Destination Guides > Italy > Campania

Campania

Although this region has many ritzy resort areas, such as the Amalfi coast, it is generally regarded as a poorer cousin to the rich north and the heart of traditional Italy.

Naples (Napoli)

Naples has a reputation as a dirty crime-ridden city. But it is also the classic Italian city where chaos reigns supreme and the ambience is as thick as a hearty Ragù sauce. The city has a great location on a bay under the shadow of Mount Vesuvius and it's a great place to base yourself for making trips out to Pompeii, Capri and the Amalfi Coast. While you're here make sure you try pizza in the city where it was invented.

Practical Information

Naples Tourist Information Centre

inside the train station, Naples

Tel (081) 268 779

Coming & Going

Stazione Centrale is the main train station with frequent trains to Rome, Sorrento and Pompeii. The train station is situated on Piazza Garibaldi at the eastern end of the city centre.

The regional train operator Circumvesuviana (website www.vesuviana.it), has services to Pompeii and Sorrento with trains terminating at Ferrovia Circumvesuviana on Via Garibaldi, south-west of the main station. Two other regional train operators, Ferrovia Cumana and Circumflegrea, operate services from Stazione Cumana to Cuma (Cumae) and Pozzuoli.

Stazione Maritima is where you can catch ferries and hydrofoils for Capri and Sorrento as well as further afield to destinations in Sardinia, Sicily and Tunisia. Mergellina harbour, further to the south-west, has ferries and hydrofoils to many of the islands in the Golfo di Napoli. Alilauro, Caremar (website www.caremar.it/caremar.html), Linee Lauro (website www.lauro.it), NLG, Siremar, SNAV and Tirrenia (website www.tirrenia.it) and operate ferry services from Naples.

Naples International Airport (website www.gesac.it/en/) offers scheduled flights to 15 domestic and 9 international destinations inluding many important European capitals (London, Paris, Brussels) as well as over 50 regular charter destinations. Buses between the airport and the train station run every 25 minutes

Accommodation

6 Small Rooms

Via Diodato Lioy 18, 80134 Naples

Metro Piazza Dante

Tel (081) 790 1378

Fabric Hostel & Club

Via Bellucci Sessa 22, 80055 Portici (Naples)

Train (Circumvesuviana) Portici Via Libertà

Tel (081) 776 5874

Hostel & Hotel Bella Capri

Via Guglielmo Melisurgo 4, 6th floor, 80133 Naples

Bus R2

Tel (081) 552 9494

Hostel des Artistes

Via Duomo 61, Naples 80138

Metro Piazza Cavour Bus CS

Tel (081) 446 155

Hostel of the Sun

Via Melisurgo 15, 80133 Naples

Bus R2

Tel (081) 4206393

Hostel Pensione Mancini

Via Pasquale Stanislao Mancini 33, 80139 Naples

Metro Piazza Garibaldi

Tel (081) 553 6731

Hostel Soggiorno Imperia

Piazza Luigi Miraglia 386, 80134 Naples

Metro Dante, Museo

Tel (081) 459347

Hotel Zara

Via Firenze 81 cap, Naples 80412

La Controra Hostel

Piazzetta Trinità alla Cesarea 231, 80136 Naples

Metro Salvator Rosa

Tel (081) 549 4014

Ostello Mergellina

Salita Della Grotta 22, 80122 Napoli

Bus 150, 152 Metro Mergellina

Tel (081) 7612346

Capri

This picturesque island an hour by ferry from Naples, is a great getaway from the big city if you visit off-season. However Capri can become overrun by tourists in the heat of summer.

Practical Information

Capri Tourist Information Centre

Piazza Umberto I, Capri

Tel (081) 837 0686

Coming & Going

Ferries for Capri depart from Sorrento and both Mergellina harbour and Stazione Maritima in Naples.

Pompeii

Only 45 minutes from Naples, this is one of the most important archarological sites in the Roman Empire. Daily life was set in volcanic stone when Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD79.

Coming & Going

Pompeii is on the Circumvesuviana rail line going to both Sorrento and Poggiomarino. Get off at Pompeii-Villa dei Misteri if you're on a Sorrento train or Pompeii-Santuario if you're on a Poggiomarino bound train. Both stations are close to entrances to Pompeii, although the Stazione Pompeii-Villa dei Misteri is a little more convenient as there are other things outside like camping grounds, shops, restaurants and a post office.

Accommodation

Casa del Pellegrino Youth Hostel

Via Duca D'Aosta 4, 80045 Pompei (Napoli)

Train (Circumvesuviana) Pompei Scavio

Tel (081) 850 8644

Sorrento

Sorrento is a crowded resort town, easily accessible from Naples and makes a good base for exploring the Amalfi coast and the island of Capri.

Practical Information

Sorrento Tourist Information Centre

Via Luigi de Maio 35, Sorrento

Tel (081) 807 4033

Coming & Going

Sorrento is easily accessible from Naples with frequent train, bus and ferry connections. Circumvesuviana (website www.vesuviana.it) operates the railway service from Stazione Circumvesuviana in Naples, via Pompeii. Alternatively, the ferry and hydrofoil is a more pleasant way to arrive in Sorrento and there is always the bonus of going via Capri. Ferries depart from both Mergellina harbour and Stazione Maritima in Naples.

Accommodation

Domus Porto Salvo

Via Nuovo Rione Cappuccini 11, 80065 Sant'Agnello

Hostel Sorrento

Via San Vito, 80065 Sant'Agnello

Tel (081) 532 2370

Mami Camilla

Via Cocumella 04, 80065 Sant'Agnello

Ostello Le Sirene

Via degli Aranci 160, 80067 Sorrento

Tel (081) 807 2925