- Ferries and hydrofoils run from Naples and Sorrento all year
- A boat trip round the island is the best way to see the Faraglioni and grottoes
- Anacapri and Monte Solaro are quieter than Capri town
- Staying overnight lets you enjoy the island after the day-trippers leave
- Airports
- Naples (NAP)
- Best time to go
- May-June and September-October
- Type
- Island
Capri has drawn visitors since the Roman emperor Tiberius ruled the empire from his villas here. A small limestone island at the mouth of the Bay of Naples, it combines sheer cliffs, sea caves and dazzling water with designer shops, lemon-scented gardens and the people-watching of the famous Piazzetta.
It gets very busy in summer, but it is still easy to find quieter corners, especially in Anacapri and on the walking paths. Capri sits off the tip of the Sorrento peninsula in Campania. See our Italy guide for more.
Things to do
- Boat trip around the island – the best way to see the Faraglioni sea stacks, sea caves and coves. Many boats sail through the arch of the middle stack.
- The Blue Grotto – a sea cave lit an intense blue by sunlight entering underwater. Entry is in small rowing boats and depends on calm seas and tides; queues can be long.
- The Piazzetta – Capri town's tiny main square, for a coffee and people-watching.
- Gardens of Augustus – terraced gardens with a classic view over the Faraglioni and the zigzag Via Krupp below (the path itself is often closed).
- Anacapri and Villa San Michele – the quieter upper town, and the house and gardens of the Swedish doctor Axel Munthe.
- Monte Solaro – a single-seat chairlift from Anacapri to the island's highest point, for views across to the Amalfi Coast.
- Villa Jovis – the ruins of Tiberius's main villa, a pleasant uphill walk from Capri town.
- Swimming – beach clubs and rocky coves such as Marina Piccola and the Faro area near Punta Carena.
Where to stay
| Area | Why stay there |
|---|---|
| Capri town | Central and glamorous, busiest by day |
| Anacapri | Quieter, often better value, close to Monte Solaro |
| Marina Grande | Handy for ferries, less atmosphere |
Getting there
Fly to Naples (NAP), then take a taxi or bus to the port. Fast ferries and hydrofoils from Naples take roughly 45-50 minutes, while slower ferries take around an hour and a quarter. From Sorrento, the crossing is about 20-30 minutes. In season, boats also run from Positano, Amalfi and Salerno on the Amalfi Coast. On Capri, a funicular links Marina Grande with Capri town, and small buses and open-top taxis serve the rest of the island.
Best time to visit
May, June, September and early October are the best months, with warm weather and slightly fewer crowds. July and August are hot and very busy, particularly between late morning and mid-afternoon. In winter many hotels and restaurants close, and ferries may be cancelled in rough seas.
Catch an early ferry and head straight for the Blue Grotto or the chairlift, before the main wave of day-trippers arrives.
Top attractions in Capri
LandmarkColosseum
Rome's great amphitheatre, where up to 50,000 spectators once watched gladiator fights, is the city's most iconic sight.
LandmarkFlorence Duomo
Florence's cathedral, crowned by Brunelleschi's record-breaking dome, is the symbol of the city, with the bell tower…
NatureMount Etna
Europe's tallest active volcano, with lava fields, craters and sweeping views over eastern Sicily.
NaturePath of the Gods
A spectacular cliff-top trail high above the Amalfi Coast, with views over Positano and out to Capri, that is free to…
LandmarkPompeii
The Roman town buried by Vesuvius in AD 79, Pompeii is the most complete ancient city in the world and an unforgettable…
ViewpointSeceda
A grassy ridge above Val Gardena that drops away in a dramatic wall of jagged peaks, reached by cable car from Ortisei.
Capri on the map
Frequently asked questions
Is Capri worth a day trip?
Yes. A day is enough for a boat trip, Capri town and Anacapri, but an overnight stay lets you see the island at its calmest.
Is the Blue Grotto worth it?
It is beautiful but brief: you spend only a few minutes inside, and waits can be long. If the sea is rough it closes, so treat it as a bonus.
Can you walk around Capri?
Capri town and Anacapri are walkable, and there are good footpaths, such as the route to Villa Jovis and the walk past the Arco Naturale. The island is hilly, so bring proper shoes.
Written by
Anna Beach, family & practical travel editor
Anna knows which beach has shade at 3pm and which car hire excess is a rip-off. She covers sun, islands, family trips and practical travel tips.
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