We hope you are as excited as we are about our upcoming culinary trip to this captivating region. Here, you’ll find everything you need to prepare. Please check the sections on the left to find useful information about the trip itinerary, transportation, accommodation, local customs in Naples and our suggestions on what to read and watch to whet your appetite. Take your time to work through the sections—we’ve included a wide range of knowledge, from the practical to the obscure. Be sure to share your flight details in "your travel info" and more on you in "tell us about yourself," if you have not already.
Greetings from Campania !
Activity Level
Travelers should feel comfortable walking two to four miles each day and remaining on their feet for long periods of time. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and get hands-on during a couple of cooking workshops. Keep in mind that Naples is a bustling and crowded place!
City Smarts
While personal safety is not an issue in the heart of the city, pickpocketing can be a problem, especially in more touristy areas of Naples. The best approach is to carry only the bare necessities, keep your bags or backpacks close to you, and always be aware of your surroundings and belongings.
Weather & Packing List
Expect daytime temperatures to be in the low 80s (°F), dipping down to the low 60s at night. Sunrise will take place just before 7:30 a.m., with sunset right around 6:00 p.m.
Below are key items to pack:
- Hand sanitizer
- Passport and passport copy
- Comfortable walking shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty
- Comfortable clothes and jacket for daytime and evening
- Power plug adapter (if coming from outside the U.S. or Canada)
- Toiletries and any medications
- A small, compact umbrella and/or light raincoat
- Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen
- Camera
Currency & Money Exchange
Italy uses the euro, and we recommend converting some USD into EUR either before your departure or upon arrival in Italy. Once in Naples, ATMs are your best option for money withdrawal, though you can also pay for most things with a card.
Additionally, remember to notify your bank that you’ll be abroad so you aren’t caught up in an account freeze. It’s also best to check with your bank that your card is valid in the EU.
Connectivity
Wifi will be available at the hotel and sometimes in other city locations. If you’d like to be able to make calls on your cell phone outside of wifi, we recommend buying a local SIM or calling card.
The country code for Italy is +39. When dialing an Italian number from the U.S., dial 011 + 39 + the number. When dialing a number in the U.S. from Italy, first dial 001 and then the number you are calling including the area code.
How to Dress
Choose versatile, casual clothing that can be layered if the weather requires. Cotton and other light fabrics are comfortable choices. We suggest to bring sweaters, light coats, or shawls for evenings and a rain coat in the event of damp weather.
Cathedrals, churches and other religious sites require conservative dress. Please bring something to cover your arms and shoulders
Taking Photos
Be sure to ask permission before taking pictures of people, including small children. Note that photography is not permitted in some locations, which is usually clearly marked. If in doubt, ask your guide to avoid having your camera confiscated.
Language (Some Common Phrases)
| English | Italian |
|---|---|
| Hello/Goodbye | Ciao! |
| Please | Per favore |
| Thank you | Grazie |
| You're welcome | Prego |
| Yes / No | Sì / No |
| Good morning | Buongiorno |
| Good evening | Buonasera |
| Good night | Buonanotte |
| Excuse me | Mi scusi |
| I’m sorry | Mi dispiace |
| Where is... | Dove si trova... |
| Do you speak English? | Lei parla inglese? |
| I don’t speak Italian | Non parlo Italiano |
| Good luck | In bocca al lupo (literally “in the mouth of the wolf”) |
| “Make the little shoe” | Fare la scarpetta (the act of mopping up sauce with a piece of bread) |
Tipping
Tipping 10% in formal restaurants is standard. Spare change for drinks and casual snacks is appreciated, but not expected.
If you feel that your guides have gone above and beyond, tipping will always be appreciated, but never expected. If you’d like to leave a tip, we recommend something in the range of $10-20 a day / guide—i.e., $120-240 total for the six-day trip for the two lead guides. Tips will be shared with the entire team.
Other Recommendations in the Area
Some insider tips to help you make the most of your free time in Naples.
Cultural Activities
The Capodimonte Museum - One of the largest art museums in Italy, it houses the Farnese family art collection including some of the word’s most important works in marble as well as masters of the 13th-18th centuries, the Neapolitan Baroque period and contemporary art.
Certosa di San Martino - A former Carthusian monastery dating back to the 14th century, this enormous complex contains a large cloister, a Neapolitan Baroque church and museum containing a famous collection of nativity scenes with hundreds of figurines and miniature items.
Ipogeo dei Cristallini - A rare and incredible testimony of Hellenic painting and architecture. Four exhibition spaces full of decoration and refined trompe l’oeil effects, alongside a rich collection of ancient artifacts and vases.
Villa Pignatelli - An elegant 19th-century mansion once belonging to several noble families, today the villa is home to two exhibition spaces: the Pignatelli Cortès Museum and the Carriage Museum.
Pio Monte della Misericordia - Founded in 1602 by seven noble families of Naples, this charitable organization houses Caravaggio's "Seven Works of Mercy," as well as other pieces by 17th-century Neapolitan masters.
Lapis Museum - The Museum of Water is located in the heart of Pietrasanta Basilica. A futuristic project that has restored the original function of the Greco-Roman cisterns, enlivened by water and streams that reconstruct their ancient appearance.
Madre Napoli - In the beautiful surroundings of a light-filled 19th-century Neoclassical palace, Museo Madre’s impressive collection has put Naples on the map of today's contemporary art scene. It has regularly changing exhibitions and a roof-terrace with sweeping views over the city.
Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli - The most important archeological museum in all of Italy, housing ancient Greek, Roman and Renaissance works of art as well as an extensive collection of mosaics and other artifacts recovered from Pompeii, Herculaneum and other cities destroyed during the explosion of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Cappella Sansevero - An ornate chapel dating back to 1590, home to the incredibly intricate and moving statue of the Veiled Christ.
Catacombs of San Gennaro - Carved out of tufa rock and arranged on two levels, the catacombs date back to the 2nd century AD and contain dozens of well-preserved frescoes and mosaics, the tomb of San Gennaro (the patron saint of Naples) as well as tombs of the first bishops of the city.
Eating & Drinking
- Vinarium
- Dialetti e Vini
- Cap'alice via Bausan
- Palazzo Petrucci
- Moccia
- CrudoRe'
- Bar Tucci
- Libreria Berisio
- Ba-bar house
- Cala la pasta
- Osteria da Carmela
- Gelato at Gay Odin or Mennella
- Mimí alla ferrovia
- Masardona
- L'etto
Chiara Garofalo
Sicily-born Chiara moved to Naples in order to attend the Oriental Languages University and fell hard for the unique city. As a professional guide, Chiara finds her work to be the perfect expression of all her interests: art, archeology, history, culture, food, and communication—in one word, her passion for her city.
Viola Buitoni, Resident Chef
Viola was born in Rome and raised in Perugia, Italy. With stories and knowledge from six generations, her dishes cross the best of California agriculture with the finest Italian food imports. After moving to the US to attend NYU, Viola started Buitoni & Garretti, a catering kitchen and Italian fine foods shop in New York City. She later moved to San Francisco, where she began lecturing and teaching Italian food tradition workshops at the SF Italian Cultural Institute and Italian Consulate. In addition to leading frequent livestream classes and workshops with Milk Street, she also teaches at 18Reasons, The Civic Kitchen and the Puglia Culinary Center. She is a regular contributor to La Cucina Italiana US and italysegreta.com, and recently published her first cookbook, "Italy by Ingredient." In 2020, the President of the Italian Republic awarded her the the title of Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia for her work to further the culture and business of Italian food. She lives in San Francisco’s Mission District with her husband, son and tiny dog.
