Naples is a sprawling city, but the historic center that is home to the lion’s share of its sights and monuments is relatively compact and can be explored on foot. The best way to get around Naples as a tourist is by combining walking with the metro (the underground subway system), especially line 1, to cover longer distances.
Absolutely! The petty crime rate in Naples is actually lower than the most other major Italian cities, but many people consider Naples a dangerous metropolis. Walking through the historic center of Naples is no more or less risky than walking through the downtown area of any European city.
There has been a sharp rise in tourism in Naples over the past few years, and even neighborhoods that were once known as hotbeds of pickpocketing and other crime like the Quartieri Spagnoli are now thick with B&Bs, restaurants, cafés, and other businesses serving locals and visitors. Use the normal precautions that you would in any large city and you should not have any problems. Here are some tips:
Avoid wearing flashy and expensive jewelry and watches
Keep cash, documents, and other valuables in a closed pocket rather than a backpack or purse
Avoid the neighborhood surrounding the train station at night
Keep these tips in mind and enjoy your time in Naples hassle-free!
Naples has one airport: Napoli Capodichino. The airport is about 20 minutes by car from downtown Naples, but the metro does not run all the way to the airport. You must take a taxi or the “Alibus” airport shuttle to get between the city and the airport.
The taxi stand is at the arrivals exit at the airport; licensed taxis are parked in a row and are white. Do not take a taxi from those who solicit business from inside the airport terminal as they are not licensed taxi drivers. Once you are on board, request the fixed airport fare immediately; the fixed fare for the city center should be between EUR 18 and EUR 25, depending upon your final destination. The taxi fares are displayed on the front seat back, so you can check the prices.
Is There Uber in Naples, Italy?
Uber is active in Naples, but there are also many car services (known as NCCs, or rental with driver). These car services generally have to be booked at least a day in advance and are not an on-call service. We suggest using a car service for longer drives, for example from Naples to Sorrento, because the rates are lower by distance than a taxi, the vehicles are more comfortable, and drivers offer extra services like airport pick-up and assistance with bags.
Alibus is the shuttle bus service that runs between the airport and Piazza Garibaldi and the port in central Naples.
A ticket costs EUR 5 and can be purchased online, on board or at the info point in the arrivals area of the airport.
Capodichino Airport: follow the signs inside the airport to the stop. The stop is currently beyond parking lot P5 along the covered sidewalk outside the arrivals area.
Piazza Garibaldi (Stazione Centrale train station): the stop is on the corner of Via Novara across from the McDonald’s.
Varco Pisacane: the stop is near the Casetta Rossa restaurant. Use this stop if catching a ferry from Calata di Massa.
Porta Immacolatella: for ferries to Sicily and Sardinia, use this stop at the Sita bus terminal.
Molo Beverello/Maschio Angioino: use this stop to catch high-speed ferries to the islands and to reach downtown. The stop is inside the port area across from the ferry terminal.
Both the train station and the port are currently undergoing construction work, so the bus stops may be moved. If you are not sure where to get on, ask at a nearby bar as they are always updated on where the stop is located. In high season, give yourself ample time to catch the bus from the city center to the station, especially if you are getting on at Piazza Garibaldi; buses often arrive full and you may have to wait for the next one to find a seat.
You can easily get around the center of Naples on foot. Many of the roads in Naples’ old town are closed to traffic, so walking through the historic streets is a pleasure.
Piazza del Plebiscito and its Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale) and San Carlo Opera House (Teatro San Carlo)
Via Toledo and the Galleria Umberto I
Via Chiaia and Piazza dei Martiri
Lungomare seafront promenade and Castel dell’Ovo
The historic center and the Veiled Christ, Naples Underground (Napoli Sotterranea), and San Gregorio Armeno.
You can reach any of these sights on foot from the Piazza Garibaldi train station (Napoli Centrale) in less than 30 minutes, but we suggest taking Metro line 1 that will get you to Via Toledo and Piazza Plebiscito ( Municipio or Toledo stop) in just minutes and begin exploring from there to avoid getting footsore.
Other neighborhoods, including Vomero, Posilippo, and Mergellina, can be reached via public transportation.
There are two metro lines in Naples: line 1 and line 2. Line 1 is the newer and faster line.
Line 1 is known as the “Metropolitana dell’arte”, or art subway, as the stations have been decorated by contemporary artists; the Toledo station is perhaps the most striking. Though the stations are modern, the service itself leaves something to be desired as trains only run about every 10 minutes and are very crowded at rush hour.
The subway line 1 (Metropolitana Linea 1) in Naples runs from Piazza Garibaldi (the Napoli Centrale train station) to Piscinola, crossing the entire historic center and the hilly Vomero neighborhood. Trains run from 6:20AM to 11PM; on Saturdays, trains run until 1AM.
Schedule: every 10 minutes from about 6:20AM to 11PM
Ticket (single ride): EUR 1.10
Daily pass: EUR 3.50
Weekly pass: EUR 12.50
Tickets for metro line 1 can be used on all ANM transportation, including buses and trams.
The “art stations” decorated by contemporary artists are Garibaldi, Università, Municipio, Toledo, Dante, Materdei, Salvator Rosa, Quattro Giornate, Vanvitelli, Rione Alto, and Museo.
Line 2 was once the only underground metro in Naples and, as opposed to Line 1, uses rail cars. The route runs between Pozzuoli and San Giovanni a Teduccio and is used primarily to reach the Flegrea or Piazza Amedeo (Via dei Mille and Corso Vittorio Emanuele) areas. Trains run every 8 minutes from 5:20AM to 11:20PM. Line 2 and Line 1 cross at Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza Cavour.
Schedule: every 8 minutes from 5:20AM to 11:20PM
Ticket (single ride): EUR 1.30
90-minute pass: EUR 1.60
The Cumana is a local rail line that runs between downtown Naples and a number of neighborhoods and towns in the outlying Phlegraean Fields. This is where the nearest beaches are located, which can be quite crowded in summer.
The terminal in downtown Naples is the Montesanto station in the Pignasecca neighborhood, while the terminal in the Phlegraean Fields is Torregaveta. It takes about 40 minutes to ride the rail line from beginning to end, and ticket prices vary according to the length of ride; it costs EUR 2.60 to reach Torregaveta from Naples.
Schedule: trains depart every 10 minutes in summer and every 30 minutes in winter, from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Ticket (single ride): EUR 2.60
The funicular is a very common way of getting around Naples between the areas at sea level and the neighborhoods in the hills above Naples. There are four historic funiculars in the city:
Funicolare centrale: between Via Toledo in the center and the Vomero neighborhood.
Schedule: every 10 minutes from 7AM to 10PM; until 2AM Saturdays
Ticket (single ride): EUR 1.10
Daily and weekly ANM passes valid.
Funicolare di Mergellina: between Mergellina and the Posillipo neighborhood.
Schedule: every 10 minutes from 7AM to 10PM
Ticket (single ride): EUR 1.10
Daily and weekly ANM passes valid.
Funicolare di Chiaia: the most historic funicular was built in 1889 and runs between Piazza Amedeo and the Vomero neighborhood
Schedule: every 10 minutes from 7AM to 10PM
Ticket (single ride): EUR 1.10
Daily and weekly ANM passes valid.
La funicolare di Montesanto between Montesanto and the Vomero neighborhood
Schedule: every 10 minutes from 7AM to 10PM
Ticket (single ride): EUR 1.10
Naples has an extensive bus system that is primarily used to get between the residential, hospital, and university areas and not for the historic center. The most useful lines for visitors are:
Tram Line 1: Piazza Garibaldi to Piazza Vittoria
Tram Line 4: San Giovanni to Piazza Vittoria
These two trams run the length of Via Marina and are useful to get between the station and the area surrounding Piazza Municipio and Piazza dei Martiri.
You can purchase a ticket from the driver on board for EUR 1.50 or before boarding for EUR 1.10 at newspaper stands and bars that sell tickets. For additional information regarding the bus: ANM Buses Naples
We do not recommend driving in downtown Naples due to the heavy traffic in the city center, the difficulty finding parking, and the various areas that are closed to non-residents. The best option if you are arriving in Naples by car is to park at an outlying parking garage or lot and walk or use public transportation in the city center.
