Destination guides > Europe > Italy > Campania > Naples (Napoli)
Naples (Napoli)
Naples has a reputation as a dirty crime-ridden city. But it is also the classic Italian city where chaos reigns supreme and the ambience is as thick as a hearty Ragù sauce. The city has a great location on a bay under the shadow of Mount Vesuvius and it's a great place to base yourself for making trips out to Pompeii, Capri and the Amalfi Coast. While you're here make sure you try pizza in the city where it was invented.
Practical information
Naples Tourist Information Centre
inside the train station, Naples
Tel (081) 268 779
Coming & going
AIR
Naples International Airport offers scheduled flights to domestic and international destinations inluding many important European capitals as well as over 50 regular charter destinations. Buses (€3) between the airport and Piazza Garibaldi run every 20-30 minutes.
FERRY
Stazione Maritima is where you can catch ferries and hydrofoils for Capri and Sorrento as well as further afield to destinations in Sardinia, Sicily and Tunisia.
Mergellina harbour, further to the south-west, has ferries and hydrofoils to many of the islands in the Golfo di Napoli.
Alilauro, Caremar, Linee Lauro, NLG, Siremar, SNAV and Tirrenia operate ferry services from Naples.
TRAIN
Stazione Centrale is the main train station with frequent trains to Rome, Sorrento and Pompeii. The train station is situated on Piazza Garibaldi at the eastern end of the city centre.
The regional train operator Circumvesuviana has services to Pompeii and Sorrento with trains terminating at Ferrovia Circumvesuviana on Via Garibaldi, south-west of the main station. Two other regional train operators, Ferrovia Cumana and Circumflegrea, operate services from Stazione Cumana to Cuma (Cumae) and Pozzuoli.
Local transport
Naples public transport system is comprised of a hotch-potch of different train, metro, tram, funicular and bus networks, fortunately they work quite well together as they share the same ticketing system.
BUS
The extensive bus network is a good way of getting to places not covered by the metro. Useful bus routes include 14 and 14R between the central station on Piazza Garibaldi and the airport, and C4 which runs between the centre and Mergellina. Trams are a good alternative to the buses. Trams 1, 1B and 2B connect the train station at Piazza Garibaldi with the city centre.
METRO
Naples' metro system consists of four lines but plans are underway to expand the system to a comprehensive 10-line network by building new lines and incorporating existing suburban rail lines into the system. It is a good way to get around although it will be much more useful once the system has been extended, which will add extra stations in the city centre. The metro system currently consists of the original line (Metropolitana Collinaire) which runs inland uphill from Vanvitelli. The second line (Metropolitana FS) is operated by Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) and runs between the central station at Piazza Garibaldi along a track shared with Intercity and Eurostar Italia trains with stops at Mergellina.
Because Naples is so hilly, numerous funicular railways make it easy to get up and down the city's steep hills.
There are also several regional train companies that operate suburban services. These are useful for getting to places like Pompeii and Sorrento.
FARES
Although Naples' public transport is operated by many different companies, they all share the same ticketing system managed by Unico Campania, so it is easy to transfer from one mode of transport to another.
The single ticket (€1.10) allows you to travel in one direction for up to 90 minutes, transfering between several modes of transport.
If you want to see a lot of the city, the day ticket (€3.10 or €2.60 on weekends) is good value. This allows you unlimited travel on buses, trams, funiculars, the metro and trains within the central area. If you're planning to spend a lot of time in Naples, then the monthly tickets (€36.70) are better value.
Hostel accommodation
6 Small Rooms
Via Diodato Lioy 18, Naples
Tel (081) 790 1378
Fabric Hostel & Club
Via Bellucci Sessa 22, Portici (Naples)
Tel (081) 776 5874
Giovanni's Home
Via Sapienza 43, Naples
Hostel & Hotel Bella Capri
6th floor, Via Guglielmo Melisurgo 4, Naples
Tel (081) 552 9494
Hostel des Artistes
Via Duomo 61, Naples
Tel (081) 446 155
Hostel of the Sun
Via Melisurgo 15, Naples
Tel (081) 4206393
Hostel Pensione Mancini
Via Pasquale Stanislao Mancini 33, Naples
Tel (081) 553 6731
Hostel Soggiorno Imperia
Piazza Luigi Miraglia 386, Naples
Tel (081) 459347
Hotel Zara
Via Firenze 81 cap, Naples
La Controra Hostel
Piazzetta Trinità alla Cesarea 231, Naples
Tel (081) 549 4014
Ostello Mergellina
Salita Della Grotta 22, Napoli
Tel (081) 761 2346
Welcome Naples Hostel
Via Santa Teresa degli Scalzi, Naples
Tel (081) 549 4415
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