Capri
Island Mediterranean island famed for cliffs and Blue Grotto
A small island off Naples, Capri draws day-trippers for the Blue Grotto, cliffside villas, and the Piazzetta’s cafés. Tourists come for boat excursions, coastal hikes along the Faraglioni rocks, and upscale dining and shopping in pastel streets.
Capri is an island in the Bay of Naples, Italy, renowned as a scenic and long-established tourist destination. The island covers about 10.4 square kilometres and its highest summit is Monte Solaro at 589 metres.
The island is famous for its dramatic coastline, the marine cave known as the Blue Grotto, the three offshore Faraglioni rock stacks, and the towns of Capri and Anacapri. Visitors typically take boat tours around the island, visit the Blue Grotto when sea conditions permit, ride the chairlift or hike to Monte Solaro for panoramic views, and explore boutiques and cafés in the towns.
Capri was used as an imperial retreat in Roman times and retains archaeological remains such as Villa Jovis, a palace built in the 1st century AD under Emperor Tiberius. The island later became a popular resort in the 19th and 20th centuries and remains a high-profile tourist destination.
Geographically it sits off the Sorrentine Peninsula in southern Italy, reachable by regular ferries from Naples, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, approximately 30 kilometres from the city of Naples by sea.
- Size and high point: The island covers about 10.4 square kilometres and its highest point, Monte Solaro, reaches 589 metres above sea level.
- Sea conditions: The Blue Grotto and the Faraglioni stacks can be closed or inaccessible in rough sea conditions; morning sea is often calmer for boat trips.
- Season and access: Peak visitor months are late spring to early autumn; ferries and hydrofoils connect Capri with Naples, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.
What to See #
- Capri town: The main waterfront and shopping area on the southern side of the island, with narrow streets, boutiques and views over the harbour.
- Anacapri: A separate town on the island's higher western side, with panoramic views and access to the chairlift to the island's highest point.
- Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra): A famous sea cave on the island's northern coast reached by small boats; light refracting into the chamber gives the water a vivid blue colour.
- Faraglioni: Three prominent sea stacks off the southeast coast that are a common subject for boat trips and photographs.
- Villa Jovis: A Roman imperial palace complex located on the island, built during the reign of Emperor Tiberius in the 1st century AD and still visible as archaeological ruins.
How to Get to Capri #
Capri is reached by ferry or hydrofoil from Naples (Molo Beverello, Beverello or Calata Porta di Massa for different services), Sorrento and Positano; services land at Marina Grande on Capri. From Naples you can also arrive by train to Naples Centrale and then the port (or travel to Sorrento and take a ferry).
From Marina Grande take the short funicular up to Capri town (few minutes) or a taxi/boat; the funicular station is a very short walk from the ferry landing.
Tips for Visiting Capri #
- Arrive on the first boats from Naples or Sorrento-Marina Grande is the main ferry port and the funicular up to Capri town saves time and the steep climb.
- Beat the large day‑boat crowds by touring the island early (before 10:00) or late afternoon; the Blue Grotto and the Faraglioni cliffs are busiest mid‑day, so consider a circumnavigation by private boat if you want fewer queues.
- Include Anacapri and the chairlift to Monte Solaro for quieter panoramic viewpoints away from the main piazzetta, and avoid visiting on known cruise-ship days if you want a less congested experience.
Best Time to Visit Capri #
Capri is best in late spring (April-June) or September when weather is very pleasant but crowds are lower than in mid-summer.
Weather & Climate near Capri #
Temperate climate with warm summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from 5°C to 27°C. Moderate rainfall (917 mm/year).
January
January is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 6°C. Regular rainfall (100 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is the coolest month with highs of 11°C and lows of 5°C. Regular rainfall (85 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 9°C. Regular rainfall (81 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (47 mm).
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June
June is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 16°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
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July
July is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 19°C. The driest month with just 21 mm and clear sunny skies.
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 27°C and lows of 19°C. Moderate rainfall (32 mm) and clear sunny skies.
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September
September is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 17°C. Regular rainfall (81 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 13°C. Significant rainfall (118 mm).
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November
November is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 9°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (144 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 7°C. Significant rainfall (112 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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