6 Extraordinary Things to do in Naples, Italy With a Toddler for a Unique Experience

My partner, toddler, and I traveled around Italy during the summer of 2024 and experienced many amazing sites and cities! One that we stayed in for a while was Naples. While this beautiful and must-visit tourist destination offers much to see, we didn’t find it kid-friendly.

Since I am the oldest sibling in my family and now a mom, I have vast experience traveling with kids. I typically live under the belief that kids can travel anywhere because they are easily entertained, but we struggled a little bit in Naples to find places my two-year old was interested in.

Naples is still an exciting city to visit, so I wanted to share some places your kids will enjoy. But first, I wanted to tell you what to expect and how to manage with a toddler!

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6 Extraordinary Things to Do in Naples, Italy With a Toddler

Let’s dive into some places to add to your itinerary that will keep your toddler and you entertained in Naples!

What to Expect

Traveling to a different country or city is fun and exciting! Knowing what to expect before you go can be so helpful in adapting easily. Things like cobblestone streets, and how to navigate public transportation are good to know so you can prepare and have a smooth visit.

Hilly Terrain

The winding roads and cobblestone steps that make up Naples’ beautiful city views can present a challenge with a toddler. The cobblestone sidewalk does not make pushing a stroller or dragging a suitcase easy. Not to mention the stairs that can only be avoided if you take the long way to get somewhere.

You end up carrying your child more often than not. Instead of a stroller, we used a hip seat to assist in carrying our two-year-old around when she got tired of walking.

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Limited Play Areas

If you’re from the U.S. like us, your probably used to playgrounds around every corner. Despite numerous searches, I could only find one playground, which was under construction and has reportedly been that way for years.

There is still plenty to do and see in Naples without a playground. There are many green spaces where you can let your toddler run around in to burn off some energy if needed.

Litter is Common

Even in the more picturesque areas, litter and cigarette butts are everywhere. If you’re from the U.S. like me this can be a little shocking. Especially because in the U.S. litter and graffiti can be a sign of an run down, not so safe area.

This is not the case in most European cities. It’s important to note that systems and policies are just different and litter and graffiti does not mean anything against the area like it would in the U.S.

Naples is still a beautiful city and generally safe to explore.

Public Transportation

Buses didn’t seem to follow any schedule I could find and taking the metro anywhere was more time-consuming. Due to the buses, we almost missed our tour to Capri.

One day, we waited at a bus stop for an hour and a half! If you have a toddler, you understand how taxing this is on the toddler and you.

Keep snacks and small toys on hand to distract your toddler when waiting for transportation.

Using Google Maps was somewhat helpful but not up to date for when buses were scheduled or where they stopped. Pay close attention to the buses listed at each stop and if your destination is listed and use the official Naples Transportation Website.

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Naples Kid-Friendly Spots:

As promised, here’s a list of places to take your kids that they will enjoy and get a chance to run out some energy.

Mappatella Beach

Despite the litter, this beach provides a fun spot to play and relax. Just be aware that the fine sand tends to get everywhere and doesn’t wash off easily in the water. Mappatella Beach is conveniently located at the beach walk near the aquarium and cafes!

Acquario di Napoli

This small, historic aquarium is a charming place to spend about an hour exploring aquatic life.

Founded in 1874, Acquario di Napoli is a cool place to see not only for the aquatic life but for the old aquarium tanks and aquarium building architecture. I was an aquarist for about 10 years so maybe this is only exciting to me?

Castles

There are many castles around the city to visit and explore. We found hanging out on the roof of a castle after a tour was a great place to let our toddler run around and burn off some energy!

Castle rooftops are spacious and have beautiful city views so it’s the perfect spot for you and your toddler.

Castle Nuovo offers a great guided tour and historical facts.

Castle Sant’Elmo has breathtaking views of the city.

The Royal Palace of Naples, beautifully restored, showcases the royal apartments and rich history. 

Edenlandia

Enjoy a day at Europe’s first amusement park that opened in 1965 and has many kid-friendly rides and restaurants!

Capri Island

Capri Island is an easy day tour from Naples. I highly recommend this experience with your child of any age.

If you are lucky enough to see the Blue Grotto it is amazing and your child will not forget the unique experience!

Our toddler enjoyed the ferry boat ride there, the small fishing boat to see the Blue Grotto, and the chair lift up the mountain. 

Click Here to Book a Capri Island Tour!

Pompeii

Spend a day or two roaming around these vast historic ruins and surrounding sites. This archaeology site is also one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Our toddler didn’t fully understand the significance of the ruins but really enjoyed roaming the streets and exploring the ancient city.

Don’t forget to bring a large water bottle, sunscreen, and a hat or parasol. The sun is unforgiving and the ruins offer very little shade.

Click here to book a Pompeii tour!

Let’s Recap: 6 Things to Do in Naples With a Toddler

If you’re planning a trip to Naples with your little one, consider keeping the trip short and focusing on specific landmarks you want to see.

Staying in the touristy areas may make for a better experience with more sites and museums being within walking distance and cutting down the need for public transportation. Also, if you plan on doing any day tours, many meeting points will be in Centro Storico.

Happy travels!

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