Planning for next fall with 9-10 nights in Naples, most likely mid to late September. Arrival and departure will be by train, unless there is a convenient air connection. Currently we use Alaska and their travel partners for our travel. If we use Alaska’s new non-stop service to FCO from SEA, we would take the train to Naples.
Interests span from art to history to FOOD to classical music. Weekly food markets are especially a draw.
I understand that Quartiere Spagnoli is not nearly as ‘iffy’ as it used to be, but we prefer not to stay in that area unless any of you can provide fascinating reasons to do so!
We will definitely go to Pompeii and Herculaneum, plus a possible visit to an area that is lesser known and I can’t remember the name of it!!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
17025 posts
The area that is safest to stay and at the same time close to the sights is the area around Piazza Plebiscito and to the west of it. That area is called Chiaia (pronounced: Kya-ya). That is the recommendation from my best high school friend who is from Naples.
Avoid the area near the Napoli Centrale station at night, even more iffy than the Quartieri Spagnoli and full of “not so documented migrants” who live off expedients, especially ripping off foreign tourists.
There are also areas a bit further west and northwest (but not that far) of Piazza Plebiscito, called Vomero (a hilly residential area) and Posillipo, which are even more upscale. Those are also two top spots to stay, but a bit more of a longer way from the sights you are likely to visit. Go to Google maps and search the above areas and that will give you an idea of where they are located. Search hotels (also using Google Maps if you want) in those areas.
In spite of its awful reputation, violent crime in Naples is virtually non existent compared to American cities. Naples in one year has the number of murders that Chicago has in two weeks, in spite of the two cities having the same population. Nevertheless use situational awareness and watch out for pickpockets and scammers.
Posted by
Germany
12 posts
I went to Naples in January (took the train from Rome) 2 things I really enjoyed and recommend for everyone are the archeological museum and the catacombs! Pompeii as well ofc, but be careful with the commute there (the timetables of the buses etc).
Posted by
new york
754 posts
I've stayed in hotels in a few different areas...never felt. unsafe but did not wander around alone too often at night.
In Chaia, PALAZZO ALABARDIERI
https://www.palazzoalabardieri.it/en
Closer to Spaccanapoli. PALAZZO DECUMANI
Posted by
Portland, OR
465 posts
Doesn’t answer your question about lodging but as you have several days, I highly recommend the palace and grounds in Caserta. Easy train from Naples and the palace is a short walk from the station.
Posted by
762 posts
I have been to Naples eight or nine times and always stay very near the train station for the convenience. I’ve never had any problems and have been alone for probably half of those stays. Whether alone or not, I don’t go out late at night, but then I don’t go out late at night anywhere. However, I have never felt unsafe in Naples.
Posted by
OP
Southeast of Seattle
763 posts
Thank you everyone! I see from some of the answers I may have needed to be more specific when asking where you all stay. Oops!
I’ve received great answers, but more interested in the area of Naples you stay in as opposed to accommodations. We generally find an apartment since the duration requires a bit more than hand laundry and we do like the option of having a refrigerator and possibly a coffee maker.
I appreciate all the information and will look into seeing and visiting your suggestions. I will also look at the hotels as we never know what may end up being more practical.
Posted by
79 posts
We were just in Naples last week and stayed in Santa Lucia area on the water and easy walk to centro. Lovely area, lots of restaurants out of the fray of centro. Fantastic B&B Orsini 46, very highly recommended!
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
1936 posts
We enjoyed staying for several nights in an apartment very near the corner of the via dei Tribunali and the via Atri. Near Sorbillo's pizza. It was close to everything we wanted to walk to, and when we left Naples we walked to the train station. It was early November, i.e. deeper into the off-season than your September visit, so there were very few non-Italian tourists and except for maybe the taxi ride from the airport Naples did not seem at all "chaotic" or "crazy."
You may know this already, but maps of old city centers tend to make walking distances look much longer than they really are because the "blocks" are so much smaller, so check the actual walking time on Google Maps. It's just a 25 minutes walk from Sorbillo's to the train station.
Posted by
Glasgow
137 posts
We stayed in the Eurostar Hotel Excelsior in the attractive waterfront area of Santa Lucia, opposite Castel dell’Ovo.There were some lovely waterside restaurants by the marina and even wandering about at night it all felt very safe, lit with fairy lights and just quite delightful.A great introduction to Naples.Next day, we had a pleasant 10-15 min walk up to the main sights of the city centre.
I would stay in this area again as it felt less frenetic than the heart of the city centre, had great views of the sea, felt very safe and was really attractive plus, as I said easy access to the main city centre sites.
Posted by
OP
Southeast of Seattle
763 posts
I will try to address everyone’s’ input.
Roberto- thank you as I had been looking at the area around Piazza Plebiscito, but am intrigued with staying in Chiaia also. I wouldn’t stay in close vicinity to the train station, but we do like it to be a close taxi ride away as we tend to leave early in the morning.
NinjaTurtle- thanks for heads up on the getting to Pompeii. I feel we will take a private tour as there is so much to see there, so we definitely will need to show up on time!
ekscrunchy- If only!! Beautiful hotels and so far out of our nightly price range for Naples and just about anywhere, I’d need to win the lotto. Thank you for the recommendations though-maybe someday.
Mother Duck- yes! to Caserta. Thank you for the reminder.
rachele- we do tend to have later dinners (after 8pm), so we are out a bit late. We are fairly aware, but no need to put ourselves into a sketchier area late at night.
ksort27- Intrigued with the area of Santa Lucia, especially if we could find a reasonably priced apt. with a view. Being out of the busy, busy areas sounds nice after busy, busy days. I will look into the B and B Orsini.
nancys8- Sorbillos Pizza must be well known? That area though is one I have been looking at. I agree about maps for older cities. They can be very deceptive both for timing and distance. We tend to walk a bit faster than many tourists, so the amount of time quoted can be less for us which I rather enjoy.
scotlandmac- thank you. I wish we had the budget to stay at the Eurostar or either of the two hotels mentioned by ekscrunchy. Pretty far out of our general price range which for Naples will be approximately and hopefully, $130-160/night.
I will take restaurant/bistro/ forno/pasticceria/cafe, etc., recommendations too, even though my husband is the ‘let’s just walk around and see what suits us’ kind of guy. It works until it doesn’t and we have had a few times it hasn’t, so having ideas can really help.