Naples is one of the oldest urban centers in the world, dating back into the 6th century BC. Over time and throughout the kingdoms that have ruled the city, Naples has grown to become the present-day historical center of Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city remains one of the largest urban economic centers in Italy and is today the commercial and tourism hub of the region.
Naples is home to some of the world's renowned historic beautiful spots like the scenic Vesuvius, the attractively positioned Nisida islet, the Phlegraean Fields with a series of craters and volcanic edifices, and the ever-inviting Posilipo quarters. The Neapolitan cuisine, equivalent to New York's pizza, has its roots in Naples and is one of the best dishes in the city.
Some of the stunning tourist spots in Naples include the medieval Castle Nuovo, the massive Royal Palace of Naples, and the iconic seaside Egg Castle. There are numerous churches in Naples, including the famous Naples Cathedral and the Church of Gesu Nuovo, among others. The National Archaeological Museum in Naples is one of the many museums that have preserved the history and cultural development of the city.
Outdoors encompass numerous water activities in the beautiful blue waters and fine, white sandy beaches, golf course games, dolphin watching, a visit to the vast Naples Zoo, and a walk through the exotic Naples Botanical Garden.
Naples experiences a little bit of the Mediterranean climate of Köppen classification Csa and partly a humid subtropical climate of Köppen classification Cfa. This is because Naples has so far registered only one summer with less than 1.2" (30.5mm) in precipitation, and as such, cannot be considered fully Mediterranean or fully humid subtropical. Generally, the weather is characterized by mildly cold and tolerable winters with moderate precipitation and warm to hot, moderately dry summers. Spring and autumn act as transitional seasons, and are mildly cool and pleasant.
Winter begins in
December and extends through
February, and is generally cold and moderately wet, but very tolerable. The season experiences low temperatures in the range of 55.6°F (13.1°C) and 57.7°F (14.3°C) during the day and 40.1°F (4.5°C) and 42.6°F (5.9°C) during the night. The weather might feel a lot warmer than registered because of the maritime features that significantly moderate the winters. Additionally, the days receive up to three and a half sunshine hours per day.
Most of the rainfall in Naples is received in winter. The wettest month of the year falls in
November when the rain gauge collects up to 6.4" (162.6mm) in precipitation from approximately eleven rainfall days. The rainiest month in winter is December, with 4.8" (121.9mm) in precipitation and eleven rainfall days on average.
Summer remains warm to hot, with highs of 88°F (31.1°C) and lows of 70.3°F (21.3°C). Rainfall barely goes above 1.6" (40.6mm), and there are only four rainfall days per month on average. Most days are pleasant, with up to nine and a half sunshine hours.
Naples is an all-year-round travel destination, characteristic of its warm weather throughout. The peak of the travel season comes between December and
May. This is right after the extreme summer scorch and the hazardous hurricane season die off, leaving an excellent time to tour the city and indulge in numerous outdoor activities.