So, you’re thinking about visiting Naples, huh? Good call. It’s chaotic, grungy, loud in all the right ways—and easily the most wallet-friendly big city in Italy. Unlike bougie Milan or tourist-swarmed Rome, Naples isn’t pretending to be anything it’s not. You want €1 espresso? Done. You want the pizza that literally started it all for under a tenner? Boom. Naples will feed you like an Italian grandma and charge you like a broke student.
Grab that beat-up backpack and get ready to explore Naples without going broke. Here’s how to pull off a legendary trip on a shoestring budget—with messy marinara sauce on your face and absolutely no regrets.
Eat a timeless pizza margherita for less than €10
I mean, you can’t come to Naples and not eat the OG pizza. The pizza margherita is sacred here—just tomato, mozz, basil, and that perfect blistered crust born in a wood-fired oven. Head to legendary spots like L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele where the menu is basically: margherita or marinara. I legit cried into my pizza the first time—okay maybe it was the jet lag, but still.
Pro tip: If someone tries to charge you over €9 for a margherita, walk away dramatically like you’re in an Italian soap opera.
Take the bus from the airport
Skip the cabs at Aeroporto di Capodichino unless you want your first memory of Naples to be a financial gut-punch. Hop on the Alibus for just €5 and it’ll drop you off at Napoli Centrale or the ferry terminal. One time I fell asleep on this thing and woke up thinking I was in a different city—turns out, just took the long route.
Buy your ticket online to avoid fumbling with change and holding up the line like a total tourist.
Save on museums and get free transportation with Campania Arte Card
Wanna see 10 museums and ride the metro for less than the cost of one fancy cocktail in Paris? Enter: Campania Arte Card. If you’re between 18 and 25, grab the youth version for €16. Over 25? Still dirt cheap at €27 for museum access plus free transport for 72 hours.
I once used this to hit Pompeii, Herculaneum, and still had time to chill in the Museo di Capodimonte. Felt like a cultured budget queen.
Have breakfast at a coffee shop instead of your hotel
Hotels in Naples will happily charge you €10 for a sad croissant and machine-made coffee. Instead, hit up a local coffee bar where you’ll get a proper espresso for €1 and a flaky, cream-filled sfogliatella or cornetto for €1.50. Try Caffè Gambrinus if you’re feelin’ fancy, but honestly, the random spot next to your Airbnb is probably fire too.
Pro tip: Drink your espresso at the counter like the locals. Sit down and you’ll get smacked with a service fee faster than you can say “mamma mia.”
Eat a handful of traditional street food for less than €5
Naples is the land of fried everything, and I am HERE for it. Street food isn’t just cheap—it’s part of the culture. Snag a cone of golden goodies from Friggitoria Vomero (yes it’s been around since 1938), where €5 gets you a mix of arancini, fried veggies, and a mini pizza that may change your life.
I dropped an entire cuoppo down my shirt once while trying to eat and walk—worth it. Honestly tasted better that way.
Picnic in a historic park
Grab your fried loot and head to Real Bosco di Capodimonte or Villa Floridiana to chill like a Neapolitan. These places are free, green, and often smell faintly of pine and espresso. Perfect for people-watching or pretending you’re in a Fellini film.
My friend once napped under a statue here for two hours and woke up to a stray cat sitting on his stomach. #OnlyInNaples
Cut unnecessary transportation costs
Don’t fall for the “it’s too far” myth—Naples is crazy walkable. The historic center is compact and full of winding alleys, old churches, and secret bakeries. I once walked from Via dei Tribunali to the Spanish Quarter in flip-flops—don’t recommend the shoes, but I saw more cool stuff on foot than on any tour.
Need to go uphill to Vomero? Ride the funicular. It’s a mini rollercoaster for €1.30.
Get a daily transportation pass
If you’re planning to hop around a lot (like up to Vomero, then over to Bagnoli for sunset), snag a daily transit pass for €4.50. That’s unlimited metro, buses, trams, and funiculars for 24 hours. Download the ANM Go app and just flash your QR code like a local pro.
I used mine to chase down every bakery in a 3-mile radius. No regrets. Lots of carbs.
Enter museums for free on first Sundays
Plot twist: Every first Sunday of the month, museums in Naples are FREE. That means free entry to the glorious Museo Archeologico Nazionale (hello, ancient Roman statues), and the jaw-dropping Museo di Capodimonte. Also nearby sites like Pompeii and Campi Flegrei? Yep—free.
The line can be long, so bring snacks and stand your ground. I made a friend in line last time who insisted we grab a spritz after. We’re still in touch.
Find local trattorias with set menus
There’s something divine about finding a hole-in-the-wall trattoria that feeds you like you’re family. Head to Sottocoperta near the port or La Cucina di Elvira in Vomero for full-on seafood or meat meals for €15–20. Like, three courses, bread, wine, the whole shebang.
Last time I went, I had no idea what I ordered. The chef just pointed to the stove and said “Questo è buono.” And it WAS. Whatever it was.
Sunbathe at a spiaggia libera (free beach)
You’re in the land of sun, sea, and Pavarotti ballads—don’t even think about skipping the beach. Head to Marechiaro, a tiny fishing port in Posillipo, for jaw-dropping views of Mount Vesuvius. Yeah, you’ll be laying on rocks, but you’ll feel like you’re in a 1960s Italian film.
For easier access, hit Spiaggia Colonna Spezzata near Castel dell’Ovo—bonus points for castle selfies. Want more space and fewer tourists? Bagnoli is your place.
Daily Costs (approx.)
- Hostel bed: from €35
- City center hotel room: €70
- Metro pass (unlimited): €4.50
- Espresso: €1
- Margherita pizza: €6
- Aperol Spritz: €4
So yeah, Naples is wild. Raw. Beautiful. And it doesn’t care if your bank account is sad. Just come hungry, bring comfy shoes, and prepare to fall in love with this loud, gritty, sauce-covered city. You’ll leave with full stomachs, full memories—and if you do it right, a wallet that’s still kind of full too.
Ciao bella, and enjoy Naples on a budget like a true street-smart traveler.
