Naples hop-on hop-off bus: routes, prices and how to use it well

How the Naples hop-on hop-off bus works

The service is run by City Sightseeing Napoli, the Naples franchise of the red double-decker brand found in many cities. The standard ticket is valid for 24 hours on two routes, both starting from Largo Castello in Piazza Municipio: while it is valid you can get on and off as often as you like at the stops along the way.

On board there is commentary in eight languages, Wi-Fi and a host; the free “Sightseeing Experience” app shows where the buses are in real time, which saves you waiting at a stop with no idea how long it will be. Unofficial sources put departures at about every 30 minutes, roughly from 9:30am to 5:30pm, but times vary with the season, so check them on the official site before heading out.

Tips for making the most of it

• Start from Stop 1 in Piazza Municipio: if you are arriving from the islands at Molo Beverello, it is a short walk away.
• Download the app before you board, so at intermediate stops you know when the next bus is due.
• If you can, avoid rush hour, when congestion stretches the loops.
• Keep a contactless card handy for the metro and funiculars: the Vomero and San Martino are off both routes.
• If you are travelling as a group, contact the operator first, as seats cannot be reserved.

Route A “Places of the Art”: the historic centre

This is the historic route, a loop of about 45 minutes past places where many walking visits begin. Stops listed by local sources include Piazza Municipio, Gesù Nuovo, Piazza Dante, the National Archaeological Museum, Porta San Gennaro, Garibaldi station, Corso Umberto I and Piazza Bovio by the University. The list can change, so check the latest map on the official site.

Route A works best as a “shuttle with commentary” between the port, the MANN and the edges of the old town. The heart of the historic centre, with its ancient streets, Spaccanapoli and the Spanish Quarter, still has to be explored on foot: the lanes are far too narrow for a double-decker.

Route B “Views of the Gulf”: seafront and Posillipo

This is the panoramic route, a loop of about 70 minutes and, for many people, the reason to buy the ticket. According to local sources it runs via Piazza Vittoria, Viale Dohrn, Mergellina, Capo Posillipo, Posillipo and Parco Virgiliano, then returns via Via Petrarca and the Chiatamone to the Stazione Marittima.

From the top deck on the Posillipo hill you look out over the bay, Vesuvius and the islands. This is where the bus earns its keep. Sit on the sea side and, if you want a break, get off at Parco Virgiliano for the viewpoint and catch the next bus. The seafront and Castel dell’Ovo stretch, on the other hand, is better enjoyed on foot.

Hop-on hop-off bus prices and where to buy

On the official site the 24-hour ticket starts at €27, with 10% off if you book online at least 15 days ahead. Tiqets and GetYourGuide sell the same ticket at the same starting price of €27: it is rated 4.3 from 416 reviews on Tiqets and 4.3 from 6,139 on GetYourGuide. On Tripadvisor, City Sightseeing Napoli has more than 700 reviews. Check child and family fares on the official site, as the prices quoted on blogs are out of date.

Which to choose? If you are booking more than two weeks ahead, the official site is the cheapest. If you decide at the last minute, the price is identical, so use whichever platform already holds your other tickets and check the cancellation terms before paying. We are an independent guide: if you book through the Tiqets or GetYourGuide links on this page we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. For more on the company behind the service, read our City Sightseeing Napoli review.

The good and the bad: what passengers say

Reviews are consistent. People like the views, especially on Route B, the chances to photograph the bay and the easy, stress-free way of seeing the main sights, which counts for a lot in the heat or with small children. The complaints are about congestion (one loop scheduled for an hour took an hour and three quarters at rush hour), some dirty streets seen from above, and a feeling for some that hopping on and off is less practical than it sounds, since there can be half an hour between buses.

• Pros: a quick overview of the city, Posillipo without the climb, commentary in eight languages, a convenient start by the port.
• Cons: slow at rush hour, the historic centre seen only from its edges, no guaranteed seat.

Hop-on hop-off or public transport: planning your day

If you just need to get around, public transport is far cheaper: the €4.50 ANM day ticket, or tapping a contactless card, covers the metro and funiculars all day. Metro Line 1 takes you to the MANN (Museo station) and the Centrale funicular climbs to the Vomero from Via Toledo; it is all in our guide to getting around Naples.

The Naples hop-on hop-off bus makes sense on your first day, to get your bearings, or for a scenic afternoon. One idea: start the morning on Route B for the views, get off at Piazza Municipio for the Royal Palace and Via Toledo and the Galleria Umberto, then take Route A to the MANN in the afternoon. For more ideas see things to do in Naples or all tickets.