The Best Photo Spots in Capri

Capri is one of those places that looks impossibly good in photographs and then, somehow, even better in person. But the best shots here are not accidents, they come from knowing where to stand and, just as importantly, when. This is my guide to the most beautiful photo spots on Capri, with the timing that turns a snapshot into the shot. Get up early, chase the light, and the island will do the rest.

The Gardens of Augustus and the Faraglioni

The defining Capri image. From the terraces of the Gardens of Augustus you look out over the three Faraglioni sea stacks rising from the blue on one side, and the hairpin ribbon of Via Krupp carved into the cliff on the other. It is the postcard, and for good reason. Come early morning for soft, side-on light and, crucially, thin crowds, because by late morning the terrace is shoulder to shoulder. Entry is a token €2.50.

Via Krupp from above

Even when the path itself is closed for rockfall (it often is), the switchbacking Via Krupp photographs beautifully from the Gardens of Augustus above, its white hairpins zigzagging down the cliff to the sea. Shoot it with the deep blue water behind for contrast. Mid-morning light picks out the curves best.

The Piazzetta

Capri’s little square, officially Piazza Umberto I, is all café umbrellas beneath the pastel clock tower. It photographs two ways: buzzing and full of life in the early evening as the aperitivo crowd gathers, or empty and serene in the early morning before the day-trippers arrive, when you can catch the tables and the clock tower with nobody in the frame. Both are lovely; the empty version is the rarer, quieter shot.

The summit of Monte Solaro

The highest and widest view on the island. From the top of the Monte Solaro chairlift you get a full 360-degree panorama, the Faraglioni far below, the Bay of Naples, the Amalfi Coast, and Vesuvius on the horizon. The chairlift itself, floating up over the terraced gardens with the sea widening beneath your feet, is a gorgeous shot in its own right. Go on a clear day, because haze flattens the whole thing, and aim for mid-morning before cloud builds over the peak.

The sphinx at Villa San Michele

One of Capri’s most photographed frames: the ancient stone sphinx on the parapet at Villa San Michele in Anacapri, gazing out over the Bay of Naples from the cliff edge. Shoot from behind the sphinx so it and the view share the frame. The light is best in the afternoon, when the sun is behind you and the bay glows.

Marina Grande and the funicular

For a classic arrival shot, the colourful harbour of Marina Grande, with its pastel houses stacked behind the fishing boats, looks its best in golden-hour light late in the day. Frame the funicular climbing the green hillside above for a sense of the island’s vertical drama.

Swimming beneath the Faraglioni

If you want the shot everyone covets, get on a boat and photograph the Faraglioni from the water, especially the moment you pass through the natural arch in the middle stack. From sea level the rocks rise sheer and golden above you, and the water is an unreal blue. Late morning, with the sun high enough to light the sea but before the afternoon breeze, is ideal.

Belvedere di Tragara and the Pizzolungo walk

For the Faraglioni shot without the Gardens of Augustus crowds, walk out along Via Tragara to the Belvedere di Tragara, a terrace that looks straight down the coast at the three sea stacks from a higher, cleaner angle. Continue onto the Pizzolungo path and you reach one of Italy’s most photogenic buildings, the blood-red Casa Malaparte, a modernist cube jutting out over the sea on its own promontory. The light along this south-eastern coast is best in the morning, and the whole walk is a series of frames.

Punta Carena at sunset

Almost every famous Capri viewpoint faces east or south, which is why the Punta Carena lighthouse on the south-western tip is the island’s sunset secret. From the rocks by the lighthouse you can shoot the sun sinking into the open sea, warm light raking across the water, with far fewer people than the headline spots. It is a walk or bus ride out from Anacapri, so plan your return, but for a golden-hour finish it is unmatched.

The Church of San Michele’s tiled floor

For a completely different kind of shot, step inside the Church of San Michele in Anacapri and climb to the little balcony above the nave. From up there you look down on an extraordinary 18th-century majolica-tiled floor depicting the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve, and a menagerie of animals, all in hand-painted blues, greens and yellows. Shot from directly above, it fills the frame like a painting. It is a rare interior subject on an island that is otherwise all about the sea, and a lovely one for a carousel.

The Scala Fenicia and Marina Grande from above

As you wind up or down between Anacapri and the port, the old Scala Fenicia staircase and the road above Marina Grande open up long, vertical views of the harbour stacked below its green hillside. These work best in the late afternoon, when the light is warm and low and the pastel houses of the port glow. Frame the funicular or a switchback of road to give the drop a sense of scale.

A few timing rules

Capri’s crowds are the enemy of good photos, so go early for anywhere popular, the Gardens, the Piazzetta, the viewpoints are all transformed before the day-trip ferries land mid-morning. Save the west-facing spots (Villa San Michele, Marina Grande) for the afternoon and golden hour, when the light comes from behind you. And keep one eye on the sky: the big panoramas from Monte Solaro and the boat only sing on a clear day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most photographed spot in Capri?

The view of the Faraglioni sea stacks and Via Krupp from the Gardens of Augustus is the classic Capri image. The sphinx at Villa San Michele and the summit of Monte Solaro are close behind.

When is the best light for photos in Capri?

Early morning for popular spots like the Gardens of Augustus and the Piazzetta, before the crowds. Afternoon and golden hour for west-facing spots like Villa San Michele and Marina Grande.

How do you photograph the Faraglioni?

From above at the Gardens of Augustus for the classic postcard, or from a boat at sea level for the dramatic angle, especially passing through the natural arch in the middle rock. Late morning light is best from the water.

Do you need to go early to avoid crowds for photos?

Yes. Capri’s viewpoints and the Piazzetta fill up once the day-trip ferries arrive mid-morning, so the calmest, cleanest shots come first thing, before the crowds land.

Is Monte Solaro worth it for photography?

Very much, on a clear day. The summit gives a 360-degree panorama over the Faraglioni, the Bay of Naples and Vesuvius, and the chairlift ride up is a beautiful shot in itself. Avoid hazy days.

Planning the wider island? See my complete guide to Capri for getting there, where to stay and how to plan your days.

Read also: The Best Beaches in Capri | Anacapri and Monte Solaro | The Complete Guide to Capri