San Gennaro Catacombs in Naples Tickets and Tours

In addition to everything we can see on the streets of Naples, the city hides a treasure that few know about: its underground. Various tours of underground Naples aim to show these attractions to the public so that they can discover the cultural and historical wealth it holds.

A good example is the Rione Sanità district, where one of the most evocative places in Naples is hidden: the Catacombs of San Gennaro, the final resting place of illustrious personalities and ordinary people. If you are looking for things to see and do in Naples, don't miss this visit.

The best option

Naples San Gennaro Catacombs Guided Tour

Explore the oldest catacombs in Naples with a local guide

Embark on a fascinating guided tour of the Catacombs of San Genaro, discover their ancient history and access other unique places with your combined ticket.

From €15 at Hellotickets

With this guided tour of the Catacombs of San Gennaro in Naples, you will enter one of the most emblematic underground spaces in southern Italy. Accompanied by an expert local guide, you will discover the secrets hidden in these impressive galleries carved out of volcanic rock.

For about 50 minutes, you will explore the Catacombs of San Gennaro, where art, religion and history have been intertwined since the early centuries of Christianity. The guide will explain the importance of this sacred place, its architecture and the symbols that decorate its walls.

Your ticket also includes access to the Catacombs of San Gaudioso and the Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità, which you can visit at another time within the following 12 months. You will also enjoy reduced admission to the Cloister of Santa Chiara, a jewel of Neapolitan Gothic architecture.

A unique opportunity to explore the underground of Naples and understand its history from a less conventional but deeply revealing angle.

Recommended if... you are passionate about ancient history and archaeology or want to discover the most mysterious and spiritual side of Naples in the company of a specialised guide.

The Catacombs of San Gennaro are an extensive underground complex located in the heart of Naples, considered one of the oldest and most significant sites of Christianity in southern Italy. Carved into volcanic rock in the 2nd century AD, these galleries served as a place of burial and worship, and still preserve frescoes, crypts and remains of early Christian art that tell centuries of history and spirituality.

The tour begins with a guided tour of approximately 50 minutes through the Catacombs of San Gennaro, one of the most important early Christian sites in southern Italy. With this guided tour of the Catacombs of San Gennaro in Naples, an expert local guide will accompany you to discover the best-preserved frescoes, the vast galleries carved out of volcanic rock and the origins of this sacred place.

It is highly recommended to opt for the guided tour rather than purchasing tickets on your own, as the guide's interpretation is key to understanding the symbolism, historical context and spiritual significance of these catacombs.

In addition, the same ticket will grant you access to other monuments such as the Catacombs of San Gaudioso and the Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità, and you will even enjoy a special discount for the Cloister of Santa Chiara.

Booking a guided tour of the Catacombs of San Gennaro not only guarantees you access to one of the most fascinating historical sites in Naples, but also allows you to enjoy a more complete and enriching experience. Thanks to the company of an expert local guide and the inclusion of other unique sites, it is a convenient, accessible and highly recommended option compared to visiting on your own.

Why choose a guided tour?

• Access with an expert local guide who explains the historical and artistic context
• Narrated tour of the Catacombs of San Gennaro (50 minutes)
• Includes admission to the Catacombs of San Gaudioso and the Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità (valid for 12 months)
• Reduced admission to the Cloister of Santa Chiara
• Affordable price for everything included
• Advance online booking with immediate confirmation
• Choose your preferred language, date and time

It depends on your age. The list below shows the available options:

• Standard admission: £9
• Students: £6 (you must show your university ID)
• Over 65: £6
• Under 18: £5
• Children under 6: free

Please note that for around €15(only £4 more than standard admission), you can enjoy a complete guided tour that will take you through the key points of these extensive catacombs, helping you to understand their great historical significance without missing a single detail.

The catacombs are open every day of the year except 25 December. You can visit them from 10:00 to 17:00, with last admission at 17:00.

If you want to avoid the queues, I recommend going at 10:00 or lunchtime. Please note that the latter time slot is approximately from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

If you want to buy your tickets on the day of your visit, you can go to the ticket office located at Via Capodimonte 13.

Here you will find the Basilica of Buon Consiglio, a church reminiscent of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It is not known as "la piccola San Pietro" (little St. Peter's) for nothing.

If you travel in spring, after visiting the caves of the Rione Sanità, you can enjoy the sunshine in the Real Bosco di Capodimonte, a 134-hectare public park. By the way, if you like nature, you must visit Vesuvius, the volcano of Pompeii.

Yes, the caves of the Rione Sanità are included in The Naples Pass tourist card, along with other attractions in the city and the region. When you purchase the card, you can choose between three options - Light, Campania Museum and WHOLE Campania - which give you access to the main monuments and attractions.

The most comprehensive option includes access to the Royal Palace of Caserta, tickets to Pompeii and even discounts at bars and restaurants. By the way, if you're interested in the culinary side of the city, I recommend reading the post on the best food tours in Naples.

Are the catacombs accessible for wheelchairs?

Yes, the catacombs are also accessible for people with reduced mobility. In this case, you must book in advance. Please note that you should not go to the main entrance, but to the entrance located at Vicoletto San Gennaro dei Poveri 22.

The Catacombs of San Gennaro are located at Via Capodimonte 13, just below the Basilica dell'Incoronata Madre del Buon Consiglio and a few minutes' walk from the Capodimonte Museum.

The closest means of transport is the bus. You can take lines 168, 178, 204 or C63 and get off at the Capodimonte - Basilica dell'Incoronata stop. For more information, I recommend checking the official website of the local transport company.

Children usually enjoy underground tours, and the catacombs of the Neapolitan saint are no exception.

Beneath the streets and squares lies a city beneath the city that you can explore with your children. In addition, the city council sometimes organises workshops for the little ones.

If you would like to learn more about this topic, I recommend taking a look at the article on visits to underground Naples.

In general, entering the bowels of the earth is always fascinating. Especially when each room is lit by an LED system that creates a very evocative atmosphere. Before booking, you should know that this large underground space is divided into three parts:

• The Tomb of San Gennaro, which occupies part of the upper area and was only discovered in 1973
• Upper Catacombs, the eternal resting place of the Bishops. In this setting, you can admire some of the earliest Christian paintings in southern Italy. Among the most famous are the oldest portrait of San Gennaro, a decoration dedicated to St. Peter, and the fresco depicting the family of Theotecnus.
• Lower Catacombs. This is the oldest part and surrounds the underground basilica of Saint Agrippino, the first patron saint of Naples.

Who was Saint Januarius?

Gennaro was born in the Campania region in the second half of the 3rd century and was later elected bishop of Benevento. He probably died during the reign of Diocletian, who had him beheaded for refusing to renounce the Catholic religion. He was also loved by pagans and remains very popular today.

According to tradition, during the transport of the relics, a woman gave the bishop of Naples two small jars containing the martyr's blood, and every year the miracle of the blood is repeated three times.

In other words, the plasma of Saint Gennaro melts and returns to a liquid consistency.

You can see this strange phenomenon if you travel to Naples at Christmas (16 December), on the first Saturday in May and on 19 September. The ritual takes place in the Duomo, the city's main church.

Most visitors do not usually feel claustrophobic. Unlike other catacombs, those of San Gennaro are much larger and arranged on two floors.

In some rooms, the vault is 6 metres high. It also has an effective LED lighting system.

If you don't want to take any risks, there are thousands of other options to choose from. One of the most popular attractions is the Archaeological Museum of Naples, which houses an unrivalled collection of ancient art. Another highlight is the Sansevero Chapel and a visit to its Veiled Christ.

To complete the article, here are a few tips to help you organise your visit:

• Visits to the catacombs are very busy, so it is always best to book in advance.
• If you don't, you can arrive a little before opening time to buy tickets at the ticket office at Via Capodimonte 13. It opens at 9:30 a.m. and there is usually a queue.
• Even if you visit Naples in summer, bear in mind that the temperature is not the same as outside. It usually fluctuates between 15° and 22°, so I suggest you put a sweatshirt or jumper in your backpack
• Occasionally, night tours are organised on Saturdays and Sundays. The ticket includes an aperitif with beer and taralli, a type of savoury breadstick typical of southern Italy. The price is usually around €50.
• You can take photos but without flash.