Just how safe is Naples now?

We were in Naples last October and never felt the least bit unsafe because of criminals. Motor scooters tearing through pedestrian areas were another matter entirely.

Naples is crazytown: the city reminds me a little bit of the fantasy film Everything Everywhere All at Once. And I'm sure there are pickpockets and purse snatchers. But we take reasonable precautions, which I'd recommend anywhere.

I've been several times this year by myself (I spend 1/2 year in Italy 1/2 year USA) and never felt unsafe. I do nothing different there than in any city in Europe that I've been to.

It's safe. I was there earlier this year. I never felt in any danger at any point, it felt safer than any American city bar none.

And, just in general, people vastly overhype how dangerous crime is. Sure, don't wear your Rollie, leave your IPhone Pro Max Ultra 18 unattended in a public place, or walk around with $800 in your pocket. That's common sense in my book, doesn't mean a place is dangerous.

It's not Mogadishu, you're not getting kidnapped and thrown in the back of a Toyota Hilux with a machine gun strapped to the bed. Just use common sense and pay attention to your surroundings, so you don't get run over by a Fiat Punto, if nothing else.

Plectrude: that was hilarious! :-)

Friends of ours own a bit under 1,000 acres down in West Virginia -- not far from Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum which is an amazing tourist attraction if you ever want to see a shutdown reputedly haunted immense mental hospital. Cool architecture.

Anyway, we drove down to the farm, visited a glass factory and the lunatic asylum and never felt unsafe.

I mention this only because it has a higher crime rate than Naples Italy. Yes the crime rate for West Virginia is higher than Naples It.

So don't worry! You'll have a great time! Great people, great food, great sites, great hustle and bustle! And less haunted people than Weston West Virginia and also lower crime!

Happy travels!

I’ve been to Naples three times, and always felt safe there.
Last year I stayed near the train station for 3 nights, first night on my own while waiting for my friend to fly in.
I walked out in the early evening to find a grocery store to get things for dinner and the area is certainly ‘iffy”, grubby, busy.
However, I asked two or three different people for directions, all were helpful, no one was threatening.
It was fine.
Normal precautions when in any unfamiliar area.

The time I went pre-COVID I was wearing a Rolex. If I'd had a Euro for every time a waiter or taxi driver said "don't wear that round here" I could have bought a second one!

The last visit, I stayed in Sanita (no Rolex). I arrived at night, there was litter everywhere and it stunk. The walls everywhere have years of graffiti. It was the first time I have ever felt unsafe abroad.

But I saw no crime. Despite my Neapolitan friend saying that is where the camorra families live.

Sorry you felt unsafe. It's no fun traveling when you are worried about stuff like that.

There is definitely a busy, crowded feeling I had when I was there.

Happy travels.

Metropolitan City of Naples:
Population: 3,130,000
2024 Homicides: 28 (0.89 per 100,000 residents)

Washington DC:
Population: 702,000
2024 Homicides: 187 (26.64 per 100,000 residents)

One of the two is considered a "crime free zone". Guess which one.

We were there in November and loved everything about Naples and new felt unsafe. We had kids walked and took the metro everywhere and had no issues. The most unsafe thing we did was a taxi ride lol.

My friend living in Naples told me never enter the casbah-like Pallonetto district - not even the police dares entering - but the large via santa Lucia, bordering the same area, is safe.

The last time I was in Naples, for business, I was booked in an hotel in piazza Garibaldi that being in front of the station was exceptionally convenient for our transportation needs, but the piazza itself was nothing to write home about. However, I have been in worse places, for example Sao Paulo in Brazil that has some terrifying areas or Rio de Janeiro.

In spite of having a few fine watches (mostly inheredited), I never wear anything too expensive anywhere in Italy. I do not think a Rolex or a golden watch makes me more beautiful or interesting, it just adds to my (usually low) probabilities of being mugged.

My wife and I spent a great week there in June. Naples has a gritty feel to it, but I never felt unsafe.

1. Grafitti is just part of the charm of Naples - If it's going to bother you, don't go there. I found the trash issue to be about the same as Rome, or most US cities. It definitely builds and bags left out at the end of the day on Spacconapoli but it was cleaned up in the morning.

2. Naples is also very chaotic - people live outside and there is a lot of hustle and bustle to all areas. Motor bikes most definitely move through at the same time, but it somehow works and we saw zero people getting hit.

3. Naples is a big city and i'm sure there are some very bad areas, but stick to old sections (Spaccanapoli, Spanish Quarter, etc) and you shouldn't have any issues. Take the usual pick-pocket precautions for anywhere in Italy especially near the train station.

The food in Naples to me is the best in Italy and I really enjoy the chaotic nature of the place. I love to sit at an outside table and people watch.

I am there now. At the airport on my way back to the UK.

Despite being emboldened by my visit last year, this year I felt less safe.

I was wearing a nice watch, because I do everywhere else in
Italy. Three times in two days I was advised not to. Apparently someone was robbed at gun point two weeks ago, at one of the seafront hotels. A watch theft. So I left it in the safe.

Also this year I had several arguments with taxi drivers and waiters who were trying to rip us off. One waiter in particular at a place we frequented decided for himself that the ten euro change was his tip. I corrected him! He was more respectful thereafter. He always got a tip, so he was being a bit silly annoying me.

I had a friend that worked for the US Navy and transferred to the Naples area. This was over 20 years ago.
The transportation office warned him not to take a new, expensive car to Naples, or an expensive TV or stereo. Theft was very common, from what he said. Pickpockets abound, like Barcelona.

Still, compared to large US cities, violent crime is far lower in Naples.

angelcom, I notice that you have chosen not to describe your home area in your posting profile.

I have nothing against New Mexico, but many people LOVE watching "Breaking Bad", and think of it as wide-open spaces. But the statewide (not just "urban") murder rate in 2023 was 11.5 per 100,000, more than ten times the Naples murder rate.

( https://www.safehome.org/safest-cities/nm/ )

I live in rural England. I have to go to our nearest city if I want to see crime. ;)

San Ramon in the SF Bay Area is one of the richest and safest places in California. But Rolex watches are not too safe here either.

https://youtu.be/prZewAsEO7g?si=zuZGN2LIqbDQZaGw

https://youtu.be/Y4Ye_Bfp7yg?si=P8Vfi-4JNoLiV3CL

We were in Naples in April this year. I agree with Wordell1, it was safe and no problems at all. We take the normal precautions, only costume jewelry, simple clothes, money and credit cards away from pick pockets, nothing set on tables or hung from a chair…these precautions are employed all over the world including big US cities.