25 Best Things to Do in Naples, Florida

It doesn’t matter how much time you’re spending in Naples, it’s safe to say that you want to take in as many sights and sounds as possible. Fortunately, there are things to do in Naples (and the surrounding area) for every visitor.

Like many, you may be visiting Naples to spend time at the beach. From the pearly white sand to the clear blue water, and beautiful sunsets, you can be rest assured of an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

When it’s time to leave the beach, you can spend your time dining out, shopping, visiting local art galleries, or hitting the links.

Here are the best 22 things to do on your next Naples getaway, including the best attractions, restaurants, hikes, beaches, shops and activities.

1. Fish On Naples Pier

Photo Credit: SDJPro

The historic Naples pier on Naples Beach is known for fishing, bird-watching, dolphin-spotting, and scenic sunset views. Located on the Gulf of Mexico at the West end of 12th Avenue South. Even folks just driving through town stop for a walk on the 1,000-foot-long Naples Pier.

First built in 1888, it’s been rebuilt five times after hurricanes. On-street parking is supplemented by a parking lot one block East, with additional parking at the beach ends on the avenues to the north and south.

2. Visit Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Officially established in the 1950s by the Audubon Society, the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is one of the most unique places related to the Audubon Society in the United States. What makes it unique is the fact that it is the only privately owned park that belongs to the Audubon Society and that its property contains one of the few remaining pine forests in the Southeastern United States.

3. Hang out with Animals at Naples Zoo

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is the perfect activity for families visiting Naples. Get ready for an exciting, up-close adventure that will be remembered by both you and your kids for a lifetime as you feed giraffes, watch alligators being fed, take a cruise, and watch fun, educational shows.

4. Relax at Lowdermilk Beach Park

Lowdermilk Park is a beautiful beachfront area popular with both residents and visitors. It has a little something for everyone in your family to enjoy. There are two playgrounds for the children, and athletes have access to two sand volleyball courts. Lowdermilk Park also has picnic tables, benches, restrooms, and shower facilities. If you’re planning an event, there are even gazebos for rent to ensure your group has a place in the shade.

5. Get Your Automotive Fix at the Revs Institute

The Revs Institute presents the Collier Collection of over one hundred significant automobiles built between 1896 and 1995. The automobiles on display at Revs are some of the rarest and most important cars ever built at any time, anywhere. They are the ones that variously blazed technical pathways, redefined aesthetic standards, made history, and changed the world.

6. Meet a Macaw at the Bird Gardens of Naples

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 the large macaw aviary with opportunities to take photos and hold birds. Guided tours last approximately two hours with two miles of walking trails.

7. Explore Nature at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is a stunning area of natural beauty and offers daily nature center programs as we explore the natural environments of Southwest Florida, meet native species up close, and discover how Conservancy of Southwest Florida works to protect Southwest Florida’s water, land, wildlife, and our future.

8. Appreciate Fine Art at the Baker Museum

The 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. Visitors can easily spend half a day here exploring the three floors of art.

9. Hike and Bike at Bird Rookery Swamp

The Bird Rookery Swamp Trail officially opened in July 2011. It offers 12 miles of hiking and biking trails, including a 1500-ft. boardwalk with wheelchair accessibility.

A 1/4-mile crushed shell path leads to a 1500-ft. boardwalk, then the trails become ground level, sandy/grassy, relatively flat berms with swamp on both sides. The trails are actually old tram roads used when the area was logged many years ago.

This is a wonderful place to soak up some Florida sun while enjoying our state’s famed natural beauty.

10. Explore Mangroves at Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Located at the northern end of the Ten Thousand Islands on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve represents one of the few remaining undisturbed mangrove estuaries in North America. Take an eco-tour to learn about the ecosystems here, and try the hands-on activities at the visitor center for a fun and educational day out.

11. Sunbathe at Clam Pass Park

Photo Credit: Kristi Blokhin

The Park consists of 35 acres of mangrove forest, coastal dunes, and 3,200 linear feet of beach on the Gulf of Mexico. There is a boardwalk, which provides access to the beach, for paddle boarding or sunbathing, through a mangrove forest. The boardwalk is about three-quarters of a mile long and can be walked or you can catch a ride on a free tram that runs continuously throughout the day.

12. Shop at the Village on Venetian Bay

Home to more than 50 top-tier shops, art galleries, and a selection of waterfront Naples restaurants, The Village Shops On Venetian Bay has been heralded for its award-winning design, Village waterfront setting, and eclectic mix of specialty retailers. The classic Mediterranean theme of this shopping district includes meandering courtyards, Venetian-style facades, and a relaxed bayside ambiance.

13. Take the Kids to Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples

The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (C’mon) is Southwest Florida’s first museum devoted to children and families to learn through play. This interactive museum offers 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.

C’mon is located in the North Naples area near Vanderbilt Beach and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, so why not combine these activities and make a day trip of it?

14. Discover Tin City

Address: 5th Avenue S, Naples, FL 34102

Tin City is a popular tourist destination in Naples. Located near Fifth Avenue South in the heart of Downtown Naples, Tin City was originally a pier built in the 1880s but transformed into a marketplace in the 1970s.

Today, it is still a shopping center with great waterfront boutiques and dining options and is the launching center for boats run by Pure Naples, a local touring company that runs sightseeing cruises and charters boats for fishing trips.

15. Get to Know Naples’ Heritage at the Depot Museum

The Naples Seaboard Air Line Railway Station is a historic Seaboard Air Line Railway depot in Naples, Florida. This educational museum showcases our community’s unique heritage and cultural development through the lens of the evolution of transport. See Seminole dugout canoes and antique swamp buggies, as well as restored rail cars.

16. Learn About the History of Palm Cottage

The Naples Historical Society’s Historic Palm Cottage is a historic home in Naples, Florida. It is located in the Naples Historic District. The antiques-filled cottage is a rare example of tabby mortar construction and gives visitors a glimpse into how life was in Naples in the 1800s.

17. Learn About Florida’s Origins at Collier County Museum

This museum offering includes historical exhibits about early settlers and Native Americans in Southwest Florida. Stalk prehistoric mastodons with Florida’s first big-game hunters, or travel even further back in time when colossal sharks cruised the warm tropical seas that once covered Southwest Florida.

18. Take a Horse and Carriage Ride at Crayton Cove

Beautiful Crayton Cove on Naples Bay is an old salt’s delight. Crayton Cove harbors the Naples Yacht Club, Naples City Dock, the famous Dock Restaurant, Naples Ships Store, The Cove Inn, and a variety of shops, salons, and eateries.

Crayton Cove is also home to the Naples Horse and Carriage Company. A traditional carriage ride is a wonderful way to see Old Naples. If charter fishing and sailing are on your list of things to do, the charter boats are ready for you here, too.

19. Make a Splash at Sun-N-Fun Lagoon

Sun-N-Fun Lagoon Water Park has plenty of fun water-based attractions that kids and adults both love. There are five water slides, each with a different speed and path. They start from a 38-foot wooden water tower, which kids love to climb again and again! The Sunny River is a classic lazy river. Grab your inner tube and float along in the sun as the stress melts away.

Feel the water cascade over your head when you visit Family Falls. The Tadpole Pool is just for toddlers, and the Turtle Cove is reserved for children 5 to 12. If you want to get in a little exercise while your children play, the Dolphin Dive and Lap Pool has lap lanes and two diving boards.

Note that the park is only open during the summer months.

20. Take an Art Class at the Naples Art Institute

Naples Art Institute boasts a superb rotation of exhibitions throughout the year and there’s always lots to see here. For a fun activity and a unique souvenir from your time in Naples, why not take part in an art class or workshop? From watercolor painting to clay building, you can pick up lots of new skills.

21. Watch the Naples Players at Sugden Community Theatre

Photo Credit: Philip Lange

The Naples Players was founded in the 1950s and have been putting on world-class performances ever since. Head to Sugden Theater to watch them work their magic on stage. If you fancy yourself as a performer, you can also take classes. See the Naples Players website for schedules and prices.

22. Kayak at Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge

One of the most amazing places that you can go in Florida is the beautiful Ten Thousand Islands. Located off of the southwest coast of Florida, its remote and vast and a veritable maze of mangrove islands. Wildlife Service recommends only seasoned canoeists and sea kayakers attempt unguided trips.

One of the most amazing places that you can visit in Florida is the beautiful Ten Thousand Islands. Located off the southwest coast of Florida, this is one of the most fascinating habitats to explore. Wildlife Service recommends only seasoned canoeists and sea kayakers attempt unguided trips as it can be a difficult place to navigate. If you have time during your trip to Naples, head south past Fort Myers to visit the Everglades National Park to take an airboat tour of this world-class ecosystem.

There’s So Much to Do in Naples Florida

As you can see, there’s something in Naples for every type of visitor. It doesn’t matter if you’re interested in history, fun in the sun on some of Florida’s best beaches, or local culture, there’s something here to keep you busy.

Even though Naples is one of the wealthiest cities in the United States, there are plenty of budget-friendly activities to immerse yourself in. Keep an open mind and you’ll be surprised at what you find. So, the next time you find yourself visiting Naples on the Gulf, make a list of sightseeing activities you want to do and get ready for some serious fun. There’s no better place for a vacation!

Don’t forget to book your Naples vacation rental in advance to secure your preferred place!