Getting to Naples for the football

Fly straight into Naples Capodichino, which has direct flights from Manchester and London, take the Alibus into Napoli Centrale and switch to Metro Line 2 or the Cumana line out to Fuorigrotta, roughly 40 minutes airport to ground. Away fans sit in the northeast corner between Curva A and the Tribuna Posillipo, both tiers, a typical allocation of around 2,800 through a separate entrance (Football Ground Guide).

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

Naples is one of the easier Italian away trips because you do not need a hub: both Manchester and London have direct flights into Naples Capodichino (FlightsFrom). The one alternative worth knowing is overland via Rome, which carries far more UK flights than Naples does, so if the direct fares spike or sell out on a match weekend you fly into Rome and take a fast train down, about an hour and ten minutes to Napoli Centrale (Trainline). From Napoli Centrale every option finishes the same way: Alibus in from the airport, then Metro Line 2 or the Cumana out to Fuorigrotta.

Costs are estimates and rise sharply on matchday weekends and school holidays. Book flights early and treat the local transport as a few euros on top.

Getting into Naples: airport and main station

Naples International (Capodichino) sits roughly 5-7 km northeast of the centre, and the Alibus shuttle is the direct public-transport link into town (Aeroporto di Napoli). Run by ANM, it goes from the airport to Piazza Garibaldi (Napoli Centrale, the central station) in about 15 minutes, then continues to the port at Immacolatella/Porta di Massa and Molo Angioino/Beverello, about 35 minutes in total (Aeroporto di Napoli).

Alibus tickets are EUR 5 one way. Buy online through the airport e-shop or at the vending machines on the ground floor of arrivals. Buses leave roughly every 15-30 minutes (Naples Insider).

If flights do not line up, many fans route overland via Rome. Napoli Centrale on Piazza Garibaldi is the main rail station. High-speed Frecciarossa (Trenitalia) and Italo run from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale in about 1 hour 10-12 minutes, with advance fares from roughly EUR 9-15 and dozens of departures a day (Italo).

Getting from the centre out to the ground

The stadium is about 5 km west of the centre in Fuorigrotta and is well served by rail, not just buses (Wikipedia).

• Metro Line 2 (Trenitalia) runs from Piazza Garibaldi / Napoli Centrale to Campi Flegrei station, the main stop for the stadium, roughly a 750 m / 10-minute walk (Football Ground Guide).
• The Cumana line (EAV) stops at Mostra, the closest station to the ground at about 550 m / 7 minutes' walk. Metro Line 6 also serves the Mostra area (SSC Napoli).
• By bus, ANM line 151 runs from the central station area (Piazza Garibaldi) to Piazzale Tecchio, a short walk from the stadium (Football Ground Guide).

The away end

Away fans sit in the northeast corner between Curva A and the Tribuna Posillipo, spanning both tiers, with a typical allocation of around 2,800 tickets (Football Ground Guide). There is a separate, controlled entrance for away supporters. Views are better from the lower tier because of the running track around the pitch (Football Ground Guide).

Getting around the city

Naples uses the integrated TIC ticket (the old Unico Napoli) across ANM buses, the four funiculars, metro Lines 1, 2 and 6, and the Cumana, Circumflegrea and Circumvesuviana within the city (Napoli Unplugged). A single 90-minute TIC ticket is EUR 1.50 and allows unlimited bus transfers but only one journey per rail vehicle (Napoli Unplugged).

For a match visit, the daily TIC ticket at EUR 4.50, valid until midnight, covers the airport-to-centre bus links, city metro and the trip out to Fuorigrotta and back (Napoli Unplugged). The match ticket itself does not include free travel, so buy the TIC separately and always validate it when boarding: the 90-minute clock starts at first validation (Napoli Unplugged).

Where visiting fans stay

The most convenient base is the historic centre (centro storico) and the Via Toledo / Via Duomo axis, central and walkable to everything and close to the metro for the trip to the ground (Destination Calcio). Quieter, more upmarket alternatives include Chiaia near the bay, the hilltop Vomero and the Santa Lucia waterfront (My Vacation Itineraries).

Be wary of booking right around Piazza Garibaldi / central station. It is convenient for trains, but the immediate area is best avoided alone at night (The Road Reel).

Where to drink

The ground guide is clear: drink in the city centre, not near the stadium. These are the away-friendly options.

• The Penny Black (Via Enrico Alvino 134 B): a proper pub set-up in Vomero, used to visitors and a safe bet for a pre-match pint, around EUR 5 a beer (Football Ground Guide).
• Murphy's Law (Via Luca Giordano 156): Irish bar in Vomero, football on the screens, easy crowd, mid-range prices (Football Ground Guide).
• Kitebeer (Vico Medina 15): craft-beer spot near Via Toledo, quieter and a step up in price, good if you want something better than lager (Football Ground Guide).
• Bridge Brew Bar (Via Bisignano 15, Chiaia): shows every Champions League, Serie A and Premier League game with the sound on, European draught and a slightly smarter, pricier feel (Bridge Brew Bar).
• Ennò (Via Vincenzo Bellini 43): British-pub atmosphere right in the centro storico near Piazza Bellini, mixed crowd and central for a session (Soccer Trippers).
• Flannery Pub (Fuorigrotta): the one Irish pub genuinely near the ground, handy if you want a drink out by the stadium, though the centre is the safer call on a big night (Tripadvisor).

A city-bar beer is roughly EUR 5, closer to EUR 3 in a quiet neighbourhood spot (Expatistan). Avoid drinking right by the stadium in colours, and keep clear of the bars immediately around Piazza Garibaldi station late at night (The Road Reel). Napoli support is fierce, so keep your allegiance low-key away from the away end.

Where to eat

Naples is the home of pizza and cheap, brilliant street food, so eating well here costs very little. The local dishes to try are the pizza margherita and marinara, pizza fritta (deep-fried folded pizza), the cuoppo (a paper cone of fried snacks), and sfogliatella or babà for something sweet (Italia.it).

• L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele (Via Cesare Sersale 1): the most famous pizzeria in the city, two toppings only, cheap, expect a queue and a ticket number (National Geographic).
• Pizzeria Di Matteo (Via dei Tribunali 94): a Tribunali institution doing classic wood-fired pizza and fried street food to take away, budget prices (National Geographic).
• A cuoppo from any friggitoria on Via dei Tribunali: croquettes, arancini and fried veg in a cone, a few euros, perfect eaten on your feet (Italia.it).
• Pasticceria Poppella (Rione Sanità): home of the fiocco di neve, the ricotta-filled dough ball, and the spot for a proper Neapolitan breakfast (National Geographic).
• Pizzeria Concettina ai Tre Santi (Via Arena della Sanità 7 bis): a modern, more ambitious pizzeria in the Sanità, worth booking if you want to sit down properly (2 Food Trippers).
• Palazzo Petrucci Pizzeria (Piazza San Domenico Maggiore 4): the smarter, sit-down option with quality ingredients and a lovely setting, the casual arm of a Michelin-starred kitchen (2 Food Trippers).

What to do

If you are making a day or two of it either side of the match, Naples rewards the effort.

• National Archaeological Museum (MANN): one of the world's great collections of Greek and Roman antiquities, including the finds from Pompeii and Herculaneum (Lonely Planet).
• Piazza del Plebiscito and the Royal Palace: the grand central square, flanked by the San Francesco di Paola basilica and the former royal residence (Lonely Planet).
• Spaccanapoli and Via San Gregorio Armeno: the dead-straight old-town street cutting through the centro storico, lined with churches, workshops and the famous nativity-figure makers (Naples Insider).
• Napoli Sotterranea (Naples Underground): a guided descent into the Greek and Roman tunnels and cisterns beneath the old town (Naples Insider).
• Castel dell'Ovo: the seafront "Egg Castle" on its islet at Santa Lucia, free to enter and worth it for the bay views (Lonely Planet).
• Castel Sant'Elmo and Vomero: a hilltop fortress reached by funicular, giving the best panorama over the city and Vesuvius (Naples Insider).
• Capodimonte Museum: a Bourbon palace in its own park holding one of Italy's finest art collections, Caravaggio and Titian among them (Lonely Planet).
• Pompeii day trip: the ruined Roman city is a short hop on the Circumvesuviana and the obvious excursion if you have a spare day (Lonely Planet).

Money and safety

Italy uses the euro. Card is widely accepted, but Naples remains cash-friendly for small bars, street food and some transport, so carry small notes and coins (Rome Toolkit).

The main risk for visitors is pickpocketing, concentrated in crowded tourist areas, around the central station and on public transport, rather than violent crime (The Road Reel). Stay alert, use a crossbody bag, and leave your passport, valuables and large cash in the hotel. Local safety guides suggest not wandering the Quartieri Spagnoli (Spanish Quarters) or the Piazza Garibaldi station area alone late at night (The Road Reel).

Common questions

How do you get to the stadium from the airport?

Take the Alibus shuttle from Capodichino to Napoli Centrale in about 15 minutes for EUR 5 one way, buses roughly every 15-30 minutes (Naples Insider). From Napoli Centrale, switch to Metro Line 2 to Campi Flegrei or the Cumana line to Mostra for the ground, another 25 minutes or so. Airport to turnstile is roughly 40-50 minutes all in.

Which airport do you fly to for Napoli, and is there a direct flight?

You fly to Naples International, Capodichino (NAP), and yes, it is a direct route from the UK. Manchester has direct flights on easyJet, Ryanair and Jet2, about three hours (Skyscanner). London flies direct too, BA from Heathrow and easyJet from Gatwick, about 2h45 (FlightConnections). No hub is needed.

Where do away fans sit?

In the northeast corner between Curva A and the Tribuna Posillipo, across both tiers, with a typical allocation of around 2,800 seats and a separate controlled entrance (Football Ground Guide). The lower tier has better views, as the running track around the pitch pushes the upper tier back from the play.

What is the away allocation at the Maradona?

Around 2,800 seats is the typical away allocation, held in the northeast corner with its own controlled entrance (Football Ground Guide). The exact number varies by fixture and competition, so check what your own club is issued before you travel, and buy through official channels rather than local resale.

What time should you get to the ground?

Give yourself a clear hour before kick-off. The away entrance is a separate, controlled gate with its own checks, queues build on the walk from Mostra and Campi Flegrei, and Italian grounds run strict bag and ID controls (Football Ground Guide). Aim to be off the metro and heading to the turnstiles 60-75 minutes out.

Can you drink in the ground?

Do not count on it. Italian stadiums typically restrict or remove alcohol in the stands on matchday, and away sections in particular are dry more often than not. Treat the pre-match beer in the city centre as your drinking window (Football Ground Guide). Inside, expect soft drinks, water and street-style match food.

How much is a beer in Naples?

A beer in a city-centre bar is roughly EUR 5, and you can pay closer to EUR 3 in a quiet neighbourhood spot (Expatistan). Supermarket cans are cheaper still at around EUR 2. Naples is not an expensive city for drinking compared with northern Italy, so the away weekend need not cost a fortune once you are there.

Is Naples safe for away fans?

Broadly yes, with common sense. The main risk is pickpocketing in crowded tourist areas, around the central station and on public transport, not violent crime (The Road Reel). Use a crossbody bag, leave valuables in the hotel, and keep colours discreet away from the away end. Local rivalry can be intense, so avoid antagonising home support and stick with your group.

Which areas and pubs are away-friendly?

Base yourself and drink in the centro storico and along Via Toledo, where the bars are used to visitors and you are away from the flashpoints near the ground (Destination Calcio). Named spots include The Penny Black, Kitebeer and Murphy's Law (Football Ground Guide). Avoid drinking right by the stadium and steer clear of Piazza Garibaldi alone late at night.

Does the match ticket give free local transport?

No. Unlike some German and European clubs, a Napoli match ticket does not include public transport, so you buy travel separately (Napoli Unplugged). The best value for matchday is the TIC daily ticket at EUR 4.50, valid until midnight, which covers the Alibus, the city metro and the run out to Fuorigrotta and back. Validate it every time you board.

How far is the stadium from the city centre?

About 5 km west of the centre, in the Fuorigrotta district (Wikipedia). It is a short rail hop, not a long haul: Metro Line 2 from Napoli Centrale to Campi Flegrei takes around 20 minutes, or the Cumana line to Mostra is similar (SSC Napoli). Walking is not realistic, so plan on the metro or Cumana both ways.

Where should away fans stay?

The centro storico and the Via Toledo / Via Duomo axis is the most convenient base, central, walkable and close to the metro for the ground (Destination Calcio). For something quieter, Chiaia by the bay, Vomero on the hill or the Santa Lucia waterfront all work (My Vacation Itineraries). Book with care right around Piazza Garibaldi station, handy for trains but rough at night.