Where to look
Luxury & Five-Star Seekers
Honeymoon couples · Luxury travellers · Anniversary trips · Celebrity-style escapes Capri Town (the main settlement on the island's eastern plateau) is the undisputed centre of Mediterranean luxury. The Grand Hotel Quisisana, a 19th-century palace hotel on Via Camerelle, has been the address of royalty, film stars and heads of state for over a century. The Hotel La Palma on Via Vittorio Emanuele is the island's oldest hotel (1822) and recently underwent an exquisite renovation. Boutique five-star properties perched above the Faraglioni rocks and along the Via Tragara offer some of the most dramatic sea views in Italy. The experience that defines Capri luxury is an evening table at a terrace restaurant overlooking the Faraglioni sea stacks as the sun sets behind Monte Solaro — a scene that no photograph can fully capture. For the ultimate privacy, villa rentals on the slopes below Anacapri (some with private pools carved into the rock) offer a level of seclusion impossible to find in a hotel. Note that even the finest hotels on Capri require arriving by taxi or on foot — the absence of private cars is a feature, not an inconvenience.
Beach & Swimming Lovers
Swimmers · Snorkellers · Boat trip fans · Sea kayakers Capri has no large sandy beaches — the island is almost entirely limestone cliff dropping into the sea. Swimming is from rocky platforms, private lidos carved into the cliffs, or by boat. Marina Piccola, on the south coast below Capri Town, is the island's main bathing area — a sheltered cove with private beach clubs (stabilimenti) offering sunbeds, parasols and excellent crystal-clear water. The Scoglio delle Sirene (Siren Rock) in the centre of the bay is a famous landmark. The finest swimming on Capri is accessible only by boat. A boat tour around the island is essential — it reveals sea caves, hidden grottos and snorkelling spots unreachable on foot. The Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) on the north coast is the island's most famous natural wonder: a sea cave lit by an underwater opening that turns the water an extraordinary electric blue. Entry is by rowboat only. The Green Grotto and White Grotto are equally beautiful and far less crowded. Renting a small motorboat independently gives you access to the entire coastline.
Walkers & Nature Explorers
Hikers · Walkers · Photographers · Botanists · Birders Capri's dramatic topography makes it an outstanding walking destination. The island has a network of paths — many cut by hand into the limestone centuries ago — that reach viewpoints, grottos and coastal cliffs inaccessible by any other means. The Sentiero dei Fortini (Path of the Forts) on the west coast runs from Punta Carena lighthouse to the Blue Grotto, linking three Napoleonic fortresses with sea views that are among the finest in Italy. The round trip takes about 3 hours and the path is well-marked. The ascent of Monte Solaro (589m) is the definitive Capri experience — either by chairlift from Anacapri (the world's oldest single-seat chairlift, opened 1945) or on foot via the ancient Phoenician Steps (Scala Fenicia), 921 steps cut into the limestone connecting Marina Grande with Anacapri. From the summit the views span the entire Bay of Naples, Vesuvius, the Amalfi Coast and on clear days the mountains of Calabria. The Villa Jovis — the immense clifftop palace of Emperor Tiberius, who ruled the Roman Empire from Capri for the last decade of his life — is a 45-minute walk from Capri Town through lemon groves.
History & Culture Enthusiasts
History lovers · Roman archaeology fans · Art seekers · Garden enthusiasts Capri has a remarkable cultural depth for such a small island. The Romans discovered it — Augustus made it his personal retreat; Tiberius, his successor, moved the imperial court there entirely and governed the Roman Empire from the cliffs of Villa Jovis for a decade. The ruins of Villa Jovis (Jupiter's Villa) on the island's eastern promontory are among the most dramatically situated Roman ruins in Italy — a vast complex of cisterns, living quarters, a lighthouse and the infamous Salto di Tiberio (Tiberius's Leap), the cliff from which, according to legend, the emperor threw his enemies into the sea. The Villa San Michele in Anacapri, built by Swedish physician and writer Axel Munthe in the early 20th century on the foundations of a Roman villa, is one of the finest examples of eclectic Mediterranean architecture in Italy, with an extraordinary garden overlooking the Bay of Naples. The Carthusian Monastery of San Giacomo (14th century) in Capri Town has a small but excellent museum. The Museum of Capri in Capri Town covers the island's long history from prehistoric times through the Roman period to the Grand Tour era when Capri was on the itinerary of every aristocratic European traveller.
Couples & Romantic Escapes
Honeymoons · Anniversaries · Romantic getaways · Proposals Capri has been synonymous with romance since the Roman emperors chose it as their private retreat. The island has a quality rare in Europe: genuine drama — the limestone cliffs, the turquoise sea, the scent of lemon blossom — combined with Italian elegance. An evening at a candlelit table on a terrace above the Faraglioni rocks, with a bottle of local Tiberio white wine, is one of the most memorable dining experiences in Italy. The Piazzetta at dusk, when the day-trippers have left, has an intimate, film-set quality. For couples, the experience of Capri is inseparable from the sea. A private boat rental for the day — two people, a small motorboat, the entire coastline — is the ultimate Capri experience: anchor in a private cove, swim into the Green Grotto, have lunch in a sheltered bay beneath the cliffs. Back on land, the gardens of Villa San Michele at sunset, with panoramic views over the bay, and a slow walk back down the Scala Fenicia in the evening light, are moments of extraordinary beauty.
Budget & Mid-Range Travellers
Value seekers · Independent travellers · Shoulder season visitors · B&B fans Capri has a reputation as one of Italy's most expensive destinations, and in July-August that reputation is fully deserved. However, it is perfectly possible to stay on Capri at reasonable cost in the shoulder season (May, June, September, October) or by choosing Anacapri over Capri Town. Anacapri, on the island's upper western plateau, has a genuine village character, local restaurants at Italian prices and a good selection of family-run B&Bs and small hotels that cost a fraction of the equivalent in Capri Town. The key budget tip for Capri is to avoid the private taxis (very expensive) and use the island's public bus between Anacapri and Capri Town, and the funicular from Marina Grande to Capri Town (cheap and charming). Eating at the Piazzetta is extremely expensive; walking five minutes into the backstreets of Capri Town or eating in Anacapri cuts costs by 50-70%. The island's famous limoncello, caprese salad and fresh-caught fish are excellent even in a modest trattoria. Camping is not permitted on Capri.
🏙️ Capri Town
The island's glamorous heart. The Piazzetta, Via Camerelle luxury shopping, five-star hotels, Villa Jovis path. Expensive, beautiful, social. Best for luxury and evening atmosphere. Luxury · Romance · History · Social
🏘️ Anacapri
The quieter, higher plateau on the western side. Monte Solaro chairlift, Villa San Michele, Sentiero dei Fortini walk. More local, calmer, significantly less expensive. Best for walkers and budget travellers. Nature · Quiet · Value · Walking
⛵ Marina Grande
The main port where all ferries arrive. No reason to stay here — take the funicular up to Capri Town or the bus to Anacapri immediately on arrival. Boat rentals depart from here. Arrival point · Boat trips
🏖️ Marina Piccola
The south-coast bathing area below Capri Town. Private beach clubs with sunbeds and crystal-clear water. Accessible by taxi or a steep walk from Capri Town via Via Krupp. Beach · Swimming · Lidos
🌊 Blue Grotto coast
The northern coast around the Grotta Azzurra. Accessible by boat from Marina Grande or by a long walk from Anacapri. The most famous sight on the island. Iconic · Boats · Day trip
💎 Faraglioni area
The iconic sea stacks on the southeast coast, visible from Via Tragara and the cliffs above. The most photographed view on Capri. Hotels here have the finest views on the island. Views · Romantic · Iconic
Tips for booking
- Book Capri luxury hotels 3-6 months ahead for July and August. The island has limited accommodation and extreme summer demand — top properties sell out completely for peak weeks. May, early June and September offer the same five-star experience at significantly lower prices with far fewer crowds on the Piazzetta.
- Visit the Blue Grotto first thing in the morning. The magic light effect is strongest when the sun is low in the east (roughly 9-11am). By midday the queue of boats can be very long. The Grotto closes in bad weather when the waves are too high to enter safely. A private boat rental is the best way to combine the grotto with a full island circuit.
- Stay in Anacapri for the best walking base. Anacapri sits on the high western plateau and gives direct access to Monte Solaro, the Sentiero dei Fortini, and the quietest paths on the island. It is also significantly less crowded and less expensive than Capri Town, and has excellent B&Bs in converted farmhouses with gardens.
- Visit Villa Jovis early in the morning or at golden hour. The 45-minute walk from Capri Town through lemon groves and past ancient walls is one of the finest approaches to any Roman site in Italy. The terrace overlooking the sea from 334 metres is extraordinary. Go early to have the ruins to yourself — most day-trippers never make it this far.
- Book a hotel with a sea-view terrace and stay at least two nights. One night on Capri is never enough. The magic of the island is in the early morning before the ferries arrive and the late evening after they leave. A hotel room with a balcony facing the Faraglioni sea stacks is the single best thing you can spend money on in Capri.
- Anacapri is the budget traveller's best-kept secret on Capri. Prices for accommodation and food are often 40-60% lower than in Capri Town, the village atmosphere is genuinely local (not tourist-stage-set), and the Monte Solaro chairlift and best walking trails are right on the doorstep. Stay here and day-trip down to Capri Town on the bus.
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