I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has used this way of getting around Naples?
What was your experience? Easy to navigate? Difficult? Relatively safe? Or not?
Any tips?
I've used the subway in New York countless times, the metro in Paris many times? How would the metro in Naples compare?
No different. Probably safer than NYC.
It is easy to use but kind of odd old school as you have to go to a Tobacco shop (tabaccheria) to buy tickets passes etc,
There were no automated machines selling tickets at the stop by the Castel Nuovo when I was there May 2018.
Even if it is still Under Construction, there are some automatic machines hidden in Municipio station; but there is also a Tobacconist every 2 blocks and the 90 minutes duration of "Integrato" tickets start when you time-stamp them, not when you buy.
In other words, the old school is smarter than the new one and rows of ticket machines would be a waste of money. Do what Neapolitans do, Get a couple of 90 minutes tickets at the first tobacconist you pass by and use them when you need to. Un-used tickets will be a nice souvenir.
Since line 6 is closed, there are only 2 metro lines running within the city of Naples, that cross at Piazza Garibaldi and Museo stations. Getting lost is quite difficult.
There are ticket machines in the stations that have been revamped with permanent art. But the machines are not at track level, they're as you walk down, normally at the midway point.
Then right before track level you'll find the tobacco shop. So 2 points to purchase tickets.
They've been there for the last 3 years.
Much safer than NYC!!! And cleaner.
Edit: metro map
I jumped onto the line 1 train at the museo stop and took it to Garibaldi to get the train to Pompeii last week. There were actually ticket agents at the booth that helped me out. Both trains were fine, but on the way home Thursday evening on the subway a nice looking guy tried to pick my pocket (nothing was in any of my pockets). I grabbed his hand and said no - he was not scary or violent at all and got off my car at the next stop (and back on the train one car over - I watched). So, having taken the NYC subway often I was not surprised and actually never felt I was in danger, but hide your money. I would ride the subway again in a minute though - very handy and easy to follow.
