Naples

disfunktion

disfunktion

disfunktion

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Considering going to Naples in July for a week.

Have any of you guys been? - Any thoughts on things to do, see, restaurants etc would be much appreciated :)

Or reasons why you wouldnt go back - negatives etc. :p
 
its a dump, dirty, noisy, and poverty stricken, dont get me wrong, it still has that faded Italian charm, it looks lived in, but its simply not as nice as other italian cities. its more neglected, the local govt was broke last year and the municipal workers were all on strike, there was mountains of refuse everywhere and it reeked

the old town around the port is really nice though.


its great for a day trip, couldnt stand it for a week

you would be better off staying somewhere else around the bay and visiting instead of staying.
train and ferrys run along the coast and stop in all the major resorts (we love sorrento, but it aint cheap!, but its an excellent place as you can get the train to pompeii or the ferry to naples/capri/ishcia so its ideal for day trips)
 
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Pretty much just looking for somewhere to chill for a week - We'd be staying in the old town/port area.

Is it really that bad? If so we might need to reconsider. Malta was one of the other options.
 
Never been, but heard from multiple friends and family that it's truely awful, as FTM said.

Go to PISA or Rome or Venice...
 
It’s got some interesting bits to see, but you don’t need a week to see the place. You’ll either love it or hate it. The contrasts can be startling, beautiful /interesting one minute and horrible/disgusting the next. The small historic area is safe, there are dodgy areas and some downright dangerous. It’s certainly not a place to walk around loaded with credit cards and the like. You’re better off staying in somewhere like Sorrento or one of the Islands, popping in to the visit the place in the morning when everything is open. Personally I find the place fascinating but almost everyone else I’ve met thinks the opposite.

It really isn't the place for a good weeks sightseeing, go to Rome instead.
 
Go to the Amalfi coast instead. We stayed in Sorrento and got the bus to places like Amalfi and Positano. Truly stunning coastline and lots of stuff to see and do.

I would move to Positano in a heartbeat :(
 
I was in Naples for New Years but I was staying with my family. There is a major problem with refuse and there are some dodgy areas, but I loved it. If you do happen to go the pizzas from Sorbillo (a back stret pizzeria) are amazing :D.

Definitely pay a visit to the Amalfi and Pompeii to be honest I'm looking to go back to Naples this summer.
 
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As has already been said it's grimy and unpleasant.

The only reason to go there is on your way to the Amalfi Coast/Capri or Pompeii/Vesuvius.
 
I went travelling around Italty and I found Naples terrifying.

As soon as I got off the train someone through a bottle at me and groups of men were shouting at me to come over to them, my tourist nature given away by my large backpack.

I eventually found my way to the circumsuvienna (sp?) metro line and got on, befriending an Italian teenager for my own comfort. Within 3 stops there were people dealing drugs in my carriage and eventually a large gang got on. My Italian chum whispered at me not to look at them, and then eventually told me they were planning to mug me :eek:

He whispered to run off the train at my stop as the doors were closing and not stop running until I got home. He got off a few stops before me and true enough several members of the gang were staring at me and one of them had a chain!

I ran off the train and sprinted all the way to the hostel on which point I collapsed to the group and pretty much kissed the floor for thanks of safety :p

Bear in mind, this was me getting into central Naples at night by myself - very vulnerable.

Otherwise, the city is a true dump, I haven't seen anything like it in the UK. Graffiti everywhere, rubbish littering the streets... but there are some interesting things to do. You can take a tour of the underground Roman aquaduct that runs under the city, which was really fun.

You will be much better off staying somewhere like Sorrento and taking a day trip or two to Naples. The amalfi coast is really special.

Oh and don't get the night train from Naples to Sicily. I bought a ticket only to find someone people who had their bags stolen from them at that train by being gassed unconcious and their bags removed from them by knife :eek: ... if that hasn't put you off I don't know what will :D

On the plus side, the outskirts of Naples was the only time in mainland italy I found myself in a culture that didn't pander to tourists, I stumbled accross this truly local market with stores being run by kids and grandparents. That was actually one of my hilights of my trip. But generally, stay outside naples and spend more time exploring the Amalfi coast / Capri etc.
 
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disfunktion said:
Pretty much just looking for somewhere to chill for a week - We'd be staying in the old town/port area.

Is it really that bad? If so we might need to reconsider. Malta was one of the other options.
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Only heard bad things about Naples, lot's of thieves and also how dirty it is etc.

Why not choose Rome? Amazing city!
 
If your heart set on going to the area then stay in Sorrento. You then have a base for visiting:

Naples – boat/train
Ischia, Capri – boat
Vesuvius - coach trip
Pompeii, Herculaneum, - Train, coach trip
Positano, Ravello, Amalfi – bus, car, coach trip, even taxi.

You could even drive to Salerno or Paestum.
 
simulatorman said:
If your heart set on going to the area then stay in Sorrento. You then have a base for visiting:

Naples – boat/train
Ischia, Capri – boat
Vesuvius - coach trip
Pompeii, Herculaneum, - Train, coach trip
Positano, Ravello, Amalfi – bus, car, coach trip, even taxi.
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Thanks - We'll look into those. It was more a case of going somewhere different from the norm of Rome etc. However, it may be that such a place may be a better bet.

I think a week may also be too long
 
disfunktion said:
I think a week may also be too long
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Unless you are happy to visit endless museums and churches, I think a week would be too long in Naples or Rome.

If you wanted to mix things up, you could do a lot worse in Italy than heading for a fews days to Florence then a few days to Rome, although yes, both are very touristy.
 
Nitefly said:
Unless you are happy to visit endless museums and churches, I think a week would be too long in Naples or Rome.

If you wanted to mix things up, you could do a lot worse in Italy than heading for a fews days to Florence then a few days to Rome, although yes, both are very touristy.
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It was something we were trying to stray away from as we did the whole uber-tourist place last year in Barcelona.

Neither of us drive so that hinders a lot of things - i.e. where we have to stay.

I've just been looking at Sorrento but prices are a lot more than Naples, although I presume this is to be expected.
 
disfunktion said:
It was something we were trying to stray away from as we did the whole uber-tourist place last year in Barcelona.

Neither of us drive so that hinders a lot of things - i.e. where we have to stay.

I've just been looking at Sorrento but prices are a lot more than Naples, although I presume this is to be expected.
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In Sorrento I stayed at Seven Hostel, which although out of the way, was just an insanely good and cheap hostel for the quality of the place. Might be worth considering!

http://www.sevenhostel.com/en/index.php
 
Parents stayed in Sorrento and had a good time. They made the same comments about Naples just from going past/through on the public transport.

Getting everywhere from Sorrento is ok to do on public transport and walking if you want to see some of the sights.
 
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