Naples, FL Guide

About

Go for a drive through picture-perfect Naples, and you’ll instantly understand why it’s part of Florida’s “Paradise Coast.” A place where stylish city living meets the sea, just steps from the wild Florida Everglades, quiet Naples is an oasis of serenity for millionaires, wealthy snowbirds, and retirees. Less than 14 square miles in size, this sunny Gulf Coast gem is known for its beautiful sunsets, manicured streets, idyllic pier, pristine golf courses, jaw-dropping mansions, stylish shopping, and friendly, welcoming feel. Ask anyone who’s been there, and they’ll tell you: Naples is simply a dream.

As of writing this guide, Naples has a population of 19,000+ residents. This part of South Florida is less diverse than the state’s larger cities, with a demographic that is 87% White, 4% Latino or Hispanic, and 1% Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI).

Naples’ climate is generally mild, with temperatures averaging at a low of 53 °F in January and a high of 93 °F in July and August. When it’s nice out, you can find the locals sunbathing on the beach, out on their boats, eating lunch with friends outdoors, or going for a stroll in colorful downtown Naples. Like all of South Florida, Naples can be impacted by hurricane season, which runs from June 1st to November 30th. But even when it isn’t hurricane season, Florida weather tends to be unpredictable, so it’s always good to have an umbrella or a raincoat nearby.

Naples is the most cosmopolitan city in Collier County — and a wealthy one at that — with real estate priced to match. Housing in Naples runs the gamut from single-family homes and apartment communities to highrise downtown condominiums and sprawling suburbs with multi-million dollar waterfront mansions. Historic Old Naples is home to some of the most expensive and luxurious homes in the US — it even has its own “Millionaires Row” — all just steps from the sand, high-end shopping, restaurants, and more. Nearby, Port Royal is famous for its custom-made mansions right on the Intercoastal Waterway, with a ritzy members-only club and well-traveled residents from all over the world.

Getting Around

When you live in Naples, it’s important to have a car. While historic Old Naples is pedestrian-friendly — sidewalks are lined with trendy restaurants, bars, and boutique shopping — most of Naples is way too spread out to get around by foot. Rideshare, taxi, and car services are available, but in quiet Naples, you can’t necessarily guarantee a late-night Uber or Lyft like you might in a bigger city. Fortunately, Naples caters to the driving lifestyle, with citywide public parking and valet services at many hotels and restaurants. When driving to popular beaches or during rush hour, expect to sit in traffic. Outside of Old Naples, Naples is predominantly residential, with sprawling suburbs and gated neighborhood communities that residents can walk or bike through.

With its beautiful weather and slow, easy lifestyle, Naples is a great city for cyclists. Along with having 30 miles of bike lanes, bike racks on every Collier Area Transit (CAT) bus, and bike-friendly roads, the city is in the process of adding 20-foot long, environmentally-friendly thermoplastic bike lane panels to keep cyclists safe.

For those who prefer public transportation, Collier Area Transit (CAT) offers a local bus system that takes commuters to prominent locations throughout Collier County, including Naples. These buses run seven days a week, with affordable fares. Greyhound buses also offer routes to Naples and can take travelers to and from anywhere in the U.S.

If you’re flying in and out of Naples, the closest airport is Southwest Florida International Airport. With the Gulf of Mexico and Intercoastal Waterway right there, boating is also a great way to get around Paradise Coast. In Naples Bay, there’s even a public dock with first-come, first-served slips that can accommodate a variety of boats.

Food & Drink

Naples might be small, but its food scene is mighty. This seaside “sleepy” town is packed with everything from casual cafés and retro-style diners to fine dining restaurants with a sunset view you won’t forget. It’s no surprise that seafood takes center stage here, especially when you consider that Everglades City, less than an hour south of Naples, started the stone crab industry. (Today, it’s still the second-largest supplier of stone crab claws in America.) The dining scene in Naples is relaxed but cool, with charming outdoor dining and effortlessly stylish residents.

When it comes to restaurants in Naples, you’ll get to taste the flavors of the world. There’s a strong Italian restaurant presence here, starting with Osteria Tulia, where Sicilian-born Chef Vincenzo whips up his own version of simple Tuscan recipes from his childhood in a “rustic-chic farmhouse.” The upscale Campiello, which occupies the historic Naples Mercantile Building, boasts award-winning, Italian-inspired cuisine like arancini with tomato risotto and basil, a wood-fired fennel-sausage pizza, and a monthly-changing “Tour di Italia” menu with regional specialties. Get delicious French fare at The French Brasserie Rustique (or “The French,” as the locals call it), Naples’ take on a Parisian bistro, like seared foie gras, fried squash blossoms, duck confit with an autumn heirloom bean cassoulet, and a butterscotch crème brûlée. Complete your world tour at 21 Spices By Chef Asif, a modern Indian restaurant with plates with tandoori salmon, spicy Sikandari lamb shank, and Mazedaar samosas.

For a light breakfast or lunch in Naples, Jane’s Cafe on 3rd has a menu of omelets, benedicts, soups, salads, and sandwiches in a fairytale-like courtyard. Follow with dinner at BALEEN, at La Playa Beach & Golf Resort, where you can pair delicious coastal cuisine with the magical sunset views Naples is known for. For a real treat, book a table in the sand and enjoy Maine lobster bucatini with bacon lardons, Black grouper with crab and a charred corn truffle risotto cake, or a tropical ceviche with fresh-caught local fish and mango by torchlight. When you’re done, grab a glass of red wine and find a seat by the firepit on the beach.

You’ll find a mix of specialty food and grocery stores in Naples. Mainstream options like Publix, The Fresh Market, and Whole Foods have all your food staples. Go to Italian gourmet markets, like DeRomo’s Gourmet Market and Neapolitan Gourmet, for imported meats and cheeses, or hop over to Norman Love Confections for its delectable chocolates that look like works of art. Naples also has a handful of weekend farmer’s markets that sell fresh, local produce, like the Third Street South Farmers Market on Saturday mornings and the South Collier Farmers Market on Sunday mornings.

Shopping

There’s excellent shopping in Naples, from upscale consignment shops and trendy Fifth Avenue South clothing boutiques to both luxury and outlet malls. Naples has a traditional indoor mall, the Coastland Center, which is anchored by Dillards, JCPenney, and Macy’s and has many of today’s popular retail brands. Given its beautiful surroundings, Naples also has a handful of outdoor malls. The Waterside Shops is an open-air mall with more than 60 luxury retailers like Hermes, Lilly Pulitzer, and Louis Vuitton. The Village Shops on Venetian Bay is another outdoor mall with over 45 retailers, from Tommy Bahama to a unique gift shop called A Horse of a Different Color, and architecture designed to make you feel like you’re shopping along the canals of Venice. Mercado, on the other hand, is a mall that might as well be its own city — it has shopping, restaurants, a movie theater, nightlife, and even outdoor events. Finally, the Paradise Coast has great outlet shopping, so head to Miromar Outlets and Naples Coastal Shoppes and find your favorite brands at up to 70% off.

The heart of trendy Naples is Fifth Avenue South, with its restaurants spilling out onto the sidewalk, palm-lined avenues, walkable sidewalks, and beautiful architecture. Stroll down and around this stylish thoroughfare and pop in and out of its clothing and gift boutiques, home design stores, and art galleries. Just steps away, Third Street South has just as much trend, but a more relaxed vibe. Go here for casual surf shops, fashion boutiques, fun jewelry stores, and the Third Street Farmers Market. If you’re a thrift store junkie, you’ll love the “Trail of Treasures.” This stretch of 10th Street, between Fifth Avenue South and Second Avenue South, is filled with luxury secondhand shops and antique stores with significantly reduced-price designer goods that are almost as good as new.

Things to Do

Naples isn’t all about the beach. Visit Naples Art, located downtown, to see rotating art exhibits and galleries or attend art classes, workshops, and annual art festivals. Fine art galleries are dotted along Third Street South, Fifth Avenue South, and Crayton Cove. Separately, a half-mile enclave called the Naples Art District is packed with artist studios for painters, sculptors, jewelers, photographers, and design showrooms. Twice a month, during Art Alive!, art lovers can meet these 80+ artists, learn from them, and commission their work. Catch a range of music, film, dance, and comedy shows at Artis — Naples, from Jay Leno and ballet performances to Broadway tours and the Naples Philharmonic, which is in residence there. Art buffs will love The Baker Museum and its rotating exhibits of fine, modern, and contemporary art. Head to Sugden Theater to see live performances by The Naples Players, a professional theater company that puts on musicals, adult and children’s theater, and more. Follow your art exploration with a little history when you visit The Collier County Museum, which peers into the prehistoric days of the Paradise Coast, or go on a guided walking tour of the Old Naples Historic District.

In charming Naples, you’ll definitely want to get outdoors. The beaches here couldn’t get more perfect — their soft white sand, pearlescent seashells, and aquamarine waters beckon visitors to sunbathe, swim, play watersports, or toast to the sunset by the iconic Naples Pier. Lowdermilk Park public beach is a popular place for a pick up game of beach volleyball, while Keewaydin Island has the only dog-friendly public beach in the area—as well as “food boats” that sail to the eight-mile-long barrier island with food, drinks, and sweets for sale. The Naples Zoo gives adults and children an up-close look at exotic animals, while the 170-acre Naples Botanical Garden offers a tropical escape complete with exotic plants, coral limestone fixtures, colorful orchids, lush greenery, and more.

Adventure lovers can go off the beaten path in Naples, too. At Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, you can hop on a guided ranger tour and explore sand dunes, mangroves, and the Cocohatchee River. Barefoot Beach Preserve County Park is an undeveloped barrier island known for its throngs of gopher tortoises, and Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is home to wildlife like alligators, otters, birds, and white-tailed deer, as well as landscapes like pine flatwoods, wet prairies, and the continent’s largest old growth Bald Cypress forest. Take a deep dive into the destination’s sea life, both literally and figuratively, as you check out the dolphins, manatees, stingrays, and more swimming around the deserted islands in Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Finally, for those who really love animals, visit the wildlife hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, where trained professionals treat injured, sick, and orphaned Florida animals like turtles, pelicans, and bobcats.

Colleges & Universities

With its Gulf Coast location, white sand beaches, tasty restaurants, and picture-perfect streets, Naples is an attractive place for students to spend their college years. Collier County is home to Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida SouthWestern State College, and Hodges University.