Amazing Day Trips to Take Around Capri by Boat

Discover the top spots around Italy’s coast by Culture Trip’s Sailing Trips.

As you sail across from the mainland to the island, keep an eye out for the Gennarino Scugnizzo di Capri. This bronze statue greets visitors to the island with a friendly wave as you enter by boat, headed for the Marina Grande. Cast in bronze, the sculpture depicts a young Neapolitan boy, or scugnizzo, a colloquial Neopolitan word meaning street urchin.

Dock your boat in the port of Marina Grande, and a funicular will transport you high above the sea to La Piazzetta, the beating heart of the island. This enchanting square is brimming with life and sits in the shadow of the beautifully tiled Torre dell’Orologio clock tower. From its four corners, pavement cafes spill into the tiny square as locals sip espressos. One alleyway takes you down Via Vittorio Emanuele, a passageway lined with high-end boutiques.

This rocky cove’s history goes back to when Emperor Tiberius built his opulent villa just moments from the water’s edge. You can anchor here or catch a ferry from Marina Grande and visit Bagni Tiberio beach club, a family-run restaurant that has been here since the 1920s. Dine on spaghetti and clams and sip on white wine with sliced peaches dropped into the glass – a traditional culinary custom on the island.

The Blue Grotto is a glowing sea cave on the island’s northwestern tip, accessible only during the summer months. At low tide, locals row visitors over to visit the grotto. Mind your head as you enter through the narrow stone archway. Sunlight floods into the cave, creating a silvery reflection as it shines through the blue seawater.

Seafood lovers should anchor close to the Michelin-starred Il Riccio, a restaurant with a smart terrace overlooking the Grotta Azzurra. Decorated in a seaside palette of blue and white, and adorned with tiles from nearby Vietri sul Mare, the interiors give the restaurant a rustic feel. The menu offers an exquisite seafood selection and guests can watch head chef Salvatore Elefante at the open kitchen as he creates his signature dish, the spaghetti alla chitarra with sea urchins.

Built in 1866, the Punta Carena lighthouse sits on an exposed rocky cliff that points like an outstretched finger towards neighbouring Sicily. Lido del Faro is the restaurant that sits in the shadow of the landmark lighthouse. The perfect spot for a tranquil swim, it’s quieter than the main beaches of Capri and offers the island’s best view of the setting sun, sinking into the Tyrrhenian to the west.

Guarded by a vast wall of rock, this bay, protected from strong winds, is found on the sunny south side of the island, making it an ideal out-of-season location for dropping anchor or mooring to a buoy. The cluster of beach clubs includes family-owned Da Gioia, loved for its casual feel and waterside view. Look out for Siren’s rock. According to Greek mythology, it’s here where the sirens seduced Ulysses with their enchanting song.

This natural geological phenomenon is a trio of towering rock formations that dramatically jut out of the island’s southern coastline. Named Stella, di Fuori and di Mezzo, the rocks have been carved over millions of years of erosion by the lapping tides. Boats can sail right through the stone passageway of the di Mezzo, and as the legend goes, good luck will be bestowed on lovers who kiss while passing under its arch.
Discover the top spots around Italy’s coast by Culture Trip’s Sailing Trips.
Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.