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Capri, the mystical island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, has been a playground for the rich and powerful since Roman times. In the 20th century, Capri became synonymous with jet-set culture: fancy beach clubs, luxury yachts anchored in turquoise waters, designer stores, and sea-view villas with Majolica tables flanked by lemon vines.
In the 1st century AD, the Roman Emperor Tiberius built a villa in Capri as his getaway. Through centuries, the island’s captivating beauty has been a magnet for artists and intellectuals, drawn by its striking scenery and picture-perfect villas.
The beauty of Capri is seen worldwide in the Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue commercials, which feature the island’s iconic Faraglioni rocks and azure waters as their backdrop. Stepping into Capri is like stepping into a bubble of timeless elegance.
On the right, Jacqueline Kennedy and her sister, Lee Radziwill, with their children shopping in Capri in 1970. Photo credit: Ron Galella.
Jacqueline Kennedy was one of the many elite figures who regularly visited Capri. This is what Italian photographer, Settimio Garritano, who followed her each time Jackie vacationed the island, said:
“Arriving on her husband’s yacht Christina, Jackie regularly visited Capri where she loved to stroll through the narrow little streets without being hampered by bodyguards… It gave her great pleasure to be among the local people, stopping at a kiosk for a freshly-squeezed lemonade, or sipping a cappuccino or an aperitivo while sitting in Capri’s world-famous square.”
What to know about Capri
• The island is expensive. If you want to book an Airbnb for 3 nights, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything below $600.
• Capri has a small hospital and emergency room, but serious medical emergencies will require a helicopter to Naples.
• During the winter, the island becomes a ghost town and reverts to its close-knit community. The captain told me that many younger residents leave the island for school and work in Sorrento or Naples. Those who remain year-round, he said, have very few options once the tourist season ends.
• There are no sandy beaches in Capri. The very few beaches are mostly around the two marinas, Marina Grande and Marina Piccola, and are small and rocky due to the island’s cliffside landscape. The captain said that most people that live on the island own a boat – which is the best way to enjoy Capri’s azure waters.
• Lemons are a big motif on the island: stands decked out in lemon drawings, granita, limoncello, sorbets… Make sure you have at least a granita and a sorbet. The fertile soil, terraced gardens, and coastal breeze create unique conditions for growing lemons in this part of the world, including nearby Sorrento, which is world-famous for its lemons. Think sweet, fragrant, and with very mild acidity. The best!
• Although they were created in Germany in 1948, the famous Capri pants were named after the island and popularized by icons like Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe. Today, Capri pants are synonymous with effortlessness, elegance, and sophistication.
• Capri is not the most convenient place to live, and the island, like many places in Italy, has suffered from overtourism. However, the Italians I’ve talked to recognize Capri’s beauty. “Capri è piccola, ma bellissima” (“Capri is small, but absolutely beautiful”), said one Italian in Naples.
• No matter how many Instagram posts try to deter you from going because it’s too touristy, Capri’s beauty deserves to be seen in person at least once.
• In order to get to Capri from Marina Piccola, you’ll need to take the bus, or you can take the funicular. Aside from the stunning views, watch how the drivers expertly navigate the hairpin bends and squeeze past buses coming from the opposite direction.
• I highly recommend watching this documentary about the daily life of workers in Capri and the Positano area.
How to get to Capri from Naples
If you’re traveling to Capri from Naples, the best pickup and drop-off spots will be in Sorrento.
Last year and this year, we booked our trip to Capri through Capitano Ago, which departs from Sorrento. It’s about a 50-minute ride to Capri, with two stops for swimming and a cruise around the island.
The easiest way to get to Sorrento from Naples is by train, which takes about an hour and 15 minutes from Napoli Centrale. If you have the budget, a private driver will set you back around 200 euros. There are also ferries that depart from Naples to Sorrento, but given that most boats that depart from Sorrento to Capri start between 8 and 9 am, you want to get to Sorrento as fast as possible. The Naples metro opens at 6am.
Boat Trip
The best way to get to Capri and enjoy its sparkling azure waters is by boat, like an old movie star. Although the island is expensive, the semi-private boat tours are relatively cheap (starting at 50 euros) for such a renowned location.
Capitano Ago was our choice this year and last year, where besides Capri, we spent the day in Amalfi and Positano. Most boat tours offering day trips to Capri range from 5 to 8 hours.
Please know that if you purchase a tour from Capitano Ago through the Getyourguide links above, I’ll get a small commission at no price to you. 🙂 Don’t forget to bring a change of clothes and comfortable shoes.
With Capitano Ago, there are two swim stops for about 20-plus minutes each. It’s no wonder Dolce & Gabbana named their perfume Light Blue. It felt like I was diving into an aquarium! The boat will also cruise past many dreamy coves.
Nothing beats taking a dip in those azure waters, staring at the towering limestone cliffs dotted with Mediterranean pines while listening to the cacophonous cicadas. It’s such a unique experience! To further get into the Dolce Vita mood, play “Parlami d’amore,” the dreamy Italian song featured in the Dolce & Gabbana commercials. Here’s another gorgeous playlist that I listened to while sitting on the bow as we approached the island.
The earlier you book your day trip the better because in the afternoon, there’s more wind and the waters are rougher.
What to see around the island
After departing from Sorrento, Capitano Ago will take you around the island and stop for swims.
Fariglioni of Capri
Capri’s signature rocks. The captain will maneuver and stop the boat so that you get the best picture – like in a Dolce & Gabbana commercial!
Blue Grotto
In my opinion, unless you have time to spare, I don’t think it’s worth the extra 18 euros. I also felt very claustrophobic watching a viral video from 2025 of a boatman trying to squeeze the boat through the tiny opening amid huge waves, while tourists had to lie flat and get completely soaked. When my dad and I went in 2025, the Blue Grotto was temporarily closed.
This year, we passed by the long line of people standing in the heat, waiting to board the unshaded rowboats. The captain asked if any of us wanted to get off, but none of us did.
Punta Carena Lighthouse
Our boat guide said that this was the second most powerful lighthouse in Italy! It was built in 1867.
Capri
The island comprises two municipalities: Capri and Anacapri, both part of the Metropolitan City of Naples.
We explored Capri last year. After all the swimming, we had four hours to explore the island. Some people decided to take the longer route and go to Anacapri. Unless you hire a private driver, it’s not easy to cram the entire island in such a short amount of time due to the verticality and distances.
That’s why, if it’s your first time and you have limited time, I highly recommend staying in Capri and Marina Piccola.
Our first time in Capri was pretty relaxing compared to our jam-packed days in Naples. If you can’t make it to all of these places, do not fret. Capri is best enjoyed at a leisurely pace, so don’t feel like you have to see everything at once. The fact that you’re on this coveted island is already more than enough!
Here’s what to do:
Enjoy an espresso and a light aperitivo at Capri Piazzetta. This is Capri’s main hub, where locals and tourists merge: meticulously paved streets, perfectly groomed and uniformed servers, charming boutiques, and Capri’s pastel-colored town hall. La Dolce Vita! We went to Bar Tiberio, but really, sitting at any cafe there will be absolutely worth it.
After your light meal, sashay down Via Vittorio Emanuele à la Jacqueline Kennedy — a pedestrian street where you’ll find designer boutiques, artisanal jewelry, and luxury boutique hotels.
Have a gelato at the world-famous Gelateria Buonocore. It is the oldest gelateria on the island, founded by the Buonocore family in 1950.
Buonocore has been internationally recognized as one of the best gelaterias in Italy – praised for their exceptional handmade gelato and delicious waffle cones, made fresh on the spot.
Over the years, countless celebrities have been spotted there, including Dua Lipa, Sofia Vergara, Chiara Ferragni, and, most recently, David and Victoria Beckham. Dua Lipa graced the cover of Vogue Italia in September 2026. When asked about her favorite places in Italy, she said, “The best gelato is at Buonocore, in Capri. A very long line, but that pistachio gelato is absolutely worth the wait.”
As you walk down the narrow street, you’ll end up on Via Camerelle, where more luxury shopping and majestic bougainvillea cascading down the facades await you.
Gardens of Augustus
Unfortunately, we couldn’t make it, but the awe-inspiring beauty of Capri continues at the Gardens of Augustus: flower-decked terraces, graceful statues, and ethereal views.
Here, you’ll also be able to get a bird’s eye view of Via Krupp. This impressive feat of engineering was commissioned by German industrialist Friedrich Alfred Krupp in the early 1900s. The dramatic hairpin bends were made to navigate Capri’s steep terrain from Marina Piccola by foot.
Have yet another overpriced drink at Lo Scoglio delle Sirene Capri in Marina Piccola, and if you feel like it, go for a swim. This year, our drop-off and pickup spot in Capri was at Marina Grande, but it didn’t compare to Marina Piccola, with its impossibly turquoise water. It’s so ethereal that it reminded me of the Mermaid Lagoon in Peter Pan!
These pictures are from last year while we were waiting for our boat in Marina Piccola. The Beach Club Gioia is for sure the prettiest beach in Capri!
Above, Marina Grande. Our drop-off and pickup spot this summer. What a difference!
Anacapri
This summer, we got to explore Anacapri for the day — the less glitzy side of the island. If I had to choose between Capri and Anacapri, the latter is my favorite. It’s amazing how one side of the island boasts luxury while the other has a more humble atmosphere, akin to a small Italian commune. Anacapri sits higher up on the island, offering a completely different experience from Capri.
Anacapri’s main street is Via Giuseppe Orlandi. As you walk past the crowded restaurants, you will come across the unmistakable Casa Rossa Museum. This striking red, Pompeian-style building is home to paintings from the 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as statues of sea deities discovered by divers in the Blue Grotto back in the ’60s.
On the farther and quieter end of Via Giusseppe Orlandi, you’ll come across Bar Ferraro. Sit outside and people-watch with the historic Church of Santa Sofia at Piazza Armando Diaz. I ordered a bruschetta toast, a granita, and a lemon sorbet. The best I’ve ever had – the lemon flavor and texture were so distinctive that I think about them often.
I asked the owner, Claudio, who was nice enough to take my picture, what his favorite place in Capri was. He said Monte Solaro, which, coincidentally, was our next stop. “È magico” (it’s magical), he said.
Monte Solaro
In order to get to Monte Solaro, you’ll need to take the chairlift from Piazza Vittoria. Once you get to the top, you’ll get a better appreciation of Capri’s hypnotizing charm: the Fariglioni rocks jutting out of the sea, the whitewashed town of Capri, the towering limestone cliffs, lush greenery, and the impossibly blue sea. There’s a cafe and ample space for people to sit and take in the views for as long as they like.
Villa San Michele
If time allows, visit Villa San Michele, the former residence of Swedish physician and author Axel Munthe. He first visited the island when he was 19 years old and, like most of us, was captivated by its enchanting beauty. In 1895, at 38 years old, he purchased the property and began constructing his dream villa, which would become one of Capri’s most celebrated landmarks.
The house features an extensive collection of Roman and Egyptian antiquities. However, like most villas in Capri, the grounds are the star of the show — specifically the Sphinx Terrace. Axel spent brief periods away from the island, but Capri was his primary home for more than 56 years before he returned to Sweden at the end of his life, passing away at the age of 91.
Back to Sorrento: Where to eat?
You will get dropped off at Marina Grande in Sorrento at around 5:30 pm. My absolute best recommendation is to have a hearty dinner at Da Bob Cook Fish, which opens at 6pm for dinner. It’s on the higher end, but everything we had was exceptional.
We went to Da Bob Cook Fish last year, and it was such a memorable meal that we came back again this year! The restaurant works closely with fish mongers. Whether you want to taste the catch of the day, seafood pasta, fresh anchovies, or delicious lemon desserts, Dabob Cook Fish is a must for me and my dad whenever we’re in Sorrento. I will even go as far to say that it’s the best meal we’ve had during our Italy trip. If you go, please send me an email about your experience!
Of course, you may eat at one of the many restaurants on Capri with sweeping views — but due to the limited time, crowds, not to mention the pricier food and service charges, you can get more or less the same experience with a light aperitivo.
Last year, when we booked a second day trip with Capitano Ago to Amalfi and Positano, it fell on a Tuesday, the only day when Da Bob is closed. My dad was heartbroken. Instead, we had fresh fish and spaghetti alle vongole at Taverna Azzurra, located in Sorrento’s Marina Grande. When you’re in this part of Sorrento, you’ll see plenty of black-and-white photos of Sophia Loren, paying homage to her 1955 film Scandal in Sorrento. It’s incredible how much of the marina has remained unchanged!
Overall, I hope you found this post useful and make the best of your time in one of the most beautiful places in the world!
