Looking for a Capri walk that’ll enable you to explore this mesmerising island? It’s the perfect place to see on foot since it’s fairly compact – most sights are only 20 mins walk from the centre!
In this article – we share a leisurely self-guided walking tour of Capri so you can see all the best bits on foot.
The Perfect One-Day Capri Walk
If you’ve only got one day in Capri, then this walk allows you to see all the best sights. It explores the unseen parts of Capri Town, takes in dreamy views of the Arco Naturale rock formation, and the azure waters of Marina Piccola beach.
Capri makes an ideal day trip from Naples. The island is fairly small – you could walk from one end to the other in 2 hours! Even so, we’ve broken up this self-guided walking tour into bite-sized sections. This way you can take regular stops and won’t feel like you’re walking non-stop (which can be tiring in the summer heat).
We did this walk in September 2022 and it took us the whole day. But we stopped a lot along the way to take in the (many!) amazing views, chill at the beach, and enjoy some tasty Italian food. You could definitely do it in less time if you wanted to.
Marina Grande to Capri Town
When you arrive in Capri, the ferry will drop you at the harbour in Marina Grande. There are several cafes and shops here, along with a funicular up to Capri Town. But you can walk up in about 20 mins and avoid the tourist queues which is what we did.
To do this, turn left along the promenade and then right at the street which heads up the hill. About 100m up, there are steps on the left. Follow these all the way to the top (FYI – in the peak heat of summer it can be a tiring walk uphill so bring a drink).
They meander past attractive traditional cottages, colourful gardens, and take in great views as you get higher. Most people take the funicular up so it’s a quiet route and chance to see the real Capri up close. This route brings you out into the main square in Capri Town.
Travel tip – Don’t forget to fill up your water bottle at the free tap near the top. It saves money, reduces plastic waste, and in the summer heat you’ll need to hydrate.
Capri Town to Arco Naturale
Next, head to the stunning natural rock formation on the coast, known as Arco Naturale. We’ll explore the town itself a bit later.
From the square, turn left and follow the narrow passage past local shops and white-washed buildings. Don’t be tempted to stop for a coffee in town – there’s a place with much better views on the way. Bonus – it has excellent gelato too!
This route takes you out of town past hidden villas, mediterranean gardens, and lush forested areas. Along the way you’ll enjoy fantastic views over the bay and nearby islands. The journey takes about 20-30 mins depending on how leisurely your walking pace is.
Travel tip – Caffe Manari is about halfway along the walk with incredible views from its terrace. It’s the perfect spot for a coffee, cold drink, or ice-cream.
Arco Naturale is your reward at the end of this walk. The impressive rock formation is well worth the effort – you’ll get away from the crowds and snap some stunning photos along the way. It’s views like this that epitomise visiting the Amalfi Coast.
Explore Capri Town On Foot
Take the same route back to Capri Town and the piazza you started in. From here you can choose from a number of other side alleys to explore. On one side are streets that take you towards the shopping area. This is where you’ll find all the luxury boutiques – think Monaco on steroids.
You can also find a lovely park here with plenty of benches to relax for a while in the shade. Or if you have kids there’s a play area to burn off some steam. Plus another water fountain to fill up your bottle…
If you head out of town from here, you can explore lots of leafy streets lined with hidden mansions. We stumbled upon a gorgeous hotel (La Floridiana) in this area with a restaurant balcony overlooking the sea. It was the perfect spot to enjoy a drink and soak up the views – an amazing hidden gem just 5 mins walk from the main drag.
Heading back into town, you can walk along some of Capri’s backstreets. Despite being close to the centre, these are practically silent with no tourists in sight. You can get a glimpse of the real Capri where locals live and enjoy some lovely traditional architecture along the way.
Most routes will eventually bring you back to the main piazza. From here there’s one more street which opens out into a balcony area (Piazzetta di Capri) with more impressive views and local sculptures. This is also where you’ll find the buses to Anacapri and Marina Piccola.
💙 You might also like… Our Self-Guided Walking Tour of Naples.
Capri Town to Marina Piccola Beach
From Piazzetta di Capri, turn left and walk along the road past the numerous bus stops. There are two routes down to the beach – the short one and the scenic one.
If you’re taking the shorter one, take the steps on the right before the roundabout, then follow the pathway underneath the main road and continue downwards along the steps. It takes about 10-15 mins to get to Marina Piccola beach from here.
The longer, and more scenic route follows the winding road down to the beach. It’s much more open than the pathway steps so you get to enjoy better views on the way down. This route takes around 30 mins, so we went this way going down and came back via the shorter option.
Whichever route you take, you’ll come out at the same place – the bus stop. From here there are more steps – to the left is a paid beach area and to the right is the free one. We went right and chilled out by the water for an hour before heading back to the main town.
Getting There & Away
Ferries run to Capri from Naples, Sorrento, and Amalfi. They start around 6am and run almost hourly from Naples port, less frequently from other locations. The ferry journey takes 50 mins – it’s worth getting an early one to start your Capri walk early (before it gets hot).
