Capri was our favorite stop on the 10 day Amalfi Coast trip we took in May 2022. Not because it was ritzy and glamorous, but because there was a surprisingly huge amount of fantastic things to see and do. Other places on the trip were lovely, but Capri was just more fun.
We’re not the sit around relaxing types when we visit new places, we love to get out and explore. And Capri is perfect for exploration because it’s small enough to mostly get around by foot, with one or two buses or taxi rides required to cover longer distances. Read more about us.
Here we are taking a selfie on a beautiful day at the top of Monte Solaro
What can you expect? Well, for a start there’s rugged coastal hiking paths, stunning gardens, sandy beaches, luxury villas, high end shopping and even a towering mountain peak with amazing views. And that’s just the beginning.
In this guide we show you the unmissable things to do on a first visit to Capri, Italy based on our own experiences. Okay, let’s begin!
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Explore The Gardens Of Augustus
We had to wait ages to get this photo with no other people in the gardens!
The Giardini di Augusto are botanical gardens with a view. Directly overlooking the Gulf of Naples, The Faraglioni (three rock stacks in the sea) and Via Krupp which we’ll cover next, the gardens are picturesque terraces perched on the edge of tall and rugged cliffs. So you’re not just getting flowers, you’re also getting vistas.
The best part? It’s just a 5 minute walk from the main square in Capri – take Via Vittorio Emanuele to Via Federico Serena and turn right onto Via Matteotti. We enjoyed our slow walk around the curated gardens and think they’re definitely worth adding to your Capri itinerary.
Tickets
It’s just €2.50 for adults and free for kids up to 12 years old to visit the Gardens of Augustus, and you can pay upon arrival. It’s worth doing, not just for the gardens and views, but also so you can walk down Via Krupp which is accessed on the far side of the gardens.
During peak visiting months from May to September it’s open 9:00am-8:00pm, but it closes earlier between October and April.
Tip: Near the gardens you can visit the Capri Archaeological Museum (€6 entry) and a monastery called Certosa San Giacomo between the hours of 10:00am-1:30pm. They were closed by the time we arrived, but they’re a couple of nice hidden gems.
Walk Via Krupp
We took this photo around half way up the Via Krupp path
From the gardens you can (and should!) walk down the awesome Via Krupp to Spiaggia di Marina Piccola, one of the most popular beaches on Capri which we’ll cover next.
What exactly is Via Krupp? Well, it’s a scenic narrow and cobbled footpath built into the sheer cliffside with a series of 8 dramatic looking hairpin bends. It looks so cool from above at the gardens, but it’s even more fun to actually walk it.
We actually walked up Via Krupp from the beach to the gardens, so you can do it either way but of course it’s easier going downhill! It’s free to walk the path and it’s a superb place to take photos, so don’t miss it.
Relax On Spiaggia di Marina Piccola
We took this photo of the Marina Piccola beach as we were leaving
At the bottom of Via Krupp you’ll reach Marina Piccola and a small pebble beaches with a few low key places to eat. We took a bus from Capri town to the marina before walking up to the gardens because we wanted to get to the beach early and get a good spot.
It was nice to relax and we love beaches, but we can only do a few hours before getting antsy. By the time we left at midday the beach was jam-packed and this was in May, so we can only imagine what it’s like in July or August.
But if you’re going to Capri for a chilled out vacation, Marina Piccola is probably the most popular beach so plan to spend your time there. Just make sure you arrive early because the sun disappears behind a headland early in the afternoon.
Oh, and if you’re looking for something fun to do at the beach, take a look at this top rated kayak tour which takes you to hidden beaches, caves and swimming spots.
Enjoy Panoramic Views From Belvedere Tragara
This was our view of The Faraglioni from Belvedere Tragara
There’s so many panoramic viewpoints you can visit in Capri, but one of the easiest to reach and most visually spectacular is Belvedere Tragara, which has awesome views over the iconic Faraglioni rock formations and the deep blue Tyrrhenian Sea.
The viewpoint is located at the end of a picturesque walkway lined with elegant villas and lush greenery, and it’s such a peaceful spot away from the crowds in town. From Piazzetta di Capri it’s just a 15 minute stroll, but it would be even closer if you stay in a posh hotel on the southeast side of town. The Hotel Punta Tragara is literally at the viewpoint!
We loved the walk and the views, and we think it’s a must-visit place to experience the best of Capri’s natural beauty. If you can make it work, sunrise would be amazing from Belvedere Tragara, so try to factor it into your plans. We’d definitely do a sunrise here next time.
Hike Via del Pizzolungo
This long staircase was the steepest section of the hike as we got close to Arco Naturale
The viewing terrace is a wonderful vista, but it isn’t the end of Via Tragara. If you’re feeling up for a hike, we highly recommend continuing along the path as it hugs the cliffs, before taking a right turn at the fork to get on Via del Pizzolungo.
Almost immediately there was a stunning viewpoint overlooking the other side of The Faraglioni, then we saw Casa Malaparte precariously perched on a narrow cliff, and finally the path went into trees and through caves with long staircases, so it ended up being a real thigh burner by the time we reached Arco Naturale.
You absolutely can do Belvedere Tragara and Arco Naturale (which we discuss next) by walking from town both times as out and backs. But it’s a lot more fun to connect the two attractions by this coastal path – just bear in mind it isn’t easy and you’ll end up sweating buckets!
See The Arco Naturale
This was the window-like view we had at Arco Naturale
At the end of the hike you’ll reach Arco Naturale (or like we just mentioned, you can walk to it from town instead), a huge natural rock formation with a giant arch-shaped hole that’s eroded over time.
Honestly, we didn’t expect much but it was actually a really cool spot. If you’re interested in photography, the arch is kind of like a window that you can use as a frame to put the sea and boats inside. And it would make for another superb sunrise photo spot because it’s east facing.
Visit Villa Jovis + Villa Lysis
We loved this view over Marina Grande from Villa Lysis
If you have plenty of time on your itinerary, we recommend taking a longer walk to the far northeast side of Capri to visit Villas Jovis and Lysis. Now, they’re two totally different attractions, but they’re close to each other so you should visit them at the same time.
Villa Jovis is basically the remains of a grand Roman palace that was built by Emperor Tiberius in 27 AD. The remains are in pretty good shape and it’s a huge complex, but it’s a 45 minute walk from Capri town and a lot of it is uphill so this might not be for everyone.
Tickets cost €6 and it opens at 10:00am each morning, before closing between 4:00-6:00pm depending on season. Just be aware it’s closed on Mondays. Here’s a top tip – on the way to Villa Jovis you must go into Parco Astarita for more special views over the sea.
Villa Lysis is the stunning former residence of Count Fersen, who built it in 1904 during a self imposed exile from Paris. We really enjoyed the various architectural styles inside the villa, its beautiful gardens, and its outstanding views over Capri.
It only cost us €2.50 each to get in (it’s free for under 12’s) but again it’s a long uphill walk from town. It opens at 10:00am and closes between 5:00-7:00pm depending on season. It’s also closed completely from November-mid March with the exception of a few weeks around Christmas and New Year.
Shop On Via Camerelle
There’s a lot of lovely stores to browse if you’re into shopping
Are you planning a shopping spree when you visit Capri? If the answer is yes, head straight for Via Camerelle where you’ll find luxury shopping from big name brands like Gucci and Dior, local independent stores and even places you can have custom sandals made like Canfora.
We don’t mind a bit of retail therapy every now and then, but you won’t find us in Louis Vuitton any time soon! Even if you don’t go in any of the stores, Via Camerelle is a lovely avenue and it leads to Belvedere Tragara, so you’ll probably walk down it anyway.
Eat Dinner In Piazzetta di Capri
We took this photo of Piazzetta di Capri as we wandered through town with a gelato after dinner
Capri’s tiny main square is a bustling hive of activity by day and night, and if you stay on the island you simply have to do at least one evening meal somewhere nearby. It’s especially attractive at night when it’s cool and the square is illuminated by rows of fairy lights.
We ate dinner at Pulalli and it was fantastic. The restaurant was very small and intimate, but there were tables in the stairway and on balconies. One of our biggest tips of all for your visit to Capri is to book all your restaurant reservations well in advance, otherwise you might not get in.
After dinner and plenty of wine, there was only one place we were going and it was called Buonocore Gelateria Pasticceria. Along with pizza, we can’t help but gorge ourselves on ice cream when we visit Italy. It’s just so good!
Here’s a few more top rated places you can eat near the main square:
If you’d like to try something a bit different and away from the crowds, take a look at this top rated cooking class with wine pairings not far from the main square in Capri town.
Climb The Scala Fenicia
Here’s Kristen coming down a portion of the steep stone staircase called Scala Fenicia
Okay, so far everything we’ve covered has been on the east side of Capri, so now let’s head to the west side of the island. You can take an overpriced taxi or a cheap bus to Anacapri, or you can climb a super intimidating looking staircase called The Scala Fenicia.
Why is it intimidating? Well, because it has over 900 steep steps! So it’s no joke. The staircase was built way back between the 7th and 6th centuries BC by Greek colonists, and for a long time it was the only way to reach Anacapri from the port. Even today, it’s the only way you can walk to Anacapri.
After spending a full day exploring the west side of the island, we actually walked back down The Scala Fenicia to the port. It was really cool and the views were brilliant, but even going downhill was tiring so don’t plan to climb up the steps too hastily.
Explore Anacapri
This stunning floor mosaic inside the church of San Michele was a highlight for us in Anacapri
Capri town and Anacapri are the only two built up areas on the island. We’ve already discussed Capri town, but Anacapri on the west side is way higher up in elevation and it has its own little town with restaurants, hotels and attractions.
We spent a few hours walking around Anacapri and thought it was well worth doing. We started with Villa San Michele – Axel Munthe Museum which is one of the most visited attractions on the island and you should do because it’s beautiful. It costs €12 (free for under 10’s) and is open 9:00am until between 3:00-6:00pm depending on season.
Next, we took the chair lift to Monte Solaro which we’ll cover next, then we went to Museo Casa Rosa which you can definitely skip, and finally we visited the Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo which cost €2 and was great. Later we ate an early dinner at Sciue Sciue and it was excellent – the lemon ravioli was especially delicious.
Ride The Chair Lift To Monte Solaro
Mark was pretty pleased with this photo he got looking at Vesuvius on the chair lift down from Monte Solaro!
One of our favorite experiences from Capri was taking a 13 minute chair lift to the summit of Monte Solaro, which is the tallest point on the island at 589 meters (1,932 feet) in elevation.
We jumped on two of the 158 single person chair lifts at this station in Via Caposcuro near Piazza Vittoria in Anacapri, and enjoyed stunning views over the Gulf of Naples, Vesuvius and Ischia on the way to the top.
After arriving at Monte Solaro summit, we walked around the old fortress, took far too many photos of the outstanding views, grabbed a quick beer in the overpriced restaurant and returned to Anacapri on the chair lift. It was easy, quick and awesome so don’t miss it.
Tickets
Tickets cost €11 one way (either up or down) and €14 return. We bought return tickets, but you can buy one-way tickets if you plan to hike up or down the mountain – here’s information about the trail.
We booked our tickets in person on the day because we wanted to make sure the weather was clear before going up. It wouldn’t be worth it on a cloudy day with poor visibility. Here’s more on the chair lift.
Chair lift hours vary by season:
- March-April – 9:30am to 4:00pm
- November-February – 9:30am to 3:30pm
- May-October – 9:30am to 5:00pm
Go Inside The Blue Grotto
Here we are inside the Blue Grotto
All the way up on the far northwest corner of the island you’ll find Capri’s most popular tourist attraction – the Blue Grotto. It’s essentially a small sea cave that bounces brilliant blue light around inside, and although it’s cool, we had mixed feelings about it.
Firstly, it’s a pain to reach because it’s so secluded, especially if you’re starting in Capri town. We took a bus from Viale Cimitero in Anacapri to the very last stop which was cheap and took around 15 minutes, but of course we had to get to Anacapri first. The alternative is to take a boat from Marina Grande instead of making your own way there. But if you do that, the line of boats is even longer than the line of people onshore so you lose a lot of time floating around just waiting your turn to go in.
Second, the whole thing felt like an inconvenience for the boat pilots who just wanted to herd as many people through as quickly as possible so they could make more money from tips on top of the €18 it costed us per person. Luckily the line wasn’t too bad when we arrived, but we know the waiting time can be ridiculous in summer, both on foot and on boats. The whole time inside the sea cave only lasted a few minutes, so it was a lot of effort for such a quick activity.
But it’s not all bad. Inside, the Blue Grotto is very beautiful. The sun reflects deep blue light throughout the cave like you’re in an ocean themed disco. So overall, we’d say do it if you don’t mind paying over the odds, dealing with smarmy boat boys and losing a good few hours of your day.
Alternatives
You can also visit the Green Grotto and the White Grotto in different parts of the island. They’re only accessible by boat tours, so they’re way less touristy and gimmicky. If we were to do it over again we’d skip the Blue Grotto and do a boat tour to the others instead. This cheap boat tour has sky high ratings, lasts 2 hours and includes both the white and green grottoes along with limoncello.
Tip: There are lots of different boat tours in Capri, so we highly recommend shopping around to find one at the right price point for what you want to see. We’d strongly consider this top rated boat tour if we were staying on Capri, or this boat tour with amazing reviews if we wanted to see Capri from Sorrento, Naples or Positano.
Hike The Sentiero dei Fortini
This inlet and fort view was one of our favorite parts of the hike
The best thing for us about going to the Blue Grotto was being at the northern terminus of a long hiking path called the Sentiero dei Fortini that spans the entire western coastline of Capri down to Punta Carena Lighthouse. If you’re looking for a hike to do on the island, this is it.
Honestly, this hike is up there as a favorite memory from our three days in Capri. We hiked the whole thing from top to bottom on a beautiful day – passing by Forte Orrico, Mesola Fort and Pino Fort before ending at the lighthouse. At the end we took a swim near the lighthouse, then bought a few cold crisp beers and sat on Lido Beach for half hour before taking two bus rides back to Capri town.
It’s a 3.3-mile hike with 650 feet elevation gain in total, but it wasn’t as easy as we expected. The terrain was varied with lots of rocky sections so we were glad to be wearing robust shoes. And it was a hot day so we got torched, even though we’d planned well and packed sunscreen.
Watch Sunset At Foro di Punta Carena
Here’s Kristen at the end of our hike to Faro di Punta Carena in the late afternoon
As we just mentioned, we ended our hike at Foro di Punta Carena, took a dip in the sea and grabbed a few beers. What we should have done next was wait for the sunset because we were already at the best sunset spot on the island.
The only reason we didn’t was because we were starving, sun kissed, exhausted and ready for a shower. But if you’re looking for a great place to either watch or photograph a sunset in Capri, it doesn’t get much better than the rocks, beach and lighthouse here in the far southwest of the island.
Capri Attractions Map
Click or touch the map below to activate, zoom in and out, and scroll around. If you’d like to see a bigger version, click the “view larger map” icon in the top right, and if you’d like to see anything specific, click the arrow and square icon in the top left.
Map key:
- Red – Free attractions
- Blue – Paid attractions
- Green – Hiking trails
Next Steps
We he hope our guide helps you figure out what to do when you visit Capri, but please let us know if you have any other questions in the comments box a little further below.
Still figuring out your plans for Italy?
Finally, if you’ll be visiting more places on the same trip, we recommend reading our Italy travel planning guide for helpful tips and advice.
Happy Travels,
Mark and Kristen
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Mark and Kristen spent 6 years traveling the world, visiting over 40 countries across 4 continents and more than 30 US states. They created Where Are Those Morgans in 2018 to help others plan the best possible vacations by writing authentic travel and hiking guides based on their real experiences.
Since the arrival of baby Maya in late 2024, Mark and Kristen’s extensive travels have slowed down but they still take plenty of trips. Where Are Those Morgans now helps millions of travelers each year to visit new places and hike new trails through information-packed blog posts and expert travel guidebooks. Read more about Mark and Kristen.