From happy customers

Loved by 51 million+
Trustpilot rating: 4.5 out of 5

Cristina R

Spain
Couple
Apr 2026
The place is amazing. It's definitely worth seeing. And the guide explains everything clearly and is very attentive. Everything was great!

Silvia P

Group
Dec 2025
Many people but beautiful experience. The entrance was easy and convenient. Underground Naples was an emotionally charged experience

Pietro V

Italy
Couple
2 weeks ago
A phenomenal guide—he took us down into the underground passages and explained the history and what happened there very clearly. He also kept us entertained; a true-blue Neapolitan

Michael S

Family
Apr 2026
A really interesting tour. Alex was a fantastic guide and answered all our questions with great humor. I’d highly recommend it!

Evelyn U

United Kingdom
Couple
3 weeks ago
This was a surprise. What a fascinating tour. Our was clear and knowledgeable. He had everyone hanging on ever word. An interesting experience.

Anouchka K

Germany
Couple
Apr 2026
Booked a 2 hour tour with a small group and anbarcheologist guide. He was wonderful. He spent 3 hours with us. So many incredible details and his knowledge was extensive. Really strongly recommend.

Dr. Gergo M

Hungary
Family
Apr 2026
Brief program, somewhat bizarre topics :) We needed to prenotate on time, otherwise the program would have been booked out.

Eleonora C

Family
Apr 2026
Very interesting from a historical and cultural perspective. I also really appreciated the guide’s expertise and helpfulness. Another highlight of the tour is the chance to immerse yourself in authentic Neapolitan neighborhoods with all their charm

Top things to do in Naples

Why visit Napoli Sotterranea?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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