Best areas for students in Naples

Centro Storico (historic centre)

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's one of the best neighbourhoods for students in Naples who want to immerse themselves in local life to the fullest. It's a very lively and authentic area, with lots of students, tourists, and locals. The areas of Pendino, San Lorenzo, and Saint Joseph are some of the most popular among students, who try to choose accommodation on main streets.

The main campus of the University of Naples Frederick II is located in this neighbourhood, as well as buildings of the University of the Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, the University of Naples L’Orientale, among others.

The historic centre of Naples has a large number of restaurants offering local food and lots of coffee shops. It also offers a variety of bars, cocktail lounges, and nightclubs.

In addition to a lot of impressive churches, the historic centre is home to many historical and cultural sites that you should visit. Some of them include:

• Naples Underground (Napoli Sotterranea)
• The Museum Cappella Sansevero
• The Museum of Art Pio Monte della Misericordia
• The Museum of Contemporary Art Donnaregina (Museo d'Arte Contemporanea Donnaregina - Museo Madre)
• The Capuano Castle (Castel Capuano)
• The Capuana Gate (Porta Capuana)

One of the disadvantages of this neighbourhood is that it doesn’t have many green spaces to enjoy the outdoors. Students and young people often gather in squares, such as the Piazza Bellini, where many of the pubs are student-oriented.

The historic centre comprises a compact area, in which you can walk from one end to the other in approximately 20 minutes. To connect with the rest of the city, in the surrounding streets and avenues there are metro, bus, train, and tram stops.

Vomero

This neighbourhood is west of the historic centre of Naples, located on a hill. It’s a quieter neighbourhood than the central area, but it still has a good vibe for students. In addition, the cost of rent here is usually a little cheaper than in the historic centre.

The streets of this neighbourhood are full of restaurants with local food, bars, cafes, cocktail lounges, and even some nightclubs. It has a very lively atmosphere! There are also several international brand stores.

In Vomero, there are many sites of cultural and historical interest. Among them are:

• The Castle (Castel Sant'Elmo)
• The Ceramics Museum (Museo Nazionale della Ceramica Duca di Martina)
• The steps of the descent of Petraio (Museo Nazionale della Ceramica Duca di Martina), with panoramic views of Vesuvius and the sea

As far as green areas to enjoy the outdoors, Villa Floridiana is an ideal park to enjoy a natural space and to have beautiful views of Naples.

To get to the city centre, from Vomero you can use both subways and the funicular. There are also lines of buses that connect to the rest of the city. Pay close attention to public transportation operating hours, because one disadvantage of this neighbourhood is that you usually have to take taxis to get home late at night if you're out partying.

Chiaia

Chiaia is another one of the best neighbourhoods for students in Naples, especially for those looking for a quieter atmosphere than the downtown area, but still lively, and close to the beach! It’s south of Vomero. It’s also worth noting that it’s considered one of the safest neighbourhoods of the city to live in. However, keep in mind that the cost of rent is usually a little higher than in the historic centre, especially because there’s a better quality of life and because it has a beach.

In Chiaia, there are a lot of restaurants, bars, and cafes (some more affordable than others). There are also some nightclubs and pubs with live music.

As for cultural visits, the ones that stand out are: Museum Pignatelli, with 19th-century art and furniture, and the PAN contemporary art centre (Palazzo delle Arti Napoli).

As for outdoor spaces, Chiaia has beaches, such as Mappatella beach. You can also take advantage of the promenade of the Via Francesco Caracciolo to exercise or take a walk. This neighbourhood also houses the city's largest park, called Villa Comunale di Napoli, which features fountains, monuments, ornate gardens, and an aquarium.

It’s true that this neighbourhood’s a little far from the centre of Naples, but it has good public transport connections. It has bus, subway, and train lines.

Materdei

Materdei's a quiet, authentic, and fairly central neighbourhood, ideal for students looking for something more affordable but well connected. This is an area where you can experience the pure Neapolitan essence, being less touristy than the most central areas.

The cost of rent in Materdei’s normally cheaper than in the historic centre and in areas such as Vomero or Chiaia. In fact, it's one of the most affordable areas near the centre.

It’s a popular area for students of, for example, the University of Naples Frederick II, since its Polyclinic is very close.

The quiet streets of Materdei are full of traditional shops, pizzerias and small, inexpensive bars. It's true that it doesn't have the same variety of restaurants as the neighbourhoods mentioned above, but you can still find some options.

Being a less touristy neighbourhood, there aren’t so many cultural and historical visits as in the centre of Naples. However, some sites worth visiting are:

• The Archive of Contemporary Art, Casa Morra
• The nearby Archaeological Museum (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli)
• The outdoor murals (Murale Partenope di Francisco Bosoletti)

In Materdei, parks and open-air areas are scarce. However, very close by is the Parco di Capodimonte, one of the largest and most beautiful parks in Naples, perfect for studying outdoors or playing sports.

From Materdei you can arrive on foot to neighbourhoods like the historic centre, and it’s also well connected through the metro line 1.

FAQs about neighbourhoods in Naples