Checks the box off for interesting tour to take in a foreign city. Tour itself was 5 stars, the wait and the crowds dropped it a star. Underground tours in Naples are very popular with multiple sites and entry points, this one being the main location. Entrance is via an alley along Via dei Tribunali, one of the main stretches in the historic center, and on a Sunday noon it was packed with visitors waiting for their tour times. Like probably 70-80 people waiting in a 12 x 20 foot area...a fair number of staff on hand wrangling the lines, telling people/groups with pre-bookings to line up in front of those without. Each person basically has to talk to a staff member to figure out exactly who they should be standing behind. Then there are staff members calling out times for each tour at the front, Italian then English alternately. I'm not sure why they don't implement an easier, more straightforward system, for each language--one line for prebooked and one line without. Tickets can be booked in advance online by tour language and they ask you to be there 15 minutes prior to your time slot. This is most certainly not only recommended, but required if you want to avoid inadvertently missing your timeslot due to the confusing line as mentioned above. Also their website refers to the online tickets as "skip-the-line" though to be clear you are essentially just booking a spot in advance, you still need to wait in line at the entrance. And hands down book in advance. They "guarantee" entry at the door (as I heard a few different staff members mention to certain people in line), however what they don't initially mention is this is only after all pre-booked visitors enter, so this could mean an indefinite wait of 30 minutes, an hour, 1.5 hours...who knows. For safety reasons entry is only possible via guided tour, and there are limits to the size of each group. They definitely push it though, considering my group of about 35ish was one of several groups to go down in staggered times of about 15-20 minutes apart. Once the guide directs the group to enter the pathway leading underground, they make you line up along the stairs while another group exits, then your group can enter. It's several flights down (then back up) so I saw some elderly with walking handicaps and families with strollers struggling. Honestly I wouldn't recommend coming here if you fall into either group. I imagine it could be dangerous for the former (think slippery stone in some areas) and there was a toddler crying during two-thirds of my tour that made for a very distracting experience if you consider the cavernous reverberations. After waiting in line for about 15-20 minutes outside, then another 10-15 minutes on the stairs inside, the tour itself lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes after we finally got downstairs. It was very informative and our guide tried her best to crack jokes and maintain a light-hearted atmosphere while at the same time projecting her voice as loud as possible and telling other nearby groups to keep their voices down (yes, bc there were a few different groups in close proximity sometimes so she had to practically yell to be heard). She shared about the history, functions (aquifer, munitions storage, landfill, war bunker, etc) and unique conditions (cool temps and high humidity) that makes this subterranean complex such an integral part of Naples' story. The last 20 minutes was dedicated to visiting the ruins of an ancient Roman amphitheater only a few minutes walking from the Sotterranea entrance/exit. It's in a separate building altogether on a residential street and it was intriguing to see the intersection of antiquity and modern life. Tickets are €18 for adults, €15 for students 11-24 yrs old, €10 for children 5-10 yrs old. Time slots available on the hour from between 10am to 7pm daily, last entry at 6pm. For more info: https://www.napolisotterranea.org/en/ read more

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The underground tour itself is interesting and one of the kind of experience in Naples. It takes about one hour and twenty minutes, approximately one hour under the ground, and two more exhibit rooms above the ground. The staff working here is terrible though, unfortunately you can only go through with their tours. The woman organize the lines and sells the tickets is absolutely the worst. She yells at people and gave misleading information, while said only 15 people in the tour group when selling the tickets, but it ended up filling near 35 people in the same group once you get into the line for your time stamped tickets, and you can imagine how crowded it could be. This tour is not recommended for claustrophobic people. read more

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A great way to spend a rainy day in Napoli. The guided tour itself takes between 90 minutes to an hour 45. It worth it. There is a good amount of stairs. There's several different paths through the catacombs. If you're claustrophobic, it would be a good idea to skip doing this part. read more

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If you get claustrophobic this place is not for you! However, while it starts off really boring, it gets intense about a 1/3 of the way through! Why? Well find out. My wife and daughter opted out of the mini cave portion. It's completely dark, and you will have to walk like a crab. Side to side, otherwise you won't fit. It's very tight, but it was fun. Felt like I was Indiana Jones. Overall, a pleasant experience and our English speaking guide did a pretty good job overall. read more

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This was a great tour and something completely different. Our guide was very informative and spoke great english. Was a great history lesson. Tour was about 90 minutes. It was organized and you were not rushed through. Don't bring a backpack as you end up going through some very narrow tunnels which would be problematic - some people opted out of this portion. We would recommend. read more

Tons of history and amazement. Wear your learning caps and bring your curiosity. Have your cellphone fully charged for photographs. Try not to bring so many things with you. Underground city tour. Completely different from La Neapolis Sotterrata. Another must see. Plan accordingly because English tours are held at specific times. Do your research beforehand. Inquire at least a day prior. Prepare for a temperature change below ground, even in the summer. Make sure you wear proper shoes, and your heart and lungs are in good condition. Asthma patients should bring their meds if they dare. The stairs and humidity are highly considerable important factors. Be a tourist and admire with an open mind. Thank you for taking this lesson on imperatives. ;)* read more

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This is definitely my favorite excursion in Naples (from the cruise ship). We visited in early July and although they told us that we should be prepared for very cool weather underground and to bring a sweater, it felt so good that I didn't even need the sweater that I carried along. There is so much to see in the tunnels and squeezing thru very narrow passageways while holding a light that they provide was just plain FUN! If you are concerned, there is a waiting area if you prefer to not go through the area that is super, super narrow. Don't forget to look up and shine your light all around! The color of the water is also very green in the channels and seeing the unexploded bombs hanging from the roof is a little gut-wrenching. If you are wondering if this is worth the money, just do it! Wear shoes that grip the smooth surfaces, though. Pro-tip: bring a little flashlight of your own. read more

Napoli Sotterranea - Entering the underground tunnels - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Naples, NA

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I liked this tour. The English tour leaves every two hours and there were about 60-70 on this tour. It was interesting and fun to walk through. It ends above ground at the old Roman theater which was cool but we spent a little too much time there and almost dragged it out too long. Otherwise I really enjoyed the tour! read more

Napoli Sotterranea - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Naples, NA

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We weren't sure which attraction to choose this morning, but I'm really glad we ended up doing Naples Underground! We weren't sure what to expect, so we were pleasantly surprised. I was able to book last minute tickets the night before. You do not go into the underground on your own-each ticket is to join a group with a guide. The tours run each hour on the hour and in different languages, so make sure to book the correct language! We joined the 10am English tour and our guide was well versed in the history of the underground. From aqueducts to bomb shelters, the history is fascinating. I would not recommend this tour for anyone who is claustrophobic! There is an option to sit out of going through one of the smallest tunnels (don't worry, they give you a light and it's pretty short) but that's a good chunk of the tour I wouldn't recommend missing. After the underground tour, they take you above ground to show you ruins of an old theater. There are around 120 steps you have to go down in the beginning and back up at the end. Definitely a fun and unique option if you're looking for something to do in Naples! read more

Now this place is nothing short of awesome. I had noted over the years that Naples is actually built on the old Roman city of Neapolis (which was something of a summer getaway from the Ancient Romans), and the current name is something of a derivative of the original name (which is actually Greek, since the city was first established by the Greeks). Anyway, as we were wandering around the old city we discovered this church, and there was a stairway leading down into the undercity. Well, you can probably guess what I ended up doing - paying the Euros and heading down stairs. Needless to say this place is nothing short or awesome. It isn't a huge catacomb, but it is still the remains of the ancient city, and is magnificent to explore. read more

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Running beneath the Italian city of Naples and the surrounding area is an underground geothermal zone and several tunnels dug during the ages. Mostly aqueducts, but then used as bomb shelters during WWII, suffice it to say much was learned on this often-narrow 60 minute tour. Conducted by enthusiastic guides, fluent in English, do be sure not to wear shoes you value and claustrophobic guests should probably take a pass. read more

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This was a cool tour, at a very affordable price. The majority of the tour takes place underground in cool and dark caverns. It is comfortable and yet good exercise at the same time. There are several times when you have to walk through small, narrow spaces, but the guide gives you a lot of warning. You learn a ton about the history of this underground system and you are reminded how ancient of a city Naples is! The second half of this tour is seeing the location of an ancient Roman theater that has since been built on top of- so essentially people were living in apartments that used to be parts of the theater! It was wild! I had such a good time and am glad I spend 90 minutes or so of my time in Naples taking this tour. Oh, cash only! read more

My favorite part was the Roman aqueducts. Well, and the cold air that comes from being underground. English tours available. The folks doing the tours know their history. You will see stuff from when the underground served as bomb shelter. You will see wells. You will see the aforementioned aqueducts. You will see where nuns stored their wine. And when you come back up, you will go down a little more to see a Roman theater that is part of the apartments nearby. There's a lot of walking, so be comfy. And it gets snug so if you are claustrophobic, let the guide know because there's places you can wait while everyone else squeezes through and then comes right back. This was super fun and a great way to learn about the history of Naples. read more

We took this tour our first day in Naples. They run every two hours in the afternoon, so catching one can easily work around a busy travel schedule. These underground passages offer a unique look at the history of Naples and the region. They were originally carved out by the Greeks for building stones. The Romans turned them into aqueducts, which remained in use for nearly 2,000 years. During World War II, Italians used them as shelters from bombing by the US and the Allies. If you're at all interested in history, I'd recommend this tour. read more

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Every guidebook will tell you that Naples is an old town, but as you go through the streets and alleyways you rarele get the feeling of reaching beyond the Middle Ages. There is, however, on way of catching a glimpse of the ancient Neapolis, for Naples consists not only of the bits you find above ground (houses, churches, streets, scooters), but continues in a massive underground system of caverns and corridors dug up by the ancient Greeks to find the stones to build their New Town. This city beneath the city was later used for cisterns, storage and many other uses, not only by the Greeks, but all those who followed them, well into the twentieth century. An ideal opportunity to get to the roots of Naples - guided tours normally start every 2 hours (and remember to bring your woolens - after the first hour underground you do begin to feel the chill). read more

TL;DR - A must see for tourists. If you're in Naples, you MUST see this. There's a tour every hour in Italian, and every two hours in English. I don't want to give too much away because there are some nice surprises on the tour, but in short you can expect to see part of the vast underground network of tunnels and caves beneath the old town of Naples, and get a detailed explanation of how they came to be and how they've been used and adapted over the years. The tour also goes on to cover some of the history and background of the area's more modern buildings, as well as some of the ancient Roman ruins which can be found in the area. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and witty, spoke excellent English and had a great sense of humour. There are a couple of spots in the tour where he warns about narrow passages - they are very narrow! However, you have the option to "opt out" of that part of the tour if you wish (but you'll be missing out if you do!). The tour guide also advises people to take ruck sacks off their shoulders during this part - follow their advice! One guy on our tour didn't and had a bit of a panic when his bag briefly got stuck in the passage. Take care finding the entrance though - you can easily miss it as you're walking down the street because it's down a narrow little alley. There's a large stone head over the entrance though so if you see that you know you're in the right place. read more

I liked this tour! The tour traced Naples' pivotal moments in history, from its Neolithic roots to the scarring left behind by WWII bombings. read more

We happened upon the Napoli Sotterranea because it was next door to I Decumani where we had lunch, and are definitely glad that we did! It was a very unique thing to do in Naples (or anywhere, for that matter). There is a tour every hour on the hour, but an English speaking one only every other hour (the other one is Italian). We did not know this and showed up on an off hour, but they said if there were at least 6 people they would arrange a special tour for us. In the end, there was about 16 of us. So if you have flexibility be sure to confirm which times the English tours, but if not, then it's worth stopping by and checking if there is one going. It is a bit chilly underground, so bring a sweater if you are sensitive to cold. It is an impressive tunnel system, and even more impressive what a small part of the whole system that you see. The tour lasts a little over an hour and has two parts: the majority is spent underground, with an above ground part where you explore parts of an ancient theater that they only recently discovered and are beginning to excavate (not knowing, they actually built apartments over it). I found the underground part to be the more interesting part of the tour. I was a bit worried after reading that there was a narrow part with candles not meant for claustrophobes (I can be a bit of one) but it was totally fine - it was wide enough for me to walk normally through and there was a lot of space above my head. I didn't feel claustrophobic at all. This is an optional part of the tour, but I do recommend going on it as you get to see some cool things at the end of the tunnel. NOTE: 10 EUR per person, totally worth it. read more

We stumbled upon this piece of diamond whilst walking in the city one evening. As the name suggests, it's the subterranean tour of Napoli city. We're taken around 40 metres below ground level to explore the tunnels, caverns and relics of an ancient civilisation. This tour takes you across space and time from the Greco-Roman era until present day whilst making important stops at World War II when this network of tunnels and caverns was used as air raid shelters. The tours are mainly conducted in Italian but an English speaking guide is also available on request. There are some amazing things to see and learn on this tour and if you love history, arts and culture, like I do, you will enjoy this tour. read more

We visited Italy a couple of years ago and are just now reviewing some of our favorite spots. We attended the English tour, and I believe our guide's name was Yuri. He, as well as the other staff, did a great great job. This a really cool place to go if you like history and enjoy activities like cave exploring as this experience will give you a bit of both. Overall, it is a lot of fun and we definitely recommend. read more

We had a lot of fun on this tour! It was well priced at 10 euro and we had an excellent guide. It was longer than I had expected, and was about 2 hours long. English tours run every two hours on the even hours. Tickets can only be purchased right before a tour begins, if you try earlier they will be closed. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone! There was a lot to be learned and some very impressive sites. read more

Napoli Sotterranea - Old public cistern for the wells above - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Naples, NA

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An amazing tour, very inexpensive! Our English speaking guide was so sweet and funny. I wish we had gotten her name, because I would recommend her! She has only been there a few months. Every two hours they give an English tour, we took one at 2 so I think they go at 10, 12, 2 and 4 but I would check. Very interesting tour with many stories and perspectives, worth the wait and the long hike from our hotel. read more

Most unique part of my entire trip though Europe!! Very engaging, historical, and just straight up fascinating. Thank you!