If you are vacationing on Capri, don't limit yourself to the island! One of the most beautiful day trips by sea takes you from Capri to the coastline of the Amalfi Coast, passing by the Li Galli islets and stopping for a stroll through the towns of Positano and Amalfi. Hop aboard the vessel of your choice and set sail for this unforgettable corner of southern Italy!
Organizing a Boat Tour from Capri to Positano and Amalfi
To sail from Capri to the Amalfi Coast for a daytrip, it's always better to rent a boat with a skipper as the stretch of sea between Capri and Punta Campanella (where the Amalfi Coast begins) is often choppy and is a major shipping lane for commercial and pleasure boats. If you don't have significant experience navigating a boat, it's best to leave this in the expert hands of a local sailor.
Boat tour from Capri to Amalfi Coast.
The Classic Itinerary for Touring the Amalfi Coast by Sea
The first stretch of coastline you encounter coming from Capri is Punta Campanella, considered sacred both by the Ancient Greeks and the Romans, who built a temple dedicated to Athena on this spot. This entire point and the nearby Bay of Ieranto are part of a protected marine reserve.
Next, you will pass Nerano, a traditional fishing village now famed for its excellent waterfront restaurants.
If you are passing Nerano at lunchtime, make sure you stop to sample a place of "spaghetti alla Nerano", the famous local dish of pasta tossed with zucchini, basil, and parmesan cheese.
Continuing on, you will sail by the Li Galli islets. Legend holds that it was here where Ulysses encountered the Sirens, who took the form of hens (thus the name "galli", or chickens) according to the Classical Greeks, not fish, as the story is now told. On the largest of the Li Galli islands, you can see the villa of the Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev, today a venue for exclusive private events. Though you cannot moor on the island, you can drop anchor off shore and take a dip in the crystalline waters.
From the Li Galli islands, set course for Positano, the picturesque village on the Amalfi Coast which is built almost vertically into the hillside. Have your camera ready, as the sight of these colorful houses covering the coastline from clifftop to water's edge is a shot you won't want to miss. You can stop for a bit in Positano to disembark and take a stroll through the center of town, taking in the steep, narrow lanes lines with shops selling handmade leather sandals and the "pezze di Positano" romantic resort-style informal fashions for which Positano is famous.
If you didn't stop for lunch in Nerano, we recommend dining at "Da Adolfo", a small restaurant in the Bay of Laurito which is only accessible by sea. Tables are set over the water on wooden platforms, waiters serve barefoot, the dishes are simple and authentic, and the atmosphere is vibrantly informal. Just ask your skipper...Da Adolfo is a local favorite!
After Positano, you can skirt the coastline passing the villages of Praiano, Conca dei Marini, and Vettica Maggiore until you arrive at Amalfi, the historic Marine Republic. Stop here to disembark and explore the town center, which cannot be seen from the water. Just a few steps from the port will take you to the center's warren of tiny lanes and the spectacular Duomo of Amalfi with its imposing staircase in the piazza. Stop for a traditional pastry at "Pansa" before heading back to your boat for the return trip to Capri.
Transfers between Capri and Positano or Amalfi
If your itinerary includes a few days on Capri and a few in Positano, Praiano, or Amalfi, you can arrange a boat tour which also serves as a transfer between the island and the coastline, either departing from Capri and continuing on to the Amalfi Coast or vice versa. If you book a full day tour, you'll have time for an entire day at sea around the coast of Capri and that of the Amalfi Coast before disembarking at your new destination.
On boats used for tours between Capri and the Amalfi Coast, there is always a covered area for storing luggage. If your hotel is not located on the water's edge (very few hotels on Capri are directly on the water), your skipper can arrange a taxi service between your hotel and the pier.