Capri Travel Guide: The Best Places to Visit in the most dreamy Italian Coast
Best time to go in
Summer Time ! From early May, till late September. If you want to avoid too many tourists, aim to reach Capri within the beginning of June and the end of September (off-season, is always the best season)!
Language
Italian
CurrencY
Euros, €
Transportation
Once you arrive in Capri, you can walk everywhere. However, even though the island is small, it is not so small after all! Local taxis are ideal if you need to reach different locations on the island. Alternatively, Capri offers a very efficient cable car service that can bring you from the main port, up to the old town. If you want to swim and visit close by islands, the best way to do it is via boat, the local ferries or with the hydrofoils.
What to take ?
Favorite evening dresses for women, and favorite shirts and linen pants for men.
Quite a few bathing suits, as you are going to swim a lot in the beautiful blue water, and a couple of gym clothes and shoes, if you want to take some unique hikes or panoramic walks. Sun cream to protect your body from the strong sun rays and hats to protect your face and head from the heat wave ! Good and strong vocal cords as you are going to sing like never before at the “Taverna Anama e Core” after dinner!
What to know before you go ?
Capri is a dreamy island but you need to be very organized in order to fully enjoy it and to visit the best places. As it is such a unique place, people from all over the world come to visit it constantly. This means that the amount of tourists specifically on the summer period that come on the island, can be way too much! Therefore, you should book in advance all restaurants for lunch and dinner, in particularly the most fancy and traditional ones, to ensure your spot. Also, there are not too many beach places, so I would recommend you to book both beach places and boat tours prior your arrival, in order to enjoy the crystal clear water every day! The best way to reach Capri, is to fly to Naples or to get a train that arrives to Naples central station. Then from Naples airport or from the train station, you can get a taxi that brings you to the port where the ferries, ships and hydrofoils depart.
BEST PLACES TO EAT
Breakfast
Il Piccolo (sweet and savory morning delights to be enjoyed in the old town piazzetta).
Bar da Alberto (great for cappuccino’s, croissant, biscuits, ice-creams and milkshakes).
Caffè Manari (lovely spot to have a good coffee with sweet pastries first thing in the morning).
Lunch
Bagni di Tiberio (lovely sea view, great fishes and fresh tartare’s. After lunch, I recommend you to book some sun beds to enjoy the sun and the sea!)
La Fontelina (a magical and historical place where the Roman emperors that resided in Capri used to bathe).
Tommaso allo Scoglio at Nerano (must-have the delicious “pasta alla nerano”, iconic spaghetti pasta with zucchini and cheese that literally melts in your mouth or the “spaghetti ai quattro pomodori”, fresh tomato pasta like you have never had it before!).
La Palette (incredible view of the island and delicious food. If you want to go there for dinner instead, try to get there a little bit earlier to admire the beautiful sunset view, while sipping your favorite cocktail!).
Gelsomina (situated in Anacapri, Gelsomina is the place to be if you want to have one of the best culinary and panoramic/ scenic experiences on the island. Make sure that you try the “ravioli capresi”, filled in with cheese and covered up with tomato sauce).
Da Luigi Ai Faraglioni (A spectacular lunch, with the freshest fish and seafood situated on a rocky terrace that faces the legendary Faraglioni. After lunch, you can enjoy a beautiful swim in the crystal clear sea, as the restaurant offers a bathing establishment).
Dinner
Il Riccio ad Anacapri (one of my top favorite restaurants when in Capri. A unique place, situated on top of a rock cliff. The food is unbelievable: from the seafood pastas, to the risotto’s, to the seabass. But… make sure that you leave some space for dessert as when you will finish your dinner, you will be allowed to enter the famous “sala delle tentazioni” which stands for “temptation room”.
A beautiful blue room, filled with a dreamy buffet, offering desserts of all kinds, will make all of your sweet dreams come true!).
Da Paolino (one of the best in Capri, if you want to romantically dine under iconic lemon trees and enjoy the best food from the Amalfi area coast. If you are a lemon lover, make sure that you order the lemon pasta and do not leave without having savored their famous lemon pudding also known as the “delizie al limone”).
Le Grottelle (situated close to the Natural Arch, Le Grottelle is built in a unique place. A stunning view of the Amalfi Coast can be enjoyed, while having a lovely lunch with local dishes).
Aurora (one of Capri’s oldest restaurants. Crunchy and delicious “pizza all’acqua” is a must!) .
Da Tonino (a charming place to be and to taste the island’s traditional cuisine while sitting in a beautiful veranda with an amazing sea view. Salted crust fish, ravioli and Neapolitan pizza all need to be tried!).
Drinks
Piazzetta (the most glamorous place to have an aperitivo. The piazzetta of Capri, is an historical square situated in the center of Capri’s old town, offering lovely cocktails and finger foods).
Capri Rooftop (a very nice rooftop that overlooks the stunning Faraglioni of Capri. One of my favorite places to be if I want to relax at the end of the day, enjoying a breath-taking view while sipping a great white wine!).
La Pompeiana (nice outdoor bar to have a drink here after a long sun day!)
Best Ice-Cream places on the island
Buonocore
Capri Crema Caffè (Anacapri)
Bar Caso
Bar Alberto
Food specialties to try on the island
Spaghetti alla Nerano (pasta with zucchini and cheese)
Torta Caprese (chocolate and almond cake)
Limoncello (lemon liqueur)
Caprese Salad (tomato and mozzarella salad with basil)
Ravioli Capresi (pasta filled in with caciotta/ ricotta and parmesan cheese, covered with tomato sauce).
Cuttlefish with potatoes (sea bream cooked with Mediterranean tomatoes, garlic and pepper flakes).
Local fish “Pezzogna” cooked in the “acqua pazza” way (with tomatoes, salt, oil and garlic).
Chiummenzana Spaghetti (spaghetti cooked with a traditional island sauce: fresh tomatoes, basil, olive oil, salt, pepper flakes and Mediterranean herbs).
Where to buy fresh foods, fruits or vegetables. Markets or organic farms
Supermarkets
Being a very small island, Capri does not offer big groceries stores. However, the island has some cute and local markets, where you can buy good bread, pizza, pasta, sandwiches, salads, sauces, hams, cheeses and more!
Salumeria da Aldo
Capri Market De Stefani
MiniMarket Su. Capri
Decò Supermarket
Salumeria Le Onde di Lombardo
What to see or visit?
Quick and Unique escapes from the island
Positano (30-40 minutes via ferry).
Amalfi (1 hour via ferry).
Sorrento (20-30 minutes via ferry).
Anacapri (small town on top of the island of Capri. You can reach it by taxi in 10 minutes, bus in 15 minutes or by boat).
Best Panoramic Walks for a morning or evening run
Natural Arch (A natural arch situated in the east coast of the island. A lovely and calming walk to do, starting from the Capri’s town center).
Villa Lysis (stunning house with a lovely panoramic view of the island, owned by the writer Jacque d’Adelswärd-Fersen who build his house in this exclusive spot in Capri, so that he could hide from the crowd).
Belvedere della Migliara (stunning view of the island from Anacapri. Ideal to do late in the afternoon, and enjoy a sunset drink with some yummy nibbles at “Gelsomina”).
Via Tragara (here you can walk through a beautiful path and admire the most wonderful villas on the island, while overlooking at Capri’s blue sea).
Best Places to see on a boat cruise
Faraglioni (three coastal and oceanic rocks, which rise up and out of Capri’s sea, known as the most iconic and legendary symbol of the island).
Grotta Azzurra (one of the most famous attractions to see in Capri. You will enter a grotto that has a unique blue light and the best news is… that you can also swim in it! Private tours are not allowed, so make sure that you book your tour with the official Blue Grotto Tour guide).
Grotta Bianca (The White Grotto, takes its name from its color. For centuries fishermen came to this cave to shelter their boats from sudden storms. You can only visit it via boat).
Cala Ventroso (situated on the Southern coast of the island, between the lighthouse and the bay of Marina piccola, this wonderful cove can only be reached by sea. Enjoy its crystalline and transparent turquoise sea water).
Grotta Verde (The green grotto, owes its name to the color of the emerald green sea. It is a very unique cave that must be visited by booking a trip from the Capri port).
Best Beaches
Bagni di Tiberio
Marina Piccola
Marina Grande
BEST PLACES to stay
J.K. Place
Capri Tiberio Palace
Hotel Punta Tragara
Capri Palace Jumeirah
Where to shop (vintage stores, local boutiques, antiques, bookstores, markets)
There is one main street in Capri, that offers the best boutiques and shopping experience on the island, and that is: Via Caramelle!
Stores
Limoncello di Capri (typical Italian lemon liquer store).
Canfora Capri Sandals (best and most famous leather sandals in Capri - a must-have for every it girl!).
Mariorita (great concept store situated in The Capri Palace hotel).
Fiore (best hat store).
Chantecler (one-of-a-kind Jewellery, originally from the island).
Ceramiche Tavassi (best ceramic tiles and objects).
Delfina Swimwear (beautiful collection of swimwear, dresses and accessories)
Autori Capresi (lovely linen clothes for both men and women).
Why do you love this place and why would you recommend it to a friend?
I love Capri because it has a magical and unique energy. The island is stunning and it has a very special geographical position. In fact, Capri is situated just in front of Naples on a rocky island that is surrounded by beautiful cliffs. I have been going to Capri since I was very young, and all of my memories on this island are wonderful. Capri offers numerous adventures and places to swim, dine, hike, enjoy romantic hideaways and honey moons, experience glamorous happenings and memorable evenings in the “Taverna Anema e Core” after midnight.I would recommend a trip to this dreamy island to anyone who wants to have a one-of-a-kind Italian sea and culinary experience, that will allow them to take a good and refreshing break from the city life!