While there’s no shortage of places to visit in the south of Italy, Capri is one of those unmissable destinations – an island of breathtaking beauty which has been a holiday resort for more than 2,000 years. With its gorgeous dark blue sea and panoramic views from hilltop towns and gardens, it’s no wonder that Capri is one of the top attractions in Italy.

Is it possible to do a day trip from Rome to Capri?

Most tourists staying in Rome don’t even consider a day trip to Capri, assuming that it’s just too far away. Most of the day trippers in Capri are based in Naples, Sorrento, or another town along the Amalfi Coast. But with a bit of planning, a day trip from Rome to Capri is certainly feasible. You just have to make an early start to make the most of your day, and book trains and ferries in advance. If you want someone else to take care of the logistics, you can also ask Roads to Rome Private Tours for some assistance with planning your itinerary – we’ll be happy to help!

How to get to Capri from Rome

The first step is to get to Naples. The high speed train from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale is called the Frecciarossa and takes just over an hour. If you book in advance, a one-way ticket can cost as little as €16.90. You can also take an “Italo” fast train, which is as good as Frecciarossa and can be even cheaper. Take an early train from Rome and you can be in Naples as early as 8:00.

Ferries and hydrofoils to Capri depart from two main ports: Molo Beverello and Calata Porta di Massa. They’re located next to each other. To reach the port from the train station, it’s a 35 minute walk or a 15 minute taxi journey. For a more relaxing day, we’d recommend taking a taxi.

You can buy ferry tickets at the port, but it’s best to book in advance, especially in the summer. Tickets for convenient ferry times at busy times of the year sometimes sell out. The journey time from Naples to Capri can be anything from 40 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, depending on the boat you get. Prices for a one-way ticket range from €14 to €22.

When you get off the boat in Capri, you’ll find yourself in the Marina Grande. From here you can either take a boat to take a tour around the island and, eventually, visit the Grotta Azzurra (Blue Grotto), or take the funicular up to the town. There might be a line, mostly in the summer time, but it’s usually pretty fast.  Tickets for the funicular are available at the ticket desk nearby; you can reach Capri city center (the famous “Piazzetta”) also by bus or taking one of the typical convertible taxis. During the high season (May-September) it might be hard to find a taxi, so it could be a good idea to book one in advance. To get back to Rome at the end of your day trip to Capri, obviously you just have to repeat these steps in reverse. Give yourself plenty of time to get back, as boat departures can be affected by bad weather, and a delay might lead to you missing your train back to Rome.

Tips for planning your Capri tour

• Book transport in advance. We recommend booking train and ferry tickets in advance, to save money and to be sure of a seat on the train and a place on the boat. This is especially important if you’re planning on visiting in the summer.
• Make an early start. The earliest high speed train from Rome to Capri leaves Termini at 7:00, getting you to Naples just after 8:00. That allows you to take one of the earlier ferries to Capri, so you can be at the Marina Grande in Capri at around 10:30. It’s worth making an early start to make the most of your day in Capri.
• Avoid visiting Capri in July or August. In the summer Capri is heaving with tourists and the crowds can be overwhelming. The town is small so it can be hard to get away from the tourist hordes. So, if possible, visit at another time of the year – spring and autumn in Capri are lovely. In June the wether is usually lovely, but the island is really crowded.
• Don’t set your heart on visiting the Grotta Azzurra. This grotto is one of Capri’s top attractions, but tourists are often disappointed to find it closed. Even on a hot sunny day, a choppy sea means that the grotto will be closed to visitors.
• Plan your day. Capri is small, but there’s lots to see and do. Take a stroll around the Piazzetta, visit the Giardini di Cesare Augusto, do a boat tour of the island, check out the beaches (especially Marina Piccola) or the beautiful Villa San Michele in Anacapri, which is the other town of the island. If you like hiking then don’t miss  Villa Jovis (once the home of the Emperor Tiberius): it’ll be hard to walk there, but it will also be worth it.

Still not sure about how to plan your day trip from Rome to Capri? We can help! Roads to Rome Private Tours have years of experience of organizing tours and helping tourists in Italy to make the most of their trip.