Italy: Getting Around

Boat

Naples , the islands of the Bay and the Amalfi Coast are served by an extensive network of ferries. Based mainly in Naples, Metro del Mare ( www.metrodelmare.com ) was established in 2002 to complete the network of transportation public. Lines connect ports Bacoli and Pozzuoli (north of Naples) with Naples, and from there continue to Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi. Easter to October, Amalfi, Positano, Salerno, Capri, Naples and Sorrento are connected by ferry or hydrofoil, with 3 boats a day between Naples and Positano. This is the most economical form of transport at sea.

In addition to the public service, many private companies provide ferries and hydrofoils throughout the year. Be aware that the ferry connections are far fewer in winter, especially along the Amalfi Coast. In case of inclement weather, the schedule may be changed.

Most short trips depart from Molo Beverello (opposite the Castel Nuovo) in Naples. Ferries long distance to Palermo, Cagliari, Milazzo, the Aeolian Islands (Aeolian Islands) and Tunisia depart from the Stazione Marittima (map). tickets for short journeys can be purchased at the counters of Beverello and Mergellina. For long-distance trips, contact the company offices or travel agencies . The ferry timetables for the Bay of Naples are published in the monthly Qui Napoli .

You will find below a list of ferries and hydrofoils to destinations served. Unless otherwise stated, rates shown are one way for one person in class deck and in high season.

• Alilauro (cards, 081 497 22 67  ; www.alilauro.it  ; Stazione Marittima, Naples). Hydroglisseurs Naples-Sorrente (€ 9, 7 / day), Naples Ischia (€ 1610 / day) and Naples Forio (€ 15.50, 5 / day). Ferries Capri-Ischia (€ 15.50, 1 / day) and Capri-Amalfi (€ 13.50, 2 / day).
• Caremar (card, 081551 38 82  ; www.caremar.it  ; Beverello, Naples). Serving the Naples-Capri lines (ferry / hydrofoil9.60 / 11 €, 5 / day), Naples Ischia (9,10 / 16 €13 / day), Naples-Procida (7 / € 8.6012 / day) and Sorrento-Capri (€ 7.50, 4 / day).
• Shipping Lines Partenopee (LMP; cards; 081 704 19 11  ; www.consorziolmp.it  ; Via Guglielmo Melisurgo 4, Naples). Hydroglisseurs Sorrente-Capri (€ 13.5023 / day) and daily many hydrofoils / ferries Capri-Positano (16.50 / € 14.50), Capri, Amalfi (€ 17/15) And Capri-Salerno (16 / € 17.50).
• Medmar (cards, 081 551 33 52  ; www.medmargroup  ; Stazione Marittima, Naples). Naples Services -Ischia (€ 9.607 / day) and daily liaison Naples Procida (€ 4.50).
• Metrò del Mare (map; 199 44 66 44  ; www.metrodelmare.com ). Summer only, connections between Naples and Sorrento (€ 6.50, 3 / jour), Positano (€ 14, 4 / day), Amalfi (€ 15, 6 / day) and Salerno (€ 162 / day) and between major towns of the Amalfi Coast.
• Navigazione Libera del Golfo (NLG; cards; 081 552 07 63  ; www.navlib.it , en anglais; Historic Centre, Naples). Hydroglisseurs Naples-Capri dans les deux sens et toute l'année (€ 17, 4 / day).
• Siremar (card, 081017 19 98  ; www.siremar.it  , Stazione Marittima, Naples). Boats to the Aeolian Islands and Milazzo (seat€ 62, 6 / week in summer, half reduced service in low season).
• SNAV (motherboard; 091 428 55 55  ; www.snav.it  ; Stazione Marittima, Naples). Hydroglisseurs to Capri (€ 16, 7 / day), Procida (€ 13.60, 4 / day) and Ischia (€ 16, 4 / day) and ferry to Palermo (€ 30, 1 / d). In summer, daily services to the Aeolian Islands (€ 60 Lipari up).
• Tirrenia (cards, 081 720 11 11  ; www.tirrenia.it  ; Stazione Marittima, Molo Anjou, Naples). A bateau hebdomadaire Naples-Cagliari dans les deux sens (class pont€ 35) And Naples-Palermo (Class bridge € 44). Frequency 2 / week in summer. From Palermo and Cagliari, services for Tunisia, direct or via Trapani (Sicily).
• TraVelMar ( / Fax 089 87 29 50  ; Largo Scario 5, Amalfi). Serves Salerno / Amalfi lines (ferry / hydrofoil 6€ 50/7, 7 / day), Salerno, Positano (ferry / hydrofoil 8.50 / 9 €7 / day) Amalfi-Positano (ferry / hydrofoil 8 / € 9.50, 7 / day), Amalfi, Sorrento (€ 10, 4 / day) and Positano-Sorrento (€ 8.50, 3 / day).

Bus

In Naples, buses are managed by the municipal company ANM ( 800 63 95 25  ; www.anm.it , in Italian). There is no central bus station, but most buses pass by Piazza Garibaldi, the knot of chaotic transport in the city. To place your stop, check with the information kiosk ANM (map), in the center of the square.

To easily get your bearings in the city, climb aboard the bus Citysightseeing Napoli ( 081 551 72 79  ; www.napoli.city-sightseeing.it ) costing€ 22for a 24-hour ticket. There are three routes: the art circuit, which covers the Archaeological Museum and Capodimonte and the historic center and the Castel Nuovo. Route B follows the Lungomare and the beautiful road of Posillipo, while Route C goes up Vomero and includes a visit to the Villa Floridiana. A commentary is provided in several languages.

Some buses that will be helpful:

• 3S From Piazza Garibaldi at the airport.
• 24 De la Piazza del Municipio à la Piazza Dante et Capodimonte.
• 140 De Saint Lucia au Posillipo Via Mergellina.
• 152 Piazza Garibaldi, Corso Garibaldi, Via Nuova Marina et Colombo Street, the Historic Centre, Via Saint Lucia, Piazza Vittoria et Via Partenope.
• 201 Central Station , National Archaeological Museum, Piazza del Municipio et retour vers la Piazza Garibaldi via the Piazza Dante.
• 404D night bus traveling from 11:20 p.m. to 4 hours (hourly departures), Stazione Centrale, Piazza del Municipio, Mergellina and Vomero, then return to the Central Station.
• C9 Piazza Vittoria, Riviera di Chiaia, Piazza Sannazzaro, Viale Augusto et Via Diocletian, Bagnoli et jusqu'à la Via Coroglio.
• C25 De la Piazza Amedeo à la Piazza Bovio via the Castel dell 'Ovo et the Town Hall Square.
• C28 Piazza Vittoria, Via dei Mille jusqu'à la Piazza Vanvitelli au Vomero.
• E1 Piazza del Gesù, Via Constantinople, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Via Tribunali, Via Duomo, Piazza Nicola Amore, Corso Umberto I and Via Mezzocannone.
• R1 De la Piazza Gold Medals à la Piazza Charity, Piazza Dante et la Piazza Bovio.
• R2 Part de la gare centrale (Central Station), suit the Corso Umberto I and rejoint the Piazza Bovio, the Piazza del Municipio et la Piazza Trento e Trieste.
• R3 De la Mergellina the long de la Riviera di Chiaia jusqu'à la Piazza del Municipio, Piazza Bovio, the Piazza Dante et la Piazza Charity.
• R4 Capodimonte From Piazza Municipio the Via Dante and back.

The bus is a good way to travel along the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento Peninsula. A number of airlines serve regional routes. The most useful of these, the SITA ( 199 73 July 49  ; www.sitabus.it , in Italian), provides services from Naples to Pompeii (40 min every 30 min), Sorrento (1 20 hours, 2 / day), Positano (2 hours, 2 / day), Amalfi (2 hours, 6 / day) and Salerno (every 25 min, 1 hour 10). It also connects Salerno and Amalfi (1 hour 10, every 30 min) and serves the towns of the Amalfi Coast.

SITA is present in more distant destinations with Salerno and Bari via Naples (€ 22.50, 4:30, 2 / day). Buying tickets and check-out is at the Stazione Marittima, is Via G. Ferraris, near the Central Station. One can also buy tickets at Clizia Bar (Corso Arnaldo Lucci 173).

Most national bus from Piazza Garibaldi. Carefully check the destinations or ask at the kiosk in the center of the square. Marino ( 080 311 23 35 ) serves Bari (€ 22, 3 hours), Miccolis ( 081 20 03 80 ) dessert Taranto (€ 17.50, 4 hours), Brindisi (€ 25.20, 5 hours) and Lecce (28,€ 50, 5:30), while CLP ( 081531 July 17 ) serves Foggia (€ 11, 2:00), Perugia (€ 29.45, 3:30) and Assisi (€ 32, 4:30).

Do not forget to validate your ticket in the orange-yellow machines you see going up the steps.

Funicular

Three of the four cable cars in Naples connect the center with the Vomero:

• Central Funicular (6h30-22h lun-mar, mer-dim 6h30-0h30). Monte de la Via Toledo à la Piazza Fuga.
• Chiaia Funicular (6h30-22h mer-gameplay, 6h30-0h30 twenty-mar). Relie the Via del Parco Margherita à la Via Domenico Cimarosa.
• Funicular Montesanto (7h-22h). From the Piazza Montesanto à Via Raffaele Morgen.

The quatrieme, the Mergellina Funicular (7h-22h), Connects the waterfront, at the height of the Via Mergellina with Via Manzoni. Unico Napoli tickets are valid on board.

Subway

In fact, the Metropolitana ( 56 88 66 800  ; www.metro.na.it ) Naples circulates mostly surface.

• Line 1 (6 am-10:20 p.m.). From Piazza Dante northbound. Stops at Museo (transfer to line 2, station Piazza Cavour) Materdei, Salvator Rosa, Cilea, Piazza Vanvitelli, Piazza D'Oro Medaglie and 7 other stations.
• Line 2 (5h30-23h). From Gianturco, just east of the Central Station. Stops at Piazza Garibaldi (Central Station), Piazza Cavour, Montesanto, Piazza Amedeo, Mergellina Piazza Leopardi, Campi Flegrei, Cavaleggeri d'Aosta, Bagnoli and Pozzuoli.

Unico Napoli tickets are valid on the Metro (see box).

Taxi

Official taxis, metered, are white and the emblem of Naples on the front doors (Punch, easily recognizable by his white hat shaped cone and its long pointed nose). Needless to hail them in the street, they will ignore you. Go to a station, there is on most major places. You can also call the companies, including: Napoli ( 081 556 44 44 ), Consortaxi ( 081 20 20 20 ), Cotana ( 081 570 70 70 ), Free ( 081 551 51 51 ) and Partenope ( 081556 February 02 ).

The minimum amount for a race is € 4.75Including 3€ 10care. The list of extras is impressive:€ 0.95 to call a radio taxi € 2.10 Sundays and holidays, € 2.40 between 22h and 7h € 2.95 for a run to the airport and € 0.60by luggage in the trunk. Guide dogs and wheelchairs will be carried free. for fixed rates to / from the airport.

If the driver claims that his meter does not work, insist he starts.

The official rates for main routes to / from the airport are indicated.

Train

The Ferrovia Cumana et la Circumflegrea ( 800 00 16 16  ; www.sepsa.it ), basées à la Stazione Cumana Montesanto (cards) sur la Piazza Montesanto, à 500 m au sud-ouest de la Piazza Dante, desservent Pouzzoles (Pozzuoli ,€ 1.10Every 25 min) and Cuma (€ 1.10, 6 / day).

The Circumvesuviana (cards, 081 772 24 44  ; www.vesuviana.it  ; Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi), au sud-ouest de la Stazione Centrale (suivez depuis les flèches the central hall of the main train station), dessert Sorrente (€ 3.301 hour 10) via Herculaneum (€ 1.80, 20 min), Pompeii (€ 2.40, 40 min) and some other cities of the coast. There are about forty departures each day of the week between 5am and 22:30; the service is reduced Sunday.

Tram

The two following tram lines can be useful:

• Tram # 1 It is part of the Central Station (Stazione Centrale), crosses the Piazza Garibaldi, downtown and along the waterfront to Piazza Vittoria.
• Tram No. 29 Of the Piazza Garibaldi in downtown along the Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Bike

It is dangerous to ride a bike in Naples where the traffic seems nonexistent. Not only do you risk at any time of hitting someone, nobody caring to cross the crosswalks, but motorists drive fast, phone and driving and red lights. In addition, theft of bicycles or motorcycles are common.

Location

Rent a bike quite expensive in Naples (from € 20/ Day), so if you plan to stay a while, it is probably more economical to buy a bicycle. Take your bike on the Amalfi coast is not clear: beware of blind corners.

Car and motorcycle

It takes a lot of courage to drive to Naples. It rarely exceeds the speed of a pedestrian and parking is a nightmare. A scooter is faster and easier to park, but his driving is more dangerous.

However, if you drive, get used to cars that stick to the bumper and pay attention to what is before you, not behind. Also watch scooters give way to pedestrians, and tackle intersections and traffic lights with caution. Above all, stay calm.

Officially, much of the city center is closed to traffic for non-residents for most of the day. Restrictions are in force in the historic center, the area around the Piazza del Municipio and Via Toledo, and Chiaia around Martiri Square. They are variable but generally apply from 8 am to 18:30 sometimes later. On Sunday morning, the vehicles are often completely prohibited. For details, visit www.comunie.napoli.it (in Italian).

Outside Naples, the car found its usefulness, but be aware that the road along the Amalfi Coast offers some strong emotions buses negotiate hairpin turns at top speed and Italians doubles whatever is on their way. On the islands - Capri, Ischia and Procida - rent a scooter is the perfect solution.

Naples is located on the far north-south axis of the country, the Autostrada del Sole A1 to Rome and Milan in the north and A3 to Salerno and Reggio di Calabria in the south. The A30 bypasses Naples from the north-east and the A16 goes to Bari.

Approaching the city, the highway meets Tangenziale di Napoli, which surrounds the city from the north. On this device are grafted to the A1 and A2 Rome airport Capodichino East, then it continues to Campi Flegrei and Pozzuoli, on the west.

In Naples, get ready for big traffic jams, especially at times of offices and lunch. Identify large panels as uscita (output) and raccordo (device).

Fuel and spare parts

There are gas stations open 24/24 on highways. In smaller cities, they usually operate from 7am to 19h from Monday to Saturday, with a break at noon. During our visit, the benzina senza piombo (unleaded) and diesel (diesel) respectively 1.275 and costing€ 1.125/ Liter.

Increasingly stations operate in self-service. It's very simple: type the number of the pump, the desired amount, then enter the corresponding ticket (5, 10, 20 or 50 €).

In case of mechanical problems, the nearest service station should be able to recommend a reliable mechanic. If you have a serious problem with a rental car, your agency will certainly service emergency troubleshooting with a free phone number.

Club automobile

The Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI; 081 725 38 11  ; www.aci.it  , Piazzale Tecchio 49 / D) is the best source of automotive information. It provides a breakdown service ( 80 31 16 ) Operating 24/24.

Location

Major rental companies are all present in Naples.

• Avis (cards; 081 28 40 41  ; www.avisautonoleggio.it  ; Corso Novara 5 et aéroport Capodichino)
• Europcar ( 081 780 56 43  ; www.europcar.it  ; Aéroport Capodichino)
• Hertz (cards; 081 20 62 28  ; www.hertz.it  ; Via Giuseppe Ricciardi 5, aéroport Capodichino et Mergellina)
• Maggiore (cards; 081 28 78 58  ; www.maggiore.it  ; Stazione Centrale et aéroport Capodichino)
• Rent Sprint (card, 081764 13 33  ; Via Santa Lucia 36). Scooters only.

You will also find a multitude of locations in Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast (see the relevant chapters).

An entry-level model will cost about € 60 per day, and € 35for a scooter. Try if possible to rent your car in advance to take advantage of cheaper rates. Similarly, airport agencies are rather more expensive than the downtown branch.

To rent a car you must be over 21 years (25 years for some big guns) and have a credit card. Before you sign, be sure you know what is covered by the lease (insurance, unlimited mileage, gasoline, etc.). Additional insurance against theft and damage in case of accident cost at least€ 30 per day (without these supplements, plan a franchise € 1,700 Theft and € 1,000for damage). Be aware that some Italian agencies (including the airport of Rome) do not offer coverage theft and damage if you plan to go to Naples.

In case of accident, do not forget that the police report must be attached to the statement and sent usually within 10 days of the incident.

Parking

Parking in Naples is not a cakewalk. The blue lines that run along the floor indicate that parking is not free. Tickets can be bought at tobacco shops or parking meters; rates range from 1.50 to€ 2time. Also, parking is often governed by illegal guards who are expecting1 or 2 €in exchange for their supervision. You run less risk to pay this penny that stick to principles. To the west of the city center, there is parking available 24/24 on the Via Brin (€ 1.30 the first 4 hours and € 7.20for 24 hours). Fines for illegally parked are expensive; if you have a rental car, be careful because the agency may use your credit card to pay the fines.

In the area, parking is also problematic, especially in the major beach resorts of the Amalfi Coast, and especially in August.

Tour packages

Some agencies offer tours departing from France:

• Clio (www.clio.fr)
• Donatello (www.donatello.fr)

Addresses for those who want to Naples and the Amalfi Coast walk:

• Allibert ( www.allibert-trekking.com )
• Adventure Land ( www.terdav.com )
• Chemins du Sud ( www.cheminsdusud.com )