Five days of family adventures, crowded streets, pizza, and a few unexpected lessons.

My family and I decided to turn our kids' one-day passport appointment into a three-day family vacation in Naples. Life in Sicily had become somewhat monotonous since we live on a remote island. A short city break was just what I needed.

There's something about Naples that captivates you. After spending at least a day in this bustling city, you start getting used to its crowded nature. The streets no longer seem so narrow, dark, or intimidating. You'll find yourself walking around after 8 p.m., something you probably wouldn't have considered just two days earlier.

You also get used to navigating the traffic, whether on foot or behind the wheel. You quickly learn that waiting for every car to stop before crossing the street might take a while. You have to be assertive, but of course, you still need to be careful. Driving is another adventure altogether!

Our Airbnb and Those Endless Stairs

As a military family, we wanted to stay at the Navy Lodge on base, but it was fully booked until November. We ended up renting an Airbnb downtown for €750 for our three-day stay, which I believe was worth it.

We spent €130 on garage parking for peace of mind, as we preferred not to leave the car on the narrow street when it wasn't in use. The garage was conveniently located right behind our building. The staff park your car and retrieve it whenever you need it. It was truly convenient. Additionally, there were tolls and gas expenses.

The loft was lovely and located right in the heart of the city, close to everything we wanted to see. However, I would still give it four stars for one simple reason: the stairs.

Every time we went out, we had to climb seven flights of stairs, with ten steps on each flight. That's 70 steps one way and 140 steps for a round trip. It might not sound like much, but when you're going out several times a day, it adds up quickly. One last piece of advice: if you're renting an Airbnb in Naples, make sure to ask the host whether the building has an elevator and which floor the apartment is on. Many older buildings don't have elevators, and if your loft is on the fourth floor, like ours was, you're in for a full-body workout throughout your stay! Trust me, your legs will remind you of it.

Thankfully, we didn't have to worry about carrying groceries upstairs to cook because I didn't cook a single meal during our stay. With four children, that's not something I get to say very often!

Naples Is Not Where I Would Go to Relax

I quickly realized that Naples isn't a city I would personally choose if I needed to relax or recharge. If you want to be surprised, feel alive, or reconnect with your younger self, then you're more than welcome to extend your stay.

For me, though, walking around the city was quite overwhelming. I didn't particularly enjoy strolling through the streets because of the heavy traffic. Bikes, scooters, and cars seemed to appear from everywhere, so you had to stay alert at all times.

I love discovering new places, but I also enjoy being able to walk around without constantly worrying about what's coming toward me. Naples was a little too much for me in that regard.

Still, I loved the city. I guess you can appreciate a place without necessarily enjoying every aspect of it.

Cafés, Pizza, and Churches Everywhere

One thing I noticed was that many of the cafés on street corners looked almost identical and offered pretty much the same menu. You don't need to try them all, which is actually good news for your budget.

Speaking of food, my love for pizza took a little hit during this trip. There were pizzerias everywhere, and after a while, I wasn't craving pizza anymore. I never thought I'd reach a point where I didn't want to eat pizza, but there I was!

However, if I had to choose between Neapolitan pizza and the Sicilian pizza I'm used to, I would choose Neapolitan pizza. It was soft yet crispy in the right places, and I really enjoyed the taste and texture.

My personal tradition whenever I visit a European city is to visit churches. During a one-hour walk around our Airbnb neighborhood, I counted at least six Catholic churches and visited three of them.

Italian cities seem to have Catholic churches on almost every corner. Some are easy to miss when you're busy navigating the streets, but once you step inside, you discover beautiful architecture and a rich history. I always enjoy taking a moment to appreciate these buildings, and Naples gave me plenty of opportunities to do just that.

Three Days of Eating Out

We spent approximately 400€ on food during our three-day stay. We tried different cuisines, including Chinese, Italian, and Turkish food, and we also made a habit of having breakfast at local cafés, enjoying fresh pastries and strong coffee and hot cocoa.

And no, I didn't cook once. Not even once!

For a mother who usually has to think about what to prepare for the family, not having to cook for three days was a little luxury of its own. We could simply go out and decide what we wanted to eat.

One of the best parts was letting my children enjoy as much tiramisu as they wanted. This classic Italian dessert was a favorite, and I was happy to let them enjoy it during our vacation. After all, we weren't in Naples every day.

My Spritz Incident

On our second day, I had a funny little experience that I still remember.

After eating a substantial breakfast, I decided to order a shot of liquor at 9 a.m. I thought I was simply ordering a drink to enjoy with my husband. The server asked, “Spritz?” and

I answered yes.

My Italian is still a work in progress, and I apparently hadn't done enough research before ordering.

What arrived at our table was a Spritz accompanied by food. I had already eaten breakfast and wasn't looking for another meal, but there I was, faced with more food than I had planned for.

I had intended to order a couple of drinks for my husband and me, but my limited Italian clearly hadn't helped me communicate exactly what I wanted.

I later realized that aperitivo can come with snacks or more substantial food, depending on the place. I had simply misunderstood what I was getting myself into.

It was a funny experience, and one I won't forget anytime soon. Next time, I'll make sure I understand the local customs before confidently ordering something I barely know how to pronounce.

Then again, these little misunderstandings are part of traveling. You can't know everything before you arrive, and sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself.

Pompeii Will Have to Wait

We are leaving Naples in three hours, but I already know we will be back.

Unfortunately, we didn't get to visit Pompeii. It rained throughout our stay, and our appointment at the Consulate took an unexpected turn that disrupted our schedule. Between the weather and the changes to our plans, we couldn't fit Pompeii into our itinerary.

I was disappointed because it was one of the places I had hoped to visit. But sometimes, things don't go according to plan, especially when you're traveling with family and have appointments to attend.

We will have to save Pompeii for another trip.

Would I Visit Naples Again?

Absolutely! Would I live there? That's another story.

Next time, I would still consider driving to Naples or renting a car so I could explore more of the surrounding area instead of relying entirely on walking. I would also plan our outings more carefully and check traffic conditions before heading out.

There is so much more I would like to see, and three days simply weren't enough.

One thing I know for sure, though, is that I don't see myself living in Naples. The city is too crowded and overwhelming for my personal taste. I would rather live in one of the suburbs surrounding the city and visit Naples whenever I wanted to enjoy its restaurants, churches, and history.

And next time, I will make sure to learn more about the customs of my destination and seriously work on my Italian.

Three days in Naples gave us a change of scenery, good food, beautiful churches, and a few unexpected experiences. We didn't get to see everything we wanted, but we enjoyed our time together and already have a reason to return.