Getting to Capri is not easy, but it’s so worth it! This beautiful island, in Italy’s Bay of Naples, (that was once upon a time the seat from where Emperor Tiberius ruled the Roman Empire), is my favorite gem in the Mediterranean.
Capri is known for its dramatic, rugged landscape, upscale hotels, chic boutiques, and of course limoncello!
There’s no other place like Capri and even though 24 hours is not enough to discover the island, it’s enough time to give you a glimpse of the treasures within it. Let me share with you why Capri should be on your travel bucketlist!
Things To Do In Capri
Capri island is small (4 square miles) but there is still a lot to do and see around the island. Here are 10 things to do in Capri.
1) Explore The Blue Grotto
The Blue Grotto is a famous sea cave on the coast of Capri island. Sunlight passed through an underwater cavity and shines through the seawater and creates a magical blue reflection that lights up the entire cavern.
The Blue Grotto is beautiful and definitely worth checking out when you’re visiting Capri. You can book a Capri Boat Tour that will take you to the Blue Grotto and all around Capri.
2) Go Snorkeling
There is a great snorkeling around around Capri. Booking a snorkeling tour is a great way to experience secluded beaches, rock formations and beautiful Amalfi Coast views.
There’s no better way to see Capri than to swim and snorkel your way through the sparkling Tyrrhenian Sea.
3) Private Boat Tour
Taking a private boat tour around Capri is an ideal way to see the island. Take in the sweeping scenery of cliffs and caves on a boat tour around Capri Island from Marina Piccola.
Sail along a part of coastline famous for its sea caves, including Grotta Verde, which got its name from the water’s emerald colour. Swim, snorkel, and see the Punta Carena Lighthouse from the water.
4) Visit Punta Carena Lighthouse
Punta Carena Lighthouse is an active lighthouse, located on Capri. The lighthouse construction began in 1862 and has been active since 1867.
You can get to the lighthouse by bus from the main Viale Tommaso de Tommaso stop, in Anacapri. Or you can walk to the lighthouse along Viale Tommaso de Tommaso and Via Nuova del Faro (40 minutes circa)
5) Get Custom Made Sandals
The custom made sandal shops in Capri offer the ultimate souvenir. There are several shops on the island where you can have them made for you.
You’ll get to choose the leather, the style, the height, and the width. And the best part is you can watch them make your custom sandals before your eyes!
6) Kayak
Going kayaking around Capri is a great way to see the coastline and get a good workout in. Travel along Capri’s coast on an easy, guided kayaking tour.
Reach beaches and caves that are inaccessible by motorboats in an eco-friendly way. Explore the Cave of the Water and visit the Green Cave.
7) Cocktails in the Piazzetta
If you’re visiting Capri you must stop in the famed main square, known as the Piazzetta, have a cocktail and indulge in the excellent people watching the square offers. Wether you have a morning espresso or for an aperitivo cocktail in the evening, a visit to the Piazzetta is a must!
8) Paddle Board
Travel along the coast of Capri on a guided paddle board tour and take in the rocky scenery. Discover beaches that aren’t accessible to motor boats and learn about the history, tales, and legends of the island’s past
9) Climb up Mount Solaro with the Chairlift
From Piazza Vittoria in Anacapri, you can can take the chairlift up to the peak of Mount Solaro. The view from the top is breathtaking and a great place to take photos or stop for a drink at the “La Canzone del Cielo” café.
You can then walk back down the mountain. On the way down you can stop and see Cetrella hermitage, a tiny chapel on the hillside. If the church is open, the custodians will happily show you the magical terraces overlooking the sea.
10) Limoncello Tasting
Limoncello is a lemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy, especially in the Gulf of Naples, the Amalfi Coast, and Sicily. It is the second-most popular liqueur in Italy (after Campari) and is traditionally served chilled as an after-dinner digestivo.
Capri is known as “the land of lemons” so you can’t visit Capri and not at least try their famed Limoncello! You can book a sightseeing cruise with a Limoncello tasting to enjoys amazing views of the coastline while you sip your cares way. Saluti!
Where To Stay In Capri
Capri has an array of wonderful boutique hotels and vacation rentals. Here are 10 of the top rated hotels in Capri.
- Casa Morgano – Only steps from the Piazzetta square in Capri, Casa Morgano is a 5-star hotel offering an infinity swimming pool with panoramic sea views, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioned rooms overlooking the garden or the sea.
- Capri Wine Hotel – Lovely terrace overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, a garden, a wine bar and free WiFi throughout. Colorful rooms with modern furnishings. 10-minute walk from the Piazzetta.
- Villa Pasquale Capri – Offering beautiful garden views, Villa Pasquale Capri in Capri is around 1.3 miles from Marina Grande Beach, 1.3 miles from Marina Piccola Bay, and 2.9 miles from Marina Piccola.
-
Pazziella Garden & Suites – Set among peaceful floral gardens and lemon groves, Pazziella Garden & Suites is located in Capri Town, just 350 feet from the Piazzetta. It offers Mediterranean-Sea views and air conditioned rooms decorated in a Neoclassical style with light colors.
-
Casa Boutique by Five Senses – Casa Boutique by Five Senses is located in Capri, just a 3-minute walk from Piazzetta di Capri and one mile from I Faraglioni. Full-day security, daily room service, free Wifi throughout.
- Le Botteghe 59 Capri – Rooms at this bed & breakfast offer air conditioning, a seating area, a flat-screen TV with streaming services, a safety deposit box, and the property has a lovely terrace.
-
Casa Piccola by Five Senses – The air-conditioned vacation home consists of 2 bedrooms, a living room, a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, 2 bathrooms, both with a walk-in showers.
-
B&B Palazzo a Mare -Set on the island of Capri, B&B Palazzo a Mare is only 150 feet from the beach. It offers air-conditioned accommodations and a sun terrace.
- Casa Dani Capri – Casa Dani Capri is a sustainable guest house in Capri, a 14-minute walk from Marina Piccola Bay. This property encourages guests to embrace nature with its eco-friendly arrangements. Concierge service available for guests.
-
Piazzetta Diefenbach – Located in Capri, less than 0.6 mi from Marina Piccola Bay, Piazzetta Diefenbach provides air-conditioned rooms, daily housekeeping, free WiFi throughout the property and family rooms.
- Find the best rates on all Capri hotels
Getting To Capri
The closest airport to Capri is the Naples Capodichino Airport (NAP). From the airport, it’s about a 15 minute cab ride to get to the Molo Beverello Port. Molo Beverello is a ferry terminal located in the heart of Naples.
This terminal is where you can buy ferry tickets to places like Sorrento and Capri. It’s also a docking area for cruise ships, so if you see all the cruise ships you are likely in the right spot. From the port you can catch a ferry that will get you from Naples to Capri in about an hour.
There are three ferry companies Snav, Caremore and NLG that both run eight daily sailings. You can find the schedule and book tickets for the ferry to Capri here, or you can buy tickets in person when you arrive.
My Experience Spending 24 Hours In Capri
We flew from Berlin to Naples, took a cab to Molo Beverello and arrived just in time to take the next departing Aliscafo (Italian Hydrofoil) to Capri. The boat took around 45 minutes from Naples to Capri.
We docked, I hailed one of their famous taxis, which in reality is an open-top limousine (I mean, how cool is that?), and drove to Marina Piccola where my stepfather has a little house with the most spectacular view.
It’s incredible how the taxis race through the narrow, curvy streets of Capri without so much as a moment of hesitation!
It was late in the afternoon by the time we arrived in Capri. We dropped off our bags and headed up the endless staircase through which mules once upon a time walked up and down, to Bar Tiberio in La Piazzetta (the center of town), for a much needed Aperol Spritz.
La Piazzetta is always buzzing with shop owners who love to get caught up in their gossip, and enchanted travelers and locals who come together to roam the tiny streets of Capri, take in the views, and treasure hunt. You can’t go wrong by staying in any of the little hotels here as this is where the action is at.
We headed back down to the house to change into something a little more dolce vita and red lips, and took a taxi to Da Paolino for dinner: paradise under the yellow lemon trees. Their fresh mozzarella, pasta with tomatoes and zucchini, and a classic limoncello to finish off the meal can’t be missed.
And if a giant lemon happens to fall on your table or, better yet, on your plate as you’re eating consider yourself lucky as it’s a praised superstition. It will also take your mind off the fact that you’re outfit is probably covered in your delectable meal.
The next morning, before the heat settled in, we took the path to Villa Jovis: the ruins of Emperor Tiberius’s home on the farthest tip of the island that faces Positano. At every corner we found a better and higher view, while the smell of the pine trees and the ocean followed us everywhere we went.
Exhausted, we headed back down to the market by La Piazzetta to buy two kilos of mozzarella, freshly-baked focaccia, ripe tomatoes, beautifully cut prosciutto, the sweetest melon in Italy and a couple of bottles of local white wine. We then continued our way down to Marina Piccola where Rafaello picked us up, as always, 2pm in his gozzo, San Lorenzo.
Capri’s Famed Grottos
Capri’s crystal clear waters were our oyster and we headed to the Grotta Verde for the first tufo (dip) of the day. No anchor needed, we just jumped off the boat and swam through the rocks to the calita on the other side. There are hundreds of grottos in Capri, some more famous than others, but no one knows them as well as our trusty Rafaello as he grew up here.
He knows every cave, every name, every nook, every story. Before lunch we took a small detour towards the Faraglioni, and swam to shore to the beautiful Fontelina for a pitcher of peaches and wine as there’s nothing better, more refreshing or more typical of the place!
The swim back wasn’t as easy, I have to admit that. I wish we could have stayed to eat pasta alle vongole but our delicious picnic awaited.
After a day of sun, wine and sea came my favorite part – what Italians call “il dolce far niente” – the sweetness of doing nothing. Whether that’s staring out into the horizon, smelling a flower (people do that!), or listening to the song of the cicadas, dolce far niente is my eternal summer mindset.
After a much needed nap on the gozzo we returned to the town’s buzzing labyrinth and walked up to Aurora. Aurora is another favorite restaurant of ours. They’re famous for their paper thin pizza and risotto with lobster.
We followed our delicious meal with a digestive dance party at Capri’s classic Anema e Cuore nightclub. I went to sleep with sore feet, a full belly, and a huge smile on my face as the sun was coming up, excited for my next dip in the sapphire waters of the Mediterranean.
24 Hours In Capri
I hope my story has inspired you to visit Capri, “the land of lemons.” As you can see, Capri is definitely worth visiting for a day or two. Summer in Italy is magical and the island of Capri will steal your heart.
We hope that this article has inspired you to visit Capri. If you have any questions about the destination or have your own travel tips to share please leave these in the comments below.
Do you want to share your travel story with our community? Please visit our Contribut Page for guidelines and to submit your article.
Book Your Stay In Capri
- Casa Boutique by Five Senses
- Casa Morgano
- Capri Wine Hotel
- Villa Pasquale Capri
- Find the best prices on Capri hotels
Read More About Italy
- 25 Things To Do In Positano
- A Locals Guide To Venice
- The Best Of Northern Italy In 4 Days
- 10 Reasons Genoa Should Be On Your Bucketlist
- 6 Tips To Make The Most Of A Trip To Florence
We Are Travel Girls Contributor Andrea Wild Botero
Connect with Andrea Facebook | Instagram
Zhanna says
I haven’t been to Capri but wow, this place looks incredible. Thanks for sharing!
http://www.morethandestination.com
We Are Travel Girls says
Hi Zhanna! Thanks for your comment! Glad you liked the post! I have personally not been to Capri yet and these photos make me really want to go! X, Vanessa Rivers, Founder – We Are Travel Girls
Andrea Wild Botero - TheBirdinSpace.com says
Hi Zhanna, so happy you liked the post! If you ever do make it to Capri I’d be more than happy to give you more tips!
Dale Wilson says
Hi There!
I am visiting Europe in 2018 and am LOVING this whole page for tips and tricks. I will be in positano for three nights and totally considering a day trip to Capri.
Would your recommendations be to NOT do a tour and just get a ferry across? Your 24 hrs sounds fantastic. I also need to watch my budget… Thanks in advance!
Miss Dale
[email protected]
Lynne C. says
Thank you for a wonderful post! I am loving reading about the “insider secrets” of all these marvelous places. Your photos of Capri had me almost drooling. So gorgeous! Those blue waters! Those massive hydrangeas! Those outdoor cafe’s with lemons dropping on your head! Capri is now officially on the Wish List. Tx so much for sharing. xx
We Are Travel Girls says
Hi Lynne! Glad you liked the post and found it useful! X, Vanessa Rivers, Founder – We Are Travel Girls