(18 Via Port'Alba. Tel. 081 459 713) Visit the world’s first pizzeria (established in 1738), still dishing up the good stuff.

  (91 Via Riviera di Chiaia. Tel. 081 680 490) Whether you seek an excellent pizza or a multi-course Neapolitan meal, your quest will be a success. House specialities include peppered mussels, gnocchi alla Sorrentino and smoked swordfish.

  (90 Discesa Coroglio, Posillipo. Tel. 081 598 3375) Mediterranean cuisine in an elegant, air-conditioned setting with a panoramic view. The menu focuses on seasonal dishes, such as spaghetti with sea urchins, breaded calamari and local fish.

  (1 Piazza Vittoria. Tel. 081 240 5188) The Politelli family reinterpret classic Neapolitan dishes with modern flair and a strong emphasis on seafood. Almond fried shrimp, blueberry and shrimp risotto, even sushi partenopeo are a few of the tasty but unusual menu items you will find here.

  (325 Via Toledo. Tel. 081 406 832) On the popular shopping street, Roma offers an excellent selection of regional pastries and snacks in addition to a full bar.

  (46 Via Sedile di Porto. Tel. ) In the historic city centre, Mamamu provides a playful atmosphere, cheap but tasty cocktails, and live music every evening in a wide variety of genres.

  (28 Via Giuseppe Martucci. Tel. 338 232 1381) A place to live large. The subterranean rooms make this disco an intimate lair where you can get your groove on till the wee hours. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10.30pm-4am.

Ospedale delle Bambole, Naples’ charming doll hospital, is a tiny shop and museum in Spaccanapoli filled with figurines and traditional hand-crafted toys.

Now is the time to enjoy local favourites such as peppered mussels and spaghetti with clams. Neapolitans claim shellfish tastes better in months spelled without an 'r.'

While Naples is synonymous with metropolitan chaos, the Capodimonte Royal Woods offers 124 hectares of serenity. This former royal hunting ground is now a public park where common folk wander tree-lined avenues, admiring marble statues, fountains and the splendid view for free.

This year’s May of the Monuments festivities feature Naples’ castles: Nuovo, dell’Ovo, Sant’Elmo and Capuano. Keep your eye out for 'Maggio dei Monumenti' signs and enjoy guided walks, concerts, readings, dancing and even horse races (2-25 May).

 – Founded by Greeks in 740 BC, Cuma is popular with spelunkers and history buffs, who enjoy exploring its temple ruins and mythical cave. To get there, catch a train to Pozzuoli, then hop on an Archeobus to Cuma.

Every year, faithful Catholics congregate to witness the liquefaction of a vial of dried blood from Naples’ patron saint, San Gennaro, in a special ceremony held on the first Saturdays in May and December, as well as the saint's feast day in September.