In short
Capri can be visited as a day trip from Naples (a 50-minute fast ferry, about €22 to €25), but 2 to 3 days let you enjoy the Blue Grotto early in the morning, Anacapri and Monte Solaro, the Faraglioni and the Piazzetta without rushing. Allow €18 for the Blue Grotto, €15 for the return chairlift and €2.40 per bus ride.
Contents
Visiting Capri is a dream for many travellers: dramatic cliffs, turquoise water, flower-filled lanes and a chic atmosphere that has lasted since the Roman emperors. Here is what to see and do in Capri, with a 1 to 3-day itinerary and up-to-date prices to plan your stay.
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How long do you need in Capri?
- 1 day (a day trip from Naples or Sorrento): the Piazzetta, the Gardens of Augustus, Anacapri and Monte Solaro. Doable, but at a fast pace.
- 2 days: add the Blue Grotto early in the morning and a boat trip around the island.
- 3 days: the ideal pace, with the walking trails, the Faraglioni and an afternoon at the beach.
Day 1: the Blue Grotto and Capri town
Morning: the Blue Grotto
This sea cave, known since antiquity, glows electric blue when sunlight passes through an underwater opening. You enter lying down in a small rowing boat, through an opening barely a metre high.
- Price: €18 per person for entry and the rowing boat, paid in cash on site, plus the boat from Marina Grande (about €25 return). You can also get there by bus from Anacapri.
- Tip: arrive early, between 9 and 11am, for the best light and a shorter wait. The grotto closes when the sea is rough: check at the port that morning.
Book a boat tour of the island with the Blue Grotto
Lunch
Have lunch at Da Paolino, a Capri institution set under a pergola of lemon trees. Their speciality: ravioli capresi, filled with caciotta cheese and flavoured with marjoram.
Lunch at the famous Da Paolino (check opening times)
Afternoon: the Piazzetta and the Gardens of Augustus
Stroll around the Piazzetta, the island’s open-air living room, then the shops of Via Camerelle. Continue to the Gardens of Augustus for the view over the Faraglioni and Via Krupp, the zigzag path carved into the cliff. Stop at Carthusia, a perfumer whose legend dates back to 1380.
Day 2: Anacapri and Monte Solaro
Morning: Villa San Michele
Take the bus to Anacapri (about 15 minutes, €2.40 a ride). Villa San Michele, the former home of Swedish doctor Axel Munthe, has terraced gardens with a view over the whole Bay of Naples.
Then ride the Monte Solaro chairlift (about 13 minutes, €15 return) to the top of the island: at 589 m, the 360° view over the Faraglioni and the Amalfi Coast is unforgettable.
Lunch
Have lunch in a trattoria in Anacapri, quieter and often cheaper than in Capri town.
Afternoon
Explore Anacapri’s lanes to the Church of San Michele and its remarkable 18th-century majolica floor depicting the Garden of Eden. Try a homemade limoncello before heading back down.
Day 3: the Faraglioni and Marina Piccola
Morning: the Faraglioni
Walk to the Belvedere di Tragara, then down towards the Faraglioni, Capri’s three iconic rock stacks. The Faraglione di Mezzo has a natural arch that boats sail through; the Faraglione di Fuori is home to a blue lizard found nowhere else. Via Krupp is often closed because of rockfall risk: check before you go.
Afternoon: Marina Piccola
End your visit at Marina Piccola beach, sheltered by the cliffs. Rent a pedalo or a small boat to explore the nearby coves.
Practical information
Getting to Capri
- From Naples: a fast ferry from Molo Beverello, about 50 minutes, from €22 to €25 one way depending on the company and time.
- From Sorrento: about 25 minutes by fast ferry.
Getting around the island
- Buses: €2.40 a ride (€2.90 when paying contactless on board), but often crowded in summer.
- Funicular: links Marina Grande to the Piazzetta in a few minutes.
- Taxis: convenient but expensive.
Budget
- Mid-range: about €150 a day (decent accommodation, meals and activities).
- Luxury: from €300 a day.
What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes (lots of steps).
- Cash for the Blue Grotto.
- A restaurant booking in high season.
When to visit Capri
May–June and September–October, for mild weather and manageable crowds. In July and August, the island is packed during the day: staying overnight lets you enjoy quiet mornings and evenings.
FAQ
How long do you need to visit Capri?
One day is enough for a first look from Naples or Sorrento. Allow 2 to 3 days to see the Blue Grotto, Anacapri, Monte Solaro and the Faraglioni and enjoy the beaches without rushing.
How much does the Blue Grotto cost?
Entry, including the rowing boat, costs €18 per person, paid in cash. Add the boat from Marina Grande (about €25 return), or come by bus from Anacapri.
Do you need to book the Blue Grotto in advance?
Not for the entry itself, which is paid on site, but book your boat or island tour in high season. Visits are cancelled when the sea is rough: check at Marina Grande port that morning.
How do you get to Capri from Naples?
By fast ferry from Molo Beverello: about 50 minutes, with many departures every day, from €22 to €25 one way.
How do you get around the island efficiently?
The bus (€2.40 a ride) links Capri, Anacapri and the main sights, but it is often crowded. The funicular links Marina Grande to the Piazzetta, and taxis are convenient but expensive.
More Italy: Rome in 3 or 4 days • Bari in 3 days • Milan in 3 days.
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