Help me feel better about Naples

[flitwit99]

We are going to Naples in a few weeks, mainly so we can visit Pompeii and the like. We are staying for 4 nights. I had thought we might stay somewhere else but dh has booked Naples. He said it was fine when he stayed there in 1988.
Everyone I have spoken to says Naples is horrible, dangerous, unsafe. We will have 3 kids with us, does that mean people will be nicer to us or be more likely to pickpocket us?
I have travelled all over the world and have never been this paranoid but I honestly have not heard anyone say a single good thing about Naples. Surely it can't be that bad? We'll be out and about most of the day but it sounds like there are lots of areas you wouldn't want to be in in the evenings.
Please help me feel better.

Go to Herculaneum as well, it's much better preserved then Pompeii. We didn't go to Naples when we went as we just drove through from where we were staying.

I know this isn’t the point of the thread but you MUST go up Vesuvius. It’s incredible.

Yes to Vesuvius too, it's well worth the walk but go early in the morning as soon as it opens.

Sorry. Naples is dirty, crowded and horrible. The worst city I have ever visited. Nothing like Rome, Florence. Having said that, you won’t be spending much time there I assume. Just head to the train station every morning to get out!

We went three weeks ago and loved it! It’s definitely not the prettiest place and there’s lots of graffiti but I found it quite charming. We stayed in Chiaia which is one of the nicer parts but walking around we felt quite safe walking around. Lots of walking and some really beautiful buildings around.

I would avoid walking through the square near Garabaldi station though, lots of gangs hanging around and we made the mistake of walking into a group without realising where we were going and it was too late to turn back, one guy pushed into my boyfriend and another tried to trip him up, slightly scary but nothing was stolen thankfully! We scurried away pretty sharpish lol.

Other than that it was great! Food was amazing and the pizzas are so cheap. Bottles of Prosecco in the supermarket are cheap too! €4

I went last year with my elderly mother and young son. We had a blast. Yes watch out for traffic but plenty to do and so much life in the city. We also took a day trip to Capri which I really recommend. I've travelled to many cities and I can honestly say I didn't feel unsafe for a second in Naples (unlike some places I've been)

When we went two years ago all the hotels were advising you not be out after dark! At first I thought it was just a ploy to make you stay out with them but they recommended specific restaurants with specific routes and told us to be on guard with valuables to keep phones out of sight and walk back as quickly as possible

We ventured out one before we knew this and I have to say there was a definite vibe and I didn’t feel safe. Perhaps there are different areas of town that are worse than others like most places? It was very run down and covered in burning rubbish while we were there but we only stayed a night or two on the way to somewhere else

yes - be careful with valuables - same as you would in Barcelona or Paris
or Rome which are all famous for pickpockets
but Naples is great - but do a bit of research where to go rather than just wander
the waterfront is lovely

and we loved the museo di Capodimonte and the park around it

Hmm, I'm thinking we head straight to the train station and out every day, early dinner then home for prosecco in the room every night.
Dh thinks my paranoia is hilarious.

I half want to tel you were the hotel he has booked is so you can tell me it's in a nice area, but I half don't want to tell you because if it's in a bad area that will make me feel even worse.

Definitely go to Pompeii and Vesuvius, they’re good days out. Sorrento is a short train ride away too which I loved and would recommend

I really wouldn’t panic too much, it’s the same as any city, you’lol have a great time

@flitwit99 look at it this way, at least you’re a bit prepared so the likelihood is, you’ll keep your wits about you and be a bit more alert, so a bit more research into the area before you go. So in all likelihood it won’t be as bad as you’re expecting - it has a lot of colour and life and cheap pizza and if you use it as a base I’m sure it will be fine

Alternatively if you hadn’t realised you might have been a bit caught unawares when you got there... and dislike it because you were expecting more!

We loved Naples. It felt a little gritty and the area by the main train station wasn't an area I'd want to hang around but the city itself was amazing and the areas around it stunning. We went on all the funicular railways and explored the shopping area, are amazing pizza and spoke broken English/Italian to really friendly people. My husband still raves about the slices of takeaway pizza with white sauce and chips on it

Why are you noting the Naples neggers and not the Naples lovers? It's a great place. The only terrifying thing is the way the cab drivers drive 😬

I have been there for work. I would not take my children there.

Why are you noting the Naples neggers and not the Naples lovers

I haven't met any Naples lovers! There are a few on here but not any in real life.

We went last year and it was great. It is poorer than the northern Italian cities but we didn’t feel unsafe and we would definitely go back.

OP, you'll miss out if you scarper each day! At least get the funicular for some incredible views, or walk down to the sea front; and check out the Old Town. It's really not the graffiti-ridden poo hole people are saying, unless I went to a different Naples?!

I know, I am being ridiculous. It's just so weird that I haven't met anyone at all who has actually liked it there. So unusual.

We're real, honestly 😬 . We'd booked a week and dh was telling a colleague and seriously he tried to persuade dh to cancel as he said it was a shithole. Turns out he'd only been on a coach drive through it after his cruise ship docked. It has a bad reputation for sure but we spent a fabulous week there not that long ago so give it a chance, don't be scared. Camden is scarier, honestly.

Naples is lovely! I never felt even slightly unsafe (except for the mad mopeds when crossing the road!)

Food was lovely, museums were amazing and it makes a great base for exploring Pompeii, Herculaneum, the Amalfi coast...

I mean I'm pretty sure the absolute worst crime you'd encounter is having your wallet nicked, not running afoul of the mafia. It's like people banging on about New York being horribly crime ridden when it hasn't been in about 40 years.

I definitely want a post from you op to let us know your experience once you're back!! Just to reiterate - LOVED Naples.

We too definitely exist and don't work for the Napoli Tourist Board
We stayed in the Old Town and went out plenty after dark. It just felt like a vibrant, busy area with plenty of facilities for tourists but people living their normal life too. Too full of people to be scary.

Trip advisors number one nightlife recommendation 😂