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Not everything worth discovering in Naples is above ground. Beneath its streets, palaces and churches lies another city, made of tunnels, cisterns, archaeological remains and spaces carved into the volcanic tuff.
Naples’ underground world tells more than two thousand years of history and offers a completely different perspective on the city.
Two of the best-known underground attractions are Napoli Sotterranea (Naples Underground) and Neapolis Sotterrata. Visitors sometimes confuse them, partly because their entrances are only a short distance apart: both are located around Piazza San Gaetano, in the heart of Naples’ historic centre.
They are, however, two very different experiences, both in terms of what you see and the type of visit. Understanding the difference will help you decide which one is right for you — or whether, as we suggest later, you should visit both.
Naples Underground vs Neapolis Sotterrata: At a Glance
Napoli Sotterranea – Naples Underground
- Entrance: Piazza San Gaetano 69;
- Depth: approximately 40 metres below street level;
- Duration: around 1 hour and 30 minutes;
- Visit: guided tour;
- What you’ll see: ancient cisterns, aqueducts, tunnels and World War II air-raid shelters;
- What to bring: a light sweater or jacket, even in summer.
Neapolis Sotterrata – San Lorenzo Maggiore
- Entrance: Piazza San Gaetano 316;
- Duration: allow approximately 1 hour to visit the complex;
- Type of visit: primarily archaeological;
- Full-price ticket: currently €9;
- Guided tour: optional, with an additional fee;
- The ticket also includes: the other areas open to visitors within the Monumental Complex of San Lorenzo Maggiore.
Opening hours, ticket prices and visiting arrangements may change. We always recommend checking the official websites before your visit.
Napoli Sotterranea: 40 Metres Beneath the City
Napoli Sotterranea is probably the most famous underground experience in Naples.
The entrance is at Piazza San Gaetano 69, along Via dei Tribunali and next to the Basilica of San Paolo Maggiore.
From here, you descend approximately 40 metres below street level into a network of underground spaces that takes you through very different periods of Naples’ history.
The origins of this underground world are ancient. The Greeks and Romans quarried and enlarged the cavities in the tuff, and an important part of the tour explores the old water-supply system that served the city for centuries.
You walk through cisterns and narrow passages belonging to the ancient aqueduct. One of the most atmospheric sections involves passing through particularly narrow tunnels with a small candle. This part is optional, however, so visitors who are uncomfortable in very confined spaces can skip it.
But Naples’ underground history does not end with the ancient world.
During World War II, some of these spaces were transformed into air-raid shelters. Thousands of Neapolitans took refuge underground during the bombing of the city, and traces of their time here can still be seen today, including inscriptions and other reminders of daily life in the shelters.
The experience therefore connects very different periods of Naples’ past, from the Greek and Roman city to its much more recent history.
How Long Does the Naples Underground Tour Take?
The visit lasts approximately 90 minutes and takes place with a guide.
Tours run throughout the day and are available in different languages. During busy periods, particularly in the high season, it is a good idea to check availability, departure times and booking arrangements in advance.
For current opening times, tickets and practical information, visit the official Napoli Sotterranea website.
What to Wear for Naples Underground
Even in the middle of summer, remember that conditions beneath Naples are very different from those at street level.
The temperature underground remains relatively stable throughout the year, so a light sweater or jacket can be useful even during the hottest months.
We also recommend comfortable, closed-toe shoes, as the route includes stairs, uneven surfaces and narrow passages.
The complete tour may not be suitable for visitors with significant mobility difficulties, while some sections may be uncomfortable for people with severe claustrophobia. If this applies to you, we recommend checking the accessibility and route details before booking.
Neapolis Sotterrata: Beneath the Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore
Just a few steps from Napoli Sotterranea, you can discover a completely different side of underground Naples.
Inside the Monumental Complex of San Lorenzo Maggiore, also in Piazza San Gaetano, lies Neapolis Sotterrata.
Here, rather than exploring a network of cisterns and aqueducts, you descend into an archaeological site where you can see remains of the ancient Greek and, above all, Roman city.
And this is the main difference between the two experiences.
Visiting Neapolis Sotterrata feels like stepping beneath modern Naples and discovering, layer by layer, the ancient city on which today's streets and buildings were constructed.
A Roman Street Beneath Modern Naples
One of the most fascinating parts of the site is the ancient macellum, the Roman market.
Beneath the San Lorenzo complex, archaeologists uncovered spaces that once formed part of everyday life in the ancient city, including shops, commercial areas and sections of the old street network.
It is one of the best places in Naples to understand something fundamental about the city: over the centuries, Naples did not simply replace what came before. Instead, it often built on top of itself.
Modern, medieval, Roman and Greek Naples therefore coexist within just a few metres of one another, separated not by distance, but by different levels beneath the city.
What Does the Neapolis Sotterrata Ticket Include?
The archaeological site is only part of the visit.
Your ticket gives you access to the Monumental Complex of San Lorenzo Maggiore, which also includes the Basilica, the museum and the beautiful Sala Sisto V, the former friars' refectory with its large frescoed vaults.
The complex is currently open daily from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. The full-price ticket is €9, with reduced rates available for certain visitors and free admission for children under 6. A guided tour can also be added for an additional fee.
Opening hours, prices and visiting arrangements may change. For the latest information and tickets, we recommend checking the official Neapolis Sotterrata website.
Naples Underground or Neapolis Sotterrata: Which Should You Choose?
It really depends on the kind of experience you are looking for.
Napoli Sotterranea is the more adventurous and immersive of the two. You descend much deeper underground, walk through tunnels and ancient cisterns, and discover how the same spaces were used during very different periods of the city's history, right up to the World War II air-raid shelters.
Neapolis Sotterrata, on the other hand, is primarily an archaeological experience. It is particularly interesting for visitors who want to understand how the ancient city was organised and see streets, shops and other spaces belonging to Greek and Roman Neapolis.
So these should not be considered two versions of the same attraction.
In fact, they complement each other remarkably well.
The first tells the story of Naples' relationship with the cavities carved into the tuff and the many ways its underground spaces have been used over the centuries. The second allows you to walk among the remains of the ancient city buried beneath the Naples of today.
Can You Visit Both on the Same Day?
Yes, and if you have enough time, this is probably the best way to experience underground Naples.
The entrances are extremely close to one another, both around Piazza San Gaetano and Via dei Tribunali. Allowing time for the visits and a break in between, you can easily include both in the same itinerary without having to cross the city.
Once you return to street level, you will also find yourself right in the heart of Naples' historic centre, just a short walk from San Gregorio Armeno, Spaccanapoli, Piazza Bellini, Santa Chiara and the Sansevero Chapel.
It is therefore easy to continue your day by alternating the Naples beneath your feet with the lively, noisy and crowded city carrying on as usual just a few metres above.
If you are planning a longer stay in the city, these underground experiences fit perfectly into a three-day itinerary. Take a look at our guide to what to see in Naples in 3 days for more ideas on exploring the historic centre and the city's main sights.
Hotel Il Convento's Tips
If you have enough time, don't choose between them: visit both.
Napoli Sotterranea and Neapolis Sotterrata reveal two very different sides of the same city, and because their entrances are so close to one another, it is easy to include both in the same day.
For Napoli Sotterranea, we recommend comfortable shoes and a light sweater or jacket, even during the warmer months. If you suffer from claustrophobia or have mobility difficulties, check the characteristics and accessibility of the route before your visit.
And when you return to street level, you will be in one of the liveliest parts of the historic centre. After all that walking, it might be the perfect time for a pizza, a sfogliatella or another Neapolitan speciality. Have a look at the Where to Eat in Naples section of our blog for some ideas on where to continue your exploration at the table.
Above all, don't be in too much of a hurry to return to the surface.
In Naples, sometimes the best way to understand what lies before your eyes is to first discover what lies beneath your feet.
