Capri is an Italian dream spot. If you’re debating on whether or not to visit this island and if it’s worth it, let us spare you the research and tell you right now that it’s a 1000% worth it. This island is stunning. We spent 2 nights here while on a holiday through the southern coast of Italy. Keep reading to get our full recommendations for visiting Capri, all you need to know before you plan your trip.
The island of Capri is a municipality in the metropolitan city of Naples. It’s history dates back to the Greeks when they first settled in Capri in the eighth century BC. Fun fact about Capri: new construction is prohibited on the island. Which means that owning a piece of this Italian paradise is very expensive, small can cost upwards of a million dollars.
When to go:
The best time to visit Capri is in August – Mid September. This is the least touristy part of the summer so you will experience less crowds. In addition, it’s also the best time for swimming because the ocean water will be nice and warm from having had a chance to heat throughout the summer.
Getting here:
Getting to Capri is very easy. I’s a quick 45 minute ferry ride from Naples and cost about $75 per person round-trip. You can also take a ferry from Positano, Amalfi and other surrounding coastal towns.
Things to do:
Here’s a list of all the must do things in Capri.
- Rent a boat. A boat tour around the island is an absolute must. There are a few options to do so, you can either opt for a tour boat or a private boat. A tour boat can cost as low as $20 and a private boat ranges anywhere from $160 – $300+. If you’re going to rent a boat we recommend a 3 hour tour, 2 hours is just enough to drive around the island but if you want to spend some time swimming and visiting the grotto then you need that extra hour.
- Visit Belvedere viewpoint. This viewpoint gives you one of the most iconic views of Capri cliff side and the iconic rock formation. These rocks were first made famous by Dolce & Gabbana with their ad for “Light Blue” cologne. Check it out here if you’ve never seen it till this day it remains one of my favorite commercials https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2RxCQAd2m0. The fascination for these now famous rocks grew shortly after the ad. We learned that the archway in the main rock is rumored to be magical. If you kiss under the arch you will be in love forever, so choose your kissing partner wisely here. Also the rocks are not connected to the main island. They are moving further and further away from the mainland of Capri each year, there will come a time when they are all the way out in the middle of the ocean. If you want to live out your Dolce & Gabbana dreams you better plan a trip to Capri sooner than later.
- Lighthouse in Anacapri for sunset. The best spot to watch the sunset is at the lighthouse in Anacapri. We think the photos speak for themselves on this one. There’s also a great beach club right next to the lighthouse. It’s a great place to grab a drink, sit on the patio and enjoy the sunset.
- Chairlift in Anacapri. Although we didn’t make it here when we visited we heard so many amazing things about this from all the locals we spoke to that we just had to include it here. Learn from our mistakes and go here, the views from here are beautiful and definitely worth adding to your list. You can learn more about the cost of the ride and hours of operations here: http://www.capriseggiovia.it/en/impianto.html
- Rent a vintage Fiat 500. If you’re looking for a super fun activity and want to live out your Italian dream like we (Natty) did, then I highly recommend this tour with our friend Fabrizio from 500 in Capri. He’ll pick you up in his ADORABLE vintage yellow Fiat 500, where you’ll spend a few hours driving around the island and soaking in the views. This was definitely a highlight of our trip. Check out Fabrizio’s booking on Airbnb here: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/759600. Be sure to tell Fabrizio we sent you!
Where to stay:
Villa San Felice
This hotel is located right in the heart of downtown Capri. It’s walking distance to many shops and restaurants. The rooms were a bit dated but very clean. We would definitely recommend staying here as it was a very convenient location to everything.
Hotel Weber Ambassador
This hotel is located right next to Marina Piccola Beach, it’s a perfect spot if you want to be close to the beach but still walking distance to downtown. Capri Town is about a 15 minute walk from here. This hotel was a favorite vacation spot of famous faces like Frank Sinatra, Thomas Mann and Maxim Gorky. But if we’re being honest it seems like the place hasn’t been renovated or touched since Sinatra roamed the halls, so things definitely look and feel dated and a bit worn down.
La Giuliva B&B
Anacapri is the eastern side of the island and it’s the more local side. We loved this part of the island and would definitely spend more of our time here next time we return. So if you’re like us and enjoy a more local experience then definitely check out Anacapri.
How to get around the island:
Capri is a small island so it’s pretty easy to get around, taxis are readily available, but just like everywhere else in southern Italy they are pretty expensive. It will cost you 20 Euros for a ride in any direction no matter where you are going. So the better/cheaper alternative is public transportation. There’s a bus that runs from Capri Town to Anacapri every hour and costs a little over 2 Euros per person per ride. Once you’re in Anacapri or Capri Town you can get pretty much anywhere on foot. Also, there is a trolley that runs from the port area to Capri Town, save yourself the pain of having to hike up 2 miles straight up all stairs and take the trolley. Your calves will thank us.
Hope you found this information helpful. If you have any questions or if you’ve been to Capri and want to add something that we may have missed please drop it in the comments below.
Check out our other post here for more helpful travel guides and tips.
Cheers,
Natty
