Along the Gulf of Mexico coast in the United States is a beach destination where luxurious lifestyles intersect with subtropical wilderness. Offering a breadth of unique things to do in Naples, Florida, and 260+ sunny days per year, a paradise of stunning natural wonders, first-rate attractions, and world-class dining awaits you in Southwest Florida’s Paradise Coast.
Disclosure: This guide to the top things to do in Naples, Florida, includes affiliate links. I may earn a small commission when you click on and/or make a purchase or reservation through one of these links.
Why visit Naples, Florida?
As one of the wealthiest cities in Florida, Naples is known for its luxury resorts, high-end shopping, sophisticated restaurants, and approximately 90 golf courses in the greater area.
Additionally, it offers a natural paradise characterized by breathtaking sunsets, unspoiled beaches, and nearby wildlife preserves. From Naples, you can also set off to visit Marco Island or explore the Everglades.
Whether you are looking for a romantic destination in Florida for couples or a family-friendly place for your next beach vacation, you’ll find fantastic restaurants, attractions, leisure activities, and unique things to see in Naples during your visit.
Getting to Naples, Florida
Naples is about 40 miles south of Fort Myers in Southwest Florida, and the drive typically takes less than an hour.
By car, it’s also about two hours from Fort Lauderdale, 2.5 hours from Miami, three hours from Tampa, and four hours from Orlando.
If you are flying to Naples, you can take a charter flight to Naples Municipal Airport or fly on commercial airlines to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers, the closest major airport.
My family rented a car since the drive to Naples from RSW takes about 40-45 minutes. I recommend renting a car if you plan to explore the surrounding area.
Alternatively, you can take a taxi from RSW airport to Naples or book a private airport transfer in advance.
Top Things to Do in Naples, Florida
To help you plan what to do in Naples, I’ve compiled the following list of must-dos in Naples based on my own research and travel experience there.
Go to the Beach
While researching the best things to do in Naples, I found there are several public beaches in the area. Among the most popular beaches in Naples are Clam Pass Park, Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, Lowdermill Park’s beach, and Naples Municipal Beach.
In particular, Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is known for its pristine beaches, where you can snorkel, paddleboard, go boating, kayak, and scuba dive. To visit, you can purchase a day pass, which costs $6 for vehicles with up to 8 occupants and $4 for single-occupant vehicles, with exact change or by credit card via a QR code.
If you plan to spend a whole day at a public beach in Naples, I recommend arriving early to find parking and claim the best spot on the sand.
Tip: Since most public beach parking is pay-by-space or metered, bring quarters or a credit card to pay. As of January 2025, beach parking meters charge $4 per hour.
Warning: Potential for Red Tides in Naples, Florida
Unfortunately, beaches in Naples are occasionally affected by red tide. This can be deadly to marine life and cause respiratory issues for humans when the toxins are inhaled.
When there is a red tide, I don’t recommend visiting the beach or participating in water activities in Naples.
To see if a red tide affects Southwest Florida during your trip, check the red tide status updated daily by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. For reference, Naples is located in Collier County.
Wondering what to pack for a beach day in Naples? Check out these must-have beach bag essentials!
Visit Naples Municipal Beach & Naples Pier
During my family’s Naples vacation in March 2014, we found the Naples Municipal Beach and Fishing Pier to be the most convenient for us.
The Naples Pier is a popular attraction among beachgoers, anglers, and sunset gazers. You may even spot dolphins in the distance!
Since the pier is located at the west end of 12th Avenue South, it is only a short walk from Old Naples and the Third Street South shopping and dining. In this area, you’ll find more street parking with metered spaces (if you are lucky enough to nab one).
Though it was occasionally windy and the water a tad chilly during our mid-March visit, we sunbathed and let the waves crash over our toes as we strolled down the beach to the pier pictured above.
Unfortunately, the historic Naples Pier sustained significant damage during Hurricane Ian in September 2022. As of January 2025, the pier remains partially closed to the public, and fishing is not currently permitted. Please use your best judgment and adhere to local guidelines when visiting attractions affected by storm damage.
Watch the Sunset
We also returned to Naples Municipal Beach one evening to watch the beautiful sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.
It was considerably less busy than during the day, and finding parking wasn’t an issue for us at this time.
I imagine strolling along the soft white sand of this beach with your significant other to see sunset views like the one above must be one of the most romantic things to do in Naples during a couples’ getaway.
Be an Ecotourist
In addition to spending time at the beach in Naples, you easily could set off to explore the Everglades by airboat or paddle a kayak or standup paddleboard through mangrove tree tunnels.
Nature Walks in Naples, Florida
During a walk along the two-mile boardwalk through the Audobon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, catch glimpses of wood storks, raptors, herons, egrets, and more birds in their natural habitats.
Bird watchers will also spy raptors and wading birds and hear songbirds in the cypress trees along the 12-mile CREW Bird Rookery Swamp Trail.
And, at the Gordon River Greenway, walking the 2.5-mile pathway could provide sightings of alligators, bobcats, otters, herons, egrets, and other birds.
Kid-Friendly Activities in Naples for Young Animal Lovers
Families visiting Naples with children may enjoy seeing the animals at the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens or exploring the mangrove aquarium, estuary touch tanks, and the half-mile nature trail at the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center.
If you’d like to catch glimpses of Southwest Florida’s marine life in the wild, a manatee-watching boat tour of the local waterways may provide your best opportunity to see Florida’s sea cows.
In fact, the manatees are known to swim right up to the boat, and you should keep your camera ready for possible sightings of dolphins and alligators, too!
Tip: Before you book an eco-tourism tour, I recommend reading reviews from recent visitors. During my family’s vacation in Naples, we learned that the manatees were mostly down in the Florida Keys that winter, so I was very happy we had opted for an excursion other than a manatee-sighting cruise.
Check out some of the eco-tours available to book right now!
Explore the Naples Botanical Garden
If you find the guided eco-tours to be time-consuming and/or pricey, I have another suggestion for an outdoor activity without a hefty price tag.
I highly recommend spending a couple hours walking around the Naples Botanical Garden, where adult admission is $27 per person as of January 2025.
You can wander through Asian, Floridian, Caribbean, and Brazilian gardens. We also walked through the butterfly house and attempted to avoid getting splashed in the children’s garden.
Throughout the gardens, we spotted tropical palm trees, floating lily pads, bright yellow sunflowers, red roses, spiky cacti, and all sorts of exotic flora. It is one of the most beautiful and interesting botanical gardens I’ve visited!
Eat All the Fresh Seafood Possible
After spending the day sunbathing at the beach or exploring the nearby Everglades, indulge in a dinner of fresh seafood in Naples.
My family ate so much delicious seafood during our vacation in Naples. Of course, this is always my favorite perk of visiting Florida!
If you love seafood as much as I do, you’ll also enjoy dining at the following restaurants in Naples.
Sea Salt
On our first night in Naples, we dined at Sea Salt. It’s an upscale Italian seafood restaurant with outdoor dining in the Old Naples dining and retail district.
We began our meal with fresh oysters on the half-shell and crispy calamari. Then we each selected delicious seafood main dishes — Ōra King Salmon prepared in two different ways and scallops.
Though there is a children’s menu, Sea Salt is much more of an adult scene. I recommend dining here for the spacious patio and the delicious and artfully plated seafood dishes.
Sea Salt’s dishes are crafted from fresh, high-quality ingredients, including locally grown and organic produce, wild-caught seafood, and naturally raised meat and poultry.
The Venetian-inspired dinner menu offers some plant-based dishes and options for lovers of seafood and pasta.
Entrées — such as capellini al limone with blue crab, sesame-crusted branzino fillet, and a 14-oz. Prime New York Strip steak served with wild mushrooms, black garlic, and bone marrow gremolata — range between $32 and $85.
The lunch menu features many of the same appetizers as the dinner menu. However, lunchtime salads, sandwiches, and other main dishes range from $21 to $35.
Sea Salt is located at 1186 3rd Street South. Reservations are recommended and can be made online or by calling 239-434-7258.
Campiello Ristorante & Bar
Across the street from Sea Salt is another Italian restaurant, Campiello Ristorante & Bar. Located in a historic mercantile building, the restaurant has a fabulous outdoor courtyard for al fresco dining or drinks at the bar.
After dining at Sea Salt, we stopped here and indulged in the extensive wine list. Then we returned for the full meal experience, and it was the best decision we made during our time in Naples.
First of all, the service was outstanding with professional presentation yet such personal attention, but it was the modern takes on classic Tuscan cuisine that won us over. Everything we ate — from our appetizers to desserts — was absolutely delectable.
Again we started our meal with calamari and a light and fresh Panzanella salad.
Then, my entrée of Maine lobster and gnocchi in a truffle butter sauce was heavenly. It was easily one of the best pasta dishes I’ve ever eaten.
My sister had a fresh salad topped with jumbo shrimp that looked absolutely delicious, and my dad’s linguini with tomatoes, basil, and Alaskan king crab in a white wine sauce was delightful.
Campiello Ristorante & Bar’s menu features house-made pasta, wood-fired pizzas, seafood dishes, and meats grilled over an open fire.
Dinner entrées here range between $22 and $100 with wood-fired pizzas at $19 to $23 as a more budget-friendly option. Lunchtime fare includes entrée salads, paninis, and lighter mains in addition to pasta dishes and pizzas.
Campiello Ristorante & Bar is located at 1177 3rd Street South. Reservations are recommended and can be made via OpenTable or by calling 239-435-1166.
T-Michaels Steak & Lobster
To celebrate my birthday, I made reservations for T-Michaels Steak & Lobster, a Venetian Bay waterfront steakhouse and seafood restaurant.
The restaurant has a refined atmosphere and a beautiful waterfront view, making it an ideal restaurant for celebrating special occasions or a romantic dinner. Therefore, I recommend making a reservation for dining before sunset.
Though we missed dining by sunset, we certainly weren’t disappointed with our meal!
We began a tasty and filling dinner with a jumbo lump crab cake, jumbo shrimp cocktail, and lobster bisque.
For our main courses, I ordered the petite filet mignon perfectly cooked to medium rare with a sweet potato on the side, and my sister said the Chilean sea bass special she ordered was equally delicious.
Though T-Michaels Steak & Lobster specializes in steaks and seafood, you will find a small selection of other meat and vegan main dishes.
Dinner entrées range between $39 for organic bone-in chicken breast and $72 for the signature steak & lobster dinner, which includes a 6 oz. filet mignon and 7-oz. lobster tail.
T-Michaels Steak & Lobster is located at 4050 Gulf Shore Boulevard, and reservations are recommended. To make a dinner reservation, call 239-261-0622 or book via OpenTable.
Sushi-Thai of Naples
Sushi-Thai of Naples has multiple locations in the Naples and Bonita Springs area, and its menu features Thai and Japanese dishes, including a large selection of sashimi and sushi rolls.
My dad and I split an Alaskan roll filled with crab, lettuce, avocado, and cucumber. We also ordered the flavorful and large-portioned Pad Thai.
We found the main dishes and sushi rolls were moderately priced.
Sushi-Thai of Naples has three locations in Naples and one in neighboring Bonita Springs. It doesn’t appear that you can make reservations online, but we were quickly seated without a dinner reservation. You can also order takeout by calling your nearest location. Delivery is available via Uber Eats and DoorDash.
Eat Stone Crab Claws in Nearby Everglades City
About 35 miles southeast of Naples, Everglades City is a popular launch site for wildlife tours of Everglades National Park and the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
It’s also where stone crab fishing began and is still the second-largest supplier of stone crabs in the United States.
If you plan to explore the Everglades or other nature preserves in the area during your visit to Naples, don’t miss your chance to eat fresh stone crab claws in Everglades City!
The meaty stone crab claws are in season from October 15 through May 1, and you can find these local seafood delicacies at riverfront restaurants such as Triad Seafood Market & Cafe.
Sip Tropical Happy Hour Cocktails
Technically this one is outside of Naples. It’s in Bonita Springs, which is just a short drive up the coast. It’s also conveniently on the way to and from the Fort Myers airport.
Coconut Jack’s Waterfront Grille is a waterfront tiki-hut bar and grill. Sitting on the back deck while sipping my umbrella-embellished strawberry daiquiri, I felt like I was somewhere far away and exotic.
We loved the appetizers, too. The lobster and shrimp ceviche and coconut shrimp served with mango and raspberry sauces brought tropical island flavors to our Southwest Florida happy hour.
Happy hour runs from 3 to 5 p.m. with daily drink specials available at the bar and throughout the restaurant.
Coconut Jack’s is located at 5370 Bonita Beach Road SW in Bonita Springs.
Set Sail on the Gulf of Mexico
Taking a sunset sail or sunset cruise on the gulf is one of the best activities to do in Naples. Our private sunset sail was the absolute highlight of my family’s vacation.
Setting off from the Naples City Dock with Capt. Doug of Island Sailing, we cruised past luxurious waterfront mansions as we sailed out to the gulf for stunning sunset views.
Since we booked a private sailing charter for our family, we were allowed to bring our own wine and snacks on board. Being able to bring along our own picnic and wine added to the relaxing vibes of a sunset sail.
As our sailing adventure began with Chandon in hand, our captain pointed out the homes of the rich and famous. He also patiently answered all of our probing questions about Naples, the high-end real estate, and the local wildlife.
Then, following a stark white yacht out to the open water, we watched the sunset over the horizon and the sky change to orange hues.
On our way back, I learned how to steer the sailboat and took the helm as we navigated the dark canal. We had such a personalized and hands-on experience with Island Sailing.
I’d certainly recommend sailing charters as one of the best ways to watch a sunset in Naples. Private charters are ideal for more privacy, especially for couples celebrating special moments like a marriage proposal, honeymoon, or wedding anniversary.
However, if you are a solo traveler or a social couple who doesn’t mind having others around during your romantic sunset sail, a sunset catamaran sailing excursion could be a fun and more cost-effective activity in Naples.
The sunset sail with Cool Beans Cruises is approximately two hours and includes complimentary sparkling wine at sunset. You can also enjoy other complimentary beverages and bring your own snacks on board.
Explore Ten Thousand Islands
The Ten Thousand Islands are an archipelago off of the Southwest Florida coast and home to a mangrove forest, alligators, sea turtles, and water birds. You can explore Ten Thousand Islands to see the mangroves and wildlife by boat tour, jet ski, or your own two-person catamaran.
Go Shopping in Naples
If you love to shop, you’ve come to the right destination. Among the best retail centers in Naples are outdoor luxury shopping malls, boutique-filled districts at Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South, and the historic Tin City to pick up souvenirs from your trip.
Explore Naples by Bicycle
Peddle around downtown Naples on a guided bicycle tour or rent bikes to explore at your own pace!
Go to a Citrus Grove
Get fresh Florida orange juice at the South Naples Citrus Grove!
Visit Historic Landmarks in Naples
Step into the Naples Depot Museum, one of the best free indoor attractions in Naples, to see a restored Seaboard Air Line Railway depot in downtown Naples. The depot building dates back to the late 1800s and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
In addition to the Naples Deport Museum, Collier County Museums operates four other sites that may be of interest to local history buffs visiting the Naples area.
At the Collier Museum at Government Center, you can step back into local history from the time when mastodons roamed Florida to the time when early pioneers settled in Collier County. During your visit, learn about the Seminole people, see relics of early settlers, and explore restored cottages and the reconstructed Seminole War Fort.
Or, perhaps you are interested in historic architecture? If so, you can tour the oldest home in Naples, the Historic Palm Cottage, built in 1895. In addition to taking a docent-led tour of the Historic Palm Cottage, you can tour the Norris Gardens on your own or join one of the Naples Historical Society’s walking tours of the Naples Historic District.
Tip: Make reservations in advance for Historic Palm Cottage home tours.
More Ideas of Fun Things to Do Around Naples, Florida:
- Try these relaxing activities in Naples recommended by Momma To Go!
- Check out even more of the best Naples tours, cruises, and activities!
Explore the map below of Naples’ attractions and restaurants!
Where to Stay in Naples, Florida
If you haven’t booked your accommodation yet, I certainly recommend the Bellasera Resort, where my family stayed in Naples.
My family loved how the suite-style accommodations provided us the space and privacy we wanted while vacationing together.
We also enjoyed the hotel’s heated swimming pool and found the downtown location ideally located near shopping, dining, and the beach.
Other Naples Hotels I Recommend:
Inn at Pelican Bay — This elegant boutique hotel would be perfect for couples.
Edgewater Beach Hotel — This upscale beachfront hotel has stylish all-suite accommodations that are ideal for romantic getaways, girls’ trips, and family vacations.
Naples Bay Resort & Marina — For families with kids who want accommodations with plenty of onsite amenities, this four-star resort has a spa, five swimming pools, dining options, and a marina!
Not quite what you are looking for? Explore the map below for more Naples accommodations!
Final Thoughts: What to Do in Naples, Florida
Whether you seek a relaxing getaway or an adventure-filled family vacation, you’ll find ample fun things to do in Naples, Florida.
Spend your days getting active — splashing in the surf at white-sand beaches, kayaking through a maze of mangroves, or biking through historic Old Naples.
Then, unwind by indulging in a delicious seafood dinner at an upscale restaurant, watching the sunset from the beach, or sailing on the Gulf.
When I booked a last-minute trip for my all-adult family to Naples in March 2014, we all desired a long weekend of poolside sunbathing and sunset watching. We also wanted to be near a beach along Florida’s Gulf Coast, fine dining, and shopping. We found it all in Naples, and you will, too!
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I live in Naples. Your thoughts on things to do in Naples was spot on! I love my new hometown. I moved here from Ohio five years ago. The Gulf, the food, the shopping, area attractions, the beaches. I feel blessed to live here in Paradise!
Julie, I’m so glad this post meets the approval of a local resident! I loved visiting Naples, and I hope to vacation there again someday. The botanical garden is such a gem, and the food was fantastic. I totally see why you enjoy living in paradise!
Have to put this place on my bucket list. Excellent reviews of the eateries and love love love the pics.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes! One look at your gorgeous photos and you can see Naples is definitely a must-stop! Love it.
Yes, Naples really is a gorgeous destination. I recommend a visit!