How to get around Naples by public transportation: bus, streetcar, metro and much more

As soon as you start planning your visit to Naples, you will discover that the city offers a thousand opportunities to get around quickly by public transportation.

Indeed, the territory of the Neapolitan city is covered extensively by an intricate network of subway lines, buses, streetcars, funiculars and even trains.

The city is well-connected to other Italian cities. You can reach the city quickly from every Italian city: Venice, Milan, Rome and other cities by train or plane. Not to mention that the airport is also connected to the city centre by an efficient public transportation system.

So if you don't want to move around in Naples traffic by car, and we agree, you can easily reach the city's main attractions by the public transportation we are about to look at below.

Let's find out about them, one by one together.

To get around Naples by public transportation, we first evaluate buses.

Road transport links every area of the centre of Naples and its outskirts, even the most remote. The lines are numerous and are managed by the ANM company. This company is the same one that also provides transfers called Alibus, connecting the airport to the city centre and the port to reach the islands or the Sorrento peninsula.

Some lines are also guaranteed at night: usually from midnight until 4 am, but it is always a good idea to check in advance in case of changes.

As far as tram and trolleybus transport is concerned, the aforementioned transport company operates four tram lines and four trolleybus lines.

Tickets can be one-way, daily, seven-day or monthly passes. The price may vary depending on the areas you will be travelling through, especially if you are travelling to the suburbs. For more information on prices and timetables (which are often subject to change), you can easily consult the official ANM website (https://www.anm.it/).

If you want to get around by bus, however, but without worrying too much about schedules, why not evaluate the panoramic bus? You can get off and on as many times as you like and see the city's main attractions and in particular its UNESCO World Heritage historical centre!

For travel on the famous metro, two companies manage the Naples underground: in addition to ANM, there is also Trenitalia.

ANM manages Line 1 and Line 6, which form the famous itinerary of the art stations:

- Line 1 was the first metro line to be nicknamed the Metro of Art due to the work done on its stations to make transit not only efficient but also a true dive into art and beauty. Line 1 connects the northern suburbs from Piscinola to Garibaldi, and among its most important stations are the stops in the historic centre: Duomo, Università, Municipio, Toledo (recognised as the most beautiful metro station in Europe and the world by the Daily Telegraph and CNN), Dante, and Museo. Generally, it operates from 6:30 am to 10:30 pm, unless there are special announcements or events, so always check the ANM website and social media pages.

- Line 6 is a gem of exquisite craftsmanship that links the historic centre to the Fuorigrotta district, passing along the Riviera and its sea. The new line was inaugurated in July 2024 and features several stations that are true contemporary art galleries, such as Chiaia Station with works by Peter Greenaway and the exit near the University of Monte Sant'Angelo, where the exit itself is an artwork with a giant installation by Anish Kapoor.

On the other hand, Trenitalia manages Line 2, which is often referred to as the "urban train". This is the railway link that connects the Napoli San Giovanni station to Pozzuoli. With its underground route, it connects some of the city's most important squares and urban areas: Garibaldi, Cavour, Montesanto, Amedeo, Mergellina, and Campi Flegrei. For more information on schedules and tickets, it is suggested to consult the official Trenitalia website (https://www.trenitalia.com/it.html).

Are you near the magnificent historic centre? We have reserved for readers of Visit Italy articles who are passionate about classical art the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic entrance with a selfie at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, avoiding long hours of waiting in line.

In addition to the road and rail line, there are 4 funicular lines and they connect the city center with the hillside neighborhoods. It is a means of transportation created more than 100 years ago and is now operated by the ANM. The four funicular lines in operation are:

- Funicular Centrale (Augusteo - Piazza Fuga): is also called the "shopping funicular" and connects the Vomero district to the city center;
- Funicular Mergellina (Mergellina - Via Manzoni): provides access to the Posillipo district;
- Funicular Chiaia (Cimarosa - Piazza Amedeo): this came into operation on October 15, 1889 and connects the Vomero district with the Chiaia district. Some work is currently underway to modernize the line;
- Funicular Montesanto (Via Morghen - Montesanto): connects the highest part of the Vomero district with Piazzetta Montesanto.

The funicular lines are generally operational from 7 am until 10 pm.

Among the public means of transportation by which it is possible to get around Naples we count elevators. There are as many as 4 that connect to the elevated parts of the city. Here are which ones:

- Chiaia elevator: connects Via Chiaia with Piazza S. Maria degli Angeli;
- Acton elevator: connects via Acton with piazza Plebiscito;
- Sanità elevator: connects via Santa Teresa degli Scalzi with the Sanità district;
- Ventaglieri elevator: connects the lower part of the park of the same name with the higher part of Via Avellino in Tarsia.
- Monte Echia elevator: connects Via Santa Lucia and the Chiatamone with the belvedere overlooking Mergellina

They are operated by ANM but are completely free of charge (except for Monte Echia which can be taken with the same ticket as the above-mentioned bus). On weekdays they operate from 7 am to 9.30 pm, while on public holidays they operate on a reduced schedule, from 7 am to 2 pm.

These 3 lines can be considered to get around the areas surrounding the city. They are lines operated by the EAV company (so not the ANM!) and allow you to reach many towns and cities.

With the Circumvesuviana, for example, you can reach the provinces of Salerno and Avellino but also the most famous archaeological sites in Campania.

Also with the Circumflegrea and Cumana, you reach some important towns in the surroundings among which Pozzuoli is only one of the most famous, but also places of common interest such as the Maradona stadium and the Mostra d'Oltremare, the fairground venue for the city's biggest events.

In any case, these lines are very busy locally and are quite crowded at peak times. Above all, it often happens that the schedules are not assiduously adhered to.

Now that we have viewed all the options on how to get around Naples, we can review the different ticket and fare options.

The single ticket is valid for 90 minutes from the time of obliteration. It costs 1.20 euros on urban lines (metro lines, buses, streetcars and trolleybuses operated by ANM), and 1.40 euros for urban routes operated on suburban lines, and on rail lines (lines operated by Trenitalia and EAV).

If you want a single urban ticket but valid on all lines of the companies operating in Naples, you need to buy the integrated ticket at a cost of 1.70 euros and also valid 90 minutes.

As soon as you travel to municipalities other than Naples, the ticket to be purchased is different and the fare increases according to the distance traveled.

Then there are options for daily tickets, and tickets valid for 7 days, also available in the "integrated" variant.

If you want to get around the city by public transportation in the easiest way, we would definitely suggest that you purchase the city card! Not only will you be able to move around Naples without the thought of a ticket, but you will have access to some of the city's most beautiful attractions!

If you are looking to purchase tickets or passes for public transport in Naples, here is everything you need to know. You can find ANM and integrated tickets at authorised retailers within the Unico Campania network, at ANM Points, and automatic machines in metro and funicular stations. For passes, you need to go to authorised sales points by the Unico Campania Consortium.

But that's not all—if you pay attention, you can find a series of tips on how to save money using public transport in Naples.

You can also buy tickets at tobacconists within the PUNTO LIS/LOTTOMATICA, DROP POINT, and MOONEY networks. They will give you a receipt with a QR code printed on thermal paper. For now, however, you can only purchase single-ride tickets for specific fares (UNA A, NA1, NA2, AC1, and ALIBUS). These tickets are valid for 120 minutes and can be activated immediately after purchase or delayed up to five days. Keep in mind that once you choose the route, you cannot change it and must follow the itinerary, otherwise you risk a fine. Remember that these tickets are non-refundable.

If you prefer to use your smartphone, you can download the UnicoCampania APP to purchase tickets for trams, buses, metro, funiculars, and Alibus. You can also buy tickets via SMS, but these are only valid for surface services and the Chiaia funicular. If you like the idea of travelling without a paper ticket, there is Tap&Go®, which allows you to use contactless payment cards at enabled turnstiles. You can find more details on the Tap&Go page of the Unico Campania website.

As for the Alibus, which connects Capodichino Airport with the central station and the port of Naples, there are special fares. You can find all the information in the section dedicated to Alibus on the website.

The Campania Region also offers discounted fares for students, people with low ISEE income, over 65s, and protected categories. If you want to know more about these discounts and how to apply for them, check the dedicated section on Unico Campania.