Are you wondering what are the best things to do in Capri, Italy? You are on the right page! I have been to Amalfi Coast, so let me share with you some of my recommended activities and places to visit in Capri.
It makes sense that the emperors Augustus and Tiberius would flee the bustle of ancient Rome and move to the idyllic island of Capri. Today, it continues to draw boatloads of tourists each day as well as vacationers from southern Italian cities. Its craggy, 61-meter peaks rise abruptly from the Tyrrhenian Sea, just 20 kilometers away, in sight of Sorrento.
The Amalfi Coast‘s towns and cities and the island’s scale are comparable in size. However, Capri has a ton of entertaining activities, and due to its small size, getting around is simple. The island offers more boat tours and free beaches than you can count in addition to a rich literary and historical heritage.
The best things to do in Capri will all be covered in this guide. Capri has a lot to offer visitors, whether they are traveling alone, as a family, or as a couple looking for romantic activities.
Read more: Beautiful Places To Visit In Italy For The First Time
Best Things to Do in Capri, Italy:
1. Blue Grotto
You must visit Capri in order to see the Blue Grotto. One of Capri Island’s most stunning natural wonders and a great destination is The Blue Grotto.
Electric blue light reflecting through an underwater cavity illuminates the sea cave. The Blue Grotto perfectly embodies the idea of natural beauty with its jaw-dropping contrast between the dark cave and the vivid blue water. The cave measures 25 meters in width and 60 meters in length. The glowing water beneath you is the only source of light as you move through the cave.
In the past, some tours permitted swimming in the Blue Grotto, but this is not recommended. It can be quite choppy because the Blue Grotto is situated on a cliff face in the open sea, especially during high tide. When the sea is rough, there is a chance that swimmers will be pushed up against the cave walls. As a result, swimming in the grotto is no longer permitted. Additionally, only small boats are able to access this.
When the sea is rough, it becomes impossible to enter the cave through the opening, which is barely a meter high. Small boats are gathered near the entrance to transport tourists inside.
Grotta Verde and Grotta Bianca are two other striking sea caves where the light reflects the vibrant colors of the Mediterranean.
The Green Grotto (Grotta Verde) is one of several unnatural sea caves along Capri’s rocky coastline. It is renowned for the distinctive green light that enters through the water and reflects off the walls, illuminating the interior and giving it a striking, ethereal feel.
On the Italian island of Capri, there is a sea cave called the Grotta Bianca, or “white cave.” It gets its name from the white calcareous incrustations that cover its sides and the white stalactite clusters that hang from the roof and frame the entrance.
2. Enjoy Capri Beaches
What could be more enjoyable than unwinding on a sun lounger with a drink in your hand while admiring the Mediterranean’s crystal-clear waters? Small, sandless, and carved into the rocky coastline by wind and water, Capri’s beaches are few and far between. However, the beachside businesses are more like seaside salons with fantastic seafood and fish restaurants where you can unwind all day. Here are a few beaches you could go to.
Marina Piccola Beach in Capri Italy
Marina Grande Beach
Near the marina where you enter Capri island is the largest public beach there. It’s a good idea to arrive early to secure a prime spot, just like it is with the other beaches on the island, especially during the busy season. A private section of the beach with loungers, food, and drinks is also accessible.
Marina Piccola Beach
It’s simple to believe that the Sirens lured Ulysses here if you picture this location before there were sun worshippers and cafés. It is frequently warm enough for sunbathing even in the winter in the small harbor on the south coast because it receives the most sunlight and is shielded from the winds by steep cliffs.
Spiaggia Bagni di Tiberio
The Marina Grande is about a 10-minute walk from this beachfront location, or you can take a gozzo boat from the marina. They have snack bars and beach cabins, but for more substantial fare, there is a restaurant by the same name that serves superb seafood and regional wines.
Cala Grande Beach
You don’t need special footwear for Cala Grande because it has a small coastline with several bays, turquoise water, and light sand and pebble cover. It’s normal for the water to feel sharp when you first step in. This beach is appropriate for a variety of people, including lone travelers and lovers of relaxing getaways. In season, it is a very crowded location.
3. Punta Carena Lighthouse
An operational lighthouse, Punta Carena Lighthouse is lighted at night to direct vessels safely to Capri’s shores. A well-known landmark, the lighthouse has come to represent Capri island. Locals have a warm familiarity with it. Rushing to take pictures of the attractive lighthouse perched on the cliff face are tourists.
In addition to being a charming lighthouse, Punta Carena is also Italy’s second-tallest structure. The lighthouse, which stands a towering twenty-eight meters tall, was constructed in 1866.
The rocky beach known as II Faro, which is located directly beneath the lighthouse, offers the best views of Punta Carena. The red-painted structure is stunning at sunrise and sunset, when the orange, yellow, and pink skies best accentuate its color. One of the most romantic activities in Capri is having a picnic while sitting at II Faro.
4. Gardens of Augustus
The beautifully maintained botanic gardens cover a leafy terrace close to San Giacomo. On this terrace, flowers and pergolas frame views of the Faraglioni sea stacks, which stand in the blue-green water below.
Via Krupp is a walking path that leads down in a series of ribbon-candy loops to Marina Piccola, which is approximately 91 meters below. If you look the other way, you will see the Bay of Marina Piccola and Via Krupp. You can take the bus back after walking along Via Krupp, which was built by a German arms manufacturer who spent his vacations on Capri.
5. Villa San Michele
The magic of Villa San Michele lies not only in its beauty but also in the character that it exudes. There aren’t many houses that can boast such a picture-perfect location. It was the home of the Swedish physician Axel Munthe, who wrote a book called “The Story of San Michele,” in which he immortalized the concept of the building, its construction, and his life there.
The incredible art museum that is Villa San Michele features extensive collections of ancient art, one of which is a sphinx that is 3,200 years old.
His personal collections are displayed throughout the house and the gardens that surround it. These collections include everything from priceless archaeological artifacts to antiquities from Roman, Egyptian, and Etruscan civilizations as well as art from the 20th century. The views from its gardens are absolutely breathtaking; they are framed by vine-draped pergolas and statues made of marble.
6. Villa Jovis
The surprisingly well-preserved ruins of the Villa de Tiberio or Villa Jovis, one of Emperor Tiberius’s grandest villas, can be found in Capri’s extreme northeast. To give an idea of the size of the villa where Tiberius is believed to have lived from AD 27 until his death in AD 37, the ruins rise in terraces to the top of the hill. The villa has multiple levels and a total area of more than 18,000 square meters due to the steep terrain.
He appears to have been grumpy despite all the luxury, as Salto di Tiberio, a 274-meter cliff at the end of the road, is where he is said to have thrown disgruntled servants and visitors.
Despite the earthquake’s unfortunate damage to Villa Jovis, the property still has many of its original features. There are marble stairways as well as the ruins of a water tank system that was remarkably sophisticated for its time.
A great place to learn about Roman history, early architecture, and early architectural developments is Villa Jovis. Just prepare yourself for the more somber past.
7. Monte Solaro
Capri’s highest point, Monte Solaro, is 589 meters high. A stunning reward for your hiking efforts, you have 360-degree views over the island of Capri once you reach the summit. On a clear day, you can even see the mainland and the Bay of Naples.
Would you like the benefits without the work? For those who are unable or unwilling to hike Monte Solaro, the chairlift is a fantastic substitute. For a few euros, the chairlift transports guests to the mountain’s summit in twelve minutes. The gradual ascent will be enjoyable, and you’ll have more time to take in the views of Capri Island.
A statue of Emperor Augustus, the first Roman to arrive on the island, is located on the vertical face of the Fortino di Bruto, a defense constructed during the Napoleonic wars in the early 19th century. Under the statue’s outstretched arm is a favorite viewpoint of the Faraglioni Rocks emerging from the water.
The rarely open 16th-century monastery of Cetrella is not far from the summit.
8. Faraglioni Rock Formations
You have probably already seen the Faraglioni rocks, even if you are unaware of it. The three rocks, a famous rock formation in Capri, were created by erosion over a long period of time. What did they used to be? Nobody truly is aware. The Faraglioni rocks on Capri could have been cliff faces, arches, or caves in ancient times.
One of the most popular things to do in Capri is to visit or view the Faraglioni rocks. You can either take a scenic coastal path known as Via Tragara or board one of the many tour boats that swarm to bring tourists up close to the formation. A boat tour has the advantage of allowing you to better understand the size of each stack of the rock formation. Some stacks have a height of up to 100 meters, and a boat ride will allow you to pass through the second stack’s tiny arch.
You can see the rocks from a wider angle by hiking the Via Tragara. You’ll pass by a number of noteworthy vantage points where you can take pictures of the formation that would look great on a postcard.
You can decide whether to go on a boat tour or a hike because both options are excellent. Why not combine the two, if you can?
9. Go Shopping at Via Camerelle
Everyone is aware of Italy’s prowess in the fashion industry. Without the opportunity to purchase a pricey souvenir or at the very least browse the major Italian brands, what good is a vacation in Capri? One of the best things to do in Capri is shop in Capri Town.
The Grand Hotel Quisisana located along Via Camerelle
The best street in Capri Town for purchasing designer brands is Via Camerelle. Gucci, Louis Vuitton, DIOR, Chanel, and Balenciaga are among the nearby stores that you can visit. You can choose to spend a lot of money there or not, but simply browsing is enjoyable in and of itself.
Don’t worry if you don’t have thousands of euros to spend. To purchase souvenirs, there are many alternative stores available. The handcrafted Capri sandals made famous by Canfora Capri Sandals are expensive but worthwhile investments because of their durability. You can browse a variety of independent boutique stores for discounts.
Shopping on Via Camerelle alone could easily occupy a fashion connoisseur for half a day. If your wallet and legs can handle it, you can continue down the street to Via Roma, Via le Botteghe, and Via Vittorio Emanuele. Shopping in Capri is wonderful.
10. Hermitage of Santa Maria of Cetrella
On Mount Solaro, in the Cetrella Valley, is a tiny church called the Hermitage of Santa Maria a Cetrella.
The church, which dates back to the early 14th century, can be reached either by chairlift from Anacapri’s Piazza Vittoria and a short 15-minute walk downhill, or by climbing directly up the mountainside, which takes 45 to an hour.
The church has two naves, one of which is devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the other of which is enhanced by an 18th-century painting of San Domenico. Beyond the church, you can see the campanile, sacristy, kitchen, and some of the cells where Franciscans and Dominicans lived, finding the peace and tranquility they were looking for there.
11. Enjoy the Outdoors and Hiking Trails
Here are five breathtaking Capri hiking routes because Capri is a walker’s paradise with amazing views and scenery. To prevent scratches on your legs, put on appropriate footwear and long socks or pants. Remember to pack a hat, sunscreen, water, and bug spray.
Baia di Ieranto
An Italian nature reserve known as the Baia di Ieranto Natural Area was founded in 1997 and is situated in the town of Massa Lubrense in the Campania region of Naples. The bay of Ieranto, with a 49.50 ha area, is situated between Capri and the Amalfi coast, at the very tip of the Sorrentine peninsula.
Via Krupp
One of Capri Island’s most stunning hiking routes is called Via Krupp. The trail winds upward from Marina Piccola Bay to the Gardens of Augustus, with its distinctive hairpin bends being easy to spot.
Via Krupp was commissioned by Friedrich Alfred Krupp, much like the botanic gardens. Krupp hired Emilio Mayer as the architect, and Mayer created the bends as a way to climb the 100-foot cliff face.
The Via Krupp was fully operational for the remaining years of Krupp’s life and is now a public trail and beautiful hike that honors his memory. As walkers ascend Via Krupp, they are surrounded by lush vegetation and get stunning views of Capri island. The only potential danger is falling rocks. It is also important to confirm that the trail is open in advance because it is closed to visitors when there is a high risk of falling rocks.
Arco Naturale (Natural Arch)
The Arco Naturale, also known as the Natural Arch, is one of the top things to do in Capri if you enjoy natural attractions. The strange rock formation is from the Paleolithic Age, also called the Stone Age.
The arch frames a coastal scene and the azure Mediterranean Sea instead of the desert. The arch is a striking pale gray color because it is made of limestone rather than sandstone.
The Natural Arch is a striking sight to behold, measuring twelve meters in length and eighteen meters in height. The arch is thought by scientists to be the remains of a grotto that has collapsed. However, leaving the arch as a mysterious natural wonder to wonder at is just as much fun.
I hope that inspired you to visit this rugged and beautiful Italian island in the Campania region of Italy! Capri really has a lot to offer to its visitors, hence I encourage you to include this when you visit Italy soon.
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Everything Zany
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