Naples - any thoughts?

1

1953

Well-known member
Off to Naples for a few days in June - is it as dangerous for tourists as people say?
 
Naples did have this dangerous tag historically, but like most major cities in Italy it will be chaotic with traffic and you will need to keep your eyes peeled for pickpockets. Having said that l wouldn’t hesitate in going, as l enjoy the major cities e.g Rome, Milan, Turin etc.
 
The only cruise I’ve been on docked in Naples and we were told not to wear any jewellery, watches etc, and don’t take much money. Not a great advert for the place. We walked across the dock and took the ferry to Capri, great place.
 
1953 said:
Off to Naples for a few days in June - is it as dangerous for tourists as people say?
Click to expand...
Went for a day out 3 years ago while staying in Sorrento.
The hotel and people on the same holiday advised against it saying it’s full of pick pockets and robbers but it’s something we just wanted to do going on the water taxi.
Anyway we still went and didn’t have any issues.
It’s a nice city in places but equally some real rough places which you avoid like the plague.
My advice is don’t flash any jewellery, cash, credit cards, around and try not to look too touristy.
 
Not stayed in the City but in Sorrento twice.We did the ferry to the City and went to the Museum where there are artefacts from Pompei and the Castle area where the ferries run.The metro is good for getting around..I am sure there is a lot to see but if you haven’t been before then the archeological sites of Pompei and Ercolano ( Herculaneum) are definitely worth a visit and can be reached by train from Naples.Also Vesuvius is worth the effort to go.
The ferries to Sorrento ( worth the effort and can also be done by train direct from Naples)) and Capri ( haven’t been) are regular but might be worth buying ,including the train,in advance,saves a lot of bother.
Amalfi Coast might be a bit too far but again worth it if you wish to do it.
Like any major City yes you have to be sensible and take precautions not to become a target for pickpockets,etc.

If you do Pompei I would definitely recommend having a guide for a couple of hours and set yourself some free time as well.Ercolano is better preserved but much smaller though like Pompei they are still excavating.

Enjoy your stay and don’t forget the food and wine😉
 
Last edited:
Loved Naples when I went and the only danger I felt was in the taxi from the airport the guy was absolutely racing down the streets. You see a lot of banged up cars around haha.

Only tips are if you want to see Pompeii give it a swerve and go to Herculaneum instead. It's better preserved and on the same train line. Train will be rammed and you'll notice nobody else gets off cause they're all going to Pompeii, so it's a better sightseeing location and quieter.

Also others are recommending Capri but I went to Iscia on the ferry for the day and that's nice too
 
The Amalfi coast looks picture postcard from out at sea, which is the best way to see it. We made the mistake of going by minibus, the traffic was horrendous & as usual the places were full of tack & stupidity priced stuff for the rich cruiser’s. We heard stories about Naples & the nearest we got was on the journey to Sorrento. Give me Skipton or Kirkby Lonsdale any day. 😃
 
We got a whistle stop taxi tour of the place when on a Med cruise.
Ourselves and another couple opted not to go on Thompsons organised trip to Pompeii and Herculaneum, so we just shared a taxi there and back, as we got a lot more time there.

On the way back to the boat he took us round the city ( more so the old town down the narrowest of streets ), at silly speeds.
What we saw didn’t really inspire us to get out the taxi, but it’s horses for courses as they say.
 
Am there on a cruise in September for the day. More than likely will just do the Pompeii trip.
 
Sooty59 said:
The Amalfi coast looks picture postcard from out at sea, which is the best way to see it. We made the mistake of going by minibus, the traffic was horrendous & as usual the places were full of tack & stupidity priced stuff for the rich cruiser’s. We heard stories about Naples & the nearest we got was on the journey to Sorrento. Give me Skipton or Kirkby Lonsdale any day. 😃
Click to expand...
I drove the Amalfi coast 5 years ago now that was an experience!😬😬
 
The centre is safe providing you use common sense. Lovely indoor Plaza which will match Milan.
Good base to do all the sights as mentioned on this thread. Easy access by Train, bus and Ferry.
 
Not very nice at all. Never felt threatened but they are a bit insular, don't care for tourists, not very friendly and it's just not that interesting of a place.

We had 2 weeks in Sorrento which is ace. They rely on tourism so can't do enough for you. We travelled down the Amalfi Coast which is one of the most glorious places in the world. Went across to Capri which is also gorgeous and then went to Naples for 4 nights. ☹ It was good to get to Herculaneum, Vesuvius and Ischia. Apart from that it's largely a shithole.
 
Really interesting city. Great food and wine, interesting architecture, Vesuvius, Pompeii and Herculaneum on the doorstep, fascinating museums ( as Bleach's previous post vividly demonstrates), and three beautiful and contrasting islands ( Ischia, Procida and Capri ) just a ferry away. The whole place is steeped in history. As long as you don't do anything daft like walking through the alleyways of the old city, bladdered after a long day on the beach, you should be fine.
 
Fully agree with everything Bleach said above. We actually stayed in Sorrento, only went to Naples for the day.

Sorrento remains the only place I've had a gun pointed at me by two locals in a car - I'm assuming it was a fake one, and they were just after what they considered to be a laugh. That aside, lovely place and a bus ride down the Amalfi coast is worth it if only to see the driver get out and negotiate passage for both directions at the tighter corners.

Whenever I think of Naples though, all I can see is the next time Vesuvius goes up, if it's as big as they say it's going to be.
 
1953 said:
Off to Naples for a few days in June - is it as dangerous for tourists as people say?
Click to expand...
Well I survived when I went! I quite liked the place. Had an amazing pizza at the place where it all began - with huge basil leaves and huge tomatoes.

Some of the old town streets are very long and narrow and built up with no escape routes so I can see why some people would avoid going down them late at night but most of the city has a normal modern layout and I, for one, never had any issues whilst there.
 
Like a number posting here I would recommend Ischia for a day trip, closer than Capri and less crowded and not expensive like Capri.

We stayed for a fortnight in Ischia and loved the place.

To help with an early flight home we overnighted in Naples and had a nice evening meal on the sea front, we visited the Museum and churches the next day and had no problems but as people say it has a bit of a reputation but you just have to be careful.
 
Spent 4 days there in 2018, never felt threatened, just keep your eyes open like you have to in any major city. The city centre is strange with high end designer shops along the Main Street and what you might call slums directly off it, we even wandered through those streets in daylight, not sure I would have at night.
The main promenade is really nice with plenty of restaurants and a police car seems to drive past about every 3 minutes!
 
Went 4 years ago felt very safe.
Would recommend the catacombs of San Genaro as a must visit.
Nearby is the original pizza, handmade with San Manzarno tomatoes, it is rolled up so be careful with tomato dripping down your clothes.
Also recommend Ischia, would love to go back for longer.
Did Herculaneum and Vesuvius on the same day.
We went for Glad’s significant birthday.
Used Jet2 city breaks.
Divertiti !!
 
Went to Naples and had a day trip to Sorrento, where the food was about 4 times more expensive. First impression getting off the train is rough, more like old Latin American cities. Food fantastic. Take the underground Naples tour, quite incredible when you are shown Roman Amphitheatre under houses and shops. Day trips to Mount Vesuvius, Herculaneum and Pompeii. The underground is sweltering but reliable and cheap.
 
To reply to the o/p question: try not to stand out too much. Locals immediately spotted us getting off train and shouted “Americano”. Close enough. Then someone asked for change. You could tell there were 3 or 4 of them lined up about to snatch my wallet. Don’t carry all your cash or all your cards with you at the same time. Don’t leave bags etc unzipped. Obvious stuff really which we tend to forget when we are on holiday.
 
My mate got done over a couple of years ago by pick pockets whilst he was on holiday in Naples. It coincided with his dad dying whilst he was away so a really unpleasant experience.

All I’ll say is enjoy yourself but have your wits about you. If you get the chance to go to Sorrento, Pompei, Capri and Ischia its well worth it.
 
Don’t even think about driving in Naples, it’s terrifying enough just being a pedestrian.
Things come at you from all directions. We nearly got wiped out by two ten (ish) year old girls driving a quad bike on the pavement!
Two of us got hit by pickpockets. Fortunately I only lost a train ticket.
 
Two of my female friends have just returned combining a couple of nights there with nights in Sorrento and Positano.
They just said to have your wits about you, but you have to do that in many places these days.
 
No good them pickpockets picking on Yarkshiremen unless they've got the longest arms in the world.😜
 
tangerine_neil said:
To reply to the o/p question: try not to stand out too much. Locals immediately spotted us getting off train and shouted “Americano”. Close enough. Then someone asked for change. You could tell there were 3 or 4 of them lined up about to snatch my wallet. Don’t carry all your cash or all your cards with you at the same time. Don’t leave bags etc unzipped. Obvious stuff really which we tend to forget when we are on holiday.
Click to expand...
Was that not Central Drive? 🤭
 
1953 said:
Off to Naples for a few days in June - is it as dangerous for tourists as people say?
Click to expand...
Yes! Great Pizza, but as advised don't show any signs of wealth. Brother and Sister in law also went there on a coach trip only to be involved in a head on Collision with a disenchanted, suicidal Napoli fan which resulted in fatalities to the Coach driver and idiotic fan and numerous serious injuries to the other passengers including my SIL and BIL. Safe... no, enjoyable, yes if you take care.
 
Naples is rough as so be careful. Go and have a look at Herculaneum it's superb. If you get a chance go to Sorrento and Sietti.
 
Went for a day last year;

Pizzas are great, but avoid the obvious tourist sites
When using a pedestrian crossing, don't assume a 'green man' gives you right of way - Neapolitans don't necessarily stop - especially the motor bike / scooter riders.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top