Capri walking tour & city guide

Capri town and the Piazzetta

The heart of the island is Piazza Umberto I, known simply as the Piazzetta, a tiny square of café tables under a clock tower. From here, narrow lanes lined with designer boutiques lead through arches and stairways, and Via Camerelle continues towards the Gardens of Augustus.

The gardens overlook the three Faraglioni rocks rising from the sea and the zig-zag Via Krupp path below. Another lovely walk leads east along quiet lanes to the Arco Naturale, a natural rock arch high above the coast.

Anacapri and the Blue Grotto

Anacapri, higher up the island, is calmer and more village-like, with white houses, small squares and Villa San Michele, the home of Swedish doctor Axel Munthe, with its sweeping views. A chairlift climbs from Anacapri to Monte Solaro, the island's highest point.

The famous Blue Grotto, a sea cave lit by glowing blue light, is visited by small rowing boats, weather permitting. Boat tours around the island pass other grottoes and the Faraglioni.

Visiting tips

Ferries and hydrofoils leave from Naples, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. Capri is very busy in summer between the late morning and afternoon ferries, so staying overnight lets you enjoy the island when the day visitors have gone. Many roads are too narrow for cars; the island is best explored on foot, by bus and by taxi.