I have questions about going to Naples

[3sthemagicnumber]

Considering booking a short break for myself and my 17yr old DD next Easter. I have always wanted to go to Naples, and she is massively into ancient history, so it's high on our list. Second-guessing myself a bit because of a conversation with DS' 19 yr old girlfriend, who says she felt really unsafe there. So, if you've been, was that your experience? Would you recommend Naples as a short-break (and if you would, give me tips)? Info about trips to Pompeii especially welcome (would prefer not to hire a car, but I could do).
Despite how this might read, I'm a pretty competent and confident traveller, but DD is quite anxious and I want her to have a nice time. Berlin is our other option (I know it pretty well and could design a very happy itinerary for the two of us, but we are tempted by Naples).

Naples is definitely one to be a bit cautious in! Pompeii easy to get to from Sorrento. So if you stayed in Sorrento you could do Pompeii, day trip to Naples with some research and also get boats out onto the islands in the bay for day trips.

There’s a brilliant train line running all along the coast from Naples to Herculaneum, Pompeii, a few nice coastal towns and down to Sorrento. You can stay anywhere along this line and easily get to Pompeii without a car. We stayed next stop along from Sorrento, and took the train to Pompeii, easy and cheap. It stops right outside. Then at the end we spent a bit of time in Naples at the archaeological museum. Didn’t have long so we couldn’t fit Herculaneum in as well but we did a trip to Vesuvius via minibus from Pompeii on another day. It’s called the circumvesuviana.

Naples is fabulous.Will be there again in 3 weeks.Sorrento is nice but boring.Naples it is for me every time.

Just need to be wary of pickpockets.It is no different to any big city.The people are fabulous and so is the food.

We are doing that. Rome with a day trip to Pompei. Husband is convinced it’s a terrible idea to be in Naples but I can’t see it’s any worse than other cities? We shall see.

Be wary with your stuff as you would in a lot of cities. Don’t put bags on the floor etc. Make sure the taxi is metered. The bus service or train service to Pompeii and current etc is great. (Bus gets very crowded on the way back so aim to be on the second to last service of the day, keep the last service as insurance if you don’t get on!) Fabulous pizza and nightlife, lovely bars to sit outside and soak up the atmosphere. Watch out for motorcycles roaring up and down the narrow streets. Yes the outskirts can be rubbish-filled and grimy. Other than that have a great time, I went on my own as a lone female a few years back and had an absolute blast.

My partner had their mobile stolen in Naples. To this day, we have no idea how they did it. Naples is filthy in parts with human excrement in the streets where homeless gather. The food is fantastic though and despite my first remarks, I loved my short break there.

This! It’s a city teeming with life, and with any like that you need to be aware of what’s around you. But I didn’t feel unsafe and I was with my 2 teen daughters. It was a fantastic holiday, we got the train to Pompeii but I thought Herculaneum was better, went to Sorrento which was nice to see but a bit boring, and up the volcano. It was a brilliant holiday and I’d go back in a shot - have fun

Naples is beautiful and there is so much to do and see. I didn’t feel more unsafe there than I have anywhere else. The bit around the bus station can be a bit grim at night, but I once went to Chelmsford for an ex’s friend’s birthday and that was more terrifying at night!!

All the tourist areas feel safe, same as any other city really. I’d love to go back again.

Afraid so. Pompei was amazing, and easy to get to from the station (as is the rest of the area around Vesuvius), but even the station at Naples was a bit of an eyebrow raiser when I was there, which was a good few years ago. Have travelled in Italy by train a lot, as well.

I lived near for 5 years. I would say it is. I would not recommend wandering around like you normally might on a city break. Having said that I really loved Naples, so full of life, some wealthier (safer) pockets if you know where they are as well for night life. Great shopping. Amazing Christmas experience in San Gregorio Armeno.
I understand a lot of Napolitan dialect and would still be a little wary of staying there with one of my dds.
Used the station a lot and regularly saw dead dogs on roadside in that quartiere.

I am referencing 15 years ago - maybe it has changed a lot.

(And in case it tips a balance either way, I am very frequently a user of Chelmsford's public transport spots of an evening, which sounds more 'ooh la la' than it should be!! Probably use them more evenings than not!)

That will be an extremely long day. I really wouldn't do that but wait and go to Naples or the Amalfi Coast and go up by train another time.

Naples is great but like other cities (eg Barcelona) take steps to secure your belongings. If you can get the ferry over to Ischia for the day too. It is beautiful.

Also if you haven't watch My Brilliant Friend and you can "location" spot.

I absolutely loved it. It didn't feel unsafe but it did feel bustling and hectic. I would definitely keep valuables in a cross body bag and keep your wits about you. But I'd do that anywhere.

Pompei is amazing and Easter is the perfect time to go. You definitely don't need a car. It's really easy by train.

We stayed in Portici on the trainline from Naples, not very touristy its nearer Herculaneum than Pompeii . We never got round to Pompei in the end but Herculaneum was really interesting and from what i gather better preserved.

One of the times I’ve felt really unsafe is around and in the main station in Rome! It’s absolutely teeming with pickpockets and people posing as train workers to steal your money or your luggage. The outside is very rough too, really dodgy undercurrent. Honestly the things I saw when awaiting a train to Florence 😅

Interesting thread. As a solo who really wants to see Herculaneum and Pompeii I was thinking of a similar trip. I'm just back from Rome and managed to see most of the sights on my own, but it was a challenge in the heat and the crowds, but I did it using the metro and walking - and google maps.

I doubt I would be comfortable staying in Naples alone for some reason, it just seems to be marmite and a bit dodgy if you don't know where you're going. Although I suppose if you plan carefully it could be fine. So I'm thinking of staying in Ercolano town itself and seeing Herculaneum and Pompeii from there. Then having a few days in Salerno before coming home - recovery time! Salerno looks gorgeous - at least on the seafront side - and Sorrento doesn't appeal to me at all. I'd spend the last day in Naples, stashing my bag in a left luggage and just making my way to the Archaeology Museum, have a street pizza, then hop on the Alibus back to the airport - if I can find a late flight home. If not I'll stay overnight in a good hotel in the tourist area. I'm 68 BTW, so I'm no spring chicken but am good on my pins.

Hope you have a great time OP and let us know what you decide.

NB Italy is VERY busy at Easter time, it’s one of the main holidays for them and the tourist sites are mobbed.

We didn’t feel unsafe in Naples. We had an enormous apartment with two bathrooms, balconies and gorgeous furnishings- 6 floors up - so much bigger than we could have had in pretty, touristy Sorrento.

But Naples is a messy noisy city with all that comes with that. Some of our group were unhappy about the sirens and horns going on til late

Swift, clean Metro to get you around though.

Pompeii/ Herculaneum is easily accessible by train

Just got back and went last year too, I felt it was no more unsafe than lots of cities tbh. The transport to Pompeii etc is great, I’ve also done a trip to Caserta which I loved. I feel like a lot of people who’ve never been repeat the old tropes about the city, bit like what’s said about Liverpool here. It was full of tourists last week so people aren’t staying away!

I went by myself last year and stayed in Herculaneum, near to the excavations.
I treated myself and it was a gorgeous hotel, but it was about a 30 minute walk up to the town where all the restaurants are. After spending the days walking around Pompeii and Naples, the last thing I wanted was to walk again for dinner!

I didn't feel unsafe in Naples during the day at all; it was busy, but mostly with tourists, and you do have to be aware of the motorbikes, but I didn't feel harassed by beggars or street vendors. I don't know what it is like at night. The station has had a recent facelift I think and it seemed fine to me. I certainly didn't see any dead dogs or human excrement.

It is really easy to get to Herculaneum and Pompeii from Naples. There is a faster tourist line or a local line that stops at all the stations along the way.

One tip - you can get a bus from the airport to Naples but there are very long queues for it, or, you can share a taxi for about the same price - it was around 5 euros I think.

Naples is absolutely amazing and it is also the gateway to incredibly sites and places. But it is fair to say that it isn't for the faint hearted. It is loud 24/7, quite chaotic and the driving is something else. Yes there are some very grotty bits and in some ways it's a bit more like an Indian city - and has often been likened to one - although it isn't anywhere near as extreme! But the people are warm, the food and wine is to die for and the coffee is hands down the best. It's no more dangerous than any other large city and the crime rate is in fact lower than Rome or Venice. Pompeii and Herculaneum are easily and cheaply reached on the train, you can take ferries to Capri and/or Ischia and the stunning Amalfi coast is easily accessed. Herculaneum is arguably more interesting than Pompeii by the way, but the sheer scale of Pompeii is mind blowing. The archaeological museum in Naples is an absolute must see and I would add to that the Veiled Christ. You could stay there a whole year and not cover everything. They say Naples is the soul of Italy and it is easy to see why.

I was last in Naples two years ago. It’s a gritty grimy city which is bustling noisy with tiny streets. The people are fantastic and the food is fabulous, but I was definitely aware of keeping my bag super close at all times as mopeds brush pass you. I felt slightly more on edge than I did in other cities that I’ve been to.

In terms of energy, I would say Naples feels like the India of Europe - in a v good way. FULL of life, loud, authentic, unpolished.
Some areas were an eye-opener, and we didnt take our phones/ cameras out round there. But other than pickpocketing, we didn't feel particularly unsafe. You could take guided tours if you're a bit unsure.

Highlights were
-Cappella Sansevero - the most moving sculptures I've ever seen.
-Galleria Borbonica - tour of the underground aqueducts/ tunnels. The layers of history are fascinating.

😄 re Chelmsford comment!!