Things to do in Naples, splurging
Gulf beaches, long seafood lunches and the best dinner tables in Southwest Florida.
This is Naples for people who eat first and plan around the reservation. Three days move between the Gulf coast, the northern preserves, and Park Shore, with serious dinners anchoring each evening and enough beach and boutique time in between to feel like a holiday. It suits anyone who wants the full Southwest Florida splurge without pretending they are roughing it.
Day 1: North Naples, Beach to Table
A morning at the Baker Museum and Delnor-Wiggins Pass sets up a long lunch at The Turtle Club before SOFRA delivers the kind of elevated Mediterranean dinner that earns its reservation a month out.
- 10:30 AM
The Baker Museum
Artis Naples' art museum, strongest on American modernism; open Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays.
Map - 12:30 PM
The Turtle Club
Top-rated North Naples seafood institution right on the water, the go-to splurge lunch spot.
Map - 2:30 PM
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
A wide Gulf beach behind the dunes; walk north to the pass to watch boats and dolphins, then stay for a swim.
Map - 7:30 PM
SOFRA Restaurant
The destination dinner: SOFRA's elevated Mediterranean table is the top-rated $$$ fixture restaurant, book well ahead.
Map - 9:30 PM
Rocco's Tacos & Tequila Bar
Loud tequila bar with a long list of tequilas and tableside guacamole; come for a margarita, not a quiet drink.
Map
Day 2: Wine, Shops, and a Greek Table
A mangrove boardwalk to the beach at Clam Pass, a wine flight at Cooper's Hawk, Waterside Shops in the afternoon and Greek at Violi.
- 10:30 AM
Clam Pass Park
A three-quarter-mile boardwalk through the mangroves to a quiet Gulf beach; ride the free tram back.
Map - 12:30 PM
Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant- Naples
A big winery-restaurant chain with its own wines by the flight; book a booth and taste three.
Map - 2:30 PM
Waterside Shops
Open-air luxury shopping around lagoons and fountains; Saks and the big designer houses in one loop.
Map - 7:30 PM
Violi Naples
Tavern-style Greek at Mercato from a Chicago team; order the octopus, saganaki and lamb shank.
Map
Day 3: Park Shore, Water All Day
Hogfish Harry's handles a no-fuss waterside lunch, the Naples Preserve offers a quiet reset, and USS Nemo closes the trip with the kind of seafood that reminds you why Park Shore regulars never leave.
- 12:30 PM
Hogfish Harry's Restaurant + Bar
Local favourite for casual waterside seafood lunch, Hogfish Harry's delivers the goods without fuss.
Map - 2:30 PM
The Naples Preserve
A peaceful wander through a native Naples nature reserve, the perfect afternoon reset between meals.
Map - 7:30 PM
USS Nemo Restaurant
The destination dinner: USS Nemo is a Park Shore institution, splurge-worthy seafood at the top of its game.
Map
Where to stay
The Ritz-Carlton, Naples
The Ritz on the Gulf puts you a short drive from every stop on this plan and matches the spend-level of the dinners around it.
LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort
LaPlaya sits right on the water in North Naples and is the natural base for Day 1, with the beach already outside your door.
Make Naples your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App StoreBefore you go
Book ahead
- Cappella Sansevero: weeks ahead
- Napoli Sotterranea: a few days ahead
- Teatro di San Carlo: weeks ahead
- Pizza-making class: a few days ahead
- Stadio Diego Armando Maradona: weeks ahead
- Pompeii Archaeological Park: a few days ahead
Skip these
- Restaurants ringing Piazza Garibaldi and the port with photo menus and tourist menu boards.
- Da Michele's queue at 13:00 on a Saturday as your only pizza plan.
- The Blue Grotto as a must do plan, and driving the Amalfi Coast yourself from Naples in summer.
- Skip the line resellers charging multiples for Sansevero and Pompeii, buy official tickets.
The full Naples travel guide: when to go, safety, getting around