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From happy customers

Loved by 35 million+
Susan Newman
CA

Susan

Canada
Apr 2025
5/5
review-image
Before going on this tour, I thought it sounded a bit gimmicky. But it was recommended by family so we got tickets. Definitely skip The line was very helpful as it is a busy tour. And it was an incredible tour. So much history and you cannot imagine All that has happened underneath the city of Napoli.
April C Smith
US

April

United States
Jul 2025
5/5
Alex was an amazing guide. Funny, kind, thoughtful, and full of knowledge. This was a great tour., I took my four teens along and they had a blast as well.
Melanie Riccadonna

Melanie

May 2025
5/5
The tour was exciting and it was interesting to learn about things we didn't know had happened Our guide Edward was great and very nice
Patrizia Bacci
IT

Patrizia

Italy
Feb 2023
5/5
Ottima esperienza, un tuffo nel passato che fa riflettere molto. Complimenti per il recupero di questa memoria storica!
Alessandro Marco Butturini

Alessandro

Dec 2022
4/5
Interessante la parte di storia relativa al rifugio seconda guerra mondiale, interessante anche la storia borbonica. Per il resto abbastanza simile a Napoli sotterranea.
Jennifer Michelle LeRow

Jennifer

May 2025
5/5
We were through the line quickly at Peastum - it was a beautiful! Pompeii was another story as we were not aware of the 1st Sunday of each month being a Museum holiday where everyone egts in free. We waited in line for 2 hours because the "voucher" did not count as a printed ticket aloowing us immediate acccess, and then we were smooshed in through the gates by hoards of people trying to get in before it closed.
Mr Denis Mclean
GB

Mr

United Kingdom
Oct 2023
4/5
Easy to use and good value for site entry and getting around. Got on train from Sorrento to Herculaneum not knowing it only stopped a few times a day. Went through to Naples and easily caught the train to Herculaneum without extra cost or trouble. 😂
JARROUSSE LECROQ
FR

Jarrousse

France
Apr 2025
4/5
easy access to transport and museums. but I'd like to take issue with 2 things: the poor explanations on how to activate the card and the need to reactivate it each time it's used.

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Why visit Napoli Sotterranea?

Naples underground ruins entrance at Napoli Sotterranea, showcasing ancient stone arches and pathways.

Trace Naples' history across millennia

This underground network unveils 24 centuries of history and hidden treasures 40 meters beneath the vibrant cityscape. It began with the Greeks in the 4th century BCE and ended with the Roman Empire in the first few centuries CE, followed by the medieval, Renaissance, and World War eras.

Naples Underground guided tour entrance at Piazza San Gaetano.

Along a well-mapped route

Guided tours with experts ensure you don’t miss a thing, and help you navigate the underground caves safely. This official and authorized route covers ancient cisterns, a Greco-Roman theater, wartime shelters, and hypogeum gardens.

San Lorenzo Maggiore Basilica in Milan with ancient Roman columns in foreground

Part of the UNESCO-listed City Center

Dubbed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, the Historic Center of Naples is home to several important monuments. Right next door at Piazza San Gaetano 316, you'll find San Lorenzo Maggiore Basilica and the Neapolis Sotterrata ruins.

Things to know before booking Napoli Sotterranea tours

  • A tour of the Napoli Sotterranea takes up to 1.5 hours. You will follow an authorized route along early galleries, water reservoirs, a theater, and bomb shelters from the Second World War.
  • You cannot explore the tunnels of Napoli Sotterranea independently. All visits include a professional guide who helps you navigate safely and protect the integrity of the underground sites.
  • While you can get tickets directly on-site, booking online lets you save on time spent waiting in lines and plan your day more efficiently.

What to see inside the official Napoli Sotterranea?

War museum

War museum

Parts of the underground tunnel networks were used as a bomb shelter by close to 40,000 people during the Second World War. This underground museum preserves documents and objects relating to the war, including bunk beds, forgotten weapons, and war machinery. You will also find graffiti and magazines from the era.

Greckp\o - Roman Theatre
Naples Underground hypogeum garden, optimal for grwoing plants.
People exploring water resorvoir in Naples underground.
Naples underground earthquake monitor system with historical artifacts and monitoring equipment.

History of Napoli Sotterranea

Tuff stone texture from volcanic eruptions in Naples, Italy

4th century BCE

🪨The Greeks begin quarrying tuff stone from underground for city construction and subsequently establish Neapolis (modern Naples), forming the earliest tunnels of what becomes Napoli Sotterranea.

Roman aqueduct tunnels beneath Naples showcasing ancient engineering marvels.

1st century BCE – 1st century CE

💧Romans expanded the underground network, constructing aqueducts and cisterns to supply water to the city.

🎭A theater is built nearby, integrated into the urban fabric above, becoming a hub for entertainment and dramatic performances.

Naples underground tunnel used for waste disposal and storage.

Middle Ages (5th – 15th century)

🏙️The aqueduct system remains in partial use, but the Roman theater is abandoned and covered as the city grows above it.

♻️Subterranean spaces are repurposed for storage, refuge, and urban development.

Bourbon Gallery in Naples underground ruins, featuring ancient Napoli sotterranea architecture.

Renaissance and Early Modern Period (15th – 18th century)

🔦The underground network is used for water storage and emergency escape routes. Structures above ground incorporate remnants of ancient ruins, blending Naples' layered history.

🚿In the 16th century, nobleman Cesare Carmignano built a new aqueduct because the old one and its rainwater cisterns were no longer able to satisfy the growing water needs of the city.

Naples Underground tour showcasing ancient ruins and artifacts from Piazza San Gaetano.

World War II (1939–1945)

🛩️The tunnels and chambers serve as air raid shelters, protecting thousands of Neapolitans during bombings.

💈Remnants of life under the surface during this time – including graffiti and personal artifacts, are preserved for all to see.

Tourists exploring ancient underground ruins in Naples, Italy during a guided city tour.

Post-War Era (1950s–1980s)

🔍In the late '70s, Enzo Albertini founded a committee to rediscover and restore Naples' subsoil, hosting guided walks through key sites of anthropological and archaeological significance beneath the city.

🎀✂️In the late '80s, the site known as Napoli Sotterranea was officially opened, offering regular excursions underground.

🏛️1995: The Historic Center of Naples, of which Napoli Sotterranea is a central feature, was officially designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Naples Underground hypogeum garden at Napoli Sotterranea.

Modern Day (21st century)

🏳️Napoli Sotterranea is a celebrated cultural and historical site, offering regular guided tours through an authorized route showcasing Naples’ rich and layered history.

🌱The hypogeum gardens were set up in 2015, in order to experiment with crop growth 35 meters deep in the ‘bowels of Earth’.

Plan your visit to Napoli Sotterranea

Location

Piazza San Gaetano and accessible view to Napoli Sotteranea

How to enter

You can access the Napoli Sotterranea from Piazza San Gaetano, 68 [find on maps]. The entrance is marked by blue and white flags. As with all the others, this specific section of Underground Naples requires separate tickets.

Piazza Garibaldi bus station with a few buses

How to reach

🚌By bus: Catch a bus on lines 3M or R5.
Nearest stop: Costantinopoli, Piazza Garibaldi

🚄By train: Lines FR, FA, FB, IC, ICN, or R.
Nearest stop: Naples Centrale

🚇By metro: Lines 1 and 2.
Nearest stop: Museo Underground, Dante on Line 1.

🚕By car: You can grab a car or taxi to reach Napoli Sotterranea. It will be a 10-minute walk from the parking spots.
Nearest stop: Duomo, Piazza Cavour, or Corso Umberto parking spaces

Detailed getting there guide
Stack of colorful knitted clothes in a cozy arrangement.

Visitor tips

  • Carry a layer of extra clothing even during warmer months, and wear comfortable flat shoes to traverse the uneven terrain.
  • Spring is the best time to visit since the weather is mild and crowds are relatively lower.
  • Booking your tour online gives you the flexibility to enjoy other sites nearby before making a direct entry instead of standing in the ticket lines.
  • Nearby, you can explore the historic center and landmarks like Via dei Tribunali, the octagonal Misericordia chapel featuring Carravaggio’s works, and the extravagant Duomo di Napoli.
  • Craving a delicious Neapolitan pizza after your tour? Visit Gino e Toto Sorbillo. Or, head to Osteria Ippolito for authentic Italian comfort food.
Plan your visit

Frequently asked questions about Napoli Sotterranea

How long does a typical guided tour of the Napoli Sotterranea last? Can I visit independently, without a guide?

A guided tour of the Napoli Sotterranea can last up to 1.5 hours. The only way to visit is in the company of an authorized guide.

Do I need to book tickets in advance, or can I purchase them on the day of my visit?

You can purchase them on the day of your visit outside the entrance, but there are usually long lines for tickets. Booking online gives you the flexibility to arrive at your preferred time and enter immediately.

What is the official Napoli Sotterranea route and where is it located?

The official Napoli Sotterranea route begins from Piazza San Gaetano, 68. It is a safe and authorized path taking you through Bourbon tunnels, Greek cisterns, hypogeum gardens, and a War Museum.

What other Naples Underground sites can I visit?

You can visit the Neapolis Sotterrata next-door, explore the Catacombs of San Gennaro and San Gaudioso at Rione Sanità, and head to the Spanish Quarters for a different side of Underground Naples.

Are we allowed to film or take pictures inside the Napoli Sotterranea?

Yes, taking photos and videos is allowed.

Is there a dress code requirement for visiting the Napoli Sotterranea?

No, but it is recommended that you wear comfortable walking shoes and carry a warm layer since the temperature underground is usually much cooler than the surface.

What are the main restrictions or accessibility issues that I could face?

The route is designed with handrails and spacious paths, with only one optional narrow section. Visitors with claustrophobia can opt for an alternate route and wait about 10 minutes for their group. However, due to numerous steps, the experience is not wheelchair or stroller accessible.

More reads

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