About Naples
FloriDA
Things To Do in Naples and Marco Island
Best Things to Do in Naples
- Welcome to Naples, Florida! Naples, situated on the Gulf Side, is a paradise of sun, sandy beaches, spectacular sunsets, and nature harmoniously blended with the cosmopolitan and cultural center this city has become.
- With its metropolitan population, myriad housing developments, and combined with its host of attractions, amenities, and activities Naples is a great place to live and visit.
- Naples sits in Collier County, the second-largest county in Florida with 80 percent of its land devoted to parks and nature preserves.
- Go and explore the area’s beautiful beaches and natural history. We have listed some of the major attractions that Naples has to offer.
- The list is limited and does not include all the attractions that are available or offered. We advise you to check other sites dedicated to promoting tourism, events, and attractions in Naples.
Outdoor Activities
The Naples Beach & Fishing Pier is one of the most popular attractions in Naples, Florida. Built in 1888 as a freight and passenger dock, it continues to be a community landmark. The beach and the pier that extends 1,000 feet into the Gulf of Mexico is a favorite location for family activity and one of the best places to view a magnificent Florida sunset.
Every day, this tropical beach paradise beckons visitors to enjoy vast peaceful views of the Gulf of Mexico and experience the many shorebirds and wildlife that gather here. Visitors can sunbathe, paddleboard, kayak, hike, bird-watch, fish, picnic, and search for seashells.
Lowdermilk Park is one of Naples' premier beachfront parks. Our park has parking spaces, a concession stand, sand volleyball courts, two children's playgrounds, picnic tables, benches, restroom and shower facilities, and two gazebos for rent.
Clam Pass Park is a gorgeous, family-friendly beach with soft white sand, calm waters, and is one of the most popular beach access points in the Naples, Florida area. The kids will love the wooden boardwalk or tram ride through a mangrove forest to access the beach. A half-mile stroll along the Clam Pass boardwalk leading to the beach offers an opportunity to view marine life, coastal birds, and butterflies before reaching a 3,200-foot stretch of white sand beach.
Vanderbilt Beach Park is one of the most popular beach accesses because it is in a prime location near upscale hotels and in the popular North Naples area. Vanderbilt Beach offers wide space for all visitors, gorgeous white sand surroundings, sea oats, and restroom access. During the season, it can be a task finding a spot on the beach, but there is plenty of sand for everyone.
South Marco Island Beach is a terrific beach for families to go shelling, beach fishing, or to watch dolphins playing in the surf. There are two public beach access points on Marco Island with public parking and the one on the south side is the one less busy.
In this tropical setting, you can take delight at seeing many of your favorite animals like lions, giraffes, monkeys, pythons, and bears. In addition, you'll also discover feature exhibits and an array of more rarely seen creatures like the fosa of Madagascar or a giant anteater.
Located about 30 minutes east of Naples, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is home to hundreds of alligators, otters, white-tailed deer, and red-bellied turtles. A wide variety of wading birds, songbirds, raptors and the fabulous Painted Bunting can be seen throughout the year. Photo opportunities are available at every turn of the boardwalk trail.
The Bird Gardens of Naples is located in the green space of Corkscrew Swamp with a variety of flora, fauna, bees, and butterflies. You will have the opportunity to see, learn, and interact with 100+ birds from origins around the world. If weather allows, groups can enter our large macaw aviary with opportunities to take photos and hold birds.
Every day, this tropical beach paradise beckons visitors to enjoy vast peaceful views of the Gulf of Mexico and experience the many shorebirds and wildlife that gather here. Visitors can sunbathe, paddleboard, kayak, hike, bird-watch, fish, picnic, and search for seashells.
Rookery Bay is a national estuarine research reserve that stretches across 110,000 acres of pristine mangrove forest, uplands, and protected waters, encompassing 40% of Collier County coastline. The reserve is committed to preservation through research, education, and land protection.
Bird Rookery Swamp provides a place for hikers to immerse themselves in the Big Cypress Swamp without getting their feet wet. It is part of the vast Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (CREW), more than 50,000 acres of hydrologic protection for Corkscrew Strand and the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Just at the trailhead expect abundant wildlife in the surrounding waterways, from ibis and wood storks to green herons and the ubiquitous alligators.
This 170-acre tropical garden paradise features designs from some of the finest landscape architects in the world including cultivated gardens of Florida, Brazil, Asia, the Caribbean and a Water Garden filled with water lilies, lotus, and papyrus. The 90-acre preserve features seven ecosystems and includes mangroves, marshes, and untouched forests where hundreds of animal species and more than 300 species of exotic and native plants dwell.
Sun-N-Fun Lagoon is Naple's premier water park. One million gallons of water fun will thrill children, parents, and grandparents! Sun-N-Fun Lagoon includes four pools, a long lazy river, a lit splash playground or interactive water feature, five exciting water slides, a concession stand other typical amenities such as restrooms and lockers.
The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples is a brain-building powerhouse and Southwest Florida’s first museum devoted for children and families to learn through play. With hands-on exhibit galleries, the accessible museum invites visitors of all ages to journey through the swamps of the Everglades, weave through a maze, climb a two-story banyan tree, or experiment with the water play station.
Golfing & Tennis
Beyond the sun and sand, Naples has more than 90 championship pristine golf courses situated in the beautiful scenery, meandering and scenic landscape. The Naples-Collier County area is one of the top places in the country for golf holes per capita. Naples is the self-titled “Golf Capital of the World”. Several famous designers have contributed to Naples' impressive list of golf courses. We list only a few Naples Grande Golf Club, The Ritz Carlton Golf Resort Naples, The Naples Beach & Hotel Golf Club, Hall in The Wall Golf Club, Tiburon Golf Club, Windstar on Naples Bay, Lely Resort Golf & Country Club, etc.
Shopping
At Mercato you'll find boutiques and shops offering the latest swimwear, home furnishings, jewelry, men's, women's, and children's apparel and shoes. Also home to Whole Foods, Nordstrom rack, and the fabulous state-of-the-art Silverspot Cinema movie theater. A wide variety of indoor and outdoor dining options are also available including fresh-from-the-Gulf seafood, sushi, British pub food, and authentic Mexican, Asian, and American fare.
The Miromar Outlets is a huge retail park with over 140 shops selling top designer and brand name goods at rock bottom prices. Shops include Michael Kors, Nike, Banana Republic, Guess, J. Crew, Coach, Columbia, Tommy Hilfiger, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Kate Spade, Sketchers, Loft Outlet, Greg Norman, Soma, Le Creuset, H&M. New Balance Factory Store, Reebok, Nike, Samsonite, Brooks Brothers, and many others.
5th Avenue South is an irresistible mix of glamour and laid-back ease. Historic and modern architecture blend together here in eclectic sophistication, while tropical blooms and lush greenery grace the pedestrian-friendly promenades, and each storefront is filled with wonderful finds and delights.
Boutiques, Art Galleries, and Restaurants Galore Known as the Birthplace of Old Naples, Third Street South is on the National Register of Historic Places, and this beautiful Naples, Florida shopping and dining area has retained many of the original structures. Fashion's biggest names can be found at many of the shops and boutiques along Third Street South.
The Esplanade Shops, Residences and Marina are located on Smokehouse Bay. The coastal Italian-style village consisting of upscale retailers, small specialty stores, fine dining and luxury waterfront residences on Marco Island, Florida is truly a destination location.
Waterside Shops is the Gulf Coast’s premier shopping and dining destination where the finest names in luxury retail and fashionable lifestyle stores are set amid a lush landscape of 30,000 tropical plants and flowering shrubs, a 550-foot-long, hand-laid rock wall punctuated by cascading water, and dramatic lighting features. Its more than 60 shops and restaurants, as well as Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom, let you indulge in the extraordinary while you delight in the everyday.
The Village On Venetian Bay Offers More Than 45 Waterfront Shops And Waterside Restaurants In Beautiful Naples, Florida.
Enjoy your day shopping by the waterfront. Here at Tin City, you will find numerous shops to explore, each with unique items. If you are looking for a waterfront shop to buy gifts for your family, or if you need a swimsuit because you want to hit the beach later, there are plenty of options available to you.
Fine & Casual
Dining
No matter what you do on your vacation in Naples everyone has to eat. There are countless restaurants for everyone’s pocket and plenty of delicious and authentic dishes to savor the local flavor of Florida’s Paradise Coast. Whether you like New American, Italian, French, or European cuisine, there is something for everyone. The Sunshine State’s southwest coast offers plenty of fresh seafood, grouper, snapper, stone crabs, pompano, gulf pink shrimp, or other edible catch of the day combined with fresh local produce makes an idyllic dinner. Not to mention the state’s most famous predator on the platter; the alligator. Almost every restaurant has seafood on the menu. Some restaurants by the docks even encourage guests to bring in their fresh catch which the kitchens will prepare in almost any way you like.
Ice-cold beers, tasty wines, and refreshing cocktails are available everywhere providing the perfect refreshment. From upscale dining experience to dockyard restaurants, or casual dining spots, Naples offers plenty of choices to choose from.
Museums
Theatres
Concert Halls
Artis—Naples is the premier destination for the visual and performing arts in Southwest Florida. Artis-Naples is driven to inspire, educate, and entertain by presenting world-class events that enrich the Naples community. With the generous support of patrons, it offers a unique range of programs — including music, film, dance, comedy, lectures, and exhibitions featuring internationally acclaimed artists.
Baker Museum is one of the foremost fine art museums in Southwest Florida. Emphasizing modern and contemporary art, the museum hosts several traveling exhibitions annually to complement installations of works from its permanent collections. Dedicated to stewardship and scholarship, The Baker Museum provides world-class exhibitions and educational opportunities for Southwest Florida’s diverse community.
Revs Institute is the premier destination to study and explore one of the largest archives of automotive history ever preserved for scholars and connoisseurs alike. Our exclusive collection of the finest vintage automobiles and ever-expanding library of rare books, photographs, documents and ephemera uniquely catalogs the evolution of automobile design and the industry’s influence on modern culture.
The von Liebig Art Center is the permanent home of the Naples Art Association. A mainstay of the community, it is visited each year by approximately 100,000 guests who come to attend its changing exhibitions as well as art classes, workshops and lectures.
TheatreZone presents concerts, plays, and musicals on stage from December through May at the intimate 250-seat G&L Theatre on the Community School of Naples campus. Each year TheatreZone presents a holiday concert, four stage performances, and two musical concerts by internationally known groups.
The Naples Players enriches, educates, and entertains our community through a superior theatre experience. TNP will always provide a quality collaborative and creative experience for volunteers, staff, and audiences.