Naples City and Naples Underground
Naples has a ‘love it’ or ‘hate it’ reputation. The streets can be dirty and dark, with a lot going on. Off the main tourist streets, the Naples can feel intimidating. However, there’s also a lot to do here and if your just here for a day trip or making it a base for your trip to Pompeii, Vesuvius, Sorrento and Capri, it is a place worth exploring.
How do people arrive in Naples?
Most tourists arrive in Naples by plane at the Naples-Capodichino International Airport. However, ItaliaRail makes travel round Italy simple. From Rome to Naples is only 140 miles away by train.
Since Sorrento has a direct train line into the city centre, Naples is one of the best day trips from Sorrento. Off course you could always arrive by ferry from Sorrento instead of the train.
What are the main parts of Naples to explore?
Most tourists will wander around the area from Piazza del Plebiscito, near the harbour and Castel Nuovo. Then walk up or down Via Toledo road to Naples National Archaeological Museum. Don’t miss dropping into the Galleria Umberto, the wonderful glass domed indoor market, at the southern end of Via Toledo. As you wander up Via Toledo there are dozens of family-owned pizza restaurants to try.
By train you arrive at Napoli Centrale Station and its only 1 Metro stop on the Metropolitano line to Naples’ National Archaeological Museum.
If you arrive by ferry, you will be next to the Castel Nuovo a short walk will lead you to Piazza del Plebiscito at one end of Via Toledo.
What should I eat?
Silly question – Eat Pizza! There are literally dozens of small locally owned and economically pizza restaurants just off Via Toledo.
Best experiences in Naples? Naples Underground & Naples National Archaeological Museum
Naples Underground
This is one of the most famous and popular sights in Naples and is underneath the city’s streets. Naples is built on a layer of soft volcanic rock which the ancient Greeks began tunnelling in the 4th century BC. The tunnels eventually formed a 280-mile underground network, much of which you can visit today. On a trip underneath Naples, you can expect to see Greek tunnels, Roman aqueducts, rainwater reservoirs and catacombs, along with traces of more modern uses of the tunnels, e.g. when they were used as air raid shelters during World War II.
Just to note taking part in this excursion does mean making a 40-metre stepped descent, you will need to be reasonably fit to make both the descent and ascent!
To book a ticket for the 90-minute tour and best the que – https://www.napolisotterranea.org/en/
Naples’ National Archaeological Museum
The museum is big so its worth having at look at a map of the exhibitions before you go to find what you really want to look for – https://mann-napoli.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/mappa-EN_per-visita.pdf
If visiting Pompeii and Herculaneum you can see treasures from both sites here and learn more about the Romans. Free entry for all visitors under-18, visitors with disabilities, all visitors on the first Sunday of the month #domenicaalmuseo. Otherwise book your ticket here.
What to combine with Naples City and Naples Underground tour?
Why not combine climbing Vesuvius with a visit to Pompeii. Now read our blog on Ten best things to see at Pompeii and Is Mount Vesuvius worth a visit?