This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Capri has been a byword for Mediterranean glamour since Roman emperors built their villas on its cliffs. Today it is a place of designer boutiques and lemon-scented gardens, white-washed lanes and limestone sea stacks, and some of the most beautiful water in Italy. It is also very small and, in high season, very busy: thousands of day visitors arrive each morning on the ferries from Naples and Sorrento.
The way to see Capri at its best is from the sea. A boat around the island reveals grottoes, coves and rock arches that you cannot reach on foot, and lets you swim in water of an almost unreal blue. This guide explains the best boat tours, how to visit the Blue Grotto, what to see on land and how to plan a day or a stay.
Our Capri Picks
Capri Boat Tours Compared
| Tour | Highlights | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Small-group boat tour | The full circuit of the island, swim stops, limoncello | Couples, a relaxed half day |
| Coast-to-coast excursion | The grottoes and the Faraglioni from the water | First-time visitors |
| Kayak tour | Paddling into caves and secluded beaches | Active travellers |
| Island tour from Sorrento | Boat and land highlights with transport | Visitors based in Sorrento |
| Excursion from Naples | A full day on the island from the city | Visitors based in Naples |
Around the Island by Boat
A trip around Capri takes about an hour and a half without stops, and every minute is spectacular. Leaving Marina Grande, the boats pass the Grotta Bianca and the Grotta Verde, where the water glows emerald, the Arco Naturale high on the cliffs, and the Faraglioni, the three limestone stacks that are the symbol of the island; the middle one has a natural arch that boats can pass through, by tradition with a kiss for good luck. Along the way are tiny coves and lidos reachable only by sea, and the cliffs below Anacapri, where the lighthouse of Punta Carena stands at the island’s south-western tip.
A small-group tour with limoncello includes swim stops in the clearest water. If you prefer to be closer to the rock, the kayak tour of caves and beaches lets you slip into grottoes too small for motorboats. For a private experience, traditional wooden gozzi and luxury motorboats can be chartered by the hour or the day in Marina Grande, often with lunch at one of the island’s legendary seaside restaurants.
The Blue Grotto
The Grotta Azzurra is Capri’s most famous sight. Sunlight enters through an underwater opening and lights the cave from below, turning the water an electric blue. The entrance is so low that visitors transfer from larger boats into small rowing boats and lie back while the boatman pulls the boat through on a chain. Inside, the visit lasts only a few minutes, often with the boatman singing.
The grotto is only accessible when the sea is calm and the tide is low enough, so it is often closed, especially in the afternoon and outside summer. The best light is usually around midday. In high season, queues of boats can mean a long wait outside the entrance. Pay the entrance fee and the rowing boat on the spot, and check on the morning of your visit whether it is open.
Capri on Land
Capri Town and the Piazzetta
The funicular climbs from Marina Grande to the Piazzetta, the small square that is the social heart of the island, lined with café terraces. From here, lanes of boutiques lead to the Gardens of Augustus, with views over the Faraglioni and the hairpin bends of the Via Krupp below; access to some paths can be restricted after rockfalls.
Anacapri and Monte Solaro
Higher and quieter, Anacapri is home to Villa San Michele, the house and garden of the Swedish doctor Axel Munthe, with one of the most beautiful views on the island. A single-seat chairlift glides up Monte Solaro, the highest point of Capri, for a panorama over the Bay of Naples and the Amalfi Coast.
Villa Jovis
On the eastern headland, the ruins of Villa Jovis, the palace of Emperor Tiberius, who ruled the Roman Empire from Capri, sit high above the sea. The walk up is steep, but the view is extraordinary.
Food, Lemons and Shopping
Capri gave its name to two Italian classics: the insalata caprese of tomato, mozzarella and basil, and the torta caprese, a rich chocolate and almond cake made without flour. Try ravioli capresi, filled with local cheese and marjoram, fresh fish at a seaside restaurant reached by boat, and a glass of ice-cold limoncello made from the island’s lemons. Shopping is part of the experience: handmade leather sandals made to measure while you wait, perfumes inspired by the island’s flowers, linen clothing and, along the lanes off the Piazzetta, the boutiques of the great fashion houses.
A Perfect Day on Capri
- 8:30: early ferry from Sorrento or Naples.
- 9:30: boat tour around the island with a swim stop, and the Blue Grotto if the sea allows.
- 12:30: long seafood lunch by the water at Marina Piccola or a beach club.
- 15:00: Anacapri, Villa San Michele and the chairlift up Monte Solaro.
- 18:00: the Gardens of Augustus and an aperitivo in the Piazzetta as the day visitors leave.
Getting to Capri
Ferries and hydrofoils run frequently from Naples, taking around 50 minutes on the fast boats, and from Sorrento, in about 20 to 30 minutes. In summer, there are also seasonal services from Positano and Amalfi. Book ahead in high season and travel early to beat the crowds. Most visitors cannot bring a car onto the island in summer, and you will not need one: buses, taxis and the funicular cover everything. For an easy arrival in the region, a private transfer from Naples airport takes you to the port or your hotel.
If you prefer someone else to handle everything, the Capri excursion from Naples and the island tour from Sorrento include the crossings. There is also a combined Pompeii and Capri excursion.
Day Trip or Overnight?
Capri can be seen in a day, but its magic only really appears in the evening, when the last ferries leave and the Piazzetta belongs to those who stay. Spending at least one night lets you see the island in the quiet early morning, dine late on a terrace and take a boat out before the day visitors arrive. Capri has some of the most luxurious hotels in Italy, many open only from spring to autumn; book well ahead for summer.
When to Go
- May, June and September: the best months, with warm sea and slightly fewer visitors.
- July and August: glamorous and very crowded; arrive early and stay late.
- October: often still warm enough to swim, with a calmer atmosphere.
- Winter: most hotels and many restaurants close, and boat services are reduced.
Practical Tips
- Travel light: leave luggage with Radical Storage in Naples or Sorrento on day trips; porters at Marina Grande deliver bags to hotels for overnight guests.
- Start early: take one of the first boats and head straight up to Anacapri or out on the water.
- Seasickness: the sea can be choppy; morning tours are usually calmer.
- Stay connected: ferry times change; an eSIM from Airalo or Saily keeps you informed.
- Flight problems: AirHelp checks compensation for delayed or cancelled flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to see Capri?
By boat. A tour around the island shows the grottoes, the Faraglioni and coves you cannot reach on foot, with swim stops in crystal-clear water.
Is the Blue Grotto always open?
No. It closes when the sea is rough or the tide is high, which is common outside summer and in the afternoon.
Can I visit Capri as a day trip?
Yes, from Naples, Sorrento or, in summer, the Amalfi Coast. Staying overnight lets you enjoy the island without the day crowds.
How long does the boat trip around Capri take?
About 90 minutes without stops; most tours with swimming last two to three hours.
Do I need a car on Capri?
No. Buses, taxis and the funicular cover the island, and visitors’ cars are restricted in summer.
Where is the best place to swim on Capri?
Marina Piccola and the beach clubs below the Faraglioni are the easiest; the clearest water is reached by boat, in the coves along the south and west coasts.
Plan Your Stay
Combine Capri with the Amalfi Coast by boat and a boat tour of Positano, Amalfi and Ravello, explore Naples and visit Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius. Use our Italy travel planner for transfers and connectivity, and browse more things to do on Capri.
Exploring the Italian Riviera? See our guide to Portofino and Genoa.
To see Venice from the water, read our guide to Venice by boat: gondolas and the lagoon islands.
Hungry in Naples? See our guide to Naples for food lovers.
