Naples

See a Slice of the Real Italy

No matter how you slice it – Naples is teeming with life, activity and even a bit of chaos – and this is part of the charm. Both cacophonous and cultured, this is the real Italy – bustling and brimming with people who are ready to tell you the best place to grab a piece of their national pride: the pizza.

Neapolitans are revered for their building skills – whether it’s putting a topping on a pizza or the Duomo. Even more modern dwellings, like the Galleria Principe – an ornate shopping gallery that dates back to 1869 – prove to be a master class in mixing contemporary and traditional construction techniques.

On our Naples Sightseeing Tour, you’ll see of the city what you wish. Choose from four routes, each running anywhere from 75 minutes to 2 hours. Stay on board and watch locals from the comfort of your seat (better than trying to cross the street) or get off at will.

Your first taste of Napoli most likely won’t be pizza. Arrive, using your Eurail Italy Pass, at the Centrale rail station in the Piazza Garibaldi from airports as near as Rome and as far as Milano thanks to frequent FS Trenitalia service. The lower level of the Stazione Centrale includes the Piazza Garibaldi and Circumvesuviana annexes. Whether you will make a quick stop there or a longer layover for lunch, you’ll find restaurants, a tourist office, baggage storage, restrooms and currency exchange.

No visit to the area would be complete without a trip to the partially buried city of Pompeii and its sister city Herculaneum. Although there is service to Pompeii city center from Napoli Centrale, it would be better to use the Circumvesuviana line from the lower level annex towards Sorrento, with a stop at Pompeii Scavi. This line runs frequently and also makes a stop at Herculaneum. Be sure to buy your ticket before boarding since the route is privately run and outside of the Eurail pass coverage. This train also serves as your transit to the breathtaking Amalfi Coast.

The serenity of Capri is just a short ship crossing. From Napoli Centrale, take a 20-minute taxi or tram ride to the port, where a boat will bring you to the magical island of incandescent blue grottos.

Naples isn’t just a city to visit. It’s a jumping off point to historical sights, slumbering volcanoes, see-to-believe coastal towns and islands of lore. And all easily accessible by public transport.

Contributed by: Eric, Specialty Desk Agent, loves to frequent European events on visits with family in wonderful Kassel and Dortmund.