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.

Shit hole, we spent a day there, didn't feel safe, there's an undercurrent / feeling about it.
I've travelled a lot and think I'm pretty savvy, not nervy or scared of my own shadow, I wasn't at all comfortable in Naples, I'd give it a wide berth if I were you.

I love Naples. It’s edgy, colourful and real. You need to keep your wits about you though.
As PPs have said, it has the best pizza in the world. Usually only a choice of a couple of toppings, though, none of your ham and pineapple stuff.
You can use the Circumvesuviana train for trips to Pompeii and Herculaneum, get a ferry to Capri. It runs frequently and cheaply between Naples and Sorrento.
The Archaeological Museum has all the relics from Pompeii, including an ‘Over 18’ room full of things from the brothels, and wonderful mosaics. And the massive Farnese Bull statue.
The Capella Sansevero has a marble statue of The Veiled Christ which will blow your socks off. I go to gaze at it whenever I am in Naples.

It’s my idea of heaven.

Sorry, that should be the museum. And In many ways I prefer Herculaneum to Pompeii despite being to the latter many many times over.

I’m going next year so very interesting what people think

Edgy, gritty and full of life.
I've been five times now.
People love it or hate it.
Amazing food scene. Pompeii has too be seen to be believed. Have an open mind - you may love it too!

'I love Naples. It’s edgy, colourful and real. You need to keep your wits about you though.'

This. Absolutely loved it, and I normally hate crowds and bustle. It's noisy and busy and dirty and the traffic is crazy, but it's so much fun. Food-wise, the pizza restaurants were fine - I've had better pizza in London tbh. The fried pizza from a truck in the street though - utterly divine. Highly recommend a rum bava as well.

I don’t understand the surrounding area of Naples being mentioned when the OP specifically asked about Naples.

I love Naples. I don't see how it's much different from London or Paris in terms of poverty/crime and stunning beauty/history bashing together.

I thought it was ugly and industrial. There's much nicer Italian cities to visit.

The amalfi coast is near naples and worth a visit.

@DesertRose64 Comments on Naples and environs all welcome.

Wow great comments. No consensus. Thanks everyone.

Pp will have seen the makeshift "tendopoli" of homeless people who live on the streets. (if you look under the bridges in Florence and Rome and any large Italian cities, you see the same thing. On a smaller scale also the encampments just inside the Vatican walls inside St. Peter's Square.

As others have said, it has the best pizza in the world (what with it being the birthplace of pizza etc) and some amazing art collections. The Capodimonte museum is excellent. Obviously Pompeii and Herculaneum are worth a visit out. If you want to see more of the coast I'd swerve Sorrento as it's very much a Brits abroad tourist trap, albeit middle aged Brits rather than lager louts. Think Arsenal matches and plastic menus with photos of burgers. Amalfi and Positano are much nicer but further out.

Bit daft to say "I prefer Ischia it's where people in the know go". Ischia is where rich Italians who aren't rich enough for Capri go for a couple of days from their homes in Naples.

Interestingly Naples is 7th in European crime statistics (Bradford and Birmingham both being higher) I expect that's because of the organized crime which is obviously a problem, though more so in Sicily and the Neapolitan hinterland towns than Naples itself.

It isn't. And funnily enough, the leafy boulevard part of the city to the north of the castle and up the hill reminds me very much of Paris.

I've been pickpocketed in Manchester and Florence, and been groped by a perv in Brussels but not had problems in Naples tbf.

I didn't rate the pizza, no better than Franca Manca which is only average. It felt unsafe for Italy but there were police everywhere 24/7 (don't get that in our unsafe areas) . I wouldn't relish going back.

Agree with all of this. I loved Naples, stayed near-ish the port and loved the lively bars and cafes. Access to amazing museums, well located for trips along the Amalfi coast and to the islands. I was warned not to stay near the train station. Would love to visit again.

Worst city I’ve ever been too. Wanted to go home as soon as I arrived. BUT Pompeii and Herculaneum were great and a boat trip to capri or procida is great as they’re beautiful islands

I wouldnt go back unless I was looking for a prostitute or a pick pocket. When we went a pick pocket got caught just as the train doors were closing - 3 blokes pulled him inside and beat the socks off him. Like really beat him. Interesting train journey. Other places in Italy were much nicer.

It’s worth a visit imo. It is polluted and grubby but it’s very lively, some great little independent bars and restaurants and generally interesting to walk around and look at. The Spanish Quarter is the old town and it is very narrow crowded streets, mopeds whizzing about everywhere and run down but even that’s worth a walk through in the daytime (I would avoid at night!) Up the funicular is a much nicer, more spacious upmarket area on the cliff/hillside and the city centre is like any city centre really. It is no worse than other cities in Europe for poverty. I didn’t feel unsafe in Naples. If you’re there for more than a day it’s worth a day trip to Pompeii and/or Vesuvius

Spent about 36 hours there about three years ago and that was about 35 hours too many.
it was really filthy there was a refuse collectors' strike on (apparently not at all unusual organised crime has its sticky fingers well into that pot) and rubbish was piled high in the streets, even out of town and along country roads. We drove from Naples across Italy to the southern Adriatic coast and the difference was stark.
Probably a bad choice but the area we stayed in also had an unpleasant vibe and it didn't feel safe on the streets there.

The taxi driver taking us to the car hire place was Signor Surly personified. Didn't feel safe with him either. But my main recollection was the appalling filth.

Naples isn't nice. But a great place to travel FROM

Go there just to get the ferry to the beautiful capri

Suzanne Calman has just been to it on channel 5- you'll catch it on the 5 plus channel.

Richard Ayoade and Jack Dee did a Travel Man episode 48 hours in Naples, I think you can see it on All4.