Last night when we came back, we decided to leave as early as possible so we could have a couple of hours in Napoli. In an hour, we were ready, packed, and out of the hotel after breakfast. We aimed to catch the 8:14 train and reached the station by 7:55.
We weren’t sure about the lines — yesterday’s experience was still fresh in our minds. The station was about an 8–10 minute walk from the hotel. The ticket line wasn’t bad, and the train was already on the platform. It was full, but people weren’t standing yet.
A lot of the crowd was going to Pompeii, the ancient Roman city halfway to Napoli. At exactly 8:12 AM, the doors shut and the train left right on time. Within the next few stations, it got packed, and after about 40 minutes, half the passengers got off at Pompeii station.
The train reached Napoli right on time. The station is huge, with multiple floors and platforms — regional trains, local lines, and long-distance routes all on different levels. One thing to remember: Napoli Centrale is not the last station for trains coming from the Amalfi Coast; it’s the second to last, so be careful not to miss your stop!
We found the place to deposit our bags — they charged €6 for four hours and €1 for every extra hour. It’s the same company that runs luggage storage in every major station in Italy.
We decided to walk to Piazza Dante, a good 30-minute walk that turned out to be quite interesting. There were lots of people out and about on a Monday morning, with small restaurants and cafΓ©s serving commuters. Surprisingly, I saw a lot of bookstores lined up along the street.
Food seemed cheaper in Napoli than in Milan, Florence, or the Amalfi Coast — there’s something for everyone here. We walked along Via Toledo, one of the most popular streets in Napoli, all the way to Piazza del Plebiscito. The marina was nearby, and we could see a few ships docked.
We hung out in the area for a bit. I had a fabulous cappuccino and lemon cake before heading to try the famous Neapolitan pizza. I ordered meatballs and instantly missed my husband’s — his are unbeatable! I definitely won’t miss the Italian version.
From the Piazza, we took the M1 Metro line back to the central station, arriving just in time to pick up our bags. Our train was 30 minutes late, but that gave us a little breather. One thing to note — always keep at least 30 minutes in hand to navigate the station and collect your things.
We got the window seat :) on the water side
Piazza del Plebiscito
