I Faraglioni
Pure dolce vita soul and summer energy you'll be thinking about for the rest of your life.
Capri is expensive, and it cannot really be done on a budget. My advice is to just accept it for what it is, and enjoy every moment of it.
June and early September (the 1st through the 20th) are the sweet spots. Avoid August entirely — and lately, July is maybe even busier.
The island has two towns — Capri and Anacapri — connected by a main road of about 2km. Capri is the glamour; Anacapri is quieter, more local.
Most of the island is pedestrian. You have to love walking and especially stairs. Take the bus at least once to admire the drivers squeezing past each other on what most would consider a one-lane road.
The beaches are rocks from which you dive into the water, or pebbles. It takes some getting used to, especially for kids not used to deep water. But the water is worth it.
In 15 minutes, you can be most places on the island. Do not overthink logistics — just wander. Taxis are expensive but for big families, probably the best bet.
Capri is for those who do not rush. Long lunches that drift into aperitivo, golden hour dips, and evenings in the piazzetta watching the world go beautifully by.
I Faraglioni
From glamorous beach clubs to tiered rocky balconies you can sunbathe and plunge from, Capri's mare is a spellbinding shade of blue.
"After 6pm you can swim into the Blue Grotto — the best way to see it, albeit a little scary at first."
Capri town is glamour, boutiques and people-watching. Anacapri is quieter, with local charm and sweeping views of the island.
Less central but stunningly located. My personal favorite on the island.
★ My Pick
The grand hotel of reference. The epicenter of Capri glamour.
Iconic
Super central and recently renovated, part of Oetker Collection.
Central
Gorgeous, with iconic Faraglioni views. About 20 minutes walk from center.
Views
Great location and views, slightly more affordable.
Great Value
Contemporary luxury located close to the port.
Chic
One of the only hotels right near the beach.
Beachfront
A beach club with guest rooms. The location is amazing.
Unique
The five-star in Anacapri. Beautiful spa, home to Zuma restaurant.
Luxury · Spa
Totally gorgeous, with the most stunning views. Worth it for sunset drinks alone.
Stunning Views
Golden hour
Moments, experiences and memories that are iconically Capri.
From lemon-tree dinners to beachside lunches. Do not skip the gelato at Buonocore.
Dinner under a canopy of lemon trees. One of the most magical settings anywhere.
Dinner · IconicFancy beachside restaurant near Grotta Azzurra. Refined seafood and incredible views.
Lunch or Dinner · Fine DiningTucked into the cliffs. If it is a full moon, even better.
Dinner · RomanticA beautiful spot for a long, sun-drenched lunch right on the water.
Lunch · BeachsideElegant setting with wonderful food. A Capri classic.
Dinner · ClassicIn Anacapri, surrounded by greenery. A more local and relaxed experience.
Dinner · AnacapriA Capri institution. Consistently great food in a charming garden setting.
Dinner · GardenClassic Capri dining. Beloved by locals and returning visitors.
Dinner · ClassicThe gelato stop. Do not leave the island without tasting a hand toasted cone and gelato, open until 1am.
Gelato · EssentialA newer addition near the Grotta Azzurra area. Fancy, seafood-focused.
Lunch · Fine DiningAnacapri's favorite local bar for coffee and handmade pastries.
Coffee · AnacapriOrder a classic Caprese spritz and sit back for a front-row island experience in the Piazzetta.
Aperitivo · People Watching"Take a Gozzo to Nerano for lunch — Lo Scoglio da Tommaso, Conca dei Sogni, or Maria Grazia. It is the best day trip you will ever take."
Skip the global brands — you can get those anywhere. Here is what is worth bringing home, and where to go after dark.
Handmade Capri sandals — the quintessential island souvenir. Watch them being made to your specifications.
Local fashion with that effortless Italian style. Pieces that feel like Capri when you wear them back home.
The jeweler of Capri since 1947. Their campanella (bell) charm is iconic.
Neapolitan classics performed live. This is where Capri lets its hair down — sing along, dance, stay too late.
The nightclub on the island. Sometimes hosts big DJs. For when the piazzetta is not enough.
"Take a quick dip by the Faraglioni before Da Luigi opens at 9am. The access to the beach there is free by Italian law, even if it is private."
Best taken when the isle sleeps at sunrise and when the sun is sinking into the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Begin at Piazza della Pace in Anacapri. Take the well-marked uphill trail that leads directly to the 589-meter summit of Monte Solaro. From the peak, follow the signed dirt path as it descends slightly to the east into the quiet, wildflower-filled Valletta di Cetrella to reach the 16th-century Santa Maria a Cetrella Hermitage.
The Sentiero dei Fortini hugs the rugged western coastline of Anacapri, stretching 5.5 km (3.4 miles) from the Grotta Azzurra to the Punta Carena lighthouse. This side of the island is heavily exposed and gets very hot — it's best walked in late spring, or, if you add the swim at Mesola, in early or late summer and early in the morning to escape the heat.
Start near the parking lot above the Grotta Azzurra and follow the paved road until the path reaches the Pineta di Damecuta. Waymarked with red dots and ceramic tiles, the trail passes the ruins of a Roman imperial villa and winds to the first blockhouse, the Fortino di Orrico. Roughly midway (about 1.5 hours in) you reach the Fortino di Mesola, where a steep flight of stone steps drops to a cove for a swim in deep blue water. Continuing on past the Belvedere degli Agli and Belvedere degli Elicrisi for breathtaking cliffside views, you pass the Fortino di Pino and finally descend to the pebble beach and rocky bathing platform of the Faro at Punta Carena.
Leave the famous Piazzetta and head down Via Vittorio Emanuele, which transitions into the luxury shopping street Via Camerelle. Continue straight onto Via Tragara until you reach the Belvedere di Tragara, a stunning terrace overlooking the ocean and the Faraglioni rock stacks.
From the viewpoint, bear left and follow the signs for the Arco Naturale. This slightly undulating trail takes you through quiet, luxurious residential streets before entering lush coastal vegetation. After about 20 minutes from Tragara you reach the Arco Naturale, a breathtaking limestone formation created by erosion. Descend a steep flight of stairs to the Grotta di Matermania, a large natural cavern used for pagan rituals in the Roman era. The trail then officially becomes the Pizzolungo path, winding closely along the rocky southern cliffs with sweeping views of the sea, the Villa Malaparte, and the Faraglioni stacks.
A local's day, from a first-light walk to a late-night gelato.
Start with a sunrise walk — the more rigorous the better. I love to walk the Pizzolungo as the sun comes up.
A quick dip by the Faraglioni before Da Luigi opens.
Coffee and a cornetto or graffe at Bar Alberto, on the corner of the Piazzetta.
Take the afternoon off to nap and relax.
In the late afternoon, head to Gradola for a sunset dip.
Followed by dinner there at the restaurant.
A post dinner panfragola / strawberries-and-cream gelato at Buonocore.
Luigi is the go-to: +39 333 412 8147. Book a Gozzo with a sailor for the day and cross to Nerano for lunch.
After 6pm, the tourist boats stop and you can swim into the Blue Grotto yourself. A little scary at first, but the best way to experience it.
Reserve a graffa (the most delicious doughnut you will ever have) in advance — if you do not, you might not get one.
Go to the Faro for a drink at sunset and a dip if you feel like it. Or head to Caesar Augustus for something more elevated.
If you can time your visit with a full moon, book dinner at Le Grotelle. The cliffside setting under moonlight is unforgettable.
The famous serpentine path carved into the cliffside. Do not miss it — and visit Villa Fersen while you are exploring.