A Positano to Capri Day Trip | One Day Capri Itinerary

When it comes to putting together an Amalfi Coast itinerary, adding on a Positano to Capri day trip should be towards the top of the list.

Capri is a small, beautiful island right off the coast of Italy. It is easily accessible from the towns of the Amalfi coast and you could even get there by boat from Naples.

It is a popular day trip destination for those who are staying on the mainland, however it could also be a great idea to stay on the island itself.

This guide however, will go over the logistics to get there and what to do as part of a one day Capri itinerary from Positano. It is sure to be a day full of fun activities and you will have an incredible time enjoying this one of a kind island.

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1) Introduction to Capri

A day trip to Capri is a must do when visiting the Amalfi Coast of Italy. Located less than an hour by ferry from many of the coast’s main towns, Capri is one of the more popular day trips out there to take part of.

The island is full of viewpoints, gardens, small towns, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the water.

If visiting the island during the peak summer months, be aware that you will see the crowds during the day since a Capri day trip is on many people’s bucket lists.

Even with the crowds though, I would highly recommend spending at least a day on the island. If you want to have a bit more peace and quiet on Capri earlier and later on in the day, then an overnight could be for you too.

With that said though, this guide will focus in on a Capri day trip from Positano and how to go about enjoying a fun filled day there.

The island itself is not too large and a single day there can get you all around. Be prepared though for an early wakeup as you will want as much time as possible to see what Capri has to offer.

The rest of this guide will go over what to expect during a trip to Capri and help answer any questions along the way.

2) How to Get to Capri

There are a few main ways to get to Capri from Positano depending on your budget & overall preference.

This route can be done on your own utilizing the ferry network, or you can opt to take a group tour / private boat from Positano.

Positano to Capri Ferry

I will start with talking about the main “do it yourself” option of utilizing the ferry to get yourself between Positano and Capri.

If you want to do the day trip on a budget and have the freedom to explore Capri independently, then this will be for you.

Positano to Capri Ferry Schedule

When it comes to the ferry schedule, you will find different schedules throughout the year. Most ferries start operating in April and stop running at the end of October.

The closer you are to those peaks summer months, the more ferry options you will find running throughout the day.

If you happen to be visiting between November and March, you will not be able to visit directly from Positano. Instead, you will need to travel to Sorrento, where you can catch a ferry from there.

Feel free to check out the ferry schedules for the particular dates you are thinking of taking the day trip. I would recommend booking ahead of time, especially during peak season.

There are multiple ferry and hydrofoil companies that run the routes between the mainland and Capri. Some of these are faster than others, and you will be able to see the options when going about a booking.

Positano to Capri Boat Times

As mentioned, boat schedules can change throughout the year. The closer you are to those summer months, the more ferries you will find going back and forth.

Below you can find an example schedule of the Positano to Capri boat times during the summer:

• Morning: 8:50AM, 9:15AM, 10:00AM, 10:25AM, 10:55AM
• Afternoon: 2:00PM, 4:40PM, 6:10PM

Since you will be taking a day trip from Positano to Capri, I would recommend going for one of the first ferries of the day.

On the way back, you can choose from ferries that depart between 5:00PM – 7:00PM to Positano.

How Long is the Boat Ride from Positano to Capri

For the most part, you can expect the Positano to Capri boat time to be around 30 minutes for the one way trip.

However, there are some companies that run slower ferries (around 45 – 60 minutes).

As you go about your booking, you can pick the boats that work best for you.

Positano to Capri Ferry Cost

All of the ferry companies offer very similar pricing to one another. You can expect a one way ferry ride to be around 20-25 Euro (round trip 40-50 Euro).

Other Ferry Options

As mentioned before, you can get to Capri from a variety of cities throughout the Amalfi coast (not just Positano).

Here are a few main places you might be coming from along with approximate ferry lengths and one way prices:

• Amalfi: 50 minutes / ~23 Euro
• Sorrento: 20 minutes / ~20 Euro
• Naples: 60 minutes / ~22 Euro
• Salerno: 120 minutes / ~25 Euro

3) Positano to Capri Day Trip Tour Options

While taking the ferry will be the perfect combination between price & freedom, there are some other ways to go about a Positano to Capri day trip.

Instead of taking a ferry back and forth to Capri, you can also opt for some small group or private boat tours that offer trips from the Amalfi Coast to Capri. Below are some highly rated options to choose from:

Group Tour

• From Positano: Sorrento Coast & Capri Full-Day Trip by Boat
• Capri: Full-Day Boat Trip
• From Positano: Full-Day Boat Trip to Capri

The great thing about many of these tours, is that you will get a more wholistic day trip that combines water activities with the island itself.

Each one is a bit different from the next, but in general you can expect both some water excursions around Capri, in addition to free time on the island itself.

Private Tour

If you want some more privacy altogether, you can also opt for a private tour. You may also have more of an ability to pick & choose what types of activities you do along the way. See below for a highly rated private option:

• From Positano: Private Boat Tour to Capri or Amalfi

Note: you can also simply hire a private boat to take you to Capri, without a full guided tour

4) Capri Day Trip Attractions & Map

In the following section, I will be walking through what a day trip to Capri from Positano looks like. To better familiarize yourself with the attractions & layout of the island, feel free to check out the map below.

The map of Capri is pinned with the destinations you could visit during your day here including:

1. Capri Town / Piazzetta
2. Augustus Gardens / Faraglioni Rocks
3. Villa San Michele
4. Mount Solaro

When getting yourself between these attractions, you will be using a variety of transportation options including ferry, bus, funicular, chairlift and plenty of walking.

Highlighted in yellow is the funicular to take you from the ferry into town. In red is the bus to take you from Capri town to Anacapri, and in purple is the chairlift up to Mount Solaro.

5) A One Day Capri Itinerary

Below you will find the Capri attractions listed out along with some short descriptions and images for each.

I will also touch on the different transportation options to utilize during your time on the island, getting from one attraction to the next.

A) Capri Town / Piazzetta

Once you arrive in Capri you can walk, cab or funicular up to the Capri Town.

The funicular is the probably the best option here as it is quick, cheap and convenient (runs every 15 minutes / 2 Euro).

Once up top in the town of Capri you can spend some time exploring the streets, plazas, restaurants and stores. You will be sure to pass by the Piazzetta or Piazza Umberto I, one of the better-known piazzas in Italy.

B) Augustus Gardens / Faraglioni Rocks

​After you had enough time wandering around town and getting a feel for Capri it is time to head to a few noteworthy attractions.

First up are the Augustus Gardens. Here you will be able to walk through a garden filled with a variety of different plants and flowers, as well as take in some spectacular water views of the Faraglioni Rocks out in the distance.

It really is just a beautiful place to relax and enjoy. You can also see Via Krupp down below, a winding pathway down the mountain.

Although the road is closed for safety reasons, it still makes for one great picture.

C) Villa San Michele

​After grabbing some lunch around the area you can then begin to make your way to Anacapri, which is a bit west of the Capri town.

To get there is pretty simple – you can either hop on a bus from near the Piazzetta or grab a taxi. It should only take about 15 minutes to make the drive.

The first thing you will do when you get to Anacapri is walk to Villa San Michele. Once the home to Swedish physician Axel Munthe, it is now open to the public to explore.

You can spend time roaming around the estate, which includes the main villa, gardens, terraces, artwork and some more great views.  It will cost 10 Euro to enter San Michele and it is definitely worth the fee.

D) Mount Solaro

• Cost: 14 Euro (round trip) / 11 Euro (one way)
• Length: 13 minutes
• Hours: 9:30AM – 5:30PM (May to October); March to April closes at 4:30PM, November to February closes at 3:30PM

Next up will be a pretty unique experience as you head up to Mount Solaro, the highest point in Capri.

To get there you will have to take a single person chairlift up to the top. If you are afraid of heights this might not be for you, but you still should definitely go!

The views from the chairlift are great but the view from up top is even better as you will get to see panoramic views of the entire island.

Mount Solaro stands at 589 meters / 1,932 feet, and offers the perfect vantage point to take in all of your surroundings. Feel free to spend some time exploring the are and just relaxing up top, before finishing up with your day.

After you have had enough time on Mount Solaro, make your way back down the chairlift to Anacapri.

You can then hop back on a bus that will take you to the port area in order to catch your boat back to Positano.

6) Capri Boat Tour Option

One experience that many people like to take part of in Capri is a boat tour around the island, which can include the Blue Grotto as well.

If you want to include this in your itinerary, do so right when you arrive in Capri as that is where many of the boats will depart from.

You will also want to do it as early as possible to avoid the influx of tourist boats at the Blue Grotto if that is part of the itinerary.

The tours below leave from Marina Grande on Capri, while the tours mentioned earlier on in the guide leave from Positano.

Below are some great options to choose from if you are looking to explore the waters of Capri:

• Capri: Island Boat Tour with Blue Grotto Stop
• Capri: Island Boat Trip and Blue Grotto Visit

Blue Grotto Recap

The reason why I did not include the Blue Grotto from the start is because this is one place that can get very crowded and take up valuable time exploring Capri.

If you get there early enough you have the chance to avoid the crowds. If not, there is a chance you will need to wait up to an hour outside of the Blue Grotto entrance.

Once your turn is up though, you will hop into a smaller boat that can fit up to 4 people. These smaller boats will then take you to a ticket booth, where you will pay an additional 14 Euro to enter.

From there, your boat driver will take you into the Blue Grotto itself. Get ready to lay very low in the boat, as your captain guides you further into the grotto.

Soon enough you will be welcomed to sparkling blue water, where you will spend the next 10 minutes or so. It is important to note that the water really only has that vibrant blue color if the sun is out. If it is very overcast, you may not experience the same type of blue grotto that you may see in photos.

After enjoying the grotto, you will head back to the sea, where you will get back onto your boat and towards Marina Grande. From there, you can begin your day trip on Capri.

Note: it is possible to save some time and take a bus from the Blue Grotto to Anacapri and do the above itinerary in the opposite direction. You do not necessarily need to take the boat back to Marina Grande.

You can either wait for the bus or hop in a taxi, before driving off to Anacapri and heading up Mount Solaro.

7) Where to Stay in Positano

Since you will be taking part of a Positano to Capri day trip, you will need to choose somewhere to stay in Positano. There are various hotels to choose from all alongside the beautiful town center.

Below are just a few of the highly rated options to consider during your time there:

• Hotel Eden Roc Suites
• Hotel Marincanto
• Villa la Tartana
• Hotel Reginella
• Covo Dei Saraceni

That about wraps up the guide to a one day Capri itinerary. Take a look at the other Italy itineraries and guides to help out with any other trip planning.

Be sure to include this day trip a part of an Italy itinerary:

• 7 Day Italy Itinerary
• 10 Day Italy Itinerary
• 14 Day Italy Itinerary

Hope you enjoy your time in Italy. If you have any questions about the trip please feel free to comment below!

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