Capri – Travel Guide
Capri, an enchanting island in the Bay of Naples, is famed for its stunning natural beauty, upscale ambiance, and historic sites. Visitors can explore the iconic Blue Grotto, a sea cave illuminated by brilliant blue light, and take a chairlift to Monte Solaro for panoramic views. The town of Capri offers elegant boutiques, chic cafes, and beautiful gardens like the Gardens of Augustus. Anacapri, the quieter part of the island, features charming streets and attractions such as Villa San Michele. Capri`s combination of dramatic landscapes, luxury, and historical charm makes it a sought-after Mediterranean destination.
All about Capri
Getting around Capri
Main Connections
The main connections include:
-Port of Marina Grande to Capri: Funicular
-Capri to Anacapri: Bus
-Center of Capri and Anacapri: On foot
By Walking
In the center of Capri you can only get around on foot and often a scenic walk is the only way to get between different spots in town.
Walking to different areas outside of Capri Town is an option as well and will allow you to skip the long lines of the bus and funicular. Walking from Marina Grande to Capri, Capri to Marina Picola or Anacapri are all options. And any of these walks is bound to be scenic. Walking times are as follows:
-Capri – Marina Grande: 15 minutes or less. The road begins at the Piazzetta behind the clock tower, then follow the signage for the port.
-Marina Grande – Capri: 30 minutes – Take the road that climbs opposite the `banchinella`, where ships and boats dock (pier 21). The road is a steep uphill climb with a number of steps, so best avoided if you have luggage!
-Capri – Marina Piccola: it`s not worth the effort to take the bus! Just walk there by taking the Via Mulo stairs down to the port, which begin at Due Golfi.
-Anacapri – Marina Grande: 20 minutes along the spectacular Scala Fenicia stairway, which begins at the gardens of Axel Munthe’s Villa. There are around 1,000 steps that are quite high, so you need to be in good shape!
-Capri – Anacapri: 1 hour – Note: all uphill!
-Anacapri – Capri: Half an hour – Keep a close watch for the staircases that are a shortcut!
By Funicular
To get to the center of Capri from Marina Grande, the fastest method is the funicular, which climbs uphill through lemon groves and drops you directly in the Piazzetta.
The Funicular departs Marina Grande every 15 minutes (more often at peak times) and take s 15 minutes to get to the center of Capri. Tickets are priced around €2. Hand luggage may be taken on board for free, but there is a surcharge of about €2 for larger bags.
The Marina Grande ticket office is not located at the entrance to the funicular, but at the end of the arrival pier to the right (facing land), near the high speed ferry ticket offices. The funicular closes from January through March for maintenance. During these months, you`ll need to take the substitute bus route.
By Bus
Don`t picture large city buses: public buses on Capri are minibuses which carry about 10 passengers seated, as large buses wouldn`t be able to navigate the narrow island lanes. In the summer, they are almost always crowded and there are often long lines at the bus stops, though the routes run more frequently. A single price ticket cost around €2.50 (if purchased on board). Hand luggage may be taken on board for free, but there is an additional cost of about €2 for large bags.
Usually, bus routes run every 15 to 20 minutes, though more often in high season.
– Capri-Anacapri – 15 minutes
– Capri-Marina Piccola – 10 minutes
– Capri-Marina Grande – 10 minutes
– Marina Grande-Anacapri – 25 minutes
– Marina Piccola-Anacapri – 25 minutes
– Marina Piccola-Anacapri – 25 minutes
– Anacapri – Punta Carena Lighthouse – 20 minutes
The bus terminal in Capri is located in Piazza Martiri d`Ungheria (along Via Roma near the Piazzetta). The bus terminal in Anacapri is located in Piazza della Pace (also known as `Piazza Cimitaro`). If you are coming from Capri and you need to change buses for the Blue Grotto or the Lighthouse, don`t get off when the driver announces `Anacapri`: that is Piazza Vittoria, wait for the next stop.
Pro Tip: If you are taking the bus from Anacapri towards Capri and there is a long line at the Piazza Vittoria bus stop, walk up Viale De Tommaso to board the bus at one of the preceding stops. This way, you`ll be sure to board rather than risk having to wait for the next bus due to overcrowding.
By Taxi
Taxis are available at the port and in the town centers, but can also be hailed along the road or by telephone. Taxi drivers on Capri are usually friendly and courteous, and are often excellent guides for visitors who have little time and want to see the sights on the island of Capri in as little time as possible.
Taxis carry 7 passengers and are often open-top, for a great island experience. Fares are metered, though there are fixed fares for common routes. For a ride around the entire island, you can bargain with the driver to come up with a rate depending upon the season, the length of ride, route, and number of passengers.
-Taxi Anacapri, Piazza Vittoria – Tel. +39 081 8371175
-Taxi Capri, Piazza Martiri D’Ungheria – Tel. +39 081 8376657
-Radio Taxi Capri – Tel. +39 081 8370543 (24h)
By Scooter
Scooters can be rented to explore the island in Marina Grande, Capri and Anacapri. Rental times vary from a few hours to an entire day or even a number of days, in which case you can bargain down the price.
By Chairlift (Mount Solaro)
A chairlift ride from Piazza Vittoria in Anacapri to the top of Mount Solaro at 1,932-ft. above sea level is a beautiful ride. At the top, you can take in the views over the historic center of Capri, the Faraglioni sea stacks, and Mount Tiberius all the way to Punta Campanella and the Sorrento Peninsula.
The ride lasts 12 minutes and all the seats are for a single passenger. Children can be carried on an adult`s lap, but keep in mind that the seats are suspended in mid-air with just a safety bar, so it would be easy to slide out. We suggest carrying infants in a front pack carrier and avoid the ride with toddlers who have a hard time keeping still. There is staff at the top and bottom to help you climb on and off. Prices are around €11 roundtrip, €8 one way. Children 7 and under are free. Chairlift hours are as follows:
-From March to October: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
-From November to February: 10:30 am – 3:30 pm
-From March to April: 9:30 am – 4 pm
Tip: We suggest purchasing a one way ticket up to the top and then walking down, passing through the valley of Cetrella where the historic residence of the writer Compton Mackenzie and the hermitage of Santa Maria a Cetrella overlooking the sea.
By Boat
To visit Capri by sea, you can rent canoes, rubber dinghies, or traditional wooden gozzo fishing boats with sun awnings and coolers, or speedboats with or without a captain. By boat, you can stop at one of the waterfront restaurants along the coast, bring along what you need for a picnic onboard, or ask your captain to arrange for local foods.
A more economic alternative to renting a boat privately is booking an organized group tour. The standard tour of the island lasts about two hours, including a visit to the Blue Grotto on board a small rowboat. The time it takes to visit the Blue Grotto depends on how much of a crowd there is on the rowboats, which can only enter a few at a time.
Capri FAQ
Where is Capri located?
The small Italian island of Capri is 3 miles from the mainland in the Bay of Naples, near Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. It has been a beautiful coastal resort since the days of the Roman Republic until now.
Crossing the sea to get to Capri takes about an hour from Naples and about half an hour from Sorrento.
How big is the Island of Capri?
The island is 3 square miles.
Which are the main towns?
There are two towns on the island: Capri and Anacapri. Capri has the Piazzetta at its center, while Anacapri is at a higher elevation on the slopes of Mount Solaro. The third village is Marina Grande, where the port is located.
Capri town is on the more cosmopolitan side of the island, with luxury boutiques, night clubs, and the famous Piazzetta, a meeting place for islanders and visitors alike. Anacapri, on the other hand, has a more intimate and quiet atmosphere and is less crowded than Capri.
How do I get to Capri?
Capri is reached in about 40 minutes by hydrofoil from the port of Ischia or Forio, docking at Marina Grande on the north side of the island. There are also daily ferries from Naples (20 per day, about €16, 40 minutes), Amalfi, Positano and from Sorrento (15 per day, about €20, 30 minutes). Boats are operated by Caremar and SNAV.
Another option is Capritime Boats (higher-end option), which specialize in water taxis that directly transfers from Naples, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast and Ischia to Capri. They also provide luxury full-day and half-day boat tours to the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento Coast from Capri, tailor itineraries for cruise ship passengers docked in Sorrento, Capri, Naples and Amalfi and also offer special Capri and Ischia island boat excursions.
From Marina Grande, a funicular goes up to Capri Town, and boats leave for the Blue Grotto. Tickets for buses, funicular, and return boats are for sale at kiosks, along with public toilets.
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What is the difference between the three categories of ferries?
Ferries and slow ferries are much slower and less expensive than high speed ferries, and transport vehicles as well as passengers. When seas are rough, high speed ferry routes are often cancelled and only ferries and slow ferries depart for Capri.
Which is the closest airport to Capri? Are there flights between the Naples airport and Capri?
The Naples International Capodichino Airport is the closest airport.
At the exit of the airport there are taxis, or you can take the Alibus that takes you to Molo Beverello (high speed ferries) and to the port of Calata di Massa (ferries), the two boarding piers for Capri. A more comfortable and `save time` solution is to book a private transfer, some agencies also offer combined private car transfer, plus motorboat to Capri.
How do I get around Capri?
Getting around Capri is fairly easy. On foot, from the main harbor to the town up the hill leads a range of stairs. Stairs and walkways, mostly signposted, crisscross the island.
Buses are readily available to take you to the various areas of the island. They run on a schedule and cost about €2 per ride (Oct 2019). Buses run from:
-Marina Grande to Capri town (4 per hour) and then take bus to Anacapri (4 per hour) but the Capri to Anacapri bus gets crowded, so you could take a bus direct from Marina to Anacapri (2 per hour).
-Anacapri Buses go to Capri (at least 4 per hour) and to the Blue Grotto.
By funicolare: this mountain tram connects the harbor with the town up the hill. The trip costs about €2 per trip.
Can I embark my vehicle for Capri?
Non-resident vehicles can only be embarked on ferries and only in very low season, from the beginning of November through the end of March. Regardless, there is little use for a car on the island.
How do I get around by taxi?
The open top taxis are expensive, but if there are a group of you, worth considering. Haggle to get a price to ferry you around the island for the day (it is not cheap – but very little on Capri is!).
How long does it take to visit the Island of Capri?
There are many visitors to Capri who arrive on the morning ferry and leave on the evening ferry of the same day, but we think that in one day you can really only get a general idea of the center of Capri town and the island. The island is especially crowded on summer days (an average of 20,000 tourists disembarking daily on the island in August), but in the evening most of these visitors leave and those who stay overnight are left to enjoy the quiet, relaxed island atmosphere. You will need at least three or four days to visit the island, including the towns of Capri and Anacapri, and see it less as a destination and more as a culture.
Can I pay/tip in US dollars?
The currency used in Italy is the Euro, US dollars are not accepted.
All major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere on Capri, and there are 7 or 8 ATM machines in banks around the island.
When is the best time to visit?
Capri boasts a Mediterranean climate. If you are looking for warmer weather, we advise you to visit the island during May, June, July and August, although the winter months are equally as appealing, as warm weather is maintained, and fewer visitors visit the island at this time.
Summer is when there is the highest number of tourists visiting the Island of Capri, especially the months between June and August. The peak of visitors disembarking on the island is during the month of August, with up to 20,000 arrivals a day. This enormous influx of vacationers means that it`s sometimes difficult to navigate the crowded, narrow lanes on foot. In the evening, when the daytrippers have left, the atmosphere becomes much less overwhelming.
The months of May, September, and October are decidedly the best time of year to visit the island: the temperatures are milder but still warm enough for a swim, and the hotel rates are less than peak season.
During the winter months, the island returns to its humble roots as a fishing community, with few tourists and beaches and sights nearly deserted, and a general air of stark, wild beauty. Aside from the colder temperatures (though never freezing) and the probability of rain, the most inconvenient part of travelling in the winter is that most of the hotels and restaurants close for the low season. Most of the island`s Bed and Breakfasts remain open, however, along with a few restaurants and cafés in Capri and Anacapri.
I don`t speak Italian. Will many people speak English?
English is no problem on the island of Capri. Italian is the official language, although many residents do speak English to some degree, we suggest you get a good English-Italian guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.
Can I swim in the Blue Grotto?
Visitors are not allowed to swim into the grotto or dive from rowboats to swim inside the cavern. Many visitors wait until after 5:30pm when the boats leave and the ticket office closes to swim inside. This is illegal and dangerous, as the high waves can slam swimmers against the stone of the low cave mouth.
You will notice that many locals do swim in the Blue Grotto after 6:00pm. Swimming is much safer however at the small beach to the left of the ticket kiosk for the furnicolare in Marina Grande or on the other side of the island at Marina Piccola (resort-like beach) or at any of the natural beaches reachable by boat.
What is the shopping like?
Capri has a number of luxury and designer boutiques with high end price tags. The luxury shopping area in Capri covers the trianble from the Piazetta to Via Camerelle and Via Le Botteghe. In Anacapri, along Via Giuseppe Orlandi there are a number of artisan boutiques, while the souvenir shops are concentrated along the lane which leads to Villa San Michele. Many of the island`s visitors return just to buy more of the locally made goods, especially the sandals and the jewelry.
Note: VAT (Value Added Tax) is 22%. Travelers from outside the EU can claim back sales tax on purchases over 155 euros.
What is the nightlife like in Capri?
Known as the playground for the rich and famous, summer nights in Capri are lively, and bring out beautiful people dressed to impress. The activity takes place at the famous Piazetta at nightfall where the nightlife centers on the see-and-be-seen at the trendy and stylish bars and restaurants. There are a number of nightclubs in Capri, along with `tavern`, which offer live music and dancing. The most famous is I`Amena e Core, a favorite of VIPs and celebrities.
Anacapri is fairly quiet at night compared to Capri`s nightlife. This area will offer a relaxing night with many restaurants for enjoying a nice meal.
How should I dress for an evening out on Capri?
You can dress informally almost everywhere on Capri, aside from a few fine dining restaurants where you should opt for something a bit more elegant (no shorts, for example). There are no establishments requiring formal evening wear, so unless you are attending a Black Tie, you can leave your tuxedo at home.
What is the food like? Where can I go to eat?
Almost all restaurants on Capri feature menus based on traditional cuisine, so you`ll have no problem finding local dishes to sample while on the island. Until a few decades ago, sea crossings to the mainland were rare and shipments of goods logistically complicated, so the historic island specialties are all based on ingredients grown or found on the island: tomatoes, vegetables, herbs, lemons, and fresh fish and seafood.
The most famous traditional island dishes are ravioli capresi, caprese salad, and torta caprese…as their names suggest! Ravioli capresi are filled with caciotta and parmesan cheeses and marjoram, caprese salad is a simple mix of mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, and basil leaves, and torta caprese is a chocolate and almond cake dusted with sugar. Don`t miss limoncello, a lemon liqueur made from local fruit.
There are no ethnic restaurants on Capri, but only eateries featuring island or Italian cuisine. The only difference between the numerous restaurants on the island is the gourmet twist to the menu and the formality of the dining room. There is one Japanese restaurant.
Hours: restaurants catering to tourists are open all day, serving from 11 am to late in the evening. More authentic restaurants are open for lunch from noon to 3 pm and for dinner from 7 pm to 11 pm; Italians generally sit down for lunch around 1 pm and dinner around 8 pm. The beach restaurants serve all day until sunset.
Prices: Some restaurants, especially around the town center, can be very expensive. Generally speaking, a dinner including an appetizer, a main course, a dessert, and a bottle of wine will cost upwards of €50/person. All restaurants have their menu posted outside, and some can be viewed on their website. That way you can get an idea of the selection and pricing before being seated.
Extra charges: restaurants on Capri, like those across Italy, routinely add a per person `coperto` service charge (usually between EUR 1-2 per patron) and an automatic `servizio` gratuity charge for larger groups. It is not customary to tip in Italian restaurants, as servers are paid a fixed salary, not in tips. You can also expect to be charged more for table service at the island`s cafès than for service at the bar.
For travelers on a budget, we suggest dining in Anacapri where restaurants are generally less expensive than in Capri and opt for a pizza.
What are the events that take place in Capri?
From April to the end of the summer, the island also comes to life from an artistic and cultural point of view. Concerts are organized almost every evening in the squares or the splendid villas built by Tiberius, as well as painting and sculpture exhibitions, plays and dance performances. Some annual events include:
–Festival of San Costanzo On May 14 every year, the patron saint of the town of Capri, San Costanzo, is celebrated.
–Festival of Sant`Antonio On June 13 every year, the patron saint of the town of Anacapri is celebrated with a large rustic festival.
–International Folklore Festival During the 1st week of August, Anacapri plays host to a range of events in its squares, featuring musical bands and folk dance companies.
–Settembrata Anacaprese September. A large rustic festival for celebrating the grape harvest: 10 days of celebration dedicated to the island’s typical produce, including shows, competitions and games.
–Capri Film Festival Every December since 1991, Capri has hosted an international festival dedicated to the cinema. The event attracts Italian artists, Hollywood stars and independent filmmakers keen to present their works in this exclusive location.
What do I need to know to stay safe?
As with many other places, hike at your own risk. Cacti, prickly pears, bees, and steep slopes and edges are the primary things to be cautious of on some trails, but otherwise, hiking on Capri`s trails is generally quite safe. However, be careful when walking down paths around the villas when alone, as many of the residents of the villas keep large dogs which may roam freely onto the public pathways; these dogs are not particularly friendly to foreigners of the island.
What should I do if I need medical assistance or need to go to the hospital?
Emergency room and ambulance: 118
Capilupi Hospital: Via Provinciale Anacapri, Tel. 081 8381111
Medical Assistance (nights and holidays): Piazza Umberto I, 9 Capri Tel. 081 8375716 – 081 8381238
Top Attractions
Gardens of Augustus
Cover a leafy terrace, where flowers and pergolas frame views of the Faraglioni sea stacks standing in the blue-green water below.
The Piazzetta
There are four different cafes with rattan chairs and tables that are full from early morning cappuccino drinkers to late night after dinner digestivo sippers.
Villa San Michele
It is surrounded by an impressive garden, which recently won the price as Italy`s most beautiful private park.
Marina Piccola
The little harbor on the south coast gets the most sun and is protected from the winds by steep cliffs, so it`s often warm enough for sunbathing even in winter.
Unique Experiences
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Small Group Capri Island Boat Ride with Swimming and Limoncello: From a Sorrentine boat, you`ll check out landmarks such as the Faraglioni rocks, the Punta Carena lighthouse, the White Grotto, and more. Take a dip in the cobalt blue waters, then relax before you return to shore.
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Private Island of Capri by Boat: On this tour, choose the start time to suit your schedule and explore this famous island by boat. Reach natural attractions including the Blue Grotto and the Faraglioni Rocks, and soak up the coastal views from your vantage point on the waves.
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Boat Tour of the Caves on the Island of Capri: You will be able to travel aboard a Capri gozzo, a typical comfortable boat. The journey will be followed by an expert guide who will explain everything you need to know about the island and its main attractions.
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Cooking Class and Wine Pairing in Capri: Ideal for travelers looking to get off the tourist track, this private cooking workshop will teach you four vegetarian Italian recipes: a traditional Caprese starter, homemade ravioli, eggplant parmesan, and a tasty lemon cake.
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Private Tour of Capri by Boat at Sunset with Aperitif: Escape the crowds on land with this sunset boat tour for views of the spectacular coastline at the most romantic time of day. Cruise around the island to take in its top sights, stopping to swim and snorkel along the way.
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What to expect while traveling
