Naples today: the back story

About Naples today: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Naples Editorial Team

The City of Naples itself is small, with under 20,000 residents, but it is the heart of Collier County, home to several hundred thousand people. Its winters bring visitors and seasonal residents from across North America and beyond.

A small city

The historic city runs along the Gulf from Port Royal and Old Naples to Park Shore and Moorings Bay. North Naples, Pelican Bay, Vanderbilt Beach and the golf communities inland are part of the wider Naples area, in unincorporated Collier County.

The season

Life follows the season. From November to April the population swells, restaurants and concert halls are full, and traffic builds on US 41. Summer is hot, humid and quieter, with afternoon thunderstorms and lower prices.

Naples is two places: the small, walkable city by the Gulf, and the wider county stretching to the Everglades.

Culture

Artis—Naples, home of the Naples Philharmonic and The Baker Museum, anchors a cultural life that includes professional theatre at Gulfshore Playhouse and galleries on Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South.

After the hurricanes

Hurricane Ian in 2022 brought a record storm surge to Naples and flooded parts of the city; the pier and many waterfront buildings had to be rebuilt. Recovery has reshaped parts of the coast, and new buildings follow stricter flood rules.

Our advice: visit between December and April for the full social calendar, or in late spring for warm water and quieter beaches, and always check hurricane forecasts if you travel between June and November.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Naples today: the back story before you go.