Getting To Naples

Naples isn’t very central, compared to other popular Italian tourist cities, but it does have an international airport and is well served by an efficient rail network, boasting several trains an hour to and from Rome. A good highway system also brings vehicular traffic from the north and disperses around the east side of the city, towards the Amalfi coast, Salerno and south as well as Bari in the east. Bus services are also well provided and Naples has two ferry terminals to cater for the numerous comings and goings of vessels from nearby offshore islands and coastal towns as well as Sicily and Sardinia.

By car

Hiring a car in Southern Italy is highly recommended to give you the freedom to fully enjoy the beautiful coastline, especially the Amalfi section, but a nightmare when in Naples itself. The major north-south Autostrada del Sol, known as the A1 northwards  Rome and the A3 southwards towards Salerno and Reggio di Calabria, is the main artery into and out of Naples. The A30 rings Naples to the northeast, while the A16 heads east to Bari. The motorways connect with the Tangenziale di Napoli, a major ring road around the city.

By rail

Often used by tourists to get to and from Naples, the Ferrivie dello Stato (FS) is a highly efficient and well developed rail service with several classes of trains, depending on the route, time of day and speed. It is partially privatised and operates the following services: regional (R), which are slow and stop at every little station, but don’t travel long distances; and the inter-regional (iR), which run between regions somewhat faster. The Intercity (IC), Eurocity (EC) and Eurostar Italy (ES) are all high-speed services, but tickets are subject to a supplementary fee. Getting tickets at the Central Station can be a hectic and confusing affair in the busy season, with seat availability difficult on short notice. The ticket classes can be complicated and you might end up being sold a wrong ticket. Remember to validate your tickets in the yellow machines when boarding.

By bus

Most buses for Italian and some European cities leave from Piazza Garibaldi in front of Central Station (Stazione Centrale). There are numerous daily departures to Rome and major centres nearby such as Bari, Solerno and Taranto, with regional companies serving the surrounding areas and popular resorts such as Sorrento and Amalfi. They are generally cheaper, but slower than trains. 

By air

Although Naples’ airport isn’t one of Italy’s busiest, it does serve the whole of Southern Italy and is the main gateway to the region. Capodichino Airport is located close to the city, with regular bus transfers into the centre. It is a well equipped two-terminal facility that caters to increased charter flight traffic in the summer. Most of the flights arrive from within Italy and Europe, with the long-haul options being far fewer. With busy hubs, at Rome and Milan, many overseas visitors transfer onto a domestic flight before arriving in Naples.

By ferry

Naples has a busy ferry terminal at Molo Beverello, near Nuovo Castle, a popular launch point to get to various off shore islands, both near and far. Boats and hydrofoils leave frequently for Capri and Ischia as well as Sorrento and the smaller islands of Procida and Forio. Ferries also ply longer routes to Palermo, Cagliari and Milazzo in Sicily from the Stazione Marittima.

Naples Airport

Capodichino Airport is only eight kilometres northeast of Naples and is the main air entry point for the whole of Southern Italy, with regular flights to all major European centres, but few long-haul flights.

There are two terminals, with Terminal 1 handling most of the departures and arrivals, both domestic and regional, while Terminal 2 caters for charter flights. Both terminals are well equipped with ATMs and exchange bureaux, food and beverage outlets, shopping – both convenience and duty free - and the usual services such as left luggage and a post office. The Telelink Internet Centre offers fast internet access, computers, fax machines and photocopying services. Other business facilities at the airport include video conferencing, meeting rooms and VIP lounges. The airport meets international standards for catering to physically handicapped travellers.

Naples airport transportation

There is no direct rail link to the city centre, but a frequent bus service is offered by ANM buses that travel to Central Station, leaving every 15 minutes. Tickets should be bought from within the terminal. In addition there is a Alibus shuttle that is quicker, but it leaves every 30 minutes; tickets can be bought on board. Neither service is expensive.

Alternatively, taxis can be found in abundance outside the terminal, but are more expensive and cannot be relied on to put the meter on. Naples' traffic can be chaotic at times, making the journey time by bus arduous.