Naples

[glasshouse]

I'm looking at doing a long weekend over the October half term with my 16 yo boy. Thought of doing Naples so we could take in Pompeii. However some of the comments I've found on Naples has put me off. Is it really a scary place?

Not really just a bit rough looking, but the almafi coast is beautiful if your budget can stretch to it.

Sorry Amalfi!!

Yes. It's a shit hole. Spent 1 night there as part of a tour and it was 1 night too long. There is graffiti everywhere and all the old buildings haven't been preserved at all. Such a shame.

Sorrento instead?

I loved Naples yes it does look a bit gritty in places but that is part of its charm. My teenager loved it.

Sorre to is boring.

We travelled all around Italy and naples was the only place I was really scared in. Our hotel had huge grills and security which didn't help, and the walk back from the circumvesuviana in the evening felt very grim.

I have always said I would stay somewhere along the Analfi coast instead and travel in rather than stay in Naples itself again.

It's a shit hole, stay in Sorrento instead

I love Naples, it's not scary and, imo, not especially rough. The central tourist area is very crowded and chaotic though - and the tube and buses can be too.

Pompeii is very easy to reach - there is s direct train that leaves every half hour from the main station (and lots of companies offering coach trips there). I would really recommend hiring a guide when you get there, we got together with about 8 other tourists and paid about 10 or 12 euros each for two hours and it gave us such an enhanced experience compared to when we've visited on our own. The guides have researched their stuff and give great detail and anecdote, it's fascinating. I've never been to Herculaneum but it's meant to be even better and is a couple of stops before Pompeii.

Naples itself has wonderful baroque architecture, fantastic bars and coffee shops and feels like a Medieval city as so much of life seems to take place on the street. It has amazing churches and galleries, the food is fabulous and I love its spirit and Naepolitans' humour and resourcefulness. Do one of the free walking tours (tip at the end) when you arrive to get an overview of the city and then revisit some of the places mentioned. Take the funicular up to Vomero for the view of Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples, visit the market, underground Naples (the old Roman acqueduct), the castle and the Piazza Popolo.

Relax, enjoy, I'm super that you're going.

We had a few days in Naples. Absolutely loved it. Didn't feel threatened at all.
It's an interesting place and very easy to access Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii and other little islands by boat.
Great pizza!

We love Naples. We spent a week there last October (our second visit) and we will definitely go back.

There are so many things to see, Pompeii is just a small part of it. Make sure you go to the museum, do the underground naples tour and visit the veiled christ.

We never felt unsafe. There are loads of tourists around and people were really friendly. The food is great and really cheap.

Thank you all for your help, I'm going to bite the bullet and book. Now going to google all the attractions referenced and get excited rather than anxious.

I'd love tips for family friendly places to stay as where we were most definitely wasn't but we'd love to take our children.

Herculaneum was so interesting and and Pompei fascinating. I can recommend reading Pompei by Robert Harris before you visit. It really added to the atmosphere.

It used to be dangerous with gangs years ago but the Police really cracked down on it and I felt safe there in 2016.

I liked Naples and never felt threatened. It wasn't great by the port at night but that can be avoided. Best pizza ever.
The scariest thing I saw was two people on a moped carrying a pane of glass..

We’re going to Naples in March and can’t wait, it looks really interesting and dying to try the pizzas. It’s only an hour and 10 minutes from Rome as well if you get the fast train. If you pre book you could get it for less than 30 euros if you wanted to explore