Hello, my name is Danish and I am a full-time SEO (Search Engine Optimization) specialist and a part-time traveler.
In this guide, I will tell you about the 11 best things to do in Naples and North Naples. Last month, I went to visit this beautiful city with my wife, and we were both very impressed and happy with our two-day trip.
Now, without further ado, let’s start exploring Naples!
Day One: Naples
1. Start Your Morning at Loudermilk Park Beach
There’s no shortage of beaches in Naples, but Loudermilk Park is a great place to start. It’s located about three miles north of downtown. The sand here is white and soft, though not as fine as on Siesta Key or Clearwater. But its beautiful color more than makes up for that. On a clear January morning, the sea was a deep turquoise, looking even more beautiful than real.
The southern part of the park gets more people because it’s close to the parking lot and easy to reach. But if you walk just a few hundred yards north, the beach opens up and there are very few people. That’s where I spent my morning.
The parking fee is currently about $2.50 per hour. You can pay with quarters, credit card, or the pay-by-phone app. Some people say the app also has a $10-per-day option, so it’s best to check before you go. But remember one thing: Get there early, because the Main Lot is almost full by noon.
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2. Grab Lunch at the Old Naples Pub
Downtown Naples feels as if it were designed specifically to look beautiful and expensive. The streets are very clean, the homes are magnificent, and most of the restaurants are quite upscale. This place feels a step above the other affluent cities on the Gulf Coast.
But amid this beautiful setting, at 255 13th Avenue South, there’s the Old Naples Pub, which is the perfect spot for those who want good food without spending a lot of money.
Each table is set with a jar of free pickles. The pub calls itself a “pickle pub,” and pickles really are the specialty here. The garlic pickles in particular are definitely worth trying. Beyond that, the menu features traditional pub fare like burgers, fish and chips, salads, sandwiches, and daily specials.
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On average, it costs about $30 per person, which is considered quite reasonable for Downtown Naples. The Port Royal patty melt, served on toasted marble rye, is very delicious. Meanwhile, the lobster bisque, which is part of the BLT soup and sandwich combo, turned out to be the most delicious dish for us.
The outdoor terrace is covered in living vines and greenery, giving the entire space a very peaceful and natural atmosphere. This is what makes it different and memorable compared to the expensive spots nearby.
Note: Old Naples Pub does not take reservations. It’s a walk-in-only restaurant, meaning tables are given to those who arrive first. If you have to wait, they’ll send you a text message when your table is ready, so you can explore the surrounding area in the meantime.
The pub is open seven days a week: Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM, and on Sunday from 12 PM to 9 PM.
3. Spend the Afternoon at Naples Botanical Garden
When people hear the $25 adult admission fee, they often hesitate. We did too. But the Naples Botanical Garden truly delivers on its price—and then some. Tickets for children ages 4 to 17 are $10, while admission is free for children 3 and under. The garden is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Spanning 170 acres, this garden comprises four distinct tropical regions: Asian, Caribbean, Brazilian, and Florida. Each section looks completely different from the others and has its own unique atmosphere.
What surprised us the most was the live music. During our visit, a flamenco duo was performing near the Water Garden. The scene was incredibly beautiful, with lush greenery, tranquil water, and the soft afternoon light. It was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen to listen to live music.
The most unique plant for both of us was the Saba Tree, which came from Brazil and looks like something out of a science fiction movie. Its trunk is a glossy green color and it’s covered in sharp brown thorns. It really seems as if it’s not a plant from this world.
The Asian Garden was my favorite section, especially a pagoda surrounded by beautiful water features and stone statues.
There are QR codes placed at various spots in the garden that you can scan to watch videos about specific plants and areas. There’s also a number you can text to ask questions.
The Fogg Café inside the garden offers good food and drink options if you want to grab something without going outside.
Be sure to allow at least two hours to explore, and if you want to fully see the entire 170 acres, you’ll need even more time.
4. Catch Sunset at the Historic Naples Pier
Naples Pier is one of the most photographed spots on the Gulf Coast. In September 2022, Hurricane Ian caused severe damage to it. A $23.5 million project to fully rebuild it is underway and is expected to be completed by early 2026. In January 2026, an official groundbreaking ceremony for its reconstruction was held, and the project is expected to be completed by mid-2027.
Currently, it’s not possible to walk on the pier, but the beach around it is just as beautiful as you’ve seen in pictures.
We arrived a little before 6 PM, as the sun was setting toward the Gulf. The beach here is a bit more crowded than Loudermilk Park, but you can still easily find a spot.
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One special thing about this beach is that there are rows of coconut palms along the shore. Compared to the beaches of Tampa or St. Pete, this scene feels more tropical. The climate in this area stays quite warm year-round, which allows these trees to thrive and gives the whole area a beautiful tropical look.
Sunset over the Gulf are always breathtaking. No matter how many times you’ve seen them, their beauty never fades.
5. Post-Sunset Treat at Tin City — Monkey Buns
Tin City’s history dates back to the 1920s, when its tin-roofed buildings were Naples’s main commercial and transportation hub. Today, those same buildings line the waterfront, housing over 30 boutiques, restaurants, and shops. The old Florida charm and style of this place are still intact.
We came specifically for the Monkey Buns, which are the bakery’s specialty for making monkey bread. Surprisingly, I had never seen monkey bread on a menu anywhere else in Florida before.
The bakery also offers coffee, smoothies, and other sweet treats, but the real specialty is the Monkey Bread. We ordered the Blueberry Pie flavor and the Pecan Pie flavor. Both were delicious.
If I had to choose one, I would slightly prefer the Pecan Pie version.
6. End the Night at Harold’s Place
After spending the whole day wandering around and shopping in Naples, heading to Harold’s Place at the end of the evening felt like a delightful relief. This Tiki Bar is located behind the Gulf Coast Inn at 2555 Tamiami Trail North. The atmosphere here is very relaxed and the prices are surprisingly reasonable, which is a big deal in a city like Naples, where even a simple salad can easily cost $20.
The menu includes burgers, sandwiches, baskets, wings, and peel-and-eat shrimp, all at prices that won’t break the bank. Recent visitors often praise the generous portions and good value.
The salad here is loaded with bacon and blue cheese and is quite generous in size. The Southwest chicken sandwich is also very tasty. Meanwhile, frozen cocktails—especially during Happy Hour—come in large sizes and are the kind of drinks that wash away the day’s fatigue.
Harold’s Place is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Every Sunday there’s also a karaoke night.
It’s one of those tiki bars with a solid regular crowd, and once you visit, it’s not hard to see why people love it so much.
Day Two: North Naples
1. Breakfast and Coffee at Seed to Table
On a viewer’s recommendation, we went to Seed to Table, and it turned out to be one of the best suggestions of the entire trip. It’s a 75,000-square-foot market, and everything here is done on a large scale.
The coffee shop here offers all the popular drinks, including lattes, cappuccinos, espresso, and various iced beverages, all prepared to perfection. We tried the Samoa Latte and the White Macadamia Nut Cappuccino, and both were rich and delicious.
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But the real surprise wasn’t just the coffee—it was everything else. There are six made-to-order food stations, a full beer bar, a large wine selection, and seafood and meat counters where you can have what you buy cooked on the spot.
On the second floor there’s a sports bar with a stage where local bands regularly give live performances.
The breakfast here was one of the highlights of our entire trip. The Salmon Avocado Toast was as beautiful as it was delicious. Meanwhile, the Asparagus and Chorizo Omelette with bacon was one of the best omelets we’ve ever had.
If you go to Seed to Table, be sure to set aside at least an hour, because you lose track of time exploring the different sections.
2. Visit the Bird Gardens of Naples
This garden is home to about 200 birds, including parrots, macaws, cockatoos, peacocks, emus, and many others. Most of them were once someone’s pet, but their owners were later unable to care for them. If a bird can find a new home, the staff finds a suitable family for it; otherwise, the bird spends the rest of its life in the garden.
The garden’s owner personally leads the tour, introducing each bird and sharing its unique story, which makes the experience even more interesting.
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Tours start promptly at 11:00 AM daily from Wednesday through Sunday, and participation is by appointment only. Bookings can be made on their website, thebirdgardensofnaples.org.
Be sure to bring unsalted almonds (not peanuts). Most of the birds will eat the almonds straight from your hand, and some even go further by dancing, whistling, or performing various tricks on command.
In particular, an African Gray Parrot named Richard had such an engaging personality that he became the center of attention for the entire garden. On the other hand, there was a very large emu, but its interest was in just one thing: somehow getting its hands on the whole bag of almonds at once!
Since the tour is free, spots fill up very quickly. The garden runs entirely on volunteers and donations, so if you visit, please give what you can.
3. Walk the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
At Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, there is a 2.25-mile boardwalk trail that takes you through six different natural habitats. On a single walk, you can see Pond Cypress, Lettuce Lakes, Central Marsh, Bald Cypress Forest, Wet Prairie, and Pine Flatwood.
Some of the Bald Cypress trees here are 500 to 600 years old. Standing among these majestic trees makes you feel very small and appreciate the grandeur of nature.
Admission is $17 for adults and $6 for children ages 6 to 14, while children 5 and under are admitted free.
The sanctuary is open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. However, from December 16 to April 30, last admission is at 3:00 PM, while for the rest of the year it’s at 1:00 PM. Many people overlook this time restriction, so plan your visit accordingly.
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Park staff regularly patrol the trail and help visitors spot various animals and birds. If a staff member hadn’t pointed them out to us, we wouldn’t have seen many of the birds.
Along the way, we also saw a small alligator resting on a log about halfway through. There was an interesting sign near the entrance that read:
“If you encounter an alligator, enjoy the moment.”
And indeed, it’s good advice.
If you go there, be sure to bring binoculars. Many visitors use them, and it seemed to us that they were spotting birds that were completely hidden from our view.
4. Hike the Alligator Trail at the Second Park
Just one mile from Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, there’s another trail. Admission is completely free, it stays open until sunset, and its atmosphere is entirely different from the sanctuary.
The special thing about this trail is that it takes you very close to the swamp. The boardwalk is built just a few inches above the water, so you feel like you’re inside the natural environment, not looking down on it from above.
The trail is 12 miles long in total, and bikes are also allowed. In fact, a bicycle might be the best way to see the entire trail. We walked about two miles on foot and saw several alligators along the way, including a large one resting just a few feet off the path.
5. Dinner at Taqueria Jalisco
After a long hike, we needed a place where the food was hot, simple, and satisfying. Taqueria Jalisco, located at 4075 Pine Ridge Road, turned out to be exactly that.
Its menu isn’t very large, which often signals that the kitchen focuses on a few items and executes them to perfection. That proved true here as well.
The chips were thick and nicely crispy, while the guacamole was the standout among everything on the table. In fact, it was one of the best guacamoles I’ve ever had.
The Shrimp Tostada and Beef Burrito were both excellent, but the real specialty of the place is its homemade salsas. They have depth of flavor and a pleasant heat, but the taste isn’t limited to just chili.
The freshly made cantaloupe juice was also outstanding. After spending several hours in the Florida sun, it proved to be the perfect non-alcoholic drink, both refreshing and delicious.
Where to Stay in Naples
Accommodations in Naples are generally quite expensive, especially on weekends during peak season. For most hotels and rentals, you should expect to spend at least $300 per night or more.
Properties near downtown and the beach often run $600 to $1,000 per night.
If you’re looking for relatively affordable accommodations, East Naples can be a good choice. It’s about a 10-minute drive from the beach and offers plenty of convenience.
We chose a recently renovated two-bedroom Airbnb that featured an outdoor courtyard, fire pit, grill, and canal views. It was a comfortable, nice place that proved perfect for our style and pace of travel.
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