Europe > Italy > Naples (NAP)
The Car or no Car advice for Naples can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Naples ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Naples ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Naples?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.The historic centre is dense, chaotic, and endlessly fascinating. Narrow streets, heavy traffic, scooters everywhere 🛵, and limited parking make walking the most practical option. Major sights such as Spaccanapoli, the Duomo, Napoli Sotterranea, and countless churches and piazzas sit close together and reward exploration on foot. Naples is loud, intense, and alive — and far better experienced without a steering wheel.
🚇 Public transport and rail connections
Naples has a surprisingly strong public transport network 🚇. The metro lines are short but architecturally striking, with several stations often described as “art museums underground.” Funiculars climb the hills, while buses fill in the gaps.
More importantly, Naples is an excellent rail hub 🚄. High-speed trains reach Rome in just over an hour, making Naples an easy extension of a Rome-based trip. Regional trains and Circumvesuviana services connect the city with Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Sorrento, all without needing a car. Ferries from the port add access to Capri, Ischia, and Procida 🚤, further strengthening the no-car case.
🚗 When renting a car becomes useful
A rental car starts to make sense once you leave the city. Exploring the Amalfi Coast 🌊, inland Campania, or rural areas becomes far easier by road, especially if you want flexibility or plan to stop frequently. That said, coastal roads are narrow and busy, and buses, while crowded, often remove the stress of driving.
Many travellers choose to rent a car after Naples, rather than during their stay.
🚗 Conclusion: should you rent a car in Naples?
For Naples itself, no ❌ — walking, trains, and ferries are far better. However, if your plans include rural Campania or flexible coastal travel, a rental car can be useful once you move beyond the city.
