Naples!

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DH, DS1(12) DS2 (9) and I are going to Naples over Easter.

Has anyone been with kids this age? Any advice? Is it as crazy as they say? Will I struggle on the public transport (big crushes?). Is it dangerous? I just signed up pretty randomly because I've always wanted to go there and when I meet people from southern Italy they seem so... exciting!

We'll go to Vesuvius and Herculaum/Pompei I hope.

What about in Naples itself? Would the opera be good? would I be mad to even consider going to a football match for the boys?

All advice appreciated. We've been to Rome but I understand Naples is a bit different....

personally after reading 'Gomorrah' I would not go near the place.

Naples is a lot different! Really crazy but an amazing, wonderful place. DH and I went there for our first holiday together and when we got off the train from Rome, we did wonder if we had made a mistake in going there. Once you get into the rhythm of it though, it's really good fun.

From what I remember it's easy to get the train to Pompeii (which is incredible!) We got a bus up Vesuvius and then walked the last bit - when we went there was a limoncello stall right at the top point.

Solfatara is another good place to go. Bubbling mud pools and ancient saunas called Hell and Purgatory.

The muesum in Naples is good - it even has a secret room (18s and over only) for all statues of men shagging goats and clay penises. And just walking down Spaccanapoli is fun too. Have a great time.

I don't love Naples but I've never had any problems there and the surrounding places like Pompeii are fantastic. Things to do - definitely go for pizza, allegedly the best in Italy. And at that time of year I would go to Ischia for the thermal pools.

We went to Naples on a day trip, on the train. We mostly wandered the streets, seeing shops, taking in the vibe. I enjoyed it, DH didn't.
It is the usual for Italy - the main, touristy bits are good but take a turn into a side street and it can get less interesting very quickly (that's the bit that DH remembers: being lost and off the map in the Port area)

We took our kids to Naples (5 of them aged between 7 and 16) last summer for 6 days and they and us absolutely loved it! Yes it is not Rome but that was the charm of it all. We stayed within the old part of the city and I think that is what the children enjoyed the most - the whole wandering the narrow alleys and watching the lives of the Neapolitans spill out onto the streets. You quickly get use to the noise of the beeping scooters and getting out of the way although the narrow streets do have posts up to keep everyone in their 'right' place!

So our highlights? In Naples definitely wandering the streets (you really need google maps or something equivalent to find your way back!) including visiting the Christmas ornament street - Via San Gregorio Armeno. The pizza was fantastic (check out Pizzeria da Michele restaurant) and the shaved ice that is sold from street vendors was very welcome in August. The Cappella Sansevero (the Veiled Christ) was absolutely wonderful and your boys will love the Napoli Sotterranea Tour - which is an underground tour through narrow tunnels and into Roman ruins. We also enjoyed the Archeological Museum, although check to make sure all floors are open as due to funding cuts there seems to be a rolling system of opening times for different areas.

We decided on Herculaneum opposed to Pompeii for various reasons and it was brilliant a definite highlight and super easy to get to by public transport.

We also spent a wonderful day on the island of Procida which was a dream - think pastel painted buildings tumbling into the blue sea. The ferry ride out to the islands was also very enjoyable in itself.

We were limited mostly by the heat - high 30s and very humid - the kids in particular melted and we took to needing a rest during the day! Therefore even though we were booked to go snorkelling out at the archeological ruins near Solfatara we were all too worn out by the heat to manage it. We were also too tired to climb Mt Vesuvius - something we all wanted to do after we had explored Herculaneum but instead we all just wanted shade and cold drinks! It obviously will be a lot cooler at Easter so heat won't be such an issue.

I wrote a trip report/added photos on the website fodors (as they provided so much information before our trip) if you want to read it for more information. www.fodors.com/community/europe/rome-naples-florence-venice-with-4-teenagers-1-kid-19-days-perfect.cfm#last-comment

All I can say is go with an open mind and the knowledge that you won't be having a sugar coated tourist experience and I am sure you and/or family will enjoy the vitality and energy that is Naples!