Pelican Bay
North Naples' polished master-planned community: Waterside Shops, Artis-Naples and its Baker Museum, the beachfront Naples Grande resort, and nearly three miles of Gulf beach reached by tram through a protected mangrove forest.
Updated June 2026
Pelican Bay is the well-mannered, leafy side of North Naples: a 2,300-acre master-planned community that wraps high-rise condos and golf around a protected mangrove preserve, then spills out onto nearly three miles of quiet Gulf beach. It's where you come for a day of luxury shopping among royal palms and fountains, an evening at the symphony, and a long walk on sand that most of the crowds never find.
It suits couples, culture-seekers and resort guests more than the bucket-and-spade set, though the beach is glorious for everyone. Pair it with the boutiques and beaches of neighboring Park Shore to the south, or the buzzier dining of Vanderbilt Beach and Mercato just to the north, and you've got the whole upscale stretch of the coast in one easy loop.
What to see & do
Two of the area's marquee destinations sit inside Pelican Bay, plus a beach you reach in a way you won't anywhere else in Naples.
A perfect day
Culture, retail and sunset over the Gulf, all within a few minutes of each other.
- Start with a quiet morning walk on the mangrove boardwalks, watching for herons in the Clam Bay estuary.
- Spend late morning browsing Waterside Shops, then grab lunch at one of its courtyard restaurants.
- Tour The Baker Museum at Artis-Naples and check what the Philharmonic has on tonight.
- If you're staying in the community, ride the tram out to the beach for an afternoon swim and a drink at a waterfront pavilion.
- Watch the sun drop straight into the Gulf, then head to an evening concert or a short hop north to Mercato for dinner.
Where to go next
Pelican Bay sits in the middle of the coast's most polished stretch, so the rest is a short drive either way.
North Naples & Vanderbilt Beach
Public Gulf beaches, the Ritz at Vanderbilt and the lively shops and dining of Mercato.
Park Shore
The Venetian Village boutiques on Venetian Bay and a long, walkable public beach just to the south.
Things to Do
Every Naples attraction, tour and experience, from the arts to the water, in one guide.
Where to Eat
The best restaurants around Pelican Bay and across Naples, from courtyard cafes to fine dining.
Stay near Pelican Bay
Common questions
Where is Pelican Bay in Naples?
Pelican Bay is a large master-planned community in North Naples, on the Gulf side of Tamiami Trail (US 41) roughly between Park Shore to the south and Vanderbilt Beach to the north. It runs from the highway out to nearly three miles of private Gulf-front beach, with a protected mangrove preserve in between.
Can the public use Pelican Bay's beach?
No. Pelican Bay's Gulf beach, along with its tram, boardwalk and beachfront dining, is reserved for residents of the community and guests of the on-site Naples Grande Beach Resort, whose complimentary tram and boardwalk carry guests through the mangroves to the sand at Clam Pass. If you want that tram-to-the-beach experience without owning here, staying at the Naples Grande is the way to get it; otherwise, the public beaches at Vanderbilt and Park Shore are nearby.
What is Artis-Naples?
Artis-Naples is the area's cultural campus at 5833 Pelican Bay Boulevard, home to the Naples Philharmonic and The Baker Museum. It hosts orchestral, chamber, opera and dance performances along with rotating art exhibitions across a busy season, so it's worth checking the current schedule and booking ahead.
Is Waterside Shops worth visiting?
Yes, if you enjoy upscale shopping and dining. It's an open-air luxury village lined with royal palms, fountains and water features, anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue with high-end names like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Hermès and Tiffany & Co., plus several restaurants. New dining and tenants are being added, so a few storefronts may be in transition when you visit.
How do you get to the Pelican Bay beach?
Within the community, residents and resort guests reach the beach by riding an open-air tram and walking a boardwalk that crosses the mangrove preserve to the sand. It's a distinctive, low-impact way to access nearly three miles of quiet Gulf-front beach with attendants and waterfront dining.
Is Pelican Bay a good place to stay in Naples?
It's an excellent base if you want a refined, beach-and-arts holiday. You're steps from Waterside Shops and Artis-Naples, you can reach a quiet Gulf beach by tram and boardwalk if you stay at the Naples Grande Beach Resort, and the dining and beaches of Park Shore and Vanderbilt are just minutes away.