Capri is a small, steep island that gets very busy. On a summer day roughly 50,000 people arrive on boats, and most of them head for the same square, the same funicular and the same sea cave.
That's the bad news, but the good news is that the best things to do in Capri are mostly cheap, mostly outdoors, and a few minutes' walk from wherever the crowd happens to be standing.
This list of things to do in Capri, Italy is built for first-timers. We checked fares, hours and rules against official sources and operator pages in October 2026, and we say plainly where something is overrated. We haven't claimed any visit or stay of our own: this is research, not a diary.
Updated October 2026. Some links below are affiliate links; if you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Short on Time? Our Capri Top Picks
- Best way to see the coast: this small-group Capri boat ride with swimming and limoncello, with nearly 1,200 reviews on Viator.
- Best active half-day: the caves and beaches kayaking tour from Marina Piccola, rated 4.8 from over 1,100 reviews on GetYourGuide.
- Best walk (free): the Via Tragara path to the Faraglioni viewpoint (item 3).
- Best view: the Monte Solaro chairlift in Anacapri (item 9).
- Best place to sleep in Anacapri: Boutique Hotel Casa Mariantonia, rated 9.4 on Booking.com when we checked.
If you need the overview first (where Capri is, ferries, costs), start with our Capri travel guide. This page is the item-by-item list.
Things to Do in Capri Town
Capri town sits on the saddle between the island's two high points. It's pretty, polished and crowded from late morning, so do these in the early morning or the evening.
1. Arrive at Marina Grande (and Don't Linger)
Almost every boat docks at Marina Grande, the working port. There's a stretch of cafés and a small beach, but there's no reason to spend more than a few minutes here.
Buy your funicular ticket and go up: it costs €2.40 a ride, takes you to the Piazzetta in a few minutes, and closes for maintenance for part of each winter, when replacement buses take over.
Tip: day visitors pay a landing fee of €5 in the main season (April to October), usually collected with the ferry ticket. Overnight guests pay the local tourist tax instead. The rate drops in winter. Boat times and fares from each port are in our guides to Naples to Capri and Sorrento to Capri.
2. Linger in the Piazzetta (Then Leave It)
The Piazzetta is the square everyone photographs, with its clock tower, its café tables and a stage-set feel that's pretty for about ten minutes.
Come at 8 a.m. or after dinner, when it's mostly locals and hotel guests. At noon in August you'll queue for a coffee that costs more than a boat ticket.
It's the island's living room, so sit for one drink and then walk on, because the side lanes are where Capri gets good.
3. Walk Via Tragara to the Faraglioni Viewpoint
This is the best free walk on the island. From the Piazzetta, follow Via Camerelle, then Via Tragara along the cliff to the viewpoint over the three Faraglioni sea stacks.
It's a gentle, mostly paved walk with terraces on one side and cliff on the other, so leave time for photo stops.
Go in the morning for softer light and fewer people. From the viewpoint you can also see the villas that cling to the rock (all private, in case you wondered).
The Faraglioni themselves are best seen from the water, which is why the boat trip in item 14 matters more than any viewpoint.
4. Walk Through the Gardens of Augustus
The terraced gardens, on the edge of the town above Via Krupp, cost about €2.50 and are free for young children. They're small, so give them 30 minutes.
The payoff is the view: the Faraglioni, Marina Piccola and the hairpins of Via Krupp, the zigzag path that runs down the cliff to the sea.
We'd skip the midday visit, because in summer the line of tour groups can outlast the view, and early morning or late afternoon is a much better bet.
Via Krupp itself is seasonal and closes after storms or rockfall, and reports on its status conflict, so check at the gardens' gate or with your hotel before you plan around it.
5. Hike to the Arco Naturale
The Arco Naturale is a rock arch on the island's eastern cliff. You reach it on foot, along the Via Pizzolungo path that links the Tragara side to the Arco and onward.
It's one of the most rewarding free walks on Capri, and it's quiet because day-trippers rarely get this far. Wear real shoes and take water: there are steps and little shade.
We haven't verified current path conditions or exact times with a local source, so check with your hotel on the morning you go.
6. Climb to Villa Jovis
Villa Jovis is the ruined palace of the Roman emperor Tiberius, on the island's eastern tip. It's the best-known Roman ruin on the island and the view over the bay is the reward.
Entry is €6. The walk up from the Piazzetta is steep, uphill most of the way, and takes a good while, so don't try it in midday heat.
Our verdict: do it if you like ruins and walking. Skip it if you have a half-day and want the coast. We'd pair it with the Arco Naturale walk rather than doing both separately.
7. Visit the Certosa di San Giacomo
The Certosa is a former monastery near the Gardens of Augustus, now a small museum and exhibition space. Entry is €10.
It's a calm stop when the lanes outside are packed, but it's not a must for a first trip.
Tip: Buy the Combined Museum Ticket
If you plan to visit more than one of the state-run Musei di Capri, the combined ticket is cheaper. A three-site pass costs €12 and is valid for 30 days. A version that includes the Blue Grotto (valid in the main season, roughly March to early October) is €15.
Check the current terms at the ticket desk, as the rules and dates are set by the museums and can change.
| Sight | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Grotto | €18 (€6 entry + €12 rowboat) | Under-18s free; weather permitting; the boat from Marina Grande is about €25 extra |
| Villa Jovis | €6 | Steep walk up from the Piazzetta |
| Certosa di San Giacomo | €10 | Small museum near the Gardens of Augustus |
| Casa Rossa | €5 | Optional curiosity in Anacapri |
| Combined three-site museum ticket | €12 | Valid for 30 days |
| Monte Solaro chairlift | About €12 one way, €15 return | Free for children under 8 |
| Villa San Michele | About €12 | Anacapri |
| Gardens of Augustus | About €2.50 | Free for young children |
| Funicular | €2.40 per ride | Closes for part of each winter |
8. Skip the Via Camerelle Shopping (Or Browse Fast)
Via Camerelle is the designer street: Gucci, Prada and the rest. It's pretty to look at and you can window-shop in five minutes.
Unless you're actually buying, don't make it a destination: walk it as a corridor on your way to Via Tragara and keep your phone in your pocket.
Things to Do in Anacapri
Anacapri is the higher, calmer town. It has the chairlift, the best villa and a much quieter evening. If you only have a day, spend half of it here.
9. Ride the Chairlift up Monte Solaro
The chairlift from Anacapri climbs to the top of Monte Solaro, the island's highest point at 589 meters. The ride takes about 15 minutes and you sit with your feet dangling.
It costs about €12 one way and €15 return, although the official 2025 fare sheet showed €11 and €14, so expect a euro or so either way. Children under eight ride free.
Our verdict: worth it, and the best view on the island. On a clear day you see the whole bay and the Amalfi Coast. Go in the morning, before the haze and the queue build.
If you're fit you can walk down instead of riding both ways, but be warned that the path is steep and the knees will notice.
10. Step Into Villa San Michele
Villa San Michele was built by the Swedish doctor and writer Axel Munthe. It's a peaceful garden villa with a view over the bay that's nearly as good as the chairlift's.
Entry is about €12, so it's the one cultural site on Capri that costs more than its neighbours. We think it's worth it for the garden, less so if you're short on time.
11. Watch the Sunset at Punta Carena Lighthouse
Punta Carena is the lighthouse on the island's southwestern tip, reached by a local bus from Anacapri. It's a different Capri: rocks and open sea rather than boutiques.
Go in the evening, and plan your return bus before you do. Check the last departure so you aren't stuck.
12. Wander Anacapri's Lanes After the Day-Trippers Leave
Anacapri's whitewashed lanes, small churches and quiet corners are best after 5 p.m. This is the case for staying the night, and it's free.
Pick a restaurant away from the main square. Boutique Hotel Casa Mariantonia and the Monte Solaro B&B are two places to sleep here that we've verified on Booking.com.
13. Skip Casa Rossa Unless You Love Oddities
Casa Rossa is a red-painted house-museum in Anacapri. Entry is €5.
It's a curiosity, not a highlight. If you've got a combined ticket and a spare half hour, fine; otherwise save your time for the chairlift and Villa San Michele.
Things to Do on the Water
The sea is Capri's best feature. Water-level views of the cliffs, caves and Faraglioni are better than anything you'll see from the lanes.
14. Take a Boat Around the Island
Do this one, because a boat trip around Capri shows you the Faraglioni, the sea caves and the Arco Naturale from below, which is a view you simply can't get from the lanes.
You have three ways to do it:
- Public round-island boat from Marina Grande: about €24 to €25 per person (from the Campania fare sheet), no frills.
- Small-group boat ride: a small-group Capri boat ride with swimming and limoncello is the one we'd start with, with about 1,200 reviews.
- Private boat: a private Capri boat tour from the same marketplace, with nearly 500 reviews, costs far more but lets you pick the swim stops.
Staying on the mainland? This Capri island cruise from Sorrento with a guide on board is rated 4.7 from more than 600 reviews. We compare more options in our guide to Capri boat tours and, for the mainland coast, Amalfi Coast boat tours.
15. See the Blue Grotto (If the Sea Cooperates)
The Blue Grotto is a sea cave lit electric blue by sunlight through the water. You enter in a small rowboat, lying back to pass under the low opening.
Official entry is €6, plus €12 for the rowboat ticket, so about €18 in total, paid in cash at the cave. Visitors under 18 enter free. Add the motorboat from Marina Grande, around €25 extra, if you come by sea.
It's brief and often crowded, and it closes whenever waves cover the entrance, even on a sunny day. Official hours run from 8:30 a.m. in the main season and 9 a.m. in winter, weather permitting, so treat any plan that depends on it as a maybe.
Our verdict: worth it if you're already nearby and the sea is calm. Don't build your whole day around it. Our Blue Grotto guide goes through the options, and you can book a Blue Grotto visit with a guided tour of Capri and Anacapri if you'd rather not do the logistics.
16. Paddle a Kayak Through the Caves
If you want to be on the water rather than just beside it, this kayaking tour of Capri's caves and beaches starts from Marina Piccola. It has more than 1,100 reviews and a 4.8 rating on GetYourGuide.
It's the best active option on the island. Book ahead in summer, and expect a morning slot to be calmer than the afternoon.
17. Swim at Marina Piccola
Marina Piccola is the small port and beach on the south side, under the Faraglioni. It's pebbly and busy, but the water is clear and it's reachable by bus from Capri town.
Bring water shoes. Beach clubs rent loungers; prices vary and we couldn't confirm any in an official source, so check on the spot.
18. Book a Beach Club at the Faraglioni
La Fontelina is the best-known beach club at the foot of the Faraglioni, on the rocks below the walk in item 3. It's the quintessential Capri swim-and-lunch stop.
It's not cheap, and you'll want to reserve in summer. If you're on a budget, swim at Marina Piccola and keep the beach club for a splurge day.
Eat, Drink and Slow Down
Capri's food scene is expensive near the Piazzetta and good a few minutes' walk away. Our best restaurants in Capri page names tables worth booking.
19. Eat Ravioli Capresi and Torta Caprese
Two local dishes to look for: ravioli capresi (filled with cheese and herbs, usually with a tomato sauce) and torta caprese, a flourless chocolate and almond cake.
Both are on most traditional menus. Order the cake wherever you eat lunch: it's the cheapest local souvenir you can eat. Check whether the bill includes a cover charge; our guide to tipping in Italy explains what's normal.
20. Take a Cooking Class
If you're staying a few days, a cooking class with wine pairing on Capri is a good rainy-day plan, and you leave with a recipe for torta caprese.
It's on Viator with about 70 reviews, so the evidence is thinner than for the boat tours. Read the latest reviews first.
21. Sip a Limoncello (Then Buy It Somewhere Else)
Limoncello is the island's souvenir. Try a glass after dinner, but buy bottles away from the Piazzetta, where prices are highest.
How Many Days in Capri?
If you're asking what to do in Capri with limited time, one night is the sweet spot for most first-timers, and two nights let you slow down.
A day trip works from Naples, Sorrento, Positano or Amalfi if you take an early boat, choose one big thing (a boat tour, or Anacapri and the chairlift) and accept that you'll share the island with a lot of other people.
An overnight stay gives you the evening and early morning, which is when Capri is at its best. For three nights or more you can walk to the Arco Naturale and Villa Jovis without rushing.
Planning a bigger trip? See our Amalfi Coast itinerary, the things to do on the Amalfi Coast, things to do in Sorrento and things to do in Naples, or our guide to day trips from Naples. Choosing between islands? Read Capri vs Positano or Capri vs Ischia.
Getting Around Capri
You'll walk a lot, and you won't need a car, because non-resident vehicles are restricted for much of the year, with the peak-season and holiday dates set by regional decree, so check the current dates if you were thinking of bringing one.
- Funicular: Marina Grande to the Piazzetta, €2.40 per ride.
- Buses: small buses link Marina Grande, Capri, Anacapri and Marina Piccola, and local buses run to the Blue Grotto area and Punta Carena.
- Taxis: open-top, with fixed fares on the main routes. Agree the price first.
- On foot: most of the best things are walks.
Luggage is the hidden problem on an island of stairs and car-free lanes, so pack light or arrange a porter at Marina Grande.
If you're flying into Naples, a pre-booked airport or port transfer with Welcome Pickups saves the hassle with bags. Coming from Rome? Search train times on Omio's Rome to Naples page or read our guide to Rome to Naples. Compare boats on Ferryscanner.
Best Time to Visit Capri
May, June and September are the sweet spot: warm sea, boats running, and thinner crowds than July and August.
- Spring (April to May): pleasant, with seasonal businesses opening.
- Summer (June to August): hot, busiest and most expensive.
- Autumn (September to October): often the best weather and calmer.
- Winter (November to March): quiet; many seasonal businesses close and the funicular closes for maintenance.
For the wider region, see the best time to visit the Amalfi Coast.
Where to Stay in Capri
Capri town is the glamorous choice; Anacapri is quieter and better value. Our best hotels in Capri page has more picks, and the where to stay on the Amalfi Coast guide covers the mainland bases.
- Capri town: Hotel Punta Tragara, on Via Tragara, rated 9.4; and Hotel Villa Sarah, on Via Tiberio, rated 8.9.
- Anacapri: Boutique Hotel Casa Mariantonia, rated 9.4, and Monte Solaro B&B, rated 9.5.
Ratings are from Booking.com when we checked in October 2026.
For one night, stay in Capri town; for two or more, Anacapri gives you more calm for the money.
Plan Your Capri Trip
- Hotel: book early for May to September (see above).
- Boats: compare on Ferryscanner.
- Tours: book the boat or kayak ahead in summer (items 14 and 16).
- eSIM: Yesim is our default for data in Italy; see our Italy eSIM guide.
- Insurance: Visitors Coverage offers plans for US travelers.
- Budget: our Italy trip cost guide puts the numbers together, and the Italy travel requirements page covers entry rules.
Frequently asked questions
Is Capri worth visiting?
Yes, if you get away from the harbor and the Piazzetta. The best of Capri is its walks, viewpoints and boat trips, and most cost little. Stay a night if you can, because the island is far calmer in the evening and early morning after the day-trippers leave.
How many days do you need in Capri?
One night is the sweet spot for most first-timers, and two nights let you slow down. A day trip works from Naples, Sorrento, Positano or Amalfi if you take an early boat and choose one big plan, such as a boat tour or Anacapri and the chairlift.
What are the best things to do in Capri?
The Monte Solaro chairlift, the Via Tragara walk to the Faraglioni viewpoint, a boat trip around the island, the Gardens of Augustus, Villa Jovis and Villa San Michele. The Blue Grotto is worth a stop if the sea is calm, but it often closes.
Why is the Blue Grotto closed?
The grotto only opens when the sea is calm, because waves cover the low entrance and boats can't enter safely. It can close on a sunny day. Official hours run from 8:30 a.m. in the main season and 9 a.m. in winter, weather permitting.
How much does it cost to visit the Blue Grotto?
About €18 in total from the official rates: €6 entry plus a €12 rowboat ticket, paid in cash at the cave. Visitors under 18 enter free. If you come by motorboat from Marina Grande, add roughly €25 for that boat.
Is Capri expensive?
Staying and eating near the Piazzetta is expensive, but sightseeing is not. The funicular costs €2.40, the Gardens of Augustus about €2.50 and Villa Jovis €6. A day trip from the mainland is the budget move, though day visitors also pay a landing fee.
Capri or Positano: which is nicer?
Pick Capri if you want an island, boat trips and walks with no traffic. Pick Positano for the classic cliff-village view and easy access to the rest of the Amalfi Coast. Many travelers do both, with a few nights on the coast and one on Capri.
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