So me and my girlfriend are going to be doing a lot of traveling around Europe this summer... and with a complete week in the Amalfi Coast, one of these days is sure to be dedicated to the lovely isle of Capri.
This is sort of a special spot for me in my girlfriend... although its sort of hard to understand why. Last year I had the opportunity to travel in Italy a lot.. and when I spent just half a day in Capri, I immediately wished that she had been there. I found a phone and called her here in the States, and just from my description over the phone, thousands of miles away, she really fell in love with the place.
So.. anyways... a year later, here we are, and now the island actually has to live up to its high reputation, haha. If there's one thing I would like to get right on this entire trip to Europe, it would be showing my girlfriend a good time at Capri. Like I said, I've been there before, but there are things I wish I had gotten the chance to do. For example, the Blue Grotto was closed when I was there... the waters were too high.
What I'm trying to ask here, is things can I do on Capri to ensure that my girlfriend (and myself) have an awesome time? I'm looking for romantic ideas, while still on the island. Time constraints might be a problem, seeing as how we're not going to be actually staying on Capri... just sort of taking a day excursion there.
All advice and ideas are extremely appreciated!
-Chris
I find Capri is tricky, and I would avoid it at all costs in August, when it's just too crowded with tourists and it becomes impossible, for me at least, to get a feeling of the island as it used to be.
I would advise walking. Get away from the main town asap, with the massively overpriced tourist restaurants where you need a mortgage to buy a coffee, and the streets of designer boutiques.Walk up through the main town (just keep walking up), to the villa of Tiberius on the clifftop. Then walk back down a bit and up again to the other corner, strill facing the mainland, and round past the Faraglioni rocks back to the main town. You could walk up the peak too from Anacapri, which is a bit less touristy than Capri itself.
Personally I would avoid the blue grotto too - another tourist trap. It's not easy to avoid tourist tat here. Time constraints not a problem, as there are plenty of boats from Sorrento.
Thank you for the advice!
Yes, like I said, I have been to Capri once before... and I do agree, it's a complete tourist trap. However I have a hard time explaining what it is about the island that makes me want to go back so bad. Like I said, there's sort of an unexplainable thing with my girlfriend... and with that said, on this one day, I'm okay with putting up with the tourist bustling, and the ridiculously high prices. I really do think she's going to love our day trip there. The whole environment just reminds me of her... and its all right up her alley. If money wasn't a huge issue, would you do anything differently? I'm looking for a romantic spot to eat, or something along those lines... although I might go with your picnic suggestion, which would save $$$ and be romantic at the same time. Also... the grotto is sort of a must. Like I said, its our one day there... and its going to be the one day I really break out the wallet. Budgeting throughout the rest of the trip... leaves me some room for special occasions, such as this.
Once again suiko, thank you for such the quick response. We leave in about 48 hours... and all the last minute planning i can get is much needed, haha.
I would still make sure I did some walking, even if I had loads of cash. Because I think that is simply the only way left to feel something of what this island used to be, and to some extent still is outside the summer months.
It would be the very worst place to spend my special occasion money too, as elsewhere in Italy you could have a fantastic meal etc, but in Capri you will just pay double (or more) for something very ordinary. Personally I'd say the picnic was more romantic, specially if you do a serious meal in one of the many fantastic restaurants in Italy another time.
An interesting thing to do on another day might be to also visit another island in the bay, Procida, which would be a good taste of real island life without (most of) the tourists.
Hey mrbeall!
First of all let me tell you your girlfriend is one lucky girl! It's very sweet that you're so concerned about the Capri experience (and you're just 18 years old??? older guys should learn something...). Anyway, I've only been to Capri once (although I'm from Naples...I know, I should be ashamed of myself) and I took a boat ride around the island. It was really cool, the guide spoke a funny English and made the tour quite funny! I don't recommend this tour, though (not romantic at all) but I do suggest you rent a boat just for the two of you, plus the boat driver of course, and ask him to take you under the Faraglioni. It is said that if two lovers kiss while passing underneath the arch it brings good luck. Also, I remember the funny guide talking about the smallest beach in Capri, only accessible by boat, and describing it as "the beach where you arrive in 2 and you leave in 3..."!! No need to ask him what he meant...! There are quite a few beaches around the island, in case you can't find this specific one, all accessible only by sea. I would find this very romantic, especially with a bottle of delicious Italian red wine and maybe cherries or strawberries! Good luck and enjoy Europe!!
Ciao, Martina
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