Because Naples is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, visitors should not be put off by the city’s bad reputation for its crime level. Unfortunately, street crime is a reality in Naples which often concerns tourists and foreigners.
This does not mean that it is a place to avoid, however tourists should become aware of the risks. So here is some advice for people planning a stop in Naples throughout their Italian holidays.
First of all, it is a good idea to study the city map before starting to wander around in order to identify where one should be more cautious. This is especially the case for places such as Piazza Garibaldi, the central square in front of the train station, where tourists are often accosted by illegal taxi drivers or other persuasive offers which is better to refuse right away.
Also, you will see that the town centre is structured in main streets surrounded by a dense network of small and narrow streets. The areas known as “Spanish Quarter” are especially known for theft and pick pocketing.
Visitors should be careful in entering these neighbourhoods alone not display valuable objects such as cameras, mobile phones and watches. Be particularly careful as well in carrying bags with shoulder straps as snatchers are expert in ripping these off. A safe trick to carry around money and important documents is wearing a money belt.
Another daunting aspect tourists will immediately discover is the traffic in Naples. Car and scooter drivers are totally undisciplined and even experienced drivers will struggle a lot.
On the other hand, the transport network and tourist circuits are overall good which is why the safest choice is probably that of going on a double decker bus of “City Sightseeing Italia” tour, which will take you around the most beautiful works of art and spectacular views of the Gulf of Naples.