A day trip to Capri from Sorrento (or Naples!)

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)

You don’t have to be a millionaire to enjoy the beauty of Capri. Accommodation on the island can be pretty expensive, but you can still visit and make the most out of it in just one day. Arranging a day trip to Capri from Sorrento or Naples is in fact pretty easy and definitely a great option if you are staying on the amazing Amalfi Coast. You can fit Capri even in a 10 day Italy itinerary, if you plan it wisely!

How to get to Capri from Sorrento

The ferry from Sorrento to Capri will bring you from the Sorrento harbor to Marina Grande (the main harbor) in Capri. The trip lasts more or less 30 minutes, and the ferries run more frequently in the summer. You can start your Sorrento to Capri day trip in the best way if you sit on the left side of the ferry or go to the upper deck. The view is in fact absolutely amazing, because this part of the coast is one of the best seen from the sea!

The tickets go from about 16€ to 25€, according to the season. The first ferry from Sorrento to Capri generally leaves at 7:15 am and there’s one every 30 minutes until 7:30pm.

How to get to Capri  from Naples

If you want to go from Naples to Capri, then you will have to head over to the Molo Beverello area (also the starting point of our one day tour of Naples for those coming off a cruise ship) or to Calata di Massa.

From Molo Beverello you will be able to board hydrofoil boats, while from Calata di Massa you can board regular ferries and fast boats. Despite the name, “fast boats” and ferries are slower than hydrofoil boats, but a lot cheaper. Also unless hydrofoil boats, they can board motorbikes or cars.

Prices and times change quite a lot so you should always check for more information the day before to go to Caprivisiting Italy in winter especially if you’re : in case of a storm it’s very likely that ferries and other boats won’t be able to leave the Naples harbor (and if you are scared, read my article to see if Naples is a safe city). If you are lodging in Naples in Via Medina, which is pretty close to the harbor, you’ll still have plenty to do as this is one of the areas with the most things to see and do in Naples!

How much time does it take to go from Naples to Capri?

• Ferry: 80 minutes
• Fast boat: 50 minutes
• Hydrofoil boat: 40 minutes

How to get to Capri from the Amalfi Coast

From April to October (included) you will be able to board hydrofoil boats from the Amalfi Coast to Capri. They will leave from Positano, Amalfi and Salerno, and in July and August also from Maiori. It is important to know where the ferry stops so you can book a hotel on the Amalfi Coast accordingly.

Times and prices are generally scheduled by the end of March (they can change quite a lot) when the high season starts, but there are generally at least two or three rides in the morning and the same amount in the late afternoon to get back from Capri. There’s also a good chance than in July and August they will add more.

If you are planning a longer vacation to the Amalfi Coast, you can easily add a day trip to Capri in your itinerary!

How to get from the Marina Grande harbor to the city center

The ferries dock at Marina Grande, the main harbor in Capri. Once you’re on the island, to get to the city center you’ll have to take a funicular ride. It stops at the charming (and world famous) Piazzetta, the heart of Capri. The ride takes about 15 minutes and it costs 2€. Don’t worry about having to book in advance, the funicular moves up and down the hill from 6:30 am to 8:30 pm.

You can bring a small trolley or a backpack up with you. In case you’re meaning to bring a bigger suitcase, you will have to buy an additional ticket, at the cost of 2€.

You can buy tickets at the end of the dock (on the right side), next to the hydrofoil boats ticket office. From January to March the funicular is closed but you can take a bus up the hill.

If you want to go to Anacapri, the residential and quiet area of Capri (but still touristy), you can just hop on one of the tiny buses on the island. They load up to 10 people and in the summer the lines can be pretty long, so in case you are planning your Capri in a day itinerary, make sure you go to Anacapri in the morning. That way you won’t be wasting precious time!

The Blue Grotto

Because you have one day in Capri, you will have to choose if you want to start the day exploring Anacapri or opting for a boat ride to the Blue Grotto. It really all depends from what you like… and from the season you’re visiting in (scroll down for more info on that).

Hot summer days mean that people will mostly be swarming to the Blue Grotto, while Anacapri might be less crowded. On the contrary, if you visit Italy in late spring, chances are that less people will be tempted to go to the Blue Grotto.

Take into account the fact that from November to the end of March the Blue Grotto is generally closed because the wind and the bad weather make it impossible to get inside.

You will be able to access this impressive cave, embedded in the side of Capri, hopping on a small canoe (up to 4 people). A sailor will ask you to lay down on the bottom of your canoe, and then he’ll grab a chain tied to the rock to led you under a pretty low arch (approx. 1 m).

The first thing you’ll notice is that it’s all dark. Pitch black, even. Before you start getting scared, it all comes to life. The inside of the Blue Grotto… really is blue. The glow is incredible and most probably the sailors will start singing Neapolitan songs, out of pride and respect for our land.
As Neapolitans we are in love with what Mother Nature has given us and very proud of the beauty of our region!

While inside, you will feel like floating in some kind of turquoise/blue bubble (someone things it looks a bit like the Art Metro Station in Naples, Toledo). Surreal, but stunningly beautiful, it’s an experience I strongly suggest you do at least once in your lifetime.

You can reach the Blue Grotto from Anacapri (see above how to get there) or renting a boat in Marina Grande. The grotto is open from 9am to 5pm, and only if it’s not too windy.

The entrance (because this is considered some kind of museum) fee costs 14€ per person. At Marina Grande you might find sailors selling a tour of the island, including the entrance to the Blue Grotto. Yet those can be particularly expensive if booked in Capri.

I strongly suggest you book online, well in advance, to make sure you won’t have to say goodbye to half your budget! Click here to check the most recent offers for a boat tour of the island and of the Blue Grotto.

You can also go there on your own, but be aware of the fact that to get to the entrance you will have to walk for a good bit and climb down a very long and narrow staircase to the tiny dock where you will be helped on one of the smaller boats.

If you aren’t scared of the sea, this is definitely one of the best things to do in Capri, so I encourage you to try it!

Anacapri

One of Capri points of interest is Anacapri, from where you can access the chair lift to the top of Monte Solaro, the island’s highest point. The ticket (round trip) costs 11€ and will allow to shoot beautiful landscape photography, as you will see some of the best views of Capri, the Gulf of Naples, the Amalfi Coast and Mount Vesuvius. The chair lift is open from March to October from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm and from November to February from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm.

The locals call Mount Solaro “Acchiappanuvole” (Clouds catcher) because, especially at down, the low fog looks like a crown of clouds around the top of the mountain.

Another beautiful area where you can shoot cool pictures of Capri is Villa San Michele, which also offers the chance to stroll through amazing gardens, full of flowers. Built by a Swedish doctor and writer, Axel Munthe, on the ruins of an old Chapel dedicated to San Michele, this villa is also one of the most instagrammable spots in Capri, perfect for stylish shots next to statues, marble columns and blooming bushes.

From here you can take also beautiful shots of Mount Vesuvius and the Gulf of Naples. The entrance ticket costs 8€. Villa San Michele is open year round from 9:00 am to one hour before sunset.

Anacapri is also perfect if you like to just stroll around through beautiful buildings. The historical center is way less crowded than the Capri Town center, and definitely more laid back. If you reach the main square you will be able to visit the San Michele Church.

While on the outside it looks modest, the inside is stunning thanks to the majolica (hand painted tiled-ceramic also pretty famous on the Amalfi Coast) floor depicting the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. The tickets cost 3€.

Make sure your shoulders are covered and that you aren’t wearing shorts or you won’t be able to get inside (here you can find a useful guide on how to be respectful when visiting Churches)!

The best hike in Capri

Capri is not only one of the most romantic places in Italy, but also a great spot to hike with a view. If you love to rock your mountain boots, then make sure to add some hiking time in your day trip to Capri.

Check our guide to packing for summer in Italy to know what to wear if you want to hike in Capri!

The tourist center in Marina Grande offers maps with time estimates and level of difficulty. When planning, choose a hike that leaves you plenty of time to get the funicular to Marina Grande.

Late afternoons are quite busy, because so many people return to the mainland, and you don’t want to miss your last ferry from Capri to Naples (or Sorrento, or the Amalfi Coast)!

One of the nicest hikes in Capri is named “La passeggiata del Pizzolungo“. You start the trail from the Piazzetta in Capri Town (check the map you get at the tourist center!) and walk on Via Longano or Via Le Botteghe. Once you get to Via Tiberio, turn on Via Matermania to the Piazzetta dell’Arco Naturale.

Here the mountain is covered in vegetation, with flowers and trees specific to Capri. If you’re lucky and everyone else is at the beach, you will feel like the last person on Earth.

Before to leave for the Passeggiata del Pizzolungo make sure you have a bottle of water, a hat, sunscreen and hiking shoes.

There are no rest stops and you will have to hike about 775 steps to get to the belvedere. Before to get to the Natural Arch, you will go through the Grotta di Matermania. Historians believe that this grotto was used for rituals tied to a Goddess of Fecundity.

After you leave this cave, you will still have to climb 200 steps to get to the top. On the right there’s a narrow path to the Natural Arch.

It’s an incredible paleolithic sculpture, the remains of what once was a pretty huge cavity. Today all we can see is a 18 meters tall stone arch, large 12 meters, that looks a bit like the Azure Window in Malta (now unfortunately collapsed).

If you get to the top, try to shoot using the rock arch as a frame for your pictures, they will be amazing!

What to do in Capri Town

While Anacapri is laid back and (mostly) quiet, Capri Town is a lively, colorful, cute slice of paradise. Its heart is the Piazzetta, where you’ll immediately feel the energy and lively atmosphere.

If you want to shoot the perfect postcard of Capri, with the Faraglioni and the cliffs, then head to the Giardini di Augusto (Gardens of Augustus). It’s a terraced garden full of flowers, from where you will see the Faraglioni on one side, and the Marina Piccola harbor with the one lane winding Via Krupp (as I write the road is unfortunately closed so you can only observe it from above).

All around the lovely Valle della Certosa, Mount Tuoro, Mount Tiberio, Mount San Michele and the cute traditional Capri houses.

This would be also the perfect time to stop for a delicious gelato or a citrus granita at gelateria Buonocore, one of the best in Capri. Here you can also have a Neapolitan coffee but keep in mind that it’ll be more expensive than what you’d pay for it in Naples! In this case you might be excused if you don’t apply the Italy tipping etiquette.

Capri Town is the Italian version of Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Glitzy boutiques, billionaires… everything almost clashes with the colorful houses and the rest of the island. Unless you’re planning to buy a pricey designer handbag as a souvenir from your trip to Italy, I suggest you just walk around briefly… gelato at hand, of course!

Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s beautiful to just walk around and take in the incredible views.

Tips from a local (almost)

• If you have read my article on the best dishes in Naples, know that you will find all of it on Capri as well.

• Don’t forget to eat a slice of Torta Caprese. It’s cooked also in the rest of Campania region but the original recipe, as suggested by the name, was created in Capri. It’s a moist chocolate cake with almonds, covered in powdered sugar.

• Another traditional Italian recipe is Insalata Caprese, which is a salad with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, olive oil and basil. In Capri they also make Panini Caprese, a good way to grab a quick bite that tastes like this paradise island.

• Always wear a hat. While you might not realize it, the heat here can be pretty strong. You don’t want to get sunburned or get a sunstroke!

• Drink lots of water, especially in the summer.

• Always wear light, pastel colored dresses: avoid black at all costs as it will only make you feel the warmth more.

• Leave from the mainland as early as you can, to be able to make the most out of your day trip to Capri.

When should you visit Capri

A day trip to Capri from Sorrento or Naples (as I mentioned the ferries from the Amalfi Coast are seasonal) is always a good idea. Yet because it’s a tiny island, you will probably have to avoid the Winter months because more often than not the ferries to the mainland are shut down completely due to the bad weather conditions.

Because I know how hugely crowded Capri can be, I suggest you to avoid June, July and August at all costs. Maybe one of the best months to see Capri is April, because the Blue Grotto is open, the weather is warm but not too much, and you shouldn’t find too many tourists. May and September are also good, maybe a bit more crowded, but still doable!

What happens if you are worried you can plan a trip to Capri on your own or if you want to visit from Rome? This handy list of the best Amalfi Coast Tours will definitely be of help!

You might also like:
– Where to stay on the Amalfi Coast
– The best tours to Capri from the Amalfi Coast and Rome
– Spend one amazing day in Naples
– Awesome beaches on the Amalfi Coast
– What to wear in Italy in summer

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