Things to do in Capri

Capri is two towns on one rock. A road climbs from the harbour to the top. Capri town sits above the water; Anacapri holds the quieter half, calmer and flatter.

The town and the hill above it

The Piazzetta is Capri's living room. Four cafes ring the clock tower, busiest by evening. Via Krupp winds down from the Gardens of Augustus, a set of terraces over the drop.

• Anacapri. The upper town, reached by bus or road from Capri, calmer and more residential.
• Monte Solaro. The island's high point at 589 metres, a twelve-minute chairlift from Anacapri's main square.
• Villa San Michele. The house and garden built by Axel Munthe, with a Naples-to-Sorrento view from the terrace.
• The Faraglioni. Three limestone stacks off the southern shore, best seen from the cliff path or from the water.

What the day is for

Walking covers the town. The coastline and Blue Grotto need a boat instead. The grotto sits below Anacapri and opens only in a calm, low sea, entered lying flat in a rowing skiff.

Guided walks cover the Piazzetta's history and the villas above it. Boat trips circle the island instead. That leaves mostly from Marina Grande.

Practical

• Weather. Summer days average near 28C with the sea around 26C; winter stays mild, near 12C by day, wetter from November.
• Grotto access. Cancelled without notice when the sea is up, sometimes for days at a stretch.
• Getting around. No hire cars on the island; buses, taxis and the funicular do the work instead.
• Heat. Stone streets hold the sun, and the Piazzetta's cafes charge for the shade of a table.
• Shoes. Via Krupp and the path to the Faraglioni are steps and slabs, not built for sandals.