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Napoli Sotterranea: The labyrinth under Piazza San Gaetano.

4.5(1,831 ratings)

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People exploring Bourbon Gallery in Naples underground.

Naples Underground guided tour entrance at Piazza San Gaetano.

Hypogeum garden suitable for growing plants in Naples Underground.

Naples Underground hypogeum garden at Napoli Sotterranea.

Naples underground tour showcasing Greek Roman theater ruins at Napoli Sotterranea.

Visitor exploring narrow tunnels of Napoli Sotterranea, Naples, Italy.

Naples Underground tour guide explaining WWII bomb remnants in historic tunnels.

4.5(430)

Naples Underground Skip-the-Line Ticket and Guided Tour

from

€15

Free cancellation

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Instant confirmation

Mobile ticket

1 hr 25 min

Follow the official Naples Underground path, along ancient aqueducts and WWII bomb shelters.

What you get: Descend 136 steps into millennia-old galleries, discovering Greek cisterns and medieval tunnels. Visit the underground War Museum and learn about the use of tunnels as shelters during WWII. Walk through the ruins of a Roman Theater beneath Neapolitan homes, and find emperor Nero's private dressing rooms used for performances. Explore the Hypogeum Gardens, an underground botanical project experimenting with crop growth at 35 meters depth!
Why choose this: Save time and skip the lines at Piazza San Gaetano. What's more, choose between an English and Italian-speaking guide for an inclusive experience. This tour ensures you're not in the dark (quite literally), and are given insights into a historic establishment in Naples.

Follow the official Naples Underground path, along ancient aqueducts and WWII bomb shelters.

What you get: Descend 136 steps into millennia-old galleries, discovering Greek cisterns and medieval tunnels. Visit the underground War Museum and learn about the use of tunnels as shelters during WWII. Walk through the ruins of a Roman Theater beneath Neapolitan homes, and find emperor Nero's private dressing rooms used for performances. Explore the Hypogeum Gardens, an underground botanical project experimenting with crop growth at 35 meters depth!
Why choose this: Save time and skip the lines at Piazza San Gaetano. What's more, choose between an English and Italian-speaking guide for an inclusive experience. This tour ensures you're not in the dark (quite literally), and are given insights into a historic establishment in Naples.

Inclusions

1 to 1.5-hour guided tour of Naples Sotterranea with entry
Expert English or Italian-speaking guide

This experience is not accessible by wheelchair or stroller as there are 121 steps to access the underground with no elevators or escalators.
For people with claustrophobia: There is one optional narrow tunnel. Those who do not want to walk the tunnel can take an alternate route and wait10 mins for the group.

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Reviews

How do we collect reviews?

4.5

430 ratings

275

122

What our guests say

Susan

Apr 2025Verified booking

5/5

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.

Amy

Apr 2025Verified booking

5/5

Well organised - got a message before with google maps co ordinates and queue skip! Well worth the visit and well done by the company!

Christine

Mar 2025Verified booking

4/5

A subterranean world to discover, sometimes walking in the dark through narrow passages leading to caves. Incredible maze to manage the city's water supply

View original review in French

Sophia

May 2025Verified booking

4/5

Interesting tour through the underground of Naples. You will be shown some of the numerous tunnels under the city and told how the inhabitants of Naples used them in times of war. Short narrow passages lead you to a Roman cistern. If you want to see more of these, you should also visit the Lapis Water Museum.

View original review in German

Denis

May 2025Verified booking

3/5

The tour guide was great and also told us an incredible amount. What we didn't think was so good was the size of the group. A few people less and the pace of the tour a little slower, then you could have noticed more and taken a few more photos.

View original review in German

Arianna

May 2025Verified booking

5/5

the entrance instructions were clear the guide who accompanied us was very engaging and precise in his explanation

View original review in Italian

Lovison

Apr 2025Verified booking

5/5

Wonderful skip the line....it was worth it otherwise the line was really long....very much appreciated the visit, kudos to the guide

View original review in Italian

laura

Apr 2025Verified booking

5/5

The activity in underground Naples was very nice, and the guide managed to capture the attention of the children (ages 6-9). Very knowledgeable and engaging

View original review in Italian

Noli

Mar 2025Verified booking

4/5

I loved the tunnels and water chambers and the old lady's house with the cellar, with the anti earthquake walls. I have claustrophobia but I managed the sometimes very tight tunnels. Our guide was fun with a sense of humour but it was often difficult to hear him or follow what he was saying, so we missed a lot of the stories.. which was disappointing.

maria

Jun 2025Verified booking

5/5

excellent guidance and spectacular places under Naples, history throbbing!

View original review in Italian

Silvia

May 2025Verified booking

5/5

Maximilian undisputed number 1!!!

View original review in Italian

Colin

May 2025Verified booking

4/5

The atmosphere here felt great and found the tour interesting

Ursula

May 2025Verified booking

5/5

The guide did an excellent job and it was very exciting!

View original review in German

AJM

May 2025Verified booking

4/5

Special location underground, good tour and information

View original review in Dutch

Gerardo

May 2025Verified booking

5/5

Excellent organization and customer service with excellent leadership

View original review in Italian

Alexander

May 2025Verified booking

5/5

Experienced guide, well-organized tour without standing in line

View original review in Italian

Dobrea

May 2025Verified booking

5/5

Very knowledgeable guide, involved us in his tour! Very nice

View original review in Italian

Paolo

Apr 2025Verified booking

5/5

The two empathetic and sympathetic guides

View original review in Italian

Sergio

Apr 2025Verified booking

5/5

Bravura and sympathy of the guide

View original review in Italian

Amy

Mar 2025Verified booking

5/5

The guide was interesting and entertaining. Sites were amazing.

Cinolo

Mar 2025Verified booking

4/5

The guide's explanations were comprehensive

View original review in Italian

Ina

Jun 2025Verified booking

5/5

Frosini

Jun 2025Verified booking

5/5

Marie

May 2025Verified booking

4/5

Luca

May 2025Verified booking

3/5

Veiled Christ sculpture in Napoli Sotterranea, Naples, Italy.

Veiled Christ statue inside Sansevero Chapel, Naples, showcasing intricate marble craftsmanship.

Veiled Christ sculpture at Sansevero Chapel, Naples, Italy, showcasing intricate marble craftsmanship.

Sansevero Chapel interior with Veiled Christ sculpture, Naples.

Rococo art on the roof of Sansevero Chapel

Veiled Christ statue in Sansevero Chapel, Naples, Italy.

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

4.5(471)

Combo (Save 5%): Napoli Sotterranea Guided Tour & Sansevero Chapel Entry Tickets

from €30.50

€28.97

5% off

Instant confirmation

Mobile ticket

Audio guide

Guided tour

Explore underground Naples, then admire the iconic Veiled Christ in the Sansevero Chapel Museum.

Bypass 1.5-hour long queues and journey beneath Naples with a skip-the-line guided tour of Napoli Sotterranea, exploring ancient tunnels and hidden passages.
Gain priority entry to the Sansevero Chapel Museum and admire the world-renowned Veiled Christ, a masterpiece of sculpted marble.
Choose between an audio-guided visit or a guided tour at Sansevero Chapel Museum to explore its mysteries in depth.

Explore underground Naples, then admire the iconic Veiled Christ in the Sansevero Chapel Museum.

Bypass 1.5-hour long queues and journey beneath Naples with a skip-the-line guided tour of Napoli Sotterranea, exploring ancient tunnels and hidden passages.
Gain priority entry to the Sansevero Chapel Museum and admire the world-renowned Veiled Christ, a masterpiece of sculpted marble.
Choose between an audio-guided visit or a guided tour at Sansevero Chapel Museum to explore its mysteries in depth.

Inclusions

Skip-the-line entry to Sansevero Chapel and Veiled Christ with audio guide
Skip-the-line entry to Napoli Sotterranea
An expert English or Italian-speaking local guide for Napoli Sotterranea tour

Exclusions

Hotel transfers and transportation
Meals
Gratuities

Your tickets guarantee priority access but there might be a short wait at the entrance since access is limited.
Napoli Sotterranea can only be accessed through guided tours.
If you’re visiting with infants, consider using a baby carrier since the attractions are not stroller-friendly.

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Reviews

How do we collect reviews?

4.5

471 ratings

306

125

What our guests say

Susan

Apr 2025Verified booking

5/5

Amy

Apr 2025Verified booking

5/5

Well organised - got a message before with google maps co ordinates and queue skip! Well worth the visit and well done by the company!

Christine

Mar 2025Verified booking

4/5

A subterranean world to discover, sometimes walking in the dark through narrow passages leading to caves. Incredible maze to manage the city's water supply

View original review in French

Serena

Jun 2025Verified booking

5/5

The Veiled Christ and Disenchantment are spectacular. I didn't wait in line and the girls inside were friendly and knowledgeable. Excellent visit

View original review in Italian

Sophia

May 2025Verified booking

4/5

View original review in German

Denis

May 2025Verified booking

3/5

View original review in German

Arianna

May 2025Verified booking

5/5

the entrance instructions were clear the guide who accompanied us was very engaging and precise in his explanation

View original review in Italian

Lovison

Apr 2025Verified booking

5/5

Wonderful skip the line....it was worth it otherwise the line was really long....very much appreciated the visit, kudos to the guide

View original review in Italian

laura

Apr 2025Verified booking

5/5

The activity in underground Naples was very nice, and the guide managed to capture the attention of the children (ages 6-9). Very knowledgeable and engaging

View original review in Italian

Noli

Mar 2025Verified booking

4/5

Dr.

Jun 2025Verified booking

5/5

Everything went very well and the tour with the audio guide was very interesting 🤨

View original review in German

Marika

Jun 2025Verified booking

5/5

punctuality ,orderliness ,organization

View original review in Italian

maria

Jun 2025Verified booking

5/5

excellent guidance and spectacular places under Naples, history throbbing!

View original review in Italian

Nadia

Jun 2025Verified booking

5/5

Very kind helpful staff

View original review in Italian

Silvia

May 2025Verified booking

5/5

Maximilian undisputed number 1!!!

View original review in Italian

Colin

May 2025Verified booking

4/5

The atmosphere here felt great and found the tour interesting

Ursula

May 2025Verified booking

5/5

The guide did an excellent job and it was very exciting!

View original review in German

AJM

May 2025Verified booking

4/5

Special location underground, good tour and information

View original review in Dutch

Gerardo

May 2025Verified booking

5/5

Excellent organization and customer service with excellent leadership

View original review in Italian

Patrizia

May 2025Verified booking

5/5

This experience is perfect for

View original review in Italian

Joseph

May 2025Verified booking

5/5

Very interresante I liked it very much

View original review in Italian

Iryna

May 2025Verified booking

5/5

there are unique sculptures, unsurpassed craftsmanship. Photography is prohibited, so I can't add pictures.

This review is translated. Show original review.

Caterina

May 2025Verified booking

4/5

The beauty of the San Severo Chapel and the Veiled Christ

View original review in Italian

Laura

May 2025Verified booking

5/5

Wonderful experience, to be lived ....

View original review in Italian

Alexander

May 2025Verified booking

5/5

Experienced guide, well-organized tour without standing in line

View original review in Italian

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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.

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

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.

Visitors enjoying modern art in a dimly lit musuem in Naples Underground.

See all photos

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.

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.

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.

From happy customers

Susan

Canada

Apr., 2025

Naples Underground Skip-the-Line Ticket and Guided Tour

Melanie

Mai, 2025

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

View original review in Italian

Spanish Quarters Underground Guided Tour

Mirko

Jan., 2025

The places visited and the guide (Tommaso) who besides explaining well the structures, the functionality over time, the vicissitudes and some characters related to those structures (or municiell), kept everyone entertained, kudos.

View original review in Italian

Spanish Quarters Underground Guided Tour

Patrizia

Italy

Feb., 2023

Ottima esperienza, un tuffo nel passato che fa riflettere molto. Complimenti per il recupero di questa memoria storica!

Bourbon Tunnel Entry Tickets & Guided Tour

Alessandro

Dez., 2022

Interessante la parte di storia relativa al rifugio seconda guerra mondiale, interessante anche la storia borbonica. Per il resto abbastanza simile a Napoli sotterranea.

Bourbon Tunnel Entry Tickets & Guided Tour

Jennifer

Mai, 2025

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.

Artecard Campania: 2 Museums Pass

United Kingdom

Okt., 2023

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. 😂

Artecard Campania: 2 Museums Pass

Jarrousse

France

Apr., 2025

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.

View original review in French

Artecard Napoli: 3 Museums Pass