Campania Artecard review: Is the Naples tourist card worth it?

If you’re planning a trip to Naples, the Campania Artecard could be a great way to save money while seeing Naples and the Campania region’s amazing sights – but is it right for you?

The Artecard is a Naples tourist card, giving you free entry to a range of Naples attractions, plus, depending on which version of the card you choose, free access to some of the top sights in the area, including Pompeii and Herculaneum. But there are some major watch-outs and things to be aware of before you buy.

In this post I’ll describe each version of the Artecard, tell you what it includes in 2026 and give my verdict on whether the Artecard is worth it. I’ll also cover some of the other passes that are available for the Naples area. You can compare all the Artecards by using my Google Sheet.

A quick heads-up: I’ve done my absolute best to make this guide as accurate as possible for 2026 by cross-referencing official sources. However, the Artecard website itself is inconsistent and they can (and do!) change which sites are included or how transport works without much notice. This guide is for information purposes only; please treat it as a helpful starting point rather than a final guarantee.

Based on my experience, the best value Campania Artecard to buy in 2026 is the 365 Lite. It’s the cheapest version of the card but packs in an impressive 10 attractions in Naples, plus Pompeii, Herculaneum and more. The rules for using it are simpler than the 3 or 7 day cards, and it’s half the price of the more comprehensive 365 Gold pass. Skip to read my experience of using the 365 Lite pass.

How does the Artecard work?

There are five versions of the Artecard:

• Napoli Artecard 3 days
• Campania Artecard 3 days
• Campania Artecard 7 days
• 365 Lite
• 365 Gold

The Napoli Artecard or Campania Artecard are now digital cards which you’ll either use as a PDF or through a mobile app. There are a few places in Naples where you can buy the pass in person and get help activating it but the physical version of the card has been phased out.

The 3 and 7 day versions of the cards allow a small number of free visits to places on the list of included attractions, then a discount on the subsequent visits.

So for example, the Napoli Artecard has a list of 19 sights that you can visit. You’ll get in free to the first 3 attractions, then you’ll get a discount on any museums or attractions that you visit after that. To make the most of your Naples Artecard, you’ll want to make sure that you visit the most expensive sights first.

The 365 Lite and 365 Gold cards work differently. With these cards, each site on the list can be visited once with the 365 Lite card and twice with the Gold card.

Whichever card you choose, you’ll need to activate it at the first attraction you visit. The card will expire either 3 days, 5 days or 1 year after the first activation, depending on which version you’ve bought.

At many attractions you’ll be able to skip the line, regardless of whether you’re planning to use one of your free entries or if you’re claiming a discount.

What’s included in the Naples and Campania Artecards?

The full list of attractions included in each version of the Artecard can be seen on the official website, but it’s really difficult to make a comparison between them, especially as the attraction names aren’t consistent or in the same order on each list. I love a spreadsheet so I’ve put together a Google Sheet where you can compare what’s included in each one.

There are a few Naples attractions which are included in every version of the card. The National Archaeological Museum of Naples (regular ticket price €22 per person), Royal Palace of Naples (regular ticket price €15) and Castel Sant’Elmo (regular ticket price €5) are all included.

Public transport

The Napoli Artecard and the Campania 3 Day Artecard include public transport, which can seem like an attractive option. In reality, there are lots of reports of the mobile app which contains your Artecard being difficult to use on public transport, particularly on the Naples Metro where there’s no mobile signal underground.

It’s also worth flagging that the transport is technically restricted just to journeys to and from Artecard sites during opening hours only; it’s not meant to be a general transport pass for your stay.

Public transport in and around Naples is relatively cheap, so I’m not convinced that the extra hassle of trying to use the app is worth it. Tapping in with your bank card is increasingly common, and many of the sights you’ll want to see on your trip to Naples are close together anyway.

As of 2026, the Alibus airport bus and SITA Sud lines (Sorrento–Positano–Amalfi–Ravello) are not included in any Artecard. The Campania Express air-conditioned tourist train to Pompeii is also not included in any Artecard.

Circuits

The Campania and 365 Artecards include “circuits”, which are sets of attractions located close to each other. If you want to visit more than one site in the circuit then they can count as a single use of the free entry, as long as you visit both in a single day.

It’s a nice idea, but the circuits tend to be smaller, less-visited sites that probably wouldn’t be a priority for a short visit, for example the Roman ruins around Campi Flegrei.

What’s not included in the Artecards?

There are some big attractions in and around Naples which aren’t included for free in any versions of the Artecard.

None of the underground Naples attractions are included, so you’ll need to buy separate tickets if you want to visit the Bourbon Tunnels or Underground Naples (although the Bourbon Tunnels, the Catacombs of San Gennaro and San Gaudioso do offer a discount for Artecard holders).

The Sansevero Chapel (home of the Veiled Christ statue) is also not included in any version of the Artecard. It sells out weeks in advance so you should book online or book a guided tour.

While visiting Pompeii and Herculaneum is included in everything apart from the Napoli Artecard, none of the cards include entry to the peak of Mount Vesuvius.

At Pompeii, the Napoli Artecard isn’t valid, and only the ancient city is specifically included (the equivalent of a Pompeii Express ticket) in other tickets. If you want to visit the Villa of the Mysteries, you can pay an extra €8 fee at the ticket gate.

Napoli Artecard

Cost: €27
Valid for: 3 days
Includes: Public transport, free access to 3 sites from a list of 20 museums and other attractions in and around Naples city centre. Discounts of up to 50% on the others.
Does not include: Access to attractions outside Naples, for example Pompeii

Verdict

The Napoli Artecard is the cheapest Artecard to include public transport and includes access to a long list of attractions in Naples, including the National Archaeological Museum, Castel Sant’Elmo and the Royal Palace of Naples.

It doesn’t include free access to any of Naples’ underground attractions, but you can get a discount on tickets to the Catacombs of Naples (San Gennaro and San Gaudioso) and the Bourbon Gallery. It also doesn’t include access to the archaeological parks outside the city, so it’s not the right pass for you if you want to visit Pompeii or Herculaneum.

Campania Artecard 3 Days

Cost: €41
Valid for: 3 days
Includes: Public transport and free visits to 2 sites, from a list of over 50 attractions. Discounts of up to 50% on the others. Some visits can be combined on the same day to get the maximum value out of the card when they’re part of the same “circuit” and you visit them on the same day.

Verdict

The Campania Artecard 3 days includes a lot of attractions, but the limit of 2 free visits really reduces the value for money that you’ll get from its €41 price tag. For a little over half the price of this card you could get far more free visits to the most popular attractions with a 365 Lite Artecard.

It’s nice that public transport is included but on a 3 day visit you’re unlikely to get the full value out of that aspect of the card.

Campania Artecard 7 Days

Cost: €43
Valid for: 7 days
Includes: 5 free visits from a list of 57 attractions, with a discount of up to 50% on others. Some visits can be combined on the same day to get the maximum value out of the card when they’re part of the same “circuit” and you visit them on the same day.
Does not include: Public transport

Verdict

As well as the extra 4 days and a few extra attractions, the biggest difference between the 3 Day and 7 Day versions of the Campania Artecard is that the 7 Day version does not include public transport.

With the 7 Day Campania Artecard priced at €43, it’s worth considering either the 365 Gold Pass or the 365 Lite Pass as alternatives. My view is that the 7 Day Campania Artecard is only really worth it over the 365 passes if you intend to make the most of the extra attractions in Naples.

365 Gold pass

Cost: €50
Valid for: 1 year
Includes: Free access to 39 sites, with 2 visits to each site per year, discounts of up to 50% on a further 17 attractions.
Does not include: Public transport, access to some sites that are on the Campania Artecard 3 and 7 day or Napoli Artecard lists

Verdict

If you’re planning an extended stay in Naples, then the 365 Gold Pass is an absolute bargain. The €50 fee could easily pay for itself with just a visit to the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (usually €22 per person), the ancient city of Pompeii (€20 per person) and the Royal Palace of Caserta (€18 per person) – and you can go to each one twice!

The list of sites that you can access for free is shorter than for the full Campania Artecard, and there’s no public transport included, but for dedicated sightseers, it’s hard to beat the 365 Gold Pass.

365 Lite

Cost: €26
Valid for: 1 year
Includes: Free access to 39 sites, discounts of up to 50% on others
Does not include: Public transport, access to some sites that are on the 365 Gold pass list, Campania Artecard 3 and 7 day or Napoli Artecard lists

Verdict

If the 365 Gold pass is a bargain, then the 365 Lite pass is practically a steal. You can get free access to 39 sites including the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, the Royal Palace of Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum, the Royal Palace of Caserta, Castel Sant’Elmo and even the magnificent temples at Paestum, south of Salerno, and it’ll pay for itself within a couple of visits.

My experience with the Artecard 365 Lite

I used an Artecard 365 Lite on my last visit to Naples and it was excellent. I bought it through GetYourGuide, then the purchase confirmation told me to message a Whatsapp number. I did that in the passport control queue at the airport, and got a PDF back within a few minutes with a QR code to show at each site. It was all very easy, I didn’t need mobile signal and every site I visited knew exactly what to do.

Over the course of a few days I used it to visit Castel Sant’Elmo, Pompeii, the MANN archaeological museum in Naples and the Royal Palace. It cost me €26, but the total ticket price of all those sites is €60, and I got to skip the long ticket line at MANN. And the best part is, it’s still valid! So I could go back to Naples anytime until mid-April 2027 and carry on using it.

My 365 Lite pass didn’t include public transport, but it wasn’t a problem. Public transport in Naples is cheap and easy to use (most journeys cost €1.50), and for everything except the funiculars I was able to buy a ticket at a machine with all the instructions in English.

Using your Artecard in 2026

Using the Artecard at Pompeii

Visiting Pompeii is one of the most confusing parts of using the Artecard. The Pompeii website recommends buying tickets in advance, but since they moved to a new online ticketing service in March 2026, that isn’t possible anymore.

I emailed the Pompeii authorities to check what someone with an Artecard should do, and verified it on my April 2026 visit to the site. Artecard holders need to queue up at the Piazza Esedra entrance (Google Maps link) to show your Artecard and ID at the gate. The Piazza Esedra entrance is a little further along Via Villa dei Misteri from Pompei Scavi Villa Dei Misteri train station, but it’s still only a 5 minute walk.

You’ll queue up with guides who are about to bring groups into the site, so the line moves fairly slowly. Since there’s a limit to how many people can enter Pompeii, I’d try to get there as early as possible, and don’t forget to bring your national ID or passport.

Read my tips for visiting Pompeii

National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN)

At the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN), the process is different depending on whether you’re using a free entry with Artecard or a reduced entry. For reduced entry price entry, you can book a timed entry slot online.

Unfortunately the same doesn’t apply for free entry, but you can skip the long ticket office line and head straight for the entrance, using the same queue for pre-booked tickets.

You’ll probably be fine to get in, but if you’re visiting at a particularly busy time, you might want to use your free entries for other attractions and visit the National Archaeological Museum of Naples using your reduced price entry.

The Royal Palace at Caserta

You can book free tickets on the TicketOne website, but the main Royal Palace website recommends going to the Infopoint at the main entrance in Piazza Carlo di Borbone, where they’ll check it for free or reduced admission.

Phlegraean Fields Circuit

A bit niche for most Naples itineraries, but a critical exception for 2026 is the Phlegraean Fields Circuit (including the Baia and Cuma parks); for these, you must book a free Artecard slot via the Musei Italiani app as entries are strictly limited to small groups every 30 minutes.

Using the digital Artecard

The Artecards are entirely digital now but the app can be very glitchy. Follow these tips for a smooth trip with your Artecard.

• Take a picture of everything: Don’t rely on the app opening at the turnstile. Take a clear picture of your QR code, your card number, and your transaction ID as soon as you buy it. You’ll need to use someone else’s phone or a camera to take a picture as the app inexplicably doesn’t allow screenshots.
• Record the card number: Even if the app won’t open, showing the ticket desk your card number and ID is often enough for them to manually validate your entry.
• Have a PDF backup: I bought through GetYourGuide and they sent me a PDF version rather than me needing to use the app. It’s very reassuring to have a PDF backup when you can’t get phone signal, and you could even print it out for extra insurance.

Alternatives to the Artecard

There are a few alternatives to the Artecard.

The Naples Pass

The Naples Pass comes in 5 versions for different lengths of stay:

• 1 day, region area – €34.90
• 3 days, city area – €39.90
• 3 days, region area – €49.90
• 5 days, region area – €89.90
• 7 days, region area – €99.90

The Naples Pass includes Pompeii, Herculaneum, Napoli Sotteranea and the National Archaeological Museum, along with some smaller attractions. As with the Artecard, the Naples Pass has some confusing details like Region area and City area passes. If you want the version that includes Pompeii, you’ll need the region area pass. Be aware that if you buy the Naples Pass, you’ll need to book your visit to Pompeii at least 3 days in advance, which for me is a major downside of the Naples Pass compared to the Artecards.

The 1 day region pass bundles Pompeii, Herculaneum and MANN (the Naples Archaeological Museum) so might look tempting, but it’s physically impossibly to do these three sights justice in one day.

Public transport is not included in any version of The Naples Pass, but you can buy it as an add-on. The Naples Pass used to include a hop-on-hop-off tourist bus, but that seems to have been removed. The prices have come down a lot since that change though, and the Naples Pass is now better value for money. I still think the Artecard 365 Lite plus some individual entry fees is better value for most visitors.

oKNapoli bundles

There are two oKNapoli bundles, one which includes 4 attractions and another which includes 8. I don’t think either are particularly great value for money but if they cover the attractions you want to see then it could work for you.

oKNapoli 4 costs €29 from the official site and includes:

• Galleria Borbonica – Morelli
• Acquario di Napoli
• Museo del Tesoro di Sa Gennaro
• Pio Monte Della Misericordia

oKNapoli 8 costs €49 from the official site and includes the 4 attractions included in the oKNapoli card, plus:

• Museo Civico Gaetano Filangieri
• DOMA – San Domenico Maggiore Onlus
• Vanvitelli Palace in Portici
• Sea Turtle Center

My Pompeii card

If you expect to spend more than one day at Pompeii, and you don’t plan to visit many other attractions in the area, then the My Pompeii card could work for you.

For €45, you’ll get entry to the ancient city, plus all the other sites included in the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, for example the suburban villas, Oplontis, Villa Arianna, Villa San Marco, Libero D’Orsi Museum and Boscoreale. The ticket is valid for a whole year.

It’s worth noting that this card doesn’t include Herculaneum or the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. If you’d be happy with just one or two entries to Pompeii, and you don’t mind paying a small extra fee for the suburban villas, then either the 365 Lite or 365 Gold Artecard passes are likely to be better value for money.

Are Naples tourist passes worth it for children?

If you’re travelling with children, the Artecard probably isn’t worth buying for them. Children under 18 get free entry to virtually all the main state-run sites in the region regardless of nationality – so Pompeii, Herculaneum, MANN and the Royal Palace of Caserta are already free. The card’s main benefit simply doesn’t apply to them.

There are Youth versions of some Artecards for people aged 18-25, but they’re only available for EU citizens.

In summary

The 365 Lite pass is my favourite Naples tourist pass because you’re not paying for a long list of sites that you’re unlikely to have time to visit, and even if there’s a site missing from the list, you’re likely to have saved enough already that you’re not out of pocket.

There are a couple of other benefits to the 365 Gold and 365 Lite passes. Because everything’s either free or discounted, it doesn’t matter what order you visit them in. With the Napoli and Campania Artecards, you have to prioritise visiting the most expensive attractions at the beginning of your trip, and that might not be the most logical itinerary.

Another benefit to the 365 passes is that they probably won’t expire during your trip to Naples. The clock starts ticking on the 3 and 7 day passes as soon as you activate them, so if you arrive in Naples at lunchtime and want to go to the Royal Palace that afternoon, you’ll have “wasted” half a day of your card’s validity.

I hope you’ve found this post helpful for planning your trip to Naples. Which Naples Artecard would you choose?

About Helen

Hi! I’m Helen, and Italy is one of my favourite destinations. I’ve been fascinated by ancient Roman and Greek history since I was a kid and I love nothing more than combining a visit to a Roman site with experiencing Italy’s beautiful landscapes and cities.

I live near Manchester, UK and work full time, so I’m all about making the most of my annual leave with day trips, weekend getaways and short breaks.

Read more about me