Capri is one of those places you hear about a lot and for some reason, I had never imagined that one day I’d eventually make it over. Although it is completely overrun with tourists, being in Capri was a fairly surreal feeling it is a truly stunning place to visit. See above. Boom. I have since been back a third time and had the opportunity to explore more of the island – it was just as spectacular as I had remembered!
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Wondering what to do in Capri and what the best way to get there is? Read on for practical information I wish I had when I was planning our first trip to Capri.
How to get to Capri
The easiest way to get to Capri is via either Naples, Sorrento or Positano. Though it is technically possible to do a day trip to Capri from Rome, it involves about 10 hours of travel in one day, so I wouldn’t recommend this option. I’m exhausted just thinking about it.
Option 1 – Public ferry: You can get to Capri fairly easily via public transportation from Naples or Sorrento, and there are also ferries from Positano, Salerno and Ischia during the summer months (more details and ferry schedules here). You will want to book your tickets in advance if you are visiting in the summer months from June to August, as the ferries do fill up quickly.
We did a day trip to Capri from Sorrento by hopping on a 25 minute hydrofoil ferry ride from Sorrento’s Marina Grande and bought our return ticket at the same time (you can hop on an earlier ferry than the ferry you are scheduled to return on).
For those planning to take a boat from Sorrento to Capri expect to pay approximately 40 Euros per person for a return ticket. The ferry journey takes about half an hour from Positano to Capri, and 50 minutes from Naples to Capri.
Option 2 – Self-drive private boat to Capri from Sorrento: Feeling adventurous? If you are staying in Sorrento, you can rent a small rigid inflatable from Sorrento Boat and plan your own boat trip to Capri – each boat fits up to 6 people and we paid approximately 200 Euros for a full day and organized our own food and wine.
You don’t need a nautical license for the smaller boats and it takes approximately 30-40 minutes to get to Capri (don’t worry, you don’t need to be an expert navigator as it’s a straight shot from Sorrento to Capri).
The benefit of doing it this way is that you can visit the blue, white and green grottoes and Faraglioni rock formation with more flexibility, it’s also more cost effective if there are a few of you splitting the costs. The boat company also provides snorkeling gear so you can jump off the boat anywhere you want and go for a swim. You can also dock the boat in the main marina as well as other locations around Capri for an extra fee, and have the option of swinging around to Positano if you’re feeling extra keen/it isn’t too windy.
Once you bring the boat back into Sorrento’s main marina, a staff member will meet you out at the boat and drive you back to fill up the tank and park the boat. You will be responsible for paying for however much gas you used during the day – to give you an idea, we picked up the boat at 9 AM, drove to Capri, explored around the island and sailed back to Sorrento by 6 PM and paid just 30 Euros for fuel.
Option 3 – Guided/skipper-driven private tours to Capri: Many, many many companies operate private boat trips to Capri from Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast and Naples. But these can be quite costly, we received one quote for 700 Euros for a full-day boat tour from Sorrento Capri.
How to get around Capri
There are two main towns on the island of Capri – Anacapri and the town of Capri – you can check out this map of the island to plan your route and Capri itinerary.
There are a multitude of transportation options once you’re on Capri – taxis (open-top convertible Mercedes-Benz!), mini buses, scooter rental or you can try to walk around by foot.
Taxi: These are no ordinary taxis. Taxis in Capri cost an arm and a leg, and unless you are in a rush, are traveling in a group of 4-6 people or have heavy luggage, I would advise against taking them. Hourly rates start at approximately 80 Euros and there are fixed rates for different routes across the island. You can check the standard Capri taxi rates here.
Funicular: The best way to get from Marina Grande to Capri town is to take the funicular, which will zoom you up and down in just a few minutes. The funicular departs every 15 minutes so you won’t have to wait too long.
The ticket will cost 2 Euros and the ticket office is across the street from the Marina Grande funicular entrance. The signage is pretty non-existent so here’s a photo of what it looks like.
Bus: The local buses on Capri island are tiny, but they do the job of getting you from point A to B. The bus schedules are posted at every bus station, just make sure you buy your ticket ahead of time – it will cost 2 Euros one way or 2.5 Euros if you buy it onboard. The buses tend to get VERY crowded (translation: smelly) and the lines can go on…and on…and on, especially in the peak season. More on getting around Capri here.
Scooter: For our first trip, We ended up renting a scooter for 5 hours for 50 Euros and found this gave us the most flexibility to explore the island, although you aren’t allowed to drive into the town of Capri (east side of the island of Capri). Next to taking a ferry back from Sorrento to Naples instead of the Circumvesuviana train, this was one of the best ideas during the trip – you could walk, I suppose, but the island is fairly hilly in spots and some roads don’t have sidewalks.
Where to stay if you’re visiting Capri
If you are thinking about visiting Capri then I would recommend that you stay in Sorrento. Planning a day trip to Capri from Sorrento is easy as there are tons of ferries every day, and it also opens up options for you to visit not just Capri, but also the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii and Vesuvius, Ischia and Procida. For more Italy hotel booking tips and recommendations click here.
For our first trip to Sorrento in 2015, we stayed at Vhome, a lovely B&B located in a residential building down a side street in a relatively low-key area of Sorrento.
It is a quick ten minute walk from the heart of the city, and the people who run it are amazing and packed us cake for our day trip to Capri, in case the two salami-stuffed croissants I had for breakfast wasn’t enough. Click here to book your stay at Vhome!
Another fantastic option is B&B Veru, right on Corso Italia (the main street running through Sorrento – the location can’t be beat). Cristiana is a wonderful host and the boutique rooms are spacious, clean and modern. Although it is on the main street, street noise is non-existent. Click here to book your stay at B&B Veru!
If you are visiting Capri for a day trip from Naples (instead of Sorrento), I would highly recommend staying at Parthenope Suite in the Historic Centre of Naples. The beautiful boutique B&B is located in the heart of the city and the rooms are newly renovated.
Silvia and Alessandro are wonderful hosts who made our trip as easy and enjoyable as possible. From sending us meticulous directions for getting to/into the property to helping contact the airport for updates on our lost baggage, these two were patient and went out of their way to be helpful. Don’t get me started on the delicious nutella-stuffed croissants that they served for breakfast! Click here to book your stay at Parthenope Suite!
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Top things to see in Capri
For such a small island, there’s plenty to see and do, and in my opinion 1 day in Capri is plenty as it’s easy to cover a lot of ground relatively painlessly. Read on for some of the best places to visit on Capri island!
1. See the famous Blue Grotto
Seeing the famous Blue Grotto on the northwest side of the island is on most Capri itineraries. Apparently, it’s best to visit the grotto, or “Grotta Azzurra”, between about 11 am and 2 pm, when the sun is the strongest and therefore the glow of the grotto is most intense during this time frame. The line wasn’t outrageously long and we managed to get into a dinghy with another couple in about 20 minutes.
The skipper rowed us over to the ticket booth and then we got in line behind a few more rowboats to get into the grotto itself. You have to lie all the way down to enter the grotto as the mouth of the cave is very small, but once you get inside – wow. You only spend a few minutes inside but the experience is 100% worth it.
2. Admire the Faraglioni sea stacks
Check out the Marina Piccola for a view of the Faraglioni sea stacks off the southern tip of the island. Legend is that Ulysses encountered sirens singing their deadly songs in the bay of Marina Piccola. If you have rented your own boat then you can actually drive through the sea stacks – it’s an incredible experience!
Many people also visit Giardino di Augusto or Via Krupp for views of the sea stacks. But in my opinion the best viewpoint of the Faraglioni sea stacks is at Belevedere of Punta Cannone, a quick 10-minute walk away from Capri town.
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3. Check out Punta Carena/Faro
On the southwest side of the island is Punta Carena / Faro with the statuesque lighthouse and a free “beach” (again, where is the sand?). People come here to lay out towels on concrete rock and bake in the sun, but the water is crystal clear and jumping in was the perfect way to cool off on a hot day.
Make sure you keep an eye on your personal belongings when you’re in the water as it was fairly crowded.
4. Take a dip in the Green Grotto
Take a dip in the Green Grotto. This little sea cave, or “Grotto Verde”, along the south coast can only be accessed by boat, is far less crowded than the blue grotto and has no entry fee. The white sand reflects the sunlight and all you see is glistening, emerald-coloured water. Grab your snorkeling gear and swim through the cave to the other side – the water is crystal clear!
5. Walk up to the White Grotto
Walk up to the White Grotto. You’re probably thinking, another grotto? The answer is yes, this time along the east coast of Capri. This massive cave is filled with stalactites that hang from the roof, and there is a set of stairs that lead you into the lower cave – watch your step as it is slippery!
6. Visit one of the best viewpoints in Capri
The Scala Fenicia, or Phoenician Steps, are located just past Villa San Michele in Anacapri. These 900-or so steps were used to carry supplies from the main marina up to the town of Anacapri, and today offers sweeping views of the island from above. Don’t worry, you don’t have to walk up (or down) the steps for this view of Capri, just walk a minute or so past Villa San Michele to where the steps begin for this viewpoint. Make sure this stop is on your Capri itinerary!
Hotel recommendations: Vhome, a cozy and comfortable B&B located ten minutes away from the historic center of the city. Click here to check current rates at Vhome!
B&B Veru is right on Corso Italia (the main street running through Sorrento) with spacious, clean and modern rooms. Click here to check current rates at B&B Veru!
For more Sorrento accommodation options, click here to check current prices and availability.
Planning a day trip to Capri from Naples? Stay at Parthenope Suite in the Historic Centre of Naples. The beautiful boutique B&B is located in the heart of the city and the rooms are newly renovated. Click here to book your stay at Parthenope Suite!
Capri is beautiful and a great place for a day trip – you can get to Capri via public transportation from a number of places: Sorrento, Naples, Positano or Amalfi, but double check the ferry schedules as some routes only run during the summer months and ferry schedules change every so often.
Planning to visit Capri? The best time of year to visit Capri is in April to early June, or mid-September and October after the crushing summer months. The crowds thin out somewhat during the shoulder seasons, though you can expect the weather to be slightly more temperamental and even chilly. If you are visiting Capri during the peak season, Italian summers are hot, so bring sunscreen. If you’re visiting Capri for a day trip, pack your swimwear and a towel so you can take a dip in the ocean to cool off.
Looking for other day trip ideas in this region? Click here for my guide to the Amalfi Coast!
Have you been to Capri? What did you think?
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Video music credit: Geographer – Ferris Wheel / Youtube Free Music
Great post, I loved your funny remarks 😀 I never thought of going to Capri, but your photos from the cave look stunning! I´d go there for a girlfriends trip (because my hubby hates other tourists, haha) just for that cave 😀
Haha thanks Karin! I wrote this a while ago and IIRC I was in a relatively snarky mood. Hope you make it to Capri one day!
Wow! I need to go back to Italy – I have heard a lot about Capri but I didn’t know that it has a Blue Grotto!
I think it has a green one as well!
There are actually loads of grottos in Capri!! Blue grotto (glows blue), green grotto (glows green), white grotto (has a naturally formed “statue” of the Virgin Mary), love grotto (Has a naturally carved heart in the back of the grotto), coral grotto (lots of coral lining the rocks just below the waterline), sail grotto (entrance to the grotto is shaped like a sail), sailors’ grotto (sailors used to take refuge in stormy weather – this one you can swim through to a little private beach on the other side with loads of great pebbles & sea glass)…. I just did 4 days in Capri and it wasn’t nearly enough! I could have spent weeks there as the island truly has so much to offer, but I guess that’s any place in Italy 🙂 I definitely plan to return!
I wish we could have seen them all!
Haha we did the bus up to Anacapri from the harbour, one of the scariest experiences of my life! We didn’t go to the Blue Grotto but we did go on the chairlift up the mountain which was lovely. A Capri day trip is definitely a must from Sorrento.
They seriously pack people in like sardines! We didn’t go on the chairlift and that’s on the list for our next trip (one day!)
I love those open-top convertible taxis! I’ve been to Capri three times and I still haven’t made it to the Blue Grotto – you’re inspiring me! Think 2017 might be the year!
I can see why people would avoid visiting the Blue Grotto in the summer months – the lines must be HECTIC. But we visited in September and it was extremely manageable!
I have hard awesome things about Capri! I feel like I’m missing out, having only been to mainland Italy. I would love to build it in to a trip to Positano or something. We’ll see what 2017 has in store 😉
That would be amazing! It’s an easy day trip from Positano or any of the Alamfi Coast towns 🙂
Capri looks so beautiful! Certainly somewhere I want to visit. That B&B looks lovely too! I have several destinations myself where I can’t make a recommendation on restaurants due to stuffing my face at breakfast and then snacking all day!
It’s one of those places that is overrun with tourists, but still very much worth visiting. It’s busy for a good reason! If you hate crowds then sailing around the island is a great option.
This is such a detailed and useful post! 🙂 I’m Italian, but never been in Capri yet.What about the budget? Isn’t it quite expensive?
Hi Clara, I listed some of the transportation costs in the post 🙂 I found prices were slightly higher on Capri than, say, Sorrento, but you don’t necessarily have to eat a meal on the island.
Great Post! It’s been 11 years since I visited Capri, and this brought back some great memories. <3 I actually often recommend to people that they stay on Capri if they get the chance. It is overrun by tourists, but only until the last aliscafo leaves at about 6pm. Then it is so quiet and lovely! So, we stayed on Capri, did our day trips the opposite of all the traffic (with nearly empty transportation b/c of it) and enjoyed the quiet Capri evenings. Pretty awesome.
Great tip, Meg! Maybe next time we’ll try staying in Capri, I found that it was easier traveling by scooter to the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento. This way we weren’t as reliant on the ferry schedule. I bet the hotels on Capri are amazing though!
Thank you for sharing such a detailed and informative post about planning a day trip to Capri. This place looks beautiful! I am definitely saving this for my future trip to Capri!
Thanks for taking the time to read this, Fiona! I hope you get to see the Isle of Capri soon 🙂
This is a great post and I think that I am going to use it this September while I am traveling in Italy. There are so many places that I want to visit.
I hope you find these guides helpful, Elena!
https://www.yogawinetravel.com/travel/italy/
Capri is so beautiful! I’ve been there 4 times and I loved it everytime more and more! Did you hike the hill? the view above the island is so gorgeous! <3
We didn’t hike the hill as we had a scooter so we drove up! It’s so stunning <3
This looks like an AMAZING time! Great tip for renting a boat! I would love to explore the grottos at my own pace 🙂
Honestly, every 10-15 minutes or so a tour boat of 20-30 people would sail past us, and I’m pretty sure they were wishing they rented a boat instead of going on an organized tour haha!
Did you book your rental boat in advance? How do we go about booking one? Thanks for sharing!
Yes, send them an e-mail/booking request to make sure they reserve one for you: https://www.sorrentoboat.com/en/request or [email protected]
This guide is so helpful and full of information!! When I plan on visiting Capri, I am definitely following your tips!
I’m so glad you found this helpful, Baia!
I’ve been dreaming about going to Capri for a while. I’ve been to Ischia but never Capri. Such a gorgeous place xo
The 2 islands are definitely very different – it’s a little more difficult to get around Capri on foot!
Those cliffs and rock formation are beautiful. They hold a special place in our hearts because we are rock climbers. We would love to climb up or rappel down those cliffs.
I bet rock climbing here would be an amazing experience!
Aww yes, Capri 🙂 We visited Capri last summer as a day trip too! You did a great job in capturing the beauty of Capri and providing excellent tips. We did the Blue Grotto too and it was absolutely beautiful! We wish we experienced it more the way you did by renting a boat and splitting the cost between 6 others. We would have loved to be able to roam around the island at freedom and take a dip into the blue water.
It was probably my boyfriend’s best idea to date haha!
Looks like an awesome day trip!! The grotto looks so clear and inviting. I’ve never snorkeled but, it looks like the perfect, calm place to learn. I’ll have to add this to my Italy planning.
I can’t believe how clear the water was! Not a ton of marine life, but the colour of the water at the blue grotto and green grotto is stunning.
Capri looks absolutely breathtaking. Would love to head out on a boat to explore the place. The rock formations look so wonderful and the waters are really enchanting. Have not explored beyond Rome, Florence and Venice, would love to visit the interiors and hinterland of Italy and discover these kind of lovely places.
Thanks for checking this out! Don’t skip the Amalfi Coast – it’s probably my favourite place in all of Italy!
https://www.yogawinetravel.com/beyond-rome-livin-it-up-around-the-amalfi-coast/
I haven’t heard of Capri before but I would absolutely love this kind of experience being closer to the waters. I like the mixture of urban exploring and the cliffsides and sea water you got to venture along. Beautiful.
Capri is just a dream – the water is so incredibly crystal clear!
The white grotto looks just like a cave I swam into on the greek island. The water is just crystal clear. And the blue grotto looks amazing! I can’t wait to visit Capri!
Do you remember what the cave was called in Greece? I’d love to visit it!
Looks like a great place to visit. I especially liked the boat, looks fun. The grotto’s looks so nice and the water looks very clear.
Our day out on the boat was one of the best travel days to date! Fresh watermelon, wine, beer, salami, beautiful views – what’s not to love?
Great tips! I’m thinking of renting a boat and driving it myself just like you did. How did you get to the blue grotto with the boat? Did you have to dock at the Marina first and then go into the Grotto with a guided boat?
Hi Bernard, yes that’s what happens! You transfer into a small boat with a gondolier. Also, I’d recommend booking the rigid inflatable as soon as you can in case they book out.
Omg! Found this just in time! Can you please tell me more about renting a boat to Capri? I would really like to rent a boat to surprise my boyfriend! He doesnt have a professional experience though. Could you please tell me how much ? Im traveling with my sister and my boyfriend next week. Thank you once again for this very detailed travel guide. I super need it!
Love from Iceland.
Hi Mayce, have a great time. Here are the details outlined in my article, you can find the boat company’s website via the link in the article as well. Cheers!
Option 2 – Self-drive private boat to Capri from Sorrento: Feeling adventurous? If you are staying in Sorrento, you can rent a small rigid inflatable from Sorrento Boat and plan your own boat trip to Capri – each boat fits up to 6 people and we paid approximately 200 Euros for a full day and organized our own food and wine.
You don’t need a nautical license for the smaller boats and it takes approximately 30-40 minutes to get to Capri (don’t worry, you don’t need to be an expert navigator as it’s a straight shot from Sorrento to Capri).