Things to Do in Naples, Florida

Miles of soft white sand and calm Gulf water run the length of Naples, from the city beaches of Old Naples to the wilder shores of Delnor-Wiggins and Barefoot Beach. Our guide ranks the best of them, with amenities and parking for each.

Naples faces west over the Gulf, and sunset is the city's nightly event. Watch from an Old Naples beach, a beachfront table or a boat on the Gulf: our guide covers the best spots, plus which parks close at sundown. Prefer the water? Compare the sunset cruises.

A mile of barrier-island beach in North Naples, known for shelling, fishing and bird-watching, with kayaking, picnic areas and a boat ramp. It's the least developed and most rewarding of the Naples beaches.

Old Naples' historic district pairs upscale boutiques and galleries with some of the city's best restaurants, a few blocks from the beach, and hosts a weekly farmers market. Fifth Avenue South, the main downtown strip, is a short walk away.

Naples is flat, compact and made for exploring on wheels. Naples Electric Bikes delivers e-bikes free to hotels and rentals across Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero, so you can ride from the beach to Fifth Avenue South and back; check live availability and book online. Prefer four wheels? Street-legal golf carts are a popular way around Old Naples.

Naples is the western gateway to the Everglades. An airboat ride through the sawgrass and mangroves is the classic way to see alligators and wading birds.

Take the wheel yourself: half- and full-day deck boat and pontoon rentals let you cruise Naples Bay and the Gordon River, look for dolphins, or run down to Keewaydin Island's beach at your own pace. Our guide compares the rental marinas.

A 2.25-mile boardwalk winds through 13,000 acres of wetlands, pine flatwoods and old-growth bald cypress forest, home to the rare ghost orchid. It's less than an hour from the beach and one of the most otherworldly places in Florida.

Themed gardens from Brazil, Asia, the Caribbean and Florida spread across 170 acres of garden and nature preserve, with wetlands, walking paths and a Children's Garden for younger visitors. It's one of the most peaceful ways to spend a morning in Naples.

Bottlenose dolphins are regulars in Naples Bay and the Gulf, and eco-tours often spot them. Our guide covers the best boats for families and nature lovers.

Keewaydin is an undeveloped barrier island just south of Naples, reachable only by boat, with some of the best shelling in the area. Our guide covers the tours, water shuttle, charters and boat rentals that go there, and what to bring.

A three-quarter-mile boardwalk winds through a mangrove forest to a quieter stretch of beach, with a free shuttle if you'd rather ride. At the end of the boardwalk, the popular Rhode's End restaurant looks out over the beach, with steps down to the sand.

Paddling Naples' back bays is a close-up way to see mangroves and wading birds. Get Up and Go Kayaking's clear-kayak tours glide through the mangrove tunnels at Wiggins Pass, and Three Brothers Adventure Tours leads guided kayak and paddleboard trips made for first-timers and families.

The Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center is the gateway to the reserve's mangroves and estuaries, with aquariums, touch tanks and hands-on exhibits on Southwest Florida's marine life, plus nature trails and guided tours out into the reserve.

Naples has live music most nights of the week, from waterfront bars and Tin City to the patios of Fifth Avenue South, Third Street and Mercato. Our live music calendar shows who's playing tonight and this weekend.

Every Saturday from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m., Third Street South between Broad Avenue and 13th Avenue fills with local produce, baked goods and more. Go early for the best choice, then stay for breakfast on Third Street.

Downtown's 15-acre park on the Gordon River has a 1.3-mile loop trail, a kayak launch, a splash pad and playgrounds, with picnic shelters and restrooms. A pedestrian bridge links it to the Gordon River Greenway, and it's free and a short walk from Fifth Avenue South.

Paradise Food Tours leads guided tastings through Naples' restaurant scene, from Feast on 5th along Fifth Avenue South to the Nacho Average Taco Tour and the Slice of Naples Pizza Tour, with generous tastings and the stories behind each stop. It's the quickest way to eat like a local.

Historic fish houses on the Gordon River now hold waterfront restaurants and shops with an Old Florida feel, and many of Naples' boat tours depart from here.

This historic botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary in Bonita Springs is known for its flamingos and Old Florida charm, and it's a favorite with families.

A self-guided trail winds through 44 acres of historic gardens in the heart of Naples, past giant anteaters, red-ruffed lemurs and black bears. Families can feed the giraffes and take a short boat cruise past primates on their island habitats.

Naples is one of Florida's great golf destinations, with resort courses and public tracks that visitors can play. Our guide covers the best.

Naples' theater scene punches well above its size. The Naples Players and TheatreZone stage plays and musicals through the season, and Gulfshore Playhouse adds professional productions downtown. Our theater guide shows what's on now.

The Naples Philharmonic and The Baker Museum share this Midtown arts campus, with concerts from classical to jazz and pops, Broadway-style productions, dance and exhibitions through the season.

Naples is an art town, with galleries along Fifth Avenue South and Broad Avenue and The Baker Museum at Artis—Naples. Start with Dennis Goodman: his photographs of Southwest Florida's birds, beaches and Everglades have earned national awards, including recognition from the National Audubon Photography Awards and Nature's Best Photography, and his gallery on Fourth Avenue North shows them as large-format prints on metal, acrylic and fine-art paper.

North Naples' town center mixes shops, restaurants and nightlife in a walkable, open-air setting.

A narrated hop-on, hop-off loop with 17 stops covers the beaches, historic sites and shopping districts. It's a good way to get your bearings on a first visit.

An exceptional collection of rare and historic automobiles, with exhibits and archives that draw car enthusiasts from far beyond Naples.

Two floors and 30,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits, programs and workshops make it Naples' best rainy-day pick for families.

From the back bays to offshore reefs, Naples is a serious fishing town. Our guide lists the best charters for every level.