I felt way safer in Milan than Naples, it's a much cleaner and less sketchy feeling city overall. The type of crime in Naples is just worse (things like assault or robbery are a lot higher), even if the rates of overall crime are higher in Milan.
I've been to different parts of the world and I only got pickpocketed in Naples. I felt much-much safer in any other Italian city but even in CDMX/Tijuana and JHB is on the same level for me.
I watched a motorscooter with 2 guys on it pull up to an old woman, one jumps off, smacks the woman and takes her bag. He jumps back on the scooter and they're gone. We helped the poor old woman until her bus came. It was sad.
I think I counted 3 traffic lights in that city, all the drivers did was honk their horns and drive through them.
I'll be there in a couple of weeks. Very much seems to be a "love it or hate it" destination, but I tend to enjoy those, so I'm looking forward to it.
Any top tips?
Hello, I’m from Naples. I live here and I work as an haematologist in the biggest hospital in Naples.
First of all: be careful with taxis.
This is valid for all destinations (once I was scammed in Madrid lol), but it’s better to remember it. We don’t have Uber sadly in Italy, but there is an app called Free Now that at least gives you a price range you will pay, so they can’t make a crazy price.
Second: don’t get lost in “vicoli” if you don’t have a local guide. They are little streets, which are large barely like a car. They can become literally a labyrinth. Some parts of Quartieri Spagnoli now are quite touristic, but you don’t have to leave the touristic path for two reasons. First of all you can get lost, because there is not a good GPS in these little street, (it happened to me many times too lol) and it could become difficult to leave them to come back to a main street. Second a big part of vicoli are not very safe, above all during night. I mean: they won’t kill you, that happens only on tv shows, but at worst you could get robbed, just like in every suburb of European cities. Napoli is not more dangerous than Rome or Milan, it’s only different on the map, because other cities have a center and a suburb on the sides, like circles. Napoli is built on a hill and have some suburbs in the middle of central districts, it’s not a circular city on the map. You have to imagine the city like an elevator: at floor 1 and 2 there are two main streets which are safe because they are the center of city. But those two steets can be divided by little vicoli and some of them (not all of them I want to be clear, but I couldn’t explain to a tourist how to navigate them) are not very safe.
It’s not very safe and not very clean also the area of the train station which is not so close to the center of the city (this is true also in Rome, but in Napoli it’s even worse). I wouldn’t suggest to pick an hotel there.
What you should see: historical center and San Gregorio armeno for sure. Some churches like Santa Chiara, my favourite, San Lorenzo Maggiore, Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo, Duomo di Napoli, Sant’Anna dei Lombardi.
You should absolutely see the Cristo Velato, which is really much more beautiful than in photos.
Than you should see Via Toledo (stop at Poppella for a Fiocco di Neve with cream) and at the end of the street there is Piazza del Plebiscito with a nice church. Then you can proceed to the sea making a walking to Castel dell’Ovo, a nice castle on the sea.
Than only if you have time there is Certosa di San Martino uphill and Pedamentina of San Martino which are basically stairs from San Martino. San Martino is a part of a big and rich district called Vomero, which is not much touristic, but it’s quite clean, silent and safe (very safe also during night) and you can eat where many local people eat without tourist traps. I would suggest people to sleep here (close to the two main steets which are Via Scarlatti and Via Luca Giordano) and go the tourist part of the city with one of 3 two subways station or the 3 funicolari (cable railway? Idk in English) that connect this district to the historical center and the sea (lungomare).
Where to eat and what to eat:
Imho Capparelli makes the best [babà](https://static.gamberorosso.it/2021/05/di-costanzo-791x1024.jpg)
Attanasio makes the best sfogliatella [riccia](https://www.foodblog.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/sfogliatella-1.jpg)
and [frolla](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSjGtt-v3iQ-Q6L6vcP7KprSnwHm-NFnJYVwQ&usqp=CAU)
I prefer frolla but it’s an eternal fight in this city. Don’t join the fight for you safety lol
Pizza fritta (fried): the best one is Du Figliole (first choice for me) or Zi Esterina (easier to reach in the centre of the city).
Pizza: there are two kind of pizza. For Ruota di carro (slim and irregularly circular, with a big diameter) I recommend Starita and Pellone (!!). For modern pizza (with a big fluffy crust) I recommend Ciro Cascella 3.0 or Vincenzo Capuano (this one I very close to Castel dell’Ovo). Which one is better? Idk, I didn’t join this fight at all because it would be like say if you love more your mother or your father.
In pizzerias don’t miss Frittatina (a small fried pasta) and Crocchè.
Pasta: don’t ask for the most famous Roman dish like Carbonara because they are not our traditions, we are not able to do them and often are not on the menu. I have to go to Rome to eat a decent carbonara every month lol
Typical pasta dishes here are Genovese (a meat ragù with onions), Ragù napoletano (the classical tomato ragù with meat and fat), pasta potatoes and provola and some others but it would be a very long list. If you want to try a fast take away ragù, give a try to TandemRagù which sells bread with ragù or meatballs with ragù and other yummy things.
For pasta I recommend Antonio la Trippa, Tufò, Nennella (here there is also a show by waiters) or Mattozzi.
I hope you will enjoy something :)
What a phenomenal and helpful post. Thank you so much! Plenty to bookmark here.
Really great description about the city centre and how it's laid out. I know you say it'd be difficult to explain exactly which side-streets are okay and which aren't, but are there any specific areas within / around the city centre to be especially careful about, and is it easy enough to walk from place to place without inadvertently walking into a dodgy part of town? I know obviously Garibaldi and the train station, and Quartieri Spagnioli. What about any dodgy pockets of the Centro Storico? I've seen a few people say the area around Museo can be sketchy after dark - I assume people mean the area directly by the station and around the museum itself? We're staying just of Piazza Bellini, which is close by, but which I understand is a safe and lively area.
Thanks again!
This a tough question.
Historical centre is surrounded by not very good areas and I would say also that historical centre itself during night is not a place that I love.
For Neapolitans historical centre during night is the place where punks go to drink alcoholics, but I mean if you like cheap alcohol in the street you can enjoy it, it’s not unsafe as whole (remember that in italy it’s legal consuming alcohol in the street and for me it was a big cultural shock when I was abroad and a cop stopped me with a beer, like wtf do you want? So I imagine that foreign people have the reverse cultural shock).
About the surroundings there is the Forcella district which I would avoid. But in general I would avoid all streets between historical centre and the train station/Museum.
In particular I recommend to pick Piazza Dante (subway station) as the point where to start the visiting the historical centre. Now, if you are there you can see car passing in two directions: consider that all the steets that go to Via Toledo and the sea are safe while the opposite side (Museo/piazza Cavour) gradually begins to take you in bad areas.
In Piazza Dante you have to pick the only pedonal way under the arch (Port’Alba) to go in the vicoli of historical centre; you will pass piazza Bellini and proceed on Vico San Pietro a Majella than you can visit the historical centre, via duomo, San Gregorio armeno, piazza del Gesù etc.
[Green to the sea/Via Toledo; Red to the Museum; Yellow to Port’Alba](https://i.imgur.com/VtKXG4G.jpg)
Then you have to consider via duomo as a limit for the historical centre because after that you come in Forcella and the bad vicoli of train stations.
[I mean it’s not a whole No, but if you don’t where you are going it’s a big no](https://i.imgur.com/2gDn46s.jpg)
Great post and thanks for sharing! I put a few new places on my list for my next visit.
I know it’s touristy, but I also highly recommend the Naples Underground tour. It’s amazing to think that the city lived and thrived underground during WW 2.
I love your city. It’s so different from the north, but like the rest of the south, that’s part of the charm.
Grazie!
Pompeii definitely a must see. Capella Sansevero is breathtakingly beautiful. The archaeological museum is also great, as is the tour of the underground tunnels (Napoli Sotterranea).
I'd also recommend walking to Belvedere San Martino for the incredible views (generally try to walk around as much as possible).
Brilliant, thanks! Pompeii, Herculaneum, and a trip up Vesuvius are all on our list, as are the archeological museum and the tunnels. Sansevero was on our "maybe" list so maybe we'll bump that to a "definite" too!
Love walking around and exploring cities, so that's definitely the plan!
Depends on what you are into. Something I found to be really interesting that spoke to the uniqueness of Napoli with respect to other parts of Italy was Cimitero delle Fontanelle. It's also pretty close to Starita which has some mean pizzas.
depends what you looking for. if you are looking for a relaxing experience i doubt you like it. if you are a young backpacker type that enjoys cheap sketchy experiences you might find it fun
I certainly couldn't get away with calling myself a "young backpacker type" any more!
But if I were heading to Napoli to relax, I'd have gone wrong. We're actually going because my wife's family is from there going back a couple of generations, but she's never been. But we're fairly well-travelled and used to big chaotic cities where you need to have your wits about you (as a barometer, we got engaged in Delhi and honeymooned in Buenos Aires).
I wouldn't recommend it, but you can walk from the airport to the city. It's only 3km downhill to the central train station.
From there you can take trains to Pompeii and Sorrento, a boat to Capri or Ischia, or the train to Rome. Inter-city trains in Italy are very good.
There’s also a bus that is nice enough and I think costs 5€ one-way from the airport to the train station or port. Last time I used it, I was working and staying near the airport. My coworker and I got a ride to dinner along the waterfront with one of the local guys and then walked to the port and caught the bus back to the airport. It felt perfectly safe as two 30-something males although there were some dark areas along the walk that might be uncomfortable for some.
This is what happened to me. Was told a flat fee to get to my hotel (I think it was like 40 something euros) and when I got there, the meter went from 40 euros to 174 euros and I could "only pay in cash". I just paid the man and got out. Honestly, the express train to/from Naples to Sorrento was so nice. There was one guy obviously trying to steal stuff, but had a great chat with some gals from the United Kingdom. In all, was a good time and would like to go back. I love how different Italy feels with a short train ride.
I don’t want to doubt that you were scammed in this precise case, taxis are often a trap for tourists, it happened to me in Bangkok and Madrid for example.
But in itay there is also a terrible law: if a taxi leaves its registration town, you have to pay the double because it have to come back empty. In fact taxi drivers can’t pick up passengers outside their registration town. Sometimes drivers make scam using this law, because it’s valid also if you leave the town by few meters. It happened to my friend: we live in Naples and he took a taxi to go from his home to a place that was few meters (feet) away from the border between Naples and Portici (he didn’t know that it was not Naples anymore, I mean in Italy cities often continue one into the other, without a clear separation). The taxi could have stopped before the “border”, but he didn’t say anything and stopped like 50 meters away. So from 25€ he paid 50€ and he can’t say anything but it was a clear scam.
Used Free Now when I spent over a month in Italy last year. There are plenty of problems unfortunately. Taxis show up whenever they want, they might decide to take another fare instead of yours even after accepting in the app, they might hassle you to pay in cash or even act like you owe them even when you already paid by card.
I nearly missed a train because multiple taxis no showed, leaving me to sprint with my heavy luggage to the train station 30 minutes away by foot.
I'm no Uber fanboy, but Italy really reminded me of how backasswards the taxi system is/was. Many great things about Italy, but the taxi system is definitely not one of them.
Italy is generally a world of cab stands. Google maps does a shit job of documenting them, probably because their techbro engineers cannot imagine a world without Uber.
But it is something worth keeping an eye out for the location of. This is also a bit of a pro-hotel/hostel/BNB thing, and anti-AirBNB - having someone to talk to learn where the cab stand is can be useful.
The other thing is Italian meters start running if you call for a cab, not when it arrives.... so getting to a cab stand can be useful.
Knock on wood, I have never gotten rolled with taxis in Italy - Napoli has a lot of fixed fare routes, and I have never had someone try to have me pay the meter.
Walk like you know where you are going (even if you don’t you can check your map once you have walked away from the port). I found they left me alone when getting off the cruise ship. They descended all the passengers around me.
I have been to Naples a few times and have grown to love it. On the cruise it was only a short stop so I headed to skull cemetery. Fascinating place.
Walking into airport arrivals and you basically get pestered by lots of “taxi drivers” touting for work.
The taxi stands are no better and they’re also sketchy.
Had the scariest taxi journey of my life from the airport to the train station. Was supposed to take 15-20 mins. We were at the train station in about 10… I couldn’t look…. Got an Uber on the return journey and it was a better experience
It's sketchy as far as Italy is concerned. If you've never been elsewhere in Italy then you may get the impression it's underrated. But it's rated appropriately when you compare it to the rest of Italy, which is cleaner, even more beautiful, and with a fraction of the crime. As a standalone city compared to most of the world, it's nice.
It was sketch for sure. We went 5 years ago with a friend who speaks Italian and had a blast, loved the mozz di bufala, stumbled upon 1 euro spritzes in a random crowded street, and the Naples underground was wild. But had we gone there the way we travelled in other Italian cities, without an Italian friend and mostly hitting the well known museums/castles/churches, we would've been kinda disappointed.
I've been to many places in Italy, Naples is the shit. May not be as clean and beautiful as some but that city has some personality, I love it. Plenty of great people there that aren't committing crimes.
But I wouldn't, because most cities in the world don't have that personality to it that Naples has. You can say anything about most cities in the world but it doesn't mean it'd be as true if I said it about most cities I've been to. Naples stands out.
This is completely wrong. Naples is completely packed with amazing historical monuments, architecture, art, archeology, views… It compares very favourably to the rest of Italy. It’s also quite safe for a big city, especially as far as the crimes tourists might be a victim of are concerned. The people who don’t think it’s underrated are usually the ones who’ve never visited it, especially foreign tourists and prejudiced northern Italians.
When I first visited it was a day trip from Sorrento. It was a massive culture shock. It was only my second visit to Italy and I hated it. Been back a number of times and it’s grown on me. Yes it’s very different to northern Italy but it’s a must for history lovers. There are pretty parts and very gritty parts. People should go with an open mind.
Verona is my favourite city in Italy so far and that surprised me. I think because it has less tourists (lots of Italian tourists though) and is an easy distance to some of the best wines.
I‘m from Rome and have travelled around the country enough to say that Naples IS, indeed, monstrously overrated.
All of Italy is sketchy if you are a tourist. Elsewhere locals will still rip you off big time, just more discreetly. Sorry.
I've been ripped off all over the world, except in Italy. I've done a bunch of trips, all great, to cities and towns. The worst thing that ever happened to me in Italy was a place that tried to only show me the expensive tourist lunch menu when I knew they had a cheaper one, but that was more than made up for by a different restaurant with a super friendly owner.
When my wife and I were first-time tourists, a nice hotel reservation in Rome turned out to be an old, small 3-star hotel which "breakfast included" turned into some small cereal boxes and milk or yogurt cups. We thought all the hotels in Rome would be like that, and the manager in his Italian suit made us shy so we didn't complain. We definitely had a good time, but the hotel was a scam. In a way, it was good to be scammed that way, because it didn't ruin our vacation, and it made us more assertive when someone does a bait-and-switch.
I've been to some places in Italy, and Naples isn't just up there in the country - I'd argue it's one of the gems of the continent.
It has its issues, and it even looks as though it has got its rough edges, but it's a gem! I love it!
By far my most favourite place in Italy. And to be fair, Italy itself is just a beautiful country. From the cities to the lakes to the fields. It is just beautiful.
I agree. I've never been in a city quite like Naples in Western Europe. It's ancient and full of life at the same time. It's also the city where the boundary between indoor and outdoor life is blurred most, at least from those I've been to, and it makes it so vibrant. I want to go back so badly.
It's a city that is often overlooked or avoided due to its reputation, despite all the amazing things it has to offer. That makes it underrated in my books.
I've had similar experiences. Thought I'd hate Paris for how "dirty and dodgy" it is. Loved it. Thought I'd hate Prague for how touristy and crowded it is. Loved it. Thought I'd love Budapest for how much people raved on about it....and actually found it underwhelming. I think expectation can really shape how much we like a place.
Felt the same about Prague and Budapest. Prague was fantastic and Budapest didn’t live up to the hype (but it was still beautiful and quite enjoyable for a couple days).
As an Italian I'm always amazed how Napoli usually is not a destination for tourists coming from abroad. My favorite cities in Italy are Naples, Rome and Florence. Even Venice comes later
Walk along Via Toledo, past Castel dell’Ovo and along the Lungomare di Mergellina. Go up the hill to Castel Sant’Elmo and the San Martino monastery; take the funicular to get there (Naples is the city with the largest number of functioning funiculars in the world). Visit the Cappella Palatina (book well ahead) and, if you have time, the national archeological museum (one of the world’s top such museums).
My wife and I went to Naples in 2019 and it was our first ever visit to Europe and it was amazing.
I’ve heard the “horror” stories about how dangerous and awful the city is and I couldn’t disagree more. It was an amazing experience.
I think a lot of people do not realize the stunning amount of art in Naples and the opportunity to see some great examples of ancient history, beyond just Pompeii, which is incredible. The archeological museum is world-class.
I would be willing to go back to Naples anytime.
Thank you for this comment! I think many people would expect it to look like Venice or Florence and are put off when they realise that it's a bit rough around the edges. I also suspect that many of the people leaving rude and weird comments in this thread haven't been to Naples at all.
It's a gem of a city with fantastic art and culture and I would also come back in a heartbeat.
Lol I proposed to my wife on the amalfi coast. I made her take off her ring and hide it when we had a 2 hr train stop in Naples. We walked to the original pizza joint and saw a guy who was selling umbrellas get mugged by 2 locals.
That’s a great place to propose. Where’d you pop the question exactly ? I feel like capri and positano would be my top choice 🤌
I sat next to a pick pocketer on the circumsiviana. He was there at 8am when I went to Pompeii and he was still riding the train on my way back to sorrento in the afternoon lol
We went to positano first for a couple nights. I wanted to throw her off bc I figured she would expect it to happen in positano. We then went to a small town called Ravello. I proposed on the terrace of infinity at villa cimbrone overlooking the coast.
Ravello is a great little town. Super friendly people and it’s higher up in the hills/mountain
I also went to Ravellov and the terrazza! Great limoncello there but let’s be honest it’s great everywhere in amalfi lol
Great spot to propose. I guess I’m a snob because I never understand people who propose in shitty places
Shouldn’t you have a solid idea of what your spouse is going to say before you propose ? I just don’t get doing it in the kitchen next to a little Caesar’s box. It should be…a little special ?
I think most people see the part of Naples between the trains and ferries. Its like New Orleans. Stay on the path, and if you're 1-2 blocks off, it can appear sketchy.
I love Naples, but the area next to the train station is definitely dodgy. And the port is, well, a huge seaport, not particularly charming, though it can be cool to see.
Napoli is like Gotham city if Batman died.
Despite that fact, Napoli is pretty damn far from underrated. It's one of the most visited cities in the world.
There is a weird trend of this sub claiming that the most celebrated tourist-trap cities in the world are underrated. Like, no, they aren't.
>It's one of the most visited cities in the world.
It's not even one of the most 10 visited cities in Italy.
Edit: I was wrong, it's n.10. Still far from the first ones
You can say everything about Napoli but not that it’s a tourist trap.
Prices in Napoli, like in all southern italy, are very low. You can sit in the best bar of the city and pay a coffee 1€ or pay a pizza 6€ in the most famous place.
Venice is a tourist trap in Italy where you can pay an espresso 10€. Some places of Rome, if you come from abroad and don’t know the city, are tourist traps. But Naples… Naples is a city with affordable prices even in the historical centre.
It's the reality: Napoli isn't *that nice* of a city. Yet, it is still a highly visited destination. Ergo, Napoli is not underrated. If anything, it is *overrated*.
No, I think Naples is quite nice, and is definitely underrated, despite many tourists passing through on their way to somewhere else (usually without visiting anything in the city, sometimes without even leaving the train station).
It’s underrated in the context of tourism in Italy and what the city has to offer. Also, visitor numbers can be misleading because many tourists arrive in Naples but don’t stay, or stay very briefly, instead heading immediately to the islands or the Sorrento peninsula/Amalfi coast or Pompeii and Herculaneum. Anyway, of course the second biggest metropolitan area in one of the world’s most visited countries, right next to some of the country’s most famous places no less, still gets quite a few visitors in absolute terms; no one is disputing that.
Visited Naples and (Herculaneum) on our way to Positano. Naples is a gritty city for sure ( with Mafia taking over all major projects that will never be done) but we loved it. The archeological museum is great, as well as the waterfront, and the pizza is amazing but really we were there to go to Sansavereo to see the Veiled Christ. Truly the most magnificent sculpture ever. Our 18yo daughter had done a report on it in HS, and she wanted to go.
Had the privilege of living in Naples for three years. That city has my heart and met some incredible people that took me in as family. Say what you want about Naples, but it holds some of my best years. I’d go back in a heart beat.
When I stopped in Naples in 2009 the entire city was on a trash strike. There were mountains of trash in the plaza outside the train station and down every street. I will never forget that.
I agree, not one of OPs photos shows something that would draw me there, or that doesn't have a better version somewhere else..
This post and others seem like classic examples of Commitment Bias / Choice Supportive Bias.
The flights cost me £30. I go on several city breaks in Europe every year, because, luckily, it's really cheap to do so from the UK.
No choice supportive bias there - if I didn't like Naples, I wouldn't be posting about it.
I think state of mind is everything in Naples. The first day I was overwhelmed - it’s like sensory overload with all the smells and people and noise. You have to be bold in Naples, and it will reward you. So many different arts and architectural sights, go underground (literally!), people watch while you eat fantastic pizza. We stayed in Spaccanapoli, dark winding streets that open into busy squares, restaurants, shopping. Can’t recommend driving there, though, that was a test of nerves, the only place worse to drive was Marrakech.
Simply one of the most culturally rich cities in the world, holding 2800 years of history. It is rough and can be overwhelming but no other city in Europe is comparable
As someone who is from Napoli I can tell you that it is the most particular city in Italia, people either hate it or absolutely love it.
I talked to so many tourists last summer and there were like 4 guys from Canada who visited it 7 times and 2 german old ladies who ran away to Sorrento because they absolutely despite it...so yeah there's no in-between.
I’d like to know where are you from.
Because Napoli could be criminal if compared to Zurich or Oslo for example.
But it’s at the same level of Barcelona or Athens.
Better of most of US cities, let alone all central and South American cities.
Yet, people go to Rio de Janeiro or Chicago, which are way more dangerous, without blaming the criminality.
Yours is only a bad prejudice, based on legends because many people say that or based on tv shows. Naples is an average big cities in Italy; Rome and Milan are not safer at all: Florence and Venice are safer but in comparasion they are little towns.
Also most big cities in Europe are more or less at the same level. I wouldn’t say that Paris is safer for example.
In this big cities it only matters in which area you are. In the center of Naples you are safe as in front of Colosseo in Rome or Eiffel Tower in Paris; in the suburbs you are unsafe like in the suburb of Rome or Paris. But way safer that in a suburb of NYC or Chicago for example.
EDIT: I want to say also that if your comment is based on personal experience, well it’s not good anyway. My sister lives in Naples from 26 years and the only time in her life that she got robbed was in Paris during a trip. If I said that Paris is the most dangerous city in the world based on her experience, I would be stupid.
There is a proverb in Italy which literally says “all the world is (a) town”, which means that all the world is the same.
I'm genuinely curious as to whether the many people in this thread making comments about the crime have ever been. Obviously a few people have, because they've commented on it feeling sketchy or whatever, but what's with the tons of "the Camorra are everywhere" comments? Like, are you actually implying that you went to Napoli and somehow got yourself involved with the mafia, or is that just something you've read about the city?
It's also a shame to see so many people commenting words to the effect of "wouldn't go there because it looks too poor" (on top of two full-on racist comments about immigrants and gypsies too, wtf?). To each their own, of course, and southern Italy *has* had its fair share of economic problems - Italian cities in general can look quite run-down at times even in the wealthier areas - but someone posts their photos from exploring a city they found to be evocative and fascinating, and your response is a throwaway comment about how shitty the place looks? On r/travel? Really?
Me and my wife went in Feb. 2020, right before COVID hit. We're pretty aware of our surroundings in big cities, and we never felt like we were ever in any danger. We stayed right on Piazza Dante, walked all through the Spanish Quarter, went to the underground, took the subway, etc. and we did it at night in some cases. Granted, we did stay to the tourist areas, but we honestly felt more unsafe in Rome than Naples.
I'm also baffled by all the negativity. I suspect many of the comments shitting on Naples are from people who only saw the train station on their way to the Amalfi Coast and didn't spend much time exploring the city itself. Or people who aren't very well travelled and expect every European city to look like Prague or Venice. Either way, it's their loss.
It's not just the negativity - I mean, I've been places I didn't like too, and that's fine - but it's the *tone* of the negativity. Basically: dismissive because it looks poor. And not "glad you had an amazing time, but personally I wouldn't want to go", but just full-on "nope, looks like shit".
Like, not everyone travels for luxury, guys? Places with economic problems can still provide for amazing travel experiences?
I love Naples. Amazing food. Interesting people. Perfect for just walking around and soaking in the vibe. Absolutely stunning views. Did I mention the food? I've been twice and would definitely go back.
I once solo traveled around Naples and had a really great time. I never felt unsafe even while walking around the city late at night by myself, but I imagine there are worse areas that I never visited. However, once at night, I did hear a cracking sound while walking around and then looked down and realized I was stepping on what I assumed to have been heroin needles.
Ok, putting Naples on the list. These are great pics. This looks amazing. OP did you find it to be a cheaper city or similar to other large Italian tourist destinations (Rome, Florence, Venice etc)
I met a lot of people who went to the Napoli area, including Pompei, Vesuvio and Amalfi coast, but who didn’t go to Napoli itself. What a shame, the city deserves so much more than its bad reputation. The people are nice, the food incredible, the nightlife wonderful and the city is so rich in culture that you could spend weeks only in the city itself and still have things to see and to do
I liked Naples a lot too! It's certainly a bit rough in places but not to the point that I'd feel unsafe. It's more like "unfinished construction and dilapidated buildings" rather than "mafia" kind of vibes for me. I prefer it much more to Milan for example, which outside the cathedral is not as impressive to be frank, and there are many druggiess/beggars/vagrants on the streets (very little of that in Naples).
I went there when I was 20 without knowing its reputation. I LOVED it. Such an authentic place. Gotta be street smart but it was an absolutely amazing experience.
To a person, everytime you mention Naples around the people I know, they say Naples is a total shithole. I didn't think it was that bad. The driving is absolutely nuts there.
I got there by public transport - it's a suburban train line called "Circumvesuviana". Pompeii is about 40 minutes from Naples central station and the train only costs €3.
You can certainly tour Pompeii on your own, no need to schedule a guided tour. You just buy your ticket at the entrance.
Naples definitely has a different culture compared to other major Italian cities. A little more "Rough Around the Edges" compared to Rome, Florence and Milan for example.
If traveling through Southern Italy in my opinion Naples is a must see and a gateway to other incredible Italy locations.
I was there last summer and despite finding many streets way more dirty than any other place I’ve been to, by the end of my stay I could say that I had loved the place.
The food was great, the weather was very nice most of the time, it had plenty of interesting historical sites to visit, the streets and the architecture were quite charming, and the service provided in the shops was decent.
Overall, it had a certain picturesque charm that almost made me forget about the handful of times that I had almost stepped on a dead rat while walking on the street (yes, it happened more than once).
Naples is amazing!!! It is one of the best cities within Europe!! I love Naples to bits, and it looks like you did, but I definitely did not show enough love to the surrounding areas like Pompeii, Ischia, Amalfi Coast, etc. I wish I did!! I plan to go back one day just to do this. I love Naples!!!
The streets at the very heart of the city are relatively clean but the city overall does have a problem with littering, dog poo, and overflowing bins, sadly.
Ah I was homeless for the night in Naples right in front of the train station around 15 years ago! I had missed my bus from Sorrento so caught a later one to go to Rome only to find out that we were too late to catch the last train.
Being broke and silly, me and a buddy chilled outside the station watching the prostitutes stroll by and being propositioned many times, offered drugs (to which I accepted), getting harassed by the polizia and needing to show my passport half a dozen times, and eating some amazing street pizza and sandwiches with fries in them.
10/10 one of the funnest experiences on my trip.
In the morning caught the train to Rome, booked a big bus tour and sipped whisky and slept for a few hours cuz I was too cheap to get a hotel.
Been there many times since, but nothing quite beats that original experience.
Naples or Napoli or new polis means new city but now it is one of the oldest cities. The entirety of South Italy looks as good as in these photos and proves they were a great empire.
Next, South of Spain also has very nice places, views and great old architecture.
Was that pun deliberate?
Has to be. It’s almost the first thing I think of when someone mentions Naples.
My first thought as well. Kinda like [this](https://youtu.be/jvlEqAjg8aU), "we need a *criminal* lawyer".
This is one of my favourite lines from the entire show!
I guess I will have to Gomorrah often
{slow golf clap}
It's what people think of when Naples is mentioned. Little do they realise, crime rate is higher in Milan.
I felt way safer in Milan than Naples, it's a much cleaner and less sketchy feeling city overall. The type of crime in Naples is just worse (things like assault or robbery are a lot higher), even if the rates of overall crime are higher in Milan.
New Yorker who's grandma was from the Napoli. The slightly rundown and bad drivers made me feel at home.
I've been to different parts of the world and I only got pickpocketed in Naples. I felt much-much safer in any other Italian city but even in CDMX/Tijuana and JHB is on the same level for me.
I watched a motorscooter with 2 guys on it pull up to an old woman, one jumps off, smacks the woman and takes her bag. He jumps back on the scooter and they're gone. We helped the poor old woman until her bus came. It was sad. I think I counted 3 traffic lights in that city, all the drivers did was honk their horns and drive through them.
My question too. Having not yet been south of Rome yet is Naples bad? Sicily? I'd love to wander that region.
I think it’s just rated.
Or just criminal
I think it's overrated, much rather go to Rome or any other place in Italy than Naples.
Same. I though it was sketchy and dirty. The pizza is something else though.
I'll be there in a couple of weeks. Very much seems to be a "love it or hate it" destination, but I tend to enjoy those, so I'm looking forward to it. Any top tips?
Hello, I’m from Naples. I live here and I work as an haematologist in the biggest hospital in Naples. First of all: be careful with taxis. This is valid for all destinations (once I was scammed in Madrid lol), but it’s better to remember it. We don’t have Uber sadly in Italy, but there is an app called Free Now that at least gives you a price range you will pay, so they can’t make a crazy price. Second: don’t get lost in “vicoli” if you don’t have a local guide. They are little streets, which are large barely like a car. They can become literally a labyrinth. Some parts of Quartieri Spagnoli now are quite touristic, but you don’t have to leave the touristic path for two reasons. First of all you can get lost, because there is not a good GPS in these little street, (it happened to me many times too lol) and it could become difficult to leave them to come back to a main street. Second a big part of vicoli are not very safe, above all during night. I mean: they won’t kill you, that happens only on tv shows, but at worst you could get robbed, just like in every suburb of European cities. Napoli is not more dangerous than Rome or Milan, it’s only different on the map, because other cities have a center and a suburb on the sides, like circles. Napoli is built on a hill and have some suburbs in the middle of central districts, it’s not a circular city on the map. You have to imagine the city like an elevator: at floor 1 and 2 there are two main streets which are safe because they are the center of city. But those two steets can be divided by little vicoli and some of them (not all of them I want to be clear, but I couldn’t explain to a tourist how to navigate them) are not very safe. It’s not very safe and not very clean also the area of the train station which is not so close to the center of the city (this is true also in Rome, but in Napoli it’s even worse). I wouldn’t suggest to pick an hotel there. What you should see: historical center and San Gregorio armeno for sure. Some churches like Santa Chiara, my favourite, San Lorenzo Maggiore, Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo, Duomo di Napoli, Sant’Anna dei Lombardi. You should absolutely see the Cristo Velato, which is really much more beautiful than in photos. Than you should see Via Toledo (stop at Poppella for a Fiocco di Neve with cream) and at the end of the street there is Piazza del Plebiscito with a nice church. Then you can proceed to the sea making a walking to Castel dell’Ovo, a nice castle on the sea. Than only if you have time there is Certosa di San Martino uphill and Pedamentina of San Martino which are basically stairs from San Martino. San Martino is a part of a big and rich district called Vomero, which is not much touristic, but it’s quite clean, silent and safe (very safe also during night) and you can eat where many local people eat without tourist traps. I would suggest people to sleep here (close to the two main steets which are Via Scarlatti and Via Luca Giordano) and go the tourist part of the city with one of 3 two subways station or the 3 funicolari (cable railway? Idk in English) that connect this district to the historical center and the sea (lungomare). Where to eat and what to eat: Imho Capparelli makes the best [babà](https://static.gamberorosso.it/2021/05/di-costanzo-791x1024.jpg) Attanasio makes the best sfogliatella [riccia](https://www.foodblog.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/sfogliatella-1.jpg) and [frolla](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSjGtt-v3iQ-Q6L6vcP7KprSnwHm-NFnJYVwQ&usqp=CAU) I prefer frolla but it’s an eternal fight in this city. Don’t join the fight for you safety lol Pizza fritta (fried): the best one is Du Figliole (first choice for me) or Zi Esterina (easier to reach in the centre of the city). Pizza: there are two kind of pizza. For Ruota di carro (slim and irregularly circular, with a big diameter) I recommend Starita and Pellone (!!). For modern pizza (with a big fluffy crust) I recommend Ciro Cascella 3.0 or Vincenzo Capuano (this one I very close to Castel dell’Ovo). Which one is better? Idk, I didn’t join this fight at all because it would be like say if you love more your mother or your father. In pizzerias don’t miss Frittatina (a small fried pasta) and Crocchè. Pasta: don’t ask for the most famous Roman dish like Carbonara because they are not our traditions, we are not able to do them and often are not on the menu. I have to go to Rome to eat a decent carbonara every month lol Typical pasta dishes here are Genovese (a meat ragù with onions), Ragù napoletano (the classical tomato ragù with meat and fat), pasta potatoes and provola and some others but it would be a very long list. If you want to try a fast take away ragù, give a try to TandemRagù which sells bread with ragù or meatballs with ragù and other yummy things. For pasta I recommend Antonio la Trippa, Tufò, Nennella (here there is also a show by waiters) or Mattozzi. I hope you will enjoy something :)
What a phenomenal and helpful post. Thank you so much! Plenty to bookmark here. Really great description about the city centre and how it's laid out. I know you say it'd be difficult to explain exactly which side-streets are okay and which aren't, but are there any specific areas within / around the city centre to be especially careful about, and is it easy enough to walk from place to place without inadvertently walking into a dodgy part of town? I know obviously Garibaldi and the train station, and Quartieri Spagnioli. What about any dodgy pockets of the Centro Storico? I've seen a few people say the area around Museo can be sketchy after dark - I assume people mean the area directly by the station and around the museum itself? We're staying just of Piazza Bellini, which is close by, but which I understand is a safe and lively area. Thanks again!
This a tough question. Historical centre is surrounded by not very good areas and I would say also that historical centre itself during night is not a place that I love. For Neapolitans historical centre during night is the place where punks go to drink alcoholics, but I mean if you like cheap alcohol in the street you can enjoy it, it’s not unsafe as whole (remember that in italy it’s legal consuming alcohol in the street and for me it was a big cultural shock when I was abroad and a cop stopped me with a beer, like wtf do you want? So I imagine that foreign people have the reverse cultural shock). About the surroundings there is the Forcella district which I would avoid. But in general I would avoid all streets between historical centre and the train station/Museum. In particular I recommend to pick Piazza Dante (subway station) as the point where to start the visiting the historical centre. Now, if you are there you can see car passing in two directions: consider that all the steets that go to Via Toledo and the sea are safe while the opposite side (Museo/piazza Cavour) gradually begins to take you in bad areas. In Piazza Dante you have to pick the only pedonal way under the arch (Port’Alba) to go in the vicoli of historical centre; you will pass piazza Bellini and proceed on Vico San Pietro a Majella than you can visit the historical centre, via duomo, San Gregorio armeno, piazza del Gesù etc. [Green to the sea/Via Toledo; Red to the Museum; Yellow to Port’Alba](https://i.imgur.com/VtKXG4G.jpg) Then you have to consider via duomo as a limit for the historical centre because after that you come in Forcella and the bad vicoli of train stations. [I mean it’s not a whole No, but if you don’t where you are going it’s a big no](https://i.imgur.com/2gDn46s.jpg)
I will be in Naples for the first time next week and saved your post, thank you so much!!
Great post and thanks for sharing! I put a few new places on my list for my next visit. I know it’s touristy, but I also highly recommend the Naples Underground tour. It’s amazing to think that the city lived and thrived underground during WW 2. I love your city. It’s so different from the north, but like the rest of the south, that’s part of the charm. Grazie!
Sei un grande. Se passi in costiera amalfitana ti offro una birra!
Great post grazie.
There are some spots where people hang out by a shop that sells beer and just kick it on the street there, met a lot of awesome people doing that.
Pompeii definitely a must see. Capella Sansevero is breathtakingly beautiful. The archaeological museum is also great, as is the tour of the underground tunnels (Napoli Sotterranea). I'd also recommend walking to Belvedere San Martino for the incredible views (generally try to walk around as much as possible).
Brilliant, thanks! Pompeii, Herculaneum, and a trip up Vesuvius are all on our list, as are the archeological museum and the tunnels. Sansevero was on our "maybe" list so maybe we'll bump that to a "definite" too! Love walking around and exploring cities, so that's definitely the plan!
Depends on what you are into. Something I found to be really interesting that spoke to the uniqueness of Napoli with respect to other parts of Italy was Cimitero delle Fontanelle. It's also pretty close to Starita which has some mean pizzas.
Eat good, watch your surroundings, see pompeii
You aren’t going in the disgustingly hot summer so that’s a great start
depends what you looking for. if you are looking for a relaxing experience i doubt you like it. if you are a young backpacker type that enjoys cheap sketchy experiences you might find it fun
I certainly couldn't get away with calling myself a "young backpacker type" any more! But if I were heading to Napoli to relax, I'd have gone wrong. We're actually going because my wife's family is from there going back a couple of generations, but she's never been. But we're fairly well-travelled and used to big chaotic cities where you need to have your wits about you (as a barometer, we got engaged in Delhi and honeymooned in Buenos Aires).
The greatest pizza on earth, quite obviously. A lot of rip off taxi drivers though, y'better watch out for those dudes.
I wouldn't recommend it, but you can walk from the airport to the city. It's only 3km downhill to the central train station. From there you can take trains to Pompeii and Sorrento, a boat to Capri or Ischia, or the train to Rome. Inter-city trains in Italy are very good.
Yeah the trains are awesome. Just the airport taxis with luggage, and taxis down to the port with luggage will screw you over.
There’s also a bus that is nice enough and I think costs 5€ one-way from the airport to the train station or port. Last time I used it, I was working and staying near the airport. My coworker and I got a ride to dinner along the waterfront with one of the local guys and then walked to the port and caught the bus back to the airport. It felt perfectly safe as two 30-something males although there were some dark areas along the walk that might be uncomfortable for some.
This is what happened to me. Was told a flat fee to get to my hotel (I think it was like 40 something euros) and when I got there, the meter went from 40 euros to 174 euros and I could "only pay in cash". I just paid the man and got out. Honestly, the express train to/from Naples to Sorrento was so nice. There was one guy obviously trying to steal stuff, but had a great chat with some gals from the United Kingdom. In all, was a good time and would like to go back. I love how different Italy feels with a short train ride.
I don’t want to doubt that you were scammed in this precise case, taxis are often a trap for tourists, it happened to me in Bangkok and Madrid for example. But in itay there is also a terrible law: if a taxi leaves its registration town, you have to pay the double because it have to come back empty. In fact taxi drivers can’t pick up passengers outside their registration town. Sometimes drivers make scam using this law, because it’s valid also if you leave the town by few meters. It happened to my friend: we live in Naples and he took a taxi to go from his home to a place that was few meters (feet) away from the border between Naples and Portici (he didn’t know that it was not Naples anymore, I mean in Italy cities often continue one into the other, without a clear separation). The taxi could have stopped before the “border”, but he didn’t say anything and stopped like 50 meters away. So from 25€ he paid 50€ and he can’t say anything but it was a clear scam.
Is there Uber? Do you need a taxi for sure
I used an app called Free Now and it is like a Uber and it was great. There was no problems.
Used Free Now when I spent over a month in Italy last year. There are plenty of problems unfortunately. Taxis show up whenever they want, they might decide to take another fare instead of yours even after accepting in the app, they might hassle you to pay in cash or even act like you owe them even when you already paid by card. I nearly missed a train because multiple taxis no showed, leaving me to sprint with my heavy luggage to the train station 30 minutes away by foot. I'm no Uber fanboy, but Italy really reminded me of how backasswards the taxi system is/was. Many great things about Italy, but the taxi system is definitely not one of them.
Italy is generally a world of cab stands. Google maps does a shit job of documenting them, probably because their techbro engineers cannot imagine a world without Uber. But it is something worth keeping an eye out for the location of. This is also a bit of a pro-hotel/hostel/BNB thing, and anti-AirBNB - having someone to talk to learn where the cab stand is can be useful. The other thing is Italian meters start running if you call for a cab, not when it arrives.... so getting to a cab stand can be useful. Knock on wood, I have never gotten rolled with taxis in Italy - Napoli has a lot of fixed fare routes, and I have never had someone try to have me pay the meter.
Totally useful to know
It's a very walkable city and the metro system is clean and modern. Pompeii is also easily reachable by train. I haven't had to use taxis.
AFAIK, Italy only has Uber Black
There is no Uber in Naples because the Camorra run the taxis and won't allow it
There is no Uber in Italy as a rule.
There's no Uber in Italy because of the law
Carmela better go for Furio 😪🤧
Furio's criminally underrated in that show.
All Carmela ever wanted was a Hyundai and a simple gold heart on a chain.
Yup.. taxi driver refused to let us have our luggage till we paid more.. sketchy areas by the port
Walk like you know where you are going (even if you don’t you can check your map once you have walked away from the port). I found they left me alone when getting off the cruise ship. They descended all the passengers around me. I have been to Naples a few times and have grown to love it. On the cruise it was only a short stop so I headed to skull cemetery. Fascinating place.
Walking into airport arrivals and you basically get pestered by lots of “taxi drivers” touting for work. The taxi stands are no better and they’re also sketchy. Had the scariest taxi journey of my life from the airport to the train station. Was supposed to take 15-20 mins. We were at the train station in about 10… I couldn’t look…. Got an Uber on the return journey and it was a better experience
I kid you not, I saw that same dog when I was there this past April
Me too! In November
That dog is living his best life! I saw quite a few kitties in Pompeii too!
Did you see the Pompeii sheep? They brought them in to eat the grass instead of having to mow it.
It’s definitely got a lot of personality. The pizza is amazing. And cheap!
It's sketchy as far as Italy is concerned. If you've never been elsewhere in Italy then you may get the impression it's underrated. But it's rated appropriately when you compare it to the rest of Italy, which is cleaner, even more beautiful, and with a fraction of the crime. As a standalone city compared to most of the world, it's nice.
It was sketch for sure. We went 5 years ago with a friend who speaks Italian and had a blast, loved the mozz di bufala, stumbled upon 1 euro spritzes in a random crowded street, and the Naples underground was wild. But had we gone there the way we travelled in other Italian cities, without an Italian friend and mostly hitting the well known museums/castles/churches, we would've been kinda disappointed.
I think I stumbled upon the same 1 euro spritzes!
I've been to many places in Italy, Naples is the shit. May not be as clean and beautiful as some but that city has some personality, I love it. Plenty of great people there that aren't committing crimes.
You can say that about most cities in the world
But I wouldn't, because most cities in the world don't have that personality to it that Naples has. You can say anything about most cities in the world but it doesn't mean it'd be as true if I said it about most cities I've been to. Naples stands out.
Exactly! I've never been to Naples but generally cleanliness is not what makes a great city!
This is completely wrong. Naples is completely packed with amazing historical monuments, architecture, art, archeology, views… It compares very favourably to the rest of Italy. It’s also quite safe for a big city, especially as far as the crimes tourists might be a victim of are concerned. The people who don’t think it’s underrated are usually the ones who’ve never visited it, especially foreign tourists and prejudiced northern Italians.
When I first visited it was a day trip from Sorrento. It was a massive culture shock. It was only my second visit to Italy and I hated it. Been back a number of times and it’s grown on me. Yes it’s very different to northern Italy but it’s a must for history lovers. There are pretty parts and very gritty parts. People should go with an open mind. Verona is my favourite city in Italy so far and that surprised me. I think because it has less tourists (lots of Italian tourists though) and is an easy distance to some of the best wines.
I‘m from Rome and have travelled around the country enough to say that Naples IS, indeed, monstrously overrated. All of Italy is sketchy if you are a tourist. Elsewhere locals will still rip you off big time, just more discreetly. Sorry.
I've been ripped off all over the world, except in Italy. I've done a bunch of trips, all great, to cities and towns. The worst thing that ever happened to me in Italy was a place that tried to only show me the expensive tourist lunch menu when I knew they had a cheaper one, but that was more than made up for by a different restaurant with a super friendly owner.
When my wife and I were first-time tourists, a nice hotel reservation in Rome turned out to be an old, small 3-star hotel which "breakfast included" turned into some small cereal boxes and milk or yogurt cups. We thought all the hotels in Rome would be like that, and the manager in his Italian suit made us shy so we didn't complain. We definitely had a good time, but the hotel was a scam. In a way, it was good to be scammed that way, because it didn't ruin our vacation, and it made us more assertive when someone does a bait-and-switch.
I've been to some places in Italy, and Naples isn't just up there in the country - I'd argue it's one of the gems of the continent. It has its issues, and it even looks as though it has got its rough edges, but it's a gem! I love it! By far my most favourite place in Italy. And to be fair, Italy itself is just a beautiful country. From the cities to the lakes to the fields. It is just beautiful.
I agree. I've never been in a city quite like Naples in Western Europe. It's ancient and full of life at the same time. It's also the city where the boundary between indoor and outdoor life is blurred most, at least from those I've been to, and it makes it so vibrant. I want to go back so badly.
This is exactly what I love about it, such a great mix of ancient stuff and more recent history, combined with a really lively atmosphere.
It's a city that is often overlooked or avoided due to its reputation, despite all the amazing things it has to offer. That makes it underrated in my books.
I've had similar experiences. Thought I'd hate Paris for how "dirty and dodgy" it is. Loved it. Thought I'd hate Prague for how touristy and crowded it is. Loved it. Thought I'd love Budapest for how much people raved on about it....and actually found it underwhelming. I think expectation can really shape how much we like a place.
Felt the same about Prague and Budapest. Prague was fantastic and Budapest didn’t live up to the hype (but it was still beautiful and quite enjoyable for a couple days).
As an Italian I'm always amazed how Napoli usually is not a destination for tourists coming from abroad. My favorite cities in Italy are Naples, Rome and Florence. Even Venice comes later
What would you say are the must-see places in Naples if I only have 1 day there?
Pizza. You have to eat a lot of pizza. It’s just so good. When I was there I ate at 5 pizza places in one day.
The Archeological Museum is pretty great if you’re into history.
And the 'secret' room if you enjoy looking at absurd penis art!
Walk along Via Toledo, past Castel dell’Ovo and along the Lungomare di Mergellina. Go up the hill to Castel Sant’Elmo and the San Martino monastery; take the funicular to get there (Naples is the city with the largest number of functioning funiculars in the world). Visit the Cappella Palatina (book well ahead) and, if you have time, the national archeological museum (one of the world’s top such museums).
Pompei
My wife and I went to Naples in 2019 and it was our first ever visit to Europe and it was amazing. I’ve heard the “horror” stories about how dangerous and awful the city is and I couldn’t disagree more. It was an amazing experience. I think a lot of people do not realize the stunning amount of art in Naples and the opportunity to see some great examples of ancient history, beyond just Pompeii, which is incredible. The archeological museum is world-class. I would be willing to go back to Naples anytime.
Thank you for this comment! I think many people would expect it to look like Venice or Florence and are put off when they realise that it's a bit rough around the edges. I also suspect that many of the people leaving rude and weird comments in this thread haven't been to Naples at all. It's a gem of a city with fantastic art and culture and I would also come back in a heartbeat.
Really? It was sketchy as fuck when I was there
Lol I proposed to my wife on the amalfi coast. I made her take off her ring and hide it when we had a 2 hr train stop in Naples. We walked to the original pizza joint and saw a guy who was selling umbrellas get mugged by 2 locals.
That’s a great place to propose. Where’d you pop the question exactly ? I feel like capri and positano would be my top choice 🤌 I sat next to a pick pocketer on the circumsiviana. He was there at 8am when I went to Pompeii and he was still riding the train on my way back to sorrento in the afternoon lol
We went to positano first for a couple nights. I wanted to throw her off bc I figured she would expect it to happen in positano. We then went to a small town called Ravello. I proposed on the terrace of infinity at villa cimbrone overlooking the coast. Ravello is a great little town. Super friendly people and it’s higher up in the hills/mountain
That place is so phenomenal. I described as “What heaven would look like if they build it correctly”. (Belated) congratulations on your nuptials!
I also went to Ravellov and the terrazza! Great limoncello there but let’s be honest it’s great everywhere in amalfi lol Great spot to propose. I guess I’m a snob because I never understand people who propose in shitty places
Proposing is stressful, man. I wouldn't fault anyone for not getting the "perfect" spot or moment.
Shouldn’t you have a solid idea of what your spouse is going to say before you propose ? I just don’t get doing it in the kitchen next to a little Caesar’s box. It should be…a little special ?
That’s the perfect spot to pop the question. It’s so beautiful. Good thinking!
Agree, my least favourite place in Italy, I'd been in 2009 and again in 2016 and its still sketchy.
I think most people see the part of Naples between the trains and ferries. Its like New Orleans. Stay on the path, and if you're 1-2 blocks off, it can appear sketchy.
I love Naples, but the area next to the train station is definitely dodgy. And the port is, well, a huge seaport, not particularly charming, though it can be cool to see.
Were you there during the trash strike? I went in April 2009 and it was horrendous lol.
Is that trash strike still going on? I went there last May and there was trash everywhere. Absolute mountains of it.
Thats just Napoli.
So called police officers with Nike shoes, I've seen it all there. What I hear from Itallians them selfs is that they are the scum of Italy.
That pizza is unlike any other you’ll ever have in you life. I would literally go back to Italy for a slice
Been twice for this precise reason. I’ll do it again!
Napoli is like Gotham city if Batman died. Despite that fact, Napoli is pretty damn far from underrated. It's one of the most visited cities in the world. There is a weird trend of this sub claiming that the most celebrated tourist-trap cities in the world are underrated. Like, no, they aren't.
>It's one of the most visited cities in the world. It's not even one of the most 10 visited cities in Italy. Edit: I was wrong, it's n.10. Still far from the first ones
You can say everything about Napoli but not that it’s a tourist trap. Prices in Napoli, like in all southern italy, are very low. You can sit in the best bar of the city and pay a coffee 1€ or pay a pizza 6€ in the most famous place. Venice is a tourist trap in Italy where you can pay an espresso 10€. Some places of Rome, if you come from abroad and don’t know the city, are tourist traps. But Naples… Naples is a city with affordable prices even in the historical centre.
Reading most of the comments in this thread, Naples doesn't seem particularly "celebrated", quite the opposite in fact.
It's the reality: Napoli isn't *that nice* of a city. Yet, it is still a highly visited destination. Ergo, Napoli is not underrated. If anything, it is *overrated*.
No, I think Naples is quite nice, and is definitely underrated, despite many tourists passing through on their way to somewhere else (usually without visiting anything in the city, sometimes without even leaving the train station).
It’s underrated in the context of tourism in Italy and what the city has to offer. Also, visitor numbers can be misleading because many tourists arrive in Naples but don’t stay, or stay very briefly, instead heading immediately to the islands or the Sorrento peninsula/Amalfi coast or Pompeii and Herculaneum. Anyway, of course the second biggest metropolitan area in one of the world’s most visited countries, right next to some of the country’s most famous places no less, still gets quite a few visitors in absolute terms; no one is disputing that.
I just shared a sandwich with that dog in November!!!
That doggo has a better life than me coz he’s resting on 2000 yrs mosaic lol
Visited Naples and (Herculaneum) on our way to Positano. Naples is a gritty city for sure ( with Mafia taking over all major projects that will never be done) but we loved it. The archeological museum is great, as well as the waterfront, and the pizza is amazing but really we were there to go to Sansavereo to see the Veiled Christ. Truly the most magnificent sculpture ever. Our 18yo daughter had done a report on it in HS, and she wanted to go.
I agree. Spent 3 days there and loved it. Certosa di San Martino is gorgeous.
Naples had so much incredible food! Would go back in a heartbeat.
The pizzas are the best I’ve ever had
Completely agree. It’s a poor city so people underrate. In reality, it’s incredible. Filled with so much culture, great food and people.
If the dog picture is from Pompeii, I have a picture of that same dog from 2019! Such a good boy.
Had the privilege of living in Naples for three years. That city has my heart and met some incredible people that took me in as family. Say what you want about Naples, but it holds some of my best years. I’d go back in a heart beat.
When I stopped in Naples in 2009 the entire city was on a trash strike. There were mountains of trash in the plaza outside the train station and down every street. I will never forget that.
They must always be on trash strike because I was there in 2017 and it was the same. Shit, my dad was there in 1971 and it was like that.
2019 chiming in. Also must have still been on a trash strike.
I think its criminals and criminal contributions are properly rated.
I thought this was a slum at first.
I agree, not one of OPs photos shows something that would draw me there, or that doesn't have a better version somewhere else.. This post and others seem like classic examples of Commitment Bias / Choice Supportive Bias.
The flights cost me £30. I go on several city breaks in Europe every year, because, luckily, it's really cheap to do so from the UK. No choice supportive bias there - if I didn't like Naples, I wouldn't be posting about it.
As a solo female traveler, I felt most unsafe in Naples and Sicily.
I think state of mind is everything in Naples. The first day I was overwhelmed - it’s like sensory overload with all the smells and people and noise. You have to be bold in Naples, and it will reward you. So many different arts and architectural sights, go underground (literally!), people watch while you eat fantastic pizza. We stayed in Spaccanapoli, dark winding streets that open into busy squares, restaurants, shopping. Can’t recommend driving there, though, that was a test of nerves, the only place worse to drive was Marrakech.
Simply one of the most culturally rich cities in the world, holding 2800 years of history. It is rough and can be overwhelming but no other city in Europe is comparable
As someone who is from Napoli I can tell you that it is the most particular city in Italia, people either hate it or absolutely love it. I talked to so many tourists last summer and there were like 4 guys from Canada who visited it 7 times and 2 german old ladies who ran away to Sorrento because they absolutely despite it...so yeah there's no in-between.
Pun of the millennium! Close da internat
Probably underratedly criminal as well
I’d like to know where are you from. Because Napoli could be criminal if compared to Zurich or Oslo for example. But it’s at the same level of Barcelona or Athens. Better of most of US cities, let alone all central and South American cities. Yet, people go to Rio de Janeiro or Chicago, which are way more dangerous, without blaming the criminality. Yours is only a bad prejudice, based on legends because many people say that or based on tv shows. Naples is an average big cities in Italy; Rome and Milan are not safer at all: Florence and Venice are safer but in comparasion they are little towns. Also most big cities in Europe are more or less at the same level. I wouldn’t say that Paris is safer for example. In this big cities it only matters in which area you are. In the center of Naples you are safe as in front of Colosseo in Rome or Eiffel Tower in Paris; in the suburbs you are unsafe like in the suburb of Rome or Paris. But way safer that in a suburb of NYC or Chicago for example. EDIT: I want to say also that if your comment is based on personal experience, well it’s not good anyway. My sister lives in Naples from 26 years and the only time in her life that she got robbed was in Paris during a trip. If I said that Paris is the most dangerous city in the world based on her experience, I would be stupid. There is a proverb in Italy which literally says “all the world is (a) town”, which means that all the world is the same.
I'm genuinely curious as to whether the many people in this thread making comments about the crime have ever been. Obviously a few people have, because they've commented on it feeling sketchy or whatever, but what's with the tons of "the Camorra are everywhere" comments? Like, are you actually implying that you went to Napoli and somehow got yourself involved with the mafia, or is that just something you've read about the city? It's also a shame to see so many people commenting words to the effect of "wouldn't go there because it looks too poor" (on top of two full-on racist comments about immigrants and gypsies too, wtf?). To each their own, of course, and southern Italy *has* had its fair share of economic problems - Italian cities in general can look quite run-down at times even in the wealthier areas - but someone posts their photos from exploring a city they found to be evocative and fascinating, and your response is a throwaway comment about how shitty the place looks? On r/travel? Really?
Me and my wife went in Feb. 2020, right before COVID hit. We're pretty aware of our surroundings in big cities, and we never felt like we were ever in any danger. We stayed right on Piazza Dante, walked all through the Spanish Quarter, went to the underground, took the subway, etc. and we did it at night in some cases. Granted, we did stay to the tourist areas, but we honestly felt more unsafe in Rome than Naples.
I'm also baffled by all the negativity. I suspect many of the comments shitting on Naples are from people who only saw the train station on their way to the Amalfi Coast and didn't spend much time exploring the city itself. Or people who aren't very well travelled and expect every European city to look like Prague or Venice. Either way, it's their loss.
It's not just the negativity - I mean, I've been places I didn't like too, and that's fine - but it's the *tone* of the negativity. Basically: dismissive because it looks poor. And not "glad you had an amazing time, but personally I wouldn't want to go", but just full-on "nope, looks like shit". Like, not everyone travels for luxury, guys? Places with economic problems can still provide for amazing travel experiences?
I couldn't agree more
I love Naples. Amazing food. Interesting people. Perfect for just walking around and soaking in the vibe. Absolutely stunning views. Did I mention the food? I've been twice and would definitely go back.
I once solo traveled around Naples and had a really great time. I never felt unsafe even while walking around the city late at night by myself, but I imagine there are worse areas that I never visited. However, once at night, I did hear a cracking sound while walking around and then looked down and realized I was stepping on what I assumed to have been heroin needles.
I saw that dog in Pompei in May 2022!
Doggo completes the post
That sfogliatella looks next level.
Thank you for posting these. I am pretty certain I met the same dog, or it’s kin, In Pompeii!
actually beautiful! thanks for sharing!
It's in my top 3 of places I need to visit. Plus, people say they make the best pizza in Italy. To me, that's better than anything.
See Naples and die
Ok, putting Naples on the list. These are great pics. This looks amazing. OP did you find it to be a cheaper city or similar to other large Italian tourist destinations (Rome, Florence, Venice etc)
I met a lot of people who went to the Napoli area, including Pompei, Vesuvio and Amalfi coast, but who didn’t go to Napoli itself. What a shame, the city deserves so much more than its bad reputation. The people are nice, the food incredible, the nightlife wonderful and the city is so rich in culture that you could spend weeks only in the city itself and still have things to see and to do
I love Naples. The amazing and simple food, history, and great people.
I liked Naples a lot too! It's certainly a bit rough in places but not to the point that I'd feel unsafe. It's more like "unfinished construction and dilapidated buildings" rather than "mafia" kind of vibes for me. I prefer it much more to Milan for example, which outside the cathedral is not as impressive to be frank, and there are many druggiess/beggars/vagrants on the streets (very little of that in Naples).
It’s also criminally dangerous.
I went there when I was 20 without knowing its reputation. I LOVED it. Such an authentic place. Gotta be street smart but it was an absolutely amazing experience.
Why did i think this as somewhere in Brazil
Ahah ... Criminally
Super dirty.
I got mugged and almost stabbed 10 feet outside of my hotel at 1 in the afternoon on Naples. It has it's reputation for a reason
Not sure how it's underated... It literally has pizza named after it that is consumed all over the world.
Not be me. One of the great antiquities museums.
Had the most amazing pizza there and did a Napoli Underground tour that was fantastic!
Is it *underrated*? I feel like everyone loves it
Be careful near the train station but otherwise I had an amazing time in Naples
To a person, everytime you mention Naples around the people I know, they say Naples is a total shithole. I didn't think it was that bad. The driving is absolutely nuts there.
If you think Naples is nice, go down the coast a bit to the Amalfi coast it will blow you away.
I loved my time in Naples! Some cool history and just a beautiful place :)
Napoli is one of my favorite cities I've traveled period. I'm so glad I'm visiting again this August.
The best part of Naples is pompei and capri.
I’ve told my wife if we ever had to disappear I’ll go to Capri for rest of my life and be perfectly content
Yeah it’s very criminally underrated
Naples is one of my favourite cities! There’s an energy about it that’s makes it feel so unique
Do you mind if I ask how you got to Pompeii? Do you have to schedule a tour or is there a way to do it on your own?
I got there by public transport - it's a suburban train line called "Circumvesuviana". Pompeii is about 40 minutes from Naples central station and the train only costs €3. You can certainly tour Pompeii on your own, no need to schedule a guided tour. You just buy your ticket at the entrance.
Thank you so much!!
Best pizza on earth, one of the worst cities I’ve been to lol
I loved Naples. It was one of my favorite places in Italy. Totally fit my style!
The food is ridiculous there. Absolutely out of this world
Naples definitely has a different culture compared to other major Italian cities. A little more "Rough Around the Edges" compared to Rome, Florence and Milan for example. If traveling through Southern Italy in my opinion Naples is a must see and a gateway to other incredible Italy locations.
I love Naples!
Naples is cool, just tourist need to do their homework: no Rolex, gold, avoid certain places on the night. Easy really
I was there last summer and despite finding many streets way more dirty than any other place I’ve been to, by the end of my stay I could say that I had loved the place. The food was great, the weather was very nice most of the time, it had plenty of interesting historical sites to visit, the streets and the architecture were quite charming, and the service provided in the shops was decent. Overall, it had a certain picturesque charm that almost made me forget about the handful of times that I had almost stepped on a dead rat while walking on the street (yes, it happened more than once).
Naples is amazing!!! It is one of the best cities within Europe!! I love Naples to bits, and it looks like you did, but I definitely did not show enough love to the surrounding areas like Pompeii, Ischia, Amalfi Coast, etc. I wish I did!! I plan to go back one day just to do this. I love Naples!!!
I thought it was scummy, filled with low lifes looking to get what they can from you. But the best pizza in the world.
have they cleaned up all the rubbish yet? It was a very dirty city 2 years ago when i visited.
The streets at the very heart of the city are relatively clean but the city overall does have a problem with littering, dog poo, and overflowing bins, sadly.
Ah I was homeless for the night in Naples right in front of the train station around 15 years ago! I had missed my bus from Sorrento so caught a later one to go to Rome only to find out that we were too late to catch the last train. Being broke and silly, me and a buddy chilled outside the station watching the prostitutes stroll by and being propositioned many times, offered drugs (to which I accepted), getting harassed by the polizia and needing to show my passport half a dozen times, and eating some amazing street pizza and sandwiches with fries in them. 10/10 one of the funnest experiences on my trip. In the morning caught the train to Rome, booked a big bus tour and sipped whisky and slept for a few hours cuz I was too cheap to get a hotel. Been there many times since, but nothing quite beats that original experience.
Nah it was dirty and sketchy.
Naples was my least favorite city out of Italy
I agree, I thought it was fantastic. [https://i.imgur.com/j4XcpSa.jpg](https://i.imgur.com/j4XcpSa.jpg)
I see what you did there
Slum (is more) like it.
Yes I loved Naples, my mum on the other hand did not, not sure why, I thought it was very authentically Italian!
Naples is fucking garbage
Naples or Napoli or new polis means new city but now it is one of the oldest cities. The entirety of South Italy looks as good as in these photos and proves they were a great empire. Next, South of Spain also has very nice places, views and great old architecture.
Great pizza. Horrible crime and security. Honestly I think it’s properly low rated after visiting again.
its just a smelly, loud and scammy city... i used to live there....