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Just how safe is Naples now?

Hi All

It used to be crazy and felt dangerous. To me it doesn't now. But I am getting conflicting information.

When I was last there (last year), I spoke to a lot of taxi drivers who said that since COVID it's pretty safe, due to the increase in big ship tourism employing the former thieves. But a friend who lives there says "don't wear any jewellery or carry more than a few euros".

I get it that there is crime everywhere. I watched an unsuccessful street robbery in Treviso of all places just last week! But Naples, just how safe is it?

Posted by
2027 posts

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.

Posted by
765 posts

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.

Posted by
189 posts

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.

Posted by
390 posts

Plectrude: that was hilarious! :-)

Posted by
655 posts

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!

Posted by
3896 posts

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.

Posted by
2 posts

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.

Posted by
655 posts

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.

Posted by
16876 posts

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.

Posted by
62 posts

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.

Posted by
1951 posts

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.