Capri is considered one of the most beautiful islands in the world, but unfortunately presents a number of accessibility issues.
For travellers who use a wheelchair for mobility, you may find it difficult to to navigate the island both because of the steep, narrow lanes and because of stairs and other architectural barriers which make it difficult to access many buildings.
Getting to Capri with a Wheelchair
By law, all public ferries should be handicapped accessible. "Should be" instead of "are" because accessibility is often limited, and that which does exist is not provided by elevators or chairlifts, but by the sheer muscle power of the sailors who help the disabled embark and disembark by hand. If you are travelling by yourself, it's a good idea to call the ferry company before your travel date to request assistance (which must be provided by law). The disabled may embark their motor vehicles to the island, even during the months of the year when non-resident vehicles are banned. Your vehicle must have a valid handicapped permit to embark. For more information, contact Capri's "Vigili Urbani" (City Police) at +39 081 8386203.
Once you have disembarked on Capri, you can visit the fishing village of Marina Grande, though the road is a bit rough so may be difficult to navigate. There are souvenir shops, restaurants, and cafés to stop for a drink, and a beach club where you can relax along the water's edge.
Marina Grande
In Marina Grande, there is an accessibility slide for entering and exiting the water, though it is not yet fully functional.
A lovely and accessible place to visit is the marina, where you can use the smooth pier to take a relaxing look at the yachts and boats moored there.
There are three accessible public bathrooms, but some are not easy to reach.
Capri Town
Take the funicular, accessible by elevator and chairlift, which transports you up to the famed Piazzetta in the center of Capri town, lined with bustling cafés.
Here you can decide if you want to continue down Via Vittorio Emanuele with a bit of assistance, where there are a number of luxury hotels, designer boutiques, and the island's best gelato at "Da Buonocore".
Once you arrive at the Grand Hotel Quisisana, you can continue on to the Gardens of Augustus, which are unfortunately not accessible due to stairs at the entrance. Via Krupp, the famous lane running down the cliffside between Capri and Marina Piccola, is accessible, though it is currently closed due to restoration (2019).
There are a number of traditional kiosks selling gelato and granita nearby, or you can purchase Capri's famous profume from the "Chartusia" workshop, and visit the Charterhouse of San Giacomo, a historic monastery. In the center of Capri town, you can visit Via Camerelle without assistance, with its luxury boutiques, and, with a bit of assistance due to an uphill stretch, continue on to the Tragara scenic overlook with its view of the Faraglioni. From here, turn back along Via Fuorlovaldo and Via Le Botteghe, stopping at the artisan workshops and perhaps one of the well-known restaurants for a meal.
To reach the upper part of Capri, you will need assistance as the road is steep. There are a number of small restaurants, cafés, Villa Lysis, Villa Jovis, and quaint traditional island homes along the route. From the Piazzetta, you can also hail a taxi to visit the Marina Piccola Bay (to get to the beach, there are about 30 steps), where there are a number of accessible restaurants to stop for lunch or dinner.
Anacapri
You can travel from Capri town to Anacapri, the second town on the island, by bus (though not all are equipped with chairlifts) or by taxi. In Anacapri, you an explore the center of town without assistance along Via Giuseppe Orlandi, lined with cafés, restaurants, and shops. Most are accessible, though there are no handicapped accessible public bathrooms.
The only accessible public bathroom in Anacapri is in the public park on Via Giuseppe Orlando.
In Anacapri, you can visit the Church of San Michele in Piazza San Nicola, with its famous 18th century majolica floor representing the Garden of Eden.
Villa San Michele is only partially accessible, due to a number of stairs inside the villa.
Sunset at the Lighthouse
You can hire a taxi to take you to the Punta Carena lighthouse, which has a spectacular view of the sunset. There is a wheeled carriage provided by the city to reach the water's edge, though there is no slide to enter or exit the water. You can stop for a drink at one of the beach cafés, where there is an accessible bathroom.
The Blue Grotto
The Blue Grotto can be visited only by sea with assistance. You must take a boat transfer to the entry of the Blue Grotto (boats depart from Marina Grande), where you will be transferred by and to one of the small rowboats used to enter the grotto. Skippers are always happy to help you transfer between boats, but you must be able to lie down along the bottom of the boat when passing through the cave mouth.
This is a list of accessible hotels provided by the Federalberghi association:
- Villa Marina
- Ambassador Weber
- Orsa Maggiore
- Mamela,
- San Michele
- al Mulino
- Bellavista
- Alla Bussola
- il Girasole
- da Gelsomina
There are numerous cafés and restaurants in the centers of Capri and Anacapri which are relatively accessible.
The post offices of both Capri and Anacapri are relatively accessible with a bit of assistance.
Capri's Monte Paschi Siena Bank and Banco di Napoli in Anacapri are accessible; other banks are not.
ATM machines one the island are not accessible.
