A Day Trip to the Island of Capri
The island of Capri is one of the most impressive islands in the Mediterranean. Your breath will be taken away facing the steep cliffs, the deep sea, and the picturesque landscape.
Recommended guided tours to and in Capri:
Getting There
You can reach this beauty, located in southern Italy, from the city of Sorrento Sorrento or from Naples, where ferries depart to take you to Capri. From Sorrento, you can take a high-speed ferry with a travel time of 20 minutes, or a regular ferry with a travel time of half an hour. From Naples, the sailing duration is 50 minutes by high-speed ferry, 60 minutes by regular ferry, and 85 minutes by slow ferry. These ferries dock at Capri's main port, Marina Grande. From here, you can take the funicular up to the center of Capri.
Aside from the large ferries, you can also reach Capri on smaller boats. Many companies offer boat tours to Capri, mostly departing from Sorrento. In addition to transfers, most tours also include a cruise around the island and visits to the sea caves surrounding the island.
Recommended Guided Tours in Capri Departing from Capri (from Viator):
As mentioned, an excellent base for a trip to Capri is Sorrento, where it is recommended to stay and from which you can also take day trips to Naples, Amalfi, Vesuvius, Pompeii, and Herculaneum.
Recommended Accommodations in Sorrento:
♦ Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria - An impressive and luxurious 5-star hotel with 91 rooms, perched on a cliff overlooking the Gulf of Naples, featuring 3 historic buildings set within a private Mediterranean park. The harbor can be reached via an elevator. Immersed in charming Mediterranean gardens, the hotel provides private parking and several gourmet restaurants.
♦ Grand Hotel Ambasciatori - A 4-star hotel offering 103 rooms. The property is situated on a cliff overlooking the Gulf of Naples from its rooftop terrace. It features a private beach and a garden with a pool.
♦ Comfort Hotel Gardenia Sorrento Coast - A cozy 3-star hotel with 27 rooms, located just 600 meters from Sorrento's historic center. The hotel features a swimming pool and a rooftop terrace with views of the Gulf of Naples. All rooms include a private balcony. Completely renovated in 2007, it is recognized as an Ecoworldhotel for its eco-friendly practices.
♦ B&B Al Centro - Four air-conditioned apartments with fully equipped kitchenettes and balconies overlooking the sea. Designed for 2-4 guests, situated 150 meters from Piazza Tasso.
Another charming town worth staying in is: Vico Equense :
A lovely small boutique hotel with wonderful service, a central location, and excellent breakfasts, which is warmly recommended, is:
♦ Villa Scaramellino Relais - Featuring modern rooms with a balcony, air conditioning, free parking, free Wi-Fi, and a washing machine and dryer available for guest use. The property offers double rooms and one-bedroom apartments with a living room suitable for four guests.
Search for Hotels on Booking.com Map in the Sorrento Area:
Booking.com
Tours in Capri
It is recommended to take a boat tour to Capri that includes 3-4 hours of free time to explore the island, along with cruising by attractions around the island, swimming, and snorkeling. Upon arrival in Capri, some companies also offer guided tours around the island or free time at your leisure. Smaller boats sometimes dock at the smaller harbor, Marina Piccola, from which you can take a bus or taxi to Capri town.
If you ask many tourists, they will likely tell you that no visit to Capri is complete without visiting the Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra). While the cave is truly magnificent and unique, it is also extremely touristy, and admission fees increase accordingly every year (entry is not included in the boat fare to Capri). Furthermore, local guides explain that weather and sea conditions do not always permit entry. Do not be disappointed if you cannot visit the cave—this happens often, and the boat tour is spectacular and enjoyable even without entering the cave.
If you arrive in Capri by small boat, you can also visit other caves near the Blue Grotto: the Green Grotto and the White Grotto. Admission to these is free of additional charge and included in the tour price.
You can also join boat tours that circle the island and visit the caves directly from Capri itself.
♦ Car rental from the reliable and convenient Booking.com: Booking.com
After arriving in Capri, it is worth heading slowly up the narrow road to Anacapri, located at the summit of Mount Solaro. You can reach it by minibuses (caution: crowded!) or by taxi (caution: expensive!).
In Anacapri, taking the Seggiovia chairlift is highly recommended—a 12-minute scenic ride above the treetops. The chairlift will take you to a magnificent scenic viewpoint where you will find it hard to remain indifferent to the stunning panoramic vista.
In Anacapri, as well as in Capri itself, you will find an abundance of luxury shops and markets. Shopping here is always pricier compared to other towns, so it is mainly worth admiring from the outside...
In Capri, it is recommended to stroll through the town's main square and visit the Gardens of Augustus (Gardens of Augustus), which offer clear views of the unique sea stacks.
While admiring the coastline from above is quite an experience, those who also wish to take a dip in the turquoise waters will certainly enjoy heading down to Marina Piccola, considered the most popular bathing beach on Capri. It is an excellent spot for swimming as well as soaking up the sun across a wide variety of nearby restaurants.
Capri is pure magic. With intoxicating views and spectacular beaches, you simply won't get enough of it.
Written by: O. E. Bar