Naples Leisure

A variety of sport and leisure activities are offered in Naples, and with such a gorgeous bay and coast, water sports and outdoor pursuits are popular.

Football

Napoli is the city’s most glamorous club, playing in Series A, its biggest ever star was Maradonna. You’ll be lucky to get tickets to a match, since the locals are all avid fans and games aren’t played in the summer. Their stadium, Stadio di San Paolo in Fuorigrotta, is worth seeking out in Western Naples if you are serious about Italian football. Locals are likely to get emotional about their 2006 World Champs. Plenty of other teams exist in Naples and you’re bound to find people kicking a ball around – which is a good opener for befriending some Neopolitans.

Cycling

Cycling is another obsession in Italy, with many Italians being firm fixtures in the Tour de France. They also make some pretty good exclusive racing bikes, but on a more down to earth level, you can rent bikes to explore the city at your own leisure, and often they prove to be the best mode of transport in a city like this. If you are fit and more adventurous, you can go much farther afield along the coast and out beyond the reaches of the bay, even following the spectacular road to Sorrento, but beware of hills and cars.

Golf

There are a few golf courses in the greater Naples area, some of them boasting gorgeous views, but green fees vary. As a visitor, you would perhaps need to arrange a game through your hotel concierge or a tour company that specialises in golf, and these might be found on the internet.

Fishing

Both sea and fresh water fishing are popular activities here, with many pretty and well stocked lakes in the region. Unless you are in the know, you would need to find a tour company offering tours, and a year's membership card from the Federazione Italiana della Pesca Sportiva is needed. 

Water sports

With its location around the Bay of Naples, the city offers all sorts of fun water sports activities, from swimming to kayaking, parasailing and diving. You can even go on submarine tours around the islands. Many of these tours are offered at the beaches.

Sailing

Sailing is a highly recommended activity to appreciate the beauty of the bay, the city from the water, the Campagnia coastline and the offshore islands. In short, there is plenty to see on a day’s sailing. Yacht harbours are found at Posillipo, Capri, Procida, Porto, Casamicciola, Lacco Ameno and Forio d'Ischia, on Ischia Island. Not surprisingly, Naples is a playground for rich yacht owners, but humble day tours are also offered by tour agents.

Beaches

Many beaches are located around the Bay of Naples, some better than others or more popular for their close proximity to the city. They do get crowded in the height of the summer, particularly in August, and you might want to travel a bit further out for more privacy. The immediate waterfront area close to the city has no beaches, while others prefer to make their way to the ferry terminal near the castle and take a daytrip to the offshore islands. The sand usually consists of grey volcanic material, but there are some private beaches you can pay to use, which are nicer. Positano, Minori, Procida, Capri and the Almafi coast have the best beaches in this part of Italy.