Postcard from Capri

This little island located in the Tyrrhenian Sea is a popular destination for holidaymakers. Capri is very picturesque, the vistas are just lovely, the terrain is very unique and would make you fall in love with this small island the minute you arrive. It is characterized by turquoise blue water, designer boutiques, cafes, restaurants, impressive bougainvillea and has been drawing visitors from all over the world since the early 20th century. Planning a trip to Capri can be a bit tricky due to its cost and accommodation. Check out our blog on Capri day trip and beyond, on how to save money on ferries, accommodation, things to do, and learn about the gorgeous vista points.

Capri can get really expensive during the summer as it’s one of the favorite destinations for everyone including holidaying celebrities.

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Capri day trip and beyond:

How to reach:

Capri is very accessible via ferries. Most of the tourists prefer to visit Capri for a day tour (understandably due to the high accommodation prices) from nearby Napoli, Sorrento, and Positano. For the ferry schedules, check the schedules online but book the tickets directly from the operator (SNAV, caremar, etc…) as the ferry aggregator website would charge a huge booking fee. If you have a tight schedule, we would recommend booking online as the ticket gets sold out quite fast. Also while booking, make sure that luggage is included (or charged) so that your ferry trip is smooth.

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Where to stay:

A day tour is all you need to cover the island. Since we don’t like being rushed during our holidays, we planned to stay over for a night. You could stay longer and take things very slow but as stated before, Capri can be really expensive for accommodation and prices are typically in the high 400’s per night during the peak season such as late June to the end of August. As an alternative, as we did, you could choose the uphill Anacapri which is located on the slopes of Mount Solaro at a higher elevation than Capri town. Anacapri is quieter, lesser expensive, and hosts more artisan workshops and beach clubs on rocky cliffs as there are no beaches at Anacapri.

Getting Around in Capri:

It’s just 3 km from Capri town and there is public transportation available (a bus that runs every 15 mins) but to get to the bus stop, you will need to first hop on to the funicular (right outside the ferry terminal) and get to Capri town and from there on catch a bus to Anacapri. It’s actually a hassle to use public transportation here as the buses are extremely small and bigger luggage won’t even be allowed on the bus. In fact, the busses charge one person’s fare to carry a small carry-on bag. There are buses from the ferry terminal directly to Anacapri but the frequency is really bad and they always run full (overflowing buses are very common in Capri).

We stayed at this Airbnb, and the rooms were comfortable. It was nice to stay in an Airbnb in Capri, as we got a feel of the local houses and architecture. Very unique, I must say. 

If you are planning to stay at Anacapri, we highly recommend taking a cab from the ferry terminal to Anacapri town which would cost roughly about 25 euros but it would really save you from all the hassles of using the so-called accessible public transportation. And again, there would be a huge line for the cab and there is no first come first serve basis. Whoever cuts the line first and flags a cab gets the ride. It’s the survival of the fittest if you have been used only to the orderly western world culture.!

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Things to do during your Capri day trip:

Rent a boat:

The island of Capri is really small and a roundtrip of the whole island can be done in an hour’s time without stopping. There are rental agencies around the ferry terminal. Renting a boat at Capri is a very easy process and all you need is a photo ID, a deposit, and no boat driving experience. The rentals are reasonable and it’s a highly enjoyable activity if the water is calm. The boat operator would give you a quick lesson on how to drive the boat using dummy controls and within minutes you are in the water, donning the captain’s hat and ready to drive around the island. They would also give you a map of the route and the must-visit sites around the island.

The rentals are typically for 2 hours and you don’t need to do the full circle. We drove halfway around and jumped into the water for a swim, took some nice shots of the area, and hopped back onto the boat. The views are stupendous and offer a different perspective of the island from the open sea.

A word of caution here, don’t drive near the bigger boats as they displace a lot of water and you might experience a scary moment when the huge wave hits your small boat. Also if the sea is rough, we highly recommend not to try this activity as it can be a bit dangerous driving in the choppy waters.

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Watch the sunset from Capri viewpoint:

We happened to chance upon the most gorgeous sunset of our life, while on our way back to our room. The view was so good that we spent some extra time enjoying nature’s spectacular show. Definitely, don’t miss this out during your Capri day trip. 

 

Visit Anacapri:

Take a bus (see “Getting around” section) and visit Anacapri where beautiful aerial views of Capri can be seen. Try to stroll along the quiet alleys surrounded by tiny houses with their vegetable gardens. Anacapri is more residential and tranquil compared to its rival Capri. For a breathtaking panorama of the scenic island, head to the top of Monte Solaro (by chairlift from Piazza Vittoria).

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Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra):

The most famous sightseeing activity at Capri is that of the Blue Grotto, where you pass through the meter-high cave mouth into a cavern dominated by azure blue light. The bright azure color of the water inside the cave is due to the sunlight entering the cave through an underwater opening which is positioned exactly under the cave’s mouth. The red reflections are filtered out and only the blue light enters the cave. Entering the cavern is an experience by itself as you will need to lay low on a small long wooden boat. The person rowing the boat would take the boat inside the cavern through the darkness towards the bright blue light.

The rowers also sing inside the cavern and the Italian song would reverberate inside the cave. Tickets to the Blue Grotto can be purchased at the entrance of the Grotto (priced at 14 euros/person). To get to the Grotto, you will need to purchase a round-trip ticket from the ferry terminal (15 euros/person). The tour inside the Blue Grotto would last less than 5 minutes and we don’t have any photos from inside the cave because it was dark.

 

What to eat:

As with other Italian cities, gelato is very popular in Capri as well. We had the yummiest gelato at Caffe Augusto and it’s a must-try at Capri. We had dinner in a restaurant just next to this cafe and the food was really good! There are numerous cafe’s around the terminal which you could try. And don’t miss the coffee!

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Leaving you with few last photos from our Capri day trip.