Museums and Attractions in Capri: Opening Hours and Prices

The Blue Grotto is Capri's most sought-after attraction — and its most unpredictable. The intense blue that fills the interior is caused by sunlight refracting through a submerged opening at the base of the rock: a natural phenomenon worth seeing at least once. Access is only possible by small rowing boats, through an entrance just a few dozen centimetres high. For this reason, the Grotto is open only in calm seas and wind-free conditions. In high season, allow at least one hour of waiting time.

Please note: the Grotto can close at any moment due to swell or wind, even on sunny days. Before leaving Marina Grande, check the current status at capri.com.

Where: Località Grotta Azzurra, Anacapri
Getting there from Marina Grande (Capri's main port): take the direct motorboat (departures from Pier 0 and Pier 21), then transfer to a rowing boat operated by the Cooperativa Battellieri — this transfer is mandatory. Total cost from Marina Grande: €24 (motorboat) + €12 (rowing boat) + €6 (entrance) = €42 per person. If you are already in Anacapri, the bus from the terminal at Viale De Tommaso takes 10 minutes, and you can then reach the entrance on foot.
From Anacapri: by local bus from the terminal at Viale De Tommaso (15 minutes); by taxi from Piazza Vittoria (10 minutes); on foot along Via Grotta Azzurra, from Piazza Vittoria – Via Pagliaro – Via Tuoro (50 minutes). Rowing boat transfer required in all cases.

Suggested visit time: the boat ride inside the Grotto lasts approximately 10 minutes. Queuing time can reach up to two hours.

More information about the Blue Grotto

Villa Axel Munthe

Villa San Michele is the house-museum of Swedish writer and physician Axel Munthe, built in Anacapri on the ruins of an ancient convent. The collection blends original period furnishings, Roman fragments, Egyptian sarcophagi and frescoes, all set along a route that opens onto one of the widest panoramas on the island. The granite sphinx on the belvedere points towards the Gulf of Naples: it is the best vantage point for taking in everything visible from Capri. The garden is included in the ticket price and deserves as much time as the interiors.

If you want to avoid organised groups, arrive as soon as it opens: in summer, tour buses start pulling in around 10:00 am. You will have the villa almost to yourself for the first 30 minutes. Another good time to visit is in the afternoon from 4:30 pm onwards. Concerts and events are often held here during the summer — check our events in Capri page for the latest programme.

Where: Viale Axel Munthe, Anacapri
Getting there from Capri town: take the bus to Anacapri and get off at Piazza Vittoria (the main stop). Climb the steps in front of the stop and continue along the tree-lined avenue on the left.

Suggested visit time: allow at least 1 hour and 30 minutes to visit everything at a comfortable pace.

More information: Villa San Michele Capri
Contacts
Official website: www.villasanmichele.eu
Email: administration@sanmichele.org
Tel: +39 081 8371401

The Gardens of Augustus are a six-minute walk from the Piazzetta and offer Capri's most photographed view: the Faraglioni from above, with Via Krupp winding down in hairpin bends to Marina Piccola. The garden was created by German industrialist Friedrich Alfred Krupp, who bought the property in the late 1800s. It is now one of the most visited spots on the island. Next to the garden is the entrance to the famous Via Krupp, which leads down to Marina Piccola.

Tickets can only be paid by card. No cash accepted. Groups of more than 10 people must buy online at capriculturaeturismo.it.

Sunset from the Gardens of Augustus is among the finest on the island. If you are there in the evening, stay until closing time: the colours on the Faraglioni around 7:00 pm in summer are worth every extra minute.

Where: Viale Giacomo Matteotti, 14 Capri
Getting there from Capri town: from the Piazzetta, walk along Via Vittorio Emanuele, Via Federico Serena, and continue along Via Matteotti (six minutes on foot).

Suggested visit time: 30 minutes
More information: Gardens of Augustus

Contacts
Official website: www.capriculturaeturismo.it
Email: culturaturismo@cittadicapri.it
Tel: +39 353 4523908

The Certosa di San Giacomo is Capri's most important medieval monument: built in the 14th century by order of the Angevin kings, it was later converted into a prison during the Napoleonic era and for decades housed the island's classical high school. Today it is home to three distinct spaces: the Diefenbach Museum, featuring works by German painter Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach who lived here until his death in 1913; the Archaeological Museum, opened in 2024 with 120 artefacts from the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius; and a programme of temporary exhibitions.

Where: Certosa di San Giacomo, Via Certosa.
Getting there from Capri town: from Piazza Umberto I (the Piazzetta), walk along Via Vittorio Emanuele, Via F. Serena and Via Certosa (10 minutes on foot).
Suggested visit time: 2 hours
More information: Certosa di San Giacomo

Contacts
Tel: +39 081 8376218

The chairlift departs from Piazza Vittoria in Anacapri and reaches the summit of Monte Solaro at 589 metres above sea level in about 12 minutes. It is one of Italy's oldest single-seat chairlifts, opened in 1952, and the ride takes place on open chairs. At the top you'll find a bar and several panoramic terraces with views stretching across the Gulf of Naples on one side and the Gulf of Salerno on the other. On a clear day you can see as far as Ischia and Procida.

We recommend buying a return ticket unless you plan to walk back down to the Hermitage of Cetrella, a roughly 30-minute downhill trail. In that case, a one-way (up) ticket is all you need.

Where: Via Caposcuro 10, Anacapri
Getting there from Capri town: take the bus to Anacapri and get off at the main stop (Piazza Vittoria). From there, climb the steps — the chairlift entrance is on the right.

Suggested visit time: the ride up takes 12 minutes; time at the summit is up to you.
More information: Monte Solaro and Cetrella

Contacts
Email: info@seggioviamontesolaro.it
Official website: www.capriseggiovia.it

Palace of Tiberius

Roman Era

Villa Jovis is the largest of the twelve villas that Emperor Tiberius had built on Capri, and it served as his main residence from 26 AD until his death in 37 AD. It stands at the top of Monte Tiberio, 351 metres above sea level. The path begins at the Piazzetta and takes about 45 minutes, all uphill — it is a demanding walk, but the view from the belvedere over the Gulf of Naples and the Tiberius' Leap rocks more than repays the effort. The ruins on view today include cisterns, baths, loggias and the evocative Belvedere di Tiberio.

Please note: Villa Jovis opening hours change frequently, especially off-season. Before you set off, confirm with the tourist information office in the Piazzetta (under the bell tower) or call +39 081 8376218. The walk up takes 45 minutes — it is not worth finding out it is closed when you reach the top.

Tickets can only be paid by card. No cash accepted.

Where: Viale A. Mauri, Capri
Getting there: from Piazza Umberto I, via Via Le Botteghe, Via Fuorlovado, Via Croce and Via Tiberio; or, also from Piazza Umberto I, via Via Longano, Via Sopramonte and Via Tiberio. The entire route is uphill. Walking time: 45 minutes.

Suggested visit time: 1 hour

More information about Villa Jovis

Villa Fersen

Built in 1905 – Liberty Style

Villa Lysis, also known as Villa Fersen, is one of Capri's most distinctive residences. It was built in 1905 by French count Jacques d'Adelsward-Fersen on a cliff overlooking the sea, between Villa Jovis and the Tiberius' Leap. The architecture blends Greek classicism, Art Nouveau and decadent symbolism: the inscription above the entrance reads "Amori et Dolori Sacrum" (sacred to love and sorrow).

Villa Lysis is reached along the same path as Villa Jovis. If you plan to visit both in the same day, set off early in the morning: both sites are 45 minutes uphill from the Piazzetta and together require around two and a half hours to visit.

Tickets must be purchased online in advance at capriculturaeturismo.it.

Where: Via Lo Capo, 65, Capri
Getting there from Capri town: from the Piazzetta you can take two routes: via Via Longano and Via Sopramonte, or via Via Le Botteghe, Via Fuorlovado and Via Croce. Both routes converge at the "Croce" junction; from there continue along Via Tiberio to the intersection with Via Lo Capo.

Suggested visit time: 1 hour

Contacts
Official website: www.capriculturaeturismo.it
Email: villalysiscapri@gmail.com
Tel: +39 377 3590709

Municipal Art Gallery – "The Painted Island" Exhibition

Casa Rossa is an eclectic building constructed between 1876 and 1899 by American colonel John Clay MacKowen, in the pedestrian centre of Anacapri along Via Orlandi. Immediately recognisable for its coloured walls and Moorish-inspired architecture, it houses a municipal art gallery with 19th-century paintings and four Roman statues recovered from the seabed of the Blue Grotto — a tangible connection between the museum and the island's most famous attraction. Full-price admission is €3.50, but if you have already visited the Blue Grotto, the Chairlift or Villa San Michele, entry is just €1.

Where: Via Giuseppe Orlandi, 79, Anacapri
Getting there from Capri town: take the bus to Anacapri, get off at the main square (Piazza Vittoria) and continue on foot along the pedestrian corso of Via Orlandi.
Suggested visit time: 1 hour

Contacts
Tel: +39 081 8387260
Official website: www.museocasarossa.it

Centro Caprense Ignazio Cerio

Palazzo Cerio is a small but surprisingly rich museum, housed in the rooms that were home to physician and Capri mayor Ignazio Cerio in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Cerio spent his life collecting naturalistic specimens and fossils from the island: the collection holds over 20,000 pieces, including fossils, zoological specimens, scientific instruments and historical documentation about Capri. It is just steps from the Piazzetta.

Where: Piazzetta I. Cerio, 5, Capri
Getting there from Capri town: from the Piazzetta, climb the steps leading to the Basilica di Santo Stefano. Palazzo Cerio is directly opposite the church.
Suggested visit time: 1 hour

Contacts
Official website: www.centrocaprense.org
Tel: +39 081 8376681

Archaeological Park

Villa Damecuta is a free-admission archaeological park in the north-western part of Anacapri, a few minutes from the Blue Grotto. It was discovered and excavated between 1937 and 1948 by archaeologist Amedeo Maiuri after lying buried for centuries. Only a portion of the Roman villa has been brought to light, but the panoramic terraces overlooking the sea and the medieval tower make the site particularly scenic. Closed on Mondays.

Where: Viale Maiuri, Anacapri
Getting there: from Anacapri, Piazzetta Cimitero, take the Grotta Azzurra bus line to the Damecuta stop. On foot from Piazza Vittoria via Via G. Orlandi, Via Pagliaro and Via Tuoro. From Villa Damecuta to the Blue Grotto is 25 minutes on foot or 10 minutes by bus or taxi.

Suggested visit time: 30 minutes

More information about Villa Damecuta

The Church of San Michele in Anacapri is famous for its majolica floor dating from 1761: around 2,500 hand-painted tiles depicting the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. To appreciate it fully, there is an elevated gallery on the upper floor — included in the ticket price. The Baroque church was built between 1698 and 1719. The visit takes about 15 minutes.

Where: Piazza San Nicola 1, Anacapri
Getting there from Capri town: take the bus to Anacapri, get off at Piazza Vittoria (the main stop) and continue on foot along Via Orlandi, then turn right following signs for "Chiesa di San Michele".
Suggested visit time: 15 minutes

Contacts
Email: info@chiesa-san-michele.com
Official website: www.chiesa-san-michele.com

Castello Barbarossa takes its name from the Ottoman corsair Khayr al-Din, who captured it in 1535. The castle dates back to the year 1000 and can only be visited on guided tours organised by the Fondazione Axel Munthe, which also manages Villa San Michele. Tours run every Thursday afternoon, for groups of 4 to 20 people: advance booking by email or phone is required at least the day before. Tours take place only in favourable weather conditions.

Entrance is through Villa San Michele. The ticket (€10 full price) includes the visit to the villa.

Where: entrance through Villa San Michele
Getting there from Capri town: take the bus to Anacapri, get off at Piazza Vittoria (the main stop), climb the steps in front of the stop and continue along the tree-lined avenue on the left.
Suggested visit time: 2 hours

Contacts
Tel: +39 081 8371401
Email: bookshop@sanmichele.org
Official website: www.villasanmichele.eu

Villa Rosa is an Art Nouveau villa in Anacapri, just steps from Villa San Michele along Viale Axel Munthe. It was built by English physician Henry Thompson Green and later acquired by Swedish psychiatrist and writer Axel Munthe, who donated it to the Municipality of Anacapri for cultural purposes. After an extensive restoration it is now a museum, with a permanent collection of works by Capri-born painter Raffaele Castello and pieces by artists and photographers who over the centuries chose Capri as a refuge or source of inspiration. Full-price admission is €7.

Where: Viale Axel Munthe 18, Anacapri
Getting there from Capri town: from the Piazzetta, take the bus to Anacapri. Get off at Piazza Vittoria (the main stop), climb the steps in front of the stop and continue to the left, in the direction of Villa San Michele.
Suggested visit time: 1 hour

Contacts
Tel: +39 339 4745506
+39 081 8387227

The Lutheran Evangelical Church of Capri is a neo-Romanesque building from 1899, built by the German Protestant community that regularly visited the island. It is located on Via Tragara, just a few minutes' walk from the Faraglioni viewpoint. Since 2006 it has been part of the Lutheran Community of Naples. Open to the public every day from 30 June to 6 October, with free admission.

Where: Via Tragara, 7
Getting there from Capri town: from the Piazzetta, continue along Via Camerelle and then follow the road leading to the Tragara viewpoint over the Faraglioni. The Lutheran Evangelical Church is at the beginning of this road, on the left.
Suggested visit time: 30 minutes

Contacts
Tel: +39 081 0900133
Email: napoli@chiesaluterana.it

The Hermitage of Santa Maria a Cetrella is a small 15th-century monastic complex on the southern slope of Monte Solaro. The church, with two naves and an altar dedicated to the Virgin, holds a 16th-century painting of Saint Dominic. The view over the Faraglioni and Marina Piccola is among the quietest on the island: no bus reaches it, there are no shops, no organised groups. Open from May to October, weather permitting.

⚠️ Opening hours depend on the volunteers who look after the site and may change. Call before you set off (custodian: Mr. Ottavio Russo, +39 339 4342346).

Where: Loc. Cetrella / Monte Solaro
Getting there from Capri town: take the bus to Anacapri and get off at the main stop (Piazza Vittoria). From there, climb the steps and take the chairlift to Monte Solaro. At the summit, follow signs for the Hermitage of Cetrella (downhill path, approximately 30 minutes). After your visit you can walk back down to Anacapri or return to the chairlift station.

Suggested visit time: the site is small, but time spent there is entirely at your discretion.

Contacts
Tel: +39 339 4342346 (custodian, Mr. Ottavio Russo)
Email: vincenzo.degregorio03@gmail.com
Official website: www.cetrella.it

Casa Mackenzie, also known as Villa Solitaria, was built in 1918 by Scottish writer Compton Mackenzie in the small valley of Cetrella, on Monte Solaro. Restored by the association "Amici di Cetrella" and reopened in 2005, it now houses the Museum of Rural Life, with over 1,000 artefacts related to the farming traditions of Anacapri, and a permanent exhibition of iron sculptures by Irpinian artist Vito Ferrante. Free admission. It is located a short distance from the Hermitage of Cetrella and the two sites can easily be combined in a single excursion.

Where: Loc. Cetrella / Monte Solaro
Getting there from Capri town: take the bus to Anacapri and get off at the main stop (Piazza Vittoria). From there, climb the steps and take the chairlift to Monte Solaro. At the summit, follow signs for Cetrella/Casa Mackenzie (downhill path). After your visit you can walk back down to Anacapri or return to the chairlift station.

Suggested visit time: approximately 30 minutes

Contacts
Tel: +39 339 4342346 (custodian, Mr. Ottavio Russo)