Capri travel guide
Blue Grotto, Faraglioni stacks and the Piazzetta after dark
Capri is a steep limestone island off the Sorrento Peninsula, reached by ferry from Naples or Sorrento in under an hour. Go for the Blue Grotto, cliff walks and the Faraglioni stacks; May, June, September and October are calmer than high summer. Stay at least one night to see it without the day crowds. Capri is expensive.
Capri rises steeply out of the sea at the southern edge of the Bay of Naples, a short boat ride from Naples or Sorrento. Roman emperors kept villas here, and the island has been a resort ever since. Day visitors come for the Blue Grotto and the boutiques around the Piazzetta; those who stay the night get the island back after the last ferry.
Boats dock at Marina Grande on the north shore. A funicular lifts you from there to Capri town, while buses run up to Anacapri, the second and quieter town on the slopes of Monte Solaro. The Capri to Anacapri bus is often full, so take the direct bus from the harbour if Anacapri is your first stop. In July and August the harbour queues are long by mid-morning.
The Blue Grotto is a sea cave you enter lying back in a rowboat through an opening barely a metre high. Sunlight coming in under the water turns the inside an electric blue. It shuts when the sea is rough or the tide is high, and in summer boats queue outside for a long time, so check conditions first. A cheaper approach than the boat from Marina Grande is the bus via Anacapri, which drops you at steps above the entrance.
Walking is the way to see the rest. A path from the Piazzetta leads east to the Arco Naturale, a rock arch above the sea, and on along the Pizzolungo trail to the Belvedere di Tragara, the lookout over the Faraglioni stacks. Up on the eastern headland, the ruins of Villa Jovis mark where Tiberius lived. From Anacapri a chairlift climbs Monte Solaro, the island's highest point.
In Anacapri, Villa San Michele, the house built by the Swedish doctor Axel Munthe, has a garden terrace high above Marina Grande. Marina Piccola on the south side has the easiest swimming, from rocks and small pebbly coves. On hikes keep to the signed paths. Some are steep stair-lined tracks, and dogs from private villas sometimes roam the quieter lanes.
Insalata caprese (tomato, mozzarella, basil) takes its name from the island. Torta caprese, a flourless chocolate and almond cake, comes from here too. Restaurants and harbour cafes are expensive; a supermarket in Capri town or a grocery in Anacapri makes for a far cheaper picnic. In the evening, the four cafes around the Piazzetta are where everyone ends up.
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Top things to do in Capri
Sea caves, cliff walks, Roman ruins and two small towns with very different moods.
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Best time to visit Capri
Month by month, so you can pick the weather and the crowds you want.
The sea is warm enough to swim, the footpaths are pleasant and boats run often.
The island is packed with day-trippers; go out early in the day and stay overnight to enjoy the evenings.
Quiet and cooler, with fewer boats; many hotels and restaurants stay shut until Easter.
In July and August, catch an early boat and reach the Blue Grotto before the queues build; rough seas can close it on any day.
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Getting there
Ferries and hydrofoils
Capri has no airport and no road link, so every arrival is by sea at Marina Grande on the north shore. Most visitors fly into Naples, take the Alibus shuttle or a taxi to the port, and board one of the many daily ferries and hydrofoils, which take about 40 minutes.
- From Naples
- Ferries and hydrofoils, about 40 minutes, many sailings a day
- From Sorrento
- About 30 minutes, frequent sailings
- From Ischia
- Hydrofoils in about 40 minutes
- Marina Grande
- Funicular to Capri town, buses to Anacapri, ticket kiosks and luggage storage
- Sorrento is the shortest crossing, about 30 minutes with frequent departures, and handy if you are already staying on the peninsula.
- Hydrofoils from Ischia take about 40 minutes, and in season boats also run from Positano and Amalfi.
- Caremar and SNAV are among the operators.
- Fast boats are cancelled when the sea is rough, so keep a little flexibility if the forecast is poor.
- Leave large bags at the luggage storage near the funicular; the lanes above are steep and narrow.
- In high summer, book the return boat early, as afternoon sailings fill with day-trippers.
Where to stay
Piazzetta, Via Tragara or Anacapri
Day-trippers pack the late-afternoon boats, so a night on the island means quiet lanes at dusk and the Piazzetta almost to yourself first thing. Rooms are expensive everywhere and scarce in July and August; Anacapri is calmer and somewhat cheaper than Capri town.
- Capri town
- Around the Piazzetta and Via Camerelle; lively at night and the most expensive
- Via Tragara
- Quiet lane of upmarket hotels leading toward the Faraglioni lookout
- Anacapri
- Higher and calmer, near Villa San Michele and the Monte Solaro chairlift
- Marina Grande
- Practical for early or late boats, little to do in the evening
- Ask your hotel about porters at Marina Grande; many arrange luggage transfers up the hill.
Getting around
Funicular, buses, footpaths
Capri is small but almost vertical. The funicular from Marina Grande climbs to the Piazzetta in a few minutes, and small public buses do the rest: Marina Grande to Capri town about four times an hour, Capri town to Anacapri at a similar rate. Buy tickets at the kiosks before boarding.
- Funicular
- Marina Grande to the Piazzetta in a few minutes
- Bus Marina Grande to Anacapri
- Direct, about twice an hour, avoids the Capri town crush
- Bus Anacapri to Blue Grotto
- Drops you at the steps above the cave
- Open-top taxis
- Expensive; agree the price first and share for an island tour
- Signposted footpaths and stairways link most sights if you are happy to climb.
- The Capri to Anacapri bus is the most crowded; queue early or go direct from the port.
- Footpaths are often quicker than waiting for a full bus, but most involve steps.
Know before you go
What makes Capri worth the trip, and what catches visitors out.
Why travelers love it
- The Piazzetta at night, once the last ferries have gone and the four cafes fill with people staying on the island.
- The Pizzolungo path from the Arco Naturale to the Belvedere di Tragara, with the Faraglioni below you.
- Monte Solaro by chairlift from Anacapri, for a view over both sides of the island.
- Villa Jovis, where Tiberius ran the empire from a clifftop on the island's eastern tip.
- A swim at Marina Piccola off the rocks on the south shore.
Good to know
- The Blue Grotto often closes when waves or high tide block its low entrance; check before you set off.
- Harbour cafes are pricey. Picnic supplies from a supermarket in town cost a fraction.
- Take care on remote paths: they can be steep, and villa dogs sometimes roam them.
Trip fit
BookingMentor editorial ratings out of 5, based on a first-time visitor's experience.
Weather in Capri, month by month
Rough seas can cancel the fast boats to Capri, so check the marine forecast as well as these long-term monthly averages.
Climate figures are approximate long-term averages for Capri (NOAA/NCEI, via Wikipedia).
Monte Solaro, the Pizzolungo path and a night in the Piazzetta
A full day on Capri starts with an early boat, the Blue Grotto if the sea is calm, Villa San Michele and the Monte Solaro chairlift in Anacapri. The afternoon is for the Arco Naturale and the Pizzolungo path to the Faraglioni view, the evening for the Piazzetta once the day crowds have left.
Morning. Take an early boat from Naples or Sorrento and leave your bag at the storage near the funicular in Marina Grande. If the sea is calm, go straight to the Blue Grotto before the queue builds, either by boat from the harbour or by bus via Anacapri. Stay in Anacapri for Villa San Michele and its garden, then ride the chairlift up Monte Solaro.
Afternoon. Bus across to Capri town and walk east to the Arco Naturale, then follow the Pizzolungo path round to the Belvedere di Tragara for the classic view of the Faraglioni. The path is shaded in parts but has plenty of steps.
Evening. By early evening the day crowds are queuing for the boats. That is the time to take a table at one of the Piazzetta cafes, then wander the lanes behind it before dinner.
Next morning. Walk up to Villa Jovis on the eastern headland before the heat, and if time allows, take the bus down to Marina Piccola for a swim before your boat.
Ravioli capresi, torta caprese and cheaper picnic spots
Capri gave the world insalata caprese and torta caprese, a flourless chocolate and almond cake. Also order ravioli capresi and anything made with the island's lemons. Food near the Piazzetta is among the most expensive in Italy, so picnic from the supermarkets in Capri town or eat in calmer, better-value Anacapri.
Two dishes famous worldwide started here. Insalata caprese is simply ripe tomato, mozzarella and basil with olive oil, and it is best in summer. Torta caprese is a dense flourless cake of chocolate and almonds. Look also for ravioli capresi, filled with a soft local cheese and marjoram and served with tomato sauce, and for anything made with the island's lemons, from granita to limoncello.
Eating well on Capri is easy; eating cheaply is not. Restaurants near the Piazzetta and the harbour cafes charge some of the highest prices in Italy for very ordinary food. A good way round it is to picnic: Capri town has a couple of supermarkets, and there are groceries near the port and in Anacapri. Benches are few, so pick a viewpoint with a wall to sit on.
For something sweet, Buonocore on Via Vittorio Emanuele, close to the Piazzetta, is a long-running pastry shop and gelateria. Anacapri's restaurants tend to be calmer and better value than those in Capri town.
Rowboats into the Blue Grotto and the trips when it closes
The Blue Grotto is reached only by small rowboat, either from Marina Grande by boat or by bus from Anacapri to the steps above the cave. It closes when swell or tide makes the entrance unsafe. When it is shut, take a boat trip round the island past the Faraglioni and its sea caves.
The Blue Grotto is entered only by small rowboat, through an opening so low you lie back to pass. Inside, light coming up through the water turns everything a vivid blue. There are two ways to reach it. Boats from Marina Grande take you round to the entrance, where you switch to a rowboat; in summer the whole outing can take one to three hours. The cheaper option is the bus from Anacapri, which stops at steps above the cave. The grotto closes when the swell or the tide makes the entrance unsafe, sometimes for days, so ask at the harbour before setting out.
If it is shut, a boat trip round the island is the best substitute, passing the Faraglioni and smaller sea caves you cannot reach on foot. Back on land, the walk to the Arco Naturale and the Pizzolungo path show the wild side of the island that most day visitors miss. Swimming inside the grottoes is not allowed, so save that for Marina Piccola.
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How we research our Capri travel guide
Ferry crossings, the funicular, island buses and Blue Grotto access on Capri all follow Italia.it, and the page changes when sailing patterns do.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Quick answers to the questions travelers ask most before visiting Capri.
Timing & weather
About 40 minutes, with many sailings a day. Book ahead in July and August.
No. It closes when waves or tides make the low entrance unsafe, so check on the day before paying for a boat.
The best time to visit Capri is May to Jun, Sep to Oct. Warm sea and open footpaths, without the July and August crush.
- Best overall: May - June, September - October (The sea is warm enough to swim, the footpaths are pleasant and boats run often)
- Peak: July - August (The island is packed with day-trippers; go out early in the day and stay overnight to enjoy the evenings)
- Low season: November - March (Quiet and cooler, with fewer boats; many hotels and restaurants stay shut until Easter)
General
Yes. Boats take around 30 minutes and leave frequently through the day.
It is the simplest: the Alibus shuttle or a taxi takes you to the port of Naples for boats to Marina Grande. There are no flights to the island itself.
Yes. One full day covers the Blue Grotto and the Piazzetta, but one or two nights let you walk the paths and enjoy the island once the crowds sail away.
May, June, September and October offer warm sea and calmer streets. July and August are hot and heavily crowded.
Capri town has the Piazzetta, shops and evening life. Anacapri is quieter and a little cheaper, near Villa San Michele and the Monte Solaro chairlift.
No. The funicular climbs to Capri town in a few minutes, and buses run from the port to Anacapri and on to the Blue Grotto. Footpaths and stairs cover the rest.
Yes, both come from the island, as do ravioli capresi. Buy picnic food at a supermarket to save money.
Yes, on the south shore, from rocks and small coves. Swimming inside the grottoes is not allowed.
Capri is small but almost vertical. The funicular from Marina Grande climbs to the Piazzetta in a few minutes, and small public buses do the rest: Marina Grande to Capri town about four times an hour, Capri town to Anacapri at a similar rate. Buy tickets at the kiosks before boarding.
Getting there
Capri has no airport and no road link, so every arrival is by sea at Marina Grande on the north shore. Most visitors fly into Naples, take the Alibus shuttle or a taxi to the port, and board one of the many daily ferries and hydrofoils, which take about 40 minutes.
Visa & documents
Schengen rules apply in Italy. Citizens of the EU and of many other countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia, can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; other nationalities need a Schengen visa. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) records non-EU travelers' fingerprints and a photo at the border.
Health & safety
Violent crime against visitors to Italy is rare. Pickpocketing is the main problem, especially on buses and metros in Rome (bus 64 is notorious), at Roman and Florentine sights, and at Termini and Naples Centrale stations. Wear your bag across your body and zip it, and use only licensed white taxis or official ride apps.
