Are you visiting Rome and looking for a weekend trip? Are you just looking for a relaxing vacation in an exotic location? If yes, then Capri is the place for you! It is the postcard-perfect vision of shimmering crystal blue water up against tall cliffs. It is the most visited of the islands in the Bay of Naples that can be reached by ferry from Naples and Sorrento. The ferries dock at Marina Grande and from there it is a short ride up to Capri, the main town. Another bus ride takes you up to the island’s second settlement, Anacapri. If the bus line is too long, you can also take one of the cute convertible taxis.
For the best view on the island, take the seggiovia chairlift up from Piazza Vittoria to the summit of Mt Solaro, Capri’s highest point. This was the best ride of my life! The single-seater chairlift is such a peaceful ride that allows you to take in the beauty of this island. Once you get to the top you can walk around, have a drink and snack at the bar and then head back down. The chairlift is open from 9AM-5PM Mar-Oct and 9AM-3PM Nov-Feb and costs €10.
If you have a good group of people, I recommend taking a private boat tour around the island. We had 15 of us (all American students studying in Rome with my cousin besides me). Even if you have a smaller group, you may be able to get a smaller boat or go on a boat with other people. Our driver showed us all of the Grottos on the island. When we approached the most famous Blue Grotto we realized that the line was too long and it would take at least two hours to see (downfall of going in the middle of summer). It costs €12.50 to take a boat into the Blue Grotto which is open from 9AM-3PM. Although we didn’t get to go in, our driver showed us pictures of the stunning sea cave illuminated by blue light. He explained that it was best visited in the morning. Also note that the grotto is not open when seas are rough or tides are high. If you ask, your driver may even take you to one of the best cliff jumping sites on the island. We went to two separate locations but only the boys were brave enough to climb the tallest cliff.
There are a few beaches on the island. The two that we hung out on were the Marina Grande Beach and Faro. Marina Grande is the busiest beach because it is right by the main boating dock. This is the largest beach on the island and is suitable for children. Since this beach got noticeably crowded, we decided to try Faro, a beach by the lighthouse. Speaking to the locals, this was their favorite beach because not a lot of tourists know about it. This is also the only spot on the island where the gorgeous sunset over the Mediterranean can be enjoyed with a cocktail in hand. Although it isn’t very big, it was a great time to jump off the rocks and grab a few drinks at the cafes.
Other things to see on your visit:
Gardens of Augustus: Admission: €1 Hours:9AM-1 hour before sunset
Enjoy breathtaking views from the garden
Jupiter’s Villa: Admission: €2 Hours: 9AM-1 hour before sunset
Was the largest of the island’s 12 Roman villas and was Tiberius’ main Capri residence. Gives a good idea of the scale on which the emperor liked to live.
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