12 Best Things to Do on Capri

Last Updated on April 19, 2026 by Charlotte

Whether you’re planning a single-day trip or a longer stay, Capri packs a remarkable amount of activities into a tiny island. Here are our favorite things to do on the island, from ancient villas and clifftop gardens to boat trips and hidden viewpoints that most visitors never find.

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Best Things to Do on Capri

Visit Via Krupp and the Gardens of Augustus

The Giardini di Augusto are beautifully kept terraced gardens with jaw-dropping views over the Faraglioni rocks and Marina Piccola, and from there, Via Krupp — a precipitous zigzagging path carved directly into the cliff face — winds its way down to the sea. It’s one of the most striking pieces of landscape engineering I’ve ever seen.

→ Full details in our Via Krupp and Gardens of Augustus guide.

Spend a Day in Anacapri and Ride the Monte Solaro Chairlift

Capri’s quieter, higher village feels like a different world from the bustle below. From Anacapri, a single-seat chairlift carries you up to Monte Solaro — the island’s highest point at 589 meters — for panoramic views stretching from Vesuvius to the Amalfi Coast on a clear day.

We spent a full day up here and came back feeling like we’d seen the island from every angle.

→ Read our One Perfect Day in Anacapri itinerary for the full guide.

Wander Villa San Michele

Axel Munthe’s early 20th-century villa in Anacapri is one of those places that feels almost too beautiful to be real. Part museum, part garden, part crumbling open-air terrace, the Villa san Michelle sits on the edge of the cliff at the top of the ancient Phoenician Steps with views that will make your eyes water.

The Sphinx statue perched at the very edge of the loggia, staring out to sea, is an image I haven’t been able to shake.

→ See our Villa San Michele guide for everything you need to know before you visit.

Hike the Island Loop Trail

This was the biggest surprise of our trip. Capri has an exceptional network of walking paths, ranging from easy strolls with ridiculous views to full-loop hikes that take you from coast to clifftop and back.

We did a full hiking loop of the island that remains one of the best days of hiking I’ve had anywhere on the Mediterranean.

→ See our Capri hiking loop guide for routes, difficulty, and what to expect.

See the Arco Naturale

Carved by centuries of wind and sea erosion into the limestone cliffs on the island’s eastern side, Arco Naturale is a natural rock arch that frames a genuinely stunning view of the Mediterranean below.

If you’re the kind of person who finds geological features exciting (and I very much am), this one is fantastic! The arch itself is enormous up close, and the path that winds through the macchia to get there is beautiful in its own right.

Visit the Blue Grotto

No list of things to do on Capri is complete without the Blue Grotto, a sea cave on the island’s northwestern coast where light filters through an underwater opening, turning the water an extraordinary, almost electric blue.

It’s one of the most photographed natural phenomena in Italy, and the photos really don’t do it justice.

Book a Private Boat Charter

Capri by sea is my favorite way to sightsee around the island. The sea caves, the Faraglioni rocks up close, the Green and White Grottos — none of it is accessible on foot.

We had originally booked a dinky wooden boat, but due to rough seas, we were bumped up to a luxurious speedboat, which was fantastic! The storm we’d cursed all week turned out to be the best thing that happened to us. More on that storm later.

→ See our Capri boat charter guide for what to book and what to expect.

Belvedere di Punta Cannone

This one’s a bit of a secret, and I’d like to keep it that way, except I’m a travel blogger, so here we are. The Belvedere di Punta Cannone is a viewpoint overlooking the Faraglioni rocks that, in my opinion, beats the views from the Gardens of Augustus for sheer drama.

The hike up past the old castle is a commitment, but the reward is one of the best views on the island with a fraction of the crowds, and I think it’s worth every step.

Visit the Villa Jovis & Villa Lysis

Perched on the northeastern tip of the island at 334 meters above sea level, Villa Jovis is Emperor Tiberius’s largest surviving residence on Capri — a sprawling complex of cisterns, terraces, and ceremonial rooms where he famously ruled the Roman Empire in self-imposed exile. The hike up from the Piazzetta takes about 45 minutes and is scenic in its own right. Just below it sits Villa Lysis, an elegant early 20th-century Art Nouveau villa built by French poet Jacques Fersen, that’s worth a quick visit too.

Bask in the Sunshine on the Beach

Capri has pebbled beaches and rocky platforms that are accessed by descending a cliff path or renting a spot at a beach club.

Tucked into a sheltered bay on the south side of the island, Marina Piccola is the most popular spot for a swim, followed by the busier Spiaggia Marina Grande next to the port.

Shopping on Capri

Capri’s main shopping strip, Via Camerelle, is one of those streets that exists in a parallel financial universe — Prada, Hermès, Dior, and Loro Piana in a row, with yachts visible in the harbor below. We window shopped enthusiastically and bought absolutely nothing, which I consider a personal victory.

But there is one Capri shopping tradition that I thought was worth the spend: the custom sandals. Several small cobblers on the island have been making made-to-measure leather sandals for decades, and you can walk in, pick your straps and sole, and walk out an hour later with a pair made specifically for your feet. I got a pair custom-made for my mom in Anacapri, and they remain one of my favorite souvenirs from the whole trip.

→ For the full sandal experience and where to go, see our One Perfect Day in Anacapri guide.

Take a Caprese Cooking Class

A traditional Capri cooking class is a lovely way to spend a morning or afternoon, if you are a foodie. You’ll learn to make fresh pasta, seafood, and the local lemon-forward desserts, and you’ll enjoy regional wine pairings. It’s a nice counterpoint to a trip that can otherwise be heavy on hiking and sightseeing.

Ready to Plan Your Trip to Capri?

Whether you’re lacing up your hiking boots, booking a boat, or just trying to figure out where to stay and what to eat, we’ve got you covered. Explore our full collection of Capri guides below to start building your perfect trip.