Does anyone actually like Naples?

[FrodoBiggins]

Going to Naples with my DH end of Sept, then on to Sorrento and Capri start of Oct. Everyone (literally everyone) I've told irl has said Sorrento/Amalfi/Capri are great but Naples not so much. I was really looking forward to it (still am) but I'm a bit confused now - it looks interesting and cool!
For info we're there 5 days, doing Herculaneum and Pompeii so maybe 3 days free. We like history and food. It seemed an obvious choice. I can speak Italian, DH is OK he can get by.
Anyone got any recommendations or is it as "grim" as everyone seems to say?

Naples is my favourite city! It's got a buzz and a vibe to it that you don't find anywhere else. Never felt unsafe, stayed in the Spanish quarters, loved it. But have to agree it's a very Marmite place, people seem to love it or hate it, no in between. Did Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, stunning, but not Naples which I much prefer. Going back in September for the 5th time,! I'd actually live there if I could

Fucking shithole, I'll not mince my words.

Walked around pretty much the whole area. Surprisingly avoided being robbed in any way but I'm very aware and made that quite clear. Absolutely one of the shittiest places I've travelled to and my country count is somewhere in the fifties, includes many delightful places that you really ought not to go to and that have bugger all going for them.

The pizza generally wasn't very good either.

DH and I had lived many years in central London, so the noise and chaos wasn't much different. I loved the archaeological museum there- which has majority of the Pompeii artifacts. We walked all over the city, the alley way markets, down to the sea etc and had no issues. My in-laws visited a few years later and had a bag and I-pad stolen and hated the place. They are older and would have likely been dithering about though.

The only part I didn't like, was when we arrived at the airport and tried getting a taxi to our hotel. I'm not fluent at all, but do speak some Italian and I felt the drivers just standing around mocking us. When we did get a taxi, I'm 99% sure he changed the price- either speaking a local dialect initially or just changing the Euro amount altogether. Its the only place I've ever been where I wish I'd pre-booked a driver/taxi to the hotel.

Getting the circumvesuvian train to Pompeii and Herculaneum was easy and again no issues. Our hotel was just off the main road down a quiet lane, but felt very safe.

Dd, dh and Gds (9) stayed in Naples last year, as a base for visiting Vesuvius/Pompeii. They thoroughly enjoyed it all - mind you it was in November, so not hot and crowded.

I like Naples, even though DH was robbed there. It's gritty and dirty and you really need to leave all your valuables at home and be very careful about your personal belongings when you're out and about, BUT it's a really fun city, great markets, great food, great museums, lots to see and do.

Loved Naples - great fun, so interesting. Walked for hours, saw the catacombs and there seemed to be weddings happening at every church we passed. Funicular to the top of the hill for sundowners on the top of the hill overlooking the bay. Great food.
Has made it to my shortlist of places I never want to drive though!

I really liked it. The old town and Spanish Quarter especially. Agree with PP that its better to get a transfer from the airport as the taxi situation is some kind of unregulated scrum. We did a great walking tour the first time we visited. Underground tour is amazing. Easy to get to Herculaneum and Pompeii. I prefer Ischia and Procida to Capri.

DS 19 loved it. Ate a lot of pizza and aperol spritz for budget prices. Made it to Pompeii too. I love marseille and would like to visit Naples one day. We did fly back from there once having been up Vesuvius. Amazing views. 100% recommend. Had excellent pizza at a dodgy looking restaurant on the way down.

I’d also like to visit Naples, mainly to see the artefacts from Pompeii ( which I loved!) When people say “edgy” what do you mean? I know about the graffiti, but is there lots of homelessness and begging and risk of stepping on drugs paraphernalia eg like parts of San Francisco?

I love Naples.
The Archaeological Museum is full of treasures from Pompeii and Herculaneum, including an x rated room with stuff from the brothels. Also the Farnese Bull.
I see a pp has mentioned the Veiled Christ in the Capella Sansevero. It is the most incredible sculpture.

I suspect some people think the pizza isn’t all that special because it’s very different from what we have come to think of pizza.
Go, but keep your wits about you and you will be w.

Naples is crazy but amazing. Preferred Herculaneum to Pompeii but both need a day really. Both easy to get to on the train. Echo the advice about the archeological museum as most of the stuff taken from them is in the museum.
It’s the area around the station that is seriously dodgy. Definitely avoid at night. Watch out for mopeds as they can bag or mobile phone grab by mounting the pavements just like in London with electric bikes.
We liked Sorbillo’s for pizza and Mangi e Bevi was an experience. The underground tour was good but so was wandering round the Spanish Quarter. So much to do and see, would definitely love to go back!

I thought it was like Blackpool. (Ignoring the cultural aspects of course)

If you like standing by an overflowing bin breathing in air that’s 90% moped fumes watching rats play whilst sipping an Campari spritz that cost a euro, you’ll love it.
I enjoyed it but we embraced the filth.

I loved it, we stayed a bit away from the centre and the hotel warned people to be careful walking 8nto town. They looked us up and down, no watches, no jewellery, cross body small bag…and not looking particularly‘touristy’ and said, ‘you’ll be fine’.

loved the pizza.

keep your wits about you, don’t carry anything you’d mind losing to a pickpocket…and go with the flow.

I love it, yes it’s noisy/dirty/slightly chaotic but just enjoy it for what it is.

Absolutely loved it too. Dirty, crowded, chaotic but so much fun. The craziest traffic I've ever seen! Pizza was good - honestly I've had better elsewhere though. Food in general was lovely. It's a huge city but the metro and funicular were v reliable

Went to Herculaneum for half a day and that was v interesting. Walkable and lots to see but not overwhelming like Pompeii

Any fellow Naples lovers, Genoa is very similar but on a much smaller and more manageable scale

We loved it with teens last summer. The museum is just astonishing. We went on a tour of the opera house, walked about, had amaaaaazing pizza. It’s a people watching place. It’s gritty and not fancy like Florence or Rome, but the architecture is worth walking around for a while.

Marseille is fabulous. Naples isn’t. I visited them both in June

I visited Naples solo for a week in 2018 and loved it there. Yes, it’s chaotic but that’s part of its charm. It doesn’t deserve its terrible reputation.

I found Naples a bit hard work but am still so glad we went. Seeing actual shrines to St Diego of Maradona was amazing. The catacombs and the Archaeological Museum were two of the greatest experiences I have had, and I’m a museum nerd. Fab food. Wish we’d spent a bit of money to stay in a nicer area but all round it was great.

Sorrento was a lot more chilled but unfortunately we went in February and there isn’t a lot of point tbh. Herculaneum, Pompeii and Vesuvius in the winter all spectacular though and practically empty (not much use to you!)

For a change from pizza I really recommend Taverna dell’arte. Stunning artisan home made Italian food. Local clientele and art on the walls.

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g187785-d1034508-Reviews-Taverna_dell_Arte_Napoli-Naples_Province_of_Naples_Campania.html

We used Naples as a base to other (nicer) places. Really noisy, dirty. Signs of drug use. Worth it for the other sites though.

"Rome is the heart of Italy but Naples is its soul" - old Italian saying. I love Naples and lived there for some time, but many years ago. There is nowhere else like it in Italy (or possibly even Europe) and it is even a culture shock to many Italians. But, it is beautiful chaos with its own language and culture. The food and coffee alone are worth visiting for to say nothing of the art and history. It has a unique vibe that you either love or hate. Apart from the places already mentioned, do visit the Sansevero Chapel to see the Cristo Velato sculpture. It is so beautiful it will make you cry. Also, definitely do not by pass the archaeological museum.

Oh. But then a pp has said it's similar to Genoa and I loved there.

How did it differ from Marseille? Was also there in June.

Oh wow I'm so grateful for everyone's comments! Thanks to all who took time :) a mixed bag obviously but glad it's not all negative...

I have booked a hotel near the station for ease for pompeii etc but I'm getting the impression that's not the nicest of areas, does anyone have a recommendation for a hotel or even just an area which might be preferable?

Thank you!!