Look, Capodichino is not a big airport. It's not complicated. But getting from there to wherever you're staying in Naples can range from simple to mildly chaotic, depending on the time of day, your luggage situation, and how much patience you brought with you from home.
I've been making this trip for over a decade now. First as a visitor — every summer, every Christmas, dragged here by my grandmother's gravitational pull from Quartieri Spagnoli. Then as a resident, two years ago, when I finally stopped pretending Brooklyn was where my stomach wanted to be. Allora, I know this route. I know what works, what's overpriced, and what will leave you standing on a kerb outside the terminal wondering what went wrong.
In This Article
Capodichino Airport — Quick Orientation
Naples International Airport (NAP) sits about 6 km northeast of the city centre, in the Capodichino neighbourhood. One terminal. One arrivals hall. You walk out, and if the sky is clear, Vesuvius is staring at you across the rooftops. It's a small airport by European standards — not much to get confused about.
The transport options are all accessible from the same area outside the arrivals exit. Bus stop to your left, taxi rank to your right, and the pickup zone for private transfers is just past the taxi area. No shuttle trains, no people movers. You walk outside and you're already choosing.
The Alibus — €5 and It Gets You There
The Alibus is the public bus that runs between Capodichino and the city centre. It costs €5 for a one-way ticket. You can buy it from the tobacco shop inside arrivals, from the driver (exact change helps), or through the ANM website. The bus runs every 15–20 minutes during the day, less frequently after 11pm.
There are two stops that matter:
- Piazza Garibaldi — the main train station (Napoli Centrale). If you're connecting to trains, the Circumvesuviana, or staying anywhere near the centro storico, this is your stop. Takes about 15–20 minutes from the airport.
- Porto (Molo Beverello) — the ferry terminal. If you're heading straight to Capri, Ischia, or Procida, you can ride all the way here. Takes about 30 minutes depending on traffic.
The bus itself is fine. Air-conditioned, has space for luggage underneath, and it moves. Is it glamorous? No. It's a city bus. You get on, you sit down, you look out the window at Naples being Naples — double-parked Vespas, someone's nonna crossing the street without looking, a guy selling contraband cigarettes near the station. Boh, that's the city.
Marco's take:
The Alibus is what I use when I'm coming back from a quick trip and I've got nothing but a backpack. Five euros, no thinking. But if I've been flying for eight hours and I'm hauling a suitcase, standing at a bus stop is not my idea of a homecoming. Know your own limits.
Official Taxi — Fixed Rate (In Theory)
Naples has official fixed taxi rates from the airport. These are set by the city, posted on signs outside the terminal, and printed on a card the driver should have in the car. In theory.
The rates as of early 2026:
- To the historic centre / Piazza Garibaldi: €19 (fixed)
- To the waterfront / Lungomare: €23 (fixed)
- To Mergellina / Posillipo: €23 (fixed)
- To the port (Molo Beverello): €19 (fixed)
The taxi rank is right outside arrivals. You queue, you get in, you tell the driver where you're going, and the price is the price. Except — and I say this with love for this city — not always. I've had taxi drivers try to charge extra for luggage (not a real surcharge from the airport), take longer routes, or claim the fixed rate "doesn't apply" because of some imagined technicality.
Most drivers are fine. Genuinely. But if someone quotes you €35 to Piazza Garibaldi, just get out and get in the next cab. The fixed rates are your friend. Point at the sign if you need to.
I once had a taxi driver take Via Marina during rush hour. Took 40 minutes to go 6 km. We talked about his daughter's wedding the whole way. By the end he was showing me photos and I forgot to be annoyed.
Private Transfer — What I Actually Book Now
Allora, here's where I've landed after years of doing this. Private transfers. You book in advance, the driver is waiting outside arrivals with a sign, the price is fixed before you get on the plane, and there's no negotiating, no queueing, no wondering if the Alibus is running late because someone double-parked a Fiat Panda on Via Poggioreale.
A standard car from Capodichino to the historic centre runs about €25–40 depending on the service and time of day. To the Amalfi Coast (Positano, Ravello), you're looking at €100–140. Not cheap, but split between two or three people it starts to make sense, especially when the alternative is a train-bus-ferry combination that eats half your day.
These days I just book through a transfer service — fixed price, driver with a sign, zero guessing.
Where this really pays off: late-night arrivals (the Alibus gets thin after midnight), travelling with kids or heavy luggage, or heading somewhere outside the city centre where buses don't go. My parents flew in last September — my mother is not someone who does well with Naples traffic — and having a driver waiting made the difference between a good start and a meltdown at Piazza Garibaldi.
Marco's take:
I used to think private transfers were for tourists who didn't want to deal with the real city. Then I lived here and realised that dealing with the real city at midnight after a transatlantic flight is nobody's idea of fun. Dai, it's worth the extra ten euros. You're on holiday. Or in my case, just tired.
A Note on the Circumvesuviana
If your final destination is Sorrento, Pompeii, or Herculaneum, you might be thinking about the Circumvesuviana train. It runs from Napoli Centrale (under Piazza Garibaldi) down the coast. A ticket to Sorrento is about €4.20 and the journey takes roughly 70 minutes.
So the move would be: Alibus (€5) to Piazza Garibaldi, then Circumvesuviana to wherever you're going. Total cost under €10. The trade-off? Time. The Alibus plus walking to the Circumvesuviana platform plus waiting for the train plus the ride itself — you're looking at 2+ hours door to door for Sorrento. And the Circumvesuviana is, how do I put this diplomatically, not Italy's finest train experience. It's crowded, it's slow, and in summer it can feel like a mobile sauna with pickpockets.
It works, though. I've done it plenty of times. Just know what you're signing up for.
The Price Comparison
Here's what everything costs, laid out so you can stop scrolling and just pick one:
| Option | Price | Time to Centre | Late Night? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alibus | €5 | 15–20 min | Reduced after 23:00 |
| Official taxi | €19–23 (fixed) | 15–25 min | Yes, 24h |
| Private transfer | €25–40 | 15–25 min | Yes, 24h |
| Alibus + Circumvesuviana (to Sorrento) | ~€10 | 2–2.5 hours | Last train ~21:30 |
| Private transfer (to Sorrento) | €100–140 | 75–90 min | Yes, 24h |
Prices are as of early 2026. The Alibus fare has been €5 for as long as I can remember, but check the ANM site if you want to be sure.
What I'd Pick — Depends Who's Asking
Solo, light bag, daytime: Alibus. Five euros. You're at Piazza Garibaldi in 20 minutes. Walk to your hotel, buy a sfogliatella on the way, start your trip properly.
Couple or small group, normal luggage: Official taxi. The fixed rate to the centre is €19 — split that two ways and it's cheaper than most European airport rides. Just make sure you know the rate before you get in.
Late arrival, heavy bags, or heading to Amalfi Coast: Private transfer. Basta — just book one. You land, someone's there, you're in a car. No standing in taxi queues at midnight, no wrestling your suitcase onto a bus. The peace of mind is worth the markup.
Heading to Sorrento on a budget with time to spare: Alibus to Garibaldi, then Circumvesuviana. Bring headphones, guard your pockets, and enjoy the ride. The views along the coast are actually beautiful once you get past Torre del Greco.
What I avoid: The unofficial taxis inside the terminal (always), rental cars at Naples airport (unless you enjoy aggressive driving as a spectator sport turned participant), and anyone who tells you there's a "direct bus to Positano" from the airport. There isn't. Not really. Not one that works the way you're imagining.
Naples is a city that rewards people who know what to expect. The airport transfer is the first test — get it right and everything after is smoother. Get it wrong and you spend your first hour in a bad mood. Don't give this city a reason to test your patience before you've even tasted the pizza.