Best for couples and slow travelers who like canal walks, calm water and dinner on the bay.
What Naples is like
Naples is three islands in Alamitos Bay, divided by canals and joined by small bridges. The homes face the water, with gardens and patios running down to public walkways along the canals, and there is always something gliding past: a paddleboard, a kayak, a gondola carrying a couple through the canals at dusk.
It is the most romantic corner of Long Beach and one of the quietest. The pleasure is in wandering: over a bridge, along a canal, past a fountain lit up at night, with no particular plan. At the holidays the homes and boats are decorated and the canals become one of the city’s favorite places to see the lights.
Second Street keeps going across the bridge from Belmont Shore and through Naples, so dinner is close: Italian, seafood, sushi, Thai, barbecue and wine bars on the island itself, with Belmont Shore’s 14 blocks just beyond.
Plan your visit
- Where
- In Alamitos Bay, east Long Beach, between Belmont Shore and the marina
- Getting on the water
- Gondola cruises, kayaks and paddleboards on the canals; calm-water swimming at Mother’s Beach
- Beach
- Mother’s Beach, on the northeast side of the island, with a playground and a parking lot
- Dining
- Second Street runs through the island, with more in Belmont Shore next door
- Closest airport
- Long Beach Airport (LGB)
Things to do in Naples
A gondola, a fountain and a calm-water beach, plus the canals themselves. Where to start:
A gondola through the canals
The classic Naples evening: a private gondola cruise through the canals, with the gondolier rowing and you doing nothing at all. Book ahead, especially around sunset. Our gondola guide has what’s included and how it works.
La Bella Fontana di Napoli
A three-tiered Neapolitan-style fountain in a small courtyard park, flowing since 1971 and lit at night. The old Naples Hotel once stood just to the west. A lovely stop on an evening walk. La Bella Fontana di Napoli.
Mother’s Beach
Calm, protected water on the northeast side of the island, with a designated swim area, a playground, shady lawn for a picnic and Mom’s Beach House Café on weekends. The family beach of Naples. Mother’s Beach.
Swimming, paddling and the canals
Naples is bay and canal water, flat and sheltered, with no surf. For a swim, go to Mother’s Beach: the city describes consistently calm conditions in its designated swim areas, with lifeguards at peak times, restrooms and showers at the south end and a parking lot right behind the sand. It’s a favorite with young families, and with the dragon boat and outrigger clubs that train there.
The canals are made for a paddle. Bring a kayak or paddleboard, or rent one around the bay, and drift past the waterfront homes at canal speed. Mom’s Beach House has a small pier for launching boats and boards, and Bay Shore Beach, across the bay, has a launch area and rentals. Stay off the private docks.
Before you swim, check the city’s beach water-quality updates, especially after rain. Dogs aren’t allowed on the beaches; Rosie’s Dog Beach in Belmont Shore is the off-leash spot.
Parking and getting around
Mother’s Beach has its own lot, which makes it the easiest place to arrive for a beach day. Elsewhere on the islands, parking is on the street, mostly residential and tight; read the signs and leave the driveways clear. For a gondola cruise, follow the operator’s check-in directions to its dock on East Ocean Boulevard.
Naples is best on foot. The canal walks, the fountain and Second Street are all close together, and Belmont Shore, the Peninsula and the marina are next door. For downtown and north Long Beach, take the car or a rideshare; Long Beach Transit has a trip planner for the bus. Long Beach Airport (LGB) is the closest airport.
A Naples afternoon
- Wander the canals. Pick a bridge and follow the water, with a stop at the fountain.
- Get on the water. A paddle around the islands, or an hour on the sand at Mother’s Beach with the kids.
- Gondola at sunset, then dinner. Cruise the canals as the light goes, then walk to dinner on Second Street.
Visiting in December? Come back after dark for the lights on the homes and boats.
Naples questions
Is Naples in Long Beach really islands?
Yes. The city’s coastal plan describes Naples as three islands in Alamitos Bay, separated by canals and connected by bridges.
Where do the Naples gondola rides leave from?
Gondola Getaway lists its departure point at 5437 E. Ocean Boulevard, at the Bay Shore end of the Peninsula. Our gondola guide covers booking and check-in.
Can you swim in Naples?
Yes, at Mother’s Beach, which has a designated swim area in calm, protected water. Check the city’s water-quality updates first. Don’t swim in the canals among the boats.
Can you kayak or paddleboard the canals?
Yes; it’s one of the best ways to see Naples. Launch from Mother’s Beach or Bay Shore Beach and keep clear of private docks.
Is Naples good for kids?
Mother’s Beach is made for them, with calm water, a playground and a lawn. A short canal walk and an ice cream on Second Street round out the day.
Is Naples the same as Belmont Shore?
No, they’re neighbors. Belmont Shore is the main street and the ocean beach; Naples is the canal islands just east.
