Barney Travel Technologies

My armchair tourism during lockdown is continuing this week with a tour of Italy, starting on the beautiful island of Capri. We visited Capri as part of our week long Amalfi Coast road trip (full post can be found here). Capri is popular with the rich and famous for a reason. The fact that there are lots of expensive yachts in the harbour isn’t a coincidence – Capri is the place to be. It’s home to amazing food, beautiful rugged coastline, world class shopping and is the epitome of high society.

We visited the island on a day trip by boat from Sorrento. The boat sped across the water and we laid out in the sunshine topping up our tans. However, the boat then stopped so people could go swimming. Unfortunately, I can’t swim and I also get sea sick still in water. So after an hour rocking about on the water while everyone else swam, we got to shore promptly enough for me to throw up in a bin.

After finishing with the bin, the day only got better. And here are my favourite things to do on the island in a day. Also – fun fact before I start- did you know Capri is twinned with Crosby, Merseyside in the UK? I can’t think of two more different twins…

1. The Faraglioni

The Faraglioni are rock formations around the coast of Capri. The best way to see them is to get on a boat – even better a speed boat – and take to the water. One of the rocks is known as the ‘love arch’, and it’s said that if you kiss someone whilst riding through the arch, you will be with them for ever. Cue cheesy playing of ‘It’s Amore’ on board whatever boat you are on!

2. Augustus Gardens

The Augustus Gardens are a beautiful view point on the island. You have to get up to the summit by taking the cable car. Now my advice for this ride is – take your shoes off if you’re wearing flip flops or sandals not secured to your feet. My flip flop fell off while on the cable car, in to some poor local’s garden and never to be seen again. I had to share flip flops with my friend the rest of the day until we got to a shop! The views were worth it though…A perfect place for a (very expensive) drink looking out to Vesuvius.

3. Piazza Umberto

Capri island is split in to two towns – Capri and Anacapri. Capri is where the majority of the shopping and restaurants are, and Piazza Umberto is the main square in the town. It also comes complete with this view down to the marina. Not a bad place for lunch!

It’s still a lot of steps to walk up though from the marina – so I don’t recommend doing it in the heat of the day, and take a cab if you’re not up for the thigh burn! The Aperol Spritz and view at the top makes it worth it though, I promise.

4. Anacapri

Anacapri is the old town area of the island, and is situated higher up than Capri town. The ascent there is steep and not walkable (it’s bad enough getting to Capri, above). We therefore chose to take a cab. It was around a 20 minute journey, and was a lovely area to stroll around eating gelato and finding souvenirs.

5. The Blue Grotto

The Blue Grotto is a sea cave on the coast. The amazing shimmering blue colour of the water is created by sunlight passing through an underwater cavity and shining through, creating a blue reflection.

For me this attraction was over rated and waiting in a queue of boats to get a glimpse was way too commercialised. Still, when in Capri and all that…

Thanks so much for reading! Capri is a beautiful place, and well worth a visit if you’re in Italy. It is expensive, but definitely worth at least a day trip. Stay safe and happy travelling!