Overview
Unless you are a recluse or a dedicated homebody, if you own property here you will likely be out and about in Naples often. There is much to do and see in our little slice of tropical paradise.
How far a home is from the places you need or love matters to most buyers. Community and home pages on this site show the driving distance and estimated driving time to the destinations in this chapter; for beaches, the ten nearest. The community search can narrow communities by distance to a beach, to downtown and to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), and the home search can narrow homes by distance or driving time to a beach and to downtown.
So, what are the top destinations in Naples?
Naples Destinations
Below are the destinations by category: airports, beaches, dining and shopping, hospitals, parks and recreation, and the performing arts. They are the same destinations named on the community and home pages.
There are others that might interest you. If you have an interest, recreational or otherwise, that you do not see here, ask me whether Naples has it.
Airports
Marco Island Executive Airport (MKY)
A public airport owned by Collier County, about 4 miles from the center of Marco Island. MKY serves private flyers; there are no commercial flights.
Naples Airport (APF)
About 3 miles from the Gulf beaches and from downtown is Naples Airport. APF is a public airport, owned by the City of Naples and run by the Naples Airport Authority. Most of its traffic is private aviation.
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
RSW, in Fort Myers, is the main commercial airport for Southwest Florida, with many commercial flights. The drive from Naples takes roughly half an hour to an hour, depending on where in Naples you are; community and home pages show the estimate from each.
Beaches
The beaches in and around Naples are some of the very best in the U.S. Our sand is white and a bit finer than elsewhere; it is often called sugar or powder sand. Our waters are a beautiful jade. And because we are on Florida’s west coast, the afternoon sun through sunset is over the Gulf. We have some of the best multicolored sunsets on the planet. (An hour or two before sunset, you will often see many heading to the beach, picnic baskets in hand, to watch the sun set over the Gulf.)
General Beach Information
- The City of Naples alone has nearly 9 miles of beach, and the beaches of North Naples add more.
- Add the nearby beaches of Marco Island, Keewaydin Island, Bonita Springs and Estero Island, and there are about 50 miles of beach in the area. 50 miles!
- Most Naples beaches are public. There is a small handful of private beaches.
- Naples is known for its beaches, and its beach access is noteworthy too. Some beaches have their own parking lots, and along the southern beaches there are access points, with parking, at almost every block.
- Some beaches charge for parking. Collier County property owners and full-time residents can get a free annual beach parking permit for each vehicle, honored at City of Naples and Collier County beach parking.
- Dogs are not allowed on most beaches here. At Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, leashed pets may stay on paved areas only. The best beach for dogs is Lee County’s Dog Beach, on Estero Boulevard between Bonita Beach and Lovers Key, where dogs can run free.
The list below holds the main beaches in the area, the same beaches named on the community and home pages. There are more named beaches than appear here.
Community pages also name the nearest beach access point, and how far it is.
Barefoot Beach Preserve
Barefoot Beach is the northernmost beach in Collier County and a favorite of many. It has 342 acres of preserve on one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier islands in Southwest Florida, and wildlife is plentiful. The beach is 3 miles long. There are restrooms, but little else, and a parking fee if you do not have a beach parking permit.
Bonita Beach
Bonita Beach is in Bonita Springs, just over the Collier County line. It is a lovely beach with many access points along its almost 3-mile length. Parking can be tricky, and the two-lane road beside it often has traffic on peak-season weekends.
Clam Pass Park
Tucked behind the Naples Grande Beach Resort is Clam Pass Park. This popular beach is about 2 miles long and one of my personal favorites. You pass an attended gate to enter the parking lot, and at its back corner a ¾-mile boardwalk leads to the beach. It is a picturesque, shaded walk through mangroves and over an inlet of Outer Clam Bay before it opens onto the Gulf sands. It is absolutely beautiful. A free tram runs for those who would rather not walk. Beachside food and restrooms are available.
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
As a state park, Delnor-Wiggins Pass charges an entry fee, and the beach parking permit is not valid here. The park covers 166 acres, with about a mile of beach on a relatively undisturbed barrier island. It has a boat launch, a spot for fishing from shore, a hiking trail and more.
Fort Myers Beach
Fort Myers Beach is the most popular beach in Lee County and a destination for Naples residents and visitors alike. The town of Fort Myers Beach, on Estero Island, has many named beaches along 7 miles of sand. The island was devastated by Hurricane Ian in 2022 and flooded again by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, and it has been rebuilding since.
Lovers Key State Park
Lovers Key is a barrier island between Bonita Beach and Estero Island (Fort Myers Beach). The beauty of its 2-mile beach and the landscape around it has made it a beachside wedding destination. As a state park, it charges a fee to park.
Lowdermilk Park
The beach at Lowdermilk Park is technically part of Naples Municipal Beach. This beautiful park, just north of downtown Naples, has a beachside children’s playground, volleyball courts, kayak and paddleboard rentals, picnic tables, restrooms and showers, with a handful of shops across the street. Parking can be challenging on peak-season weekends; arrive early and you should have no problems.
Naples Municipal Beach & Pier
Naples Pier is the #1 tourist attraction in Naples. Just three short blocks west of Third Street South, a bustling shopping and dining area, the pier and beach see many visitors. This beach happens to be my personal favorite for catching some Florida sunshine when time allows. The pier was severely damaged by Hurricane Ian in 2022 and is being rebuilt larger, longer and stronger, with completion expected in 2027. There is a dedicated parking lot, but it is small, so you may need to park a block or two away. Restrooms are available.
Pelican Bay Beach (Private)
Although it is a private beach, I include Pelican Bay Beach for those who might be interested in this amazing community. Pelican Bay owns almost 3 miles of beach along its coastline, with two main access points, North Beach and South Beach. A tram serves this large, amenity-rich community, stopping at the beaches along its route. Pelican Bay is just north of Clam Pass Park and just south of Vanderbilt Beach. For Pelican Bay itself, this is the beach the site measures to.
Tigertail Beach Park
Tigertail Beach is on Marco Island and is the closest beach for some residents of Southeast Naples. It has a playground, picnic tables and restrooms. Tigertail connects to other Marco Island beaches for about 5 miles of continuous sand. Marco Island sand is a little different from Naples sand, more “traditional” in color and texture, and its beaches are known for shelling; some call it the “shelling capital.”
Vanderbilt Beach Park
Vanderbilt Beach is very popular. It draws residents and visitors of Naples, and many from Bonita Springs, Estero and Fort Myers to the north. The beach and the real estate around it were damaged by Hurricane Ian in 2022, and Hurricane Helene’s surge topped the dunes again in 2024. The beach has been restored, and the area has seen major rebuilding and new development since. One of the two Ritz-Carlton hotels in Naples is on Vanderbilt Beach and offers beachside food and drink. There is a county parking garage, but getting a space in peak season takes an early arrival. Restrooms are available.
Via Miramar Beach
Via Miramar Beach is in The Moorings, between Lowdermilk Park and Clam Pass Park. It is the entry to a stretch of beach about 2.5 miles long, most of which is hard to reach because of the many gated condominium buildings along it. If you want a bit more privacy and smaller crowds, Via Miramar is a great choice. It is mainly used by locals.
Dining & Shopping
If there is one thing people in Naples do often, it is dine out. Quite often when touring homes, I marvel at 5-, 10-, 15- and even 20-year-old ovens that look like they may have reheated some pizza five years ago, and that is about it. For many, kitchens are for easy meals only. Second only to our beaches, Naples is known for the number and variety of its restaurants.
Shopping is popular with residents and visitors alike, from beachwear and tchotchke shops for tourists to the finest women’s clothing, and dining and shopping are often in the same places. Here are ten of the most popular spots to dine, shop or both. An asterisk marks a Naples “hot spot.”
Coastland Center
I call Coastland Center the “every person mall.” It is an indoor mall. What can be said about a typical indoor mall? (Maybe I have said enough already.) The anchors are Macy’s, Dillard’s and JCPenney, and a CMX CinéBistro movie theater replaced Sears in 2021. There is a typical food court and a handful of standalone restaurants on the grounds, with more than 100 shops and places to eat in all.
Coconut Point
Just over the county line in Estero is Coconut Point, a large outdoor mall that shares its name with a large residential community to its east. Anchors include SuperTarget and Dillard’s. There are about 25 restaurants, a movie theater and more than 100 shops. The restaurants run from large national brands to a handful of local places that approach “better dining.”
Fifth Avenue South*
Welcome to Naples! To visit Fifth Avenue South is to experience much of why so many love Naples. The commercial stretch of this main downtown street is about half a mile long, with more than 200 businesses: apparel shops, gift stores, jewelers, ice cream parlors, banks, a hotel, a performing arts theater and about 30 restaurants and cafés. All are well regarded, and many have indoor and outdoor dining. The street is lined with palm trees, lit beautifully every night, and its western end is a short three-block walk to the beach.
Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt
In North Naples West, Galleria Shoppes is a mixed-use center of restaurants, shops and professional services. This outdoor center has about 12 places to eat, from familiar chains to full-service local restaurants, and about 50 shops and service providers.
Gulf Coast Town Center
Running alongside I-75, Gulf Coast Town Center is one you may notice on the way to or from Southwest Florida International Airport. This large outdoor mall is in Fort Myers, and its anchors include Costco, Target, Bass Pro Shops and Regal Cinemas. There are about 25 restaurants and more than 50 shops and other businesses.
Mercato*
Mercato is a mixed-use development of restaurants, nightclubs, shops, condominiums and some offices. Whole Foods Market is here too. Most of its restaurants are higher-quality local places or small “better dining” chains. There is some retail, but dining and nightlife are Mercato’s strong suit, and there are many outdoor events: concerts, outdoor movies, car shows and the like.
Miromar Outlets
This outdoor outlet mall in Estero is about a 15-minute drive from the Collier County line. About 100 outlet stores are here; H&M, Saks Off 5th, Chico’s and Polo are draws for many. There are also about a dozen places to grab a bite.
Third Street South*
The original downtown strip of Naples, before Fifth Avenue South was developed, Third Street South is about three short blocks, plus several side streets, lined with restaurants and shops. There are about a dozen restaurants in all; a casual favorite is the original Tommy Bahama restaurant. There are also many art galleries and high-end shops. Naples Beach and the pier are a very short walk to the west.
Venetian Village*
In the heart of Park Shore is Venetian Village (also known as The Village Shops on Venetian Bay), across the street from the beach on beautiful Venetian Bay. The bay is lined with luxury homes and condominiums, and the grounds are beautifully landscaped and lit at night. There are half a dozen or so restaurants, all on the water and all popular, and about 30 shops, most of them one of a kind and locally owned.
Waterside Shops*
Waterside Shops is an outdoor shopping and dining destination, mostly high-end. “Waterside” refers to the beautiful water features at the center of the mall, with tile-lined fountains throughout. Most of the shopping is very high-end, with some of the world’s leading luxury clothiers present, and Saks Fifth Avenue is the anchor. There are a handful of restaurants, and Artis—Naples (below) is close by, which makes this an ideal spot to dine before a show.
Hospitals
While I hope hospital visits will not be a frequent occurrence for you, at some point most of us will find one inevitable. Chapter 2 describes health care in Naples: the two hospital systems, how they are growing, and the new projects at NCH.
Naples is home to Arthrex, a global medical device company that is a leader in orthopedic product development and manufacturing, and in medical education. It draws thousands of doctors to the area every year to train in orthopedic procedures at its facilities here, and its presence has made the area strong in orthopedics should a need ever arise. The quality of care has also benefited from an influx of medical talent from larger cities to the north. Naples is particularly strong in cardiac care as well (see NCH below).
NCH Healthcare System
Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) is a locally governed nonprofit with two hospitals and about 710 beds, and it owns many other medical facilities in the area. It is associated with more than 1,100 local physicians. Healthgrades named NCH one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for 2025 and for 2026. NCH has a particularly strong reputation in cardiac care, which a new heart and stroke critical care center, expected to open in 2027, should strengthen. The two NCH hospitals are:
NCH Baker Downtown
NCH Baker Hospital is within walking distance of Fifth Avenue South in downtown Naples. It is the oldest hospital in the area, expanded and updated over time, and the new heart and stroke center is being built here.
NCH North Naples Hospital
NCH North Naples Hospital is in North Naples West. It is the smaller of the two NCH hospitals, and its campus is home to HSS at NCH, which opened in June 2025.
Physicians Regional Healthcare System
Physicians Regional came to Naples in 2006, when it took over the hospital Cleveland Clinic had opened on Pine Ridge Road in 1999, and it has expanded through the area since. It offers cardiology, neurovascular and stroke care, and orthopedics. Its locations are:
Physicians Regional Pine Ridge Rd.
Located in Central Naples East, just off I-75, Pine Ridge Road is the first Physicians Regional hospital, upgraded after the system took it over from Cleveland Clinic.
Physicians Regional Collier Blvd.
The Collier Boulevard hospital opened in a new building in early 2007, bringing needed medical care to parts of South Naples and Southeast Naples. It is focused on acute care.
Physicians Regional North
Physicians Regional took over Landmark Hospital, which had specialized in long-term critical care, and it is now a North Naples campus focused on orthopedics, spine care and rehabilitation. Community and home pages do not measure the drive to Physicians Regional North: it is close enough to NCH North Naples Hospital that the drive time to NCH North serves for both.
Parks & Recreation
There is no shortage of outdoor activities off the beach in Naples. Below are several of the best places to take in the sun, a nice walk or an outdoor event.
Baker Park
Baker Park opened in October 2019. Within walking distance of downtown Naples, its 15 acres run along the Gordon River, with a 1.3-mile walking trail and a connection to the Gordon River Greenway (below). There is a playground, a picnic area, a fitness area and more, and some facilities can be reserved for events. It is a small local park, beautifully designed.
Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park
This recreational complex opened in 2023, and there is a lot to love. There is an aquatic center with water slides, and the largest playground in Collier County. There is a sizable lawn for outdoor events, along with 6 pickleball courts, 2 tennis courts, 2 outdoor basketball courts, 2 softball fields, 2 concession pavilions, 2 natural-turf and 2 artificial-turf multipurpose fields, and a handful of walking paths. A community center of about 22,000 square feet, suitable for many kinds of events, is also in this 150-acre regional park.
Cambier Park
Cambier Park is a lovely 13-acre park in downtown Naples, running parallel to the eastern end of Fifth Avenue South, one block to the south. Much of it is shaded by beautiful trees, with park benches, a playground and a bandshell for outdoor performances, as well as a community center, a covered pavilion, shuffleboard courts, a softball field and a tennis center. There are art shows, community gatherings and many outdoor performances. Just grab a beach chair, some snacks and a cooler for a nice afternoon outdoors at Cambier Park.
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is run by Audubon and billed as a “gateway into the heart of the Everglades ecosystem.” This sanctuary of more than 13,000 acres, mostly wetlands, is truly awe-inspiring. Along its 2.25-mile raised boardwalk, you might see alligators, otters, white-tailed deer, gopher tortoises and red-bellied turtles, and perhaps a panther or a black bear. Beautiful birds abound, some of them endangered, like the wood stork. The sanctuary protects the largest remaining old-growth bald cypress forest in the world, and rare plants including the elusive ghost orchid. It is an amazing place to visit.
Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park
This 50-acre park just north of downtown Naples has a 5-acre lake, a boardwalk of about two-thirds of a mile and other walking trails. Lookout pavilions and water fountains give great views of restored wetlands, and there is an education center on site.
Gordon River Greenway Park
Our Greenway is spectacular. It runs through a wondrous 140-acre preserve in the heart of Naples, with 2.5 miles of trails, including a raised boardwalk through six native plant communities. Walking, jogging, biking, rollerblading and skateboarding are welcome, and there is typically an abundance of wildlife to see.
Naples Botanical Garden
One of the finest tropical gardens in the U.S., Naples Botanical Garden is a true local treasure. It is beautiful, with many gardens, a restaurant, an education center and a gift shop. Many special events are held here through the year, and the gardens seem to make every event special. A handful of evening events, with the gardens beautifully lit, are truly sensational. A Naples winter evening at the garden is highly recommended.
Naples Zoo
Our zoo is an award-winning nonprofit devoted to recreation and conservation education. It is nationally accredited as both a zoo and a botanical garden, has existed in some form since the early 1900s, and is funded by visitors and donations alone. There are a variety of animals and gardens to see, much of it along a 1-mile path through the grounds.
North Collier Regional Park
At 212 acres, North Collier Regional Park is one of our largest parks, with a wealth of recreation: an exhibit hall, a fitness center, the Sun-N-Fun Lagoon water park, a playground, 8 soccer fields, 5 tournament softball fields, picnic pavilions and a butterfly garden, plus a 2.5-mile walking trail and boardwalk. The fitness center requires a paid membership.
Paradise Coast Sports Complex
The Paradise Coast Sports Complex is a county-owned sports and special events destination, run by a private operator. Its first phase opened in July 2020, and it has grown since to include a 3,500-seat multipurpose stadium, several full-size sports fields, an outdoor fitness area, a Great Lawn for outdoor events and a walking trail. There is also a restaurant on site, and outdoor evening events here have been gathering steam.
Sugden Regional Park
Sugden Regional Park is home to the 60-acre Lake Avalon. The park offers water skiing and sailing lessons, paddleboard rentals, picnic areas, a lakeside “beach,” a playground and a gazebo.
Performing Arts
If you are a fan of the performing arts, local theaters can easily fill your calendar with sensational performances and events. The performing arts are very popular here, and heavily supported through memberships, special events and charitable donations.
Artis—Naples
This is our premier destination for the visual and performing arts. Music, film, dance, comedy, lectures and exhibitions, with world-class touring performers and more, are on offer year-round. The 8.5-acre campus is in Central Naples West, just north of downtown, with two performance halls, the larger seating 1,477. The 45,000-square-foot Baker Museum is beside the theater, and a dedicated learning center hosts many events. Artis—Naples is home to the Naples Philharmonic.
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
On the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers, the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall was arguably the leading force in bringing the performing arts to Southwest Florida as it grew. With more residents close by to draw on, it can attract somewhat more nationally recognized talent, but the venues in Naples are quickly gaining ground. The theater has 1,874 seats, and the Gulf Coast Symphony performs about 15 concerts a year here.
Gulfshore Playhouse
With a new, state-of-the-art home that opened in November 2024, Gulfshore Playhouse is a local gem. The 40,000-square-foot theater and education center is a short walk from Fifth Avenue South in downtown Naples. The main theater seats 368 and a second theater 125. The company produces Broadway-caliber performances with local talent and performers hired directly from Broadway and elsewhere.
Music & Arts Community Center
This Fort Myers community center, opened in 2021, is home to the Gulf Coast Symphony, which performs many of its concerts in the center’s hall of about 300 seats and plays its larger concerts at Barbara B. Mann. The Gulf Coast Chamber Orchestra and Gulf Coast Jazz Collective also perform here, and there are many special events and a wide range of education programs.
The Naples Players / Sugden Community Theatre
The Sugden Community Theatre is right on Fifth Avenue South in downtown Naples. It is home to The Naples Players, a theater company founded in 1953, and it completed a $22 million renovation in 2024. The building has three theaters: the main one seats about 450, and the other two about 106 each.
