How to plan a day trip to Capri from Amalfi Coast

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Capri island is a favourite of the jet-setting crowds. Capri is a popular island getaway for those looking to pamper themselves with an incredible backdrop. And you can reason why when you take a Capri day trip. The island looks magical when the sun is shining bright. A day trip to Capri can be easily planned as part of your Amalfi itinerary.

Capri is located in the blue waters of Italy’s Tyrrhenian Sea just off the Sorrentine Peninsula. It is divine to see this lush island bathed in the warm Mediterranean sun. A day trip to Capri is just about enough to savour some of the highlights of this lovely island. For a deeper connect to the island and to visit all attractions, you need to plan a trip for 2/3 days.

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How to reach Capri Island

Capri can be reached via a ferry or catamaran. And in summer months, there are lots of ferry routes that open up from Amalfi town, Positano, Sorrento, and Naples. You can easily check ferry routes to plan Capri day trip on Omio platform to give you all ferry options.

Capri marina is vibrant and crowded in summer.

Amalfi to Capri: For our 4 days to explore Amalfi coast, we had made Amalfi town as our base. The ferry ride from Amalfi to Capri is about 50 min to 1 hr.

Positano to Capri: The Positano – Capri ferry crossing can take between 30 min to 1 hr, depending on the vessel type you’re traveling with.

Sorrento to Capri: The ferry ride from the port of Sorrento to Capri normally takes about 15-25 min. High speed ferries and ferries depart from the Marina Piccola port in Sorrento.

Naples to Capri: The Naples to Capri ferry time ranges from 50 min to 1 hr 20 min, depending on the vessel type. Many travellers choose to base themselves here and take day trips from Naples to explore both Amalfi coast and capri island.

It is easy to take a ferry from one of these towns and explore Capri in a day. The alternative is to take a day tour to Capri, several options given at the end of the post.

Do note that ferries to CAPRI don’t run all year round except from Naples port. Most ferry services get limited after October and resume again in April.

Best time to go to Capri

The best times to visit Capri island is during spring or fall to beat the summer crowds and experience sunny days. So plan to travel to Capri from the beginning of April to mid-June, and from the beginning of September to mid-October.

Summer months are great weather-wise but do note that it gets crowded on the island and cost of everything goes up. We had visited Italy in June, and the crowd was not bad.

Capri one day itinerary

One day in Capri gives you enough time to enjoy this island and visit some of the main attractions on this charming island.

Boat tour around Capri

Once we reached the harbour area of Capri via a catamaran from Amalfi, we saw large crowds everywhere. You will not be able to avoid crowds in Capri town, harbour area at all, especially in the summer months.

You can book a tour to take your around the island that includes the famous Blue Grotto. The Blue Grotto is famous for its ethereal illumination. As sunlight seeps in through the sea caves’ entrances and bathes the caves in a bluish hue. But being the most famous sight on Capri island brings in large crowds. I would not recommend this attraction if you only have 1 day in Capri.

*Capri’s* most iconic sight is the dramatic *Faraglioni*, three towering rock formations.

We did not want to spend a long time trying to get inside the cave so we chucked the idea of visiting Blue Grotto completely. Capri tourism has made catching a private tour in the marina easy. We negotiated with a guy at the harbour front to take us on a boat tour around the island. this was easily the best part of our Capri day trip.

A day out on the sea with sunshine upon us, we admired iconic landmarks like the Faraglioni and grottoes by sea. The dramatic Faraglioni are 3 towering rock formations which jut out from the Mediterranean sea just off the Capri island’s coast.

When it comes to boat tours, you have several options to choose from: private charters, a small-group tour like this one, or a large tour that offers a more budget option.

Monte Solaro chair lift

Monte Solaro summit soaring 589 meters above sea level is the highest point on Capri island. You get panoramic views of the island, the surrounding Bay of Naples, and Amalfi coastline.

The easiest way to reach Monte Solaro is by chairlift. You take this 12-minute chairlift from Piazza Vittoria in Anacapri. When you start your Capri day trip by reaching Marina Grande, you first need to take a bus to Anacapri, the quieter part of the island. The bus ride itself gives you stunning views of the sea and the island.

The open chairlift is not safe with young kids.

The chairs are made for a single person and kids younger than 7 year go on parent lap. But it is not recommended to take this open chairlift with very young kids. We decided not to do this activity with our (then) 4-year old daughter. Instead we enjoyed Anacapri town itself.

You can buy chairlift tickets at the Anacapri piazza. You also have the option of booking a tour for online tickets and enjoying local dishes and a drink at Monte Solaro.

Enjoy Anacapri town

Anacapri is a much quieter destination with fewer crowds. We enjoyed strolling around the piazza and having a leisurely lunch. I also found some boutique stores and bought a linen dress. One of the best souvenirs from Italy that I wear each summer!

Apart from Monte Solaro, there are 2 other key attractions in Anacapri. Villa San Michele can be visited along with its impressive gardens. This villa, once the residence of Swedish doctor and writer Axel Munthe, is a beautiful museum that is open to visitors. Chiesa San Michele is a 17th century Church with its notable San Michele statue and an antique ceramic floor.

Even from ths bus route, you get stuninng scenes of Capri town and the sea.

We took the bus to head back to Capri, and enjoyed scenic views on the ride.

Enjoy Capri town

Many folks who come for a day trip to Capri enjoy having lunch at one of the many restaurants or cafes in Capri town. We already had our lunch in Anacapri so we sat down to enjoy a cocktail in Piazza Umberto. This is the most famous and fashionable square in Capri. Pricey and crowded, for sure, but the summer vibe in this area is like none other. If you are spending one day in Capri, you can chill here and watch the world go by!

For sightseeing in Capri, my suggestion would be a visit to the Gardens of Augustus over the scenic Via Krupp. It is close to the town center. These gardens comprise of a series of panoramic terraces overlooking the Faraglioni on the one side and the Bay of Marina Piccola and Via Krupp on the other. The Via Krupp, a marvellous feat of engineering, are closed due to safety reasons. But you can see the hairpin bends in the rocks from the top.

Travel Tips for visiting Capri island

What to pack for a day trip to Capri: Be sure to wear comfortable shoes on Capri, because you will be doing quite a bit of walking. Comfortable cotton or linen clothes would work best for summer months. But do note that washed-off denim shorts and some t-shirt doesn’t really cut in at Capri. Do put on something chic to blend in with the hip crowd. Do carry a swimsuit and a cover-up to get on the boat and inn the sea. Sunglasses and sunscreen are essential.

Can Capri be done in one day? Yes, but only the highlights and then also, you may have to let go waiting for access to the Blue Grotto. For seeing some of the hidden gems on this island and do some hiking, you should plan to stay for a night or 2.

Boat tour: The island’s coastline is dotted with hidden coves, grottoes and caves that can only be accessed by boat. So make sure you don’t miss out on a boat tour on one day Capri itinerary.

A boat ride is the best thing to do on capri island.

How to get around Capri: Buses are a practical way to explore Capri. Taxis are a convenient but pricey way to get around the island. You can rent a scooter to have some fun on the island lanes. Going on foot is an excellent way to get up close and personal with the island.

Capri is expensive: Everything from food to drinks to ferry on Capri island is expensive. So you will find that day tours work out convenient and value-for-money if you are planning one day in Capri.