Naples is the cool cousin of Italy.
Rome’s much more of a first-born while Milano is the hip younger sibling. Venice is that rich second-cousin that’s always busy; Palermo is that not-blood-but-basically-family member we all have.
But Naples? That’s who you wanna be when you grow up.
It’s the birthplace of Neapolitan pizza. It knows how to navigate the dim and thin alleyways to find the street art, cafes, and street-food stalls hidden from the rest of the clan. Naples knows a really cool volcano nearby you can climb and where you can find ancient underground burial grounds.
Naples is eccezionale and it’s yours to explore the moment you arrive at Naples Central train station.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Angelafoto. Image Location: Napoli Centrale station, Naples, Italy
Your guide to the main Naples train station(s)
Note the (s), fellow rail riders. There’s one important piece of info you need to know when heading to the train station in Naples for the first time.
You’ve got a ticket in your hand—or an e-ticket on your phone that you scored for a cheap price on the Trainline app—that says “Napoli Centrale”. You walk inside Napoli Centrale and see wayfinder signs identifying not one, but two Napoli Piazza Garibaldi train stations.
Ummm… che cosa?
Yes, as confusing as it may seem at first, the main railway station in Naples has three individual stations within: Napoli Centrale for trains, Napoli Piazza Garibaldi for trains and metro, and another platform called Napoli Piazza Garibaldi that serves Circumvesuviana trains that go to Herculaneum, Pompeii, and Sorento.
Here’s what you need to know about Naples' main train station(s).
Image Credit: Getty Images, Tomoland. Image Location: Napoli Centrale station, Naples, Italy
Napoli Centrale
Naples Central train station, also known as Napoli Centrale, is on street-level in the Naples main train station. Don’t bother going underground if ‘Centrale’ is on your ticket. Naples Central train station is where you’ll find the high-speed Trenitalia, intercity, and sleeper trains.
Napoli Piazza Garibaldi
Napoli Piazza Garibaldi is just below the Naples train station. There are only two platforms down there and essentially the same number of reasons you’ll need to go to this station: you’re taking the metro or a Trenitalia regional train to a place like Pompeii.
Napoli Piazza Garibaldi (Circumvesuviana)
The other Napoli Piazza Garibaldi train station houses the local EVA trains that go to Ercolano/Herculaneum, Pompeii, and Sorrento. Many simply refer to this as the Circumvesuviana train station, as that’s what these narrow-gauge EVA Linee Vesuviane trains are called.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Spiderplay. Image Location: Napoli Centrale station, Naples, Italy
Naples main train station amenities
The main train station in Naples is abuzz with people, but it’s not exactly buzzing with excitement. There are a few quick-serve eateries and cafes in the concourse and at the food court, though you’ll have many options for sit-down and casual food if you walk at most ten-minutes away from the train station. Inside the station, there’s also a grocery store, executive/club lounges, and the standard facilities like an ATM, bathrooms, and a paid luggage-storage area.
Other Napoli train stations
Let’s say you’re not staying in the city center, but you want to get to Napoli Centrale/Napoli Piazza Garibaldi. If you’re staying near the Napoli Gianturco, Napoli Piazza Cavour, or Napoli Montesanto train stations, they’ll take you directly to the main station.
If not? Tutto bene. You’ll likely be close enough to a metro station that connects to Napoli Piazza Garibaldi.
How many train stations in Naples Italy?
Naples has multiple railway stations across the city for train lines, metro lines, and funicular lines. The important thing to remember is that the main central station in Naples houses both Napoli Centrale train station and Napoli Piazza Garibaldi train station.
Is there a train station at Naples Airport?
Unfortunately, there is no train station at Naples (NAP) Airport. To get to Naples city center from Naples Airport, you can take a bus that stops at Napoli Centrale as well as the city center.
Why is Naples train station called Napoli?
The moment you arrive in Naples, you’ll notice that the train stations are called “Napoli”. This is the Italian spelling of Naples. You’ll want to brush up on your train board knowledge before you travel: even though some city names are easy to decipher—like Roma for Rome—others aren't, like Florence’s Italian spelling of Firenze.
Which Naples train station goes to Rome?
You can catch a direct train from Napoli Centrale to Roma Termini. You can also get to Roma Termini via Napoli Campi Flegrei and Napoli Afragola, though some routes may include a transfer.
Can I take a train from Naples to Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius?
Yes, you can take the train from Napoli Piazza Garibaldi to Pompei train station in less than an hour for the price of a slice of pizza. When in Pompeii, you can walk to the archaeological site then catch a bus or hike to Mount Vesuvius.
What’s the best way to buy train tickets for Naples train station?
You should buy your train tickets to or from Naples train station as early as possible to get the lowest price available. Download the Trainline app and we’ll show you dozens of trains connecting Napoli Centrale to Rome, Florence, Milan, Bologna, and more.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Busà Photography. Image Location: Napoli Piazza Garibaldi station, Naples, Italy