The Perfect Itinerary for a Naples to Capri Day Trip

If you’re looking to take a day trip from Naples to Capri, this post is for you! A whirlwind day, but one that you definitely won’t forget.

The Perfect Day Trip from Naples to Capri Itinerary

Get Breakfast in Naples

If you’re looking for a slow morning before heading on the ferry over to Capri, the Gran Caffè Gambrinus is just a short walk (about 13 minutes) from the pier where the ferry leaves from.

Bring Portafoglio Pizza & Snacks to Capri

A lot of the food on Capri is going to be overpriced and frankly, not as good as you can find in Napoli. If you’re looking to save money and time so you can see as much as possible (and splurge on limoncello and granitas!) then I’d recommend bringing an easy lunch and some snacks from Naples.

There are plenty of gorgeous places where you can get the same views as those eating at a super expensive restaurant.

However, if sitting down for a fancy lunch with ocean views is part of what you love to do while on vacation, Capri would be a great place to do it! You just might have to choose to skip the boat tour or maybe grab an earlier ferry to Capri in order to fit everything in just one day.

Ferry from Naples to Capri

Although you may not want to take the earliest ferry from Naples to Capri (I definitely didn’t!) you will most likely want to take the last ferry home.

I waited to buy our ferry ticket until the morning of the trip because I wanted to take my time getting breakfast without being in a rush. We were traveling in mid-July, so definitely high season.

I bought my tickets online with Ferry Hopper since they were the cheapest option, but definitely compare options between Ferry Hopper and Direct Ferries.

Ferry Hopper shows individual prices, so at first, they seem cheaper but make sure you get to the total price page before you decide which company to buy with. I just compared the two for a trip this weekend and Ferry Hopper came out at 89 euros and Direct Ferries at 83 euros, both roundtrip.

I would book the first trip around 10 or 10:30 am if you want a slow morning and breakfast, and then take the last ferry available to get back to Naples.

Make sure to also pay attention to the length of the boat trip, some of the boats are hydrofoil and will get there in about 45 minutes, versus the slow ferry which takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Molo Beverello is where all the ferries take off to head to Capri (the port of Capri is called Marina Grande).

If you are leaving from Positano to go to Capri check out this post!

Before we go over the itinerary, I think it’s important to look at Capri and understand a bit where things are at since a lot of people reference Capri and Anacapri, just expecting people to know what that means. I had no idea if Anacapri was even on the same island!

So here is my little makeshift map of the island:

It helps to picture the island as two halves, the Capri half and the Anacapri half. The ferry arrives at Marina Grande, which is just below Capri. Then on the other side of the island, you have the city of Anacapri.

I’ll break down which things you need to do in each area in the itinerary, but this gives you a rough idea of where you’ll be going!

Capri Day Tour from Naples

If you’re looking to splurge a little bit and skip the ferry, there are actually a lot of great and not-all-that-expensive options to get to Naples on a tour boat.

The tours usually come with drinks and lunch as well and are a full-day tour of Capri island with guided excursions.

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Famous Blue Grotto: To Go or Not to Go?

Whether you go to the Blue Grotto or not is entirely your decision, no matter what anyone says lol. I am not the type of person that feels bad about skipping something “you have to do” at a destination if I don’t want to go to that place.

I used to want to go to the Blue Grotto, but after spending a few hours reading reviews and realizing that most of the positive reviews happened pre-2018, I decided I would skip it.

I didn’t want to spend most of my only day on Capri waiting in line to go into the Grotto Azzurro. I’ve waited in a lot of lines for an Instagram view and it usually dampens the experience quite a bit.

I had a different vision for Capri, which included limoncello and swimming in the gorgeous water of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Boat Tour of the Island

If skipping the Blue Grotto sounds like it could be for you, you should definitely consider a boat tour of the island instead. Especially if you are traveling during the summer/ high season which is June through August.

I went to Capri in July and knew the lines would be crazy, so I booked a happy hour tour of the island instead that visited the white & green grottos instead of the blue one.

Taking a boat tour is also a great way to see parts of Capri that are only accessible by boat, as well as get views of Marina Grande and Marina Piccola from afar.

Also, if you want to go swimming, most blue grotto tours don’t allow that. I can’t imagine getting on a boat and not jumping in the water when it’s like 90 degrees + outside.

There are tons of different boat trips that you can do around Capri depending on what you’re looking for.

You can even book a boat tour straight from Naples to Capri that includes tours and lunch for the day, and it’s not even that expensive!

Here are some of the sites you can see while on a boat tour around Capri:

Marina Grande

Grotta Verde & Grotta Bianca

The Grotta Verde, or “Green Cave,” gets its name from the greenish hue of the water inside. This is caused by sunlight filtering through an underwater opening in the cave’s roof and reflecting off the algae-covered walls.

The Grotta Bianca, or “White Cave,” is named for its bright white walls, which are covered in calcium carbonate deposits. These deposits have built up over thousands of years as water drips down from the cave’s ceiling. Like the Grotta Verde, visitors can access this cave by boat or kayak and marvel at its otherworldly beauty.

Our boat was too big to go into either of the grottoes, but you can bring your own snorkel gear and swim into it and near it.

Punta Carena Lighthouse

The Punta Carena lighthouse is a historic and picturesque landmark located on the Marina Piccola side of the Italian island of Capri. Its bright red and pinkish color makes it super visible, especially while on the boat tour.

The Faraglioni Rocks & Faraglioni di Capri

The Faraglioni Rocks are a stunning natural landmark located off the coast of the Italian island of Capri. These towering rock formations rise out of the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea, creating a dramatic and picturesque landscape that is beloved by visitors to the island.

There are three distinct Faraglioni Rocks – two large ones and one smaller one – and they are all made of limestone that has been eroded by centuries of wind and waves.

Visitors to Capri can take boat tours that pass by the Faraglioni Rocks (sometimes even through!), or even swim or snorkel around them for an up-close look at their rugged beauty.

Marina Piccola

If you only have one day on the island of Capri, taking a boat tour is probably the only way you’ll have time to see Marina Piccola unless you cut out going to either Capri town or Anacapri town.

However, if you’ve been to Capri before and have already done many of the main highlights, Marina Piccola is a beautiful spot for swimming on the island of Capri.

Although the beaches can get a bit crowded in the summer, with views of the Faraglioni rocks, it’s totally worth sunbathing and snorkeling in this area.

Buy Ferry Tickets Home

Before you leave Marina Grande, make sure you have already bought your return ferry ticket home. Don’t forget since it might sell out if you are taking the last ferry back to Naples and it’s the high season!

Take a Bus or Taxi to Anacapri

After your boat tour of the island, you’ll need to make your way to Anacapri. The reason you’ll want to. go there before Capri is you’ll want to do the farthest things first so you can make your way back to the ferry without missing it.

Plus, Anacapri has the highlight of the island which is the Monte Solaro Chairlift.

There will be lines for both taxis and busses to get to Anacapri, the taxis are obviously going to be more expensive and the line is just as long, so I recommend the bus.

The bus costs about 2 euros 20 per ticket for one way. Bring masks just in case, they were still required on the bus or you were not allowed to board. The bus ride should be less than 15 minutes long.

You’ll be getting off the bus at Piazza Vittoria in Anacapri.

Visit the Highest Point on Capri: Monte Solaro Chairlift

I’m sure you’ve seen pics on Instagram of the Mount Solaro Chairlift in Capri, which is considered a “must-see” while there. And this time I definitely agree!

Especially if you are only in Capri for one day, you’ll want to pay the 14 euros roundtrip to take the chairlift up to the highest point in Capri. If you want to hike one of the ways, the lift costs 11 euros. You don’t need to buy tickets in advance.

The views from the top of the Mount are absolutely amazing. If you brought lunch or snacks, this would be a great place to enjoy them.

The opening hours vary by season but the lift is open year-round. From March to April, they are open from 9:30 am to 4 pm, from November to February they’re open 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, and from May to October from 9:30 am to 5 pm.

Make sure to check the website for the most up-to-date info on the opening hours.

Explore Anacapri

I put “explore Anacapri” after the chairlift since you definitely don’t want to miss those views, while you might not have a ton of time to explore Anacapri.

In fact, we were running late and unfortunately had to skip the town of Anacapri in order to catch the last ferry back to Naples.

Museo Casa Rossa di Anacapri

The Museo Casa Rossa di Anacapri is a museum located in the town of Anacapri on the island of Capri, Italy. The museum is housed in a beautiful red-painted building that was once the home of American colonel John Clay Mackowen, who lived there from 1878 until his death in 1921.

The house was later purchased by Swedish physician and author Axel Munthe, who turned it into his own private retreat and filled it with art, antiques, and other treasures.

Villa San Michele & San Michele Church

Villa San Michele is a historic villa located on the island of Capri, Italy. The villa was built in the early 20th century by Swedish physician and author Axel Munthe, who had fallen in love with the island and its natural beauty.

From Villa San Michele, you can get some incredible views of the Marina Grande below, which differs from the view of the other side of the island you were seeing from Monte Solaro.

Take a Bus to the City of Capri

Once you come back down the chairlift, you can buy a bus ticket at the little shop right in front of the bus stop. There will probably be a line for the bus here as well, so you’ll have to wait and probably won’t be able to get on the first bus that comes by.

Explore Capri Town

Piazzetta di Capri

The Piazzetta di Capri or “La Piazzetta” is known as the heart of Capri and has stunning views of the ocean below.

If you haven’t already, grab yourself a lemon granita while you’re in the famous Piazzetta, it’s a quintessential part of visiting this part of Italy!

Giardino di Augusto (Gardens of Augustus)

The one place I really wanted to visit on our one day to Capri was Giardino di Agusuto, but unfortunately, we ran out of time. If you do have time though, definitely put this place on your itinerary.

Tickets to the Gardens cost 1 euro 50 per person and are free for children under 12.

View of Via Krupp & Capri Overlook

Once you’re in the Gardens, don’t miss the Capri Overlook and the view of the gorgeous winding Via Krupp.

Walk Down to Marina Grande

Of course, you could choose to take the funicular from the main square in Capri, but if you’re looking to save a bit of money and get some last views of the gorgeous island, it’s only a 10 to 20-minute walk.

You’ll see a sign in the Piazzetta near the Funicular that shows how to get down to the Marina Grande. You’ll follow those signs all the way down, although sometimes you have to walk along a road for a bit until you see another sign showing the way.

Ferry Back to Napoli for Dinner

There’s nothing better than finishing a long day in the sun with a Neapolitan pizza just for you. Here are some of the best options that are close to Molo Beverello where the ferry will drop you off.

Of course, there are other pizza and pasta places that are much closer, but while you’re in Napoli, you have to try the best!

Pizzeria Da Attilio

Pizzeria Da Attilio is an 18 minute walk from Molo Beverello. There is an option to take the Metro, but you’ll still have to walk about 12 minutes total, only saving you 6 minutes of walking.

If you’re tired after your long day in Capri and aren’t willing to wait a while for some pizza, maybe skip Pizzeria Da Attilio. It’s amazing pizza, and they’re known for star-shaped pizzas stuffed with ricotta (I didn’t get that this time but I will next time!)

When you get there, you have to give your name to the restaurant and then they will call you when they have a table available for you. Depending on the day, this could be a 20-minute wait or an hour-long one.

Pizzeria Da Attilio is open every day except for Sunday and their dinner hours are 7 to 11:30 pm.

Pizzeria Del Popolo

Pizzeria Del Popolo is a 21-minute walk from Molo Beverello, but there is a bus that will take you there, so it might be even easier than Attilio if you aren’t up for a walk.

Bus 151 or 154 will pick you up right at Beverello (the stop is called Acton Beverello) and drop you off at Marina-Duomo, which is a 5-minute walk from the pizzeria.

If you’re looking for great pizza that you don’t have to wait for, check out this local’s favorite Pizzeria Del Popolo.

My husband loved this place so much that we have been 3 times. Instead of long lines and tourists, you’ll be sat next to local families and eating incredible Napoli-style pizza in just a few minutes.

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