Navigating the transport hub at Piazza Garibaldi can be disorienting because it is essentially three distinct stations in one location. To avoid confusion, think of it as a vertical stack: the ground-level terminal, the underground metropolitan station, and the separate, deeper station for local commuter lines.
Napoli Centrale is the massive, ground-level terminus station. It serves high-speed (Frecciarossa, Italo) and long-distance intercity trains. It features 24 platforms arranged in a single, horizontal row. Because it is a terminus, you can walk between any platform (2–24) by crossing behind the buffer stops without passing through ticket gates. This is a straightforward, open layout where you simply follow the platform numbers.
Napoli Piazza Garibaldi (Metropolitan Station) is located directly beneath the ground-level station. This is a through station serving Trenitalia’s Line 2 metropolitan trains. It has a much simpler layout with only two platforms, numbered 1 and 2. You reach these by taking the escalators or elevators down from the main concourse of Napoli Centrale. This is the station you use for local city transit or regional connections to destinations like Pozzuoli.
The Circumvesuviana Station is the third, separate entity, also named "Napoli Piazza Garibaldi," but it operates independently of the others. This station is located deeper underground, adjacent to the main complex, and serves the narrow-gauge EAV lines to popular tourist destinations like Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Sorrento. It has four platforms and its own dedicated ticket offices and entry gates. To find it, look specifically for "EAV" or "Circumvesuviana" signage within the main station; do not confuse it with the Trenitalia Line 2 platforms.
Navigation Tips:
For a first-time visitor, the most critical advice is to check your ticket carefully. If your train is a high-speed service, you will always depart from the ground-level Napoli Centrale platforms (2–24). If you are heading to the coast (Pompeii/Sorrento), you must navigate toward the distinct Circumvesuviana area. Because the complex is large, allow at least 15 minutes if you need to transfer between the ground-level platforms and the deeper, separate Circumvesuviana station, especially if you are traveling with heavy luggage. Always follow the specific operator signs—Trenitalia for the main lines and EAV for the local commuter routes—to avoid ending up on the wrong level.