In a nutshell
- Beneath the chaotic streets of Naples, 40 meters underground, there’s another city — far quieter and darker: Napoli Sotterranea, the underground of Naples.
- You’ll discover Roman cisterns, the massive tunnels of the Roman aqueduct, and everyday objects left behind from long-forgotten times.
- There are three underground tunnel systems you can visit in central Naples. We did the Napoli Sotterranea tour at Piazza San Gaetano and thought it was absolutely fantastic.
- For safety reasons, you can only explore underground Naples on guided tours. Buy your tickets online in advance to skip the line and secure your time slot.
What you need to know about Napoli Sotterranea
Napoli Sotterranea — underground Naples.
As you walk through the loud, chaotic alleys of Naples, nothing hints that beneath your feet lies a second city — a quiet, dark, hidden city.
Down there you’ll find several hundred kilometers of passages, chambers, and even churches. But why, exactly?
It all comes down to the soft tufa stone that Naples is built on. It’s especially easy to dig through — and the Greeks were already doing just that, quarrying the sturdy stone for structures on the surface. About 2,400 years ago.
Wait, Greeks? Yes, southern Italy was colonized by Greece for a period in antiquity. Most of the remains can be seen in Sicily, in the Valley of the Temples.
The Romans then continued the excavations and built a 400-kilometer-long underground aqueduct to supply Naples with fresh water.
Later, the underground was expanded even further — most notably during World War II, when it provided shelter from bombing raids.
So when you descend into the Napoli Sotterranea, you’re taking a journey through several centuries of history.
Napoli Sotterranea vs. the Catacombs
When you research Naples, you’ll keep coming across references to both the underground and the catacombs. Are they the same thing?
Nope — they’re not.
Catacombs are also underground, but the catacombs of Naples and the underground are two completely separate attractions in Naples.
Catacombs are underground cemeteries that have always remained cemeteries and officially belong to the Vatican.
The underground of Naples, on the other hand, consists of underground halls, cisterns, and tunnels that Neapolitans have used for all kinds of purposes over the centuries.
If you book a Naples underground tour, you won’t see the catacombs — and vice versa.
Your options for exploring underground Naples
You can descend into underground Naples in three ways. All three systems are located in the center of Naples:
- Napoli Sotterranea (Piazza San Gaetano): Roman cisterns, a bunker, and an amphitheater. This one has the most to see — it’s our top pick.
- Napoli Sotterranea (Spanish Quarter): a smaller tour focused on World War II.
- Galleria Borbonica: 200-year-old underground escape routes built for the king, later used as an air raid shelter.
Every tour is guided, so you’ll move through the passages with a group. Without a guide, you can’t access underground Naples for safety reasons.
Heads up: On Google Maps there are two tours that appear to offer the same thing. The tour featuring cisterns and a Roman amphitheater is listed on Google Maps as “Naples Underground – Tours” and starts at Piazza San Gaetano. The other tour, listed on Maps as “Napoli Sotterranea,” goes beneath the Spanish Quarter and focuses more on World War II.
Napoli Sotterranea - Piazza San Gaetano
We did this tour and can absolutely recommend it.
This Naples underground tour begins at Piazza San Gaetano, right in the heart of the historic center. You’ll also find some of our hotel recommendations for Naples nearby.
The tour lasts approximately 1.5 to 2 hours and is available in English or Italian only.
You’ll walk past beautifully lit Roman cisterns and through the massive aqueduct tunnels that served as an air raid shelter during World War II — where you can still read the desperate inscriptions left by people who sheltered here for days on end.
The tour guides are seriously well-informed and funny, sharing fascinating anecdotes about everyday Neapolitan life, past and present. You’ll also see the remains of a Roman theater that essentially sits in the garage of a private residence — which is just wild.
Definitely buy tickets online in advance — otherwise you’ll have to wait in line for quite a while. Booking online also locks in your reserved time slot.
Get tickets for Naples Underground (Piazza San Gaetano)
Napoli Sotterranea - Spanish Quarter
The underground tour of Sant’Anna di Palazzo runs beneath the Spanish Quarter, right in the city center. The focus here is on its role as an air raid shelter during World War II — at its peak, the tunnels could accommodate up to 4,000 people.
This underground labyrinth is also part of the Roman aqueduct. You can see inscriptions, toys, and personal belongings left behind by people 80 years ago.
The tour lasts around one hour and is available in English or Italian.
Get tickets for Naples Underground (Spanish Quarter)
Galleria Borbonica
The Galleria Borbonica is a tunnel system built in the 19th century as a secret escape route for the Bourbon king. The entrance is very close to the Royal Palace in the city center.
During World War II, the tunnels served as an air raid shelter, and in the 1950s they were used as storage for old cars and Vespas.
The tunnels were then forgotten for decades, until they were rediscovered in 2006 and opened to the public.
Winding through the passages, you’ll spot relics from long-gone eras: toys belonging to children who sheltered here during the war, old bed frames, and car wrecks from the 1950s — all of it in tunnels that are sometimes several meters high and dramatically lit.
Get tickets for the Galleria Borbonica
The Catacombs of Naples
Alongside the catacombs of Rome and the catacombs of Paris, Naples has a remarkable wealth of underground cemeteries.
However, only the Catacombs of San Gennaro and the Catacombs of San Gaudioso are open to the public.
We visited the Catacombs of San Gennaro and can highly recommend them. They’re the largest catacombs in southern Italy and one of our absolute must-sees in Naples.
From the city center, you can reach them either on foot through the chaotic Sanità neighborhood — which we really recommend doing — or by metro and bus.
Get tickets for the Catacombs of San Gennaro
Get tickets for the Catacombs of San Gaudioso
Frequently asked questions about underground Naples
Can I visit the Naples Underground without a guided tour?
No — for safety reasons, all tours into underground Naples are guided. You can’t explore on your own.
Where can I buy Naples Underground tickets?
You can buy tickets at the entrance or online. We strongly recommend booking online — you’ll reserve a specific time slot and skip the wait. If you buy on-site, you’ll have to hang around until a tour with available spots starts.
Is it cold in the Naples Underground?
We visited in September. It was noticeably cooler than outside, but a T-shirt was plenty — no need for a jacket.
How long does a Napoli Sotterranea tour take?
It depends on which tour you choose. The Piazza San Gaetano tour takes 1.5 to 2 hours because there’s so much to see. The Spanish Quarter tour is shorter, at around one hour.
Are children allowed in the Naples Underground?
Absolutely! Children of all ages are welcome, and they’re even allowed to bring their own flashlight — which most kids love.
Are the tunnels very narrow?
Most of the tunnels are actually quite wide. There’s only one short section that gets really tight, but passing through it is completely optional.
