Christmas and New Year in Naples: 5 travel tips

The beating heart of the city, what better place to fully savour the festive spirit of the Neapolitan people!

Spaccanapoli is one of the most important historical centres in Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. North of the city port, it retains the same urban layout as two thousand years ago. Spaccanapoli divides the centre into two parts: Pizzofalcone, the first Greek settlement, and Decumano, the new Roman city. 

Suppose you're looking for a shopping spree for clothes and accessories. In that case, Via Toledo alone has plenty of shops for all your needs. You can also reach the beautiful Galleria Umberto, one of the most exciting places in the city. 

Sleeping and staying in the historic centre means having all this at your disposal! It is a central and very convenient location to visit the city and its main attractions. 

If being in the middle of the city crowd is not your thing, the great idea is to stay overnight in the vicinity of Naples. A place you certainly won't be disappointed with is the Campi Flegrei. 

It is a purely volcanic area located to the west of the city of Naples. It is an area rich in archaeology and culture. Its history interwove with a glorious past from both a scientific and humanistic point of view. 

In addition to the many archaeological interests, one of the most enjoyable activities to do, especially during the winter holidays, is bathed in the warm waters of the area's thermal facilities. The Ancient Romans already knew their qualities and benefits. For those suffering from rheumatism, arthrosis and respiratory diseases. 

Celebrating Christmas and New Year's Eve in a restaurant means doing so with traditional dishes. 

One of the most famous dishes of Neapolitan festive cuisine is the minestra maritata, usually eaten during Christmas lunch. It is a soup made with meat and seasonal vegetables, tasty and light-tasting. 

Also worth mentioning are baked cannelloni and lasagne with ragù. Another delicacy is fried meatballs tossed in sauce, accompanied by slices of crusty bread and salad. In addition, Christmas menus often include pork rinds in gravy with a robust and full-bodied taste. 

It is the case for Christmas. For New Year's Eve, the watchword is fish and fried fish, especially the famous Capitone. 

Once again, we can only advise you to book a table at the Al Chiar di Luna restaurant for a beautiful dinner. With one of the most panoramic terraces on the coast, you can see Pozzuoli, Ischia and Procida. 

Here you can discover the taste of local fish delicacies, such as Calamarata with lobster ragout or ravioli stuffed with shellfish. 

As we have already told you extensively before, the historic centre alone is full of attractions to visit during the festivities and beyond. 

More than 300 churches are only here: the Cathedral of San Gennaro, the Basilica of Giovanni Maggiore and Santa Chiara. Don't miss the Archaeological Museum, which houses one of the world's largest Greek and Roman antiquities collections.

Also not to be missed are the buildings and castles of the Middle Ages, such as the Castel Nuovo (or Maschio Angioino), the Basilica of San Domenico Maggiore, the Royal Palace and the San Carlo Theatre (dating back to the Aragonese period). Not far from the historical centre, you will also find the Quartieri Spagnoli, a street famous for its typicality and where you can breathe a unique atmosphere. 

Among the attractions that preserve the historic centre is undoubtedly Napoli Sotterranea: a vast network of 80 km of underground cavities and tunnels dug entirely by man into the volcanic tuff. 

The historic centre is undoubtedly the right place to shop and buy souvenirs. You can't go to San Gregorio Armeno and not leave there without buying a nativity scene figurine. Or you could go to Via Mezzocannone, Benedetto Croce, San Biagio dei Librai. 

But Naples isn't all about the old town...In the hilly Vomero district, you can visit the Museo Della Certosa di San Martino, which houses some of the most aged nativity scenes ever seen. The most famous is the Cuciniello crib collection, made between 1887 and 1889. 

The historic centre is the place with the most Neapolitan Christmas feeling! Naples has an exclusive link with the Crib, different from other cities in Italy. 

San Gregorio Armeno is the street par excellence dedicated to nativity scenes 365 days a year in the historic centre. But apart from crib art, you can find Christmas accessories of all kinds and typical souvenirs here. 

Not far from here, living nativity scenes often stage in Piazza San Gaetano. Other nativity scenes are in the Church of San Lorenzo Maggiore: they are tiny and inside walnut shells. 

For New Year's Eve, there's no better place than Lungomare Caracciolo to savour the first dawn of the new year. A mixture of colours that will tint the sea and embrace Castel dell'Ovo. Also, on New Year's Eve, don't miss a trip to the fish market at Porta Nolana: stalls full of fresh fish, seafood and every delicacy your palate can imagine. 

Finally, you can't miss a stroll through the Christmas illuminations in Naples. They are everywhere, and some are beautiful. They cover 140 km of streets and 40 squares in the city.

There are several ways of getting around Naples and nearby: you can rely on public transport or private transport.

As far as public transport is concerned, you can reach the province of Naples by the Circumvesuviana bus and train line. Another solution could be the SITA Sud buses, which connect the capital with the Amalfi Coast, Gragnano, Salerno and the Sorrento Coast.

You can also reach Amalfi Coast and Sorrento Coast by ferries, and hydrofoils depart daily from the Port of Naples. You can also get the islands of the Gulf of Naples: Capri, Ischia and Procida.

Suppose you want to reach the Campi Flegrei area from Naples by public transport. In that case, a very convenient solution is to take Metro 2 from Stazione Garibaldi to Fuorigrotta and the Campi Flegrei area. Otherwise, another solution could be the EAV bus, which stops at Pozzuoli, Bacoli and Monte di Procida from the Napoli - Piazzetta Circumvesuviana stop.

If you prefer a more comfortable solution, you can take advantage of the private transport offered by Blu Transfer. Chauffeur-driven hire service is available in Naples, throughout the province, and Rome, offering high efficiency, punctuality, and comfort.

Immediate availability is guaranteed 24 hours a day. Blu Transfer's chauffeurs are professionals regularly enrolled in the driver's register and speak fluent English.