Is Naples Italy Safe?

Slow TravelDestination Guide
Written By Gi Shieh

I’m not gonna sugarcoat it: Naples has a pretty bad rap as one of the least safe cities in Italy.

When I was doing research for my month long trip, I kept coming across forum after forum advising against visiting the city and to be honest, it made me pretty nervous.

Naples was the first stop on my journey and I didn’t want to be stuck in a dangerous city without knowing the language, culture, or having any connections.

Luckily, I found that it was fine.

As a solo female traveler, the highly contrasted streets and commotion were definitely a little jarring at first, but it actually reminded me a lot of New York City (home).

Anecdotal evidence can only go so far, however, so here's a fully breakdown of safety in Naples Italy including stats, safest areas to stay in, top scams, experiences with cat calling, and tips for staying safe.

Palazzo Reale in Naples Italy, a common tourist attraction, on a cloudy day in November.

Is Naples Safe For Tourists?

Generally speaking, Naples is safe for tourists.

It might be a little gritty on the surface, but it's just about as safe/unsafe as any big city. Keep your wits about you and your belongings firmly on your body and you should be fine.

Statistics

My experience is just one person's experience, so let's take a peek at the numbers.

Italy Rankings:

There seems to be some discrepancy between the numbers but remember, the GPI looks at factors for stability and peace across the country as a whole, versus the US Department of State which looks at things from an individual's perspective.

That is to say, Italian society is relatively stable, but as a personal traveler, you should stay alert because of potential terrorist threats and increased rates of robbery and petty theft.

Naples Rankings:

  • Numbeo:  62.67 out of 100 crime index, 37.33 out of 100 safety score

It's important to note that Numbeo's scores are all self-reported by visitors on their website. It's pretty hard to measure the accuracy but the perception is undeniable.

A lot of visitors reported feeling unsafe and were especially concerned about getting mugged, robbed, or assaulted. They also reported high rates of vandalism, corruption, bribery, and car theft.

It's interesting to note, but you can definitely take it with a grain of salt given that we don't have any data on user demographics.

Organized Crime

While the mafia (known as the “camorra” in this region) does cause some problems for local businesses, you're pretty unlikely to run into any issues with them yourself.

As a tourist you should be more concerned about petty crime (aka muggings and pick-pocketing). We'll dive into some of the top crimes and scams in Naples a little further down.

Gi Shieh, solo female travel blogger with blue jacket standing in front of a mirror at a museum in Naples Italy.

Is Naples Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

I’d say yes! But again, you should definitely exercise concern as a traveler.

Naples is a little rough around the edges and Italian men in general tend to be quite forward.

I never had any experiences of stalking or overt harassment, but I've definitely gotten the occasional "ciao bella" while walking down the street.

I also got a lot of stares but that might just be because I was an east asian woman with short platinum blonde hair at that point.

Street in centro storico naples italy with patio tables and chairs lit up by maps after the rain at night.

Is Naples Safe At Night?

Yes, but stick to the popular tourist areas like Spaccanapoli, Piazza del Plebiscito, Lungomare, or Chiaia.

I stayed in Spaccanapoli and felt comfortable enough to even pop out at 11 PM for a treat-yourself babà. 💅✨

If you're trying to get from one neighborhood to the next, I'd recommend calling a cab instead of walking. The tourist areas are usually well populated but the narrow streets in between are a little more desolate.

One last thing, you probably also shouldn't take the train at night.

Pubic transportation during the daytime is already a little sketchy (and that's coming from someone who grew up in NYC where subways are notoriously chaotic) and given that trains run less frequently at night, I'd probably avoid it all together.

The last thing you want is to be stuck in a train car or train station alone with an unsafe character.

Parked ships in Naples waterfront from the second story of a building across the street on a cloudy day.

Most Safe Neighborhoods In Naples

The neighborhood you stay in can have a huge impact on your experience. Here are some of the safest areas to stay in Napoli.

  • Chiaia: upscale residential area close to the bay known for restaurants and shopping

  • Vomero: wealthier hilly suburban neighborhood with great views of the city proper

  • Santa Lucia: sophisticated waterfront area with historic buildings and renowned seafood restaurants

  • Posillipo: quiet residential neighborhood with peaceful parks and stunning views of the Bay of Naples

  • Centro Storico: not the safest neighborhood per se, but it's safe enough and captures the essence of Naples best

Top Hotel Recommendations For Each Neighborhood:

For a full guide, here's where to stay in Naples.

Motorcyclist riding through the streets of Naples Italy in golden sunlight framed from a small alley in Centro Storico.

Areas To Avoid In Naples

The truly dangerous neighborhoods of Naples are in the outskirts and you won't wander into them by accident. But here are a few less safe neighborhoods that I would avoid staying in.

  • Scampia: suburban neighborhood well documented by media for high crime rates and drug-related violence (not close to city center)

  • Secondigliano: suburban neighborhood close to the airport known for crime and poverty

  • Forcella: area with a history of organized crime; fine to visit during the day but avoid at night

  • Pignasecca: the market is fine to visit during the daytime but avoid this area at night

  • Garibaldi Square / Central Station: transient area with lots of petty criminals who target tourists

The only two neighborhoods you should absolutely avoid are Scampia and Secondigliano.

Forcella and Pignasecca are okay to see during the daytime but best to avoid at night. I grabbed a pizza at the Michelin-rated L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele near Forcella and didn't run into any incidents (there were actually quite a lot of tourists there) but that might also be because I didn't venture too far into the neighborhood.

Transit hubs like Central Station are by nature a little more dangerous so if you plan on staying there, I'd recommend heading home early (or at least taking a cab directly home).

Quartieri Spagnoli has a bad reputation among travelers, but it's pretty representative of Neapolitan neighborhoods--a little chaotic but not (that) unsafe.

Cobblestone streets of Naples Italy lit up by fairy lights on a rainy day.

Top Crimes and Scams In Naples Targeting Tourists

Like any big city, Naples has its fair share of bad people. Here are the top petty crimes and scams that you should watch out for.

1. Pickpocketing

By far, the most common crime in Naples.

Pickpockets target travelers in crowded areas who are busy admiring cultural sites and unaware of their own belongings. This mostly happens in popular tourist areas like Centro Storico or on public transportation.

The best way to avoid this is simply to look alert and stay aware of your surroundings.

Leave expensive jewelry, tech, your passport, and large sums of cash in the hotel, use crossbody bags for more security, and attach a wrist strap to your cell phone.

2. Mugging

Armed robbery does happen in Naples.

This is more common in specific neighborhoods (like the ones listed above) but other than avoiding those areas, it's pretty hard to prevent.

Do your best to avoid small alleyways and be especially carefully when walking around at night.

3. Scams

As with any city, there are always scammers looking to make a quick buck.

Some common ones include people intentionally give you the wrong change, or the bracelet scam where someone (usually a woman with a baby) chats you up and then puts a bracelet on your arm saying it's free but asks you for money afterwards.

They're usually nothing too serious but can leave a negative impression due to the sheer dishonesty.

Italian car parked on the sidewalk hitting a safety pole in Naples Italy.

So, Here Are A Few Safety Tips To Keep In Mind

1. Keep your wallets and bags close to your body

I wore a light jacket and a raincoat because it was rainy season in Italy and kept my valuables in the pockets of that inner jacket but if you’re using a purse or fanny pack, keep them under your outerwear or tucked under your shoulder. I’ve heard stories about people scooting by on vespas and snatching bags out of hands, so just make sure that your items are firmly tucked away.

2. Don’t walk alone at night (especially in certain neighborhoods)

As a solo female traveler who really doesn’t care for nightlife, I usually aim to be back in my accommodation just after sundown. In Naples however, I stayed in Spaccanapoli and felt safe enough to frequently step out at night to buy snacks.

As a general rule of thumb, try not to walk alone at night. Avoid dimly lit streets and narrow alleyways. Stay out of the areas around Museo and Garibaldi Square. Exercise additional precaution when walking through the Spanish Quarter. Where you choose to stay has a huge impact on your safety so check out this guide on where to stay in Naples.

3. Walk fast and in a clear direction

As someone who grew up in New York, one of the most valuable lessons that I learned was that walking fast and with intentionality made me less of a target. Stay aware of your surroundings and if you’re using Google Maps to help you navigate, step into a shop or somewhere safe to check your directions.

4. Stay out of the streets

This is kind of silly to mention, but the drivers in Napoli are insane. They zoom down the street in those vespas, so stay safe by walking on the sidewalk as close to the buildings as possible.

5. Avoid Scampia, Forcella, and San Giovanni a Teduccio

It’s unlikely that you’ll need to visit these neighborhoods, but just note that they’re some of the more dangerous ones.

Buildings of Naples Italy from Vomero neighborhood.

Racism Against Asians in Naples, Italy?

With the rise in Asian hate these past few years, one thing that I was really concerned about in Italy was racism. Luckily, my experience in Naples was fine.

Nobody yelled anything hurtful or treated me any differently. I think the biggest concern is the language barrier but if you speak English or a bit of Italian, you’ll be fine.

Colorful buildings and restaurants of central plaza of Naples Italy on a cloudy day.

That’s it! Pretty straight forward, right? Just stay alert, exercise some common sense, and you’ll have a good time.

While it's far from on of the best places to visit in Italy, I actually really loved Naples a lot and found the locals to be raw and charming. They’re direct and while not the *most* friendly, they kind of gave me the same vibe as New Yorkers – busy doing their own thing but if you ask, they’re not going to be deceitful or intentionally mean.

If you're visiting Naples for the first time, here's the best 2-day itinerary to see the Italian city!

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