Going to à NAPLES: Formalities and administrative steps
Organize your stay à NAPLES
Money à NAPLES
As in most countries of the European Union, the currency is the Euro. The Swiss and Canadians will find all the necessary exchange offices at the airport and in town.
Budget & Tips à NAPLES
The cost of living is slightly lower than in France or Belgium. Food prices, in particular, are slightly lower. On the other hand, petrol is expensive in Italy.
Hotels. Average rates for a double room with bathroom; 2 stars: between €50 and €90 - 3 stars: between €80 and €125 - 4 stars: between €90 and €150 - 5 stars: from €150. Price variations are expected between high and low season. Accommodation is expensive on the island of Capri and in Positano.
Shopping. Store prices generally include VAT (in Italian, IVA stands for Imposta sul Valore Aggiunto). VAT on clothing: 17%. VAT for other products and services: 22%.
Indicative prices. Here's a list of average prices charged by cafés and restaurants: €1 or €1.50 for an espresso coffee; around €5 for a panino - between €1.50 and €4 for a bottle of water - around €8 for a pizza and €25 for a set-price menu - between €20 and €30 in a typical average restaurant - over €35 in a good restaurant.
Passport and visas à NAPLES
Italy is part of the European Union and the Schengen area, so the formalities to go there are reduced.
EU citizens and Swiss citizens. Identity card or passport expired within the last 5 years.
Canadian citizens. Valid passport. No visa is required.
Driver's license à NAPLES
French, Belgian and Swiss driver's licenses are accepted in Italy. The Canadian driver's license must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP) which can be obtained from the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA).
Health à NAPLES
There are no particular health risks in Naples and Campania. The tap water is drinkable and can be consumed.
Mandatory vaccination à NAPLES
There are no vaccinations required for travel in the region.
Security à NAPLES
Safety conditions in Naples and Campania are equivalent to those in other parts of Europe. It is advisable, of course, to respect the usual safety rules: do not leave your belongings unattended, make sure your bag is well closed, do not leave any object in your rental car, do not display your jewelry and valuable watches, avoid certain areas of the large cities at night... There are no particular precautions to take if you are a solo traveler.
Time difference à NAPLES
Italy belongs to the same time zone as France, Switzerland and Belgium. In April, we move forward one hour and at the end of October we move back one hour. The time difference between Quebec and Italy is 6 hours.
Spoken languages à NAPLES
The official language is Italian, but Neapolitan is still widely spoken by all age groups of the population.
Communication à NAPLES
Telephone coverage is excellent throughout the region, as is the wifi connection. It is a little less so in some of the more remote areas such as the Cilento Natural Park and parts of Irpinia. Most hotels offer free wifi, as well as many bars.
Electricity and measurements à NAPLES
Italy is connected to 220 volts like the rest of continental Europe. However, the type of plug can vary (from 2 to 3 branches). It is therefore recommended to bring an adapter, especially for telephone and laptop plugs.
Luggage à NAPLES
Prefer sober and practical clothes for the day and a few more stylish pieces for going out at night because, as they say in Italy, "anche l'occhio vuole la sua parte" (literally: "the eye also asks for its share"). In the summer, pack sunglasses, high protection sunscreen to face the solleone (heat wave), mosquito repellent and a good assortment of bathing suits for sunbathing by the sea. Bring good walking shoes or sandals for surveying archaeological sites and hiking. If you are visiting the region in winter, take warm clothes, but also in-between season clothes, as the climate along the coast can be mild and sunny even in January (be careful, in the evening the mercury drops quickly!). In summer, avoid entering churches with uncovered shoulders and legs.
Daily life à NAPLES
Hello? à NAPLES
There are no more surcharges for calls made within the European Union. Calls and messages to French numbers will cost you the same as in France and you can surf the Internet as you do at home. However, calls and messages to Italian numbers may still incur additional charges. Check with your operator.
To call from Italy to France, dial +33 followed by the number of your correspondent without the initial 0.
To call from France to Italy, dial +39 followed by the number of your correspondent, including the 0 if it is a landline. If it is a cell phone, dial +39 followed by the number of the cell phone (which is never preceded by a 0). The area code for Naples is 081.
Accessibility à NAPLES
Although the region is becoming more accessible to people with limited physical ability, there is still a long way to go. The historic centers are old and, except along the avenues, the streets rarely have wide, flat sidewalks - when there are sidewalks! Fortunately, most museums and monuments are accessible to visitors with limited mobility, and are equipped with elevators and ramps. The major archaeological sites also have special facilities for people with reduced mobility. In Pompeii, for example, the Pompei per tutti route allows everyone to discover, over a distance of 3 km, the emblematic monuments of the ancient city thanks to platforms and ramps: practical for people in wheelchairs, for strollers and for all those who have difficulty walking. As for the hotels, they are regularly equipped with at least one room for people with reduced mobility, and inclined planes next to the steps.
Health à NAPLES
No special vaccinations are required to enter Italy. There is little risk - any more than in France - of special contamination or lack of emergency aid. Emergency services are well organized in all parts of the country, and mobile phones work well everywhere, allowing for quick alert in case of trouble. Frequent problems are sunstroke and eye infections caused by not using sunglasses. Before leaving, you can already take the necessary equipment to prevent all these eventualities, as well as a good anti-mosquito lotion.
A few hygiene questions: when you go shopping in the supermarkets, don't forget to take gloves before helping yourself to bread or fruit. There are always gloves next to the plastic bags. It's not the most environmentally friendly thing, but you might get a disapproving look from some Italian if you don't use them! Trivial detail, there are quite few public toilets in Italy. Bar toilets, often in excellent condition (profusion of marble and ceramics), will suit the most pressing needs perfectly, for the price of a 1 € espresso if the barman is reluctant to let you use the toilet.
Emergency numbers à NAPLES
Emergency numbers in Italy:
Carabinieri (Italian gendarmerie): 112.
Polizia (police - first aid) : 113.
Firemen: 115.
Roadside assistance: 116.
Medical emergencies: 118.
Securty à NAPLES
Naples has a bad reputation, largely due to the presence of the Camorra, a mafia organization that plagues certain sectors of the regional economy. Of course, the phenomenon cannot be denied, , but the risk of tourists being plunged into a story of settling of accounts is almost equal to zero. Naples is not more dangerous than London or Paris, it is even more welcoming than these two cities, so there is no need for paranoia. It is advisable to be reasonably cautious and to respect a few common sense rules, as you would do anywhere else: do not leave your belongings (wallet, cell phone, etc.) lying around on the table of a café or restaurant, and even more so on the terrace. Don't leave your bag open when you walk down the street or leave it unattended when you go to the bathroom. Don't display your jewelry or valuable watch. Be sure not to leave anything in your rental car. In the city, beware of scooters that come too close to you. Some areas of major cities are more dangerous than others (usually near train stations and in the suburbs). This is the case in Naples, where it is better to avoid the area around the train station and the port area, which are not very well frequented. Finally, note that markets, terraces and buses are the most popular places for pickpockets.
LGBTQ à NAPLES
In Naples, as in most Western European cities, homosexuality is now accepted and it has become common to see same-sex couples holding hands. The degree of tolerance depends, however, on the area where you are: in the historical center, the Vomero and Chiaia, various establishments, hotels, bars, are "gay friendly". Piazza Bellini and its surroundings, for example, are a meeting place for Neapolitan youth of all stripes. It is better, however, to remain discreet in the Spanish quarters or in the Sanità district, at the risk of being mocked in every way... Outside of Naples, the degree of openness is often linked to the level of tourism: if tolerance is the rule in Capri, homosexuality remains invisible in the villages.
The main association of the country, Arcigay, is a good reference point: www.arcigay.it.
Embassies and consulates à NAPLES
In Paris, the Italian Embassy is located at 51, rue de Varenne (ambparigi.esteri.it). The Italian Consulate is located at 5, boulevard Emile-Augier (consparigi.esteri.it).
In Naples there are the following consulates:
Consulate of France, Via Francesco Crispi 86, in the Chiaia district (+39 081 598 0711; www.consulfrance-naples.org). The French Institute of Naples is located at the same address.
Consulate of Belgium, Via A. De Gasperi 55 (+39 081 551 2110; [email protected]).
Swiss Consulate, Via Consalvo Carelli 7 (+39 335 831 5257; [email protected]).
Canadian Consulate, Via Carducci 29 (+39 081 401 338; [email protected]).
Mail à NAPLES
Post offices (Uffici Postali) are generally open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm-7pm, and from 9am to noon on Saturdays. In smaller towns, offices are generally open from 9am to midday and from 3pm to 6pm, with Saturday mornings only.
The stamps are called francobolli in Italian. To send mail to France and Europe, you pay €1.30. Stamps are sold in post offices and tobacconists (Tabacchi), which can be recognized by their T-shaped sign. Mailboxes are red in color.
Please note that the Italian postal system is not as efficient as the French one. Your package or postcard may not arrive until you're back from vacation.
Local media à NAPLES
La Rai (Radiotelevisione italiana) is Italy's largest and best-known public broadcasting group. It has several general-interest and thematic TV channels, as well as radio stations. Rai has a rather poor reputation outside the company, due to some of its empty programs, where the only thing that counts is the plasticity of its presenters. However, it does offer a number of programs that explore Italian heritage, including Ulisse - Il Piacere della Scoperta and Le Meraviglie, presented by Alberto Angela, who is a true national star (a bit like the ideal son-in-law for the Italian mamma!).
In the print sector, Italy's most widely circulated newspapers are Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica, La Stampa, Il Sole 24 Ore (a business and financial daily) and Gazzetta dello Sport. These are now distributed digitally in addition to the print version. Naples and Campania also boast an abundance of local press in print and/or digital form: Il Giornale di Napoli, La Gazzetta di Napoli, Cronache della Campania, Il Mattino di Napoli, Napolitoday...
There are also some very interesting websites to help you put the finishing touches to your trip:
Visit Naples (visitnaples.eu) is the website of the tourist office. It deals with the city's cultural and tourist aspects, and offers a wealth of practical information (in Italian and English).
Bella Napoli (bellanapoli.fr) is a site entirely in French, presenting the city from various angles: historical, cultural, geographical... Quite well done, it offers an accessible and pleasant first approach to the city.
Napoli da Vivere (napolidavivere.it) is a comprehensive site detailing all events in Naples and Campania, news (openings of establishments, inaugurations) and other practical information. Particular emphasis is placed on artistic heritage (in Italian only).
Napolike (en.napolike.com) covers all the events taking place in Naples and the surrounding area: concerts, exhibitions, festivities, guided tours... But also recipes and suggestions for your Neapolitan evenings (in French).
