Forty metres beneath Naples’ chaotic streets lies a vast underground world that most visitors never see. These aren’t tourist-trap catacombs – they’re genuine Greek quarries from 2,400 years ago, later converted into Roman aqueducts, and finally used as bomb shelters during World War II air raids. The 90-minute Naples Underground tours take you through this layered history in small groups, often by candlelight, and it’s one of the few shore excursions that manages to feel both educational and genuinely atmospheric.
The main question for cruise passengers is simple: is it worth sacrificing precious port time for a tour that keeps you underground when Naples has pizza, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast competing for your attention? The answer depends on what kind of experience you’re after, but for anyone interested in history beyond the usual Roman ruins, this underground network offers something you won’t find anywhere else in the Mediterranean.
What You’ll Actually See Down There
The Napoli Sotterranea (Naples Underground) tour starts at Piazza San Gaetano in the historic centre. You’ll descend via a narrow staircase – and I mean genuinely narrow, not “slightly tight” narrow – into tunnels that were first excavated by the Greeks when they founded Neapolis. The tufa stone they quarried became the building material for the city above.
Romans later expanded these caverns into a 400-kilometre aqueduct system that supplied water to Naples until 1885. During the tour you’ll see the ancient cisterns where water was collected and distributed throughout the city. The walls still show chisel marks from both Greek and Roman workers, which your guide will point out.
The World War II section is particularly striking. When Allied bombing intensified, thousands of Neapolitans sheltered in these tunnels. You’ll see spaces where families lived for months, complete with makeshift bedrooms, a small theatre, and even a hospital area. Some guides share stories passed down from relatives who actually lived underground during the war, which adds a personal dimension you won’t find in guidebooks.
The Practical Details That Matter
Tour length: About 90 minutes including descent and ascent
Group size: Usually 25-30 people maximum
Languages: English, Italian, Spanish tours run throughout the day
Meeting point: Piazza San Gaetano 68
Ticket price: Around €12-15 for adults
Here’s what they don’t advertise prominently: there are 121 steps down and another 121 back up. The stairs are steep, uneven, and in some sections you’ll need to duck. If you have mobility issues or claustrophobia, this tour isn’t for you. The tunnels themselves are about 1.8 metres high in most places, though some sections require you to crouch or turn sideways.
Temperature underground stays around 16-18°C year-round. That’s brilliant in summer when Naples is sweltering above ground, but you’ll want a light jacket or cardigan regardless of the season. The contrast when you emerge back into the sunshine can be quite shocking.
Getting There From the Port
The entrance is about 3 kilometres from the cruise terminal. Most passengers take a taxi (€15-20, roughly 15 minutes depending on traffic) or use the Alina shuttle bus that runs from the port to the historic centre. The transport options from Naples port to the city centre are straightforward, and the underground tour location is right in the heart of the old town, so you can easily combine it with other sightseeing.
If you’re trying to fit this into a port day with limited time, the morning tours (9:00-10:00 departures) work best. You’ll be done by 11:30 and still have the afternoon for other activities. The tour location is walking distance from the Duomo, Spaccanapoli street, and several excellent pizza places if you want to maximise your Naples experience in one area.
Want to know more about planning your time in port? Check out our complete Naples cruise port guide for everything you need to know about getting around.
Booking: Ship Excursion vs Independent
Your cruise line probably offers an underground tour as part of a larger Naples package. These typically cost £60-80 per person and include transport and a guide. The advantage is guaranteed return to the ship, which matters if you’re nervous about missing departure.
Booking independently through Napoli Sotterranea’s website or a third-party platform costs significantly less – usually around £12-15 – and gives you more flexibility with timing. The main tour operator has been running these for decades and tours operate rain or shine, multiple times daily.
One insider tip: if you book the 4:00pm or 5:00pm tour, you’ll often get smaller groups since most tourists (and cruise passengers) go earlier. The candlelit portions of the tour feel more atmospheric with fewer people crowding the narrow passages.
For more context on making this decision, our guide comparing Naples shore excursions versus independent touring covers the pros and cons of each approach in detail.
Is It Worth Your Port Time?
Naples gives you access to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, and Capri – all spectacular options that draw cruise passengers like magnets. The underground tour can’t compete with those in terms of visual drama or Instagram potential.
What it offers instead is context. After you’ve seen the chaos of Naples at street level, going underground shows you why the city exists where it does and how it survived everything history threw at it. The Greek quarries explain the building materials, the Roman aqueducts explain the water supply that supported a massive ancient population, and the WWII shelters connect you to relatively recent history in a visceral way.
The tour works particularly well for:
- Repeat visitors who’ve already done Pompeii and want something different
- History enthusiasts who appreciate layered archaeology over scenic views
- Families with teenagers (young children might find it scary or boring)
- Anyone who wants to escape Naples’ summer heat for 90 minutes
- Passengers docked in Naples for a second day looking for a half-day activity
It’s less ideal if this is your only Naples stop and you haven’t seen Pompeii, or if you’re really set on the Amalfi Coast. Those experiences are harder to replicate elsewhere, whereas underground historical sites exist in many Mediterranean ports.
What Nobody Mentions in the Tour Descriptions
- The tour includes a section through an ancient Roman theatre that’s now underneath someone’s apartment building. You literally walk through a ground-floor flat (with the owner’s permission) to access the theatre remains. It’s surreal and slightly awkward, but it perfectly captures Naples’ approach to archaeology – ancient history and modern life completely intertwined.
- Some tours include a brief section walking above ground through the narrowest alley in Naples (about 45 centimetres wide). This isn’t underground, but guides use it to show how the street layout above follows the quarry grid below.
- Photography is allowed but difficult. The candlelit sections are atmospheric but too dark for phone cameras without flash, which isn’t permitted in some areas. The cistern rooms have better lighting if you want decent photos. Make sure to bring a portable charger if you’ll be taking lots of photos throughout your port day.
- Toilets are available before you descend but not underground, obviously. The tour doesn’t stop once you’re below, so use facilities beforehand.
Combining With Other Naples Activities
The underground tour’s central location makes it easy to pair with other activities. The entrance is 200 metres from the Naples Cathedral (Duomo), where you can see the chapel containing San Gennaro’s blood ampules. The Spaccanapoli street runs nearby, lined with churches, pastry shops, and the kind of chaotic Neapolitan street life that makes the city famous.
A realistic half-day itinerary might look like:
- 9:00 – Arrive at Piazza San Gaetano via taxi or Alina bus
- 9:30 – Underground tour begins
- 11:00 – Tour ends
- 11:15 – Walk to Duomo (5 minutes)
- 11:45 – Coffee and sfogliatella at a nearby pasticceria
- 12:30 – Pizza at Sorbillo or Da Michele (both within walking distance)
- 13:30 – Return to port
This assumes your ship isn’t leaving until late afternoon or evening. If you’re on a tighter schedule, you can skip the cathedral and head straight for pizza after the tour.
You’ll need euros for the tour if booking on arrival, plus cash for taxis and food. Most places in the historic centre accept cards but small businesses prefer cash. Our Naples money guide for cruise passengers covers ATM locations and current exchange considerations.
The Honest Drawbacks
The tour moves at a fixed pace with no option to linger in sections that interest you. If you’re fascinated by the Roman engineering but less interested in the WWII portion, tough luck – you’re seeing it all at the same speed.
Some guides are excellent, providing historical context and answering questions thoughtfully. Others rush through the standard script. It’s luck of the draw, though most visitors rate the experience highly regardless.
The stairs are genuinely challenging for anyone with knee problems or limited fitness. There’s no lift option and no shortcut back to the surface. You’re committing to those 242 steps total.
English tours are popular and fill up quickly during cruise season (April-October). If you want a specific time slot, booking 3-5 days ahead is wise. Last-minute bookings often mean accepting whatever time is available.
Extend Your Stay in Naples
If the underground tour has sparked your interest in Naples’ layered history, staying a night or two before or after your cruise lets you explore at a more relaxed pace. Accommodation in the historic centre puts you within walking distance of the underground entrance plus dozens of churches, museums, and restaurants worth experiencing without the pressure of a ship departure time.
Hotels in Naples range from budget B&Bs to luxury options overlooking the bay. The Spaccanapoli and Decumani areas offer the most atmospheric locations, with ancient streets and centuries-old buildings creating the quintessential Neapolitan experience. You’ll also have time for day trips to Pompeii, Herculaneum, or the islands without the crowds and time pressure that come with cruise excursions. Evening in Naples is when the city really comes alive – something cruise passengers rarely experience since most ships depart by early evening.
Personal Experience
We did the Naples Underground tour during our cruise stop last month, and it turned out to be the most fascinating 90 minutes of our entire Mediterranean trip. Our guide led us about 40 metres below the bustling streets into these ancient Greek quarries that Romans later turned into aqueducts. The temperature dropped noticeably as we descended, which was actually refreshing on that warm day. Walking through these narrow tunnels lit by candlelight, seeing where citizens hid during WWII bombings, and learning how the same spaces served completely different purposes over thousands of years was pretty mind-blowing.
If you’re wondering whether it’s worth your limited port time, I’d say absolutely yes. The tour is centrally located near Piazza San Gaetano, making it easy to reach from the port by taxi or the Alina bus. We booked online a few days before docking, which I’d recommend since spots fill up quickly. Just wear comfortable walking shoes since you’ll be walking on uneven surfaces, and maybe bring a light jacket because it gets cool down there. The whole experience gave us a completely different perspective on Naples beyond the usual pizza and historic churches – there’s literally an entire hidden city beneath your feet.
Common Questions & FAQ
Can I do both the underground tour and Pompeii in one port day?
Technically yes, but it’s tight and stressful. The underground tour takes 90 minutes plus travel time from the port (about 30 minutes each way). Pompeii requires at least 2-3 hours on site plus an hour each way from Naples. If your ship docks early and doesn’t leave until evening, you could do the underground tour first (9:00am start), then head to Pompeii for early afternoon. Most passengers find this too rushed and choose one or the other.
Are the underground tours suitable for children?
It depends on the child. The narrow passages, darkness, and steep stairs can frighten younger children (under 8). Teenagers usually find it interesting, especially the WWII shelter sections. There’s no minimum age restriction but consider whether your child will manage 121 steps down and up, plus 90 minutes of walking through dim tunnels without getting anxious or bored. Prams and pushchairs are obviously impossible.
What happens if I’m claustrophobic?
Be honest with yourself about this. Some passages require you to turn sideways and duck, and you’re 40 metres underground for the entire tour. There’s no quick exit route once you’re down there. If you have even mild claustrophobia, this probably isn’t the tour for you. The tour operators won’t refund tickets if you decide to turn back partway through.
Do I need to book in advance or can I just turn up?
During cruise season (April-October), advance booking is strongly recommended. Tours often sell out, especially English-language departures during popular cruise ship days. In winter you might get away with turning up, but you risk wasting travel time from the port only to find no availability. Booking online 3-5 days ahead costs the same and guarantees your spot.
How much walking is involved and what shoes should I wear?
Beyond the stairs, you’ll walk about 1-2 kilometres underground through tunnels with uneven surfaces, puddles, and occasional low ceilings. Wear proper walking shoes or trainers with good grip – not sandals, flip-flops, or heels. The ground can be slippery in sections. You’ll be on your feet for the full 90 minutes with nowhere to sit down. Consider packing some blister prevention if your shoes are new or you’re prone to foot discomfort.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
No. The stairs, narrow passages, and uneven surfaces make wheelchair access impossible. There’s no lift and no alternative accessible route. If you use a walking stick, check with the operator beforehand as some sections might still be too challenging.
Can I leave bags or luggage anywhere during the tour?
There’s no luggage storage at the underground entrance. If you’re touring Naples on departure day with cruise luggage, you’ll need to arrange storage elsewhere in the city first. Most cruise passengers visit on arrival day before boarding or during a port stop, so luggage isn’t usually an issue. Small bags and backpacks are fine to take underground – an anti-theft backpack is ideal for keeping your valuables secure while exploring.
What if I miss the tour start time?
Tours depart promptly and you can’t join late once the group has descended. If you’re coming from the cruise port, allow extra time for traffic and finding the entrance. The meeting point at Piazza San Gaetano isn’t always obvious – it’s a small doorway marked with signs, not a large tourist centre. Aim to arrive 10-15 minutes early.
Last Updated: 17 January 2026