If you have plans to visit Naples, Sorrento, or the Amalfi Coast, it is very easy to add on a day trip to Capri. With one day in Capri, you have just enough time to hit the highlights…take a boat tour around the island, visit the Blue Grotto, ride the chairlift to Monte Solaro, and explore the town of Capri.
We day tripped to Capri on two different visits to Italy during two very different times of the year, July 2014 and October 2022.
On our first Capri day trip, we took a boat tour of the island, visited the Blue Grotto, rode the chairlift to Monte Solaro, rode the bus to Marina Grande, and returned to Sorrento. It was a wonderful experience and Tyler and Kara loved the Blue Grotto and Monte Solaro (they were 9 and 11 at the time). To do just these few things, you are looking at a 6-hour day trip to Capri.
On our second trip, Tim and I rented a scooter and drove around the island, visiting the sights we missed on the first trip. We spent 7 hours on the island, and that was just enough time to visit Capri and Anacapri, the Punta Carena Lighthouse, walk Via del Pizzolungo (a short hiking trail on the east end of the island), and have lunch.
There is a lot to do in Capri and with one day here, you really have to pick and choose what you want to do, to make sure you make it back to the ferry on time.
From our two experiences, we put together what we think is the best way spend one day in Capri.
In this guide, get all of the details of what you need to know to plan your Capri day trip, from recommendations on where to go, what to skip, and how to plan your time.
Table of Contents
Overview of Capri
Capri is an island that is located in the Gulf of Naples. This small island is easily accessible from Naples, Sorrento, and Positano, with ferries running back and forth between these destinations many times of day.
There are two towns on Capri: Capri and Anacapri. Marina Grande is the gateway onto the island and this is where you will enter Capri by ferry. Marina Grande is also the place where boat tours around the island begin.
To get around Capri, you will use several modes of transportation, including a boat, the bus or a taxi, a chairlift, and a funicular.
Below is a map of Capri. On this map, we highlighted the top sights in Capri, so you get an idea of where everything is located.
Map of Capri
Best Things to Do with One Day in Capri
Below is a list of the top things to see and do if you have one day in Capri. For a full list of things to do, read our article Best Things to Do in Capri.
- Boat tour of Capri
- Visit the Blue Grotto
- Ride the chairlift to Monte Solaro
- Explore the town of Capri
- Visit Giardini di Augusto
- See Via Krupp
You also have the option to add on a scenic walk/hike to viewpoints on the east side of the island, explore Anacapri, or visit Villa San Michele.
How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. Click the star next to the title of the map to add this map to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to “Your Places,” click Maps, and you will see this map on your list.
One Day in Capri Itinerary
Below is an overview of the Capri day trip itinerary. It is written as a day trip from Sorrento, Positano, or Naples but you can also easily follow it if you plan to spend several nights on the island of Capri.
To maximize your time, plan to be on one of the earlier ferries to Capri. I will list times in this itinerary to give you an idea of how long the activities generally take, but your times may differ from this, depending on how quickly you move, crowds, and waiting times for public transportation.
9 am: Ferry to Capri
Ideally, plan to take a high-speed ferry to Capri from your starting point, to give yourself more time on the island.
I think it is best to book your ferry tickets several days in advance. When we did this at the end of October, some ferries were sold out 1 to 2 days in advance, and this was entering the low season.
The website we use is Ferryhopper.com. They list the ferry schedules for all of the companies traveling back and forth from Capri (there are several to choose from) and the website is easy to use.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: If you book your tickets online in advance, you will have to get to the port about 15 minutes early, to go to the ticket desk to pick up the ticket. When we did this, they were not using electronic tickets, only paper tickets.
Travel Times and Cost
Here is a rough estimate of the travel times and round-trip cost to get to Capri. You can get pricing down to the penny on the official websites or Ferryhopper.com.
- Sorrento: 20 to 25 minutes, €48
- Naples: 50 minutes, €50
- Positano: 30 minutes, €50
So, if you are starting in Sorrento and book an 9 am ferry, you will arrive at Marina Grande on Capri at 9:30 am.
Marina Grande, Capri | One Day in Capri Itinerary
9:45 am: Boat Tour of Capri
One of the best things to do in Capri is to take a boat tour of the island. Most boat trips travel clockwise around the island, visiting famous sights and natural formations such as Arco Naturale, Tiberius’ Leap, the Faraglioni Rocks, the white and green grottoes, and the Punta Carena Lighthouse.
Faraglioni Rocks | One Day in Capri Itinerary
Punta Carena Lighthouse
You have the option to add on the Blue Grotto.
Should You Visit the Blue Grotto?
Maybe.
The Blue Grotto gets mixed reviews and before our first visit, we also questioned if it would be worth it.
The Blue Grotto is probably the most popular attraction on Capri. Wait times can be as long as one hour to enter the Blue Grotto. Bobbing up and down on a boat, in the hot sun, is the perfect recipe for seasickness (both of our kids got queasy on our 45-minute wait).
To enter the Blue Grotto, you will climb off of the boat and into a small rowboat. Ducking down low (the entrance into the Blue Grotto is a tiny opening), your captain pulls you into the sea cave using a chain. You leave behind the hot sun and chaos and enter a cool, quiet, vibrantly blue sea cave.
The visit inside lasts 5 minutes, you exit the Blue Grotto, and then can either get back on the boat or get off on land (there is an advantage to this which we will explain soon).
Despite the queasiness and the long wait, we all loved the experience and thought it was worth it. You can read our write up in our Guide to the Blue Grotto.
If you want to visit the Blue Grotto, book a boat tour that includes it. If not, then book a tour that does not include it. Tours that include the Blue Grotto last 2 hours and tours that skip the Blue Grotto take 1 hour.
Blue Grotto | One Day in Capri Itinerary
Rowboats waiting to enter the Blue Grotto
Boat Tour Companies
There are two main companies that offer boat tours of the island with or without a visit to the Blue Grotto:
The boat tour costs roughly €24 per person, whether or not it includes the Blue Grotto. Motoscafisti Capri starts running boat tours that include the Blue Grotto at 9:45 am and Laser starts at 9:30 am.
To add on the Blue Grotto, you will pay an additional fee of €18 per person.
Both companies are located in Marina Grande in Capri. You will see signs for them when you exit the ferry. They both advertise that you do not need to book your tickets in advance. When we did this in 2014, we showed up and took the next available tour.
Boat Tour Itinerary with the Blue Grotto
If you include the Blue Grotto, the timing of the boat tour looks like this:
9:45 am: Start the boat tour
10:30 am: Arrive at the Blue Grotto. Assuming a wait time of 45 minutes and time in the Blue Grotto, you will exit the Blue Grotto around 11:20 am.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: We recommend disembarking the rowboat onto land and do not get back on the boat. This saves you lots of transportation time from Marina Grande to Anacapri. We did this at the advice of our boat captain and it worked beautifully. There are no notable sights between the Blue Grotto and Marina Grande so you don’t miss anything by getting off of the boat early.
We had lunch at the top of the steps, next to the Blue Grotto. The food was average but it was fun watching the chaos of rowboats entering and exiting the Blue Grotto. You can also wait and have lunch in Anacapri.
11:20 am: Go to Anacapri. At the top of the steps is a bus stop. Ride the bus to Anacapri. Buses arrive roughly every 15 minutes and it is a short ride to Anacapri.
11:45 am: Arrive in Anacapri.
Boat Tour Itinerary without the Blue Grotto
9:45 am: Start the boat tour
10:45 am: Finish the boat tour in Marina Grande and travel to Anacapri by bus.
11:15 am: Arrive in Anacapri
So, if you skip the Blue Grotto, you do save a little bit of time. For the timing of this itinerary, I am going to stick with the 11:45 am arrival to Anacapri, since many people prefer to add on the Blue Grotto.
The bus station in Anacapri is next to Piazza Vittorio and from here it is a very short walk to the chairlift (Seggiovia Monte Solaro).
11:45 am: Chairlift to Monte Solaro
Monte Solaro is the highest point on the island of Capri. From here, you can see the Faraglioni Rocks, Mount Vesuvius, the Isle of Ischia, Sorrento, and the Bay of Naples.
From the bottom station in Anacapri, it is a 7-minute ride by chairlift to Monte Solaro. Tickets cost €12 round trip. Once at the top, there are a few terraces to visit to look out over the island. The entire visit takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour. The cover photo for this guide was taken at Monte Solaro.
Monte Solaro Chairlift | One Day in Capri Itinerary
View of the boats near Marina Piccola from Monte Solaro
12:45 pm: Anacapri
Now is a good time to sit down to a quick lunch. Casa Orlandi Ristorante and Pizzeria gets very good reviews and has a convenient location near the chairlift station. Sciue’ Sciue’ is a pasta and pizza restaurant that also gets very good reviews and is just a short walk from Casa Orlandi.
You also have the option to spend some time here strolling the streets, doing a little shopping, but with limited time, I recommend making your way to Capri instead.
1:45 pm: Bus or Taxi to Capri
From Anacapri, ride the public bus, or take a taxi, to the town of Capri.
2:15 pm: Capri Town
Spend the next 30 to 60 minutes exploring the town of Capri. This town is a busy spot and most likely will be more crowded than Anacapri.
From the bus and taxi station, the first thing you will see is Piazza Umberto I, the main square of Capri.
Shopping streets lead off of Piazza Umberto I. Be sure to stroll along Via Camerelle for its collection of high-end luxury shops like Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton.
Piazza Umberto I | One Day in Capri Itinerary
The view of Capri from Capri town
Via Camerelle | One Day in Capri Itinerary
Get a scoop of gelato from Buonocore Gelateria. This small café has the reputation of being the best gelato restaurant in Capri.
3:00 pm: Giardini di Augusto
This small botanical garden offers some of the best views of Capri. The gardens are located just down the hill from the town of Capri, about a 5-minute walk one-way from the main shopping streets.
Pay your entrance fee (€1.50) and walk uphill for a view of Via Krupp. This narrow, winding walkway is one of the most iconic sights on Capri. It is closed indefinitely because of the danger from rockfalls.
Via Krupp | One Day in Capri Itinerary
Then climb the steps to the upper platform, where gorgeous views of the Faraglioni Rocks and coastline await.
The view from Giardini di Augusto | One Day in Capri Itinerary
Before you leave, stroll past the flower beds and tropical flowers, or have your photo taken on the beautifully tiled bench.
Giardini di Augusto | One Day in Capri Itinerary
3:30 pm: Take Your Pick
At this time of day, you have several options. You can spend more time on Capri, taking a late ferry, or you can start your travels back to Sorrento/Positano/Naples now.
Option #1: Return to Sorrento/Naples/Positano
From Capri town, ride the funicular to Marina Grande and board the ferry for the return trip to your starting point. In the afternoon, there could be a wait for the funicular. If so, you can also hire a taxi, take the bus (which might also have a line), or walk (a 20-minute downhill walk, use Google Maps for directions).
Book a 4 pm or 4:30 pm ferry for this option.
Option #2: Via del Pizzolungo
For those who want to add on a scenic walk and get a little bit off of the beaten path, you can go on a very nice walk through the more residential areas of Capri to viewpoints of the coastline.
Pizzolungo Coastal Trail | One Day in Capri Itinerary
The view of the Faraglioni Rocks from Via del Pizzolungo
Via del Pizzolungo is a walking trail that leads to several viewpoints on the southeast end of the island. This walk is 4 km (2.5 miles) and it will take about an hour and a half to two hours. It is paved the entire way, but you will walk up and down long sets of steps. In the summer months, it will be a hot walk, so keep this in mind and bring some water.
You can find walking directions and more photos in our guide to the Best Things to Do in Capri.
Book one of the last ferries of the day for this option.
Option #3: More Time in Capri or Anacapri
You can add more time to Anacapri. Explore this quiet town and visit Villa San Michele, which is a villa located in Anacapri. The highlights of visiting the villa are seeing the gardens and the 2,000+ year old Sphinx that overlooks the coast.
Villa San Michele | Nido Huebl/shutterstock.com
The tile floor of the Church of San Michele
You can also spend more time shopping in the town of Capri or getting drinks with a view. We really liked Capri Rooftop, which is a restaurant and bar that is located next to Giardini di Augusto and has nice views of the Faraglioni Rocks. Another recommendation is La Palette Ristorante, which is located on Via Matermania, about a 5 to 10-minute walk from the Capri city center.
Book one of the last ferries of the day for this option.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Book your return ferry several days in advance (don’t assume that you’ll be able to show up and get a spot on the last ferry of the day). When we did this in October, we booked our tickets the day before and the last few ferries were sold out, making the 4:20 pm ferry the latest ferry we could get that day.
How Much Does a Day Trip to Capri Cost?
Capri is an expensive destination in Italy. Below we added up the costs of everything listed above to give you an idea on how much you will spend per person. This is pricing to and from Sorrento. If you have a different starting point you will have to change the ferry cost, but it isn’t a huge cost difference starting in Naples or Positano.
- Sorrento to Capri by ferry (round trip): €48
- Capri boat tour: €24
- Blue Grotto entrance fee: €18
- Bus from Blue Grotto to Monte Solaro: €2
- Monte Solaro chairlift: €12
- Bus to Capri: €2
- Giardini di Augusto entrance fee: €1.50
- Lunch: €10 to €20 per person + extra for alcohol
- Funicular to Marina Grande: €2
Grand Total: €124.50
Day Trip to Capri by Tour
If you don’t want to arrange all of this on your own, you can join a tour of Capri. There are tons of options to choose from, from highly rated small group tours that leave from Sorrento like this one, or a private tour of Capri.
When booking your tour, pay attention to the starting and ending point, group size, what you will visit, and how long the tour will last.
Here are a few highly rated tours that include the main highlights of Capri.
Where Are You Going Next?
If you are just beginning to plan your Italy itinerary, take a look at our 10 Days in Italy Itinerary for five different ways to spend 10 days in Italy. For those with more time, check out our 14 day Italy itinerary, which covers the highlights of Italy.
SORRENTO & CAPRI: Learn about the best things to do in Sorrento, how to spend 3 days in Sorrento, get a list of the best things to do in Capri and whether or not the Blue Grotto is worth it.
AMALFI COAST TOWNS: For an overview of where to go, check out our article 17 Beautiful Towns to Visit on the Amalfi Coast. We also have detailed guides about the Best Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast and how to visit Positano and Ravello. Learn how to plan your time with our Amalfi Coast Itinerary.
GETTING AROUND THE AMALFI COAST: Learn how to travel from Rome to Sorrento, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast and how to visit Pompeii when traveling between Rome and Sorrento. We also have a guide to the Best Way to Get around the Amalfi Coast and what it is like to drive the Amalfi Coast.
ITALY ITINERARY: On this 10 day southern Italy itinerary, visit the Amalfi Coast, Castelmezzano, Matera, Alberobello, and more towns in Puglia.
PATH OF THE GODS: The Path of the Gods is a gorgeous hike on the Amalfi Coast.
WHERE TO STAY: For recommendations of where to stay, including Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, take a look at our Amalfi Coast Hotel Guide.
We have TONS more information about Italy in our Italy Travel Guide, including Rome, Florence, Venice, Tuscany, the Dolomites, the Amalfi Coast, the Cinque Terre, Basilicata, and Puglia.
If you have any questions about how to plan your Capri day trip or how to spend one day in Capri, let us know in the comment section below.
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Comments 18
Hey! im just wondering if you guys bought the round trip ticket for the chair lift? it seems like the cost breakdown has that, but in the itinerary it seems as though you only use it to go up?
Author
Hello Nour. Yes, you should buy the round trip ticket. The time estimate is for the round trip ride on the chair lift and time on Monte Solaro for the views. You’ll have to get back to Ana Capri (via the return ride on the chairlift) to continue with the itinerary. Cheers, Julie
Hi – unfortunately buying ferry tickets in advance makes no difference as to whether you have a reserved spot on – we turned up for our 9.55 ferry (30 mins in advance) only to be told it was full and the next was an hour later. We were told ‘the system doesn’t work like that’ and although we were not charged for the new time tickets (as we’d got our confirmation), we had no choice despite polite objections. My recommendation is just arrive to buy tickets an hour in advance. #stillfeelingabitcross haha x
Author
I would feel a bit cross, too. It makes me wonder what happens to people on the return ferry from Capri, if you have a ticket for the last boat but that fills up? Thanks for writing in with your experience! Cheers, Julie
Hello Earth Trekkers! You are absolutely the best at what you do! Your itineraries made our quick trip to Scotland last December such a success!
We will be docking in Salerno on 10/31/23 from 7am-6pm on Royal Caribbean. How would you modify this Capri itinerary departing from Salerno, or what would you change given our time constraints to return to the port? This may be our one and only trip to this area…are we making a mistake by going to Capri and not concentrating on the main areas of “The Amalfi Coast” instead? We definitely prefer relaxing scenic beauty and good food and drink over shopping, but want an authentic experience as well. Help please! Thanks in advance! 🙂
Author
Hello Tina. That’s a good question. On Ferryhopper.com, I found a few ferries that run from Salerno to Capri in the morning, depending on the day of the week. You’d have to check if the times align with your time in port. It is a 1.5 hour trip one way, so that will take up a lot of your time. You could also see if the cruise line runs an excursion to Capri. If it doesn’t work out, from Salerno, you could ride the ferry to Amalfi and Positano and see the Amalfi Coast that way. Those towns are closer to Salerno and might work better with your schedule. Cheers, Julie
Hello,
We are arriving in Capri as an excursion from a cruise line. Is there a company that is available to take us to the blue Grotto, Capri, Anacapri, and Monte Solari? Or do you recommend just taking a taxi once we dock from the Blue Grotto for the rest of our day? We will be on the island from approx 10-5pm. Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Steph
Author
Hello Stephanie. I don’t know of a particular tour that will take you to all of those places. The cruise line might offer something like that. But it is easy to travel around the island using taxis and the buses so you don’t have to spend the extra money on a tour. I think it would be a nicer experience to spend that money on a nice lunch or drinks with a view, either in Capri town or Ana Capri. From the Blue Grotto, take the bus to Anacapri and visit Monte Solaro. Then take the bus or hire a taxi to take you to Capri town. Spend the rest of your time in Capri town, and then use public transportation (most likely the funicular) to get to where you need to go to get back on the cruise ship. Have a great time in Capri! Cheers, Julie
Hi there, wondering if there is a way to get back to Sorrento later than the last ferry? We were thinking of having a late dinner and drinks in Capri and then heading back to Sorrento. Is there a safe, reliable way to return at that time?
Thanks!
Author
That’s a wonderful idea but the only other thing I can think of is to hire a private boat for the day, but that will be expensive. If you can’t work out transportation, you could have drinks and dinner at Ristorante Lorelei in Sorrento. This is a Michelin starred restaurant with beautiful sunset views. Cheers, Julie
thank you, very helpful article. just wanted to know if at the end of the Capri Tour (about 3:30- 4:00pm) is it advisable to take the boat and visit Amalfi/Positano for Sunset and then return back to Sorrento by Bus.
Author
Yes, you can do that, if you can get the ferry schedule to work for Capri to Positano/Amalfi at that time, which should be possible. It would make a very nice loop. Cheers, Julie
ETs are simply the best. Opinion based after scouring through about 20-30 sites and YouTube videos for guidance on how to plan a trip to Italy. This is a form of kindness and is much appreciated.
Thank you for sharing your experiences with us all and providing guidance.
Cheers,
MD
Author
Thank you for the very kind comment and you are very welcome! Cheers, Julie
hello! your article is fantastic! at the round boat tours of Capri (including Blue grotto) does the captain leaves you time to swim at all?
Author
I don’t believe so, at least not on the tour that we took. If you want time for swimming, you might have to book a private tour. You could look on their websites to see if there is an FAQ section with your question. Cheers, Julie
Thank you for breaking down the logistics of a day trip, very helpful! And beautiful photos, I can’t wait to visit!
Author
You’re welcome!