Naples Capodichino (NAP) is one of Europe's most conveniently located city airports — only 7km from Piazza Garibaldi. The transfers are cheap and fast when you know which one to use.
Plan my Italy trip →Naples Capodichino airport (NAP) is one of Europe's most conveniently located city airports: 7km north of Piazza Garibaldi, the main transport hub of central Naples. The Alibus (Airport Bus) connects the airport to Piazza Garibaldi in 25 minutes for €5. A licensed taxi costs €16 fixed rate. There's no metro connection and no train — but with those two options, you don't need one. This guide explains both in full, covers the ferry connections from the airport area, and tells you what to avoid.
The Alibus (Airport Bus) is operated by ANM (Naples city transport) and connects Capodichino airport directly to Piazza Garibaldi (the main Naples square, adjacent to Napoli Centrale train station) and also to the Port (Molo Beverello — departure point for ferries to Capri, Ischia, and Sorrento). The bus stop is outside the Arrivals exit — follow "Alibus" or "Bus Center" signs. Ticket: €5, purchased from the vending machine at the stop or from the driver. The Alibus runs approximately every 20-30 minutes from early morning to midnight. Journey time: 25-35 minutes to Piazza Garibaldi depending on traffic (can be longer during rush hour — 40-50 minutes). This is the standard recommended transfer for most visitors: cheap, direct, and straightforward.
The official fixed rate (tariffa fissa) from Capodichino airport to the Naples historic center is €16 to Piazza Garibaldi/Centrale station and €20 to the port (Molo Beverello). These are legally mandated fixed rates — the driver is required to offer the fixed tariff without being asked, and you should confirm it before entering the cab. If a driver quotes a higher rate or wants to use the meter: decline and take the next taxi. Naples taxis are white with a "TAXI" light on the roof and a meter visible in the front. Unlicensed private cars offering transfers at the airport: avoid them. The licensed taxi fixed rates are reasonable and the journey is comfortable. For a group of 3-4 people with luggage: the €16 fixed rate splits to €4-5 per person, making it highly competitive with the Alibus.
Capodichino is the name of the hilltop neighborhood where the airport was built — derived from the former Bourbon-era Villa Capodichino, one of the royal hunting estates in the hills north of Naples. The area was chosen as the site for Italy's first military aviation facility in 1910, and Naples was one of the first Italian cities to develop aviation infrastructure. During World War II, Capodichino was extensively used by both German forces (who operated the airfield until the Allied invasion of September 1943) and then by US Army Air Forces until the end of the war. The postwar civilian development of the airport has produced a reasonably functional single-runway facility that handles approximately 12 million passengers annually. Its proximity to the city center (7km) is exceptional — most European cities have their major airports 30-50km from the center.
No direct metro or train connection exists from Capodichino to the Naples metro system. A metro extension to the airport has been in planning for years but as of 2026 remains unbuilt. The Alibus and taxi are the only public transfer options. The nearest metro stop to the airport (Piscinola, on Line 1) is approximately 3km from the terminal — not within practical walking distance. Do not attempt to walk from the airport to any metro station.
Naples is one of Italy's most connected airports for European low-cost carriers. Main operators: Ryanair (London Stansted, Dublin, Madrid, Barcelona, Brussels, and many others), easyJet (London Gatwick, London Luton, Bristol, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Paris CDG, Berlin), Wizz Air (Bucharest, Warsaw, Budapest, Vienna, and Eastern European destinations), Vueling (Barcelona, Paris Orly), and ITA Airways (domestic Italian routes plus some European connections). Full-service carriers: British Airways (Heathrow), Lufthansa (Frankfurt), Air France (CDG). Long-haul: limited — some Emirates connections via Dubai and seasonal North American charter services. Most intercontinental travelers to Naples connect through a European hub.
The most direct route: Alibus from the airport to Piazza Garibaldi/Centrale station (25 min, €5), then regional train from Napoli Centrale to Salerno (50 min, €5-7), then SITA bus from Salerno along the coastal road westward to Amalfi town (1.5h), Positano (2.5h), or Ravello (connecting from Atrani). In summer (April-October), there are also ferry connections from Naples port (Molo Beverello) to Positano (1.5h) and Amalfi (2h) — the Alibus goes directly to Molo Beverello. Total time from Capodichino to Positano by ferry in season: approximately 2.5-3 hours. Total by bus via Salerno: approximately 3.5-4 hours.
Unlicensed transfer drivers approaching in Arrivals offering rides to the center — typically at prices above the official taxi rates but framed as being competitive. The official taxi rank is outside the Arrivals exit; the licensed taxis are white with roof lights. Any driver approaching you inside the terminal or in the arrivals hall is not the official taxi service. The Alibus is clearly signposted outside Arrivals. Currency exchange desks inside the airport have poor rates — use ATMs instead. Overall, Capodichino is a manageable airport with no particular security concerns in the Arrivals area beyond the standard awareness you'd apply anywhere.
The Alibus from Capodichino to Piazza Garibaldi is the simplest possible introduction to Naples: the bus stops directly outside Arrivals, the signs are clear, the driver collects tickets, and Piazza Garibaldi (also called Piazza Stazione, adjacent to Napoli Centrale) is a large, well-oriented hub from which every part of the city is accessible by metro, bus, or foot. Naples has a reputation for chaotic navigation that is partly justified for the ancient center (the Greek grid of the Spaccanapoli, where the street names change every block and the alleyways run off at angles) but not for the airport transfer, which is as straightforward as any European city airport bus. First-time visitors to Naples who follow the Alibus route are not going to be confused.
Piazza Garibaldi is the main transportation hub of Naples — the square outside Napoli Centrale station where trains, metro lines 1 and 2, the Circumvesuviana (trains to Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Sorrento), the Cumana railway, and all major bus lines converge. It is the correct arrival point from the airport for visitors going to any part of the city or starting the Circumvesuviana journey south. The piazza itself is large, functional, and not particularly beautiful — Naples's charm is in the Spaccanapoli, the waterfront, the Quartieri Spagnoli, and the museum district, not in the station square. From Piazza Garibaldi to the centro antico: 15-minute walk west, or Metro Line 1 to Dante or Toledo (2 stops, €1.30).
Take the Alibus from the airport to Piazza Garibaldi (25 min, €5). From Piazza Garibaldi, take the Circumvesuviana railway (Sorrento direction) to Pompei Scavi - Villa dei Misteri station (approximately 35-40 minutes, €2.80). The Pompeii entrance is directly at the Circumvesuviana exit. Total journey: approximately 65-70 minutes from airport to Pompeii entrance. Note: Pompeii entry requires advance booking at ticketone.it — book before leaving the airport or on the Alibus using your phone. Entry price: €18 standard (free first Sunday of the month). This airport → Pompeii route makes it possible to arrive at Naples Capodichino in the morning and spend a full afternoon at Pompeii before checking into a Naples hotel in the evening.
Ogni attrazione italiana che vale la pena visitare ha un sistema di prenotazione online che elimina la coda. I Musei Vaticani: tickets.museivaticani.va (2-4 settimane in anticipo in alta stagione). Il Colosseo: coopculture.it (1-2 settimane). L Ultima Cena di Leonardo: cenacolovinciano.vivaticket.it (2-3 mesi — questa è seria). La Galleria Borghese: galleriaborghese.it (obbligatoria, inderogabile). La Torre di Pisa: opapisa.it (1-2 settimane). Gli Uffizi: uffizi.it (1-3 settimane). Il principio è invariabile: un visitatore con prenotazione e uno senza arrivano allo stesso sito e hanno esperienze completamente diverse. La prenotazione online richiede 3 minuti. Non farlo è sprecare ore di vacanza in coda.
Un set minimo di frasi risolve la maggior parte delle situazioni pratiche di viaggio: "Ho una prenotazione" (I have a reservation). "A che ora apre/chiude?" (What time does it open/close?). "Quanto costa?" (How much does it cost?). "Dov è la fermata più vicina?" (Where is the nearest stop?). "Un biglietto per [destinazione], per favore" (One ticket to [X], please). "Posso vedere il menù con i prezzi?" (Can I see the menu with prices?). "C è lo sciopero?" (Is there a strike?). Il tentativo di usare l italiano — anche con errori — trasforma quasi sempre il rapporto con il personale: lo staff turistico in Italia in genere passa all inglese dopo il primo tentativo in italiano, ma l effort viene percepito e apprezzato.
The principle applies across all Italian destinations: book the timed-entry attraction first, then build your itinerary around it. For Rome: the Vatican Museums and Colosseum should be booked 2-4 weeks ahead. For Florence: the Uffizi at uffizi.it and the Accademia (for David) at b-ticket.com. For Milan: Leonardo's Last Supper at cenacolovinciano.vivaticket.it (2-3 months ahead — this is the most over-subscribed attraction in Italy). For Venice: the Palazzo Ducale and Gallerie dell'Accademia in peak season. For Naples and the Amalfi Coast: book the Pompeii visit (ticketone.it) and the Blue Grotto at Capri (no advance booking possible — arrive at the Marina Grande early and join the daily queue, or hire a private boat). The unbooked version of every Italian attraction is possible — it just costs you queue time that could be spent on something better.
The best Italy trips treat logistics as infrastructure to be solved quickly and forgotten, not as the trip itself. Book transport and entry tickets in advance (30 minutes of planning before departure eliminates 90% of on-the-ground logistics problems). Use trains between cities rather than driving (cheaper, more reliable, requires no parking, drops you in the city center). Stay in the city or town itself rather than in a peripheral hotel for convenience (an extra €30/night for a central location is always worth it). Eat where no English menu is displayed outside — this single rule eliminates most tourist-trap restaurants in Italy. Walk: Italy's historic centers are all pedestrian-scale and the best discoveries happen on foot between the planned sights. And finally: build one unscheduled afternoon per destination — some of the best Italy moments are not on any itinerary.
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