I visited Italian city with £3 award-winning pizza and beautiful nearby islands – and Ryanair has cheap flights

NAPLES is one of the few Italian cities that you can still very much enjoy on a budget.

Its sunny streets are less than three hours away by plane and there are budget flights from London, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol starting from just £157 return this spring.

From pizza and football to castles and negronis, Lauren Clark serves up a slice of what the city – rich in culture and cuisine – has to offer.

WHY SHOULD I GO?

Naples, capital of the Campania region, is considered the birthplace of pizza — and you will be spoilt for choice, with award-winning margaritas served up for just £3 at the many restaurants on its bustling streets.

It is also a city that’s got everything a family with varied interests might need — from the history of Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii on its doorstep, to the beaches of famous islands such as Procida, Capri and Ischia a short boat ride away.

STREETS MADE FOR WALKING?

One of the city’s main selling points is that it’s very walkable, with the main attractions easily accessible.

Its compact nature does mean it can be cheerfully chaotic though.
There is a smooth-running metro system should you need it — including Toledo, one of the most beautiful metro stops in Europe.

For a bird’s eye view of the city, ride the Funicolare di Montesanto (tickets £1.36) up to the impressive Castel Sant’Elmo (entry £4.26) and admire the islands in the distance.

ANYTHING FOR THE BUCKET LIST?

From the city’s waterfront you can get a good look at the still-active Mount Vesuvius, which destroyed nearby Pompeii and Herculaneum with its 79CE eruption.

Also on the seafront is the impressive Castel dell’Ovo — or Egg Castle.

Why the name? Medieval legend had it that Roman poet Virgil placed a magical siren’s egg within the castle’s foundations to protect it — and Naples — from misfortune.

Another must-do is Napoli Sotterranea (entry £11.08), where you can explore a labyrinth of tunnels revealing 2,400 years of history, from Greek aqueducts to Second World War bomb shelters.

Bargain hunters may want to eschew the A-list favourite island of Capri for the neighbouring, more affordable tiny island of Procida.

After a 40-minute boat ride from Naples (advance tickets from £7.67), you’ll be enjoying its beautiful port, pastel-hued homes and black volcanic sand beaches.

WHERE SHOULD I EAT?

For pizza, head to Sorbillo ­â€” it has won a ton of awards and been featured in the Michelin guide, yet serves margaritas for only £3.44.

The city is also known for its pizza fritta (or fried pizza), which you can indulge in for just a few euros at the blink-and-you-miss-it tiny pizzeria Di Matteo, where Bill Clinton enjoyed a few slices during a presidential visit.

The waiters at Trattoria da Nennella, in the Quartieri Spagnoli neighbourhood, spontaneously erupt into song and dance.

The sound-track of Italian pop music is as cheesy as the tasty dishes placed on the gingham-clothed tables.

Two courses and sides will set you back just £12.80.

For pasta, head to Signora Bettola (try the ravioli capresi) — and for fresh seafood, stop by I Sapori della Pescheria Azzurra, which doubles up as a fish market.

For a delicious sweet treat, try graffa — a long, sausage-shaped doughnut which can be picked up from Chalet Ciro.

FANCY A DRINK

Sip on what is considered by many to be one of Naples’ best negronis, at neighbourhood cocktail bar Archeobar.

There’s also Riserva Rooftop on the Posillipo Hill, which allows you to sip on a glass of chilled wine from the terrace while seeing as far as Capri.

WHERE SHOULD I STAY?

The 30-floor four-star Hotel NH Napoli Panorama is the tallest in Italy, with sweeping views of the Bay of Naples.

It’s near the harbour, and the compact rooms are modern and comfy.