35 Fun & Unique Things to Do in Naples, Florida

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Naples, Florida, is an enchanting city in Southwest Florida full of shopping, mangroves, and restaurants. Regardless of what fun activities you’re looking to do, Naples also features an abundance of historical sites, art experiences, and outdoor adventures.

Don’t miss out on this great location in the United States that will keep you busy for your entire vacation. Here are 35 fun and unique things to do in Naples, Florida, for your next trip.

With so much to do here, what are you waiting for?

• 35 Naples things to do

35 Cool Things to Do in Naples, Florida

Naples Things to Do Map

A map of Naples. Use the map to explore all the things to do.

Explore Naples' 5th Avenue South

Just like 5th Avenue in Manhattan is known for its fancy shops and expensive restaurants, Fifth Avenue South in Florida offers some of the area's best architecture, shopping, and restaurant experiences.

The large sidewalks are filled with local businesses and specialty shops that visitors will love, including art galleries, boutiques, ice cream shops, cafés, and jewelers.

Go birding at the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Originally established to protect the largest stands of cypress in North America, many animals, including alligators, otters, white-tailed deer, and red-bellied turtles, call this area home.

The park connects to the Great Birding Trail and provides an important breeding area for the endangered wood stork. Enjoy the sanctuary by going for a walk on the 1.9-mile boardwalk.

Take a hike at CREW Bird Rookery Swamp Trail

Bring your camera and walk the 12 miles of hiking trails in Bird Rookery Swamp. One of the fun places in Naples, Florida, to visit, this swamp is home to one of the best places to catch a glimpse of Florida wildlife.

Florida panthers, alligators, bobcats, white-tailed dears, wading birds, and raptors all call this swamp home.

Search for shells at Clam Pass Park

One of the most popular beaches in Naples, Florida, Clam Pass Park is a family-friendly beach with white sand and calm waters. Spend the afternoon suntanning or collecting shells.

To access the beach, you can walk the boardwalk through beautiful mangroves and coastal habitats or take the tram directly to the beach.

Scuba dive at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is one of the top Naples, FL attractions. Known for its mile-long white sandy beach, it is located on a 199-acre barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico.

This state park is a popular destination for snorkeling and scuba diving, as well as fishing, birding, swimming, and picnicking.

Rush to see Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is full of wildlife and natural beauty and is one of the best national parks on the East Coast.

The Gulf Coast Visitor Center is closest to Naples and provides easy access to this beautiful 1.5-million-acre wetlands preserve.

Spend your day looking for one of the many endangered species or boating around the park.

Go back in time at Historic Palm Cottage

If you’re looking for cool places in Naples, Florida, the Historic Palm Cottage is the oldest home in Naples! It was built in 1895 and is only a block east of Naples Pier.

The Naples Historical Society is the current guardian of the house and provides guided tours, walking tours of the historic district, and more!

Look around the Koreshan State Historic Site

Once a former 19th-century religious settlement, Koreshan State Historic Site is now a 200-acre park that maintains many of the historic buildings.

Visitors can take a self-guided tour through the grounds, hike the nature trail, or canoe on the Estero River. There is a full facility campground and a playground for children on-site as well.

Bring the family to Lowdermilk Beach Park

Lowdermilk Beach Park is a family-friendly park that has fun activities for children. The park has a duck pond and two children’s playgrounds in addition to being close to the beach.

There are also umbrellas, kayaks, bodyboards, and paddleboards available to rent from the Beach Cafe at Lowdermilk Park.

Leave the mainland for Marco Island

Visit this barrier island in Southwest Florida, and you're in for a treat! Marco Island is full of beaches, restaurants, and golf courses.

The majority of the island's west coast is covered with beaches, and nearby tidal lagoons can be explored by kayaking, canoeing, or paddleboarding. Or, join a dolphin, birding, and shelling tour around Marco Island.

Located only 30 minutes from downtown Naples, don't miss out!

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Explore Cape Romano

While you’re visiting Marco Island, make sure to take advantage of this fantastic Cape Romano Shelling and Sightseeing Boat Tour.

Learn more about Bob Lee’s interconnected Dome Houses, which includes an admission ticket, while on this tour. More adventures on this tour include shelling, exploring mangroves, and bald eagle spotting.

Grab a drink at Naples Beach Brewery

If you’re looking for Naples fun things to do, Naples Beach Brewery is the city’s first craft brewery. Make sure you spend time in the brewery tasting room, which offers access to 24-hour brewed beers.

The brewery also always hosts a food vendor, so make an evening out of it!

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See the paradise at Naples Botanical Garden

Naples Botanical Garden offers a piece of tropical paradise just a short distance from downtown Naples. This 170-acre garden provides incredible access to more than 1,000 species of plants.

There is also a 90-acre preserve on-site that features restored habitats and trails for visitors.

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Explore the railway at Naples Depot Museum

Reminding visitors of a day when railroads were the main form of transportation is the Naples Depot Museum. Here you’ll learn how generations of people used the railway to move to this region of Florida.

At the Naples Depot, you’ll find restored rail cars, Seminole dugout canoes, and more.

Watch the sunset at Naples Pier

One of the best things to do in Naples, FL, is to visit the iconic Naples Pier built in 1888. A key historic part of the city, this notable Florida landmark is currently used as a fishing pier.

The pier is one of the best places to catch the sunset in Naples, so make sure to stop by at the right time.

See all the trains at Naples Train Museum

The Naples Train Museum is located at the Naples Depot and is an excellent activity if you’re traveling with children. This multi-level Lionel train display is great to see in action.

The museum also features an outdoor scale train pulled by live steam or diesel locomotive.

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Visit Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens

Naples Zoo first started as a botanical garden in 1919, and exotic animals were introduced in 1969. The Zoo now houses about 70 species and hosts a one-mile path that leads visitors past most of the main exhibits.

Don’t forget to visit the primates on an island that can be viewed via catamaran.

Take a tour with Rising Tide Explorers

Rising Tide Explorers offer unique tours in Naples and Marco Island led by active local biologists. This special opportunity is great for families who want to learn a little extra while exploring the area.

Some tour options include a Mangrove Tunnels and Mudflat Kayak Tour or a Sunset Bird Rookery Cruise.

Walk the trails at Rookery Bay

The Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve dominates the landscape between Naples and the Ten Thousand Islands. This 110,000-acre reserve has more than 150 different species of birds and animals found in the reserve.

There are several trails to enjoy or kayak along the coast for more adventure.

See options and availability for Rookery Bay Reserve Tours.

See a show at Sugden Community Theatre

Bring the whole family to a show at the Sugden Community Theater, which is the home of the Naples Players. This community theater produces musicals, comedies, dramas, children's theatre, and more!

Children will love the Naples Players KidzAct, which are musical theater workshops offered year-round.

Kayak the Ten Thousand Islands

Located just off of Southwest Florida is a chain of islands and mangroves called the Ten Thousand Islands.

The best way to explore this 35,000-acre area is to join a group kayak tour and search for manatees, dolphins, and birds. You won’t be disappointed with this incredible opportunity!

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Take a look at the Tin City Waterfront Shops

One of the cool places in Naples, Florida, Tin City is a waterfront boardwalk with more than 30 local shops and two restaurants on the water. Not a chain store in sight, this location is completely unique to Naples.

You can also find interesting experiences here, such as hugging an alligator or water activities for purchase.

See old cars at Revs Institute

Children might love this museum as much as their parents!

Revs Institute is known for being one of the best automotive museums in the world. It is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to the study and celebration of the automobile.

The collection here features over 100 influential cars of our time.

Check out The Bird Gardens of Naples

The Bird Gardens of Naples is an animal welfare organization that helps abandoned or needy parrots. While visiting the gardens, visitors can enjoy Corkscrew Swamp and see a variety of flora and fauna, bees and butterflies.

There are more than 100 birds on-site, and if the weather cooperates, you can enter the large macaw aviary.

Experience history at the Collier County Museums

Transport yourself back in time and learn about different eras of Florida history at the Collier County Museums. Everything from prehistoric saber-toothed cat skeletons to Calusa Indians and Spanish explorers is covered here.

The grounds also feature a five-acre garden with relocated historic buildings, including a recreated Seminole village.

Taste fruit wine at The Naples Winery

Located in Tin City, The Naples Winery offers small-batch fruit wines to the Southwest Florida community. They have been serving up flavors, such as Flordia Grapefruit, Class 5 Hurricane, and Florida Fever, for 18 years.

This is definitely one of the fun places to go in Naples, Florida.

Watch a show at Opera Naples

Well-loved by local residents and tourists alike, Opera Naples is a treat for those who enjoy professional ensemble productions.

Whether you prefer to attend in the evening or opt for the luncheon-style show, there are many options to choose from. Enjoy this Naples, Florida fun!

Have fun with art at the Baker Museum

One of the best fine art museums in Southwest Florida, the Baker Museum focuses on modern and contemporary art. Featuring 17 galleries and an art library, the Baker Museum offers three stories of art for visitors to explore.

In addition, there is an 8.5-acre outdoor sculpture collection in the Kimberly K. Querrey and Louis A. Simpson Cultural Campus.

Go shopping at the Waterside Shops

Located next to the Baker Museum, this open-air mall houses more than 60 specialty shops. Key stores like Apple, Anthropologie, and L’Occitane call this mall home.

Saks Fifth Avenue may be the anchor store, but this shopping experience also features several restaurants for visitors to enjoy once their day is through.

Try the flavors at RipTide Brewing Company

The Riptide Brewing Company in Naples began as the only brewery within Naples’ city limits. Now owned by a local family, the taproom is open for visitors to taste all the different brews.

So, stop by and taste flavors such as Tango Muava or Sultana of Smash while you’re in Naples.

Visit the Golisano Children's Museum of Naples

This museum originally started as the first museum in Southwest Florida devoted to children and families. It’s been developed by experts in child psychology to provide brain-building activities.

Kids will enjoy play spaces such as the ABC Tot Lot, Mother Nature’s House, and World Café.

Take a swing at Hibiscus Golf Club

Hibiscus Golf Club was built in 1969 and is one of the few in the area open to the public. The 18-hole golf course is one of the fun activities in Naples, FL, as it includes beautiful scenery during play.

Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to play public golf in Southwest Florida!

Head to “Food Truck Park”

A great example of Naples off the beaten track, Celebration Park is also known as Food Truck Park as it hosts a permanent food truck gathering and an open-air tiki bar for visitors.

Experience waterfront dining at its best here while enjoying a unique selection of quick bites and fun drinks for the adults.

Visit an exhibit at Naples Art Association

Organized by artists in the community, the Naples Art Association aims to provide educational opportunities for a broad range of local residents and visitors.

While you’re in Naples, stop by and see one of the fantastic exhibits. They rotate about every six months, so check the website for updates.

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Grab a snack at Third Street South

Only a few blocks away from the Naples Pier, Third Street South is full of restaurants and cafés that beachgoers love to take advantage of.

In addition, Third Street South hosts a famous Farmer’s Market every Saturday with numerous booths featuring food and retailers galore!

Make sure to stop by after your morning at the beach to grab a snack.

In Summary

On your next trip, if you're looking for fun things to do in Naples, Florida, this list hopefully provided an overview of all the activities in and around town.

Naples and the surrounding area are full of natural wonders to delight even the most indecisive guests. Hopefully, the above list helped you decide where you'd like to spend your time when you are next in Naples.

Don't miss out on this excellent opportunity to explore Florida's natural beauty while enjoying Naples' shopping and restaurant options.

This article was edited by Loredana Elena.

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