Capri is one of those destinations that somehow feels even more glamorous in person than it looks in photos.
We spent four days on the island after visiting Rome and Florence, and Capri was the perfect place to slow down with our teens. Our days were a mix of swimming in the Mediterranean, a private boat trip, long seafood lunches, shopping, relaxing by the pool, sunset cocktails, and some incredible dinners.
Getting around Capri can involve walking, hills, stairs, taxis, buses, water taxi's and boats, so staying close to Capri Town made it much easier for us to shop, go out for drinks, and head to dinner.
One thing I noticed almost immediately: Capri is definitely a place where people dress to impress. During the day, you'll see stylish resort wear, bikinis, beautiful cover-ups, linen, designer sandals, and polished casual outfits. At night, people really dress up. If you love fashion, this is definitely a destination where you'll have fun putting together your vacation wardrobe.
Where We Stayed: Hotel La Residenza Capri
We stayed at Hotel La Residenza Capri, and it was a great home base for our trip. Our stay also included a complimentary breakfast each morning, which I loved. It made our mornings easy. Some of us slept in while others headed downstairs for breakfast.
The hotel also had a pool, which ended up being perfect because by our third day, we were ready to spend some time doing absolutely nothing.
TIP: When traveling to Europe, don't overpack. For our family of four, we each had a carry-on, plus one regular-sized suitcase and a backpack. It was way too much luggage! Hotel rooms can be small in Europe, and getting on and off trains, boats, and taxis with that much luggage was difficult.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Capri, Explore Town + Dinner at Da Paolino
After arriving by SNAV ferry, we had a porter service arranged by our hotel take our luggage directly to the hotel. It was some of the best money we spent. (The streets in Capri are cobblestone, so you definitely don't want to be dragging your luggage through town).
We then took the funicular, which connects the main port of Marina Grande directly to the center of Capri Town in about five minutes. It was a few dollars per person for the funicular.
Once we got settled at the hotel, we headed into Capri Town. One of the things I loved about Capri is that you don't need to plan every minute of your day. Simply walking through town is part of the experience and sitting at the cafes drinking an espresso or having a cocktail. There are designer boutiques, smaller Italian shops, cafés, restaurants, gelato shops, and some of the best people-watching. The stores also stay open late, so you have plenty of time to wander.
That evening, we had dinner at Da Paolino, the famous restaurant where you dine beneath an enormous canopy of lemon trees. It really does feel magical when you walk inside.
We ordered lobster pasta, fresh fish, salad, and several appetizers. The service was great, the food was delicious, and the entire evening felt very glamorous.
After dinner, Capri Town was still buzzing. The kids loved stopping for gelato at the famous Buonocore. This legendary spot has been around since 1973, and you can smell the freshly made waffle cones before you even get inside. Always expect a line, but who could resist?
TIP: Make restaurant reservations well in advance, especially if you're traveling during the summer.
Day 2: La Fontelina Beach Club + An Amazing Seafood Lunch
Our second day was spent at La Fontelina, and this was one of my favorite experiences of the entire trip.
La Fontelina sits below Capri's famous Faraglioni rocks, and getting there is part of the adventure. We walked from our hotel down to the beach club, stopping along the way at little shops and for something sweet.
And when I say you walk down, I mean down. There are lots of stairs, hills, and uneven surfaces, so this is definitely a day to wear comfortable shoes. Cute shoes or sandals can go in your beach bag.
Once you arrive, though, it's completely worth it.
You spend the day overlooking the Mediterranean with the Faraglioni right in front of you. We swam in the incredibly beautiful, pleasantly warm, salty sea, relaxed on our sun chairs, drank lots of water and several Aperol Spritzes, and enjoyed the incredible scenery.
Lunch at La Fontelina
Lunch was part of the experience and was one of the best seafood lunches we had in Capri.
We sat overlooking the water and enjoyed fresh seafood and the incredible view. This is not the kind of lunch you rush through.
Afterward, we went back to our chairs, relaxed, swam some more, and let the afternoon stretch out. The service throughout the day was also fantastic.
TIP: Make a reservation. I would reserve both your beach setup and lunch in advance rather than hoping something will be available once you arrive. For lunch, request a table with a view.
TIP 2: Thankfully, someone told us this before we went: you do not have to walk all the way back uphill.
We took La Fontelina's complimentary water taxi back toward Marina Piccola. The shuttle begins running in the afternoon, which saved us from making the long uphill walk back.
That night, we had dinner at a local restaurant that we didn't love and unfortunately, it was also expensive!
Day 3: Pool Day, Shopping, Capri Rooftop + Zuma
By Day 3, we were ready to slow down.
We had grand plans for a day trip to Positano or another nearby destination, but we were all so exhausted that we decided to sleep in and simply enjoy Capri.
We had our complimentary breakfast at the hotel and then spent part of the day relaxing by the pool. I would absolutely build a day like this into your Capri itinerary.
Drinks at Capri Rooftop
Later in the day, we went to Capri Rooftop for drinks. The views are gorgeous, and it's a great place to have a cocktail before dinner. We didn't have a reservation and were still able to get in.
Dinner at Zuma Capri
That evening, we had dinner at Zuma Capri. The food and atmosphere were amazing and it was very expensive.
Zuma Capri is located in Anacapri, which feels like a slightly quieter, slower-paced side of the island compared with Capri Town.
Unfortunately, getting there became its own adventure. We couldn't get a taxi, so we eventually ended up on a completely packed local bus with everyone else trying to get around the island. Somehow, it ended up being one of the funniest and most memorable experiences for all of us.
TIP: If you have an important dinner reservation, arrange your transportation ahead of time with your hotel.
TIP 2: If you're going to Zuma Capri, try to make your reservation around sunset. The views make the experience even better.
Day 4: Private Boat Day + Lunch at La Conca del Sogno
We saved one of the best experiences for our final day: a private boat trip around Capri.
We booked with Capri Blue Boats and I would absolutely book with them again. Raffaele, the owner, was wonderful, and the entire experience was fantastic.
The boat comfortably fit all eight of us and included both a driver and a skipper. We also appreciated how safety-conscious they were. There were a few caves they would not take us into because the conditions were not safe, which made us feel very comfortable.
After swimming and exploring the caves, the crew would rinse us off with fresh water and have towels ready for us as soon as we got back on the boat. It was those little touches that made the day feel especially relaxing and well taken care of.
Seeing the island from the water gives you a completely different perspective. We cruised around Capri, saw the dramatic cliffs and Faraglioni from the sea, stopped to swim in the Mediterranean, and spent the day at our own pace.
We also tried to visit the Blue Grotto, but it was a mess. There were so many people and boats waiting that we decided it wasn't worth spending a large portion of our boat day sitting in line.
I think you probably need to get there very early if visiting the Blue Grotto is a priority.
Our group of eight decided we'd rather spend our time enjoying the boat and exploring the coastline.
It was one of those days where you realize exactly why people fall in love with this part of Italy.
Lunch at La Conca del Sogno
During our boat day, we stopped for lunch at La Conca del Sogno.
You arrive from the water, sit down for a long Italian lunch, enjoy incredible food, and then get back on your boat.
You might automatically assume you'd want to sit outside when you're on the Amalfi Coast, but we actually loved the atmosphere inside.
TIP: Make a reservation, request to sit inside, and make sure that request is confirmed ahead of time.
Dinner at Aurora
That evening, we had dinner at Aurora, one of Capri's best-known restaurants.
Our group was a little divided on this one. Some of us loved it, while others thought it was just okay.
It happened to be my nephew's birthday, though, and the restaurant made the celebration so much fun.
Like almost every popular restaurant in Capri, I would make your reservation ahead of time rather than hoping to walk in.
What We Loved and What We Would Skip
We loved the entire trip, but if I were to change one thing, I might skip one of the expensive dinners and opt for a more casual night with pizza and salad instead.
Is Capri Worth It?
Absolutely. I am dreaming of going back!
Capri is expensive, glamorous, crowded, and not always easy to get around, but it's also incredibly beautiful and unlike anywhere else we visited in Italy.
For us, the combination of swimming in the Mediterranean, long lunches, incredible views, shopping, boating, relaxing by the pool, and getting dressed up for dinner made it the perfect four-day stop with our teens.
Capri is definitely worth the splurge.
