Capri After the Crowds: The Side of Italy’s Famous Island Worth Staying For
Curated By
Travel House Atelier
Curator’s statement
Capri is iconic for a reason—but the magic happens when you stay awhile. Think boat days, long lunches, legendary beach clubs and evenings after the crowds disappear. Here’s how I do Capri: what’s worth the hype, what I’d skip, and how to experience this little slice of Italy at its best.
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Things to do in Capri
Capri’s most iconic view: the Faraglioni rocks. And somehow, even better in person.
Spend a day on a private boat
If you only splurge on one experience in Capri, make it a private boat day around the island. Capri makes infinitely more sense from the water. Spend the day cruising around the coastline, swimming directly off the boat, seeing the Faraglioni up close, discovering little coves and grottos inaccessible from land, and stopping somewhere for a long lunch. This is not the day for a strict schedule. Swim when the water looks irresistible. Stay longer when you find the perfect cove. Have another glass of wine at lunch. If you’re combining Capri with Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, or another destination on the Amalfi Coast, your boat day can sometimes be incorporated into your overall transportation plan as well.
Have a perfectly unproductive beach club day
A day dedicated to accomplishing almost nothing! Swim. Spritz. Repeat. Capri’s beach clubs are one of the great pleasures of spending several nights on the island, and there are very different options depending on the experience you want. Long lunch. Some of my faves:
La Fontelina: The blue-and-white umbrellas tucked beneath the Faraglioni have become one of the most recognizable images of summer in Italy. It’s iconic for a reason. Go for the setting, stay for a long lunch, swim beneath the Faraglioni, and settle in for the day.
Da Luigi ai Faraglioni: Right next door, Da Luigi ai Faraglioni is another favorite. It’s an incredible setting for swimming beneath Capri’s famous rock formations followed by a long seafood lunch overlooking the Mediterranean.
Il Riccio: On the Anacapri side of the island, Il Riccio offers a more polished experience and is especially convenient if you’re staying in Anacapri. It’s a completely different atmosphere from the beach clubs beneath the Faraglioni, which is exactly why choosing the right one matters.
The most important Capri beach club tip: Book ahead. July, August, and September are not the time to assume you’ll simply walk into the most sought-after beach clubs in Capri.
Experience Capri after the day-trippers leave
This is when the island really becomes magical. Wander through Capri town, have an aperitivo, and enjoy dinner without worrying about catching the last ferry.
Explore Anacapri
Head uphill for a quieter, more relaxed side of the island. Browse the shops, wander its little streets, and take your time over lunch. Have pizza at A-Ma-Re!
Leave an afternoon completely unplanned
Capri is not a destination that needs to be scheduled from morning to night. Leave room for an extra-long lunch, an impromptu swim, some shopping, or simply another drink with a view.
Places to eat & drink in Capri
A-Ma-Re: pizza, sea views, no regrets.
Da Paolino
The iconic “restaurant under the lemon trees” and one of those quintessential Capri dinners that’s worth doing at least once. Go for the lemon-scented dishes, fresh pasta, and anything featuring local seafood, and save room for the famous dessert buffet.
Zuma Capri
Chic, buzzy Japanese dining with one of the best sunset views on the island. Order black cod, spicy beef tenderloin, sushi, and robata dishes—ideally with cocktails at sunset.
Il Riccio
A glamorous seaside restaurant perched above the Blue Grotto, perfect for a long lunch after a morning on the water. Order the raw seafood, spaghetti with sea urchin, or lobster, followed by a visit to the legendary Temptation Room for dessert.
La Capannina
A Capri institution since 1931, family-run and wonderfully old-school in the best way. Order the ravioli capresi, followed by fresh local fish or seafood pasta, and explore their excellent wine list.
Le Grottelle
Rustic, casual, and tucked into the cliffs near the Arco Naturale, with a terrace overlooking the sea. Come for a relaxed lunch and order spaghetti alle vongole, grilled fish, or a simple local pasta—this is Capri without the scene.
A-Ma-Re Capri
A stylish waterfront spot at Marina Grande that’s especially good for a leisurely lunch or dinner by the sea. The pizza here is a must!
Need to know
Stay longer than you think. I recommend at least three nights. Capri is at its busiest during day-trip hours, and the island becomes infinitely more magical once the ferries leave and the streets quiet down.
Pre-arrange your luggage transfers. You and your luggage may take completely different routes from Marina Grande to your hotel. This is not the destination to arrive with multiple suitcases and figure it out on the spot—have the logistics organized before you arrive.
Know the difference between Capri and Anacapri. Where you stay will have a major impact on your experience. Capri town puts you closer to restaurants, shopping, and evening energy, while Anacapri is quieter and better suited to travelers looking for more of a resort-like escape.
Book the important things early. During high season, the most sought-after beach clubs, private boats, and restaurants can fill up well in advance. Secure your priorities, then intentionally leave some of your itinerary open.
Don’t underestimate Marina Grande. Capri’s main port can feel chaotic when several ferries are arriving at once. Having your transportation and luggage arrangements sorted beforehand makes for a much smoother start to your stay.
A boat day is non-negotiable. Capri is best appreciated from the water. Give yourself a full day rather than squeezing a quick boat tour into an already-packed itinerary.
Unpopular opinion: Don’t plan your day around the Blue Grotto. It’s beautiful, but the wait can be incredibly long in peak season for a very short experience. If there’s a huge line, skip it and spend that time swimming in a quiet cove and exploring Capri’s coastline instead.
Beach clubs require planning. If La Fontelina, Da Luigi ai Faraglioni, or Il Riccio is on your wish list, don’t assume you’ll simply walk in. Make a reservation and give yourself the whole day to enjoy it—long lunch, swim, spritz, repeat.
Pack appropriate shoes. Capri is glamorous, but it’s also steep, rocky, and full of stairs. Comfortable shoes are essential for exploring, and water shoes can be useful for the island’s rocky swimming spots.
Don’t overplan. Capri isn’t a destination where you need six activities every day. Leave room for an extra-long lunch, wandering through town, shopping, an afternoon swim, or simply having nowhere you need to be.
Experience Capri at night. Don’t retreat to your hotel immediately after dinner. Walk through Capri town, stop for a drink, and enjoy the atmosphere after the day-trippers have gone—it’s one of the biggest reasons I recommend staying on the island.
Think about Capri as part of your overall Italy itinerary. If you’re combining Capri with the Amalfi Coast, Positano, Ravello, Naples, or Sorrento, the order matters. Smart routing, boat and ferry schedules, private transfers, and luggage logistics can make the difference between an itinerary that feels complicated and one that feels completely effortless.
Travel Advisor
Travel House Atelier
Patricia Caruso
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For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Capri page.