Do you’ve got a spirit trip spot? That place you are feeling a deep reference to, and even if you happen to go years with out setting foot on it once you return it appears like no time has handed and there’s a way of coming house? When Adam and I went to Capri for our honeymoon over 10 years in the past I fell in love with every part about it. It’s humorous that most individuals affiliate Capri with nightlife and Hollywood glamour, and whereas it does have that aspect, the Capri that I am keen on is all about rocky cliffs, azure waters, lengthy hikes, longer swims, and naturally, the meals.
Once we returned for per week to have a good time our 10 yr wedding ceremony anniversary, it was each bit as magical as I remembered. We hit up our longtime favorites like Capri Palace and Paolina and found plenty of new-to-us spots which have discovered a everlasting spot on my must-go listing. As a result of I’m decided to not let one other decade move earlier than I get again to Capri, I’ve obtained the news on precisely the place to remain, eat, swim, and play on the island, plus a number of insider ideas it is advisable to know to make it clean crusing.
Scroll on for every part it is advisable to find out about what to do, eat, and see in Capri…
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Getting there
Capri isn’t the best spot on the planet to get to because it’s a small island with no business airport. You want to get to Naples both by aircraft, practice, or automobile after which take the ferry from the Port of Naples to the Port of Capri. When you get to Capri, you possibly can hop in a cab to get to your ultimate vacation spot.
This journey, flying into Naples was going to depart us with a protracted layover, so as an alternative, we opted to fly on to Rome, then take a automobile service the two hours to the Port of Naples the place we hopped in a ferry. I’ve heard rumors you may as well go by helicopter, however I’ve sadly but to expertise that one firsthand.
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Two sides to the island
The island is split into Capri town on one side, which is generally busier and more crowded with tons of shops, restaurants, and hotels; and Anacapri, which is more rustic, less crowded, and “authentic.” We stayed in Anacapri on both our trips and I personally love the quiet, natural vibes of that part of the island. If nightlife and shopping is your thing, stay in Capri; if you’re looking for hiking and chilled-out beaches, you’re an Anacapri girl. You can get between the two sides by the busses running back and forth (crowded but cheap), taxi (convenient but pricey—25 euros one way), or walking, which is a cool experience but you’ll likely only want to do the hourlong hike down the epic staircase once during your trip.
When to go
May is still relatively chilly, July and August get really crowded with the tourist high season. June is perfect, and I’ve heard September is nice too (just make sure it’s still warm enough to swim!)
How to say it
“Cah-pree.” Just do it.
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Where to stay
Capri Palace. This is the only hotel I can personally speak to since I’ve stayed there both times I’ve been to Capri; once I experienced it on our honeymoon, I couldn’t bear to stay anywhere else! Located on top of the cliffs in Anacapri, it’s ideally situated in the most charming village with endless Mediterranean views. The rooms are beautifully simple and there’s art everywhere. The Michelin-starred restaurant and unrivaled spa deserve entries of their own, so read on.
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Where to eat in Capri
Paolino. At this Capri institution, you’ll dine under a lemon grove with lemons literally the size of your head. Expect homey Italian dishes like Caprese salad, spaghetti with clams, and linguine showered with an ungodly amount of shaved truffles. Yum!
Pro tip: Limoncello is the official drink of Capri, and Paolino is the perfect spot to enjoy a house-made sip at the end of your meal.
Il Riccio.Capri Palace additionally has the prettiest seaside membership on the island. We spent the day lounging within the seaside chairs then headed up for a late lunch of recent mozzarella and the grilled catch of the day. We had been again for dinner on the night of our anniversary. Watching the sundown from the upstairs lounge adopted by an epic dinner of sea urchin spaghetti is one thing I’ll always remember.
Professional tip: Don’t miss the “Temptation Room” stuffed floor-to-ceiling with each Italian dessert you possibly can dream up.
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La Capannina. This restaurant down in Capri town, near the main Piazza, is an old-school gem. Tucked into a cozy alleyway with photos of visiting celebrities covering the walls, you’ll feel like you stepped back into Capri’s most star-studded glamour days. Adam and I cozied into a booth with a glass of the house red and plates of Veal Milanese until late. Then we strolled down the sidewalk eating gelato with the moon lighting up the Mediterranean. Date night doesn’t get better than this.
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Lido del Faro. This beach club felt way more local and less touristy than the others, full of Italians who were there to sunbake and swim all day! We loved it for the beachside restaurant where we ate a two-hour lunch and split a bottle of the mineral-y local white wine. Many of the beach clubs in Italy have basically the same menus and pretty good food, but this one set itself apart with the most perfect just-caught fish, grilled octopus, and spaghetti with zucchini flowers.
Pro tip: Arrive just before 1 pm and you’ll be able to choose a table with the prettiest views. The Italians never eat before 1:15 pm.
Da Gelsomina. A buddy talked about this place to me, and because it’s in a distant space of Anacapri that requires a hike to entry, we nearly missed it. Thank goodness we didn’t! A tiny mattress and breakfast that makes its personal wine from grapes on the property, our waiter was the proprietor and his spouse’s grandparents had opened it three generations earlier than. This can be a really particular spot, within the nation and overlooking limitless sea views. We ordered ravioli filled with roasted tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella, and our favourite easy salad with arugula and large chunks of freshly shaved parmesan.
Professional tip: Stroll over a bit early and discover the fascinating “Philosophical Park” throughout the roadside, which provides views of each side of the island if you happen to hike as much as the very best level.
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What to do in Capri
Ride in a boat. Capri is one of the most stunning spots to go for a boat ride, and there are lots of ways to go about it depending on your budget and what you have in mind. At the marina, there are tons of group boat cruises you can hop on to take you around the island and down to see the blue grotto. On our honeymoon, we booked a fancy speedboat which took us to Positano and back. This time was my favorite boat experience of all.
My friend Alex turned me on to the personal boat rides given by the household that owns Paolino (see restaurant above.) Discuss a quintessential Capri expertise! Our captain, Tonnino, gave us probably the most unimaginable full tour of each spot across the complete island. We skipped the famous-yet-touristy blue grotto and as an alternative obtained a uncommon glimpse contained in the Inexperienced Grotto, the White Grotto, and naturally, we crossed underneath the well-known Faraglioni and kissed for good luck.
Professional tip: You may e mail Michela, Tonnino’s spouse (her father, Vittorino, can also be a captain and proprietor of Paolino) at [email protected] to test their availability.
Villa San Michelle.We walked over to the villa, museum, and gardens created by Swedish physician and writer Axel Munthe across the flip of the century. It completely exceeded my expectations, among the most beautiful views and unimaginable gardens we noticed on our complete journey. Make certain to take a look at the well-known sphinx sculpture overlooking the cliffs—it dates again to three,200 years in the past!
Professional tip: Close to the sphinx, you’ll discover the place to begin for the well-known Phoenician steps that lead down into Capri city. Put on sneakers and prepare for an unimaginable hike, capped off with a espresso or glass of wine within the Piazza as your reward.
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Fontelina Beach Club. If you haven’t been to a European beach town, the term “Beach Club” may be a tad misleading. (But visiting one is a must if you’re wondering what to do in Capri). These are not clubs in the sense of having any type of nightlife. Instead of dancing, there’s laying under beach umbrellas, and instead of jello shots, there’s freshly grilled fish from the sea. In other words, my kind of “club.”
Fontelina is the old-school favorite for a reason. Its blue and white striped parasols ooze Italian holiday and the entire scene is set against the most famous skyline in Capri, the Faraglioni rocks. Call them to make a reservation for beach chairs around 11 am, then book a table for either the 1 pm or 3 pm seatings for lunch.
Professional tip: You may attain the seaside membership on foot, by way of the little path subsequent to the Tragara viewing level in Capri city. Put on comfy sneakers: the trail winds its approach all the way down to the ocean for a few 20-minute hike. There’s additionally a shuttle boat that may take you to the marina if you happen to’re not feeling as much as a hike.
This article does a great job of explaining the total route, and since there are a variety of totally different spots you possibly can hop on and hop off, it most likely makes probably the most sense to speak with an area and map out your hike based mostly in your start line and the way far you need to go.
If you need a break from it all, this world-class spa is the destination spot in Italy. It offers cutting-edge treatments, but the holistic focus on true wellness from the inside out is what really sets it apart, in my opinion. You can meet with a doctor or nutritionist for a complete protocol or just go for one of the best massages of your life. Reflecting their east-meets-west approach, I got my first authentic Thai massage from an incredible therapist who trained in Bangkok.
Capri Travel Essentials
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Chic and timeless, these sunglasses give your everyday sunnies a run for their money.
