1 Day Itinerary // Capri, Italy
Capri is one of my favorite places in the world. We stayed on the island for 3 days, but it can easily be seen as a day trip from the Amalfi Coast if you’re short on time.
If you only have 2 (full) days in the Amalfi Coast, I’d say skip it, but if you have 3 or more, I think it adds a lot to the Amalfi experience. Positano and Amalfi are amazing, but Capri’s rock formations are something special, and its shopping can’t be beat. Here’s how I recommend you spend a day on this gorgeous island.
9am: Start with the Blue Grotto (if it’s open)
Catch the earliest ferry you can to Capri, and check if the Blue Grotto is open. It’s often closed depending on the weather and tides. It was closed during our visit, so we didn’t go. People say it’s beautiful, but also a bit of a tourist trap — you’re basically paying for a 5-minute boat ride where the guides heavily hint at tips. That said, if you’re lucky enough to catch it open, it’s iconic for a reason.
If not, the Green Grotto is a solid backup option — fewer crowds, and arguably even prettier.
11am: Take the Chairlift to Monte Solaro
From the port, catch the bus to Anacapri and take the chairlift to Monte Solaro. Yes, it looks a little sketchy at first glance, but it’s actually very calm and super relaxing. It moves slowly, you’re never very high off the ground, and the views are unreal. Once you’re at the top, you really only need 20-30 minutes unless you want to sit and grab a drink. From up there, you can see Vesuvius, Naples, Sorrento — basically the full panoramic view of the Bay of Naples.
12:30pm: Lunch in Capri
Head back down and grab lunch in Capri town. We ate at Pullali, which has a nice view of the square and one prime table with a sweeping view of the town. Good spot to sit, recharge, and people-watch.
2:30pm: Go Shopping (or Browsing)
Via Camerelle is Capri’s main shopping street — basically a who’s who of luxury brands: Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Moncler, etc. Even if you’re not in the market for designer, it’s fun to wander. At the far end of the street there’s a building covered in bougainvillea that’s basically made to be photographed.
4pm: Gardens of Augustus
From there, head to the Gardens of Augustus. It’s another quick stop but worth it for the views — you get that perfect shot of the Faraglioni rocks, yachts everywhere, and on our visit, even one with a full-on waterslide attached.
From there, walk back to Capri’s Piazza, then take the funicular down.
5pm: Snack at Il Gabbiano
When you're ready for a break, stop at Il Gabbiano. The owner and staff were incredible — super friendly, helped us charge our phones, and even tracked down our boat captain when we couldn’t get in touch. The food is great, pricing is very fair (especially for Capri), no sneaky cover charges, and they bring you bread and chips anyway. Highly recommend.
6pm: Sunset Boat Ride
A private boat ride at sunset is, hands down, my #1 recommendation for the Amalfi Coast. Do not skip it.
Be prepared for a bit of chaos if it’s windy, though. Our Capri ride was very windy, with the boat’s pillows flying into the water as we tried to stay still long enough to grab them. Somehow we managed to save all the pillows while the boat was rocking hard in 3-4 foot swells. Once we got around to the southern side of the island, though, it calmed down, and it was smooth sailing from there.
8pm: Catch the Ferry
If you aren’t staying in Capri, make sure to catch the ferry back before they stop running! Though it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to be stuck on this beautiful island for a night…
Where to Stay
If it’s your first time on the Amalfi Coast, I’d recommend staying in Positano so you can see it at night, when all the day tourists have left. I found it to be the most magical of the towns on the main coast.
If it’s your second or third time, I’d recommend staying in Capri. Anacapri can also be a nice choice, but it’s further away from the main hub of activity in Capri.
What to Do
Private Boat Tour
If you don’t do anything else while you’re here, do a private sunset boat tour. The coast is totally different when seen by the ocean, and while the ferry between cities gives you a taste of the beauty, drinking champagne on a private tour while the sun is setting is an unbeatable experience. There are lots of companies along the piers at each of the cities that offer these tours, and they vary in quality (type of boat), length, and price. I would recommend getting a boat you will like to take photos on (if that matters to you), and that will actually allow you to see the sunset (sometimes they come in early). Find a bunch of numbers of boat operators online (or just by walking the pier and picking up flyers), then WhatsApp them all to see who has availability, making sure to ask about the time, length of the ride and the boat you will be on.
These boat tours are also offered in group rides, if that’s more in budget.
Take the ferry to other cities
While each town on the Amalfi Coast is amazing on its own, it’s more impressive to see them all and get context for the whole region. And the ferry is quite pleasant.
Relax at a beach club
The whole coast has beach clubs, so you can go to one in your town and relax, or take a boat ride to another, potentially more private one. Capri has a few as well.
Go shopping
The Amalfi Coast is famous for a lot of things, and one of those is shopping. In particular, you’ll find a lot of linen, lemon prints, and limoncello. As you wander around, you’ll find huge Amalfi lemons everywhere, and you should purchase a souvenir to remember them by!
What to Eat
For a full guide on what to eat in Italy, see my blog post on the topic, and check out the Campania (Naples, Amalfi Coast) section!
Travel Resources
A few last tips to get the most out of your trip to Italy:
Get my Amalfi Coast Travel Guide, with over 100 locations and 110+ pages to help you get the most out of your trip to this bucket-list destination.
The best travel-ready clothing. It’s lightweight, doesn’t smell, super comfortable, and stylish.
The electrolytes I never leave home without. Perfect for recovering after a long day of exploring, or a night of drinking. Even my friend who runs ultra-marathons drinks this. I only use a half packet per water bottle.
