Is Capri worth going to?
 

My husband does not think going to Capri is worth the boat ride. I have heard it's beautiful and worth seeing. Any input?

The boat ride from Sorrento is not long. However, my husband could not wait to get off Capri. During the day it was very crowded with designer shops like Ralph Lauren, etc.

Show these to your husband then decide. No one else can tell you if it would be 'worth' it for you . . .

https://www.google.com/search?q=isle...IVgiuICh2OqAQS

BTW -- I'd not do a day trip there either -- you want to be there when the day tripping hordes have gone home.

I thought Capri lovely, especially Anacapri -- the Villa San Michele is glorious, IMO, and the ceramic floor of the Chiesa di San Michele is awesome. Too, I thought the views from Mount Solaro stunning. YMMV. Also, FWIW, I thought Capri much more magical after day trippers had left.

You nailed it kja!

I never got to Anacapri, but would say Capri is worth it for the magnificent views. I agree of course that staying overnight would be magical and hope someday to be back and do that. We were staying in Positano and went there for the day in the ferry.

You need to get out of town. There are a couple of walks that will get you away from the designer shops. kja's recommendations are spot on, but you should also take the walk to see the Faraglione islets.

For more pix see: https://kwilhelm.smugmug.com/Travel/...ly-2008/Capri/

But I agree, much better to stay overnight. I found a perfectly acceptable hotel for a quite reasonable price (click on my name for my South Italy TR).

Well, what are you looking for? Campania has three islands (acutally more but Ventotente is so far off the radar is practically the South Pole).
Capri - to me - is isolated, whispering hikes with ancient forts and towers.
To others - Capri is tourists,crowds and Fendi, Prada and Gucci.

Ischia is that big lump to your right as you head for Sorrento and most think its connected to the mainland = it's actually a huge, green island full of spas and thermal pools, sandy beaches and great spots to eat.
Procida is the tiny, pastel coloured baby next door to Ischia and is Positano but without the millionaires and ridiculous prices

Decide what you want.

I think it depends on the details.

Idea is to go for at least one night and see the major tourist sights early in the am before day trippers arrive and then see other areas of the island when they are there. But I have been only in May and while crowded it was not hideously mobbed.

I would read more about it and consider which sights you want to visit besides the Blue Grotto and Capri Town where the tourists cluster - and there are a ton of things.

I might feel different in August.

We much preferred Capri to the Amalfi Coast. However, if is much nicer if you stay for 3 or 4 days so you can get away from the midday cruise boat visitors. I really don't think Capri has more designer shops and crowds than Positano. The views are fabulous and there is a lot to see and do outside of the center of Capri town. IMHO, it is well worth a visit but only if you stay a couple of days.

We were there in late September and it was easier to get around than on the Amalfi Coast.

Thank you for you for your input, it's very helpful!

If you do go for a day trip, in the main square at the top of the funicular, the piazzetta, walk along the path next to the church, continue past the designer shops, and take a right down one of the paths. You will find yourself in a beautiful area. Two places to visit on that side are the Gardens of Agusto( Giardini Agusto) and Punta Tragara. The views are incredible!
Our hotel owner lamented what the huge cruise ship tours are doing to this small island during the day. Arriving and departing schedules need to be set to avoid the mobs of day trippers.

If all you are going to do is take the boat over and visit the main square of the main town then probably not. But as others have said, there are plenty of places to get away from the crowds, even on a day trip. We didn't want to change hotels and do an over night so just did a day trip and still loved it. Did Anacapri and the sites Kja mentioned above, and in Capri town did as Happy Trvlr above said. We spent about 5 minutes in Capri town itself.

On a different trip to the region we went to Ischia. Overall not as good an experience - the views and sites are just not as magnificent, but that was also a wonderful day trip and totally worth it.

Probably really depends on where you are staying, and for how long.

http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/161274336

Here's my trip report from the trip that included Capri - http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rful-weeks.cfm

And here's the once that included Ischia

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ast-puglia.cfm

Last September, we spent 6 nights in Sorrento exploring that area and the Amalfi Coast, then spent 3 nights in Capri. We absolutely loved Capri. As others have said, not sure what "worth it" means to you and what you are interested in and whether you are thinking of a day trip. As a day trip, you would only have time to check out the main town with the rest of the crowds (depending on the time of year you are going) and really not get a true sense of the place. But even that might be worth it, only you can decide. But we spent our days there exploring the island, walking the streets, climbing up Mount Solaro and enjoying the views. And at night it was just a special place. Just a great atmosphere. Going out for good dinner then just walking around and soaking it all in. So, depends on what you are looking for but I will say our 3 days in Capri were amazing and we enjoyed it more than the Amalfi Coast since we only did those towns as a day trip and really could not get a sense of the place since we came and went like the rest of the crowd.

It is not true that on a day trip 'you would only have time to check out the main town with the rest of the crowds'.

We took an excursion run by our hotel which was a much smaller boat than the ferries (maybe 50 people). It cost less than taking the ferry plus one of the boats to the Blue Grotto that are being hawked at the harbor.It gave us five hours there.

We took the bus immediately up to Anacapri (that ten minute bus ride was super crowded and unpleasant) and once in Anacapri we completely lost the crowds. We went to the church with amazing tile floor, wandered the streets (practically deserted) and visited the very interesting villa. We then hiked down the Phoenician Steps to the waterfront (met one other couple on the steps). We waited no more than 10 minutes (by now it was early afternoon) for the funicular. Capri town was mobbed! We walked past the mob and visited a church with cloisters and a garden with drop dead gorgeous views of the the coast - both with very few other tourists around.

Our boat picked us up and took us for a two hour ride around the island. The only place we ran into crowds was at the Blue Grotto. But even that was worth it.

So total 8 hour day trip, less than half an hour of crowds. And this was in July.

I am not sure if you are asking about a day trip or spending night in Capri, but if it is a daytrip, have you thought about going by yourself? It is quite simple to do, no chance of getting lost.

I never wanted to go to Capri and only went for a day trip because a friend asked to. Next time someone asks for that favor, I will buy them a ticket for the boat to Capri and put myself on a ferry to Naples, or possibly go for a hike on Vesuvius, or visit more of Pompei/Herculaneum and other excavations sights (Might go to Procida or Ischia if the weather favored that.)

Anyway, I'd meet up with my friend for dinner and hear about how much they loved Capri and be happy they went.