Capri day trip from Naples
From Naples: Guided Capri Island Day Trip
Duration: 8h
How do you do a Capri day trip from Naples?
Take a hydrofoil (aliscafo) from Molo Beverello in Naples — 45–50 minutes, around €22–28 return. Book the outbound ticket online in July–August because ferries sell out. Arrive early (first ferry around 07:00–08:00) to beat the day-tripper crowds that peak between 10:00 and 14:00.
Quick answer: Hydrofoil from Molo Beverello to Capri — 45 minutes, ~€22–28 return. Book outbound online in summer. Arrive early (pre-09:00) to beat the day-tripper peak. The Blue Grotto is worth it only if the queue is under 30 minutes.
Getting from Naples to Capri
Capri has no bridge, no tunnel, and no car access from the mainland. The only way to reach it is by sea.
From Molo Beverello (central Naples):
- Hydrofoil (aliscafo): 45–50 minutes, runs from approximately 07:00 to 21:00 in summer, roughly hourly. Operators include Alilauro, SNAV, and Caremar. Return price: €22–28.
- Regular ferry (traghetto):
80 minutes, cheaper (€15–18 return), but not worth the extra time for a day trip.
From Sorrento:
- Many visitors prefer to take the Circumvesuviana from Naples to Sorrento (75 min) and then ferry to Capri from Sorrento (20–25 minutes, €12–16 return). The total door-to-door time is similar but offers more flexibility, and Sorrento–Capri ferries run more frequently. See the Capri from Naples vs Sorrento guide.
Buying tickets:
- Alilauro: alilauro.it
- SNAV: snav.it
- Caremar: caremar.it
In July–August, the first morning hydrofoils from Naples (07:00–08:30) sell out by the previous evening. Buy online with an assigned seat. Return ferries are usually easier to catch on a walk-up basis, but book if you need a specific time.
Arriving at Marina Grande
All ferries arrive at Marina Grande, Capri’s main harbour. From here you have three options:
1. Funicular to Capri Town (piazzetta): €2.20 each way, 4-minute ride. Runs continuously 07:30–21:30 (later in peak season). The most popular option. Queue can be 20–30 minutes in mid-morning.
2. Bus Line A to Anacapri: Departs from Via Roma (signposted from the port area). €2 one way. Bypasses Capri Town entirely and goes directly to Anacapri. Useful if your first priority is the Monte Solaro chairlift or the cooler, quieter hilltop village.
3. Taxi: Electric vehicles operate from the port. Fixed tariffs displayed — Marina Grande to Capri Town is around €18, to Anacapri ~€35. Not worth it for a solo traveller or couple; reasonable for four sharing.
Capri Town — what is and isn’t worth your time
The famous piazzetta (Piazza Umberto I) is a tiny square of cafes and people-watching. The surrounding streets are lined with luxury boutiques — Loro Piana, Prada, Cartier — and designer-wear shops. This area is spectacular to look at and expensive to engage with.
What is worth the stop:
- A coffee or aperitivo at one of the piazzetta cafes — yes, €6–10 for a coffee, but the people-watching and setting are part of the Capri experience. Once.
- A walk along Via Tragara to the Faraglioni viewpoints (the three rock stacks). Free, 15–20 minutes from the piazzetta.
- The Augustus Gardens (Giardini di Augusto), €1 entry — terraced gardens with views over the Faraglioni and Marina Piccola.
What is not worth it:
- Shopping. Identical designer goods cost 15–30% more than the same items in Naples or Milan.
- The main “tourist set menus” posted outside restaurants on Via Madre Serafina — double the price of comparable food in the back streets.
Blue Grotto — the honest assessment
Capri + Blue Grotto day tour from NaplesThe Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) is a sea cave on the northwest side of the island. Light enters through a submerged opening, creates a total blue illumination inside, and the effect is genuinely beautiful. The problem is access and the economics.
How it works:
- Small motorboats (not included in any tour, €14–18/person) take you from the Grotta Azzurra landing to the cave entrance.
- To enter the cave itself, you transfer to an even smaller rowing boat with a local boatman. Admission: €4 per person.
- The boatman rows you inside. You spend approximately 5–7 minutes inside (often less if there is a queue behind you). The boatman sings if he feels like it.
- You are returned to the motorboat, return to landing.
Total cost: ~€18–22 per person.
The catch: The grotto is closed whenever sea conditions exceed 40 cm waves — which happens frequently, especially in spring and late autumn. In summer, queues at the cave entrance can be 60–90 minutes. You will be on a slightly unstable small boat during that wait.
Verdict: Worth it if: the sea is calm, the queue is under 30 minutes when you arrive, and you have not seen it before. Skip it and enjoy the exterior view from a boat tour if conditions are rough or the queue is long.
Anacapri and Monte Solaro
Anacapri sits higher on the island’s second plateau and feels noticeably different from the busier lower town. The streets are quieter, the views are more expansive, and the restaurants are cheaper.
Monte Solaro chairlift: A single-chair open-air lift from Piazza Vittoria in Anacapri to the 589 m summit. Open daily from approximately 09:30 to sunset (closes at 17:00 in winter). Tickets: €14 one way, €11 up-and-down (it is the same ticket, you can go both ways). Journey: 13 minutes. The summit has a bar and 360° views.
Villa San Michele (Axel Munthe house): A Swede’s fantasy villa built into the ruins of Roman Emperor Tiberius’s old residence. Entry €8. The gardens and views over the Bay of Naples are excellent. The audio guide is informative. Quieter than the Faraglioni viewpoints on the Capri Town side.
Bus from Capri Town to Anacapri: Line A from Via Roma, €2 one way, every 15–20 minutes.
Full guide: Anacapri and the Monte Solaro chairlift.
Boat tours around Capri
Taking a small boat around the island is one of the most satisfying ways to spend a few hours at Capri — away from the crowds, in clear water, passing sea caves, arches, and the dramatic southern cliffs.
Options range from shared group tours (~€30–45/person for 3–4 hours) to private gozzo (traditional wooden boat) hire (€400–800/day depending on size). The classic circuit takes in Grotta Bianca, Grotta Verde, the Faraglioni arches, and the Grotta Azzurra exterior.
See the Capri boat tour guide.
Practical logistics and costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Hydrofoil return (Naples–Capri) | ~€22–28 |
| Funicular (each way) | €2.20 |
| Blue Grotto motorboat | €14–18 |
| Blue Grotto admission | €4 |
| Monte Solaro chairlift (up-down) | €11 |
| Villa San Michele | €8 |
| Coffee at the piazzetta | €6–10 |
| Lunch (trattoria, Anacapri) | €20–35 |
Budget estimate for a full day: €80–120 per person if you do the hydrofoil, chairlift, one meal, a coffee, and the Blue Grotto. You can reduce this to €50–60 by skipping the grotto and eating at a panino bar.
Sample day trip itinerary
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 07:30 | Depart Molo Beverello, Naples (first hydrofoil) |
| 08:20 | Arrive Marina Grande, Capri |
| 08:30 | Bus directly to Anacapri |
| 09:00 | Monte Solaro chairlift open, summit views |
| 10:30 | Explore Anacapri village, Villa San Michele |
| 12:00 | Lunch in Anacapri (cheaper, quieter) |
| 13:30 | Bus to Capri Town |
| 14:00 | Funicular down to Marina Grande |
| 14:30 | Motorboat to Blue Grotto (only if queue under 30 min) |
| 15:30 | Augustus Gardens, Faraglioni viewpoint |
| 17:30 | Hydrofoil return to Naples |
| 18:20 | Arrive Molo Beverello |
Frequently asked questions about Capri day trips
Is Capri worth visiting for just one day?
Yes, but you need to accept limitations. A full day covers Capri Town, Anacapri, the Monte Solaro chairlift, and a short boat excursion. You will not see everything, and in July–August the crowds are intense. If your schedule allows, an overnight stay (even one night) transforms the experience — the island returns to normal after 17:00 as the day-trippers leave.
Can you swim at Capri on a day trip?
Yes. Marina Piccola is the main beach area (15 min walk from Capri Town or 10 min by bus). Mixed rock and shingle, paid beach clubs (€20–35 for sun bed + umbrella) and free public areas. Faro beach in Anacapri (near the lighthouse) is quieter. The water is clear and baignable from May to October.
Is it better to go to Capri from Naples or from Sorrento?
Sorrento ferries are 20 minutes each way vs 50 minutes from Naples, and Sorrento has more departures. If you are doing Sorrento as part of your trip, it makes sense to go to Capri from there. If you are based in Naples, the direct hydrofoil is perfectly convenient. The Capri from Naples vs Sorrento guide compares both options.
What is there to do on Capri beyond the piazzetta and the Blue Grotto?
More than the tourist circuit suggests. The Path of Materita (walk between Capri and Anacapri along the cliff) takes 1.5 hours and has outstanding views. Villa Jovis — Emperor Tiberius’s main residence on the island’s eastern peak — is a serious Roman ruin that most day-trippers skip entirely. Natural Arch (Arco Naturale) is a free rock formation accessible by a 20-minute walk from Capri Town.
How do I compare Capri, Ischia, and Procida?
Capri: glamour, dramatic scenery, expensive, crowded in summer. Ischia: thermal pools, beaches, more local character, larger. Procida: authentic fishing village, cheapest, least visited, half-day is enough. Full comparison: Capri vs Ischia vs Procida.
Frequently asked questions about Capri day trip from Naples
How long does the ferry from Naples to Capri take?
How much does the Naples to Capri ferry cost?
Is the Blue Grotto worth it?
Can you reach Anacapri from the port?
What is the Monte Solaro chairlift?
How crowded is Capri in summer?
Where do ferries depart from in Naples?
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