Capri
Italy
- Coastline
- Euro chic and limoncello
- Coast life
- Sea and be scene
The tiny island with a big following.
During the height of the season, up to 60,000 people daytrip from the mainland, but most leave with the evening ferries, giving those staying on a taste of the real island. Not that it's a quiet life they're usually after. For many visitors, the point of staying here is strutting around Capri Town's centre, the Piazzetta, buying designer Italian fashion and partying 'til dawn. For others, especially if they head north, it's all about hidden coves, mountain hikes and drinking in the sea views.
Pictured: Capri Palace Hotel & Spa
Boutique hotels in Capri
Our round-up of the hippest hideaways and boutique hotels in Capri
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Getting there
Planes, trains, automobiles, or maybe even helicopter – we tell you the best way to go.
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Worth getting out of bed for
Highlights the best Capri has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.
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Eating, drinking & dancing
We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Capri. All you have to do is make sure you've packed your favourite threads…
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Smith Maps
It's difficult to get lost on Capri, but not impossible; our interactive map will make sure you keep your bearings.
moreLocal knowledge
- Taxis
- Stretch candy-striped open-top Fiats used to negotiate the island's hairpin bends but most have been put out of service. You'll see a few restored Classics touring around, but new seven-seater versions are now made specially for the island: a great way to look glam even when you're in a traffic jam. Pay around €10 from Capri Town to Anacapri.
- Tipping culture
- The more expensive an establishment, the more a tip is expected – even if a service charge is included with the bill. Don't feel you have to leave more than 12 per cent though. Leaving the change – a few coins in a bar or café is commonplace, as is rounding up a taxi fare.
- Packing tips
- Walking boots or designer trainers. Cashmere sweater to drape over the shoulders for the men (you can spot an Italian by how he carries this off). Real jewellery for the girls. Seasickness tablets for everyone.
- Recommended reads
- The Apprentice Lover by Jay Parini; Greene on Capri: A Memoir by Shirley Hazard; The Story of San Michele by Axel Munthe. And for the children's bedtime reading, The King of Capri by Jeanette Winterson.
- Cuisine
- Tourist-geared fare can be pile-it-high-and-quick. Seafood is a good bet (ask for that day's local catch), as are pizzas. Local specialities include insalata caprese (tomatoes, mozzarella and island-grown peppery basil), ravioli caprese (ricotta and marjoram pasta and sun-ripened-tomato sauce). Torta caprese is a moreish cake of ground almonds and bitter chocolate. The island's famous limoncello, the eerily bright liqueur made from lemon zest, is often given free as a digestivo.
- Currency
- Euro.
- Dialing codes
- The country code for Italy: 39; Naples: 081; Capri 837.
- Do go/don't go
- Most hotels and restaurants shut from November until mid-March. May and October offer warm weather and few crowds. Prices shoot sky high in July and August.
