Capri - Day Trip from Rome

ncykim,

It's possible, but not advisable. Way too much complicated and time consuming travel involved makes it NOT worth it. There are many other day trips from Rome that are very practical and easy to do.

Save Capri for when you have time to actually visit the Amalfi Coast. Best if you stay over a minimum of 1 night.

IMO if you are going to attempt it, do the Viator but I agree, it would be better to do it on another trip when you have the time to linger and enjoy it.

I was interested in what Viator offered so I went to their site - they have alot of reviews there that seem to give a pretty accurate idea of what to expect. So if you reallly think this is your one and only chance to see it, then maybe yes. It is beautiful and even a short trip will give you some WOW moments but there will be ALOT of time on the buss and then the hydofoil. But if you mainly want to see the Blue Grotto, sounds like alot of times, you can't get in (and its 25E extra!) a bit steep IMO.

I would really like to see Capri and I know I won't be back to Italy any time soon. I realize it's a long day but can I do the train to Naples and then a boat to Capri? It seems better than a tour (being stuck on a bus)?

"I realize it's a long day but can I do the train to Naples and then a boat to Capri?"

Of course you can, but as stated above it is not advisable

Yes, you can take the Eurostar from Rome to Naples, a bus or taxi from Naples train station to the boat dock (Molo Beverello which is about 4km from train station), and then either the ferry (80 minutes) or hydrofoil (40 minutes) to Capri.

nyckim,

Get to Termini from Rome hotel - 15 min
Buy ticket & wait for train - 20 min
High speed train to Naples - 90 min
Taxi to hydrofoil dock - 20 min
Buy ticket & wait for hydrofoil - 60 min
to Capri - 50 min
Taxi to Capri town - 5 min

These are my personal knowledge combined with best guesses. Assuming all goes like clockwork - which it rarely does.

If your train gets to Naples late, you may have to wait for the next hydrofoil = more travel time. If the seas are rough, your hydrofoil may not run or run very delayed (personal knowledge).

If the crowds are huge, you may not get a taxi up to Capri town right away. Still, it's faster than waiting in line to buy a funiculare ticket, then the LONG line for the funiculare.

So, nyckim, based on Dayle's timetable, if you catch the 7:34am train from Rome, you can be on Capri by noon if all goes well.

I was on Capri the second week of October, didn't wait in any long lines for the funicular... got on the first one that arrived. Don't know if the April crowds will be different.

Dayle did not mention the return trip . . . check the last hydrofoil departures and then estimate when you'd need to be heading to the dock to wait and board. How many hours on Capri do you get?

I did this once quite a number of years ago. As others have stated, it is not the best way to see a place like Capri but you can certainly spend a few hours there. I took a taxi from my hotel to the train station, trained to Naples, bussed from central train station to docks, took hydrofoil to Capri, little tram to the top. Make sure you see when the last hydrofoils and trains get you back on your return.

Thanks everyone- I appreciate all the feedback!

Since you're determined to do the daytrip, here's how I would "do it":

Depart Rome Termini 6:45 a.m. Eurostar (ES) train
Arrive Naples Centrale 8:30 a.m.
Take a taxi to Molo Beverello
Depart Molo Beverello 9:30 a.m. by hydrofoil
Arrive Capri Marina Grande 10:15 a.m.


Depart Capri Marina Grande 16:30 by hydrofoil
Arrive Molo Beverello 17:15
Take a taxi to Napoli Centrale
Depart Napoli Centrale 18:30
Arrive Roma Termini 20:16 ES train

Here are your transportation costs:

Eurostar train in both directions: approx. 64 Euros
Hydrofoil in both directions: 34 Euros
Taxi in both directions: 30 Euros
UNICO CAPRI ticket:


NOTE: These are the current schedules, which may be different next April.

Here are useful websites:

www.ferroviedellostato.it
www.capri.net

You need to check the time of the last transit from Capri back to Naples- this is definitely late afternoon - not evening - so ifyou arrive at noon your last trasnit back may be a 4pm. Is 4 hours (and quite possibly not the Blue Grotto at all) worth it?

According to the schedules currently posted on capri.net, the last hydrofoil from Capri to Naples is at 18:35. There is a ES* from Naples at 21:30 which will get you into Rome at 23:15. If you arrive at 10:15am as GAC notes above, you'd have plenty of time there before having to make your way to the docks. Obviously, you'll need to check the schedules close to your desired travel date.

Yes, it's a long day but GO FOR IT!!! I'm with you, nyckim... you don't know if you'll ever get back to Italy so might as well do it now!

And always, always, always remember that hydrofoil schedules are subject to modification or cancellation for bad weather (so be careful about relying on the "last boat of the day").

hi nyckim,

this is the sort of trip that really justifies using a tour operator. they have worked out all the logistics and should have it all off pat.

definitely worth the few extra euros that the tour operator will cost you, IMHO.

No, no, no! Do not use a tour operator unless you want to spend more time in a "coral factory" on the highway than on Capri.

I agree with Zerlina. This is easily enough done on your own.

18.35 Aliscafi/Jet Snav Molo Beverello € 17.00

20.05 Nave veloce Caremar Calata Porta di Massa € 14.50

Calata Porta di Massa is not any farther to the station than Molo Beverello and that one leaves at 8:00 pm. Calata is just down from Molo Beverello.

They actually have aliscafo at various times during the night but you can't count on them because they aren't scheduled. I know this because my cousin in Ischia went to the hospital in Naples in the middle of the night to have her baby. She said the ferries are unscheduled but they run.

The 20:05 arrives at 20:55; the last evening train to Rome leaves at 21:30. That would be a very risky connection, to say the least, and waiting for the 4:07 train at Napoli Centrale is not something I would wish on my worst enemy.

I was interupted at work - can you imagine - and didn't get to finish my last travel time estimates, but it looks like I was pretty close based only on memory!

Anyway, in my opinion - is a 4 hour visit to Capri and POSSIBLY the Blue Grotto worth this effort and expense? No.
Is Capri nice? Yes. Pretty? Yes. All it's cracked up to be? No. More beautiful than many, many other lovely spots in bella Italia? No.

I visited and stayed 2 nights during a week long visit to the Amalfi Coast (my second). It was nice, overpriced, overrated. Views on the Amalfi coast and Ligurian coast just as nice. My most enjoyable thing on my visit was the 2 hour small boat tour around the island. Mid-Oct, perfect, beautiful day, but the seas were too rough (on that side of the island) to go into the Blue Grotto. We were able to see the same effect in another cave area, although on a lesser scale, I'm sure. On the other side of the island, where the Faragolini are, it was very smooth.

Just my opinion. I would not go to the trouble you plan to visit. I would go again, but only if on a southern Italy trip and if I took a private boat to Marina Piccola (avoiding the crowds at Marina Grande) and parked myself in a private villa for a few days (avoiding the day tripping hoards and tour group baggage carts in town)!

I agree with Dayle.

But if you decide to go on an organized tour, find out their policy/plan in the event the ferries are cancelled either before you reach the island or before you've returned to Naples. How late can you cancel your reservation and get your money back?

FWIW, I think the gardens of Villa d'Este (Tivoli) in the spring when the fountains will be at their best would make for a better day trip. No reservations required. Just go if/when the weather looks good.