Naples http://www.inaples.it/eng/home.asp (Italian: Napoli) in Italy, is the capital of the Campania region. The city is the third most populated municipality (city proper) of Italy, but the second metropolitan area, after Milan. It was founded between the 7th and 6th centuries BC by the Greeks and was named Neapolis, which means new city. Because of its vast artistic heritage, the historic centre of Naples has earned the UNESCO World Heritage Site denomination. Its territory, particularly the iconic sight of the gulf of Naples (but also Mount Vesuvius, the music, etc. ) is recognized abroad as one of the most powerful symbolic images of Italy. However, many Neapolitans do reject such stereotypical portrayal.

Get in

By plane

Naples is served by Naples Airport, also known as Capodichino Airport (IATA: NAP) http://www.gesac.it/en/. It's well organized and connected to the Center of the City with public transportation.

From the airport you can take a bus for €3 (called Alibus: http://www.gesac.it/en/alibus.html) which has two stops only: Stazione Centrale (Central station) and Piazza Municipio, near the main ferry port (molo Beverello). You can buy your ticket on the bus. Further connections are listed on this page of the official website of the airport: http://www.portal.gesac.it/portal/page/portal/internet/inAEROPORTO/Autobus

If you have time to spare, you can take the 3S bus that will take you to the same stops as the Alibus for a cheaper price. The difference is that the Alibus has limited stops but the 3S will take you to the backstreets leading to the Stazione continuing all the way to the port and a shopping district. Also, the Alibus is airconditioned whereas most 3S buses are not.

Beware of illegal, unauthorized taxis and of anyone who may approach you directly. Authorized taxis are clearly visible at the exit; fixed fares exist for a number of destinations, and must be clearly shown in the cab. Make sure they are before getting on the cab and threaten to call the police ("polizia") should the taxi driver try to push back.

By train

The main station is Napoli Centrale - Piazza Garibaldi Station, connected to the Naples subway system. The buses R2 or 601 from the Piazza Garibaldi in front of the train station will take you within three blocks of the ferries at Stazione Marittima. Other stations include Mergellina, a magnificent Art Déco building and Campi Flegrei.

By boat

Cruise ships dock at Stazione Marittima, a large terminal located right in the city center, near Piazza Municipio.

• MedMar Group http://www.medmargroup.it operates several large ferry/passenger ships that connect Naples with Sardinia (Olbia), Corsica (Porto-Vecchio), Tunisia (Tunis), and the Aeolian Islands. These trips usually leave in the late afternoon or evening and arrive at their destination the next morning.

• Tirrenia Navigazione http://www.tirrenia.it/index_en.asp operates an overnight ferry service that has two separate routes, one to Sardinia (Cagliari) and the other to Sicily (Palermo).

By car

Naples is directly connected with Rome by the A1 highway, and the trip takes generally less than 2 hours. Due to traffic jam and parking shortage in city center, it's advisable to leave your car in a parking lot near the motorway exit or your accommodation, and to use public transportation

By bus

Many national and international private bus services operate in Naples, generally stopping at Piazza Garibaldi or Piazza Municipio.

Get around

Be forewarned: Traffic in Naples is nuts. It is the place where the social order breaks down and it is every man for himself (the traffic lights are usually ignored). You will find cars double and triple parked. Cars going the wrong way down one way streets. Traffic around the train station is nuts. Before attempting to cross the street, observe the locals. The idea is to spot a gap in the traffic and start across and hopefully people will stop. If this fails look for a pretty girl or a mother with young kids and let them run interference for you. Good luck!

There are several ways to see Naples and the surrounding area. These include by taxi, train/subway, bus.

Taxis are the quickest way to see Naples, but also the most expensive. Before getting into a taxi, make sure it is licensed. Licensed taxis will have a city crest on the door and a taxi number. Also, make sure it has a meter. By law, licensed taxis must display a list of pre-agreed fares in a number of languages (Italian, English, French, German, Spanish). Check the presence of such fares and agree to them before starting the journey.

By public transportation on land

It is fairly difficult to get a clear picture of the public transportation system in Naples, since different lines are operated by different companies. Nonetheless, one can buy a daily pass for three Euro valid on all vehicles. With an € 1,10 ticket, instead, you can travel for 90 minutes on as many lines as you want (Bus, subway, funicolare).

• Metropolitana di Napoli http://www.metro.na.it. There are six lines of underground subway in Naples. They are generally safer than the other public transports, because they are always monitored by cameras and security officers. The most important:

• Linea 1, built recently, connects the city center to the hill quarters, like Vomero and the hospitals area. Avoid passing through Piscinola and Secondigliano as those areas can be very dodgy and dangerous.
• Linea 2, much older, connects the three main train stations to Pozzuoli. The tracks are shared with the ordinary railway
• Linea 6, a new light subway connecting Fuorigrotta to Mergellina.

• Funicolarehttp://www.metro.na.it. The subway company also operates four cable cars: three of them connect the city center to Vomero, the last connect Mergellina to Posillipo.

• Trams http://www.anm.it. ANM operates two tram lines (1 and 4), of which one goes along the shore of Santa Lucia - Castelnuovo - Garibaldi (Central Station).

• Buses http://www.anm.it. ANM also operated all bus lines within Naples, most of which are circular. Naples suffers from a serious problem of traffic jam and usually buses are overcrowded, so if you can (unless in the evening or on the weekend) try to avoid them.

There are three different regional train services that operate in Naples and the surrounding areas. They are listed here:

• Circumvesuviana. The Circumvesuviana railline operates out of the basement of the main train station at Piazza Garibaldi and has different routes that service the local Naples area. One route goes from the train station to Sorrento with several stops in between, including Pompei Scavi and Ercolano. A second route travels around Vesuvius. Other routes go to Acerra and Nola-Baiano. The Circumvesuviana website http://www.vesuviana.it/ has more information on timings, routes and cost of tickets.

• Cumana. This railline that operates from Montesanto in Naples and follows the coastline for approximately 20 km before ending in Torregaveta (Bacoli). The Cumana runs the urban centres of Montesanto, Fuorigrotta, Bagnoli, Pozzuoli, Arco Felice, Baia, Fusaro before reaching Torregaveta.

• Circumflegrea. This railline also starts in Montesanto and ends in Torregaveta. However, it runs along the western edge of Naples through the districts Soccavo, Pianurat, Quarto Flegreo, Licola and Cuma. It also approximately seven kilometres alonger than the Cumana. because the Cumana and Circumflegra start and end in the same places one can quickly transfer from one train to the other. Both services are owned and operated by the same company and more information can be found at the S.E.P.S.A website http://www.sepsa.it/html/ing/home.htm.

• Regional Trains. In Addition to the aforementioned trains, Trenitalia operates regional trains from Naples to Salerno.

By ferry/hydrofoil

There are several ferry/hydrofoil services that connect Naples and local ports/islands. Ferry and hydrofoil services leave from either Molo Beverello, Mergellina or Pozzuoli. Some then of them are listed here:

• Metro del Mare http://www.metrodelmare.com/inglese/rotte.html has several lines that connect Naples and Sapri; Bacoli and Salerno and Sorrento; Monti di Procida and Salerno; and, Amalfi and Sapri. Besides the main stops the ferry service also connects many smaller communities. The Metro di Mare webpage has schedules, timetables and location of ticket counters.

• L.N.G. http://www.navlib.it/index.asp has a hydrofoil service that connects Naples with the island of Capri, along with Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi. Schedules and timings can be found on its website.

• AliLauro http://www.alilauro.it has a hydrofoil service that connects Naples with the islands of Ponza, Ventotene, Prochida, Ischia, Capri and Eolie, and the towns of Formia, Castellamare, Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Salerno. Alilauro operates from both the Molo Beverello and Mergelina.

• L.N.P. http://www.consorziolmp.it operates both hydrofoil and boats lines. It connects Naples with Sorrento and has other lines connecting Capri, Sorrento, Castellamare, Salerno, AMalfi and Positano. Schedule and timings can be downloaded from the L.N.P. website.

Get out

There is fast express train service to Rome and points north, as well as points south. Naples is the ultimate terminus for the FR7 line of the Rome commuter rail network, which runs from Roma Termini to Minturno-Scauri, Sessa Aurunca-Rocca or Naples. There are also local Italian Railway trains to Pompeii, but for such short distances, it is easiest to take the Circumvesuviana commuter train.

Caserta Royal Palace

Reggia di Caserta - A huge 18C royal palace and hunting lodge designed by architect Vanvitelli and rivaling Versailles. Magnificent, enormous park with lakes, rivers, statues, fountains and marvellous views. By train from Naples to Caserta (about 40 minutes journey).

Gulf of Naples

• Ischia
• Capri
• Procida
• Sorrento
• Positano
• Amalfi
• Pozzuoli
• Phlegraean Fields

• Tour the excavations of Herculaneum and Pompeii nearby to the south of Naples. Pompeii is 40 minutes via the Circumvesuviana train (Sorrento line, here: is the timetable http://www.vesuviana.it/Reteeorari/Ferrovia/Orario/LineaNapoliSorrento, click on the station where you are getting the train) from the Naples Central train station.

• From Pompeii, take a bus to Mount Vesuvius, and hike to the summit. Mount Vesuvius is the only active volcano on the mainland of Europe.

• Paestum, an hour and a half to the south, (near Salerno) is Italy's most famous Greek excavation site.

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