Why Vomero is a great place to stay in Naples (and one of the city’s hidden gems)

Perched on a hill overlooking the Bay of Naples, Vomero is a joy. It’s chic yet fun, lively but not touristy. Vomero strikes the balance between that authentic, intoxicating vibrancy of Naples with relative calm and elegance. All of this with some of the best views the city has to offer, and in easy reach of the city’s main sights. 

Here are five reasons why Vomero is a great place to base yourself in the city, the top things to do there, as well as some tips about staying in the area. Towards the bottom of the blog I also outline where to stay in Vomero.

1. Why you should stay in Vomero
2. Where to stay in Vomero, Naples

Why you should stay in Vomero

1. The best views in Naples

As a hilltop neighbourhood, Vomero boasts some of Naples’ most breathtaking views. From various vantage points, you can admire the whole bay, across to Vesuvius and the Sorrento peninsula. Two spots with the best vistas are also Vomero’s two main attractions:

Castel Sant’Elmo: A monumental medieval fortress. The 5 euro entry fee is well worth it for the views across the city, the cool walk through the castle, and the attached modern art gallery focused on Neapolitan art.

Certosa e Museo di San Martino: A Carthusian monastery which is now a museum, where you’ll find pictures depicting the history of Naples as well as sweeping views across the city. 

For free views head to Belvedere Villa Floridiana, Vomero’s green lung with panoramic views and a turtle pond.

2. Great bars, cafes and restaurants

Vomero is a popular area for Neapolitans of all ages to spend an evening because of its vibrant bar, coffee and restaurant scene. If you’re staying in the area, some of the city’s best bars will be on your doorstep. Our favourites were…

For coffee in Vomero: Ventimetriquadri
A small, cosy cafe with some of the best coffee that Naples has to offer. It has won several awards

For dinner in Vomero: Fiaschetteria Agricola
A pretty new restaurant at the time of writing that’s already developing a reputation. It gave us some of the best pasta we had in Naples.

For drinks in Vomero: 
So many choices. Here are a few.

• The Penny Black Pub: Vomero is famous for its British style pubs. Penny Black is one of the most popular.
• Fonoteca: An uber-cool record store meets cocktail bar, seconds from the funicular.
• Barrio Botanico: Elegant cocktails in a garden setting, tucked away in a courtyard. 

3. It feels safe, friendly and buzzy

One of the main worries you hear about Naples is safety. Generally, we found everywhere in the city felt completely safe, and we had no issues.

For concerned travellers though, Vomero is a great place to stay. It’s a relaxed neighbourhood known to be one of the safest places to stay in the city. It definitely helped us get into the swing of the city a bit more knowing that we had Vomero to go back to.

This doesn’t mean it’s boring, though. I’ve already mentioned its bar and restaurant scene, and Vomero is also one of Naples’ most popular shopping districts (largely for upscale shops). This means it’s often buzzing with locals, and has a vibey, friendly atmosphere at both day and night.

4. It’s well located

Though it’s up a hill, seemingly cut off from the historic centre of Naples, Vomero is a great location to base yourself to explore the rest of the city.

Public transport in the city is fast, reliable and cheap, and Vomero is served by multiple furniculars and a metro line. All of them can be paid for using a contactless card – just remember to tap out!

Here’s how to get to Vomero from the centre and Naples’ main transport hubs.

Getting to central Naples from Vomero:

Getting into the Centro Storico from Vomero is easy, and you have three choices. 

Funicolare Centrale will take you down the hill to Via Toledo, the heart of the city and just a few moments from Piazza del Plebiscito.

A second funicular at Morghen, close to Castel Sant’Elmo, will take you down to the metro stop Montesanto, close to the historic centre.

Usually there is a third funicular which will take you to Chiaia – but this was closed when we visited in September 2024.

Finally, the Vanvitelli metro stop in the centre of Vomero is served by Line 1, which stops at most of the city’s key destinations. Journey times to the Archaeological Museum, the Cathedral, the Spanish Quarter and many of the other main destinations are short.

Getting to Napoli Centrale from Vomero:

From Vomero, it’s quick and easy to get to the city’s main train station – a jumping off point for many great day trips. Just take Line One from Vanvitelli, in the centre of Vomero, to Garibaldi. It takes about 20 minutes.

Getting to Naples Airport from Vomero:

Naples’ airport is conveniently close to the city, and it’s easy to get there from Vomero using public transport. Follow the steps above to the train station, and then get the public Alibus to the airport.

5. It’s (slightly) off the tourist trail

While Centro Storico and the Spanish Quarter were bustling with tourists during our visit, Vomero offered relative calm, and a refreshing, local atmosphere.

This isn’t to say there are no tourists there, because there are. But most places cater to locals, and you can feel this in its bars and restaurants. It added a lovely dimension to our trip spending so much time in an area of Naples that, had we stayed elsewhere, we might not have even visited except for a trip to Castel Sant’Elmo. 

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Where to stay in Vomero, Naples

Vomero is one of the most beautiful, desirable and safest parts of the city. This is reflected in the prices of the hotels, which are more expensive than in the old town.

Some of the best, more affordable options are:

• Villa Albina: A modern hotel in a quiet location. Book here
• I Colori di Salvator Rosa: A cosy B&B in an excellent location. Book here
• Casa Malú: A popular B&B in an unbeatable location, close to Vanvitelli Metro. Book here.
• Domus Aurea: A no-frills but well-rated and affordable bed and breakfast. Book here

I’d also recommend Hotel Cimarosa, a stylish and very popular hotel in the heart of Vomero, for a mid-range option. Book here.

For a luxury option, go for MILUAR Luxury B&B (book here).

Explore more options on Booking.com.

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