San Martino, where you can enjoy the view and take an espresso break at Scaturchio Café. We even caught a bit of rain there, but it only added to the charm. From there, you can walk down Salita del Petraio, a quiet and picturesque path with interesting architecture, from there you can also have a ride with the funicular.

(Still on my list for next time in Vomero: INformale Vini Buoni e Piatti Essenziali, it looked like a very interesting dinner spot.)

For a truly authentic lunch, I highly recommend Cibi Cotti, a fun traditional spot inside a small farmers’ market. Try to go early on lunch to find a table. Everything we had was incredibly comforting and delicious, meat, vegetables, pasta, all finger-licking good. Afterward, you can enjoy a walk along the waterfront.

A special mention goes to Diaz Microtorrefazione, a specialty coffee spot right in the center, with excellent coffee and great desserts. We went there twice. They also have a lovely terrace in the square nearby it ended up being one of our favorite places in Naples. Just a few meters away, there’s also a charming salumeria where we picked up some goodies to take home, pancetta and cheeses.

At Piazza Bellini you’ll find a lovely green space with ruins and bars. From there, you can easily step into a local bar for a drink, we stopped at Oak and had a really nice time. Don’t forget to order some green olives on the side.

Via San Gregorio Armeno is something special, full of tiny handcrafted figurines that are part of the Neapolitan presepe tradition. Originally rooted in ancient terracotta offerings, they later evolved into detailed Nativity scenes that mix the sacred with everyday life, featuring locals, vendors, and even modern figures. It’s a unique tradition that keeps Naples’ culture alive all year round. On the same street you can take a sweet break at Sfogliate & Sfogliatelle, where they make authentic pastries that aren’t overly sweet. Nearby, there’s also a beautiful courtyard filled with wisteria and plants perfect for a little photo moment.

When it comes to pizza, of course we tried L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele they only serve three types, and you can order a half-and-half. We also had an interesting pizza at Owap, with creative toppings like zucchini cream. And you absolutely have to try pizza fritta we had a great one at Signora Bettola, as well as a street version here that was just as good. It’s the perfect snack before wandering through the colorful Spanish Quarter.

I want to highlight Signora Bettola in particular we loved both the food and the atmosphere. Everything we ordered was great: traditional pasta with potatoes, meatballs in sauce, fried vegetables, the tiramisu, even the house wine.

We also ate at Mimi alla Ferrovia and Tandem, but they weren’t among our favorites.

For something cultural, Cappella Sansevero is worth a visit for its impressive sculptures, just make sure to book your ticket in advance. There’s so much to see in the city, including the catacombs.

Even the metro stations are worth mentioning, Toledo station, for example, feels like stepping into an aquarium.

One day, we rented a car (highly recommend this place for renting a car, everything went smoothly) and drove along the Amalfi Coast. We stopped in Ravello and Positano, and honestly, we preferred Ravello a quieter town where you can get lost on peaceful streets, surrounded by lazy cats basking in the sun. We had a glass of limoncello, a great pinsa at Al San Domingo, and some butter biscuits with coffee.

In Positano, we explored on foot (and definitely got a workout). It’s stunning both from afar, the iconic viewpoints, and even more so up close. Since we visited in the off-season, it wasn’t too crowded, so we could explore at a relaxed pace and reward ourselves with a gelato from Yummy.

Along the Amalfi Coast, you can also stop in Atrani, Fiordo di Furore, or Sorrento. But in my opinion, if you want to explore properly, two towns per day are more than enough. It’s also a great idea to stay somewhere along the coast, rent a car, and take your time discovering the area, maybe that’s what we’ll do next time.