The main sites of interest on the Island of Capri

Capri is a stupendous island, noted for its antique beauty. There are many fascinating things to see here and a single day is not enough to visit all of the interesting attractions in this corner of paradise. The most convenient way of getting to the Island of Capri is by taking a 20-minute ferry journey from Sorrento. Stay overnight on the mainland, given that prices on Capri are double! 10 things to see on the Island of Capri are indicated below.

Blue Grotto

The Blue Grotto can be reached by rowing boat (price: 13 euros per person for a boat of 4 people). Many tourists want to visit the Blue Grotto, and when they are there, a large number of them remain fascinated by the surprisingly blue colour of the water (from which derives the name). Therefore, even if an excursion around the island includes a stop near the grotto, the boat, in order to avoid queuing, will only pass nearby. There are two ways in which you can enter: by boat, one that goes to the Blue Grotto and waits its turn to enter, or by bus (taxi) from Anacapri, which arrives at the grotto where you can hire a rowing boat. More information can be found on the ‘Getting around the Island of Capri’ page. When the sea is calm, the grotto is open from 9:00am till 5:00pm. If it is cloudy, it is nicer between 12 Noon and 2:00pm. However, if you have arrived in Capri early in the morning, it is better to go to the Blue Grotto straightaway in order not to waste half a day in the queue.

Excursion around the island

When you are on Capri, it is impossible not to visit its coast on the Tyrrhenian Sea. The journey lasts around 2 hours, with a boat leaving on an excursion every half an hour. The excursions around Capri take place between 9:00am and 4:00pm. Excursions between 10:00am and 12 noon are popular; therefore it is likely that there will be a queue. It is best to sit on the right-hand side of a boat given that the excursion goes clockwise around the island, meaning you will have a better view. Price: 18 euros. Buying online can mean you save 2 euros, but it is risky. If there is bad weather, you cannot go to the Island of Capri and your ticket will become invalid. On the island there are also sailors who offer boat trips around Capri and also into the Blue Grotto. A group trip will cost 150 euros.

Piazzetta, the main square in Capri

A chaotic piazza. The centre of life on the Island of Capri. During the day, the Piazzetta becomes full of tourists who yearn to experience the local atmosphere. Taking the funicular to Capri, the first place you will find yourself is the Piazzetta. Bear in mind that a coffee here will cost you around 5 euros. The map shows the advised streets to stroll down during your visit, as well as some of the interesting attractions of Capri, described below.

Gardens of Augustus

The small and unique Gardens of Augustus, created by the industrial German Friedrich Krupp at the beginning of 1900, are considered to be of important heritage in Capri. Flora, characteristic of Capri, grows in this place and there are tens of sculptures. You can also see the Faraglioni, the legendary Capri sea stacks, a coastal and oceanic rock formation.

Certosa di San Giacomo

This fortified monastery is an ancient construction on the Island of Carpi, erected by Giacomo Arcucci. San Giacomo is one of the best examples of architecture on the Island of Capri. Here, you can visit the museum of the artist Diefenbach, as well as see the preserved Baroque frescoes and monastic cells.

Monte Solaro

Solaro is one of the highest and most panoramic points of the island at 1932 feet (589 m). From here, you can see out over the Faraglioni, the Sirenusas (an archipelago of islands) and the Gulfs of Naples and Sorrento. It is better to take the chair lift to the top of Monte Solaro, and then walk back down. The chair lift leaves from the Piazza Vittoria (in the centre of Anacapri) where you arrive when you take the bus. Price: €8 per journey, €11 return. We advise that you always go up on the chair lift to save time. Times: from 9:30am until 5:00pm (in winter, it closes at 4:00pm). Journey duration: 13 minutes (more than one hour on foot).

Villa San Michele

Swedish medic and physician Axel Munthe lived here in the past. The gardens constructed around this Roman villa have the perfect atmosphere in which to wander between the curated flowerbeds. At Villa San Michele, there are many beautiful architectural features to admire. You absolutely must see the head of Medusa, a marble bust commissioned by the Emperor Tiberius, as well as other sculptures. Villa San Michele is the most picturesque garden on the Island of Capri.

From the villa, you can descend the 925 steps to the Marina Grande. This route is walkable in half an hour, and is indicated on the map.

Gulf of the Marina Grande

It is impossible to visit Capri and not to see the Marina Grande. The gulf is the point of arrival for all boat trips, it is also a commercial and touristic port. At the Marina Grande, you can see the aesthetic structures that are the fisher’s huts; you can also find the largest beach.

Gulf of the Marina Piccola

Situated on the south of the island, it is the best place to admire the peaks of the rocky faraglioni. The rocks have divided the Marina Piccola into the mini bays of Marina di Mulo and Marina di Pennauro, which used to act as small ports for the Romans. Thanks to the setting of the rocks in the Gulf of Marina Piccola, there is no wind.

The Punta Carena Lighthouse

The lighthouse illuminates the rocky bay of Carena in the southwest of Capri. It is one of the oldest (1867) and brightest signals in Italy. Punta Carena boasts many beaches and the water is calm, but the islanders love it especially because of its location, which allows those who like to suntan to take a ‘sun bath’ from dawn till dusk.