Capri’s Scenic Hiking Loop: Arco Naturale, Via del Pizzolungo, to the Gardens of Augustus
Last Updated on June 2, 2025 by Charlotte
Capri is known for its designer boutiques, linen-clad crowds, and celebrity-filled beach clubs—but that’s only one version of the island. The Capri we fell for was quieter: cliffside paths, hidden terraces, flower-filled neighborhoods, and views that made us stop in our tracks. Our Capri hiking loop itinerary from central Capri to the Arco Naturale to the Giardini di Augusto was one of our favorite days on the island. We pieced it together using a few AllTrails routes and a lot of Google Maps scrolling, creating a scenic loop that felt both spontaneous and intentional. It’s not a step-by-step guide, but if you’re looking for a way to explore Capri’s wild side, without the crowds or the shopping bags, this might be the walk for you.
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Arco Naturale
We began by winding out of central Capri, passing sleepy gardens and sun-bleached walls, until the alleyways gave way to a stony footpath through the trees.
Our first major stop was Arco Naturale, a towering arch of pale limestone that looks like it could have been sculpted by giants. In reality, the Arco Naturale is what remains of a massive Paleolithic sea cave. Over tens of thousands of years, the roof and sides collapsed, leaving behind just this soaring arc of rock, rising 20 meters into the air.
Some locals call it Capri’s window to the sea, and if you walk a little beyond the main viewpoint, you’ll see why: the arch perfectly frames a heart-shaped sliver of ocean below. There’s a quiet, almost reverent stillness here. Historians believe that this path nearby the Arco Naturale was once used by the Romans, and it’s said that even Emperor Tiberius, (who built villas all across the island), may have walked it himself. We were one of the first ones there, and we lingered for a while, watching the way the late morning light bounced up from the water and made the limestone glow.
Piazzette delle Noci
From the Arco Naturale, we backtracked slightly and climbed up to Piazzetta delle Noci, a small stone terrace perched at the edge of the pedestrian road.
I’d consider this viewpoint to be a hidden gem on Capri, as it is quiet, unassuming, and often empty. But the view from here is fantastic: steep hillsides rolling into the sea, boats carving soft lines through the water, and a sense that you’re above it all, even higher than the seagulls.
But what really made this spot memorable was what came next.
At the far end of the piazza, we found a narrow trail marked only on Google Maps as “Little path and a beautiful view.”
It’s not well marked, and it kind of feels like you’re about to walk into someone’s backyard, but this path winds downhill through brush and low trees and eventually connects you to the Via del Pizzolungo, the start of Capri’s wildest coastal trail.
The Little Path and a Beautiful View
What we didn’t realize (until halfway down the mountainside) was that this was actual off-road hiking. And I was in sandals and a long, flowy dress (not exactly trail-ready).
We were jumping over rocks, ducking under branches, and bushwhacking through tall grass, all while trying not to slide downhill. But the views? They were simply unreal. You’re walking above the sea, and the Faraglioni rocks are right there. Eventually, the trail spits you out onto Via del Pizzolungo, the start of Capri’s more formal coastal path, but getting there felt like discovering a secret passageway.
Via delle Pizzolungo to the Belvedere del Pizzolungo
After emerging from the overgrown hillside, we joined Via del Pizzolungo, a cliffside path that wraps around the southeastern edge of Capri. This stretch was more popular than we expected. We passed couples in linen, families in flip-flops, and hikers with walking poles, all moving at different paces along the narrow route. It’s clearly one of the island’s scenic highlights, and once you’re on it, it’s easy to see why. The views are nonstop. The sea feels close enough to touch, and the Faraglioni peek in and out as you round the bends. But it was also hot. There’s very little shade here, and the sun bakes the stone path. We were grateful for the breeze and the occasional patch of overhanging trees, but if you’re doing this loop in summer, pack water and consider starting earlier in the day.
Somewhere along this stretch, we passed a steep side path down to La Fontelina, one of Capri’s most famous (and exclusive) beach clubs. It’s carved into the rocks below, with blue-and-white umbrellas dotting the cliffs like candy. Apparently, this is the spot for celebrity sightings—everyone from Beyoncé to DiCaprio has been rumored to lounge there. We didn’t go down (it’s a serious descent), but even from above, it looked like another world.
Belvedere Tragara
After the heat and twists of the Pizzolungo trail, arriving at Belvedere Tragara felt like stepping into a curated finale. The rough stone path gave way to a wide promenade lined with manicured gardens and upscale villas. This viewpoint has a broad observation deck, toilets, and vendors selling snacks and beverages. From the Belvedere Tragara, the Faraglioni are framed perfectly between trees and stone walls, rising straight from the sea like the cover of every travel magazine ever printed about Capri. There were a lot more people here than at the Piazzette delle Noci, some snapping selfies, others quietly staring out at the cliffs.
Near the viewpoint, there’s a little cart where a local woman serves fresh lemon granitas and slushies. She’s known on TikTok and by pretty much everyone who’s passed this way as the “Singing Lemonade Lady“, thanks to her habit of breaking into song while she works. We weren’t planning to stop, but the heat decided for us. That icy, tart slush was exactly what we needed. It was sweet, sharp, and wildly refreshing. Sipping frozen lemonade with the Faraglioni in front of us and an impromptu aria behind us might’ve been one of the most unexpectedly joyful moments of the whole day.
Giardini di Augusto and Via Krupp
From Belvedere Tragara, we made our way back toward town, cutting through the quieter residential lanes until we reached one last jewel: the Giardini di Augusto.
These gardens aren’t huge, but they’re beautifully arranged with terraces of flowers and palms set high above the sea, with views stretching in every direction. You can spot Marina Piccola far below, catch glimpses of the Pizzolungo trail in the distance, and most dramatically, look straight down at Via Krupp.
Via Krupp is a narrow stone path that zigzags down the cliff in tight, elegant switchbacks, coiling like a ribbon dropped from the sky. It was commissioned in the early 1900s by Friedrich Alfred Krupp, a wealthy German industrialist, as a private way to reach the sea from his hotel suite (and, allegedly, a discreet route to visit a hidden marine biology institute… or possibly his private yacht parties, depending on which version of the story you believe).
Today, the path is often closed due to rockfall danger, (and it was closed during our visit), but even from above, it’s breathtaking. It doesn’t feel like something humans should have been able to build. We stood at the railing for a while, letting the day settle in. Our legs were tired, our clothes salty, but our brains felt clear in that particular way that only walking and wonder can produce.
This little loop, tucked away behind Capri’s flashier side, had given us exactly what we were looking for.
Our Capri Hiking Loop Details
- Distance: ~4.5–5.5 km (2.8–3.4 miles), depending on detours
- Time needed: 2–3.5 hours at a relaxed pace, plus photo + granita breaks
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Some elevation gain/loss
- Uneven stairs, exposed cliffside paths, and one poorly marked detour
- Minimal shade, bring water and sun protection
- Highlights: Arco Naturale, Faraglioni views, Via Krupp overlook, granita from the Singing Lemonade Lady
- Caution: The “Little Trail, Beautiful View” is steep, rocky, and unmaintained. Avoid if wet or wearing delicate shoes
- Best time: Early morning or late afternoon to avoid peak sun and crowds
A Similar Hike On Capri
While I couldn’t find the exact route that we took, this hiking route below follows almost our exact route, with the exception that it stops at Villa Jovis. On the day of our hike, Villa Jovis was closed, which was why we did a shorter loop than the trail below.
