Naples
Capri and Sorrento On Your Own
Naples, Italy
Shore Excursion and Port Review
Capri and Sorrento, Italy On Your Own
A Day Trip to Capri and Sorrento
Capri as Seen From the Marina
Tom OggCapri is a small
island located off the coast from Sorrento, Italy and is a tourist
heaven. While most cruise lines will offer a shore excursion to Capri
(usually in conjunction with Sorrento and Pompei) Capri and Sorrento are
quite easy to do on your own. In fact, a great day can be had by
combining the two.
The Hydrofoil to Capri (Note the
Proximity to the Cruise Terminal)
The ferry wharf is located right next to the cruise terminal in Naples.
Simply enter the cruise terminal, walk through the shopping area and out
the front door. Cross the parking lot to the street and then turn left
for about 100 yards.
The Hydrofoil Ticket Counter in Front of
the Wharf
You will see people lined up buying tickets for the
hydrofoil. It costs 12 euro per person for the hydrofoil to Capri and
they leave frequently in the morning.
The Naples to Capri Hydrofoil Docked in
Capri
Once you have boarded the hydrofoil, settle
in for the 45 minute ride to Capri. You will arrive at a wharf where
everyone departs the hydrofoil to start exploring Capri. As soon as you
exit the wharf area you will find yourself in the center of the lower
town.
Shopping in Capri
There are tons of shops, restaurants, bars
and tourists. There is a queue of taxis waiting to take you on an island
tour if that is what you want to do. If you are planning on taking the
hydrofoil back to Naples in the afternoon, I would suggest that you
purchase your return ticket the second you arrive on Capri, as there
were several people that found the hydrofoil sold out in the afternoon.There is a funicular that takes you up the
hill to the upper town, a pedestrian village turned tourist attraction.
You purchase tickets for the funicular at the very front of the ferry
terminal. You can easily spend an hour or two exploring its quaint
alleyways, boutiques, shops and other attractions.
The Beach on Capri
There is a small beach to enjoy if you are
looking for some sunshine and a venture into the ocean. Be warned,
however that there is no sand, just small rocks so be sure to bring
something soft to layout on. While Capri is wonderful to visit. One can
see just about everything is a few hours and are usually ready to move
on to Sorrento before lunch. This is a wise choice. The best way to
arrange for your hydrofoil over to Sorrento is to purchase your ticket
when you obtain your funicular ticket. You will see the appropriate line
to get into. The hydrofoils to Sorrento leave about every half hour, so
simply book yourself on one that will leave you enough time to explore
Capri to your satisfaction.
Just One of the Many Cafes on Capri
There are lots of cafes to enjoy if you end
up with extra time on your hands. Right by the wharf is one that is
right on the ocean. There are also many along the main street of Capri.
The Sorrento Hydrofoil Docked in Sorrento
The ride to Sorrento only take about 20
minutes and the view of Sorrento upon arrival is stunning. The town
itself resides on top of a cliff that soars from the ocean.
The View of Sorrento From the Hydrofoil
One can enter the city by climbing the
stairs near the wharf, but I prefer to head down to the various beach
clubs to enjoy the sunshine and relaxation they offer.
Sorrento's Beach Clubs
The beach clubs are built on piers and
breakwaters as there is no beach to speak of. While there is a "free"
public beach, it is always crowded with locals. A better choice is to
patronize one of the beach clubs. These clubs offer restaurants, bar
service, sun lounge chairs and an abundant amount of other services.
Waiters will bring you refreshments and food right to your lounge chair
if your would like. Also, the snorkeling is exceptional in this area,
but bring your own snorkel.
The Cliffs Above the Beach Clubs
(Note the Water Clarity)
The view of the cliffs and town high above
you is awesome. This is the reason for the piers and breakwaters
penetrating the ocean as far as they do. The morning sun does not hit
the beach area until around noon. Only by heading out into the ocean can
one find sunshine in the morning. Once you have had enough sunshine, it
is time to head up into the city of Sorrento itself. Note that there is
a lift that you can purchase tickets for that will carry you from the
beach clubs into the city. Look for the cave that leads to the lift and
purchase your tickets before you enter the cave.
The Trail From the Beach Into Sorrento
Another way to get up into the city is to
simply take the trail that leads from the beach and makes its way up the
cliff. It is not a difficult walk and only takes about 15 minutes. If
you have trouble with stairs and walking uphill, then by all means, take
the lift. The trail affords some beautiful views of the coastline.
Sorrento's Quaint Shopping Streets
Once in Sorrento itself, you are treated to
wonderful shopping opportunities, quaint shops and boutiques and
excellent restaurants. Prices are much better in Sorrento than they are
in Capri. The streets meander here and there and one is treated to many
wonderful sights.
Downtown Sorrento
Be sure to explore the alleyways leading
from the main street in Sorrento. They contain some great shops for
unique products. Sorrento has its own lemon liquor that is wonderful
served on ice.
Pizzeria Aurora, Downtown Sorrento
We were fortunate to stumble into an
excellent restaurant for a late lunch just by chance. I would recommend
it to anyone looking for a fantastic lunch experience. They offer pizza,
pasta and salads in the pizzeria and also offer an extensive wine list.
We had a bottle of chardonnay recommended by our waiter and it was
downright fabulous. Another two couples from our group happened to
wander into the same restaurant and also had an exceptional dining
experience.
Sorrento Restaurant
The restaurant is not open during the day,
but for dinner only. Besides tremendous cuisine, the restaurant offers a
wine list of over 1,500 labels. During November, one of the magnums is
opened and shared every Saturday night with all of the guests. I would
make a trip to Sorrento just to dine at this restaurant if our lunch
experience was anything of a forerunner to the evening dinning
experience. Great food, great service, reasonable prices and a great
wine list make this a "don't miss" dining experience when in Sorrento.
To help in your planning, here is the
hydrofoil schedule as of September, 2005
Naples to Capri and Return (12 euro each way, 30
minutes)
Naples to
Capri (SNAV)
7:10
8:10
9:10
11:10
18:10
Capri to
Naples (SNAV)
8:10
10:10
17:10
Naples to
Capri (NLG)i
8:35
9:30
10:35
11:20
11:55
12:40
14:40
16:45
Capri to
Naples (NLG)
8:30
9:30
10:15
11:35
13:35
15:25
16:30
Sorrento to Capri and Return (10.50 euro each way,
30 minutes)
Sorrento
to Capri
8:25
8:45
9:45
10:45
11:45
12:55
13:45
14:35
14:45
15:45
16:10
Capri to
Sorrento
9:00
9:20
10:20
11:20
12:20
13:30
15:20
15:35
16:20
16:35
17:20
Naples to Sorrento and Return (8.50 euro each way,
30 minutes)
Naples to
Sorrento
9:00
11:00
13:05
15:00
`7:15
18:35
Sorrento
to Capri
7:20
8:15
9:45
12:00
13:40
16:25
The funicular on Capri operates every 15
minutes and you must purchase your tickets (1.60 euro) in advance of
boarding. As mentioned above, if you are traveling round trip from
Naples to Capri, be sure to purchase your return ticket upon arrival on
Capri as the later hydrofoils tend to sell out.
DO NOT COUNT ON THIS SCHEDULE, IT IS FOR PLANNING
ONLY
Capri as Seen From the Marina
Tom OggCapri is a small
island located off the coast from Sorrento, Italy and is a tourist
heaven. While most cruise lines will offer a shore excursion to Capri
(usually in conjunction with Sorrento and Pompei) Capri and Sorrento are
quite easy to do on your own. In fact, a great day can be had by
combining the two.
The Hydrofoil to Capri (Note the
Proximity to the Cruise Terminal)
The ferry wharf is located right next to the cruise terminal in Naples.
Simply enter the cruise terminal, walk through the shopping area and out
the front door. Cross the parking lot to the street and then turn left
for about 100 yards.
The Hydrofoil Ticket Counter in Front of
the Wharf
You will see people lined up buying tickets for the
hydrofoil. It costs 12 euro per person for the hydrofoil to Capri and
they leave frequently in the morning.
The Naples to Capri Hydrofoil Docked in
Capri
Once you have boarded the hydrofoil, settle
in for the 45 minute ride to Capri. You will arrive at a wharf where
everyone departs the hydrofoil to start exploring Capri. As soon as you
exit the wharf area you will find yourself in the center of the lower
town.
Shopping in Capri
There are tons of shops, restaurants, bars
and tourists. There is a queue of taxis waiting to take you on an island
tour if that is what you want to do. If you are planning on taking the
hydrofoil back to Naples in the afternoon, I would suggest that you
purchase your return ticket the second you arrive on Capri, as there
were several people that found the hydrofoil sold out in the afternoon.There is a funicular that takes you up the
hill to the upper town, a pedestrian village turned tourist attraction.
You purchase tickets for the funicular at the very front of the ferry
terminal. You can easily spend an hour or two exploring its quaint
alleyways, boutiques, shops and other attractions.
The Beach on Capri
There is a small beach to enjoy if you are
looking for some sunshine and a venture into the ocean. Be warned,
however that there is no sand, just small rocks so be sure to bring
something soft to layout on. While Capri is wonderful to visit. One can
see just about everything is a few hours and are usually ready to move
on to Sorrento before lunch. This is a wise choice. The best way to
arrange for your hydrofoil over to Sorrento is to purchase your ticket
when you obtain your funicular ticket. You will see the appropriate line
to get into. The hydrofoils to Sorrento leave about every half hour, so
simply book yourself on one that will leave you enough time to explore
Capri to your satisfaction.
Just One of the Many Cafes on Capri
There are lots of cafes to enjoy if you end
up with extra time on your hands. Right by the wharf is one that is
right on the ocean. There are also many along the main street of Capri.
The Sorrento Hydrofoil Docked in Sorrento
The ride to Sorrento only take about 20
minutes and the view of Sorrento upon arrival is stunning. The town
itself resides on top of a cliff that soars from the ocean.
The View of Sorrento From the Hydrofoil
One can enter the city by climbing the
stairs near the wharf, but I prefer to head down to the various beach
clubs to enjoy the sunshine and relaxation they offer.
Sorrento's Beach Clubs
The beach clubs are built on piers and
breakwaters as there is no beach to speak of. While there is a "free"
public beach, it is always crowded with locals. A better choice is to
patronize one of the beach clubs. These clubs offer restaurants, bar
service, sun lounge chairs and an abundant amount of other services.
Waiters will bring you refreshments and food right to your lounge chair
if your would like. Also, the snorkeling is exceptional in this area,
but bring your own snorkel.
The Cliffs Above the Beach Clubs
(Note the Water Clarity)
The view of the cliffs and town high above
you is awesome. This is the reason for the piers and breakwaters
penetrating the ocean as far as they do. The morning sun does not hit
the beach area until around noon. Only by heading out into the ocean can
one find sunshine in the morning. Once you have had enough sunshine, it
is time to head up into the city of Sorrento itself. Note that there is
a lift that you can purchase tickets for that will carry you from the
beach clubs into the city. Look for the cave that leads to the lift and
purchase your tickets before you enter the cave.
The Trail From the Beach Into Sorrento
Another way to get up into the city is to
simply take the trail that leads from the beach and makes its way up the
cliff. It is not a difficult walk and only takes about 15 minutes. If
you have trouble with stairs and walking uphill, then by all means, take
the lift. The trail affords some beautiful views of the coastline.
Sorrento's Quaint Shopping Streets
Once in Sorrento itself, you are treated to
wonderful shopping opportunities, quaint shops and boutiques and
excellent restaurants. Prices are much better in Sorrento than they are
in Capri. The streets meander here and there and one is treated to many
wonderful sights.
Downtown Sorrento
Be sure to explore the alleyways leading
from the main street in Sorrento. They contain some great shops for
unique products. Sorrento has its own lemon liquor that is wonderful
served on ice.
Pizzeria Aurora, Downtown Sorrento
We were fortunate to stumble into an
excellent restaurant for a late lunch just by chance. I would recommend
it to anyone looking for a fantastic lunch experience. They offer pizza,
pasta and salads in the pizzeria and also offer an extensive wine list.
We had a bottle of chardonnay recommended by our waiter and it was
downright fabulous. Another two couples from our group happened to
wander into the same restaurant and also had an exceptional dining
experience.
Sorrento Restaurant
The restaurant is not open during the day,
but for dinner only. Besides tremendous cuisine, the restaurant offers a
wine list of over 1,500 labels. During November, one of the magnums is
opened and shared every Saturday night with all of the guests. I would
make a trip to Sorrento just to dine at this restaurant if our lunch
experience was anything of a forerunner to the evening dinning
experience. Great food, great service, reasonable prices and a great
wine list make this a "don't miss" dining experience when in Sorrento.
To help in your planning, here is the
hydrofoil schedule as of September, 2005
Naples to Capri and Return (12 euro each way, 30
minutes)
Naples to
Capri (SNAV)
7:10
8:10
9:10
11:10
18:10
Capri to
Naples (SNAV)
8:10
10:10
17:10
Naples to
Capri (NLG)i
8:35
9:30
10:35
11:20
11:55
12:40
14:40
16:45
Capri to
Naples (NLG)
8:30
9:30
10:15
11:35
13:35
15:25
16:30
Sorrento to Capri and Return (10.50 euro each way,
30 minutes)
Sorrento
to Capri
8:25
8:45
9:45
10:45
11:45
12:55
13:45
14:35
14:45
15:45
16:10
Capri to
Sorrento
9:00
9:20
10:20
11:20
12:20
13:30
15:20
15:35
16:20
16:35
17:20
Naples to Sorrento and Return (8.50 euro each way,
30 minutes)
Naples to
Sorrento
9:00
11:00
13:05
15:00
`7:15
18:35
Sorrento
to Capri
7:20
8:15
9:45
12:00
13:40
16:25
The funicular on Capri operates every 15
minutes and you must purchase your tickets (1.60 euro) in advance of
boarding. As mentioned above, if you are traveling round trip from
Naples to Capri, be sure to purchase your return ticket upon arrival on
Capri as the later hydrofoils tend to sell out.
DO NOT COUNT ON THIS SCHEDULE, IT IS FOR PLANNING
ONLY
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