No, our only Italian office is in Rome. Our staff can be contacted there. The phone number is (39)06.976.25204.
Yes and no – Naples gets a bad rap for being an unsafe and seedy city but this is largely untrue. Yes, some areas (most notably, the area immediately surrounding the main train station) are best avoided but, for the most part, the city is safe and welcoming. As in any other large city, if you pay special attention to your surroundings and trust your instincts, you will be fine. We would also suggest not leaving any bags, luggage or personal items (cameras, etc.) unattended.
If you are in Campania for just one day, your best bet will be to stay in Naples or explore the archaeological areas of Pompeii or Herculaneum. The Amalfi Coast deserves time and a relaxed pace, especially given the fact that the road connecting all the various villages is very narrow and often busy with traffic. Ideally, we’d suggest spending at least one night in Naples or on the coast in order to fully enjoy the beauty of the site.
If taking a high-speed Eurostar train, Naples is surprisingly close to Rome (the trip takes about 2 hours). Thus, Naples can definitely be done as a, slightly long, day trip. We can assist you with arranging a day trip by purchasing round trip train tickets in advance.
For a full day in Naples, we suggest splitting the day between explorations of the city’s art and history. During the course of the walk, however, we will stroll through the city’s dense center and discussion will naturally cover contemporary life in the city and its rich culinary heritage.
We suggest the following schedule:
9AM - 12:30PM: La Vita Napoletana - From the ancient Greeks and Romans to modern day, this walk traces Naples’ dramatic political history. 12:30PM - 1:30PM: Stroll through the city center with lunch break at one of the city’s historic pizzerias, followed by a life-changing espresso. 1:30PM - 5PM: Arte Napoletana - Naples in one of Italy’s most overlooked art destinations. This walk explores the churches, chapels and galleries that attest to the artistic importance of the city, especially its crucial role in the Baroque period.
Yes, we can help you arrange a full day based on your interests, even if you are in town for one day with a cruise ship. Many cruise ships dock right in Naples, making it very easy to explore the historical area near the port (Piazza del Plebiscito, Castel Nuovo, Palazzo Reale) and then head to the heart of the city, filled with Baroque churches and interesting museums. We can also take you to Pompeii or the less-visited archeological sites on Mt. Vesuvius, such as Herculaneum, Stabia and Oplontis, using a car service for the day. If you're docking in Sorrento or Amalfi, we can provide the same services, paired with a car service for the day.
Cruise ships stopping in Naples either stop in the city, itself, or Sorrento, further down the coast. If your ship is stopping in Naples and you would like to spend a full day in the city, we suggest the following itinerary:
9AM - 12PM: La Vita Napoletana - From the ancient Greeks and Romans to modern day, this walk traces Naples’ dramatic political history. 12PM - 1PM: Stroll through the city center with lunch break at one of the city’s historic pizzerias, followed by a life-changing espresso. 1PM - 3PM: Arte Napoletana - Naples in one of Italy’s most overlooked art destinations. This walk explores the churches, chapels and galleries that attest to the artistic importance of the city, especially its crucial role in the Baroque period.
If, instead, you would like to visit Pompeii, we would suggest the following itinerary:
8:30AM: Port pick up with private car 9AM-12PM: Exploration of the archaeological site of Pompeii 12PM-12:30PM: Transfer back to Naples 12:30PM - 1:30PM: Lunch in the one of the city’s historic pizzerias, followed by a life-changing espresso. 1:30PM-4PM: Choice between Archaeological Museum (for ancient history enthusiasts), Capodimonte Museum (for art history lovers), La Vita Napoletana (this walk focuses the political and social history of the city, from ancient times to contemporary life).
Capri is one of the three main islands in the bay of Naples. The islands are connected to the main land via ferry and hydrofoil. Capri is the most popular of the three, but also the most crowded and expensive. If you are looking for a quiet get-away opt for Ischia or Procida. All islands are about 90 min. from Naples using either a ferry-style boat or a hydrofoil. During the summer, water taxis connect Sorrento and Positano to the islands as well.
Ferry service between Naples and the nearby islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida is fast, easy, and convenient. There are two main ferry companies that offer this service; SNAV and Caremar. SNAV's website (www.snav.it) is the better of the two, with an English version, updated timetables and the option of purchasing tickets online. Caremar's website (www.caremar.it) is not as comprehensive and does not allow for online booking, yet it does show up to the minute time tables. For both companies, you can purchase tickets on the spot at the port of Naples either at the Molo Beverello or Mergellina stations. The departure port station will be indicated in the time table. If traveling during the summer or other busy times of year (like Easter), you should plan on booking at least a few days in advance. The travel time is usually around 1 hour, depending if you take the faster hydro-foil or the slower traghetto (ferry). If you plan on taking a vehicle with you, make sure to get the proper tickets in advance and get to the port with plenty of time in order to embark. In this case, SNAV is the better choice, as it allows to make bookings online or you can simply visit the ticket booth at the port of Naples in advance. Some travel agencies can also process tickets for the ferries. Participating agencies are listed on both ferry companies' websites.
Driving in Naples can be a harrowing experience. In a city where the red light means "hurry up", you need to take extra precautions if driving or simply to cross the road. That being said, if you are coming in for the day with a car and looking for a place to park, your best bet is the Via Brin parking lot, an 800-car facility located halfway between the main train station and the port (on the corner of Via Brin and Via A. Volta). The lot is open 24-hours a day and costs around 2 euro for the first four hours, followed by 50 cent. for every additional hour. There are also street-side parking spaces in the city, marked by bright blue lines. Anywhere else in town, not marked by blue lines should not be used for parking. To pay for these spots, one must go to a nearby booth that accepts coins and will print out a ticket listing the expiration time, which you then have to place on your dashboard for the meter readers to check.
Tipping in the U.S. is mandatory because waiters and waitresses are paid below minimum wage. The first 8-10% of a U.S. tip simply brings the waiter up to living wage. This is not the case in Italy. Waiters make living wage by law. Thus, tips are intended to signal approval. I generally consider what I would tip in the U.S. and subtract 10%. So, if service was good, I give 5% instead of 15%. If it was exceptional, I give 10% instead of 20%. Don’t believe waiters who tell you that service isn’t included. Technically, they may be right: There is no tip specifically in the bill. But you need to think of the wider social picture.
If you are planning on moving around Naples quite a bit, the public transportation system, though not entirely trustworthy, can be a great help. The Metro is an easy way to get between the main train station and the Archeological Museum (which, in turn, is within walking distance of most points of interest in the city center). Buses are good ways to venture out to Mergellina, Chiaia and Posillipo. The funiculars are fun ways to go up the hill to Vomero and Montesanto. To get out to the archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum (and even further afield, to Sorrento, which can act as a base for exploring the Amalfi Coast), the Circumvesuviana line is quick and easy. For more information on using the public transportation system in Naples, please read our dedicated blog entry.
As in most Italian cities, one must go to taxi stands to pick up a taxi (look for the orange sign with “TAXI” in bold, black letters). They rarely can be hailed on the street. You can call for a taxi from the following numbers: 081.5525252 or 081.5515151.
Yes, storing your luggage at the main train station (Stazione Centrale) in Piazza Garibaldi is quite simple. If facing the exit, with your back to the train tracks, the luggage storage is all the way to the right, near the ticket windows.
Yes and no. Hydrofoils and bus shuttles serve Naples, Amalfi and Positano regularly but can be crowded during the summer months. Plan ahead and make sure you have a concise, up to the minute hydrofoil schedule on hand if you plan on making several trips back and forth.
No. Though considered world-class institutions, museums in Naples never get so crowded that one would need reservations for bypassing lines.
The trip between Pompeii and Naples is quite short – around 30 minutes. Though we usually use a private car to travel between the two, taking the local Circumvesuviana commuter train is an easy and sustainable alternative.
There is a parking lot at Pompeii, though quite a small one, so if you plan on driving, plan to get there early. Driving from Rome should take about 2 hours (not taking inevitable traffic into consideration) and 1 hour from the Amalfi Coast (and Sorrento).