How to Travel From Rome to Naples by Train, Plane, Bus, or Car

Rome and Naples are two of Italy's most visited cities and although they appear to be neighbors on the map, they are actually 139 miles (223 kilometers) apart. Many travelers in Italy try to visit both cities since it's easy to reach one from the other either by car, train, bus, or airplane. However, if you take the high-speed train, it's possible (and recommended!) to visit Naples on a day trip from Rome. With train tickets from Rome to Naples starting at just $15, it's an easy way to explore more of Italy on your trip.

What Is the Cheapest Way to Get From Rome to Naples?

A one-way train ticket to Naples can sometimes be found for as low as $14, but you're more likely to see prices hover around the $20 to $25 range. Bus tickets are more consistently affordable and can be anywhere between $11 and $20. Occasionally, the train may be cheaper than the bus, so compare rates for both.

What Is the Fastest Way to Get From Rome to Naples?

The flight to Naples from Rome, which takes about 50 minutes, is the fastest way to travel between the two cities, but it does not account for travel time from the city center to the airport. You might consider flying to Naples only if your starting point is at or near the Rome Airport (FCO). If it will take you more than an hour to reach the airport from your accommodation in Rome, you can get to Naples faster by taking the high-speed train that only takes 1 hour, 10 minutes.

How Long Does It Take to Drive?

A road trip from Rome to Naples along the A1 autostrada, a fast toll road, will take 2 hours, 20 minutes without traffic. However, driving in Italy can be challenging for the uninitiated, and there's no need with so many other great public transportation choices at your fingertips. Even without traffic, driving still takes an hour longer than the fastest train.

How Long Is the Flight?

It's straightforward to get to Naples from Rome by train or bus, but ITA offers 50-minute direct flights between the two cities if you want to fly. Both cities have airports, but if you're going from the city center to the city center, it wouldn't make sense to fly because then you will be spending a lot of time getting to and from each airport. However, a connecting flight is a sensible option if you're flying into the Rome airport and want to go directly to Naples.

How Long Is the Train Ride?

Trenitalia offers three different levels of train service, which all travel to Naples at different speeds:

• Regionale: These are the slowest, but the least expensive trains and take nearly 3 hours.
• Intercity (IC): The middle option, IC trains take 2 hours, but the cost is almost double the cheapest regional fare.
• Frecce: Taking just 1 hour, 10 minutes, although sometimes longer, high-speed trains are the fastest option, but are also the most expensive.

Another alternative is to book a seat on Italo. This privately operated train line also offers a high-speed train service that takes just 1 hour, 13 minutes and leaves from Rome Termini Station.

When Is the Best Time to Travel to Naples?

To catch good weather in Naples, spring is the best time to visit, especially during March and April when the tourist crowds are at their thinnest. However, Naples' famous pizza festival and the film festival take place during the fall, usually between September and October, so those may be worth making a special trip for, too. Temperatures in the fall are pretty moderate, but it can be rainier than in the spring.

Can I Use Public Transportation to Travel From the Airport?

The Naples Airport is only about 3 miles (5 kilometers) north of the city center and you can take the Alibus airport shuttle into town for 5 euros. The bus picks up passengers at the entrance to the airport and has drop off points at the train station, near Piazza Garibaldi, and the ferry ports of Porta di Massa, and Molo Beverello. The shuttle runs daily from 6 a.m. to 11:20 p.m.

Is There a Bus That Goes From Rome to Naples?

Lots of bus companies operate services between Rome and Naples. FlixBus has some of the cheapest fares. Depending on traffic conditions, the bus could take as little as 2 hours, 30 minutes, but it could also take up to 3 hours or more. To ensure you're getting the best deal for the shortest bus trip possible, you should compare rates for your travel dates on the websites of other bus operators like MarinoBus, Leonettibus, and BlaBlaBus.

What Is There to Do in Naples?

The first thing anyone should do when arriving in Naples is to try the pizza, which the city is famous for worldwide. As for the second thing, that depends on your taste. If you want to get a sense of Italy's history, visit the National Archaeological Museum, which has one of the best collections of antiquities in Europe, or the Castel dell'Ovo, the city's oldest castle that was built in the 12th century by the Normans. Every visitor must ride one of the city's funiculars, which will take you to the upper parts of the city. You'll find the best sunset views from these hilltop neighborhoods. Another great way to see the city is to book a boat tour to explore the historically significant Bay of Naples. Also, being so close to Mount Vesuvius, Naples is a good base city for taking a day trip out to the city of Pompeii, which was famously destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 79 A.D.