# Naples waterfront > The Naples waterfront is a long pedestrian promenade along the bay from Castel dell'Ovo to Mergellina harbour. It has the city's famous view: blue sea, Vesuvius on the horizon, Capri in the distance and the villa-dotted Posillipo hill. It's where Neapolitans stroll in the evening, run and bring the children. It's free and open at all hours; the whole walk takes about an hour one way. Web page: https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/naples-waterfront - City: [Naples](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples), Italy - YesGo score: 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - Opening hours: Open 24 hours - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free, open 24 hours - Length: ≈ 3 km from Castel dell'Ovo to Mergellina - Highlights: Vesuvius and Capri views, sunset, swimming - Traffic: Via Caracciolo is pedestrianised - Time needed: About an hour one way - Location: Santa Lucia – Chiaia – Mergellina - Coordinates: 40.83122, 14.22710 - Facts checked: 11.11.2026 ## Key facts - **c. 3 km** — promenade from the castle to Mergellina (source: City map) - **2012** — Via Caracciolo closed to cars (source: Italian Wikipedia) - **Villa Comunale** — the historic park along the seafront (source: Italian Wikipedia) - **Aquarium** — in the park, one of Europe's oldest marine stations (source: Italian Wikipedia) - **Mergellina** — the harbour for boats to the islands (source: Italian Wikipedia) ## About the Naples waterfront Neapolitans simply call it the **lungomare**, 'by the sea'. It's a run of streets along the bay: **Via Partenope** by Castel dell'Ovo, lined with hotels and restaurants; **Via Caracciolo** alongside the **Villa Comunale** park; and the square by **Mergellina** harbour. The whole walk is about three kilometres on a flat path by the water. Since **2012** Via Caracciolo has been closed to cars, making the waterfront one of the city's great public spaces. By day people run and cycle here, in summer they swim straight off the big rocks along the shore, and in the evening families, couples and friends stroll beside the sea. At weekends it's crowded and lively, Naples at its most Neapolitan. ## The view of the bay The view is the main reason to come. To the east the twin peaks of **Vesuvius** rise over the water, the Sorrento peninsula lies opposite, and on clear days **Capri** sits on the horizon. To the west the green hill of **Posillipo** slopes down to the sea in villas and gardens, with the houses of Chiaia behind you. The finest time is **sunset**, when the sun drops behind Posillipo, the water turns pink and Vesuvius catches the last light. Plenty of Neapolitans come down for it with a coffee or a gelato. ## What to see on the waterfront - **Castel dell'Ovo** — the old castle where the walk begins. - **Via Partenope** — hotels and restaurants facing the sea. - **Immacolatella fountain** — an old marble fountain by the water. - **Villa Comunale** — a park of pines, statues and an aquarium. - **Mergellina** — the harbour, pizzerias and boats to the islands. - **Vesuvius and Capri views** — best at sunset. > **How to do it** Start at Castel dell'Ovo towards evening, walk along the sea to Mergellina for sunset, eat pizza by the harbour and take the metro back from Mergellina station. In summer bring swimwear: Neapolitans swim straight off the rocks along the promenade. ## The Villa Comunale and the aquarium Along Via Caracciolo runs the **Villa Comunale**, an 18th-century city park of avenues, pines, palms, fountains and statues. It's shady and cool in summer, with playgrounds and small weekend markets. In the middle stands the **Zoological Station** with its aquarium, one of Europe's oldest marine research institutes. Its small rooms hold creatures of the Bay of Naples, including octopuses, starfish, fish and jellyfish. Children love it, and adults enjoy seeing what lives in the water just off the promenade. ## How to get to the waterfront 1. From [Castel dell'Ovo](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/castel-dell-ovo), the promenade starts right by the castle. 2. From the [Royal Palace](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/royal-palace-naples), 10 minutes down to the sea through Santa Lucia. 3. Metro line 2 to **Mergellina** at the far end. 4. Buses run along the Riviera di Chiaia, parallel to the seafront. ## Mergellina and pizza At the end of the walk is **Mergellina** harbour, full of yachts and fishing boats. Hydrofoils leave here for Ischia, Procida and Capri, and along the quay are drink kiosks and famous Neapolitan pizzerias baking pizza in wood-fired ovens in a couple of minutes. Above Mergellina the **Posillipo** hill begins, with small viewpoints offering an even wider panorama of the bay. If you still have energy, walk or take the funicular up and come back into town after dark. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Start at Castel dell'Ovo towards evening - [ ] Reach Mergellina for sunset - [ ] Look into the Villa Comunale and aquarium - [ ] Have pizza by the harbour - [ ] Pack swimwear in summer ## Views of Naples: compare and choose Viewpoints and seafront spots in Naples rated by YesGo. - [Mount Vesuvius](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/mount-vesuvius) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Paid, timed ticket - [Castel dell'Ovo](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/castel-dell-ovo) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free - [Naples Waterfront](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/naples-waterfront) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free - [Castel Nuovo](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/castel-nuovo) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Courtyard free, museum paid - [Museo di Capodimonte](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/capodimonte) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Museum paid, park free ## An evening by the sea The Royal Palace, Castel dell'Ovo and the walk along the seafront to Mergellina at sunset. 1. [Royal Palace of Naples](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/royal-palace-naples) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Square free, palace paid 2. [Castel dell'Ovo](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/castel-dell-ovo) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free 3. [Naples Waterfront](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/naples-waterfront) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free ## Don't mix it up The Via Caracciolo waterfront is a seaside promenade, not a beach: there are no sunbed beaches here, and people swim off the rocks. For beaches, head to Posillipo or the islands. ## Tips - Free, open around the clock. - Best at sunset. - Pizza in Mergellina. - Metro back from Mergellina. ## Questions ### Where is the waterfront in Naples? Along the bay from Castel dell'Ovo via Via Partenope and Via Caracciolo to Mergellina harbour. ### How long is the Naples lungomare walk? About three kilometres, roughly an hour one way. ### Can you swim on the Naples waterfront? In summer Neapolitans swim off the rocks along Via Caracciolo; there are no proper beaches here. ### When is the best time for the waterfront? Late afternoon and sunset, when the sun sets behind Posillipo. ### What's near the Naples waterfront? Castel dell'Ovo, the Villa Comunale park and aquarium, and Mergellina harbour. ## How we checked Facts from Italian Wikipedia and the city map. The waterfront is free and open at all hours. ## Sources - Italian Wikipedia: Via Francesco Caracciolo and Villa Comunale (Napoli) - City of Naples official site, comune.napoli.it --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.