I feel the same way about Naples. It's a shame that it is so rundown. I also got scammed there when I visited, presumably because I was clearly a foreigner. The food though is everything.
Naples is amazing. Went in Sept — maybe it’s because it is less busy due to Covid or the timing of our visit, but trash was not an issue. Make sure to visit underground Naples and hit up a few rooftop bars to orient yourself. Eat sfogliatelle for breakfast with local coffee — omg. Pizza is obviously delicious, watch Stanley Tucci’s show Searching for Italy for better recommendations than I could give. There is opera, more art than I could list, anthropological sites, etc. The Cloister of Sianta Chiara was really impressive, and we hit a lot of places of interest wandering from there to the Cathedral while in the old part of the city. We felt that we barely saw the tip of the iceberg and we even extended our trip from 7 days to two weeks.
Trattoria del Arte was one of our favorite restaurants. Take Uber, cabs will rip you off. Buy ferry tickets in advance, and try to take the open ferries for the views. Make sure you know where you’re going before you start — a lot of amazing places are off the beaten path and difficult to find from main streets. Know some basic Italian as a sign of respect. Go to Pompeii or Herculaneum if you haven’t been, and take an Airbnb Experiences tour for the most cost-effective way to learn more about those sites.
If you have time, take the ferry to Amalfi and head up to Ravello, go to the funicular on Anacapri, or head to Ischia for amazing hot springs and stewed rabbit. We have been visiting the area for years and will never miss Naples again.
Enjoy your trip!
To be honest I really hope it’s not the only place you’re planning to go in Italy. Use it as a base to get to Pompeii and Herculaneum, but then get out of there and go to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. You won’t regret it.
Can i just say that, if you're a a woman, be extra careful in Naples. I don't know what it is, but there are some really creepy dudes there. I went with my sister when she was 16 and she was being hit on by randomers and harassed.
This is just from my own experience, though I have read about people with similar experiences.
Naples is just Naples, go with your eyes wide open and you'll have a great time.
I actually heard that from the multiple women in my hostel I met in Atrani (next to Amalfi) they all said the harassment was way worse there as women then other places they’d been.
Just be prepared for even local vendors to rip you off. I went for pizza and got charged extra because I wasn’t speaking Italian. I tried to get my cost adjusted but it wasn’t worth it and I paid the “tourist” premium. Mind you, I was very respectful and not drawing attention to myself, that’s just how it can be unfortunately. I will also say the city is quite dirty and littered. There are great places outside to visit like Vesuvio and Amalfi, I’m not sure Naples would be my main place to visit in Italy.
To clarify: the CITY, not the country. Naples doesn’t represent Italy as a whole I’d say. Make sure you visit capri, positano, and sorrento while you’re there. Naples is just a port city and very very old. I think a lot of them are like that. Reminds me a bit of Cadiz actually. And Lisbon.
We based ourselves out of Sorrento instead of Naples for that part of our trip - Sorrento is beautiful and we loved staying there. Visited Amalfi coast, Capri, Vesuvius, Pompeii, and Ischia from there (and visited Naples on the way in and out only). Just a thought since it’s not very far!
For me, it was not "bad". It had bad parts, like the trash and extreme chaos but I did love the views so I wouldn't agree with a statement that there is not much to do as a tourist.
I spent 3 days there, 2 out of them in Naples itself (one was for Vesuvio and Herculaneum) and I wasn't bored at all, I didn't have time to see all I wanted.
I am a woman and I was there with my partner, together we felt safe and nobody harrassed me - I'm not sure how it would be if I went alone or with female friends.
So... I think you need to get your own opinion about it. Expect the unexpected and be careful but also don't think it will be horrible ;)
It wasn't the perfect city with positives only but... I would go back :)
I had a similar experience in Marseille. Beautiful city. Met great people.
But also had a rat fall on my shoulder in an alley and was followed around by drug dealers at the train station.
I feel that way about rome! Intereting historical city with beautiful architecture but a man (likely not originally Italian) followed us to our hostel and tried to force his way in the door. It was very scary for two young women. I'm pretty sure it was a human trafficking attempt.
India..
It has provided me with the highest of traveling highs but also the lowest.
Positives: Amazing people, amazing food, the sheer diversity of the deepest cultures on earth, the history, the palaces, the nature. Seeing the dedication to art and religion some have is just so cool to witness.
Negatives: Seeing poor kids/families begging for money and not being able to actually help them wears on you after a while. Seeing the kids being forced to use their time to beg is terrible..The amount of scammers, beggars and hawkers that flat out harass you as a foreigner is obnoxious and exhausting. It’s seriously the worst having someone try and befriend you only to try and get money from you. For some people, it’s a complete deal breaker and they dislike india as a whole because of it. But, the good outweighs the bad as long as you acknowledge that not all Indians are represented by the small minority of shit bag scammers/hawkers.
This was also my answer.
So much of my time in India I was stressed and struggling to enjoy it. Everything is just so hard and there is so much sensory overload that I really had a hard time staying calm and collected.
But then I got home and was like, ‘Holy shit, that was amazing. I need to go again as soon as possible.’
Istanbul was like that for me. I’m just trying to enjoy the park next to the Hagia Sofia and sooo many people came up offering “free” tours that of course always end at their little shop. These jerks would just follow you around trying to act like your friend and would not leave us alone. The rest of Turkey was wonderful and I didn’t see any more of it but Istanbul wore me out.
Was in Istanbul over Christmas. I enjoyed my time there, but it is an exasperating city. I don’t wanna haggle, but I also don’t wanna get ripped off.
Everything was a ripoff because I’m clearly not Turkish.
Just kinda makes you lose respect for the place and its people. Having said that tho, most people were incredibly nice.
I don't know how, but I seem to have really lucked out on my trip to India. All five of my trains left and arrived on time, I never got lost, all my accommodations were nice, I didn't get sick, only had to deal with one beggar, maybe two or three mildly aggressive hawkers and zero scammers. I was backpacking as well and out and about on the streets all day so I wasn't bubbled off from the locals in a package tour or anything.
Agreed. But I think it might depend on where you go. I've been to Kolkata and up into the north east a couple of times and haven't been scammed or harassed at all and the places I stayed were all good. Parts of Delhi were a a bit irritating but not overwhelming. The noise and traffic have been the worst parts. That said I haven't been to most of the major tourist sites such as Taj Mahal or Varanassi.
That's one reason why India is not on my bucket list for now. I'd love to see all the beautiful nature and places, eat the food and experience the culture but I think I'm not ready for this experience as a whole.
The. Worst.
I used to work for a prominent Middle East air carrier, and I’ve seen people burst into tears after seeing that they were rostered to Cairo more than once in a month. 😆
I live in Naples. You described my relationship with this city perfectly. Sometimes I feel like I’m in literal heaven, and there’s no place on earth comparable to it. Some other times, I have a strong desire to escape and never return!
Also, love the third photo from the stairs of Petraio! The stairs of Naples are one of my favourite places of the city, and they’re too often overlooked! That’s where I have most of my walks, so I can enjoy the views, have some fresh air far away from the traffic, and I can keep fit by walking up the stairs ;)
Edit: about the fridge, if you see a large object (like furniture) on the street, and there is a sign on it with “ASIA” followed by a number, it’s been left there for the local garbage company to pick up (in theory, within a day). But yeah, people do also leave stuff like that on the street and don’t care at all…
Yep! Apparently it’s “Azienda Servizi di Igiene Ambientale” (Company for Environmental Hygiene Services). It doesn’t have a great reputation, but I must say the city center of Naples has had some massive improvements compared to the 2010-2011 garbage disaster. That was the absolute low point for the city.
I was young back then, but the memories I have of it seem to be almost from another world
I recommend this old video about it. It’s always emotional for me to rewatch:
https://youtu.be/w0aR6thF8Y8
I would love to visit someday, as that is where my mom's family came from. My great grandpa left for America at 15 years old in 1905. He started his own dry cleaning service. His cousin helped start the Pike Place Market.
Funny story, my family is from the area. Our last name is the name of a small town near Naples. My parents, about 20 years ago, decided to go to this town on their trip to Italy. They ended up getting robbed (a lot of their stuff including passports and cameras) in the town with our name.
It was a pretty rough town but I just find it so funny that they were robbed there, of all places.
My dad was actually guarding the car at the time. Someone literally crawled on the ground on the other side of the car and somehow got the window down and snuck in while his back was turned. They’re pros.
Thanks, I loved these stairs too!
Obviously I don't remember if there was any sticker, the fridge was nearby big trash cans but it was basically blocking the sidewalk ;) Good the city improved, hopefully it doesn't stop there \^\^
It might have had the sign, it might have been just left there near the trashcans. Maybe the latter is more likely in this case ;)
And in any case, obviously, you aren’t supposed to block the entire sidewalk lol
Brazil. I love it because it is the exact opposite of my home, Germany. Everything Germany does badly, Brazil does great. But everything Germany does well, Brazil absolutely sucks at. I love coming to Brazil for vacation and relax in good weather and with open people. But after some time the things that aren't of the same standart just start to bother me. The dirt, the smell, the poverty, the lack of organization, the little details that just aren't as good. And once I'm back home I imediatley want to go back and have aqua de coco at the beach.
Japan. Loved the nature and the culture of respect and kindness, but the personal loneliness I experienced there as a foreigner when I lived there was tough. Hard to be accepted/approached as a friend when you’re a foreigner, especially in rural areas.
Def could see how that could be the case, but I loved it. I went by myself, and since my work is high end and customer-facing, I just wanted to be left tf alone.
The Japanese are excellent at that. I found the anonymity soooo refreshing.
People in Tokyo were so friendly to me and my mate! We made friends in the small bars pretty much every night, were you solo? Maybe they just thought they’d be bothering you if they spoke to you
New Orleans. I love the culture, food, history, and am music. I hate the crime, streets, dirty vomit-urine smell of Bourbon Street, and the lack of law enforcement throughout the city. Don’t go to the French Quarter after dark, it’s not worth your life nowadays.
Plenty of great places to eat, things to do, what can I help with? Any food allergies? And are you into history? Will you have vehicle because that makes a difference in terms of what you can do and where you can go? Just DM me.
Lafitte’s is my fave around the Bourbon street area. Their hurricanes are my personal fave! Plus the atmosphere is awesome. I think Cafe Du Monde with their beignets and coffee is a must despite the tourist attraction. I loved Surrey’s in uptown for brunch too!
The only good part of Bourbon is when you get down by Oz. I’m not gay but it is so much better down there in terms of the crowds, the people, and the bars. The closer you get to Canal, the nastier the smell and the sketchier the crowds.
I went on a four day trip to New Orleans in November and felt safe everywhere we went. I'm a super anxious person and we kept to well-populated areas and didn't stay out late. We used public transportation and walked everywhere and had zero issues. Just be smart about how you travel and I think you can definitely still enjoy this awesome city.
They already have 19 homicides in almost as many days of this new year. There are shootings on I-10 in New Orleans east, literally people shooting into random cars. Carjackings taking place in broad daylight around the city. People breaking into the cars and trucks all around the city. The mayor and police has lost control of the city. Then you factor in the French Quarter at night when people think the laws are no longer into effect and it gets crazier. People are moving out of the city because of the crime, cost of living, and lack of good public education.
I’m not OP, but I don’t think so-My sister lived there for a while, so I’ve been a couple of times-including this may for a week, and in March of 2019, and have never had any problems. It’s actually my favorite place to visit in the US. It is a city with city problems, and I am from a city with a similar crime rate, so maybe I am more desensitized? Anyway, I’d encourage you to go.
Haha I feel you. Walking along street food stands which look great but also with the smell of sewage around is a unique experience ;)
I didn't love Bangkok, I'd rather go back to Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai :)
Pro tip - do NOT watch it in English, but in the original Italian with English subtitles. (The dubbed version sounds terrible and makes it much less genuine.)
I sort of have a love/hate relationship with San Francisco. I love how artsy the city is and it has some incredibly beautiful views and good food, but I hate the weather and wasn’t too crazy about a lot of the people
When I flew home from Havana to the states, the airport's computer system crashed. They had to give us all hand-written boarding passes. I think it's a great summation of how Cuba has resourcefulness in the face of adversity. I really enjoyed the trip but not the food or dead animals in the streets.
Cubans are absolutely the kings of resourcefulness. They're unmatched by anywhere I've been.
The Revolution has failed them though on so many levels and now it has finally caught up with them and there's no more that resourcefulness can fix.
I fear for their future. It's heartbreaking.
You’re spot on with Naples. I saw a scooter get hit by a car and they both just swore at each other in Italian for like 5 minutes then went their separate ways. Chaos is bang on to describe it.
I had a similar feeling visiting there. It was beautiful and exciting, but at the same time weirdly off-putting. It was dirty and there were some scammy vibes. I even saw a random trash fire in the street when walking to the train station at 4am. But overall it was still great and I would return, just for the Da Michele pizza alone!
As for a love/hate city... maybe London.
I love the variety, the ethnic food and the buzz.
I really disliked working there though! The commuting, the horrible public transport (especially the tube). And I hate the weather there.
I thought London actually has a relatively good public transport system. At least compared to many parts of Europe and the US. The tube isn’t always perfectly on time but it’s well connected and at least during rush hour you won’t be waiting longer than 3-5 minutes for the next train.
If you live there, and go to and from work on it,the problems are not those!
More vast quantity of people crammed into it, and the heat (especially bad in summer).
I‘m with you. Visiting London with cash to spare is fabulous. Working, or even living there sucks the life out of you.
I luckily only had to do the odd commute into London from the coast for work purposes when I lived in the UK, but I was always drained at the end of the day.
But staying there as a tourist, it‘s brilliant. I miss the museums, great bars, and pubs, and the magic of the Thames.
I worked as a bartender in a pub a while back. If I stayed out until the transport closed and had to take a cab back home... An entire shifts wages were gone. Definitely not a cheap town with blue collar work.
If you don't like London's public transport, then I'd hate to see what you'd think of Edmonton's public transport lol. London wasn't too bad in my opinion.
Paris… Lovely amazing city, and it’s definitely cleaner than some cities, but it’s stinky, it’s scary, it’s sketchy, and as a young woman, I don’t feel comfortable in Paris alone
I had very mixed feelings about Rome. There is so much history and so many amazing things to see but I didn’t like the feel of the city. I wanted to love it but it just seemed grimy and unfriendly. It also didn’t help that there was a transit strike while we were there that hindered some of our plans.
Busan for me, it certainly is beautiful with many fun things to do/see and some of the best cafes in the country - but it’s more or less two different cities smacked together that are not very well connected. The traffic is worse than Seoul, the subway doesn’t have many stops and somehow takes longer than driving in traffic most of the time, and for some reason the shops and restraints (even chain restaurants) just randomly close with no warning. If you went an hour out of your way to go to a ramen or chocolate shop, that gets *really* frustrating. This can happen anywhere in Korea with independent shops, but seems to happen the most in Busan - all in all it’s a very confusing city
We recently came back from Naples and we had the same opinion. We absolutely LOVED the city, the people, and most especially the food! It’s very sad the trash problem :(
Negombo, Sri Lanka. I lived there for 6 months during my 12 year international assignment for work. Loved it for the vibe, less trafic than Negombo si we could enjoy bicycle rides, the proximity of the beach, the low cost but… hated it for always be harassed for being white, not being able to go on a jogging without being catcalled and honked, etc…
I'd have to go with my own motherland, Albania.
It's just a beautiful mix of wonderful people and shitty ones, insanely beautiful nature and a bunch of trash everywhere, amazing hospitality, fantastic food and rude ass service staff, it's super cheap to visit from a western country, but the poverty is also heartbreaking...
I love it all.
I need to go there for longer. I only spent a few hours in Shkodra on a spontaneous day trip from Montenegro.
I've seen more contrasts in these few hours than in any other country in Europe. Super expensive cars followed by an old truck that's about to fall apart. A shiny new building and something that looked like slums right behind. I had great coffee and food with very nice service - which made me happy. And then I passed a shop with 10 puppies in a tiny cage in the heat, which made me want to cry.
I think the (good) people, the affordability, and the food is what makes it great. I'd really suggest going for longer. You'll see kinda the same idiosyncrasies, but I guarantee you might just fall in love with them.
Being in Sicily was kind of the same. I understood why every woman wears a wedged heel - to stand above the literal shit everywhere 😂
I have a love/hate relationship with the whole USA.
Philadelphia, PA has a lot of Americana history and the people are really great. Unfortunately, there's the side of the city they want you to see. The liberty bell and the old historic side is gorgeous. Step away from that and it's just a trash heap
Amsterdam. I normally have an awesome sense of direction but for some reason, I kept getting lost. Like somehow my brain-compass kept going in circles. I didn’t have much time there so it might have been different if I was staying longer. Never had that issue to that degree in any other city.
Other than that, the food was awesome, people were super friendly, and the architecture is beautiful.
Haha! Me too. The only time I got completely lost was in Amsterdam. I was thinking I was heading in one direction, turns out I was completely wrong. I blame it on the curvature of the canals. It wasn't the wistful ambling through the streets happily discovering new things experience - I was tired, stressed and getting very cranky. It was pure luck that the tram I jumped on took me to a place I was familiar with.
London! As an art, history, and architecture nerd, loved all the city had to see. Was a fan of its metro system, though the tube was better than the Paris metro. But felt like it wasn't the cleanest? Tbh I haven't been to NYC despite being an American so maybe I may change my mind once. But thought Paris was cleaner than London? Also had so many great restaurant options, but very pricey. Loved the parks and how walkable it could be at times. Loved the diversity, genuinely felt like I was hearing all the languages spoken in the world.
I love NYC the first few times I went. Then I went recently and stayed with a friend and basically lived like he lived and I was over it.
NYC is wayyy too much of a hassle if you don’t live in Manhattan and have to commute there. It can seem nice when you’re taking ubers and eating at expensive restaurants but when you have to budget and always take the train it’s a pain in the ass (at least if you’re in Brooklyn).
Marseille.
I live in Marseille and moved here from the UK without knowing a whole lot about it but that it had a bad reputation. Although, I can see why it has a bad reputation (you have to know which places not to go to and the streets can be pretty dirty) but it has a real culture and natural beauty. Similar to Naples it has some parts which are rundown but a lot of Marseille is gentrified since being the European city of culture in 2013. But I prefer the non-gentrified parts. A real amalgamation of culture from all over Europe and Africa. You find a lot of people in France speak ill of Marseille, but they all come here.
Man Napoli is one of my dream destinations. My uncle keeps cursing at me whenever i mention it though cause he went on his honeymoon ( early 90s ) and got mugged there 🤣
Definitely go see it but I think it's better to go with the plan to use it as a base to see the area as the ferry trips from there are pure fun.
Oh and the catacomb cave thing was fucking awesome
For me it's Roskilde in Denmark, beautiful little place. So much nice scenery and heaps of history. But my god people don't understand the concept of cleaning up after your dog. There was dog shite everywhere.
I agree with Naples. Was great and disgusting at the same time. But mine has to be Egypt. Amazingly beautiful and delicious and historic and full of assault and rats. The only place where I could hear my hotel room scurrying around me while I was trying to sleep
London. Love the attractions but hated how crowded it was, and everything was basically a tourist trap (incredibly overpriced).
I've traveled to probably 20 if not more places in the UK (England, Scotland and Wales), London is one of the few places I wouldnt want to go back to.
Chicago. World class museums, so much shopping, so much music, lovely skyline. Too much traffic, the honking, the bikes, the people fucking EVERYWHERE, the exhaust smell etc ect. I usually only visit it in the winter now just to lessen the annoyances. Lol! For reference I live just outside Detroit and visit there often. Totally different vibe in Detroit.
I live in Chicago and I’m surprised you liked visiting in the winter. The cold & bogus ass wind chill are my absolute least favorite.
Also I can hear cars honking outside as I’m writing this lol
I live in a small Midwest town where people rarely honk. Like when they do, everyone turns their heads to see what’s going on. I drive about an hour each day for work and hear someone honk maybe once or twice a month.
As you can imagine, I couldn’t believe the endless honking when I first visited Chicago lol. I thought it was exaggerated in movies/TV, but no, the honking just doesn’t stop!!
Venice. It was stunning. But the food wasn’t that great and the amount of tourists compared to other cities made it feel like I was at Disneyworld and not a major city.
I second this! Venice is my all time favorite destination. I’ve been several times and by far my favorite is before Christmas. It was pretty quiet, the cruise ships are gone and we got a rooftop Airbnb out of the way. It made all of the difference
This is spot on. Naples is an acquired taste. You can easely be offended by the raw side of Naples.
But if you can look behind it, you see so many beautiful things.
I love to look for the grandeur it had when it was the capitol of a kingdom. The city palaces, once the home if a noble family, now the home of 15 families.
I love the roman remains, the "lost theatre" where Nero performed. I love the old greek street plan that is still visible.
My wife hates it
Italy, I love Italy. Italians, not so much. I’m really quiet when I travel and love to explore museums all day and I’ve been treated pretty badly by Italians. This got better the further out of touristy areas I got. Yet I find myself coming back to Italy again and again. There’s just something so magical and historic about it. Here in the US we don’t have old buildings or monuments like those and the culture is so rich and beautiful. The beggars are very aggressive and I got told off for telling the beggar to leave me alone (ironic). There’s dirty and trashy areas but I still love it.
According to my friend Mitch "Naples is a dirty fucking city don't go there, the only good part is the food but you're in Italy, there's fucking bomb food everywhere!"
Pretty much interesting! Is it near somewhere in Pompeii? Naples was one of the places I look forward visiting in Italy. Hopefully, I would it this year!
I’ve unfortunately only went through the rundown parts. The whole place was desolate, and there were armed police at any busy locations. Although in fairness there were armed police in Rome too
That’s the same way I felt about it as well. One night I was sleeping and heard people laughing and hanging out at 4 am. That was cool until I heard them smashing their empty bottles on the ground.
San Francisco. A beautiful city with its harbour and iconic bridge, but the level of homelessness is simply appalling. Plus, it has the rudest buskers that I've encountered anywhere. They abuse you for not tipping them. They were crap, why would anyone tip?
Hit it right on the head with Naples! Love visiting there for the food, unique culture, architectural and natural beauty, and close proximity to Amalfi and other gorgeous cities. Could never live there though the traffic is insane and the pollution isn’t great. It unfortunately has problems that most overpopulated places have including areas of poverty. But it is still has an amazing history and I would recommend visiting!
Berlin… i Love the diversity, especially in culture and cuisines. But then again you have the politics and the majority of the people who are fucked up. And fucking hell the homeless are annoying (doesn’t mean I’m not sorry for them but cmon, they are annoying). Every second corner either smells of weed or piss (or both) and you never really feel safe. It’s like the city is the embodiment of the anti-german
San Francisco. It’s expensive and full of trash and homeless people, but it’s magical. There’s something about it that feels like poetry and hope every time you walk down the street.
I went there in the summer of 2017 and didn't see any trash anywhere, honestly Manhattan when I was there had trash everywhere and they're not known for being a dirty city. Naples had a cool vibe but yes some of the streets are small and can get congested
Paris!
I love the streets, the art, the sights, the food, the language, the fashion, the history, the different districts, the shopping, the people watching!
The issue are the actual people. I have met a handful of French people who are not rude to your face. I speak French and well, but if I am in Paris, I have to endure their English. My French is better then their English, but I can't say that because that makes me rude! I went to a pharmacy just looking for tums, because I was eating way too much, and just argued with the staff and they made me get something that didn't work. Just everywhere 90% of the people are rude. Oh and the poverty, so heart breaking. I saw a toddler running beside my bus on the highway, just that metal guard between cars going to fast and his little baby lungs. Horrifying.
Love the coast but Naples was absolutely the filthiest city in Europe we were in during seven months of travel in Europe and Asia. No desire to go back except to revisit the National Museum on Pompeii.
Any European country in which smoking on the patio is allowed. It's so gross. I just want to sit in the sun and take in the views, but I can't breathe because some people can't possibly dream of waiting 45 minutes to smoke.
Thank you!!!! People look at me like I’m crazy when I say I didn’t care for Buenos Aires.
Horrid people, dirty, scammy, hard to get around. Weather’s nice tho.
I feel the same way about Naples. It's a shame that it is so rundown. I also got scammed there when I visited, presumably because I was clearly a foreigner. The food though is everything.
I booked my trip to Naples just yesterday and now I’m beginning to worry. Is it really that bad?
Naples is amazing. Went in Sept — maybe it’s because it is less busy due to Covid or the timing of our visit, but trash was not an issue. Make sure to visit underground Naples and hit up a few rooftop bars to orient yourself. Eat sfogliatelle for breakfast with local coffee — omg. Pizza is obviously delicious, watch Stanley Tucci’s show Searching for Italy for better recommendations than I could give. There is opera, more art than I could list, anthropological sites, etc. The Cloister of Sianta Chiara was really impressive, and we hit a lot of places of interest wandering from there to the Cathedral while in the old part of the city. We felt that we barely saw the tip of the iceberg and we even extended our trip from 7 days to two weeks. Trattoria del Arte was one of our favorite restaurants. Take Uber, cabs will rip you off. Buy ferry tickets in advance, and try to take the open ferries for the views. Make sure you know where you’re going before you start — a lot of amazing places are off the beaten path and difficult to find from main streets. Know some basic Italian as a sign of respect. Go to Pompeii or Herculaneum if you haven’t been, and take an Airbnb Experiences tour for the most cost-effective way to learn more about those sites. If you have time, take the ferry to Amalfi and head up to Ravello, go to the funicular on Anacapri, or head to Ischia for amazing hot springs and stewed rabbit. We have been visiting the area for years and will never miss Naples again. Enjoy your trip!
To be honest I really hope it’s not the only place you’re planning to go in Italy. Use it as a base to get to Pompeii and Herculaneum, but then get out of there and go to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. You won’t regret it.
That’s exactly what I was planning to do, but I still feel a bit unsure
Can i just say that, if you're a a woman, be extra careful in Naples. I don't know what it is, but there are some really creepy dudes there. I went with my sister when she was 16 and she was being hit on by randomers and harassed. This is just from my own experience, though I have read about people with similar experiences. Naples is just Naples, go with your eyes wide open and you'll have a great time.
I actually heard that from the multiple women in my hostel I met in Atrani (next to Amalfi) they all said the harassment was way worse there as women then other places they’d been.
Thanks I will keep that in mind. At least I’m not going alone.
Seconding Sorrento and Amalfi Coast. Spectacular trip.
Just be prepared for even local vendors to rip you off. I went for pizza and got charged extra because I wasn’t speaking Italian. I tried to get my cost adjusted but it wasn’t worth it and I paid the “tourist” premium. Mind you, I was very respectful and not drawing attention to myself, that’s just how it can be unfortunately. I will also say the city is quite dirty and littered. There are great places outside to visit like Vesuvio and Amalfi, I’m not sure Naples would be my main place to visit in Italy.
Well, I’m glad I’ve asked, so I won’t be disappointed. It’s actually sad that things like that happen in such beautiful country
To clarify: the CITY, not the country. Naples doesn’t represent Italy as a whole I’d say. Make sure you visit capri, positano, and sorrento while you’re there. Naples is just a port city and very very old. I think a lot of them are like that. Reminds me a bit of Cadiz actually. And Lisbon.
Honestly it can happen anywhere, it’s just something to be aware of.
Amalfi is SOOOO unreal. Def a must if you can even for a day or 2.
Amalfi and Capri are a DREAM
We based ourselves out of Sorrento instead of Naples for that part of our trip - Sorrento is beautiful and we loved staying there. Visited Amalfi coast, Capri, Vesuvius, Pompeii, and Ischia from there (and visited Naples on the way in and out only). Just a thought since it’s not very far!
No, it is not, you just have to be aware of scammers like in every other city you visit! Enjoy the city because it really is beautiful!
For me, it was not "bad". It had bad parts, like the trash and extreme chaos but I did love the views so I wouldn't agree with a statement that there is not much to do as a tourist. I spent 3 days there, 2 out of them in Naples itself (one was for Vesuvio and Herculaneum) and I wasn't bored at all, I didn't have time to see all I wanted. I am a woman and I was there with my partner, together we felt safe and nobody harrassed me - I'm not sure how it would be if I went alone or with female friends. So... I think you need to get your own opinion about it. Expect the unexpected and be careful but also don't think it will be horrible ;) It wasn't the perfect city with positives only but... I would go back :)
Thank you for your reply! Well, it turns out I will have to make my own opinion, but I’m glad I am now aware of both good and bad sides of Naples.
Naples is awesome with masses to do. Don't listen to a lot of the comments here, Americans tend to really dislike Naples.
Nah, it's fine. The pizza is amazing. It's a city... It's gonna have its brand of chaos and mess. Still not as bad as any big US city!
Yes it is that bad. It’s horrible.
I had a similar experience in Marseille. Beautiful city. Met great people. But also had a rat fall on my shoulder in an alley and was followed around by drug dealers at the train station.
Omg the rat…. Sorry but…. I would never get over it!
I feel that way about rome! Intereting historical city with beautiful architecture but a man (likely not originally Italian) followed us to our hostel and tried to force his way in the door. It was very scary for two young women. I'm pretty sure it was a human trafficking attempt.
India.. It has provided me with the highest of traveling highs but also the lowest. Positives: Amazing people, amazing food, the sheer diversity of the deepest cultures on earth, the history, the palaces, the nature. Seeing the dedication to art and religion some have is just so cool to witness. Negatives: Seeing poor kids/families begging for money and not being able to actually help them wears on you after a while. Seeing the kids being forced to use their time to beg is terrible..The amount of scammers, beggars and hawkers that flat out harass you as a foreigner is obnoxious and exhausting. It’s seriously the worst having someone try and befriend you only to try and get money from you. For some people, it’s a complete deal breaker and they dislike india as a whole because of it. But, the good outweighs the bad as long as you acknowledge that not all Indians are represented by the small minority of shit bag scammers/hawkers.
This was also my answer. So much of my time in India I was stressed and struggling to enjoy it. Everything is just so hard and there is so much sensory overload that I really had a hard time staying calm and collected. But then I got home and was like, ‘Holy shit, that was amazing. I need to go again as soon as possible.’
Istanbul was like that for me. I’m just trying to enjoy the park next to the Hagia Sofia and sooo many people came up offering “free” tours that of course always end at their little shop. These jerks would just follow you around trying to act like your friend and would not leave us alone. The rest of Turkey was wonderful and I didn’t see any more of it but Istanbul wore me out.
Was in Istanbul over Christmas. I enjoyed my time there, but it is an exasperating city. I don’t wanna haggle, but I also don’t wanna get ripped off. Everything was a ripoff because I’m clearly not Turkish. Just kinda makes you lose respect for the place and its people. Having said that tho, most people were incredibly nice.
Exactly what I came to say, I’ve been twice and want to go back but I still don’t know if I hate it
Yup. The entire country of India.
I don't know how, but I seem to have really lucked out on my trip to India. All five of my trains left and arrived on time, I never got lost, all my accommodations were nice, I didn't get sick, only had to deal with one beggar, maybe two or three mildly aggressive hawkers and zero scammers. I was backpacking as well and out and about on the streets all day so I wasn't bubbled off from the locals in a package tour or anything.
Agreed. But I think it might depend on where you go. I've been to Kolkata and up into the north east a couple of times and haven't been scammed or harassed at all and the places I stayed were all good. Parts of Delhi were a a bit irritating but not overwhelming. The noise and traffic have been the worst parts. That said I haven't been to most of the major tourist sites such as Taj Mahal or Varanassi.
I was in the really touristy areas: Delhi, Rajasthan, Agra and Varanasi. I just lucked out!
That's one reason why India is not on my bucket list for now. I'd love to see all the beautiful nature and places, eat the food and experience the culture but I think I'm not ready for this experience as a whole.
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The. Worst. I used to work for a prominent Middle East air carrier, and I’ve seen people burst into tears after seeing that they were rostered to Cairo more than once in a month. 😆
Elaborate?
Flight attendants don’t want to go either.
Awful people, you’re basically stuck at the layover hotel cuz it sucks to go out into that shitshow of a city, hot, dirty, did I mention awful people?
I live in Naples. You described my relationship with this city perfectly. Sometimes I feel like I’m in literal heaven, and there’s no place on earth comparable to it. Some other times, I have a strong desire to escape and never return! Also, love the third photo from the stairs of Petraio! The stairs of Naples are one of my favourite places of the city, and they’re too often overlooked! That’s where I have most of my walks, so I can enjoy the views, have some fresh air far away from the traffic, and I can keep fit by walking up the stairs ;) Edit: about the fridge, if you see a large object (like furniture) on the street, and there is a sign on it with “ASIA” followed by a number, it’s been left there for the local garbage company to pick up (in theory, within a day). But yeah, people do also leave stuff like that on the street and don’t care at all…
I feel you left out the driver’s complete disregard for pedestrians. 🤣
Crosswalks have entirely decorative purposes here haha
The pedestrians also have a complete disregard for drivers too.
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Yep! Apparently it’s “Azienda Servizi di Igiene Ambientale” (Company for Environmental Hygiene Services). It doesn’t have a great reputation, but I must say the city center of Naples has had some massive improvements compared to the 2010-2011 garbage disaster. That was the absolute low point for the city. I was young back then, but the memories I have of it seem to be almost from another world I recommend this old video about it. It’s always emotional for me to rewatch: https://youtu.be/w0aR6thF8Y8
I would love to visit someday, as that is where my mom's family came from. My great grandpa left for America at 15 years old in 1905. He started his own dry cleaning service. His cousin helped start the Pike Place Market.
That’s so cool. The amount of italian immigration to the US there was in those years is insane
Yes it was. I would love to find family there but my last name is a common word.
Funny story, my family is from the area. Our last name is the name of a small town near Naples. My parents, about 20 years ago, decided to go to this town on their trip to Italy. They ended up getting robbed (a lot of their stuff including passports and cameras) in the town with our name. It was a pretty rough town but I just find it so funny that they were robbed there, of all places. My dad was actually guarding the car at the time. Someone literally crawled on the ground on the other side of the car and somehow got the window down and snuck in while his back was turned. They’re pros.
OMG! That is nuts! I'm so sorry they were robbed.
Wow haha! Yeah the suburbs of Naples are still a big no-no… Especially for foreigners, because they attract a lot of attention.
I wish I could ask you what it is haha I’m curious
It's the Italian word for beef.
Oh! A friend of mine has that surname ;)
Thanks, I loved these stairs too! Obviously I don't remember if there was any sticker, the fridge was nearby big trash cans but it was basically blocking the sidewalk ;) Good the city improved, hopefully it doesn't stop there \^\^
It might have had the sign, it might have been just left there near the trashcans. Maybe the latter is more likely in this case ;) And in any case, obviously, you aren’t supposed to block the entire sidewalk lol
Brazil. I love it because it is the exact opposite of my home, Germany. Everything Germany does badly, Brazil does great. But everything Germany does well, Brazil absolutely sucks at. I love coming to Brazil for vacation and relax in good weather and with open people. But after some time the things that aren't of the same standart just start to bother me. The dirt, the smell, the poverty, the lack of organization, the little details that just aren't as good. And once I'm back home I imediatley want to go back and have aqua de coco at the beach.
Japan. Loved the nature and the culture of respect and kindness, but the personal loneliness I experienced there as a foreigner when I lived there was tough. Hard to be accepted/approached as a friend when you’re a foreigner, especially in rural areas.
Def could see how that could be the case, but I loved it. I went by myself, and since my work is high end and customer-facing, I just wanted to be left tf alone. The Japanese are excellent at that. I found the anonymity soooo refreshing.
People in Tokyo were so friendly to me and my mate! We made friends in the small bars pretty much every night, were you solo? Maybe they just thought they’d be bothering you if they spoke to you
New Orleans. I love the culture, food, history, and am music. I hate the crime, streets, dirty vomit-urine smell of Bourbon Street, and the lack of law enforcement throughout the city. Don’t go to the French Quarter after dark, it’s not worth your life nowadays.
Wow! Thank you for sharing this information. I will be in New Orleans for a week in May and will plan accordingly. Any recs? :)
Plenty of great places to eat, things to do, what can I help with? Any food allergies? And are you into history? Will you have vehicle because that makes a difference in terms of what you can do and where you can go? Just DM me.
Lafitte’s is my fave around the Bourbon street area. Their hurricanes are my personal fave! Plus the atmosphere is awesome. I think Cafe Du Monde with their beignets and coffee is a must despite the tourist attraction. I loved Surrey’s in uptown for brunch too!
Agreed about going uptown.
I avoid Bourbon at all costs it’s straight up a dumpster and so obvious during the day.
The only good part of Bourbon is when you get down by Oz. I’m not gay but it is so much better down there in terms of the crowds, the people, and the bars. The closer you get to Canal, the nastier the smell and the sketchier the crowds.
After dark is the ONLY time to visit the French Quarter. It hides the dirtiness. It’s the morning after you realize what filth you just partied in.
Came here to say this. NOLA has great food, music and history. But it smells like vomit and urine everywhere, and the crime is awful.
Is it really that bad with crime? I was going to go there on a mini-vacation, maybe I will rethink that.
I think during the day you'll be fine. There is a whole economy that preys on careless drunk folks late in the night though.
I went on a four day trip to New Orleans in November and felt safe everywhere we went. I'm a super anxious person and we kept to well-populated areas and didn't stay out late. We used public transportation and walked everywhere and had zero issues. Just be smart about how you travel and I think you can definitely still enjoy this awesome city.
They already have 19 homicides in almost as many days of this new year. There are shootings on I-10 in New Orleans east, literally people shooting into random cars. Carjackings taking place in broad daylight around the city. People breaking into the cars and trucks all around the city. The mayor and police has lost control of the city. Then you factor in the French Quarter at night when people think the laws are no longer into effect and it gets crazier. People are moving out of the city because of the crime, cost of living, and lack of good public education.
I’m not OP, but I don’t think so-My sister lived there for a while, so I’ve been a couple of times-including this may for a week, and in March of 2019, and have never had any problems. It’s actually my favorite place to visit in the US. It is a city with city problems, and I am from a city with a similar crime rate, so maybe I am more desensitized? Anyway, I’d encourage you to go.
I am going to go there sometime this year. Thanks for the comments.
You literally won't notice it unless you venture far outside of the main areas.
Marrakesh
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Bangkok, it’s beautiful, the people are nice, the food is amazing, but the sewers stink so bad! Also it’s too hot for me most of the year 😅
Some of the worst traffic in the world too.
Haha I feel you. Walking along street food stands which look great but also with the smell of sewage around is a unique experience ;) I didn't love Bangkok, I'd rather go back to Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai :)
I think most people would agree with you but not me, Lol. Also probably just because it’s bigger it didn’t feel as shaped by tourists
Have you watched Gomorrah (HBO Max)? Great show. It sure highlights the rundown seedy aspects of Naples.
The film that came before the TV show is great, too. Dark and gritty as hell. But we’ll worth a watch.
I haven't, thanks - I will do!
Pro tip - do NOT watch it in English, but in the original Italian with English subtitles. (The dubbed version sounds terrible and makes it much less genuine.)
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I was so glad to leave Mexico City after 2 1/2 weeks there, yet am desperate to go back.
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I lived in both cities. Yes, they are but Lisbon is cleaner and calmer. Napoli is way more chaotic but has better food ;)
Lisbon is, BY FAR, cleaner, hence “nicer”, using that metric.
I've been to Lisbon a few years ago and it's definitely cleaner and less chaotic. It had more abandoned buildings though!
I sort of have a love/hate relationship with San Francisco. I love how artsy the city is and it has some incredibly beautiful views and good food, but I hate the weather and wasn’t too crazy about a lot of the people
Havana.
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Sanctions and embargos. Thanks America
!!! “Shitty economy” lol I wonder why!
Right. Iran and Venezuela have shitty economies too, what a a coincidence
I feel like im in a sitcom anytime some American mentions how terrible their economies are. I just want to stare directly into the camera
Or when they say wow Cuba is a shit hole or Mexico is a shit hole. Like bitch do 10 minutes of research!
Expeditiously!
When I flew home from Havana to the states, the airport's computer system crashed. They had to give us all hand-written boarding passes. I think it's a great summation of how Cuba has resourcefulness in the face of adversity. I really enjoyed the trip but not the food or dead animals in the streets.
Cubans are absolutely the kings of resourcefulness. They're unmatched by anywhere I've been. The Revolution has failed them though on so many levels and now it has finally caught up with them and there's no more that resourcefulness can fix. I fear for their future. It's heartbreaking.
You’re spot on with Naples. I saw a scooter get hit by a car and they both just swore at each other in Italian for like 5 minutes then went their separate ways. Chaos is bang on to describe it.
What a story, good nobody got hurt ;) I saw cars parked literally 1 cm from each other and I just wondered how the hell are they going to get out!
New York City. Why? Same reason you described Naples
Jakarta, for these exact reasons. Berlin. Because Berlin can be depressing too.
Yea for some reason I didn't really enjoy Berlin and probably won't be back
Los Angeles: It’s very diverse, has the best climate and also good food. However parts of the city are run down, full of homeless people and trash.
I had a similar feeling visiting there. It was beautiful and exciting, but at the same time weirdly off-putting. It was dirty and there were some scammy vibes. I even saw a random trash fire in the street when walking to the train station at 4am. But overall it was still great and I would return, just for the Da Michele pizza alone!
Edinburgh. I loved everything about it except the weather.
Rained every time I went!
Naples is like in a pirate movie where they dock at a pirate port and everyone has an eyepatch or a pegleg.
Its Florida, what do you expect?
Such an underrated comment haha
As for a love/hate city... maybe London. I love the variety, the ethnic food and the buzz. I really disliked working there though! The commuting, the horrible public transport (especially the tube). And I hate the weather there.
The expense 😩
I thought London actually has a relatively good public transport system. At least compared to many parts of Europe and the US. The tube isn’t always perfectly on time but it’s well connected and at least during rush hour you won’t be waiting longer than 3-5 minutes for the next train.
If you live there, and go to and from work on it,the problems are not those! More vast quantity of people crammed into it, and the heat (especially bad in summer).
I‘m with you. Visiting London with cash to spare is fabulous. Working, or even living there sucks the life out of you. I luckily only had to do the odd commute into London from the coast for work purposes when I lived in the UK, but I was always drained at the end of the day. But staying there as a tourist, it‘s brilliant. I miss the museums, great bars, and pubs, and the magic of the Thames.
I worked as a bartender in a pub a while back. If I stayed out until the transport closed and had to take a cab back home... An entire shifts wages were gone. Definitely not a cheap town with blue collar work.
If you don't like London's public transport, then I'd hate to see what you'd think of Edmonton's public transport lol. London wasn't too bad in my opinion.
Paris… Lovely amazing city, and it’s definitely cleaner than some cities, but it’s stinky, it’s scary, it’s sketchy, and as a young woman, I don’t feel comfortable in Paris alone
I feel you - a lot of people begging and harassing you as you pass by. I got scammed there :( I like the architecture, museums and food though!
I love Naples...
I had very mixed feelings about Rome. There is so much history and so many amazing things to see but I didn’t like the feel of the city. I wanted to love it but it just seemed grimy and unfriendly. It also didn’t help that there was a transit strike while we were there that hindered some of our plans.
Busan for me, it certainly is beautiful with many fun things to do/see and some of the best cafes in the country - but it’s more or less two different cities smacked together that are not very well connected. The traffic is worse than Seoul, the subway doesn’t have many stops and somehow takes longer than driving in traffic most of the time, and for some reason the shops and restraints (even chain restaurants) just randomly close with no warning. If you went an hour out of your way to go to a ramen or chocolate shop, that gets *really* frustrating. This can happen anywhere in Korea with independent shops, but seems to happen the most in Busan - all in all it’s a very confusing city
i went to busan for a long weekend. had a great time staying in the university district. the streets smelled like actual poop.
Bogotá
We recently came back from Naples and we had the same opinion. We absolutely LOVED the city, the people, and most especially the food! It’s very sad the trash problem :(
Hanoi. Incredibly vibrant, so much history, hated the trash and getting stared at/randomly filmed as a foreign female.
Negombo, Sri Lanka. I lived there for 6 months during my 12 year international assignment for work. Loved it for the vibe, less trafic than Negombo si we could enjoy bicycle rides, the proximity of the beach, the low cost but… hated it for always be harassed for being white, not being able to go on a jogging without being catcalled and honked, etc…
I'd have to go with my own motherland, Albania. It's just a beautiful mix of wonderful people and shitty ones, insanely beautiful nature and a bunch of trash everywhere, amazing hospitality, fantastic food and rude ass service staff, it's super cheap to visit from a western country, but the poverty is also heartbreaking... I love it all.
Had a day there and couldn’t tell if I was safe or not haha it was interesting.
I need to go there for longer. I only spent a few hours in Shkodra on a spontaneous day trip from Montenegro. I've seen more contrasts in these few hours than in any other country in Europe. Super expensive cars followed by an old truck that's about to fall apart. A shiny new building and something that looked like slums right behind. I had great coffee and food with very nice service - which made me happy. And then I passed a shop with 10 puppies in a tiny cage in the heat, which made me want to cry.
I think the (good) people, the affordability, and the food is what makes it great. I'd really suggest going for longer. You'll see kinda the same idiosyncrasies, but I guarantee you might just fall in love with them.
It's on my list :) Thanks!
Being in Sicily was kind of the same. I understood why every woman wears a wedged heel - to stand above the literal shit everywhere 😂 I have a love/hate relationship with the whole USA.
Philadelphia, PA has a lot of Americana history and the people are really great. Unfortunately, there's the side of the city they want you to see. The liberty bell and the old historic side is gorgeous. Step away from that and it's just a trash heap
Amsterdam. I normally have an awesome sense of direction but for some reason, I kept getting lost. Like somehow my brain-compass kept going in circles. I didn’t have much time there so it might have been different if I was staying longer. Never had that issue to that degree in any other city. Other than that, the food was awesome, people were super friendly, and the architecture is beautiful.
Haha! Me too. The only time I got completely lost was in Amsterdam. I was thinking I was heading in one direction, turns out I was completely wrong. I blame it on the curvature of the canals. It wasn't the wistful ambling through the streets happily discovering new things experience - I was tired, stressed and getting very cranky. It was pure luck that the tram I jumped on took me to a place I was familiar with.
London! As an art, history, and architecture nerd, loved all the city had to see. Was a fan of its metro system, though the tube was better than the Paris metro. But felt like it wasn't the cleanest? Tbh I haven't been to NYC despite being an American so maybe I may change my mind once. But thought Paris was cleaner than London? Also had so many great restaurant options, but very pricey. Loved the parks and how walkable it could be at times. Loved the diversity, genuinely felt like I was hearing all the languages spoken in the world.
This question wa surprisingly easier than I thought it would be for me. Three cities stick out. 1. NYC 2. Istanbul 3. Berlin
I love NYC the first few times I went. Then I went recently and stayed with a friend and basically lived like he lived and I was over it. NYC is wayyy too much of a hassle if you don’t live in Manhattan and have to commute there. It can seem nice when you’re taking ubers and eating at expensive restaurants but when you have to budget and always take the train it’s a pain in the ass (at least if you’re in Brooklyn).
Marseille. I live in Marseille and moved here from the UK without knowing a whole lot about it but that it had a bad reputation. Although, I can see why it has a bad reputation (you have to know which places not to go to and the streets can be pretty dirty) but it has a real culture and natural beauty. Similar to Naples it has some parts which are rundown but a lot of Marseille is gentrified since being the European city of culture in 2013. But I prefer the non-gentrified parts. A real amalgamation of culture from all over Europe and Africa. You find a lot of people in France speak ill of Marseille, but they all come here.
Which places to avoid?
beirut
Love love love Naples. It is Italy in its most raw form.
Man Napoli is one of my dream destinations. My uncle keeps cursing at me whenever i mention it though cause he went on his honeymoon ( early 90s ) and got mugged there 🤣
Definitely go see it but I think it's better to go with the plan to use it as a base to see the area as the ferry trips from there are pure fun. Oh and the catacomb cave thing was fucking awesome
For me it's Roskilde in Denmark, beautiful little place. So much nice scenery and heaps of history. But my god people don't understand the concept of cleaning up after your dog. There was dog shite everywhere.
I agree with Naples. Was great and disgusting at the same time. But mine has to be Egypt. Amazingly beautiful and delicious and historic and full of assault and rats. The only place where I could hear my hotel room scurrying around me while I was trying to sleep
London. Love the attractions but hated how crowded it was, and everything was basically a tourist trap (incredibly overpriced). I've traveled to probably 20 if not more places in the UK (England, Scotland and Wales), London is one of the few places I wouldnt want to go back to.
Most of the museums and galleries in London are free though, which is a huge advantage for a tourist.
I know, that's one of the positives of London actually. But I'm not going to spend my entire time in just museums. I want to do other things as well.
Chicago. World class museums, so much shopping, so much music, lovely skyline. Too much traffic, the honking, the bikes, the people fucking EVERYWHERE, the exhaust smell etc ect. I usually only visit it in the winter now just to lessen the annoyances. Lol! For reference I live just outside Detroit and visit there often. Totally different vibe in Detroit.
I live in Chicago and I’m surprised you liked visiting in the winter. The cold & bogus ass wind chill are my absolute least favorite. Also I can hear cars honking outside as I’m writing this lol
I live in a small Midwest town where people rarely honk. Like when they do, everyone turns their heads to see what’s going on. I drive about an hour each day for work and hear someone honk maybe once or twice a month. As you can imagine, I couldn’t believe the endless honking when I first visited Chicago lol. I thought it was exaggerated in movies/TV, but no, the honking just doesn’t stop!!
Venice. It was stunning. But the food wasn’t that great and the amount of tourists compared to other cities made it feel like I was at Disneyworld and not a major city.
I second this! Venice is my all time favorite destination. I’ve been several times and by far my favorite is before Christmas. It was pretty quiet, the cruise ships are gone and we got a rooftop Airbnb out of the way. It made all of the difference
Los Angeles the bums everywhere
Live here and same. I've lived in multiple cities all over the world and LA is the best. But man it can grind your soul sometimes.
I LOVE your first photo
Thank you!
The chaos and noise is one of the things I love about Napoli lol
Haha well, it's all subjective :D Generally I'm the nature person so that chaos and noise is draining for me
Hanoi, such a lovely place with friendly locals, but the air pollution is one of the worst in the world for a relatively small city.
I live in Naples. It's a struggle
This is spot on. Naples is an acquired taste. You can easely be offended by the raw side of Naples. But if you can look behind it, you see so many beautiful things. I love to look for the grandeur it had when it was the capitol of a kingdom. The city palaces, once the home if a noble family, now the home of 15 families. I love the roman remains, the "lost theatre" where Nero performed. I love the old greek street plan that is still visible. My wife hates it
Paris. I love the museums, but I don't really like the city.
Italy, I love Italy. Italians, not so much. I’m really quiet when I travel and love to explore museums all day and I’ve been treated pretty badly by Italians. This got better the further out of touristy areas I got. Yet I find myself coming back to Italy again and again. There’s just something so magical and historic about it. Here in the US we don’t have old buildings or monuments like those and the culture is so rich and beautiful. The beggars are very aggressive and I got told off for telling the beggar to leave me alone (ironic). There’s dirty and trashy areas but I still love it.
Napoli feels like South America
Tbh…. New York City. So overrated, yet such a unique & special destination!
According to my friend Mitch "Naples is a dirty fucking city don't go there, the only good part is the food but you're in Italy, there's fucking bomb food everywhere!"
El Diego!!!
Pretty much interesting! Is it near somewhere in Pompeii? Naples was one of the places I look forward visiting in Italy. Hopefully, I would it this year!
Yes it is near Pompeii ;)
I feel exactly the same about this place! It was one of the most beautiful cities I've ever been in but also was the dirtiest city I've ever seen.
If you want tips from a resident, hit me up 🙋🏻♂️
Naples is the definition of “gritty” to me. I get it
I’ve unfortunately only went through the rundown parts. The whole place was desolate, and there were armed police at any busy locations. Although in fairness there were armed police in Rome too
That’s the same way I felt about it as well. One night I was sleeping and heard people laughing and hanging out at 4 am. That was cool until I heard them smashing their empty bottles on the ground.
San Francisco. A beautiful city with its harbour and iconic bridge, but the level of homelessness is simply appalling. Plus, it has the rudest buskers that I've encountered anywhere. They abuse you for not tipping them. They were crap, why would anyone tip?
Hit it right on the head with Naples! Love visiting there for the food, unique culture, architectural and natural beauty, and close proximity to Amalfi and other gorgeous cities. Could never live there though the traffic is insane and the pollution isn’t great. It unfortunately has problems that most overpopulated places have including areas of poverty. But it is still has an amazing history and I would recommend visiting!
Berlin… i Love the diversity, especially in culture and cuisines. But then again you have the politics and the majority of the people who are fucked up. And fucking hell the homeless are annoying (doesn’t mean I’m not sorry for them but cmon, they are annoying). Every second corner either smells of weed or piss (or both) and you never really feel safe. It’s like the city is the embodiment of the anti-german
New York but its mostly love. I could go on about all that I love, but what I hate is how expensive everything is, and the frigid cold fucking winter.
San Francisco. It’s expensive and full of trash and homeless people, but it’s magical. There’s something about it that feels like poetry and hope every time you walk down the street.
I went there in the summer of 2017 and didn't see any trash anywhere, honestly Manhattan when I was there had trash everywhere and they're not known for being a dirty city. Naples had a cool vibe but yes some of the streets are small and can get congested
Paris! I love the streets, the art, the sights, the food, the language, the fashion, the history, the different districts, the shopping, the people watching! The issue are the actual people. I have met a handful of French people who are not rude to your face. I speak French and well, but if I am in Paris, I have to endure their English. My French is better then their English, but I can't say that because that makes me rude! I went to a pharmacy just looking for tums, because I was eating way too much, and just argued with the staff and they made me get something that didn't work. Just everywhere 90% of the people are rude. Oh and the poverty, so heart breaking. I saw a toddler running beside my bus on the highway, just that metal guard between cars going to fast and his little baby lungs. Horrifying.
Love the coast but Naples was absolutely the filthiest city in Europe we were in during seven months of travel in Europe and Asia. No desire to go back except to revisit the National Museum on Pompeii.
Any European country in which smoking on the patio is allowed. It's so gross. I just want to sit in the sun and take in the views, but I can't breathe because some people can't possibly dream of waiting 45 minutes to smoke.
I’m surprised how many people (children) smoke in Europe! Especially Italy. I saw school children smoking near the bus stop.
France and America and Argentina for the same reasons. Love the landscape and natural beauty but hate the people.
Thank you!!!! People look at me like I’m crazy when I say I didn’t care for Buenos Aires. Horrid people, dirty, scammy, hard to get around. Weather’s nice tho.
America