What to Do in Capri: Views, Walks and the Sea
- Apr 14
- 8 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Right in front of the Sorrento Peninsula, in the Gulf of Naples, you’ll find Capri. It’s a small island, but honestly… very impressive. It stands out for its coastal landscapes, hidden caves, rock formations rising out of the sea, and turquoise waters.
Add charming towns and really good food, and you’ve got the full package!
Before You Keep Reading
If you want a broader overview of the Amalfi Coast (how to get around, where to stay, and how to plan everything), we explain it all in our AMALFI COAST TRAVEL GUIDE
What You’ll Find in This Capri Guide
🏠 Where to stay – island vs Sorrento
🚡 How to get around – funicular, bus and taxis
⛰️ Monte Solaro
🌿 Anacapri
✨ Travel tips
How to Get to Capri
Capri is mainly visited by ferry from Naples or Sorrento, arriving at Marina Grande, the island’s main port.
From there, getting up to the center is quick and easy by funicular, bus, or taxi.
Where to Stay in Capri
Staying on the island is a great idea if you want to enjoy it without the rhythm of the ferries and the constant flow of people during the day, and experience it in a much calmer way at sunrise or sunset, when most tourists leave.
That said, keep in mind it’s one of the most expensive destinations in Italy.
If you’re looking for a more practical and budget-friendly base to explore Capri and the rest of the coast, Sorrento is usually the best option, visiting Capri as a day trip.
Our recommendation
If you have the budget and want the full experience, staying one night in Capri is definitely worth it.If not, using Sorrento as your base is by far the most convenient option.
In our complete Amalfi Coast guide, we explain exactly where to stay in Sorrento based on your budget and why.
Marina Grande and How to Get Around the Island
When you arrive at Marina Grande, you have several ways to get up to Capri town or Anacapri.
🚡 Funicular
The funicular is the easiest and most convenient way to go from the port up to Capri town.
Price: around €3.20 per person (one way)
Tickets are purchased at the station near the entrance.
The best option is to buy a round trip right away, it saves you from waiting in line twice (especially in high season).
Pros:
Fast (just a few minutes)
Comfortable, no walking uphill
Ideal if you have luggage
Cons:
There can be lines in high season (yes, a lot! but they move quickly—and you get to enjoy the view while waiting)
Doesn’t take you everywhere if you want to continue to Anacapri
🚌 Public Bus
You can also take the local bus from Marina Grande up to Capri.
Prices:
Single ticket: around €2.20 per person
Day pass: around €9 per person
Pros:
Cheap
Runs frequently
Cons:
Buses are small and fill up quickly
You might have to wait for several rounds
Not very comfortable with luggage
Our opinion:
We recommend taking the funicular. The price difference is minimal, and honestly, we’ve seen that you usually end up waiting much longer for the bus. The lines can get really long, especially in high season, and since the buses are small, you might have to let a few go before you can even get on.
🚌 Tour Bus (Boat + Bus + Guide)
Another option is a tour that combines boat ride, bus transportation, stops at viewpoints, and a guide.
Pros:
No waiting in lines
Includes panoramic routes
Explains the main highlights
Cons:
More expensive
Less flexible if you want to stay longer somewhere
Prices usually range from €30–€50 per person for a half-day tour.
Personal opinion:
We don’t recommend it. Capri is small and very walkable. Most of what they tell you can be learned in a few minutes, and nothing beats exploring at your own pace.
🚕 Taxi / Transfers
You can also take a taxi from Marina Grande to Capri or Anacapri.
Many taxis are convertible, which makes the ride more scenic.
Pros:
No waiting
Space for luggage
Very comfortable
Cons:
Most expensive option if you’re traveling solo
Personal opinion:
Prices are quite high (it’s the Amalfi Coast after all), so it’s usually not worth it unless you really need the convenience.
🇮🇹 What to Do in Capri
Walk Around Capri Town
The Piazzetta is the social heart of the island. The funicular leaves you basically right there.
It’s the perfect place to sit down, grab a drink, and take in the atmosphere.
From there, just walking around without a plan is part of the experience, shops, terraces, and sea views everywhere.
Gardens of Augustus
Without a doubt, one of the most spectacular viewpoints on the island.
These are terraces filled with flowers and statues, offering incredible views. From here, you’ll get the classic view of the Faraglioni, the three iconic rock formations rising from the sea.
You can also see Via Krupp from above—the famous zigzagging path that leads down to Marina Piccola.
It’s a short visit, but definitely worth it for the photos.
Hours: every day from 9 AM to 7:30 PM.
Tip!
Go early or near sunset to avoid crowds.
We recommend buying tickets online by scanning the QR code near the entrance to skip the line.
Boat Tours Around Capri
One of the best ways to experience Capri is from the sea.
There are group and private boat tours that circle the island and show you its most iconic landscapes without worrying about transportation.
These tours usually last about an hour and pass by places like:
The Faraglioni
Sea caves
The lighthouse
The Natural Arch
Marina Piccola
Hidden coves
Most tours leave from Marina Grande, so it’s a good idea to do it right when you arrive.
Blue Grotto
This is one of Capri’s most famous attractions, but also one of the most controversial.
Many tours include the option to enter the Blue Grotto, the island’s most iconic spot. However, entry depends on sea conditions, and in high season there are usually long lines.
Group or Private Tour?
Group tours: cheaper and more practical
Private tours: ideal if you want flexibility or are traveling with others
Personal Opinion
You can fully enjoy it from the outside. Honestly, we don’t think it’s worth waiting to go inside.
To enter, you have to get on very small boats, lie down almost completely to fit through the entrance, and wait your turn. Once you’re inside, you can’t go back out the same way—you have to continue through to the other side of the cave.
On top of that, everything depends on sea conditions, and in high season, the lines can be very long, which can make the whole experience take much longer than expected.
Talking to locals, several of them told us it’s not an experience for everyone, and that with rough sea it can even feel uncomfortable or a bit unsafe.
That’s why our recommendation is not to obsess over going in. Seeing it from the water during a boat tour is usually more than enough.
Other Sea Activities
You can also do kayaking or paddleboarding if you want a more active experience, as long as the sea is calm.
Beaches in Capri
Capri isn’t really about sandy beaches, but there are some beautiful spots to swim.
Marina Piccola
The most popular and scenic swimming area, with crystal-clear water and views of the Faraglioni.
There are beach clubs and a small public area (which fills up quickly).
Bagni di Tiberio
A classic beach club with full services (sunbeds, umbrellas, showers, bar).
Price
Around €20 per adult (includes access, changing rooms, lockers, showers)
Scenic Walks
If you enjoy walking, trails like Pizzolungo or Terrazza Tragara offer incredible views of the Faraglioni and the entire coastline of the island.
These are paths that run along the cliffs and give you angles you won’t get from the typical tourist viewpoints. They’re not difficult or high-mountain trails, but it’s important to wear comfortable shoes since there are sections with stairs and uneven ground.
Monte Solaro
To get there, you first need to go from Capri town to Anacapri. You can take a bus or taxi from the Piazzetta area, and the ride takes about 20 minutes.
Once you’re in the main square of Anacapri, you’ll find the entrance to the chairlift (seggiovia) that takes you up to the top of Monte Solaro, the highest point on the island.
The ride on the chairlift takes about 15 minutes and is an experience on its own, since you’ll be literally gliding over gardens and houses with the sea in the background.
But the best part is at the top: from the viewpoints, you get 360-degree panoramic views of the entire island, the Faraglioni, the Sorrento Peninsula, and on clear days, even Mount Vesuvius.
This ended up being one of our favorite experiences on the island.
Something to keep in mind: the chairlift is single-seat.
Price: around €14 per person (round trip).
Recommendation: If you have the time and energy, you can go up by chairlift and walk down to explore the area around the Hermitage of Cetrella—it’s a beautiful route.
Anacapri
To wrap up your visit to Capri, it’s worth spending a couple of hours in Anacapri, a quieter town with a completely different pace.
You can start walking from Piazza Vittoria along Via Giuseppe Orlandi, the main street, full of shops, cafés, and a few historic buildings.
At the end of the street, you’ll find the Church of San Michele Arcangelo, famous for its colorful ceramic floor. Very close by is also the Church of Santa Sofia, simple and white, very typical of the area.
It’s the perfect place to slow down a bit and see a different side of the island.
How Much Time Do You Need in Capri?
Capri can be explored in one day, but if you have the time, we would definitely give it two.
Between ferry schedules, boat tours, and just wanting to enjoy the sea without rushing, one day can feel short and you end up doing everything too fast.
If you find a place to stay, spending a night on the island completely changes the experience. You’ll be able to enjoy the calm once the last ferry leaves and walk around the Piazzetta with way fewer people.
That’s when the island really feels different.
Travel tips – visiting Capri
If you're planning your trip to Capri, here are a few things we’d keep in mind:
Go early
Capri gets very crowded, especially in high season. The earlier you arrive, the better.
Take the funicular
It’s the easiest and fastest way to get from the port to Capri town.
Do a boat tour
Seeing the island from the water is one of the best experiences.
Don’t try to rush everything
Even though the island is small, there’s a lot to see. Take your time!
Be ready for prices
Capri is expensive, especially for food and beach clubs.
If you can, stay overnight..
The island feels completely different once most tourists leave.
Are you planning your trip to the Amalfi Coast?
After traveling through it ourselves, we created a super complete guide with the itinerary already organized day by day, so you don’t have to spend hours figuring out how to get around, where to stay, or what’s actually worth doing.
The guide includes:
📍 Day-by-day itineraries
📍 Interactive Google Maps
📍 Ferries and how to move between towns
📍 Real restaurant and beach recommendations
📍 Recommended accommodations
📍 Tips to save time and avoid unnecessary expenses
📍 Alternatives depending on your energy, the weather, or your travel style
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