In a nutshell
- In Naples, you can visit the Catacombs of San Gennaro and the Catacombs of San Gaudioso. One ticket gets you into both.
- Entry is by guided tour only — no independent visits.
- From the city center, it’s a 20-minute bus ride to the catacombs, up on the Capodimonte hill in the Sanità neighborhood.
- We visited the Catacombs of San Gennaro ourselves — it was seriously impressive and one of the real highlights of our Naples trip.
What You Need to Know About the Catacombs of Naples
The Catacombs of Naples are early Christian underground cemeteries. They are around 1,800 years old.
There are several catacombs in Naples, but only the Catacombs of San Gennaro and the Catacombs of San Gaudioso are open to the public.
The ticket is valid for one year and gives you access to both catacombs.
The most famous are the Catacombs of San Gennaro. They consist of two levels with around 2,000 graves.
Unlike the Catacombs of Paris, the Naples catacombs contain only small bone fragments — especially in the Catacombs of San Gaudioso.
All catacombs in Naples are accessible by guided tour only, for safety reasons.
Top 3 Catacombs in Naples
Catacombs of San Gennaro
The Catacombs of San Gennaro are the most famous in the city and one of the most impressive attractions in Naples.
They’re located about a 20-minute bus ride from the center, in the Sanità neighborhood.
We visited these catacombs and honestly can’t recommend them enough. They’re among the most significant in Italy, made up of two levels and around 2,000 graves.
That might sound like a lot at first — but consider this: the largest catacombs in Rome, the Domitilla Catacomb, hold around 150,000 graves. Mind-blowing, right?
That said, the Catacombs of San Gennaro are run in a much more professional and thoughtful way than any of the catacombs in Rome. There’s a really slick, modern website and strikingly artistic lighting throughout — how did that happen?
It’s all thanks to the community association behind the upkeep: a group of young locals from the Sanità neighborhood called the Cooperativa La Paranza.
They came together in 2006 and pushed to restore the run-down site and open it to visitors. Everything was funded through private donations and sponsors — including from Germany.
Today the catacombs are still run by the association. The team leads tours, handles PR, and raises donations — all out of genuine love and pride for their Neapolitan heritage.
They’ve created local jobs and use the ticket revenue to organize activities for the children of the Sanità neighborhood — keeping them away from organized crime. We think that’s seriously amazing, and it’s one more reason we’d encourage everyone to visit the Naples catacombs.
How to get there: Bus lines 168, 204, and C63 run from various metro stations in the center to the catacombs. We took metro line 1 to the “Museo” stop and caught the bus from there. You can also walk back to the center easily — it’s all downhill. Along the way, you get to soak up the Sanità neighborhood, which is super authentic and completely off the tourist trail.
Get tickets for the Catacombs of San Gennaro
Catacombs of San Gaudioso
The Catacombs of San Gaudioso are slightly smaller than the Catacombs of San Gennaro and a little less well known — but absolutely worth your time.
Both sites are close to each other, and your ticket for the Catacombs of San Gennaro gets you into San Gaudioso too, so there’s no reason to skip it.
The Catacombs of San Gaudioso sit beneath the church of the same name — specifically beneath its baroque crypt.
Compared to San Gennaro, the paintings here are more delicate and better preserved. It’s a really different atmosphere.
Good to know: Your ticket is also valid for the Catacombs of San Gennaro.
How to get there: You can reach the Catacombs of San Gaudioso on the same bus lines — 168, 204, and C63 — just get off a few stops earlier.
Get tickets for the Catacombs of San Gaudioso
Hidden Gem: Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio
One of the most special — and genuinely haunting — highlights of Naples’ cult of the dead is the Church of Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio. You’ll recognize it immediately by the skulls displayed on its facade.
The church sits right in the center along a busy alley, yet most visitors walk straight past it without a second glance.
What makes it so fascinating is the lower church, which you reach by descending a narrow staircase from the nave.
It’s dedicated to the veneration of souls in purgatory. Bones and skulls fill the niches in the walls, which Neapolitans decorate and tend to with real devotion.
Small photos of the deceased, coins, and rosaries are scattered everywhere. We even spotted little toy cars.
Technically, the lower church is not a catacomb — there are some graves, but it’s something different entirely. That said, if you’re at all interested in visiting the Naples catacombs scene and the city’s unique relationship with death, this place is an absolute must-see.
The nave at street level is free to enter. To visit the lower church, you pay €6 on-site.
How to get there: The church is very centrally located on Via dei Tribunali, in the pedestrian zone of Naples. You can only reach it on foot.
Naples Catacombs vs. Naples Underground
The catacombs and the Naples underground are both beneath the city — but they’re two completely different things.
The Naples underground is a network of tunnels hundreds of kilometers long, made up of caves and Roman aqueducts. They were used for water supply, storage, and as bomb shelters during World War II. Purely practical.
The catacombs are underground cemeteries with thousands of graves, chapels, and works of art. They had an entirely religious purpose and were never used for anything else.
The two systems are also not connected to each other at any point — so don’t mix them up when booking your tickets.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Catacombs of Naples
Are children allowed in the Naples catacombs?
Yes, children of all ages are welcome.
Is there a dress code for visiting the catacombs of Naples?
No, there’s no dress code — wear whatever you like.
How cold is it inside the Naples catacombs?
Not particularly cold. It’s a few degrees cooler than outside, but you don’t need to bring an extra layer.
