If you are visiting the Amalfi Coast, a trip to the island of Capri is a must! It’s the perfect blend of rugged landscape and rock formations mixed with pristine blue waters that go on for days; not to mention the charming Italian towns on the island: Anacapri and Capri (yes, both the island and town are named Capri). Nothing compares to the breathtaking views you’ll find here, and we have the best spot for you to take in these stunning views – ride the chairlift on Capri Island to the top of Mount Solaro (or Monte Solaro, in Italian)!
This post will take you through everything you need to know about riding the Chairlift on Capri Island!
Monte Solaro Capri
Capri is full of natural beauty, whether in the harbour at Marina Grande or on the water floating around the Faraglioni rocks. However, our favourite view of Capri is from Monte Solaro. Here, you can look out over the entire island and beyond to the Amalfi Coast and Bay of Naples.
Monte Solaro is the highest point on Capri Island, over 1,900 ft. (589 meters) above sea level! Located at the top of Mount Solaro is the Canzone del Cielo, an American bar and restaurant for you to enjoy while taking in the breathtaking 360-degree views. Also, there is the Hermitage of Cetrella, a church built around 1400. We recommend giving yourself at least 1-2 hours for Monte Solaro; there are so many great photo spots, so you want to give yourself enough time to explore them all!
We also recommend bringing a light sweater or jacket, regardless of the time of year. As you climb in elevation, it gets a bit cooler!
How to Get to the Top of Mount Solaro
The easiest way to get to the top of Monte Solaro on Capri Island is by chairlift. You also have the option to hike, which can take anywhere from 1-2 hours.
Taking the Chairlift to the Top of Mount Solaro
It’s a single-seat chairlift, and as we’ve mentioned, it’s the best way to get to the top of Mount Solaro. It only takes about 13 minutes, and you’ll slowly creep up the mountain going over the top of people’s houses. The highest part of the chairlift will take you 40-50 feet off the ground, while on average, you’ll only be about 15 feet off the ground.
Mount Solaro Hike
If you are feeling adventurous, you can hike to the top of Monte Solaro. If you decide to do so, expect it to take at least an hour or two. The hike itself is on the easier side, well-marked, and of course, features one-of-a-kind views! From Anacapri, most of the hike is a dirt/gravel path. Certainly, if you make the trek up, you can always take the chairlift down, or we recommend riding the chairlift up and then hiking down. It is undoubtedly much easier and worthwhile if you do have some extra time!
How Long is the Chairlift on Capri Island?
The chairlift ride to the top is 13 minutes! There are 156 chairs, so any line up moves quite quickly! You also get to enjoy the stunning view while on your way up.
Is There an Age Limit for Taking the Chairlift?
Not technically. However, keep in mind that while it’s a safe, single-seat chairlift equipped with a safety bar, the bar can easily be lifted. We don’t recommend taking the chairlift with young, active children. That being said, children under the age of 7 are permitted (for free) on their parent’s lap, if you are comfortable. Children older than that would have to ride on their own, so please use your discretion when deciding to take the chairlift with children.
Chairlift Hours of Operation and Cost
The hours vary, but during peak season (May-October), the chairlift on Capri Island is open from 9:30 am until 5:00 pm. Make sure you don’t miss the last chair down, or you’ll be left to hike back down!
A round trip ticket costs €14, and one way is €11. We recommend purchasing a roundtrip ticket at the bottom because it can be hard to get a ticket down from the top sometimes.
How to Get to the Chairlift in Capri
If you are arriving by ferry or boat, you’ll arrive at Marina Grande. From there, you will want to take the funicular to Capri. Once in the town of Capri, we recommend taking the bus to Anacapri, which is where you’ll find the chairlift entrance in Piazza Vittoria. This is the chairlift on Capri Island that will take you to the top of Mount Solaro.
The entire trip from Marina Grande to Anacapri is about 20 minutes, depending on wait times for the funicular and bus. However, as an alternative, you can take one of Capri’s unique taxis straight from Marina Grande or the town of Capri.
How Do You Get Around on Capri?
We found it very easy to get around the Island of Capri. There are several ways to get around: taxi, bus, funicular, or on foot! Don’t even think about trying to drive yourself. The majority of the island is pedestrian-only, and there are often seasonal bans on non-residential vehicles on the island.
Certainly, one of the easiest ways is taking the unique taxi. They are always available, especially near the main transportation stations. Alternatively, public transit is quite easy and provides seamless travel. We opted to take the funicular from Marina Grande into Capri and then the bus from Capri to Anacapri.
Anacapri is 1.86 miles (3 kilometres) from Capri or roughly 10 minutes by bus/taxi. The bus runs between the two towns every 15 minutes.Â
When Should I Visit Capri?
We recommend visiting in the shoulder months of summer (April-May; September-October). We went in May and not only was the weather beautiful, but there were also fewer tourists! Win-Win!
How Long Do You Need on Capri?
The ideal amount of time to spend on the Island of Capri would be 3-4 days! However, with that said, it is certainly possible to make a single day trip for a few hours. If you only have a few hours, we recommend planning your day in advance and not letting yourself spend too much time at the top of Mount Solaro. Go up, take a few pictures, enjoy the views, and then make your journey back down to enjoy the towns of Anacapri and Capri.
Additionally, if you only have one day, arrive as early as possible and make the trip to Anacapri and the chairlift to Monte Solaro. This will allow you to use public transit before all the tour groups get to the island. Once you are done at the top of Mount Solaro, then you can take the chairlift back down, explore Anacapri, before making your way down to visit Capri. With only one day, you won’t have much time to discover more remote parts of the island, but you’ll be able to visit some of the main attractions in Capri and Anacapri.
This being said, with a few extra days, you’d really be able to see everything that Capri has to offer!
What Is There to Do on Capri Island?
We’ve compiled a list of 25 ideas for what to do on the Island of Capri, Italy. This list would require a few days to get through everything, but even with one day, you could still check quite a few things off the list.
Capri in a Day:
- Arrive early and make your way to Anacapri (30 minutes)
- Ride the chairlift on Capri Island, take in the view and then get a few photos (1 hour)
- Return to Anacapri and then explore Piazza Vittoria, Villa San Michele and the remains of Castello Barbarossa (1 hour)
- Make your way back to Capri (20 minutes)
- Explore the Piazetta and Gardens of Augustus, taking in views of Marina Piccola, the Faraglioni rock formations and via Krupp, a winding and picturesque road that was recently closed due to falling rocks (2 hours)
- Return to Marina Grande to catch your ferry, and if time permits, grab a limoncello spritz while you wait!
Capri in More Than One Day:
If you have more than one day on Capri Island, we recommend extending the above one-day itinerary into two. Then, add a trip to the Natural Arch, Phoenician Steps, and if possible, explore the island by boat to see the Faraglioni rock formations and the Blue Grotto. With 3-4 days, you could certainly complete our list of 25 ideas for what to do on the island of Capri!
