We will be picking our son up at the Naples Central train station. We have a car and don't want to park. Where can we drive up and pick him up? Do they have a drop off and pick up area?
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7327 posts
It isn't recommended for tourists to drive in Naples. It's too crowded, anarchic, and confusing. I hope someone with personal experience can post and help you. You might try zooming in on Google Maps.
Posted by
seattle
2047 posts
Where will you be staying? If it is in Naples, it might be easier for him to take the metro and meet you.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Piazza Garibaldi would be the main area but there are taxis, buses, and private drivers waiting for pickups there as well. It can be a bit chaotic. are you staying in Napoli or just picking up your son and driving on? Is he flying into Napoli (in which case, meet him at the airport) or taking the train in?
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
Even if you've driven in Italy before, Naples, if you're not familiar with it, is NOT the place to drive!! Rules of the road are mere suggestions. Normal 2 lane roads become 4. Drivers are extremely aggressive.
Have your son take the Alibus to the airport and pick him up there.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Great suggestion, gerri!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15202 posts
First we need to know where you are coming from with your car and where you are going after picking up your son.
Also is he flying into Naples (in which case you should pick him up at the airport) or flying into somewhere else (Rome?) and coming to Naples by train?
Also the time of arrival is important, because traffic in Naples comes to a standstill during commute time. (The video linked above is traffic on a typical morning day on Piazza Garibaldi, where the station is).
Posted by
Boston, MA
1829 posts
Naples is on many people's I absolutely would never drive there short lists
Have driven in other parts of Italy no problem but personally would not attempt this.
Would look for other train stops he could get off instead to pick him up or the easiest way for him to get somewhere else like the airport.
Your tolerance for risk may be higher than mine though.
Posted by
Rock Hill, SC
57 posts
We visited Naples in summer 2015. Actually took the fast train from Rome and then regional train to Pompeii for the day.
Then...back to the train station and took the Alibus to the airport and took a $35 flight from Naples to Milan. I think the Alibus was about $10.
I will say....the traffic is crazy busy and the train station is super sketchy outside. My wife was pickpocketed right outside the train station in broad daylight.
I, too, would suggest him taking the Alibus to the airport or if he could take a train to wherever you are...that would be best.
Naples is not a city I will ever visit again. Sorry...just one small bad experience on a wonderful Italy trip.
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
Roberto, loved the video! No one believes it till they've actually experienced it. Made me laugh 😂
Judy the fare for the Alibus is 3E. Time to the airport is about 15 minutes. Runs every 30 minutes.
Your son would walk out of the station, turn left then at the light cross the street. Go through piazza Garibaldi to the next street turn right again cross at the light, then turn into the bus area. Purchase ticket at kiosk, board bus.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
That video has been shot 4 years ago when the all square was under contruction. The situation has quite improved:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=137322344&postcount=10193