Naples Transportation

HERCULANEUM AND POMPEJI can easyly be reached by puplic railway. It runs regulary, with a fixed timetable. Napoli to station 'HERCULANEO' ca 20 min.
And another 20 minutes Herculaneo to 'POMPEJI'

Naples had a dirty feel to me so I guessed that it was a pretty industrial type of city. So, you can imagine how I felt (gritty and grimy) having disappointed myself by not getting to the museum, that I was delighted to see this shot at Naples Station. Handy gadget?

This stretch of highway is the throughfare in Napoli. It's much easier to take the "Tange" as we call it, than navigate through the city. Yes there is horrible traffic on the Tange at times, but at least you'll get there. Be careful, as people are very inconsiderate here, and will not hesitate to cut you off.
The sandard fare is always .65 cents euro. The tange starts where the A1 Autostrade meets with it in the east and slices through Naples west past Agnano.
Pay careful attention around the toll booths as drivers will do anything to jockey for position.

Napoli Centrale at Piazza Garibaldi is a madhouse. This is probably the one area you want to get out of fast due to the possibility of petty crime occurring. As a matter of fact, don't stay in the nearby market for long either, or someone will inevitably try and sell you something that is too good to be true, and is. (read my warnings and dangers)

Here is a useful link for basic station information. There is also a baggage deposit here, which you can use at your own risk.
http://www.napolipiazzagaribaldi.it/pagine.cfm?cont=m_5&lang=it

Driving in Naples, which as you know by now if you've read my other Naples tips, can be totally nerve racking. On top of dealing with the thousands of other cars and moped, you must be a speed reader to be able to deal with the overburdening amount of signs along the roads. This is a typical intersection in Naples. I've seen worse, but you can expect this, and whatever you do, don't pause to read them when a light is green. At least 2-3 other drivers will sound off with a horn symphony.

Whether or not any of the roads get better or not isn't the issue. What is a fact is that there always seems to be construction going on in the worst of places. This area is right in central Napoli, and causes big delays and detours. So, don't think that because you've mastered your map that things will go as planned. There will always be something to surprise you.

Parking in downtown is nothing less than hell on earth. As if just trying to find your way around isn't enough, you eventually have to park, or give up and take the trains and buses. The second option won't sound so bad after you attempt to park on occasion.

There is one parking lot in the Centro Storico district just behind Santa Chiara, but getting to it is an adventure in itself. Just follow the blue "P" signs if you are in this area, and eventually you'll get there. It's convenient for exploring the heart of Naples, but also costs 2 Euro per hour, or partial hour. Make sure and secure all valuables before leaving your car, and remember your wallet, as I almost forgot mine in the car while leaving it in the lot.

Parking in Napoli is one of the most difficult things you can do in a car. Finding a suitable spot it never easy, but when you do, the fun isn't over yet. You must ensure you are in a correct area for parking, and then if it's a pay area, you must purchase a scratch ticket to validate your time. These can be purchased at many shops around town. Try a Tabachi (Tobacco) shop or Cafe.