First-time traveler guide
Naples, Italy
The facts people look for first, pulled from this guide.
From Naples International Airport (NAP)
Download the Unico Campania app: This is essential for navigating Naples’ complex transport network. It helps you calculate routes and buy the correct tickets for metros, buses, and funiculars.
Operating hours vary by location. For example, the storage office on Via Toledo is open 24/7. The Hotel Naples - Piazza Garibaldi is also open 24/7. Other spots, like a shop near a metro station and the Hotel Porto Molo Beverello, have "Open Till Late" hours.
While elevators exist, they are often busy or slow. Look for the long escalators to move between levels, but keep your bags close—this is a prime spot for pickpockets.
Toilets are located on the ground level, but bring coins; they cost €1 and card payments can be unreliable. For snacks, skip the expensive station kiosks and head to a supermarket or local tabaccheria nearby for much better prices.
Free WiFi is available, but it can be spotty. Do not rely on it for critical navigation; have your offline maps ready.
Napoli Piazza Garibaldi is the primary transport hub for Naples, serving high-speed trains, regional lines, and the local Metro.
From Naples International Airport (NAP)
From Naples City Center
By Taxi
Critical Travel Tips
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.
Navigating Napoli Piazza Garibaldi (Napoli Centrale) can feel chaotic for a first-timer, but it is manageable if you know the ropes. I wish someone had told me these things before I arrived; it would have saved me a lot of stress.
You can store luggage at over 90 trusted locations in Naples, including lockers, shops, and hotels, from just €2.99 per day. Specific spots include a shop near a metro station and an office on Via Toledo, both costing €3.49 per bag per day. Several hotels, such as Hotel Naples - Piazza Garibaldi and Hotel Porto Molo Beverello, also offer storage for €3.49 per bag per day.
Operating hours vary by location. For example, the storage office on Via Toledo is open 24/7. The Hotel Naples - Piazza Garibaldi is also open 24/7. Other spots, like a shop near a metro station and the Hotel Porto Molo Beverello, have "Open Till Late" hours. It's best to check the specific location when booking.
On high-speed Frecciarossa and Italo trains from Napoli Centrale, there are luggage racks above seats and space behind the last row. Each passenger can bring up to two pieces of luggage (plus backpacks), with a maximum weight of 30 kg per piece. Urban and regional trains, like the Circumvesuviana, offer limited space for bulky suitcases.
ANM city buses do not have dedicated space for bulky luggage and are often crowded, so only backpacks or light bags are recommended. However, intercity buses or those going to the airport have external luggage compartments. These typically allow one or two suitcases per person.
Yes, taxis in Naples are a convenient solution for large luggage. They have sufficiently large trunks to transport multiple large suitcases. This is particularly useful for reaching hotels or apartments during inconvenient hours or when you have bulky items that are difficult to manage on public transport.
Highly-rated storage spots include a shop near a metro station (rated 4.96, 3 mins walk) and an office on Via Toledo (rated 4.96, 33 mins walk). Top hotel options are Hotel Naples - Piazza Garibaldi (rated 4.99, 2 mins walk) and Hotel Porto Molo Beverello (rated 4.97, 28 mins walk). All cost €3.49 per bag per day.
Through station serving Naples, Italy. Often confused by first-time visitors, Napoli Piazza Garibaldi is an underground station located directly beneath the surface-level Napoli Centrale mainline terminus. While Napoli Centrale handles national high-speed and intercity trains, the underground Napoli Piazza Garibaldi serves metropolitan Line 2 trains and provides critical connectivity to the Naples Metro (Line 1) and the EAV Circumvesuviana network, which carries travelers toward Pompeii and Sorrento.
Is this station huge and confusing? It can feel overwhelming because it functions as three distinct transit hubs in one location. To maintain confidence, understand that you are navigating different levels: street-level for long-distance trains, and various underground levels for regional and local transit. The layout is well-signposted with English displays, but the sheer volume of commuters and multiple transit operators requires focus.
For a stress-free experience, allow extra time for transfers, especially if you are switching between the mainline station and the Circumvesuviana platforms. Always check the departure boards frequently, as platform assignments for regional and local trains can change 30 to 60 minutes before departure. Keep your ticket accessible for both entry and exit barriers, and stay aware of your surroundings in this high-traffic area. While the complexity is real, clear signage and standard European rail protocols make it manageable for prepared travelers.
