Getting to Capri
Departure points
Naples offers the most frequent connections and remains reliable outside peak season. Sorrento is the quickest crossing, which is why half the peninsula uses that port. Positano and the Amalfi Coast have seasonal links, more dependent on weather and the summer timetable. If you're staying on the Sorrentine Peninsula, there’s even an option that bypasses the ferry entirely: full-day boat tours from Sorrento take you to the island on the tour vessel, so you won’t need a hydrofoil ticket at all.
Do you need to book?
No, it’s not compulsory, and for half the season you can just turn up at the pier and leave. But at weekends, on public holidays and during July and August, things change—especially on the return trip. The late-afternoon crossing is the one everyone wants, and the one that fills up first. Being left on the dock when the last boat is full is a bigger headache than buying a ticket in advance.
If you’ve booked a boat tour on the island, catch a ferry that arrives at least an hour before your meeting time. Between disembarking, navigating the pier and finding your boarding point, that hour disappears fast.
What happens when you disembark at Marina Grande
Everyone steps off at once, and the pier quickly becomes crowded. From here, the island’s boat tours depart—Pier 0 for trips every thirty minutes from 9:30 to 14:00, Via Don Giobbe Ruocco for the full circuit with the grottos—and the funicular that climbs to Capri town also leaves from here. By mid-morning, when ferries from Naples and Sorrento arrive at the same time, the port turns into a bottleneck. If your meeting time is 11:00, you should aim to disembark by 10:00.
Getting around the island
The funicular connects Marina Grande to Capri town and is the quickest way up. Buses serve Anacapri and other villages, while taxis are the alternative if you’re in a group or short on time. You can walk almost anywhere, and on peak days, hiking often beats the bus simply because the queue at the stop is longer than the journey itself. For a quick look at the Piazzetta and Anacapri, allow at least four hours; if you add in the sea, make it seven, as we explain in how long the tour lasts.
When the ferry isn’t the right choice
If you’re staying in Sorrento, Massa Lubrense or Positano and only have one day, weigh up the options: ferry out, ferry back, landing tax and a separate boat tour on one side; a full-day trip with pickup on the other. We’ve compared the two approaches in how much a boat tour costs and which is the best tour. If you’d rather explore the island under your own steam, read Capri without a tour.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to book the ferry to Capri?
It’s not compulsory, but it’s wise at weekends, on public holidays and in July and August—especially for the afternoon return. If you’ve booked a tour, allow extra time: see how long the tour lasts.
Where do you disembark in Capri?
At Marina Grande, the island’s commercial port. From there, the funicular to Capri town and almost all the boat tours depart.
Can you reach Capri without taking a ferry?
Yes, with full-day boat trips from the Sorrento peninsula: they take you to the island and bring you back. You’ll find them in the tours from Sorrento.
How do you get around the island?
By funicular, bus, taxi or on foot. On crowded days, walking is often quicker than the bus. To plan your hours, read Capri in a day.