My husband I have will be staying in Sorrento for 3 days and then are going to go to Naples for one day/night before taking the train to Rome for an early afternoon flight the next day.
We are considering staying in Naples at the Hotel Piazza Bellini or the Hotel Art Resort in the Galleria Umberto.
This is our 5th Wedding anniversary vacation and want our day in Naples to be enjoyable with good accomodation.
Wondering which hotel to choose? Any opinions would be appreciated.
Thank you!
Giangilberto from Milan here. I can't referee the two hotels for you — I haven't slept in either, and I'd be inventing if I pretended otherwise. But I know both spots well, and here's the thing: you're not really choosing between two hotels. With one evening in Naples, you're choosing between two completely different anniversary nights, because those addresses sit in two different worlds.
Piazza Bellini is the living room of the historic center: cafés and aperitivo tables on a little square with ancient Greek walls in the middle, bookshops, conservatory students, and the whole Spaccanapoli maze starting a few steps away. Evening there means noise in the good sense — you're inside the city. The honest flip side: "inside the city" lasts all night in Naples, so ask for a courtyard-facing room, and the arrival by taxi through those alleys is its own adventure.
Galleria Umberto is the opposite scene: the grand nineteenth-century glass arcade by the Royal Palace and the San Carlo opera house, elegant, orderly, catches its breath at night. From there you stroll Via Toledo, or have a coffee at Gambrinus like the Neapolitan bourgeoisie has for a century and a half. It's the polished, romantic Naples — some find it almost too quiet after dinner.
If it were my anniversary and my one night, I'd honestly pick the Bellini area — Naples' magic is in its chaos, and with a single evening I'd want to be swimming in it, not looking at it from the balcony. But if your idea of a celebration is a beautiful dinner and a calm elegant walk, the Galleria is the safer romance.
One logistics note that matters for your plan: for the early train to Rome, both are fine — ten to fifteen minutes by taxi to Centrale, just book the cab through the hotel the night before rather than flagging one. And for the anniversary dinner, wherever you sleep: reserve, even in Naples, even on a weekday. Congratulations on the five years!
I’ve stayed at the Art Hotel and thought it was fine with good sized rooms near public transportation. Interesting being on the upper floors of the Galleria. It is at the south end of the city whereas the Bellini is more centrally located. To me the difference in location made no difference. If you do opt for the Art Hotel, enjoy a cappuccino at Café Gambrinus and dinner at Osteria Il Gobbetto on Vico Sergente Maggiore. I would definitely make reservations.
We stayed at the Piazza Bellini hotel last fall, both when first arriving in Naples, and then by again at the end of the trip before flying out of Italy. The rooms (5th floor) were quiet, and the second time had an extra scenic view. Breakfasts were always outstanding.
Location was excellent, short walk from the Dante Metro stop, with many outstanding restaurants close by. The tiny Sottocoperta seafood restaurant is just around the corner, and the hotel front desk was very helpful in getting us reservations there. It sounds like you’re probably not going to visit the National Archaeological Museum (MANN), with all the treasures from Pompeii, but that’s just down the street.
Giangilberto- Thank you for your thoughtful reply, when I read it to my husband we knew Piazza Bellini was the spot for us!
Phillip and Cyn, thank you both for your replies too!!
Warmly,
Aimee
