Is Naples safe to visit? This has to be one of the most frequent questions we get asked! Find out the answer in this guide to staying safe in Naples from those who are in the know.

Naples has a reputation as being an unsafe place for visitors, but is this deserved? The short answer is ‘no’.

The longer answer is explored on this page. We’ll share why Naples is considered dangerous, why this preconception is unwarranted and tips for staying safe when traveling whether in Naples or elsewhere.

If you’re reading this page it’s likely because you’ve been led to believe Naples to be a dangerous place to visit, and are therefore questioning whether you should visit or not.

This perception is rooted in the city’s history with organized crime, which at points in the past has led to incidents such as the so-called ‘trash crisis’ of the 1980’s and 90’s.

Widely publicised by media reporting and combined with the stories told in fictional TV series and movies, the idea of Naples being as the home of organised crime took hold in the public imagination. This led to a general perception that Naples is dangerous, dirty and unsafe for visitors.

However, since the early 2010’s there has been a concentrated and concerted effort by the local and national governments to boost Naples‘ appeal to tourists.

Since then there has been a reduction in petty crime levels as well as more violent crime, both in the historical center and residential neighborhoods.

No.

Far from it.

In data from Statistica, Naples ranks far below many other cities in Italy for general crime, including Rome, Milan and Florence.

As with all big cities, there is a risk of petty theft but Naples is generally safe. There is no reason to think that you will be anything but trouble free on your trip.

Mount Vesuvius is an active volcano so in theory it could erupt at any point. The last eruption was in 1944 so it’s thought that the volcano is potentially overdue for another one.

In terms of safety you should not let this impact your Naples trip however.

There are monitoring stations all over the national park and out to the caldera of the Phlegrean Fields area. These are constantly watching for signs of volcanic activity, with a thoroughly researched evacuation plan ready to be put into place in the unlikely event Vesuvius shows signs of an upcoming eruption.

The short answer to this is ‘yes!’.

Let me be clear; Naples is not particularly more, or substantially less, dangerous than any other city in Italy or Europe.

Statistically, Naples is far safer than many American cities (particularly for violent and serious crime) according to the Italian National Institute of Statistics as well as the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program – a comparison can be found here.

Furthermore, according to Statistica, when looking at the general crime and theft rate per 100,000 inhabitants, Naples is more safe than Florence, Rome and Milan.

Obviously I have spent a lot of time visiting Naples. Not once have I had a bad experience, whether I have been traveling alone, with Sara, or in a group.

Let me share with you our well-tested Naples travel advice. Some of this is applicable to all types of travel, but there are also some tips specific to Naples that will help you stay safe when visiting.

Here are some basic precautions:

• Never leave any personal belongings unattended unless with a trusted source such as a bag storage location or your hotel. This applies too when you are in restaurants/bars/cafes, stay aware of your phone and bags and don’t leave items out on the table.
• Opportunists target those who are unaware of what is happening around them, as they recognize it is easy for tourists to get distracted when they’re somewhere new. The simple act of remaining attentive is a deterrent in itself.
• Do not carry a significant amount of cash with you. 100€ maximum is more than sufficient for any situation where cash is required. While going to an ATM can be a frustration at points, it’s less frustrating than losing a lot of money! If you are worried about losing your money, consider buying a money belt or keeping your cash somewhere extra safe. My father used to store his cash in the shoes he was wearing while traveling in a big city!
• Similarly, avoid wearing expensive jewelry or flashy accessories which might give an opportunist a reason to target you.

These same precautions will serve you well traveling to any other Italian city.

Naples-specific necessary precautions:

• Like any big city, it is on public transport where you are most likely to experience petty crime such as pick-pocketing. Remain aware of your surroundings while traveling on the metro, buses, trams and trains and you’ll be completely fine.
• Avoid staying in the train station area around Garibaldi and Napoli Centrale as the crowded areas here, along with the constant flow of people, invites petty theft opportunists. Exercise common sense when passing through this area to do what you need to do, nothing more.
• Neighborhoods like the Spanish Quarter (Quartiere Spagnolo) and La Sanità, famed for their narrow streets and loud environments, bear the brunt of Naples’ bad reputation as a risky place to visit. These areas are no more or less safe for tourists than other parts of the city. However, be cautious of walking in the road as mopeds and bikes often come out of nowhere, even on roads which are supposed to be pedestrianized. If you are thinking of staying in these areas we would recommend reading our page here which shares some need-to-know information about both neighborhoods.

Personal safety in Naples

Setting aside the risk of common crime, one of the main ways people get hurt is by being distracted and not being aware of their surroundings.

Naples is a busy city, with plenty of traffic and lots of people around. When walking around the city, pay attention to traffic lights and crossings and keep an ear out for the distinctive sound of a moped engine – Neapolitans drive them extremely fast!

If you are enjoying a few drinks, don’t walk around by yourself and have a plan to get back to your hotel or accommodation. Don’t leave your drink unattended and drink plenty of water as well. Italians make their alcoholic drinks strong which can hit you hard if you’re not used to this!

Water is also important during the hot summer months. It’s easy to get overheated in Naples, so during daylight hours stay out of the sun when it’s especially hot, drink plenty of water, apply sunscreen and wear looser clothing. I’ve seen many people struggling to cope, as the high humidity in Naples and Italy generally can often make the heat harder to deal with. Start off with a plan to combat it and you should be fine.

Finally, remember to wear appropriate footwear. Naples’ streets vary from modern tarmac to uneven cobblestones to shiny paving stones so you’ll want something that can hold up to a lot of walking on different surfaces. Flip flops will not work in the city and can risk sprained ankles or worse if you trip and fall.

Like anywhere, Naples has some areas which are statistically more safe, and others that are less so.

The area around Napoli Centrale train station and Garibaldi square is (again, statistically) the place in central Naples where something is most likely to happen if you don’t follow the tips set-out above.

Petty criminals such as pickpockets will target tourists and locals alike here if they believe they can get away with it.

Based on local knowledge, wealthier Naples neighborhoods such as Vomero, Chiaia and Santa Lucia are generally considered safer for tourists.

But again, I stress, Naples should not be considered as an ‘unsafe’ city so you should stay and visit whichever parts of the city you are interested in, and simply exercise common sense as you would anywhere else.