Best neighborhoods in Naples, Fla. 2025
Whether you're blue-collar or blue-blood, the charm of Naples is hard to deny. These are the city's best neighborhoods, according to local real estate agents.
What's the best neighborhood to move to in Naples, FL? Like most places, there's no straightforward answer. "The best neighborhoods and the best neighborhoods in your price range may be different," says realtor Ed DiMarco of Realty Hub in Naples.
Unlike most places, in Naples and the surrounding areas in Collier County, few limits exist as to what you can expect. "Depending on your budget you can have anything you want," says agent Felipe Miranda with the Miranda Percopia Group in Naples. "If you're fortunate enough to live in one of those communities, it's like your own little heaven. You pull up to your guarded gate and there's a waterfall and mature landscaping …" Once inside, you may be able to play on a world-class golf course, walk a few steps and dip your toes in the ocean, or, of course, challenge a neighbor to a game of pickleball, Miranda says.
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Moving to Naples is all about priorities. Are you beachy or boaty? Are you all about the golf scene or the social scene? Do you like pickleball or are you obsessed with pickleball? (Naples is the "pickleball capital of the world," according to the folks at the Naples Pickleball Center .)
As Shannon Lefevre, a Naples-based broker associate with John R. Wood Properties notes, the thing that people really want isn't always an item that appears on a list of amenities. "I specialize in beach and golf communities. People who are interested in my market are interested in the lifestyle," she says. "But an overwhelming majority are people who are empty nesters or getting ready to be empty nesters. They're looking for a handful of more moments with their children or grandchildren."
It's easy to see why spending time in Naples could be a powerful incentive to hop on a plane for some family time. Here's where you can get the most bang for your buck in Naples, no matter what lifestyle you seek.
Best Naples neighborhoods for luxury living
Port Royal in Naples, Fla.
Two Naples neighborhoods demand a category of their own.
Port Royal is the second most expensive neighborhood in the U.S. It recently made headlines for having the most expensive home listing in the country, ever ($259 million), though that record didn't hold for long. And, as you can probably imagine, any neighborhood that expensive is also extremely exclusive.
"Housing prices there can start in the $12 million range," says DiMarco. And what does that price tag get you? No tradeoffs. You never need to consider if you want to prioritize beach living, boating, or golfing because Port Royal checks all the boxes.
"You can live on the beach and have a slip on the bay," says Lefevre.
Port Royal hasn't cornered the market for luxury. Aqualane Shores holds the No. 7 spot for the most expensive neighborhood in the U.S., according to a study based on the Zillow Home Value Index by Neighborly/Five Star Painting. It also bills itself as the "friendliest neighborhood in Naples."
"Aqualane Shores has a lot of homes on the intercoastal waterway, on canals that link to the Gulf," says DiMarco. These conditions create something akin to boater heaven. "The water there is going to be deep," he says. "You're not going to have to go under bridges so you don't have to worry about boat size." Aqualane also has easy access to downtown shopping and Gulf beaches.
Best Naples neighborhoods for beach living
Dusk on 13th Ave in Old Naples, Fla.
Looking for a beachy abode? Prepare thy wallet. "There's no way around it, that's where the big money is. It's on the water," says Miranda.
"Port Royal and Old Naples are the top two beach areas. Old Naples has some gorgeous single-family options," says Lefevre. DiMarco concurs, calling Old Naples the ultimate blend of historic charm and modern living, with a mix of older cottages and newer luxury construction.
If you're looking for something with more of a resort feel, Lefevre notes that Bay Colony is a gated and very exclusive community in Pelican Bay. Lefevre adds that Vanderbilt Beach Resort may also present some more affordable opportunities.
What if those neighborhoods are out of your price range? "There are ways to get a home on the beach for under a million," Miranda says. He notes that Park Shore has condos in the $500K range. Plus, he says, you're never far from the beach in southwest Florida.
"If you're beach motivated and you're an average blue-collar person – let's say you live in Golden Gate [a community north of Naples] – driving 45 minutes is not a big deal," Miranda says.
Best Naples neighborhoods for golf
A golf course in Naples, Fla.
"Naples is world-renowned for its golfing," says DiMarco. "You can usually only get access to courses by living in a neighborhood."
That's an important point – and it's not as straightforward as it seems. "When we have a peak market like we just did, all of our equity memberships sell out," says Lefevre. "You can get into a neighborhood, but you're not playing golf. So you have to think, is it a year or two years that you're not playing golf?" Pelican Bay recently shut down its reservation list because the waiting list was too long, according to Lefevre.
However, some developments have automatic golf rights. "As the market starts to turn cooler those are the places that are becoming more popular," says Lefevre. Grey Oaks is popular because three courses are there, she says. "For my really picky people and my people who like exclusivity, there's The Estates at Bay Colony in Pelican Marsh. It's a very small neighborhood, 18-hole golf course, very exclusive."
"You could also do the resident package at the Ritz Carlton Tiburon ," says DiMarco. "I always tell people to book a room first and try out the lifestyle." The Ritz is right on the beach, he says, and it has courses designed by golf legend Greg Norman where they host tournaments.
Other highly desirable golfing communities include Quail West , Quail Village , and Audubon . Lely in East Naples is a more affordable option.
Best Naples neighborhoods for boat (and yacht) owners
Naples Bay Resort and Marina in Royal Harbor, Naples, Fla.
It's probably no surprise that Port Royal and Aqualane Shores top the list in this category, but they're far from the only options. Boating access is also available at a variety of price points.
"As a general rule, a lot of condos will have some boating slips available," says DiMarco, but most condos don't come with dedicated slips. He notes The Moorings has access to the Gulf through Doctor's Pass. Park Shore also tends to have boating slips available for lease or purchase, he says.
"There's a section in Naples called Royal Harbor ," says Miranda. "It's set up to give you really easy access to inlets leading to Marco Island. It's really easy to get out into the Gulf." The area has many small single-story homes from the '60s that have been renovated, Miranda says, but the hurricane [Ian, in 2022] damaged some of the older homes that weren't built to modern elevation codes, so in some cases, lots themselves are available
He also notes a creative way to get on the water. "[B]oating clubs are pretty popular here," Miranda says. Such clubs are for people who don't want to actually own, and maintain, a boat. "They go in, use it, and they give the keys back and they're done."
He adds that Connors Vanderbilt Beach and Naples Park are great area for boaters, as well.
Before you make the move to Naples …
If you're looking for luxury and amenities, Naples is unlikely to disappoint. However, all the realtors we spoke to shared the same advice for potential property buyers:
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If you're buying in a flood zone, make sure you can obtain flood insurance before you enter into a contract. (This is not always possible.)
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If you're buying a condo, find out about assessment fees. Recent changes to the law may cause substantial increases in some buildings.
So get your paperwork in order first and then … enjoy. Naples is an idyllic place to live, and the possibilities there are endless.
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