If you’re looking for things to do in Naples beyond the usual tourist checklist, this is for you.
This is not a list of the most famous attractions—you’ll find those everywhere.
This is a cultural bucket list: a series of small missions designed to help you experience Naples from the inside.
Each one will send you in search of a detail, a flavor, a story.
And in doing so, you’ll inevitably get lost, talk to locals, and discover far more than you planned.
Because in Naples, the real experience is never the one you came for.
Many of these details are part of a deeper journey into Neapolitan culture, food, and traditions.
You’ll find them explored more fully in the Naples Simposio.
These are not the usual things to do in Naples, but the ones that will stay with you.
Cultural Things to Do in Naples
1. Explore the San Gennaro Catacombs in Naples
Visit the San Gennaro Catacombs and find the portraits of Bitalia and Cerula, possibly (and quite likely) early Christian women bishops!
2. Admire the Cristo Velato
Admire the Cristo Velato (Veiled Christ), but don’t overlook Disinganno (Disillusion), the stunning statue on the right of the chapel. The intricate stone net symbolizes a man freeing himself from sins and vices with the guidance of human intellect, represented by the cherub.
3. Search for the Venus Callipigia
Search for Venus Callipigia at the Naples Archaeological Museum—a statue said to have the most beautiful ‘behind’ in classical art. This iconic sculpture is renowned for its sensual yet possibly ritualistic gesture of lifting her gown.
4. Marvel at the Toro Farnese
While at the museum, marvel at the Toro Farnese (Farnese Bull)—a 24-ton masterpiece carved from a single block of marble, once part of Rome’s Baths of Caracalla, and restored with Michelangelo’s involvement.
Local Food Experiences in Naples
5. Savor a Tarallo ‘Nzogna, Pepe e Mandorle
Snack on a Neapolitan tarallo ‘Nzogna, Pepe e Mandorle—a savory pretzel-like delight made with lard, black pepper, and almonds. A true local favorite!
6. Find the Bar Nilo
Stop by Bar Nilo to see the Diego Maradona shrine, complete with photos, a hat, and even a lock of the football legend’s hair.
7. Learn the Meaning of ‘Mangiafoglie’
Ask a local to explain the meaning of “Mangiafoglie”, a word that reveals a lot about Naples’ food history.
If you start noticing these details, Naples will begin to change.
What once felt chaotic will start to make sense.
8. Challenge Yourself with O’ Pere e ‘O Muss
Challenge yourself by tasting ‘O Pere e ‘O Muss—a traditional Neapolitan street food made of boiled pork feet and calf muzzle, sliced and served as a salad with lemon juice and salt.
9. If Winter, enjoy O’ Bror’ e Purp
Seek out the street vendor selling ‘O Bror’ e Purp, a warming octopus broth with a tentacle served in a cup.
10. Seasonal Flavors to Try:
– In Fall:
Buy a Caco Vaniglia (local persimmon) from a green grocer.
Savor Torrone dei Morti, a traditional sweet enjoyed during the season.
– In Winter:
Don’t miss the Mela Annurca, a unique local apple.
– In Summer:
Look for Piennolo tomatoes, grown on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius.
11. Try Cuzzetiello, a Neapolitan Street Food Classic
Try a Cuzzetiello, a hollowed-out Neapolitan cafone bread stuffed with delicious fillings—go for the classic salsicce e friarelli (sausage and sautéed greens).
Local Traditions and Hidden Experiences in Naples
12. Purchase a Red Horn Lucky Charm
Get a red cornicello (Neapolitan lucky charm)—but remember, it must be gifted, not bought! Visit my friends at Bella Bri Gioielli, where they’ll not only give you one but also recite the traditional ritual chant as they place it in your palm. Their shop is also filled with fancy locally crafted jewelry inspired by Neapolitan folklore.
13. Kiss the Fish of San Raffaele
Visit the San Raffaele church and find the fish of San Raffaele, kissed countless times by women hoping for love, marriage, or children.
14. Enter an Antique Shop for ‘Antichi Mestieri’ Stamps
Step into an antique shop and ask to see their collection of Antichi Mestieri (ancient trades) stamps, which depict Naples’ traditional professions.
15. See the Tesoro di San Gennaro
Explore the Tesoro di San Gennaro and, if his jeweled necklace is on display, try to find the two pearls donated by a humble woman, thanking the saint for saving her from the plague.
16. Pay for a Caffè Sospeso
Experience the caffè sospeso tradition—buy a coffee and pay for an extra one to be gifted to a stranger in need.
17. Try the Cuccumella coffee:
While you’re in Naples, don’t miss the chance to try coffee made with the ‘caffettiera napoletana,’ also known as the Cuccumella. Unlike the Moka, which extracts aroma by pressing, this traditional coffee maker percolates, resulting in a more delicate and aromatic brew rather than a strong, roasted flavor.
18. Visit the Presepe Cuciniello at Museo di San Martino
Visit the Presepe Cuciniello in the San Martino Museum, a breathtaking Neapolitan nativity scene with over 800 elements. Try to spot Zio Vincenzo (Carnival) and Zio Pasquale (Death) playing cards and drinking together.
19. Try Your Luck at the Napoli Lotto
Visit a ricevitoria (betting shop) inside a tabaccheria, and play your lucky numbers on the Ruota di Napoli.
20. Relish Pizza with White Wine
Pair your Neapolitan pizza with a glass of white wine, remembering the story of Queen Maria Cristina, who had a pizza oven built in her palace’s forest for casual late-night feasts.
These are the kinds of things to do in Naples that don’t appear on typical itineraries.
You can visit Naples.
Or you can start to understand it.
The Naples Simposio begins where guides usually stop.
