Which catacombs to visit in Naples
1. Catacombs of San Gennaro
The paleo-Christian cemetery of Capodimonte, on two levels, with the Crypt of the Bishops, the three-nave underground basilica, mosaics, and the Basilica of Sant'Agrippino below. Wide galleries, an almost entirely flat route, about one hour of guided tour, available in Italian and English. This is the right choice if you only visit one: what you see underground.
2. Catacombs of San Gaudioso
Smaller, located beneath the Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità, at Via della Sanità 123. Forty-five minutes, with 5th–6th century frescoes and mosaics, and especially the 17th-century noble burials with walled-in skulls, which is what no one expects. Rated 4.7 by a smaller audience, with more intimate groups. The direct comparison is in San Gennaro or San Gaudioso.
3. Ipogeo dei Cristallini
This is not a catacomb: it consists of four Greek burial chambers from the 4th century BC, with Greek frescoes and Roman additions, twelve meters beneath Via dei Cristallini. You descend via stairs, with reduced lighting, in groups of up to ten people. Not allowed for children under eight. The published reviews are still few—nineteen: it’s a small site recently added to the platform, not a neglected place.
4. Underground Naples, in the historic center
This is not a catacomb either, and it’s the most common misconception. Beneath Via dei Tribunali lies the Greco-Roman aqueduct, with remains of the Roman theater and the Summa Cavea: an hour and a half or two, with very narrow passages in some sections. I discuss it in detail in the underground of Naples' historic center.
Anyone who books San Gennaro already has San Gaudioso included, and vice versa, for twelve months. This is the most frequently unused part: half a visit purchased but never completed. The ticket terms state this clearly.
How to choose in thirty seconds
If you only have one afternoon and want the most important thing, San Gennaro. If you’ve already seen San Gennaro, San Gaudioso, which is already included. If you dislike large groups, the Cristallini with its maximum of ten people, or the two-hour underground walk in the district: I’ve grouped them together in small-group visits. If you're looking for tunnels and aqueducts instead, then it's the historic center and not the catacombs, and the comparison can be found in which underground Naples to choose. All six visits are listed in all tours.
Most bookedCatacombs of San Gennaro: ticket and guided tour
The second catacombCatacombs of San Gaudioso: guided tour
Maximum 10 peopleIpogeo dei Cristallini: guided tour
The classic in the city centreUnderground Naples: ticket and guided tour
Start with the most important
If you have to choose one, this is it: two levels, flat galleries, and the ticket that also opens the second catacomb for twelve months.
Frequently asked questions
Which are the catacombs to visit in Naples?
San Gennaro and San Gaudioso: these are the two real catacombs, and the same ticket includes both for twelve months. The comparison is in San Gennaro or San Gaudioso.
Is the Underground Naples in the historic center a catacomb?
No: it's the Greco-Roman aqueduct beneath Via dei Tribunali, with the remains of the Roman theater. What changes is explained in which underground Naples to choose.
Which are the most beautiful catacombs in Naples?
It depends on what you're looking for: San Gennaro for its size and two levels, San Gaudioso for the seventeenth-century burials with embedded skulls. The San Gennaro route is described in what you see.
Can you see them all in one day?
Two, yes, at a relaxed pace. Four, no, also because each site has its own departure times, and the catacombs can only be visited with a guide, as explained in hours and tickets.