Underground Naples - Official and Self-Guided Tours

"After this tour of subterranean Naples, the chaos of the city will make much more sense. The tours run hourly and are delivered in several different languages. You can pre-purchase tickets online or show up at one of the two entrances, check out the schedule, and then purchase tickets for your desired time of entry. Both routes offered by Napoli Sotteranea are fascinating, but they are very different. The first, with the entrance at Vico S. Anna di Palazzo, 52, goes deep underground to the original Greek cisterns. If you're interested in World War II, this tour will show you how the Underground was also used as a bomb shelter, which is what led to the archaeological explorations that followed. The tour then ascends to street level, and the best part is when access to a Roman theater is revealed by the door to a wine cellar from an ordinary ground-floor apartment. It's important to know that there are many steep and narrow spaces to traverse ahead of time. If you're claustrophobic or have limited mobility, take the route that starts in the church of San Lorenzo Maggiore. This tour doesn't descend nearly as far underground and will take you to the Roman market, where you will see an ancient world similar to the one that bustles at street level today. The last stop is an underground cameo shop with many beautiful pieces of excellent quality. Despite being underground, it's not a tourist trap. ;) "

"Napoli Sotterranea is a vast underground network of tunnels, cisterns, and passageways that date back to the ancient Greek and Roman eras. The tunnels of Napoli Sotterranea were originally used for water storage, but later served as a refuge during times of war and as a hiding place for smugglers. The underground network covers more than 80 kilometers and includes features such as catacombs, ancient quarries, and even a hidden river. Some of the most interesting sites within Napoli Sotterranea include the Greco-Roman aqueduct, the underground market, and the World War II air raid shelter. Note: There are parts of the tunnel which can get pretty narrow, so if you are claustraphobic, you may want to speak to the guide or maybe opt out on this one. Excursions in English: 10.00-12.00 14.00-16.00 18.00 (Thursday at 21.00 by reservation only, reaching a minimum of 10 people) Reservations are not required for groups of less than 10 people. Excursions in other languages, groups or excursions outside the opening hours by reservation only. More info on the website."

"On this one hour guided tour, you descend underneath the modern day city of Naples into a network of passages and structures built across thousands of years of human history. Here you will find remnants of a Greco-Roman theatre, learn about the 40,000 people who populated the underground during the Second World War, and discover a contemporary art museum, a hypogean garden, and learn about the history of wine in the region. Tickets can be purchased on arrival or online in advance for an additional cost. Be advised that there can be a long wait if you buy your ticket at the door. ***The underground in Naples is extensive and there is a second location where you can see what is called the Bourbon Gallery - it is organized and managed by a separate organization (Galleria Borbonica) and not to be mistaken with the one outlined here (Napoli Sotterranea). "