Naples Underground: one city, several routes
Under the old centre of Naples, cisterns, tunnels and chambers cut into the tuff can be visited today. They are run by different groups. A ticket for one does not open another.
One route starts at Piazza San Gaetano. The Spanish Quarters have their own underground tour, and the archaeological excavations under San Lorenzo Maggiore are a third site. The Galleria Borbonica has its own guide on the Bourbon Tunnel page. The Ipogeo dei Cristallini in the Sanità is a Greek tomb complex, not part of this system. See the Ipogeo tickets.
Our picks: Naples Underground tours
The tour from Piazza San Gaetano is the classic way in. The Spanish Quarters route is a shorter hour with a different entrance, and the small-group tour adds the main sights of the centre.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Naples underground and highlights in a small group
- Entry to Underground Naples
- 2.5-hour guided visit
- Headsets for larger groups
Longer than the underground-only visits: it also takes in the main sights of the centre, starting at Piazza Bellini.
Check availability →Naples Underground: entry and guided tour
- Entry and guided tour
- Optional pizza with a drink
The tour starts at Piazza San Gaetano and takes about two hours.
Check availability →
Underground of the Spanish Quarters with a guide
- One-hour guided visit
- Entry to the underground
- Skip-the-line ticket
One hour beneath the Spanish Quarters, through a different entrance from the one at Piazza San Gaetano.
Check availability →Naples Underground tours and tickets
Guided tours and entry tickets for the underground routes of Naples, with live prices and availability.
The routes compared
Each route has its own starting point.
| Route | Starts at | Length | What you see |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piazza San Gaetano | Piazza San Gaetano | About 1 hour, plus about 20 minutes for the theatre | Tuff rooms and cisterns, later an air-raid shelter, and theatre remains |
| Spanish Quarters | Vico S. Anna di Palazzo 52 | About 1 hour | Tunnels under the Quartieri Spagnoli |
| Neapolis Sotterrata | San Lorenzo Maggiore | – | Ancient street and market area, about 10 m down |
| Galleria Borbonica | Via Morelli 61 or Vico del Grottone 4 | About 1 hour | Bourbon-era tunnel, see its own page |
For most first-time visitors, the San Gaetano route is the natural starting point. If you already walk the Spanish Quarters, the tour from Vico S. Anna di Palazzo is shorter and sits right there.
Naples underground tour from Piazza San Gaetano
The guide takes you down into ancient tuff rooms and cisterns. Part of the space was later used as an air-raid shelter. A second part of the visit leads to the remains of a theatre.
Guided tours in Italian and English start every hour from 10:00 to 18:00. Other languages need a reservation. On Thursday there is an evening tour at 21:00, only with a reservation and at least ten people.
Expect stairs and narrow passages. The stairs are many, with no lift, and wheelchairs and walkers cannot go down. Buggies stay at the top. The tightest passage is optional. Photos are allowed.
Spanish Quarters underground tour
The Spanish Quarters tour takes about 60 minutes and needs a reservation. It meets at Vico S. Anna di Palazzo 52, and tours run on weekdays at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:30, with extra times on weekends and holidays. Photos and children are allowed, and there is an alternative to the narrow passage. Bring a jacket in summer.
San Lorenzo Maggiore and Neapolis Sotterrata
Under the church of San Lorenzo Maggiore lies an archaeological area with an ancient street and market zone, about 10 metres below the surface. It is a separate site, not another entrance to the San Gaetano cisterns. Check the current hours and prices before you go.
Tips for visiting underground Naples
Practical points across all routes.
Book the right meeting point
Check the meeting point on your ticket. San Gaetano and the Spanish Quarters are in different parts of the old centre.
Wear layers and sturdy shoes
Underground rooms are cooler than the street, so a light jacket helps in summer. The floors are uneven.
Photos
Photos are allowed at San Gaetano and on the Spanish Quarters tour.
Add a Sanità visit on another day
For burial sites and a living neighbourhood, see the San Gaudioso catacombs and the Rione Sanità.
Naples Underground: frequently asked questions
How long does the Naples Underground tour take?
The San Gaetano underground takes about one hour, and the theatre ruins about 20 minutes more.
How much is a ticket?
The adult tariff for the San Gaetano route is EUR 18 in 2026. Ages 11 to 17 pay EUR 15, ages 5 to 10 pay EUR 10, and children aged 0 to 4 are free. Booking platforms may add their own fees.
Do I need to reserve?
Tours in Italian and English start hourly at San Gaetano. Other languages and evening tours need a reservation. The Spanish Quarters tour needs a reservation for any time.
Is it suitable for wheelchairs or buggies?
At San Gaetano, no. There is no lift, and wheelchairs, walkers and buggies cannot go down.
Is the Ipogeo dei Cristallini part of Naples Underground?
No. It is a Hellenistic tomb complex in the Sanità with its own reservation, and a Naples Underground ticket does not include it.