One Perfect Day in Anacapri (Easy Day Trip Itinerary)

Last Updated on April 19, 2026 by Charlotte

Perched high above the bustle of Capri Town, Anacapri is the quieter, cooler, and arguably more charming side of the island. This is where you’ll find the island’s highest peak, a legendary sphinx gazing out over the Bay of Naples, and streets that are blissfully free of the designer boutiques and cruise ship crowds that can make Capri Town feel a little overwhelming in peak season.

I love that Anacapri is also noticeably cooler than sea level, which, if you’re visiting in the height of summer, feels like an absolute gift. Here’s how to spend one perfect day in Anacapri.

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One Perfect Day in Anacapri

This itinerary covers the best of Anacapri in one day, from riding the Monte Solaro chairlift to the highest point on the island, to wandering the quieter streets of Anacapri town and picking up a pair of custom leather sandals.

Whether you’re based in Capri Town for a few nights or making a day trip from the mainland, this itinerary works for both day trippers and overnight guests, and can easily be done in half a day if you’re moving at a decent pace.

Map of Anacapri Itinerary

Ride on the Monte Solaro Chairlift

Your first stop of the day is the Monte Solaro Chairlift, a 13-minute ride on a single-seater chairlift that sweeps you up to the highest point on the island.

From the summit, you can enjoy some of the best views on the island, including the Faraglioni, the Bay of Naples, and even Mount Vesuvius on a clear day.

The summit is also a perfect place to sit and enjoy a drink or a gelato at the on-site Bistro and Restaurant, before making your way back down to Anacapri town to explore the historic house and gardens of Villa San Michele.

Practical Info

• Hours: Typically ~9:30 AM to sunset (seasonal, last ride down at closing)
• Cost: ~€14 round trip
• Time needed: 1–1.5 hours
• Wait time: Can be 30–60+ minutes midday in peak season
• Tip: Go first thing in the morning to avoid lines and crowds

Explore Villa San Michele

Just a five-minute walk from the Monte Solaro Chairlift, Villa San Michele is a museum and gardens that were once home to the Swedish physician and writer Axel Munthe. At Villa San Michele, you can wander through the rooms of the villa that are so well preserved that it looks like Axel stepped out for a coffee and never came back.

But my favorite part of this place was the gardens, and most curiously, the red granite statue of a Sphinx that stands watch, gazing out over the Bay of Naples.

Personally, I thought that the gardens at Villa San Michele were more impressive than those at the Gardens of Augustus and Via Krupp.

Practical Info

• Hours: ~9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (later in summer, shorter in winter)
• Cost: ~€10 entry
• Time needed: 45–60 minutes
• Location: ~5-minute walk from Monte Solaro chairlift

Wander Anacapri Town

In Anacapri town, it’s a joy to just explore the streets and the cute shops and churches. One thing I loved about Anacapri is that it is quite a bit cooler than at sea level, which made exploring a lot more comfortable during the heatwave.

Get Bespoke Sandals

While on our walk, we passed by the famous cobbler Viva Antonio, and I couldn’t resist ordering a custom pair of leather sandals. Viva Antonio is a family-run workshop in Anacapri known for its handmade leather sandals, crafted on-site using traditional techniques that have been passed down for generations. While the specific shop that I visited has since closed, you can check out a similar sandalmaker called Il Sandalo Caprese.

In the shop, you can pick out the colors of the leather, and delicate little gems, and the sandals are made to order to your feet. Depending on the complexity of the sandals (and the quantity of your order), the sandal-making can take a bit of time, so it’s lovely to sit and enjoy a meal while you wait.

Practical Info

• Cost: ~€100–€200+ depending on style and customization
• Time needed: 30 minutes to a few hours, depending on complexity and queue
• Process: Choose leather, style, and embellishments; sandals are made to measure
• Tip: Order first, then grab a meal while you wait

Enjoy a Local Meal

We got a late lunch (or an early dinner) at Sciue’ Sciue’, and it was DELICIOUS! We ordered the whole fried fish of the day and a margarita pizza to share.

See the Blue Grotto

The final stop of the day is the Blue Grotto, a sea cave where sunlight enters through an underwater opening and illuminates the water in vivid colors. From Anacapri town, you can take a short 10-15 minute bus or taxi ride down to the grotto entrance, where you’ll transfer into a small rowboat to enter the cave.

Access to the Blue Grotto is completely dependent on sea conditions, and even on clear, sunny days, the grotto is often closed if the water is too rough. Alas, during our visit, a 10 ft (3 meters) swell shut down the Blue Grotto entirely, and so we were not able to visit. But, we were able to see the Green Grotto and the White Grotto on a different day of our trip when we booked a private boat tour.

Practical Info

• Hours: Typically ~9:00 AM to 5 or 6:00 PM, but varies daily based on sea conditions and season
• Cost: ~€18 total (split between entrance fee + rowboat fee)
• Time needed: 30 minutes to 2+ hours, depending on the wait time
• Tip: Check the ocean conditions or ask a local if they think it’s open before you bus down to the grotto

Plan Your Visit to Anacapri

Whether you’re a day tripper or a slow traveler, here is everything you need to know before making the trip to Anacapri, from getting there to where to stay and when to visit.

Getting There

Anacapri sits on a plateau above Capri town, and can be easily accessed by both bus and taxi.

By Bus

If you’re arriving directly from the mainland at Marina Grande, the direct bus to Anacapri takes around 25 minutes, while the journey from Capri Town to Anacapri takes around 15 minutes on a short but exhilarating ride along steep cliffs.

This can cause a few hair-raising moments if you happen to be staring out the window! Personally, I found the ride to be a little nauseating, but thankfully, it was over before I knew it.

Buses run every 20 minutes (see schedules), and a single ride costs €2.40 if purchased at the ticket office, or €2.90 if bought on board. You can now tap and go with a credit card, but tickets can also be bought at the ticket offices in Marina Grande and at the bus terminals in both Capri Town and Anacapri.

If you plan on taking the bus more than four times in a single day, it’s worth picking up a daily pass instead.

By Taxi

If the winding cliff road sounds like too much, taxis are a straightforward alternative. There is a taxi stand in Capri Town at Piazza Martiri d’Ungheria, and expect to pay around €20 for the ride.

How Long to Spend in Anacapri

You can see the highlights of Anacapri in just over half a day, especially if you’re following a set route like this one. If you also hope to visit Anacapri plus the Blue Grotto without rushing about, I recommend spending a full day, which gives you more time to explore, whether that’s at the top of Monte Solaro or wandering through Anacapri town without a plan.

Best Time to Visit

Early summer through early fall has the best weather for visiting Anacapri, with clear skies and long days that make the most of the island’s viewpoints. The months of July and August are the busiest times in Anacapri, especially around midday, when holiday goers descend on the island.

If you’re visiting in the shoulder seasons (May–June or September–October), you’ll likely find a more relaxed pace with fewer crowds and still-beautiful weather.

Anacapri does have a quieter off-season in the winter months (roughly November through March), when some restaurants, shops, and attractions may have reduced hours or close entirely. While the island is still beautiful, it feels much sleepier, and you’ll want to check opening times in advance.

What to Wear & Bring

On this day trip itinerary, you’ll be walking more than you think, often on stone streets and uneven paths, so make sure that you have comfortable shoes. Also, speaking of shoes, if you plan to ride on the Monte Solaro chairlift, you probably want to wear sneakers or sandals with a heel strap. If you lose a flip-flop during the ride, I doubt that you’ll ever see it again!

Likewise, I’d advise bringing a purse or backpack that zips closed, so you don’t lose all your personal belongings to someone’s olive grove from 200 ft (60 meters) up in the sky.

Lastly, if you’re hoping to visit the Blue Grotto too, wear something that you don’t mind getting wet, as you’ll have to sit or lie on the floor of the boat to glide into the cave.

Where to Stay in Anacapri

If you have time to spend a few nights on Capri, staying in Anacapri is a more peaceful and relaxed alternative to the busier Capri town.

From what I heard from locals in the Capri tourism industry, most first-time Capri visitors tend to stick to the busier and more central neighborhoods of Capri, while repeat visitors branch out to enjoy the quieter side of life in Anacapri.

Ready to Plan Your Trip to Capri?

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