What the San Gennaro guided tour includes
A one-hour guided visit run by the local La Paranza cooperative — here’s what’s in the price.
Highlights
- Two levels of tufa-carved tombs — the largest in southern Italy
- Early-Christian and Byzantine frescoes, some from the 2nd century
- The crypt of the bishops and the oldest known portrait of San Gennaro
- The vast Basilica Adiecta and the lower Catacomb of San Gennaro
What’s included
- Timed entry ticket to the catacombs
- Live guide in English or Italian (about 60 minutes)
- Step-free, fully wheelchair-accessible route
- Free cancellation and instant confirmation when you book online
Where the San Gennaro tour goes
The guided walk follows a set route through the two underground levels — here’s what you see, in order.
A typical visit gathers beside the Madre del Buon Consiglio church on Via Capodimonte, then descends into San Gennaro Inferiore — the lower, older level — passing the Crypt of the Bishops with its 5th-century mosaics, the 2nd-century Adam and Eve fresco (one of the oldest Christian paintings in Naples), the tomb where San Gennaro was first buried, and the underground Basilica of Sant’Agrippino, before climbing to the upper level’s wide galleries of frescoed tombs.
- Madre del Buon Consiglio — The meeting point on Via Capodimonte, where the ticket office and the descent begin.
- San Gennaro Inferiore — The lower, older level, carved from the 2nd century into the soft tufa.
- Crypt of the Bishops — The Cripta dei Vescovi, with 5th-century mosaics and the early bishops’ tombs.
- Adam and Eve fresco — A 2nd-century painting — one of the oldest Christian images in the city.
- Basilica of Sant’Agrippino — A 4th-century underground church with altar, bishop’s chair and font cut from the rock.
- San Gennaro Superiore — The upper level’s broad galleries of frescoed and tufa-carved tombs.
The whole walk takes about an hour and is run by the local La Paranza social cooperative. From here the Miglio Sacro (“Holy Mile”) leads through the Rione Sanità to the second site, the Catacombs of San Gaudioso.
How booking works
Pick your ticket
San Gennaro alone, or the San Gaudioso combo — we help you choose.
Check live times
See real availability and prices, with English and Italian slots.
Book in seconds
Reserve now with free cancellation on most tickets.
Meet at Via Capodimonte
Arrive 15 minutes early at the ticket office below the basilica.
Book the Catacombs of San Gennaro tour
The one-hour guided tour is the safe choice for most visitors — check dates and book in a click.
Which Naples catacombs tour is right for you?
San Gennaro, the San Gaudioso combo, or wider underground Naples — here’s how they compare.
| Naples: San Gaudioso Catacombs Guided Tour | Most bookedNaples: Catacombs of San Gennaro Entry Ticket & Guided Tour | Naples: The Holy Mile (Miglio Sacro) 3-Hour Guided Tour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $15 | $15 | $22 |
| Duration | ~1 hr | ~1 hr | 3 hrs |
| What you see | San Gaudioso | San Gennaro | Sanità + catacomb |
| Best for | Combo visitors | First-timers | Deep dive |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.9 |
| View → | Book this → | View → |
Photo Gallery
Inside the Catacombs of San Gennaro
A few of the frescoes, tombs and tufa galleries you’ll see underground.
Naples catacombs & underground tours
From the flagship San Gennaro tour to the wider Sanità district — the tours worth your time.
Most bookedNaples: Catacombs of San Gennaro Entry Ticket & Guided Tour
San Gaudioso
Most reviewedNaples: Naples Underground Entry Ticket & Guided Tour
Rione SanitàNaples: The Holy Mile (Miglio Sacro) 3-Hour Guided Tour
PrivateNaples: Private Tour of the Sanità District & Catacombs
What visitors say about the catacombs tours
Reviews from travellers who booked the tours we feature.
Absolutely worth it. Our guide explained everything clearly and brought the frescoes to life — far more moving than I expected.
Stunning and so well preserved. The fact that it’s fully accessible meant my mum could come too. A real highlight of Naples.
We did the combo with San Gaudioso and it was the best decision — two completely different catacombs, one ticket.
The guide from the cooperative clearly loves the Sanità neighbourhood. You feel you’re supporting the community.
Cool, quiet and genuinely fascinating. Wear a sweater — it’s chilly down there even in summer.
Booked the private Sanità tour for our anniversary. Unforgettable, and we had the place almost to ourselves.
Ratings and reviews are the operators’ live GetYourGuide figures. Read our full tour reviews ›
Quick answers before you book
A few things worth knowing so you spend your time underground, not on logistics.
San Gennaro or San Gaudioso?
Start with the Catacombs of San Gennaro — it’s the larger, more spectacular site. To see both, the combo ticket is the best value.
How much does it cost?
Tickets start at around $15 for the guided tour. See the full breakdown on our cost page.
What should I wear?
It’s about 12–15°C underground year-round, so bring a sweater, and dress modestly — it’s a sacred site. More in the visit guide.
How do I get there?
The entrance is on Via Capodimonte, beside the Basilica del Buon Consiglio in Rione Sanità. See how to get there.
Can’t make these dates?
Browse more available Catacombs of San Gennaro tours and find one that fits your schedule — all with instant confirmation and free cancellation.
The Catacombs of San Gennaro, explained
There’s a moment underground — when the guide’s torch catches a 1,700-year-old face painted on the tufa, and you realise you’re standing in the cemetery of early Christian Naples — that no guidebook prepares you for. The Catacombs of San Gennaro are the grandest and most surprising of Naples’ underground sites, and visiting them well takes almost no planning. Here’s what’s worth knowing first.
What the Catacombs of San Gennaro actually are
They are the largest early-Christian catacombs in southern Italy: two stacked levels of tombs, corridors and underground basilicas carved into the soft volcanic tufa beneath the Capodimonte hill. They began as a small 2nd-century burial ground and grew enormously after the body of San Gennaro — Naples’ patron saint — was brought here in the 5th century, turning the site into a place of pilgrimage. Unlike the narrow tunnels people picture, these are wide, high, surprisingly bright galleries.
What you see on the tour
Visits are by one-hour guided tour only, and the storytelling is the point. You’ll see early-Christian and Byzantine frescoes, the crypt of the Naples bishops, and the oldest known portrait of San Gennaro, painted within a century of his death. The guides come from La Paranza, the local youth cooperative whose work pulled the whole Sanità neighbourhood back from neglect — so your ticket does more than buy a walk.
San Gennaro, San Gaudioso, or both?
Most visitors start with San Gennaro and many add the Catacombs of San Gaudioso on the combo ticket. The two are a deliberate contrast: San Gennaro is grand and frescoed; San Gaudioso, under the Sanità basilica, is smaller and macabre, famous for its 17th-century “draining seats” and skull-and-fresco burials. Because the combo stays valid for 12 months, you can split them across two days.
What to wear and how it feels
It’s a steady 12–15°C underground whatever the season, so bring a light sweater — this also makes the catacombs a perfect refuge on a rainy day or in a heatwave. Dress modestly, as it remains a sacred site, and wear flat, comfortable shoes for the tufa floor. Crucially, the whole route is step-free and fully wheelchair accessible — the only catacombs of their kind in the world that can claim it — so the visit suits older travellers and families too.
Getting there and when to go
The entrance is at Via Capodimonte 13, beside the Basilica del Buon Consiglio in the Rione Sanità. Take the metro to Museo, then a short bus or taxi up the hill, or walk the scenic 30 minutes from the centro storico. Tours run daily, roughly hourly; morning slots are calmest and the English-language times go first, so book a day or two ahead in peak season.
The bottom line
If you do one underground site in Naples, make it the Catacombs of San Gennaro — it’s the most spectacular, the most accessible, and the most meaningful, with a ticket that supports the neighbourhood above it. Add San Gaudioso if you have a spare hour, book a morning slot, bring a sweater, and let the guide do the rest.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Catacombs of San Gennaro?
They are the largest early-Christian burial complex in southern Italy — two levels of tombs, basilicas and frescoes carved into the soft tufa beneath Naples’ Capodimonte hill, dating from the 2nd century. They are visited on a one-hour guided tour run by the local La Paranza cooperative.
How much do Catacombs of San Gennaro tickets cost?
Guided-tour tickets start at around $15 per person, with a combo ticket that also includes the Catacombs of San Gaudioso. See the full breakdown on our ticket cost page.
How long does the Catacombs of San Gennaro tour take?
The guided tour lasts about one hour. If you add the San Gaudioso combo, allow roughly two hours in total plus the short walk between sites.
Are the Catacombs of San Gennaro wheelchair accessible?
Yes — uniquely, they are the only catacombs of their kind in the world that are fully wheelchair accessible, with a step-free route throughout. More in the visit guide.
Where is the blood of San Gennaro kept?
The famous ampoules of San Gennaro’s blood are not in the catacombs — they are kept at Naples Cathedral (the Duomo), where the blood is brought out for the liquefaction several times a year. The catacombs hold his early burial site and the oldest known portrait of him.
What should I wear and bring?
It stays a cool 12–15°C underground year-round, so bring a light sweater, and dress modestly as it is a sacred site. Comfortable shoes and your booking confirmation are all you need — see opening hours before you go.