My Naples Holidays: Itinerary, Driving Tips, and Amalfi Coast
After a busy tourist season in Salzburg, it's time to take a break from work and change the environment. Italy, for me, is the number one country in terms of vacations, like my second home. No matter what part of the country you find yourself in, it will always be beautiful, delicious, warm and different.
As the Christmas holidays were over and prices dropped, a flight from Salzburg to Naples cost me only 100 euros with Easy Jet Airline. Since I flew alone, I made a detailed itinerary for myself.
This was my second time in Naples City, so I focused on seeing its museums and the surrounding areas. On the first day, I climbed the castle, visited the archaeological museum, and walked around the old town, tasting the street food delicacies.
I am a professional tour guide in Austria and a minivan driver; when I travel around the world, I usually rent a car and drive myself everywhere. Naples was no exception. I rented a car from Locauto at the train station. It is best to rent the smallest car possible for easier parking and squeezing through the narrow streets, and complete insurance is a must. Napoles is the third-largest city in Italy, and traffic here is crazy. I think most tourists would be shocked to get behind the wheel here. But not me. I had to laugh so much at the behavior and driving (un)culture of local drivers. I quickly adapted to the general chaos and had fun driving in Naples.
After renting a car, I explored the ancient ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Pompeii is an absolute must-see open-air museum! You are strongly advised to take a guided tour of Pompeii, which will enhance your experience of the ancient city. Since I intended to visit Herculaneum on the same day, I opted for an audio guide for eight euros, which helped me save time and capture many unforgettable photos.
The excavations of Heraculum are worth exploring, even if they may not rival the size and grandeur of Pompeii. It's astonishing to consider how advanced the civilization was and how quickly it fell to the volcanic eruption in 79 A.D. Today, the nearby towns have almost encroached upon the volcano's edge, but their architectural allure is nothing compared to what it was 2,000 years ago.
What would the holidays in Naples be without Amalfi and Positano? I set off early in the morning to Salerno, where the scenic mountain road begins. Along the way, I stopped at charming bays and lesser-known towns. For many outsiders, this stunning route might feel like a nightmare. However, I found joy in the surprise of encountering buses and trucks around tight corners and maneuvering to make way at the cliff's edge.
I must also say that Naples is a rather gray and dirty city, with graffiti-covered buildings and many homeless people. The filth and stench after sterile Austria are immediately noticeable. But after a few days, you get used to it and start noticing Naples's pretty side. Not for nothing is it called the city of contrasts.
It is well known that Italy has a cult of bread. In Naples, this cult is multiplied by 10. Along the streets are cafes every five meters, with windows filled with various pastries. All of this is delicious, but if you eat a cake or a pie for breakfast, pizza for lunch, and noodles for dinner, after a few days, you can't see the dough anymore and want fish, meat, and salads. Strangely enough, finding a restaurant in the seaside city with a good selection of fish dishes was not easy. Maybe I didn't look hard enough. Finally, I found the restaurant Cala La Pasta, which has tasty seafood at reasonable prices. The only restaurant I visited more than once.
Naples is a student city with plenty of nightlife options for all budgets. I liked Perditempo, a cocktail bar with a democratic ambiance that offers tasty cocktails at reasonable prices.
During my next visit to Naples, I intend to explore Mount Vesuvius and the island of Capri. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time for this trip. Additionally, January is not the best month for adventures in the highlands or across the rough sea. Interestingly, while Salzburg was freezing, Naples enjoyed a pleasant 18°C on January 10th.
I highly recommend the city of Napoli to all adventurers, particularly highlighting its suburbs and the picturesque Mediterranean coast.
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