When to go to Capri?
→ The detailed month-by-month page, with real weather records
Best time: May to June and September to October
At a glance
Why go to Capri?
Set at the mouth of the Bay of Naples, facing the Sorrento Peninsula, Capri packs a rare intensity into just a few square kilometres. This island of white limestone, bristling with cliffs that plunge into a deep blue sea, has cultivated a reputation as a refined retreat since antiquity. The emperor Tiberius built a dozen villas here, among them the Villa Jovis, whose ruins still crown the eastern headland, and ruled the Roman Empire from this promontory for a decade. That imperial past reads as the first chapter in a long line of illustrious holidays.
Over the centuries Capri became an unmissable society haunt, beloved of artists, writers and Europe's high society. The legend fed on the turquoise light of the Blue Grotto, the silhouette of the Faraglioni rising offshore, and a Mediterranean elegance of bougainvillea, overhanging terraces and cobbled lanes. The Piazzetta, a tiny square lined with cafés, serves as an open-air drawing room where people come to see and be seen. That chic reputation has lost none of its pull, and it comes at a steep price.
Yet reducing Capri to its glossy veneer would be a mistake. The island splits in two: Capri, turned towards the sea and the bustle, and Anacapri, higher up and calmer, clinging to the slopes of Monte Solaro. Hiking trails, coves reached by boat and views from the heights reveal spectacular scenery, often overlooked behind the luxury boutiques. The contrast between the frenzy of the daytime ferries and the calm that returns once the day-trippers have left is the very essence of a stay on Capri.
Map of Capri: what is where?
The map shows the 5 places covered in this guide, to picture the distances and plan your route.
- Blue Grotto
- Faraglioni
- Gardens of Augustus
- Monte Solaro
- Marina Grande
How much does a trip to Capri cost?
Capri ranks among the most expensive destinations in Italy, and prices climb quickly once you leave public transport and the island buses behind. Accommodation, well-placed restaurants and boat trips weigh heavily on a stay. Here are three profiles to help you get your bearings, in euros per person per day, excluding the sea crossing.
| Style | Per day | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Shoestring | €90-140 | Staying in a simple guesthouse in Anacapri, grabbing quick lunches and sticking to the island buses keeps spending down. Free sights (the Piazzetta, trails, viewpoints) and picnics help contain the cost, even if it stays high for Italy. |
| Comfort | €180-300 | A well-located three-star hotel, restaurant meals at lunch and dinner, entry to the gardens and the Monte Solaro chairlift make for a pleasant stay. A shared boat trip around the island and a few open-top taxis add to the budget without blowing it. |
| Luxury | €400 and up | A grand hotel with views of the Faraglioni, renowned restaurants, a private boat and sunloungers at a chic beach club soon push up the bill. In this bracket Capri unfurls all its luxury, and prices have barely any ceiling in peak season. |
The euro is the currency. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but it is worth keeping some cash for the small buses, the Blue Grotto rowing boats and tips. ATMs can be found near Marina Grande and the Piazzetta.
Is Capri safe?
Capri is a very safe destination, where violent crime is rare and you can get around without worry by day or night. The main challenge is the crowds: during the day and in high season, hordes of day-trippers fill the lanes, queues for the Blue Grotto or the funicular grow long, and you have to cope with the heat. Cliff paths and steep staircases call for good shoes and caution, as does swimming near the rocks. As in any very touristy place, keep an eye on your belongings in the crush.
What to see and do in Capri
- the Blue Grotto
- the Faraglioni
- the Gardens of Augustus
- Monte Solaro and Anacapri
- the Piazzetta
The Blue Grotto
The Grotta Azzurra remains Capri's most famous image, a sea cave where sunlight, filtered through an underwater opening, tints the water an unreal silvery blue. You reach it after a short boat trip from Marina Grande, then transfer onto tiny rowing boats that slip through the narrow entrance. Getting in means lying back in the bottom of the boat for a moment, so low is the opening. Inside, a few minutes are enough to take in the phenomenon before heading back out. Access depends entirely on the state of the sea and closes as soon as the swell picks up. Come in the morning, in calm weather, and be ready for a sometimes long wait in high season.
The Faraglioni
The ultimate symbols of the island, the Faraglioni are three limestone stacks rising from the sea south of Capri, sculpted by erosion. The first is still attached to the coast, the second is pierced by a natural arch that boats pass through, and the third is home to a rare species of blue lizard. You can admire them from the heights of the Gardens of Augustus, but also up close on a boat trip around the island. Sailing under the arch is a ritual visitors love, said to bring luck to lovers. At their feet, a few upmarket beach clubs offer sunloungers and swimming in crystal-clear water. Late-afternoon light, which gilds the rock, is the best time to gaze at them.
The Gardens of Augustus and Via Krupp
Laid out in the early 20th century by the German industrialist Friedrich Alfred Krupp, the Gardens of Augustus stack their flower-filled terraces above the sea, offering one of the most photographed views in Italy. From here the eye takes in the Faraglioni on one side and the bay of Marina Piccola on the other. Beds of bougainvillea, geraniums and dahlias form a colourful setting against the blue of the open sea. Below winds Via Krupp, a cobbled path of tight hairpin bends cut into the cliff face to link the top with the sea. This graceful ribbon, often closed because of rockfalls, can be admired from above even when it is off limits. Entry to the gardens is cheap and crowds are heavy around midday.
Monte Solaro and Anacapri
Rising to almost six hundred metres, Monte Solaro is Capri's highest point and its finest lookout. From Anacapri, a chairlift carries you to the top in about twelve minutes, gliding silently over gardens, vines and white rooftops. From the summit the view takes in the whole island, the Faraglioni, the Bay of Naples and, on clear days, the coast of Calabria. Anacapri, the upper town, has a more village-like and peaceful feel than Capri. Here you can visit Villa San Michele, home of the Swedish doctor Axel Munthe, whose gardens and collections of antiquities overlook the sea. Whitewashed lanes and the Church of San Michele, with its majolica floor, round off this more authentic interlude.
The Piazzetta and Marina Grande
Officially Piazza Umberto I, the Piazzetta is the beating heart of Capri, a tiny square where four cafés spread their terraces beneath a clock tower. People come for a coffee or an aperitivo, to watch the elegant parade and feel the island's social pulse. All around radiate narrow lanes lined with luxury boutiques and flower-decked houses. Below, Marina Grande is the island's main port, where ferries and hydrofoils arrive from Naples and Sorrento. This is where the day-trippers land every morning and where boat tours set off. A funicular links the port directly to the Piazzetta, sparing you the climb on foot in the heat.
How many days, and which itinerary?
Two to three days let you savour Capri without rushing. A day trip from Naples or Sorrento gives a taste of the main sights, but the island truly reveals itself in the evening, once the ferries have gone. Staying overnight means enjoying a quiet Piazzetta, early-morning walks and softer light. Lovers of the sea, trails and lazing about will gain from staying longer, splitting their time between Capri and quieter Anacapri.
🗺️ Day-by-day itinerary · 📓 Free printable Capri guide (PDF) · 🌍 All of the Amalfi Coast
2 days (the essentials)
Day 1: arrive at Marina Grande, take the funicular up to the Piazzetta, have lunch, then stroll to the Gardens of Augustus and the view of the Faraglioni; end the day in the lanes of Capri once the day-trippers have left. Day 2: boat trip around the island, passing under the Faraglioni arch and, if the sea allows, entering the Blue Grotto, then an afternoon in Anacapri and the chairlift ride up Monte Solaro.
3 days (in depth)
Follow the two-day plan, then devote the third day to walking and swimming: the trail to Villa Jovis and the ruins of Tiberius, down to Marina Piccola for a swim at the foot of the Faraglioni, a visit to Villa San Michele in Anacapri and sunset from the lookout. A slow pace that leaves time to savour the island away from the midday crowds.
Getting there and getting around
Capri can only be reached by sea, by ferry or hydrofoil from Naples, Sorrento and, in season, Positano or Amalfi. Crossings are frequent during the day but thin out in the evening, one more reason to stay overnight. On arrival, Marina Grande gathers the funicular up to the Piazzetta, buses and taxis. Cars are effectively banned for visitors and entirely pointless, as the island is explored on foot, by bus or by boat.
On the island, a network of small buses links Capri, Anacapri and the Blue Grotto along narrow, dizzying roads, for a modest fare. The open-top taxis typical of the island cost considerably more but make for a picturesque ride. For the coast and the Faraglioni, hiring a boat with or without a skipper remains the most enjoyable way to get around. Walking is often the simplest option, as distances between the main sights are short.
Where to stay in Capri?
Staying on Capri is expensive, as the island ranks among the priciest destinations in Italy. Hotels in Capri town, close to the Piazzetta and the Gardens of Augustus, charge high rates, especially in high season when the grand hotels hit their peak. Booking well ahead is essential, and the best addresses with views of the Faraglioni go very early.
Anacapri offers a slightly more affordable and peaceful alternative, with guesthouses and small hotels full of village charm. Staying there means accepting less direct access to the port and the action, offset by the calm and prices that are sometimes less dizzying. Whatever you choose, simply spending the night on the island transforms the experience, giving you the Piazzetta and the trails free of the day-tripper crowds.
Our places to stay, stop by stop, at three budgets →
What to eat in Capri?
Capri's cooking celebrates seafood and Mediterranean flavours. Try ravioli capresi, filled with fresh cheese and marjoram, the insalata caprese born on the island, which combines tomato, mozzarella and basil, and the grilled catch of the day. Lemon is everywhere, perfuming desserts and limoncello, a digestif served well chilled at the end of the meal. Torta caprese, a moist flourless chocolate and almond cake, is a favourite way to finish.
The best-placed restaurants, around the Piazzetta or above the Faraglioni, charge prices to match the setting and the prestige. To eat well without breaking the bank, head away from the busiest squares to Anacapri or the quieter lanes, where more authentic trattorias survive. Booking in the evening is wise, and lunching on a simple plate facing the sea remains one of the island's great pleasures.
Entry requirements
Schengen area: an ID card or passport for EU citizens, 90 days visa-free for UK, US, Canadian and Australian passports.
Rules change: check your own government's travel advice before you go.
Frequently asked questions about Capri
Should I stay on the island or visit Capri as a day trip?
A day trip from Naples or Sorrento lets you see the essentials, but the island truly comes into its own in the evening, once the ferries have left. Staying overnight gives you a quiet Piazzetta, early-morning walks and softer light, at the cost of expensive accommodation.
Is the Blue Grotto always open?
No, access depends entirely on the state of the sea and closes as soon as the swell picks up. Getting through the low entrance requires calm water. Come in the morning, in fine weather, and allow for a sometimes long wait in high season.
How do you get around Capri?
The island is explored on foot, by small buses linking Capri, Anacapri and the Blue Grotto, by funicular between Marina Grande and the Piazzetta, or by boat along the coast. Cars are effectively banned for visitors and entirely pointless.
When is the best time to go?
Spring and early autumn bring pleasant weather and fewer crowds than high summer, when the island is packed and stifling. July and August see the biggest crowds and the highest prices. Out of season some businesses close, but the atmosphere is more peaceful.
Is Capri really as expensive as people say?
Yes, the island ranks among the priciest destinations in Italy, particularly for accommodation and well-placed restaurants. You can keep costs down by staying in Anacapri, using the buses and eating away from the busiest squares.
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