Is it worth it to visit Capri during the low season winter months? That depends upon what you want out of your vacation on Capri: if you are interested in shopping, dining in the most fashionable restaurants, and rubbing elbows with international celebrities, then it's probably not the right season for you. But if you are set on exploring the island by foot and enjoying the beautiful views in peace, then there is nothing better than a crisp, clear winter day to take to the trails.
Low Season
From the end of October to just before Easter, most of the businesses serving tourists on the island are closed, and only those restaurants, shops, and cafés catering to locals remain open.
- Check the weather and sea condition forecasts: sea crossings by ferry are often suspended in the winter due to rough seas, so if you need to catch a ferry, be sure to double check the conditions. High speed ferries are suspended more often than ferries and slow ferries run by Caremar, so it's best to book with this ferry company.
- Pack winter clothing: Capri is not eccessively cold even in the winter months, but the wind and humidity give the air a distinct nip.
- Stay in a B&B: almost all the island's hotels close, but you will have no trouble booking a room in a local B&B.
Contact the ferry company call centers directly for updated information about ferry routes.
Caremar: 08118966690
Snav: 081 4285555
Navigazione Libera del Golfo: 081 5520763
This Facebook page has updates in Italian regarding ferry routes on days when sea conditions are rough.
Capriìs Tourist Information Office provides anb updated list of open restaurants and museums.
Walks and Hikes
Clear winter days are perfect to set out on the island's many foot trails, and the chairlift for the peak of Mount Solaro remains open all year round.
Walking and Hiking Trails on Capri
The Blue Grotto and Boat Tours
The Blue Grotto is open all year, but visitors can only enter on days in which the sea is calm and there is no wind. Inquire at the Tourist Information Office in the Piazzetta or Marina Grande (081 837 0686) if the grotto is open.
Boat Tours: Even if there are no organized tours leaving for the grotto, just ask around the port and you'll find a skipper willing to take you by boat to the sea cave entrance!
Restaurants
Eating out can be tricky on the island in wintertime! Many restaurants are closed for the season, but if you are looking for an authentic local eatery featuring traditional cuisine, you can find it even in low season. At the base of the clock tower in the Piazzetta, there is a notice board where all the open restaurants are posted. Here are some of our favorites:
- Verginiello: You can't go wrong, no matter what the season. Home cooking, friendly service, fair prices, and a lovely view of the sea. The menu features traditional island specialities including "ravioli capresi", and they serve pizza at both lunch and dinner.
- E' Di Vino:: One of the most popular eateries among locals, even during the winter. This wine bar/restaurant is located in a historic home furnished with with tables, armchairs, and beds as if it were still home to an island family. This is a welcoming place to settle in for a late evening with a good bottle of wine.
- La Piazzetta: Despite its name, this restaurant is located in Marina Piccola. In the winter, they only serve lunch...if you are there on a sunny day, you can even dine al fresco. This side of the island is sheltered from the cold winter winds, and you can even sunbathe in January on warm days. They serve excellent local seafood.
- Aumm aumm: pizzeria and restaurant in Anacapri open only for dinner all year round.
- Michel'angelo: the restaurant is open during winter months, here you can taste caprese specialties as well as join cooking classes or order freshly prepared picnic packages. The restaurant also hold special events during the off-season.
Cafés
In the Piazzetta, the only café that stays open year-round is Piccolo Bar. It's a great place to have a drink in December, under the twinkling blue fairy lights and towering Christmas trees decorating the piazza.
