Capri Transportation

We came to Capri by jet boat from Naples but you can do it from Sorrento as well. I've picked this tip about taking day trips by boat up from my Sorrento pages, thus the references to buying tickets at the dock there:

Varied transportation options to the beautiful islands and towns in the Amalfi Coast region are another reason tourists flock to Sorrento. Ferry and hydrofoil service to Capri, Positano, Amalfi, Ischia and other locations that can be reached via water is frequent and easy to do - just pick your favorite and buy a ticket. You'll be catching your cruise at Marina Piccola and not Marina Grande so make sure you go to the right docks. You can catch ferries and jet boats from Naples and any other of the places they go as well.

Ferries are cheaper but considerably slower than hydrofoils so if wanting to maximize your sightseeing time, I'd recommend going with the fast boat. The friendly folks at your hotel, Sorrento Tourist Office (Via Luigi De Maio, 35) or at the ticket offices at Marina Piccola can help you with current schedules and prices. I'm also including a couple of helpful web sites (Fodors is a good one) to get you started.

http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/italy/amalfi-coast-and-capri/travel-tip_1990228.html

A note for persons like myself with touchy stomachs: It is possible to feel a little queasy on a rough sea so take your favorite motion-sickness remedy if need be. We were able to stand on the back deck of the hydrofoil to-and-from Capri but not so on the one to Positano so fresh air isn't always an option. Because they move so fast, hydrofoil is probably a better choice for keeping your breakfast down - you'll get to your destination quicker than by ferry so won't be uncomfortable for as long. For instance, it's 20 minutes to Capri from Sorrento by fast boat vs 40 minutes by putzy ferry.

The first website below has some links to the ferry/jet-boat companies that service Capri. The second is for one of the specific services we used. This one contains info of general services from Sorrento:

http://www.sorrentotourism.com

DO be aware that the majority of boat services in the area are seasonal and do not run in the early spring, winter or late fall.

Getting around the island without having to spend a fortune is possible in the island. You can move between the popular routes e.g Capri, Marina Grande, Marina Piccola, Anacapri, Faro and Grotta Azzurra for as little as 1.30 euro.

Little orange buses regularly go to these stops depending on the final destinations. Be warned though, since the Isle of Capri is almost always full of visitors, you will sometimes need to squeeze in the little buses and ride on the winding streets.

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The day pass saved me a bit of money in Capri and I definitely recommend it. For 7,90€ you get 2 rides on the funiculare (all you need, 1 up and 1 down) and unlimited trips on the buses. With the pass you can go from Capri to Anacapri, to the light house for a swim and to the Blue Grotto so you don't have to be legally robbed by the boat rides there. And at the end of the day you return your pass to get 1€ back!

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It was thrilling riding to the top of Capri. To transport oneself from the port below to Capri centre above the harbor, you can take the funicular for the equivalent of about $1.30 one way.

It's a 3 minute ride once you get started, but the line tended to be long waiting to go up and waiting to come down when we visited. A funicular moves up and down the hill every 15 minutes. A smart card is available for those staying more than one day.

There are several cars with seats and bars to hang onto as you shimmy up the hill. As one might expect, the view was stupendous once you pass by a variety of fruit trees and landscaping.

The funicular deposits you in front of the bell tower, which incidentally was our gathering place for departure. The ticket office is located in the port as you come in, beneath an archway. There are also restrooms located nearby.

Our excursion package called for arriving in Capri by Hydrofoil, so all was taken care of by the Voyager of the Seas.

I must say it was a smooth crossing, but I took my Bonine just in case. One could select inside or outside seating, most chose the latter. The seats inside were arranged in rows of two and three.

The journey across the sea took about 50 minutes. For ferry and hydrofoil info. go to the websites below where you'll find the various jumping off points and times.

When going to Capri from Sorrento don't bother reserving through your hotel or travel agent, just head for the port in Sorrento , check out the companies that offer day trips and choose the one with a price and timetable that fill your needs. It's easy inexpencive and convienant.

Other than walking, the cheerful little orange buses are the least expensive way to get around the island - at least where motorized vehicles can go. Tickets can be purchased on the bus, from ticket offices near the piazzas in both Capri and Anacapri towns, and a ticket office on Marina Grande. There are both single ride, daily and funicolare/ bus combos. The funicolare (which we didn't take) is a tram from Marina Grande up to Capri town and the wait to get on it can be long when a large ferry has just unloaded.

The buses are not very big and fill to standing-room-only quickly but if one is full, it won't be long until the next one comes along. The route from Capri town to Anacapri (which is situated much higher up a mountain) is a white-knuckle, hair-raising, stomach-turning thrill ride on a VERY narrow road. If heights don't make you sweat, grab a seat (or stand) on the RIGHT side of buses leaving Capri, and LEFT side (behind the driver) leaving Anacapri. The panorama of the bay and Capri town below is incredible if you are brave enough to keep your eyes open!

I'm including a good link for schedules, routes, rates and ticket types. For a PDF of schedules, look for red "Bus" on left side of page - the icon for the download is below it.

Buses that serve major routes cost Euro 1 per trip per pax. Usually packed for the route from Capri to Anacapri. You can catch a glimpse of the scenary along the way if you are not too distracted by the fast speed and steep cliffs along the way :P