10 Must Do Things on a 1 Day Trip to Capri Island
Capri Island, Italy Travel Itinerary and guide
Guest Post From:
1 Day in Capri, Italy
I’d start off directly by saying that research led me to Capri. Known for its intense views, stunning natural beauty and calmness, I’ll be sharing the activities you can do in one day on this beautiful hidden island situated on the south of Naples in the Campania region of Italy.
Day 1:
One of the perks of following luxury travelers on social media is that you get to see glamorous spots around the world. The disadvantage is that you close your mind assuming that you can’t reach that place because it might be too expensive to get there. I like to go to places beyond the known ones. So during the days I was planning my Italy trip, I came across a traveler who glamorously showed this beautiful island. Immediately I was drawn to it and started my research. I wanted to see if it was affordable for me to get there, and surprisingly, it was! So now, I have compiled the 10 best things to do on this island for you guys so you can read about it, research on it and then give this place a try if you haven’t already. Hope you enjoy this one day itinerary.
No.1: Taking a Boat Tour
One of best ways of experiencing the beauty of Capri is out at sea. No visit to Capri is complete without a boat tour! Especially when they make you tour around the Faraglioni, the famous rock formations on the island. There are a number of boat tour companies with ticket booths at Marina Grande, the port where ferries dock from Naples and which is also the departure point for boats. There are two types of tours that one can opt for:
• Organized tour: which are group tours that last between 1 to 2 hours and cost around 14 to 18 euro per person
• Individual tour: where you can rent a private boat, with or without crew.
Tickets for group tours can be purchased directly at offices in Marina Grande. If you prefer an individual tour, I recommend booking in advance. The list of companies offering private boat tours is this > https://www.capri.com/en/rent-boat-capri
No 2: Touring Blue Grotto
The most exciting and a bucket list thing to do in Capri is touring the Blue Grotto. The grotto is about 10 minutes by boat from Marina Grande. Once you are near the grotto, you will be shifted into a small wooden rowing boat that will take you into the grotto. You’ll need to lie down in the boat as the opening is very narrow. You’ll be taken through a tiny whole and after passing from complete darkness, you’ll see the cave lit by blue light! This is due to the reflecting sunlight as the water takes the color of sky. The boat man also sings an ancient Neapolitan song to enhance the experience. Entrance ticket to the grotto is 14 euros per person, which is purchased from the floating ticket office (there’s a boat near the Grotto that sells tickets on spot!)
PS: there is a separate ticket and charges for a return boat transfer from Marina Grande to Blue Grotto and back which costs another 14 euros per person. I recommend doing this tour between 10 am to 1 pm to have the best views of the sky’s color that the water adopts.
No 3: Exploring the Piazzetta
When the ferry leaves tourists at the port of Marina Grande, take the funicular straight up to Piazza Umberto I mainly known as La Piazzetta. It’s a tiny square of Capri town that has four cafe bars usually fully packed. You can choose the one that you like the look of and take a seat or opt for the one that has some room as none of them differ by food or prices. The bars are open until 2 am so, you can spend your entire evening people watching here. Also, as you move along the Piazzetta, you will come across renowned branded shops on this Island! Big names like Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Fendi, Louis Vuitton etc, all have their stores here. What a treat for the ladies!
No 4: Having the Best Gelato
Hands down Buonocore Gelateria serves the best gelato on Capri Island. There is ALWAYS a line at her little gelateria where people want to taste her homemade Italian gelato no matter what. Imagine Rasp-berry, Lemon or Grape Flavor with a scoop of Yogurt Gelato. To.Die.For!
No 5: Heading to Monte Solaro via Chairlift
Want to have panoramic views of Capri from the highest point on the island? Then you must head to the summit of Monte Solaro! The most fun way to get there is by chairlift which takes 12 minutes. You get to keep having views while on your way up. Take the chairlift from Piazza Vittoria in Ana Capri. Buses from Capri leave every 15 to 20 minutes for Ana Capri. You should get off when the driver calls out ”Ana Capri” and climb up the steps.
No 6: Enjoying Capri’s Beach Life
Capri’s beaches are not too grand or have a lot of people (unless it’s a beach-y day, duh!) and that’s the best part! If you go at a not-so-peak-time, you can have the whole beach to yourself and enjoy the blues of the sea and maybe dive into the sparkling water. There are clubs that offer loungers and umbrellas around and cafes to order your favorite drink or snack.
No 7: Sipping Delicious Slushes
Food attracts me anywhere and everywhere and when you’re exploring an island as beautiful as Capri, you’d want to sip deliciousness while on a walking tour or to feel fresh after some touring around. So Midway exploring, tired or not tired, everyone immediately heads to Chiosco Tizzano to get freshly made lemon granite and orange slush and you should too! Truly relaxing, refreshing and nerve calming.
No 8: Riding the Funicular Ride
Reaching Capri’s Piazzetta, the main town of Capri is also a fun ride. One you’re done with boat tours and blue grotto ride, you’d want to have a bite, explore the town of Capri and maybe sit, enjoy the surroundings around you. The funicular will take you uphill through lemon groves, sea views, greenery and color blooming flowers, dropping you directly in the Piazzetta. It runs every 15 minutes from Marina Grande to Piazzetta and back and cost of the one way ride is 2 euros.
No 9: The Way to the Gardens of Augustus
There are a series of paths required to be taken to head to these Botanical Gardens in Capri. From the Piazzetta, you have to take the Via Vittorio Emanuele path to Via Federico Serena and then Via Matteotti to head to the Augustus Gardens. Google Map will help you find your way to these gardens. The Gardens offer a series of panoramic flower-decked terraces overlooking the sea and charge 1 euro to enter. You can also enjoy views of Faraglioni rocks from the garden or you can opt for one thing off the two: to do a boat tour or to come to the garden to check the views out from afar.
Note: The way to the Garden is purely magical with a lot of scenery and colors, so it’s completely okay to avoid getting into the garden if you are too tired.
No 10: Inhaling the Views
And last but not the least, the views. Capri Island is so beautiful, every corner is worth staring at. There are branded and local shops, cafes and bars that give out true European vibe, beautifully decorated pathways with colorful flowers and greenery. And then there’s the blue of the sea that produces tranquility. In short Capri is a picturesque spot of Italy which is easily accessible. You shouldn’t miss this Island when planning your trip to Italy!
Tips and Tricks:
1. To get to Capri, you would first have to reach Naples. Trenitalia is the train operator in Italy that offers and shows cheap trains. To get tickets for Naples you can visit the website to check time tables and ticket prices. However, you shouldn’t and cannot book trains from the site as tickets can only be booked online by the locals. Train tickets can be bought from the platform ticket booths of Trenitalia.
2. Capri Island can only be accessed from Naples via a ferry. Ferries for Capri depart from a Port named Mollo Beverello in Naples regularly. Once you’ve reached Napoli Centrale station, take a taxi to the Mollo Beverello port. The fixed fare for taxis is around 10 euros.
3. Once the ferries reach the island, they dock at Marina Grande . From here you can either take the funicular up to the charming Piazzetta, which is the main area of Capri town or use the famous open air colorful taxis. I suggest using both although taxis are a bit expensive. You can go up by the funicular and come down via a taxi. The funicular runs every 15 minutes and cost of a one-way ticket is 2 euros. It is a very exhilarating way to access the main town of Capri and one is able to view large lemon trees, fresh flower plants and have glorious sea views. Be aware though! In summer, lines for the funicular are very, very long, so be patient. Your time will come.