Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
Naples is not known for peace and quiet, but many hotels here deliver exactly that, from high-end hideaways to simple, family-run bed-and-breakfasts and pensioni. Usually small and intimate, and often set in historic palazzi, their staffs raise traditional Neapolitan hospitality to an art form. But whether you're in a five-star hotel or a more modest establishment, you may enjoy one of the greatest pleasures of all: a view. Some of the best can be found in the Santa Lucia hotels along the traffic-free waterside of Lungomare. Be sure to ask for a bayside room if your hotel can provide one, though be warned that camere panoramiche (panoramic rooms) often cost more than regular rooms.
Don't be alarmed if your bill is a little larger than anticipated; the city imposes a tassa di soggiorno (tourist tax) of €3 per person per night. Another amenity that might cost you more is air-conditioning—Naples hotels offer some of the strongest air-conditioning around—so when making reservations, be sure to inquire if there's an additional charge. The peak visiting times are April–June and September–October; book well in advance if visiting then.
This contemporary upscale hotel near the Centro Storico's major sights occupies an early-20th-century palazzo, but you won't find heavy, ornate furnishings—the emphasis is on light and space, both in short supply in old Naples. The services and professional approach are on a par with the grander hotels on the seafront, making the Decumani a great choice if your focus is classic Napoli.
Enjoying perhaps the most enchanting setting in all of Naples, this modestly priced hotel tops many a traveler's dream list of places to stay. In one of the buildings of the toy-size Borgo Marinaro harbor, in the shadow of the Castel dell'Ovo medieval fortress, Il Transatlantico has guest rooms fitted out in faux-yacht style, featuring a blue-and-white color scheme and swab-the-decks wooden trim. The vistas—over the harbor and the Lungomare and toward Vesuvius at the end of the bay—are better even than those from far more expensive luxury hotels just across the pier on the mainland.
Just off the chic Piazza dei Martiri, this intimate hotel pairs modern facilities with a traditional feel. Beyond an elegant stone passageway, a chandeliered, marble-floored lobby welcomes you, its impressive size suggesting a much larger property. Although not ultra-luxurious, guest rooms are quiet, tastefully furnished, and equipped with marble bathrooms. Breakfasts are excellent.
Sleek, soigné, and swank, this hotel set in the majestic palace of the very majestic Caracciolos (one of the most gilded names in Neapolitan history) is definitely a diamond in the rough—the rough being its immediate neighborhood, which is a bit off the main tourist track. The duomo, however, is a mere five-minute walk, and the hotel is steps away from the "family" church, San Giovanni a Carbonara, favored by Carracciolo princes, warriors, lovers, and cardinals. Although the palace dates from the 14th century, this lodging has been refurbished for 21st-century visitors with red sofas, Gio Ponti–inspired ornaments, burnished black globes, and artworks that mirror Lucio Fontana minimal masterpieces. Done up in silvers and taupes, the guest rooms are cool and contemporary, and they all have thick piperno walls to buffer the din from the noisiest motorcycles, of which there are more than a few in this district. The cloister, where the restaurant is located and breakfast is taken, hosts temporary exhibitions of young artists, which are open to nonguests.
Patrizia and Paolo run this homey upscale B&B in a handsome stile-Liberty (Italian Art Nouveau) palazzo on the well-to-do Vomero hill. Breakfast of home baking and relaxation revolves around the kitchen and adjoining cozy lounge; most guest rooms have tasteful decor although some corners look dated and have odd layouts; overall a lovely, homey reliable spot, with a chic suite with a Jacuzzi.
This impressive hotel on the hillside of Posillipo is famous for its Bay of Naples view, its roof-garden Paradiso Blanco restaurant, and its garden terrace. From your own flower-bedecked balcony you can also take in the immediate neighborhood, less enchantingly filled with apartment buildings. Although the hotel is at the western edge of the city, the nearby funicular takes you efficiently to the harbor port and transportation hub of Mergellina, a short walk from the end of the Riviera di Chiaia.
An oasis of what Italians call stile liberty (Art Nouveau style), with impressive stained-glass fittings and striking artwork, this serene, elegant hotel is well placed for touring the Centro Storico and visiting the Museo Archeologico Nazionale. Each room is individually decorated—in the warmer months ask for one with a balcony and enjoy your breakfast alfresco, or opt for a garden room that opens onto the small swimming pool.
Perfectly located near the posh Via dei Mille shopping street, the buzzing Chiaia nightlife, and the contemporary art gallery at Palazzo Roccella, this hotel has a welcoming lobby area and restful guest rooms with cool colors and sleek windows. Only the junior suites on the 10th floor have sea views, however.
Neapolitan Lungomare enchantment can be yours if you stay at this luxurious, quietly understated hotel, which overlooks the port immortalized in the song "Santa Lucia." Hundreds of boats bob in the water, seafood restaurants line the harbor, and the medieval Castel dell'Ovo presides over it all. The lobby sparkles with chandeliers, mirrors, and gilded antiques, and portraits of Neapolitan aristocrats lend an air of nobility. The comfortable guest rooms are traditional, if somewhat bland (and some are small for the price), the suites come with a whirlpool bath, and the in-house Il Pavone Restaurant offers luxe dining.
A 17th-century palazzo in the heart of the Quartieri Spagnoli contains this hotel whose rooms—which can accommodate two, three, or four guests—are decorated in modern Mediterranean style and have original architectural features such as arched or beamed ceilings. Two junior suites have private roof terraces.
Masterfully designed by local architect Antonio Scala, formerly of New York City, this concept lodging combines the ultramodern with a playful, at times arcane, take on Neapolitan tradition. The main sitting room proves that with the right lighting and furnishings, the color gray can both soothe and fascinate. In line with a wall quote that declares, "This evening I'm a prince, tomorrow a king," breakfast—including home-laid eggs—is served in tiny white bowls fit not just for a king, but a latter-day Chinese emperor. The guest rooms are well lit and full of playful design touches such as a bathtub in the center of the room and a shower head that changes color with the water temperature. Add in silk sheets and cashmere curtains, and the result is a magical, dreamlike lodging experience.
Right off Piazza Municipio, in the shadows of Castel Nuovo, this popular hotel is a good choice if you're taking a boat from Molo Beverello. The lobby is sober yet luminous, and the rooms are quiet and tastefully appointed. Breakfast is served on a delightful third-floor terrace with views over the castle.
Just a few minutes' walk from the Castel Nuovo, Palazzo Turchini is one of the city center's more attractive smaller hotels. In a 17th-century building, it has an elegant design that incorporates several historical styles, as seen in the combination of marble floors and piperno stairs throughout. Guest rooms are small but soundproofed, and many have views over the roofs and domes of the old town.
Within walking distance of both the Teatro San Carlo and the Centro Storico, this efficient, Marriott-affiliated business hotel has a lobby and guest rooms that are bright and airy. A nice plus here is the beautiful roof garden, where breakfast is served.
