Ayone been to Naples ?

[Bigbadmama]

I am meeting an American friend in Rome early June. Thinking of combining this with a few days in Naples. What is it like ? Is it fascinating and full of historic buildings and Italian charm or is it a run down slum full of thieves and pick pockets ? I will be travelling alone.

We stopped on a cruise there, so never actually stayed there, but Pompeii was fab!

It is a slum. The worst poverty I have seen in Europe - a shanty town. Very high crime

I’ve been there for the day while in Sorrento. I liked it.

Bit of both, I really liked it. Would love to go back without a 2 year old and a massive baby bump.

It's very "edgy", the graffiti was horrendous, nothing was respected - churches, statues.... anything you can imagine was covered.
It had a good young person vibe, but I'm speeding towards 50 & grumpy.
Great pizza though 🍕 😁

Lively, great food, bit edgy- depends if you like places like that or not!

It's both. Dh got his wallet nicked. It's exciting and beautiful and historic in parts, it's overcrowded and dirty and gritty in other parts.

And I agree, delicious pizza.

Its a bit of a marmite destination. Personally I loved it, the old centre is a bit of a warren of alleys and streets, bags of atmosphere, it's colourful, vibrant, exciting and varied. Simultaneously ancient and modern, welcoming and intimidating, traffic is mental, food is phenomenal and you have places like Herculaneum and Pompeii as day trips.

It is nothing like Florence, Rome or Venice which are more graceful and 'pretty', Naples has a very different vibe, less overrun with tourists, yes there is lots of graffiti and its a bit rough around the edges but it is a great place to visit and a lot cheaper then other Italian cities.

And the pizzas are great!

It is rough and pretty dirty but the people are friendly and so much fun. It has nice bits and it’s a great base for exploring the Almafi coast. I am not sure I would go back but I really enjoyed my time there and I am so glad I experienced it. Another plus is that it is cheaper than most of the other Italian cities. I felt quite safe despite the bad press Naples gets. I would go for it.

I loved it. It's not the best place in Europe, but far from the worst. Go, have fun, have some wine. :)

I love it, its definitely a bit of both though. I find it comparable to somewhere like Athens or Barcelona really, plenty for tourists but a busy city rather than just a tourist trap with all that that entails.

It's both.
I'd go back there any day over Venice.
I was pickpocketed in Manchester and groped in Brussels. Never had a problem in Naples.

We went to Naples just before Covid hit. It is super vibrant, overwhelming and so very Italian. It’s a Port City - with all that brings
We did a Pizza making workshop through Airbnb. It was super fun.
Visited the Castle - which has a great view over the city.
There Churchs are beautiful inside. there is also the Church which has the vial with the blood of St Janirus - it liquifies at different points of the year and can mean bad or good Events are coming!!
There is also a Street with only Christmas related items - that’s pretty interesting.
Yes you need to be a bit careful and keep your wits about you. But stay away from the side streets at night and you will be ok. Dont be flashing jewelry and money around.
You could also take the Ferry to Capri. It’s pretty and super super Touristy. Great views.

The surroundings are beautiful; Pompei is great and the coast is also beautiful. For me Naples itself was a bit to dirty and rough.

It's not far from Pompeii, that's a brilliant place to visit.

I loved it (in my early 50s, so definitely not any young vibe from me). It’s a real mix of everything. I walked about with only a small over shoulder bag, didn’t wave any valuables around, and never felt in danger. The graffiti was a bit of a plus for me, I love a bit of decent street art.

The underground city is amazing. Pompeii or Heraculaneum are fascinating (I’d say pick one, as slightly similar experience). Fantastic street pizza. I really enjoyed the older city and all the tiny side streets.

Hated the couple of days I had in Sorrento though, really unimpressed.

I spend a lot of time in Italy and the only good thing about Naples is the proximity to Herculaneum and it’s fabulous Museum. Otherwise it’s terrible. Just awful.

Great pizza and a great base to visit all the sights around, we quite liked it for a few days. We had a pickpocket attempt while there but I've had the same more than once in Rome, just be aware especially around the train station but ti wouldn't stop me going back. It tends to be 'try your luck' crime rather than anything more intimidating or threatening - if you catch them they just laugh it off IME.

Oooh bumping as we're off to Sorrento in July and thinking of a day trip to Naples

Personally I prefer Ischia. That is where people in the know now prefer over Naples. I had a glorious week there in a harbour hotel and didn't want to leave!

Capri and Ischia very close by on the boat- so a nice trip.
I remember a very good museum of Roman artefacts in Naples and Pompeii was fascinating

I really like Naples- it is not a slum in the slightest!! Also best pizza in the world. Defo recommend a day there!

We had johns banging on our hotel room door all night looking for the prostitute who apparently usually had our room. Not my favourite stop in Italy!

Hated it! but pompeii is well worth a visit.

when I was there, I saw slum and shanty town. I was hundreds of people living without sanitation under rusty corrugated iron, crammed in together in fenced off areas down by the docks.

It was the worst poverty I have ever seen in Western Europe

I am surprised more people haven't seen this. These people were fenced off though