Shopping in Naples

US Military Bases

NATO and US government employees have access to American-style businesses at the military installations. See Base Information for more about the NEX, Commissary, etc.

The Naples Overseas Spouses Club (aka Napoli Operational Support Club) publication Shopping on the Boot has lots of good information about shopping in general (you can pick it up at the Thrift Store on the Support Site).

Ipermercati/Big Box/Malls

"Hypermarkets" offer a full-service supermarket plus a number of other cheap goods, like a Super Wal-mart or Super Target. Other American-style Big Box stores tend to be clustered around the hypermarkets. (As landlord agent Enzo Scotto once said, "Italians used to go to New Jersey to shop...now they bring New Jersey to Italy!") They are some of the few stores open on Sundays. Most ipermercati are anchor tenants in shopping centers/malls ("centro commerciale").

    • Auchan - one of the largest hypermarkets, 3 are in the Naples area:
      • Giugliano (40°56'N 14°9'E), which is co-located with a Conforama, Euronics, Decathlon, and Leroy Merlin (see below)
      • Mugnano, northwest of Capo (40°54.7'N 14°13.4'E).
      • "Volcano Buono", a huge mall shaped like a volcano (hence the "Good Volcano" name) near Nola half an hour east of the Support Site also has an Auchan (40°57'N 14°29.3'E)
    • Ipercoop - a hypermarket that is also a farmer co-op, so they have good produce and store brands; 2 are near Naples:
    • Carrefour - "Iper" are similar to Auchan, but they also operate a bunch of smaller "Market" supermarkets and "Express" mini-markets.
    • Campania Mall/Shopping Complex (Centro Commerciale) - in Marcianise, near Caserta, 41°0.2'N 14°19.5'E
    • La Reggia Designer Outlet - a collection of outlet stores across A1 from the Campania Mall
    • Ikea - similar to the States, although bedding is all in European sizes. A good selection of relatively inexpensive kitchen wear.
      • Ikea Napoli Afragola - not far from Capo, 40°54.5'N 14°19'E, right across from a Leroy Merlin (see below)
    • Leroy Merlin - home improvement (like Home Depot/Lowes), 3 in the area:
    • Euronics - electronics store (like Best Buy)...stores are scattered around the area but they're also at most of the malls mentioned above (Quarto Nuovo, Porto di Napoli, Campania Mall, Mugnano Auchan, Giugliano Auchan...)
      • Unieuro - electronics store that has smaller/more urban locations (not as much of a "big box")
    • Decathlon - sporting goods store (like REI)
    • Metro Pozzuoli - Costco-like wholesale store with great deals on wine, bulk foods, and cookwear; you can get in using a military ID. On Via Campania, near Carney Park, 40°51.2'N 14°7.1'E, 081-303-8111

Negozi

Negozi ("Stores") are all over the place, from the small mom-and-pop to the huge department stores; the following are some of the major shopping districts:

    • Via Toledo - the place to be seen; it seems that all of Naples heads here in the evenings for a passagiata (walk). A number of department stores inhabit the old palazzi; also has the splendid mall of Galleria Umberto I
    • Corso Umberto - another major shopping street, which connects Piazza Garibaldi with Piazza Municipo.
    • Via Chiaia - one of the hippest places to shop, between Piazza del Plebiscito and Mergellina. Along the way and continuing past Piazza dei Martiri to Via dei Mille and Piazza Amadeo, you will find many designer brands as well as discount stores.
    • Vomero - many nice stores, especially on via Scarlatti.

Specific stores of note:

    • Asian Food Store: Supermercato Daxiyang, Corso Novara 3/A (right across from McDonald's at Garibaldi Central Train Station) 081-281595, open 8-8 every day, 40.85361,14.271583, Google Streetview
    • Ukranian/Russian/German Store: Svetlana S.A.S., viale Cappuccini Carmine 10, in Pozzuoli (near via Napoli lungomare), 9-1, 4-7:30, closed Mon, 081-303-2694.
    • Le Spighe Fresh Pasta - in Gricignano, via San Salvatore, 081-813-2461, rec'd by some Americans (close to Support Site), Rosaria di Santo
    • Il Mercatino - Varcaturo, consignment shop/thrift store
    • Naturamica - in Bagnoli near the GS, has a lot of "natural" (hippie) products as well as Asian foods, etc. Via Nuovo Agnano 55, 081-570-2692
    • Ciro's in Licola - popular store with Americans, has furniture/ironwork, etc 348-098-7116, Via Montenuovo, Licola Patria 141, N 40 52' 6" E 14 3' 41"
    • Menswear:
      • To get shirts and suits made-to-order, the New York Times recommends Anna Matuozzo (viale Gramsci 26, 081-668-3874) and Antonio Panico (via Carducci 29, 081-415-804) respectively.
      • E. Marinella is the most renowned tie shop in Naples (Riviera di Chiaia 287, 081-764-4214); Marinella has provided ties to U.S. Presidents and other famous folks.
      • C Style, a menswear store near Piazza Garibaldi, gives pretty good prices (~100-300 euro) for suits, free tailoring, Corso Umberto 292, 081-195-75-869‎/081-563-4422, Google Maps
      • Giovanni Festa (G.F.), also near Piazza Garibaldi (Via S. Cosomo F.P. Nolana 44, 081-554-8696), is a wholesale clothing store; follow the "G.F." signs to a place with 60 euro suits and 20 euro shirts; also see Stars and Stripes article, Google Maps
      • Shoe Alley (Poggioreale) market also has cheap suits (around 50-60 euro) off the rack; see below for details.
      • Kiton - one of the more internationally-renowned menswear brands has its factory in Naples but the closest store is on Capri (there are also stores in Rome and Milan)
  • Dry Cleaning
      • On base - see base information for hours/numbers at Capo and Support Site
      • Ralph's - look for his van just outside of the Capo gate every workday morning...he speaks good English and is recommended by many
    • Hairdressers/Barbers/Stylists:
      • Noi Salon - Vicoletto Belledonne a Chiaia 9, downtown Naples not far from Piazza Amadeo metro, 081-405-457, English-speaking, popular with expats, also a branch in Rome. See Napoli Unplugged review.
  • Wrought Iron:
      • Ciro in Licola - Via Montenuovo Licola Patria 141, behind bathroom remodeling store on Saturday mornings, 348-098-7116, 40°52'06"N 14°03'41"E, does wine racks, custom beds/tables, etc.

Shopping Streets in Naples also has more information on streets with good shopping.

See the Naples Outdoor Markets page for more information about outdoor farmers/fish/flea markets.

Online (Italian Address)

Italy doesn't have as strong an "e-commerce" culture as the US, but it continues to grow in popularity.

Online (FPO Address)

To get stuff from the States that is not available on base, it is very convenient to go online. However, not every retailer ships to FPO addresses. Some tips:

How to order FPO

  • USPS Priority Mail is usually the best method, which arrives in about a week (maybe two)
    • Parcel Post can take 1.5-3 months.
    • Unfortunately, retailers don't always specify which one they are using.
  • When asked to put in your address:
    • City: "FPO" ("Fleet Post Office")
    • State: "AE" ("American forces in Europe")

FPO Forwarding Services

These services take a small fee to receive items from retailers that do not ship to FPO/APO/DPO and then re-ship it to you.

FPO Shipping for Specific Stores

Note that all the stores that offer free shipping do not include the same express (1-2 day) options for FPO

  • DO ship FPO:
    • Autozone - free shipping to FPO addresses
    • Barnes and Noble - ships to FPO, including their "Fast and Free" service (although the "fast" guarantee of 3 days does not apply to FPO)
    • Newegg ships to FPOs (but it's likely Parcel Post since they warn that delivery can take up to 2-6 weeks)
    • REI allows "standard" shipping (most orders cost $10), and they won't estimate arrival dates
    • Gap companies (Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime, and Athleta) ship for free to FPOs
  • SOMETIMES ship to FPO:
    • Amazon.com will ship to FPO, even using their "Super Saver" free shipping (although they caution that it could take up to 21 days)
      • BUT some of the "marketplace" retailers on the Amazon site can charge a lot for FPO shipping.
    • Walmart ships many items to FPO but notes there are restrictions on some items, and they use "Value shipping" so delivery can take 3-6 weeks
    • Target - free FPO shipping with RED card (but with some restrictions like "heavy or oversized products")
    • Etsy and Ebay - depends on the seller
    • Nordstrom ships to FPOs for no additional cost (...but not Nordstrom Rack, per this page under "Where can my items be shipped?")
  • DO NOT ship to FPO:
    • Best Buy - ...although their help page says (in 2021) they are "temporarily unable" so this might change...?
    • The Container Store - whose FAQ explaining why they don't is an especially frustrating piece of corporate-ese
  • More info