Is the Naples Pass Worth It?

The Campania Artecard – more commonly known as the “Naples Pass” allows for museum admissions and public transit in and around Naples, Italy. And of course, what everyone wants to know is – is the Campania Artecard worth it?

(And as a side note: throughout this post, “Campania Artecard” and “Naples Pass” will be used interchangeably and refer to the same thing.)

Naples has many attractions that are worth seeing, and there are numerous day trips from the city. You can easily spend a week exploring in and around Naples!

The Campania Artecard Overview

There are a variety of Campania Artecards available for purchase, but this post will focus on just three options. The 3-day Napoli pass; the 3-day whole region pass; and the 7-day whole region pass.

Each one allows for museum admissions and public transit. The key difference is that the whole region pass includes more attractions that are slightly further afield.

How Much Does the Naples Pass Cost?

The Napoli 3-Day Campania Artecard costs 21 euro for adults, and 12 euro for people 18-25.
The Whole Region 3-Day Campania Artecard costs 32 euro for adults, and 25 euro for people 18-25.
The Whole Region 3-Day Campania Artecard costs 34 euro for those over the age of 18.

The Key Details for the Naples Pass

The most important detail for whether or not the pass is worth is is how you use it. The Napoli only pass allows for free admission to the first three sites, and discounted admission after that. The Whole Region card allows for the first two sites to be free, and discounted after that.

This is critical because not all of the sites you can go with the card cost the same – being smart about the order in which you use the pass (most expensive attractions first) will help you get the best value from it.

This point can make it feel like a complex decision for whether or not you should buy it, but it generally will still even out to be a good purchase. (More on that soon!)

Which Attractions Are Included in the Napoli Campania Artecard?

The Napoli Artecard includes the following attractions in and around Naples. The entrance fees listed are current as of 2018, but can’t be guaranteed. When you see the “Artecard Fee,” it represents the entrance cost if you’ve already used your two or three free attractions with the card.

• Museo Pignatelli Cortes:* Full Entrance Fee: 5 Euro, Artecard Fee: 2.50 Euro
• Fondazione PLART – Plastiche e Arte: Full Entrance Fee: 8 Euro, Artecard Fee: 4 Euro
• Museo Duca di Martina:* Full Entrance Fee: 5 Euro, Artecard Fee: 2.50 Euro
• Certosa e Museo di San Martino: Full Entrance Fee: 6 Euro, Artecard Fee: 3 Euro
• Museo del Corallo Ascione: Full Entrance Fee: 5 Euro, Artecard Fee: 2.50 Euro
• MEMUS – Museo e Archivio Storico del Teatro di San Carlo: Full Entrance Fee: 6 Euro, Artecard Fee: 3 Euro
• Palazzo Reale di Napoli: Full Entrance Fee: 6 Euro, Artecard Fee: 3 Euro
• Museo civico di Castel Nuovo: Full Entrance Fee: 6 Euro, Artecard Fee: 3 Euro
• Complesso Monumentale di Santa Maria La Nova: Full Entrance Fee: 5 Euro, Artecard Fee: 3 Euro
• Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli: Full Entrance Fee: 12 Euro, Artecard Fee: 6 Euro
• Museo civico Gaetano Filangieri: Full Entrance Fee: 7 Euro, Artecard Fee: Free
• Pio Monte della Misericordia: Full Entrance Fee: 7 Euro, Artecard Fee: 4 Euro
• Museo Diocesano di Napoli: Full Entrance Fee: 6 Euro, Artecard Fee: 3 Euro
• MADRE – Museo d’arte contemporanea Donnaregina: Full Entrance Fee: 8 Euro, Artecard Fee: 4 Euro
• Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte: Full Entrance Fee: 12 Euro, Artecard Fee: 8 Euro

Which Attractions Are Included in the Full Region Campania Artecard?

The Full Region Artecard includes all of the attractions in the Napoli Artecard, plus the following (and more… check the Artecard site for the full list!):

• MAV – Museo Archeologico Virtuale: Full Entrance Fee: 10 Euro, Artecard Fee: 8 Euro
• Museo Archeologico dei Campi Flegrei nel Castello di Baia: Full Entrance Fee: 4 Euro, Artecard Fee: 2 Euro
• Circuito Ravello – Museo del Duomo di Ravello: Full Entrance Fee: 3 Euro, Artecard Fee: 11 Euro (Note the difference here is the Artecard option includes 5 total sites, including the church. The 3 Euro fee only includes the church)
• Museo Archeologico dell’Antica Capua:** Full Entrance Fee: 2.50 Euro, Artecard Fee: 1.25 Euro
• Museo dei Gladiatori:** Full Entrance Fee: 2.50 Euro, Artecard Fee: 1.25 Euro
• Reggia di Caserta:** Full Entrance Fee: 9 Euro, Artecard Fee: 4.50 Euro
• Museo del Mare di Napoli: Full Entrance Fee: 5 Euro, Artecard Fee: 4 Euro
• Scavi di Oplontis: Full Entrance Fee: 11 Euro, Artecard Fee: 5.5 Euro
• Real Belvedere San Leucio: Full Entrance Fee: 6 Euro, Artecard Fee: 3 Euro
• Scavi di Ercolano (Herculaneum): Full Entrance Fee: 11 Euro, Artecard Fee: 5.5 Euro
• Museo archeologico nazionale di Paestum: Full Entrance Fee: 7 Euro, Artecard Fee: 3.50 Euro
• Scavi di Pompeii: Full Entrance Fee: 11 Euro, Artecard Fee: 5.5 Euro

How Much Does the Naples Pass Really Save?

The savings can really add up. If you’re going to use public transit anyway, a daily ticket is 4.50 Euro, while a weekly one is 15.80 Euro. Public transit passes are not sold in a 3-day option outside of the Campania Artecard.

What Does the Naples Pass Not Cover?

The Naples Pass covers public transit within the region that you’ve selected – so if you choose the Napoli-only pass, then your public transit outside the city isn’t covered. If you pick the regional pass, then you can go to Casserta and other places on the Unico lines.

Neither Naples Pass includes the SITA busses that go along the Amalfi Coast. (Though both include the Circumvesuviana train that would take you to Sorrento.)

Bottom Line: Is the Campania Artecard Worth It?

If you’re going to stay in and around Naples for more than a day, it’s almost guaranteed to be a good buy. If you get the full region card, and see the Archaeological Museum, Pompeii, and Herculaneum, it’s already paid for itself. Add in the public transit being included, and it’s a deal that’s hard to beat.

The real key to getting your money’s worth out of the card is to make sure the first attractions you visit with it are the most expensive attractions. You can’t choose which are your “free” ones and which ones aren’t. It’s simply done by the first ones you visit are free, and then once you’re out of free attractions, you pay the reduced price.