--- title: "Train stations in Naples: which station to use and why" date: 2026-06-20 author: "Johan E. Johansson" featured_image: "https://everyrail.com/wp-content/uploads/naples-train-stations-railway-tracks.jpg" categories: - name: "Destinations" url: "/destinations.md" --- # Train stations in Naples: which station to use and why Naples has more than one usable train station, and picking the wrong one is a genuine and common mistake. Book Napoli Centrale and you arrive on Piazza Garibaldi, right in the city, with metro connections waiting. Arrive at Napoli Afragola and you are around 12 kilometres from anywhere useful, with no metro and a taxi or separate train fare before your trip has properly started. Then there is the Circumvesuviana. It runs to Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Sorrento, and it is not Trenitalia. It departs from a separate underground level, run by EAV (Ente Autonomo Volturno), a different company on a different ticketing system. If you have a Eurail or Interrail Pass, it does not cover the Circumvesuviana. Searching the Trenitalia departures board for the Pompeii train will not find it. This guide covers all four Naples stations: what each one is for, which to book, and what to check before you pay. ## Naples train stations at a glance StationLocationOperatorsBest forAvoid ifNapoli CentralePiazza Garibaldi, city centreTrenitalia (Frecce, Intercity, regional), Italo (most services)Most long-distance, high-speed, and regional arrivals–Napoli Afragola~12 km from city centre, no metro linkTrenitalia Frecce, some ItaloConnections north of Naples; transit passengersYou want the city centreNapoli Garibaldi (underground)Below Centrale / Piazza GaribaldiEAV / CircumvesuvianaDay trips to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Sorrento–Napoli MergellinaMergellina, western waterfrontTrenitalia Intercity, suburbanTravellers staying near Chiaia or PosillipoLong-distance arrivals## Napoli Centrale, the station to use for almost all visits Napoli Centrale sits on Piazza Garibaldi, in the middle of the city. This is where Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, most Italo high-speed services, Intercity trains, and the majority of regional trains arrive and depart. Metro Lines 1 and 2 connect here. Line 1 gives you access to Toledo, Dante, and Università, all within walking distance of the historic centre. The Alibus airport shuttle departs from Corso Novara, just off Piazza Garibaldi, in front of the station. ### How long does it take to reach Naples by train? Fast Frecciarossa services from Rome take around 70 minutes. Treat that as orientation, not a guarantee, check the journey time for your specific train when you book. Florence to Naples by Frecce takes around 2 hours 45 minutes to just over 3 hours depending on the train. Milan to Naples on the fastest services runs around 4 hours 30 minutes, with some departures taking longer. Italo runs the same corridors at broadly similar journey times. Check both Trenitalia and Italo for your date. Prices vary between them, and the cheaper option changes by day and booking window. Intercity trains serve Bari, Reggio Calabria, Salerno, and Caserta from Centrale, and regional services connect the station to smaller stops across Campania. ## Napoli Afragola, the station to avoid unless you know why you are there Afragola is a high-speed station located around 12 kilometres from the Naples city centre. Some Trenitalia Frecciarossa and Italo services stop there instead of, or in addition to, Centrale. There is no metro link between Afragola and Naples city centre. To reach the centre from Afragola, you need to take a connecting train back to Napoli Centrale, the fastest services take around 14 minutes, though most take longer, or use a taxi or transfer service. Neither option is quick. The mistake is easy to make. Booking engines often show only the city name in search results. The station, Napoli Centrale or Napoli Afragola, only appears when you open the full train details. Do that before you pay. Afragola is useful if you are continuing north to Caserta or Benevento, or if you are a transit passenger with onward transport already arranged. For everyone else, choose a service that terminates at Napoli Centrale. ## Napoli Garibaldi, where to catch trains to Pompeii and Sorrento Below the main concourse of Napoli Centrale is a separate underground station served by the Circumvesuviana network, run by EAV, Ente Autonomo Volturno. These trains do not appear on the Trenitalia departure boards. The ticketing is separate. This is the station for day trips around the Bay of Naples. Trains to Ercolano Scavi, the stop for the Herculaneum excavations, take around 20 minutes. Pompeii Scavi (the stop is named Pompeii Villa dei Misteri) takes around 35 to 40 minutes. Sorrento, the end of the line, takes around 55 to 70 minutes. Trains run every 30 minutes or so throughout the day, but they are popular and can get crowded in summer. ### Finding the Circumvesuviana platforms From the main hall of Napoli Centrale, follow signs for Napoli Garibaldi or Circumvesuviana. You descend by escalator or stairs toward the Piazza Garibaldi side of the building. EAV ticket machines are at the underground level. You can also pay by contactless bank card at the gate. Buy before boarding, EAV tickets are not sold at Trenitalia windows. ### Your rail pass does not work here Eurail and Interrail passes do not cover EAV or the Circumvesuviana. The network is outside the Italian national rail system. Buy a separate EAV ticket at Napoli Garibaldi. Fares are low. As of June 2026, a single journey to Pompeii costs around €3.20 and to Sorrento around €4.50, though fares can be updated. Check the current fare at the EAV machines or at eavsrl.it before you travel. ## Napoli Mergellina, a local option on the western waterfront Mergellina is a smaller station on the western side of Naples, in the Mergellina district. Some Intercity and suburban trains stop here. Long-distance Frecce trains do not. For most visitors it is not the right arrival point. If you are staying near Chiaia, Posillipo, or the Mergellina seafront, check whether your Intercity service calls here, it can save time compared to arriving at Centrale and backtracking. But for anyone coming from Rome, Milan, or Florence by high-speed train, Centrale is the station to use. Check your ticket for the stop order on Intercity services. Some southbound trains call at Mergellina before Centrale; others do not. Confirming the order means you do not disembark a stop too early. ## Getting to Naples airport by train There is no train or metro link to Naples Capodichino airport. The practical option is the Alibus shuttle, which runs between the airport and a stop on Corso Novara, near Piazza Garibaldi and Napoli Centrale. The fare is €5 each way. Buses run every 20 to 30 minutes, between approximately 06:30 and midnight. The journey takes around 15 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. Naples traffic can be heavy, particularly in summer and during weekday mornings. If you have a flight to catch, allow more time than the schedule suggests. A taxi from Centrale to the airport is the alternative, confirm the fare before you leave. ## Rail passes and reservations in Naples ### Frecciarossa and Italo require a seat reservation, even with a pass A Eurail or Interrail Pass covers the journey on Trenitalia and Italo high-speed trains, but not the right to board without a reservation. Seat reservations are mandatory on every Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, and Italo service, even with a rail pass. As of June 2026, the pass-holder seat reservation fee on Trenitalia Frecciarossa is €13. Book your reservation through Trenitalia, the Italo website, or the Eurail/Interrail booking portal. On busy summer evenings and Friday departures from Centrale toward Rome, trains fill quickly, book in advance if you have a fixed departure in mind. ### The Circumvesuviana is not included in any rail pass Eurail and Interrail covers services on the Italian national rail network. EAV and the Circumvesuviana are not part of that network. Buy a separate EAV ticket at Napoli Garibaldi. It is inexpensive, but your pass will not substitute for it. ## Which Naples station should you use? For almost every long-distance arrival, book Napoli Centrale. It is central, metro-connected, and served by all the major operators. For Pompeii, Herculaneum, or Sorrento, go to the Napoli Garibaldi underground level beneath Centrale. Buy an EAV ticket there, not a Trenitalia ticket, and not your rail pass. Before paying for any high-speed ticket, confirm the station name in the train details. If it shows Napoli Afragola and you want the city centre, choose a different departure. And if you are flying in or out of Capodichino, the Alibus from near Piazza Garibaldi is your connection. There is no train to the airport.