Capri is an island, and that is the first thing to plan around. There is no bridge and no airport, so every visit begins with a boat, and getting the boat right is the difference between a smooth arrival and a stressful morning of missed ferries and long queues. Here is exactly how to get to Capri, from wherever you are starting, and how to move around once your feet are on the island.
Getting to Capri from Naples
Naples is the fastest and most frequent gateway. In summer there are more than twenty crossings a day, and they leave from two different docks that are a ten-minute walk apart, so it is worth knowing which one you want. The fast hydrofoils leave from Molo Beverello and reach Capri in about 50 minutes. The slower car ferries leave from Calata Porta di Massa and take about 1 hour 15 minutes, but they are cheaper and steadier in a swell. Fares run roughly €19 to €25 one way. The first boat is around 05:35 and the last back is around 21:35 in high season, though always check the evening timetable before you commit to a late day.
If you are flying into Naples airport, take the Alibus shuttle straight to the port (about 15 minutes), then walk to Beverello. Give yourself a buffer: Naples traffic is unpredictable and the fast boats do not wait.
Getting to Capri from Sorrento
Sorrento is the prettier, calmer option and my personal favourite jumping-off point. Boats run all year from Sorrento’s Marina Piccola port, with around ten crossings a day and a journey of just 25 to 35 minutes. Fares are about €22 one way (roughly €44 return). To reach the port from the centre of Sorrento, take the pedestrian stairs down from Piazza Tasso, the lift from the Villa Comunale gardens, or the little public bus. In high season boats leave every 30 to 60 minutes, so you are never waiting long.
Getting to Capri from the Amalfi Coast
From Positano and Amalfi there are seasonal direct ferries in the warmer months (roughly April to October), which save you the backtrack to Sorrento. They are lovely but weather-dependent and less frequent, so if the sea is rough they are the first to be cancelled. If you are travelling in the shoulder season, route through Sorrento to be safe.
The landing fee, and buying tickets
A small landing fee of about €5 per person applies from April to October (€2.50 in winter), usually added to your ticket. Outside July, August and holiday weekends you rarely need to book ahead; simply arrive at the pier ten minutes before departure. In peak summer, book the popular late-morning crossings in advance, because they sell out and you do not want to be stuck waiting three hours for the next seat.
Getting around once you arrive
Every boat lands at Marina Grande, the port, which sits below both Capri town and Anacapri. From here you have a few options, and it helps to have a plan before the crowd surges off the boat.
The funicular is the classic way up to Capri town and the Piazzetta: it climbs the hillside in about four minutes, with a single ticket around €2.40 bought in advance (about €2.90 from the kiosk on the day). Queues build after each ferry arrives, so if it is packed, the alternative is a taxi or the bus. Buses connect Marina Grande, Capri town and Anacapri, winding up roads so narrow the drivers are local legends; a single fare is the same €2.40 (or €2.90 from the driver), and they are frequent but fill quickly. Capri’s open-top taxis are an experience in themselves, convertible cars with striped canopies, and worth it once for the drive up to Anacapri even if the fare stings.
Crucially, the island is car-free for visitors in high season, and much of it is stairs and footpaths anyway. Wear proper shoes, not heels, however tempting. Between the Piazzetta and the Gardens of Augustus, or down to Marina Piccola, you will walk more than you expect.
A note on doing Capri as a day trip
Most people come for the day, and you can absolutely see the headline sights in one. But the island transforms in the evening: after the last ferries leave for the mainland around dinnertime, the crowds thin, the Piazzetta empties, and Capri returns to its quiet, glamorous self. If you can stretch to one night, do; the island you meet after 7pm is the one worth the journey.
Ferry companies, tickets and luggage
A handful of operators run the crossings, and you do not need to agonise over which: from Naples the main names are SNAV, Caremar, NLG and Gescab; from Sorrento, NLG and Gescab; and to the Blue Grotto and around the island, Motoscafisti and Laser Capri. You can buy at the ticket windows on the dock, but in July and August the popular late-morning departures do sell out, so booking the outbound leg online the night before saves a stressful scramble.
Travel light if you can, because Capri is stairs, funiculars and narrow buses, and there is nowhere graceful to wheel a large case. If you are staying over, many hotels arrange a porter service from the port (the island’s famous luggage porters and their electric carts), which is worth every euro given the climbs. Keep a little cash on you for the funicular, the buses and the landing fee, as not every kiosk takes cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the ferry to Capri take?
From Naples, about 50 minutes on the fast hydrofoil from Molo Beverello, or 1 hour 15 on the car ferry. From Sorrento it is just 25 to 35 minutes.
Do I need to book Capri ferry tickets in advance?
Usually no. Outside July, August and holiday weekends you can arrive at the pier a few minutes before departure. In peak summer, book the busy late-morning crossings ahead as they do sell out.
Can you take a car to Capri?
You can bring a car on the ferry, but the island is closed to visitor cars in high season and there is nowhere useful to drive. Leave the car on the mainland and use the funicular, buses and taxis.
Which is the best port to leave from?
Sorrento is the calmest and closest (25 to 35 minutes) and runs year-round. Naples is fastest overall for frequency and connections. From the Amalfi Coast, use the seasonal direct boats in summer.
How do you get from Marina Grande up to Capri town?
Take the funicular (about four minutes to the Piazzetta, roughly €2.40 a ticket), the bus, or a taxi. The funicular queue builds after each ferry, so if it is heaving, the bus is a good backup.
Is there a fee just to arrive on Capri?
Yes, a small landing fee of about €5 per person applies from April to October (€2.50 in winter), usually included in your ferry ticket. It is separate from the fare itself.
Planning the wider island? See my complete guide to Capri for the villages, the sights and how many days you really need.
Read also: The Perfect Capri Itinerary | Where to Stay in Capri | The Complete Guide to Capri
