We are planning to visit Naples for the day, from our hotel base in Sorrento. We are a family of 5 (3 kids) and we will have a rental car with us. However, I've not been able to find any solid information about parking options in Naples for day-trippers, so I'm wondering now if we should take the train from Sorrento to Naples instead. Is there much public parking in Naples that doesn't require us to still walk a far distance from the parking just to get to the hub (centro storico)? And if we take the train, is the train station conveniently located near the main sites,or are there several stops for Naples? I am also very interested in the Spaccanapoli area.... Is there a parking lot or train station that is within a short walking distance of this area? Thanks so much for any tips!
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
The Circumvesuviana train takes 70 minutes, or there are a few faster express departures, about €4.20 each way, per person, and comes into Napoli Centrale/Garibaldi station (basically the same station, with different levels). You could also take a ferry one way, for a differet view. Driving takes at least that long on the A3 with tolls, see also www.viamichelin.com. Although others here have done it, I don't recommend driving in Naples. When I drove from Sorrento to Herculaneum, for instance, and accidentally got of the autostrada one exit too early, it took an hour to drive the short remaining distance on local roads, where I judged other drivers to be doing "every wrong thing they could think of."
Posted by
OP
52 posts
Thanks Laura. Do you know if the Spaccanapoli district is within walking distance of Centrale station? Or do we need to transfer to another train or bus once we're at Centrale? Also, does the Circumves. Train have washrooms onboard??
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
8085 posts
I can see that with five people it's not a ridiculous question, but it makes less sense to drive into Naples than it does to drive into New York City for a day trip. We didn't have a car, so I can't help, but you need to do an internet search for paid parking on the edge of where you want to spend the day.
We had a french window (Hotel Palazzo Decumani) overlooking a square in the historic center, and it was a mess of legally and illegally parked cars all the time. Many of the streets are one lane wide, with vestigial sidewalks, and bollards in surprising places. Like Athens, locals park half-on the curb, and think nothing of pulling over to unload while blocking traffic. Motorcycles dart in and out of pedestrians and around cars that are going too slow for their preference. Your American (no residence in your online profile ... we want to give you useful advice, not stalk you!) driving skills are useless in Naples.
The Circumvesuviana is not part of the regular long-distance railroad system in Italy. It's a postwar commuter train that's kind of like an elevated subway in Chicago or New York, but that runs out to the suburbs. Not only does it not have washrooms, it doesn't have enough seats and many of the trains are not air-conditioned. It also comes with accordion-playing bands collecting money in a hat. It is, however, extremely convenient. The Napoli train station has nice restrooms for 1 Euro a person. Make sure you get (on the return trip) on the trains to Sorrento and not to the other destinations. You can't make an inbound mistake in Sorrento.
Please check, but I think I read that a Circumvesuviana ticket includes your first transit ride on the local Naples subway or bus. Didn't affect us. Repeat: Check on that!
Posted by
Bromley, Kent,, UK
1829 posts
We always take the hydrofoil ferry over from Sorrento to Naples. If you take your car to Naples be aware of the ZTL areas ie places where only residents can drive around. Heavy fines for non authorised drivers! Here is a list (with maps) showing the various areas and their particular restrictions. Also some tourist info.
http://www.comune.napoli.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/13519
http://www.comune.napoli.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/EN/IDPagina/16991?53b6c0c38c0ff
Posted by
Massachusetts
715 posts
momto3
From Napoli Centrale you can take linea 2 metro to the Museo stop (towards Pozzuoli). From there it is about 2 blocks or so south to Spacconapoli. Don't miss the Archaeological Museum. It is fantastic.
Posted by
OP
52 posts
Thanks everyone! Your help is much appreciated!
Posted by
OP
52 posts
I just found out about the Unico Campania 3T ticket that apparently allows for 3 days of unlimited travel on the Circumvesuviana trains, the Naples subway and buses, and also the bus up to Mount Vesuvius and back! Is that correct? Sounds like a good deal since we will be based in Sorrento for several nights and we plan to go to Naples, Pompeii, Herculeum, and maybe even up to Mount Vesuvius if this ticket covers that ride too!!
Has anyone used this 3 day ticket before? Is the 20E price for students and children also, or is there a cheaper price for non-adults?
And is there another multi-day transportation option that also includes admission to Pompeii and/or Herculeum? What are the prices for adult/student/child?
Many thanks in advance!!