Stadio Diego Armando Maradona away guide

Naples has direct UK flights, so there is no hub detour: fly into Naples Capodichino (NAP) from Manchester or one of the London airports, then it is a short hop across the city to Fuorigrotta in the west. From the airport take the Alibus shuttle to Napoli Centrale, then Metro Line 2 to Campi Flegrei, about ten minutes' walk from the ground. Away fans sit in the settore ospiti in the north-east corner, with around 2,482 seats (SeatPick, SSC Napoli).

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

Naples has cheap direct flights from both Manchester and London, so flying straight in is normally the fastest and cheapest way (FlightsFrom Manchester, FlightsFrom London). The one alternative worth knowing: when Naples flights sell out or spike on a Champions League night, Rome has far more UK flights and a high-speed train covers Rome to Naples Centrale in about 1h10 (Trainline). Costs below are per-person estimates and swing hard with how early you book.

Getting there from the airport

Naples Capodichino has no rail link, so take the Alibus airport shuttle (about €5) to Piazza Garibaldi at Napoli Centrale, then change onto Metro Line 2 toward Campi Flegrei, the stadium's nearest mainline stop (SSC Napoli). A taxi from the airport to Fuorigrotta runs on a fixed-fare basis and is worth agreeing before you set off.

Getting there from the centre or station

By rail, the two closest stations are Napoli Campi Flegrei (mainline plus Metro Line 2) and Mostra/Stadio Maradona (Cumana plus Metro Line 6), both a short walk from the ground (SSC Napoli). On match days the metro runs more frequently, roughly every 10 to 15 minutes (Napoli Metro).

By bus from Napoli Centrale, take ANM line 152 toward Piazzale Tecchio, the square by the stadium. From Piazza Vittoria the C18, C19 or 129 also run that way (SSC Napoli). Door to door from the historic centre is around half an hour (Destination Calcio).

Note that for high-profile visiting supports, police often require away fans to gather at the Varco Pisacane area near the port and travel on a free escorted coach, which takes a longer route but sidesteps the local transport crush (The FSA).

Where to stay

Most away fans base themselves in or around the historic centre and the Piazza Garibaldi / Napoli Centrale area, which keeps you on Metro Line 2 straight to Campi Flegrei and close to the bars and food. The Chiaia and lungomare areas near Castel dell'Ovo are quieter and more upmarket. Fuorigrotta itself, right by the ground, is residential and has little reason to stay unless you want to be on the doorstep.

Inside the stadium and allocation

The away section (settore ospiti) sits in the north-east corner, between Curva A and the Tribuna Posillipo, and stretches across both tiers, which makes it look narrower than its roughly 2,482-seat capacity (SeatPick). The lower tier gives the better view because the athletics track that rings the pitch pushes the upper seats back from the action (Football Ground Guide).

Tickets are personal and non-transferable. Carry valid photo ID that matches the name on the ticket, as it is checked at the turnstile, and entry is one way with no re-admission (SSC Napoli). Banned items include bottles, cans and glass, umbrellas other than small pocket ones, flares, professional cameras, drones and drinks over 5% alcohol. Drinks inside are served in plastic or paper cups only, and phones are for personal use (SSC Napoli).

The Maradona is loud and hostile, properly segregated with fencing and netting protecting the away end from thrown objects (The FSA). Concourse food is thin, so eat before you go in.

Where to drink

Away fans are better off drinking in the centre than near the ground, where bars fill with home support. A beer in a Naples bar is roughly €4-6, less than most UK city-centre prices.

• The Penny Black (Via Enrico Alvino, 134B): established English-style pub in the Vomero area, used to visiting fans and showing the football (The FSA).
• Murphy's Law (Via Luca Giordano, 156): Irish bar in Vomero, another safe bet for away support wanting a familiar pub feel (The FSA).
• Kitebeer (Vico Medina, 15): central craft-beer spot near Piazza Municipio, relaxed and tourist-friendly (The FSA).
• Libreria Berisio (Via Port'Alba): a historic bookshop that turns cocktail bar at night, a calmer central option off the main squares.
• Piazza Bellini: the centre's open-air drinking hub, packed with bars and students, lively and generally relaxed early evening.

Avoid colours, songs and drinking near the stadium in Fuorigrotta, and steer clear of the ultra-heavy bars right by the ground. The port and Varco Pisacane area is the officially recommended, tourist-friendly muster point on matchday (The FSA).

Where to eat

Naples is the birthplace of pizza, and a wood-fired Margherita here is the cheapest great meal you will eat all season, often under €7.

• L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele (Via Cesare Sersale, 1): the famous, no-frills pizzeria doing Margherita and Marinara only, expect a queue (The FSA).
• Pizzeria Trianon (Via Pietro Colletta, 46): long-standing rival to da Michele, more seating and a fuller menu (The FSA).
• Il Cuoppo Friggitori Napoletani (Spaccanapoli): fried street food to order, cuoppo cones of seafood and vegetables, hot and cheap (Do Eat Better).
• Sfogliatella Mary (near Galleria Umberto I): the classic stop for sfogliatella, the crisp ricotta-filled pastry, with an espresso (Do Eat Better).
• Via dei Tribunali: the historic centre's pizza and trattoria strip, wall to wall with pizzerias if you want a sit-down without booking.

Local dishes to try beyond pizza: pizza a portafoglio (folded street pizza), frittatina (fried pasta cake), cuoppo (fried-food cone), and sfogliatella to finish (Do Eat Better).

What to do

Naples repays a day or two either side of the game, and Pompeii alone is worth the trip.

• Pompeii and Herculaneum: the Roman towns buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD, reachable on the Circumvesuviana railway from Napoli Centrale (GetYourGuide).
• Mount Vesuvius: the volcano itself, with a walk to the crater rim and views over the bay (GetYourGuide).
• Castel dell'Ovo: the seafront castle on the lungomare, free to enter and an easy bayside walk (GetYourGuide).
• Napoli Sotterranea: the underground city, Greek-Roman aqueducts and WWII air-raid tunnels beneath the historic centre.
• Cappella Sansevero: the baroque chapel housing the Veiled Christ marble sculpture, one of the city's finest sights.
• Museo Archeologico Nazionale: the archaeology museum holding the best of the Pompeii finds, mosaics and Roman sculpture.
• Spaccanapoli and the historic centre: the dead-straight old-town street that splits Naples, best explored on foot for churches, markets and pizza.

Common questions

How do I get from Naples airport to the stadium?

Naples Capodichino has no train link. Take the Alibus shuttle (about €5) to Piazza Garibaldi at Napoli Centrale, then Metro Line 2 toward Campi Flegrei, the nearest mainline stop, followed by a 10-minute walk (SSC Napoli). Total journey is around 45 minutes to an hour depending on connections.

Which airport do I fly to, and is there a direct flight?

Fly to Naples Capodichino (NAP). There is no hub detour needed: direct flights run from Manchester on easyJet, Ryanair and Jet2, and from London on Ryanair (Stansted), British Airways (Heathrow) and easyJet (Luton) (FlightsFrom Manchester, FlightsFrom London). Flight time is about 2h50 from London and around 3 hours from Manchester.

Where do away fans sit?

In the settore ospiti, the away section in the north-east corner of the ground between Curva A and the Tribuna Posillipo. It runs across both tiers, so it looks narrower than its capacity, and the lower tier has the better view over the athletics track (SeatPick).

What is the away allocation?

The away section holds around 2,482 seats (SeatPick). Actual numbers released for a given fixture can be lower, and Italian authorities sometimes restrict or block ticket sales to residents of the visiting club's area for higher-risk matches, so check the specifics before travelling.

What time should I arrive?

Get to the away end well before kick-off. Turnstiles involve ID checks and searches, and for bigger fixtures away fans are funnelled through a police-escorted coach from the Varco Pisacane meeting point near the port, which adds time (The FSA). Aim to be at the muster point or the ground at least 90 minutes before kick-off.

Can I drink in the ground?

Beer and soft drinks are sold inside, but served in plastic or paper cups only, and nothing over 5% alcohol is allowed in (SSC Napoli). Concourse food is limited, so eat before you go in. Bottles, cans and glass are banned at the turnstile.

How much is a beer?

A beer in a Naples bar is roughly €4-6, cheaper than most UK city centres. Cocktails and spritzes in the smarter central bars run higher. Inside the stadium expect standard event pricing, in a plastic cup.

Is Naples safe for away fans?

Naples is fine for normal tourism if you take usual precautions against pickpockets, but it has a genuine reputation for hostility toward visiting football supporters, with documented attacks on away fans (The FSA). Don't wear colours in the old town, avoid small groups after dark, and follow police instructions on matchday.

Where are the away-friendly areas?

Drink in the centre rather than near the ground: Vomero pubs like The Penny Black and Murphy's Law, central spots like Kitebeer, and Piazza Bellini are used to visitors (The FSA). On matchday the police-recommended muster point is the Varco Pisacane area by the port. Avoid the ultra bars around the stadium in Fuorigrotta.

Does my match ticket include free transport?

No. The match ticket does not give you free city transport. However, away fans are often required to travel on a free police-escorted coach from the Varco Pisacane meeting point near the port to the ground and back, which is provided rather than public transport (The FSA). For general travel you buy standard ANM tickets.

How far is the stadium from the city centre?

The ground is in Fuorigrotta in the west of the city, about 6km from the historic centre and roughly half an hour door to door by metro or bus (Destination Calcio). Metro Line 2 from Napoli Centrale to Campi Flegrei is the simplest route.

Where should I stay?

Base yourself around the historic centre or Napoli Centrale for the bars, food and a direct Metro Line 2 run to the ground. Chiaia and the lungomare near Castel dell'Ovo are quieter and smarter. There is little point staying out in Fuorigrotta by the stadium unless you specifically want to be on the doorstep.

What is the local dish to try?

Pizza, above all: a wood-fired Margherita from da Michele or Trianon, often under €7. Beyond that try pizza a portafoglio (folded street pizza), a cuoppo cone of fried food, frittatina, and a sfogliatella pastry with espresso (Do Eat Better).