Anacapri and Monte Solaro: chairlift, Villa San Michele, Punta Carena lighthouse
Anacapri is the island's upper town, quieter than Capri: from here the chairlift climbs in 13 minutes to Monte Solaro, the island's highest point. Villa San Michele, the floor of San Michele and the Punta Carena lighthouse fill a whole day.
At a glance
- Getting there
- Bus from Marina Grande or Capri town, about 15 minutes, €2.50
- Chairlift
- €14 return, €11 one way to be confirmed
- Chairlift hours
- May–October 9:30–17:00; March–April 9:30–16:00; winter 9:30–15:30 to be confirmed
- Villa San Michele
- €12, reduced €8; October 9:00–17:00; closed in February
- Casa Rossa
- €5; May–September 10:00–18:00, rest of the year 10:00–16:00
- Time needed
- Half a day; a full day with Punta Carena or the Fortini trail
What to see
- Monte Solaro: a single-seat chairlift from Piazza Vittoria, 13 minutes over gardens and vineyards. At the top, 589 metres up, the view stretches from the Faraglioni to Vesuvius.
- Villa San Michele: the home of the Swedish doctor Axel Munthe, with the sphinx on the viewpoint and the garden. Ticket €12, reduced €8, free under 12.
- San Michele church: the majolica floor from 1761 tells the story of Adam and Eve being driven out of Eden. You cannot walk on it: you look from the walkways and the gallery.
- Casa Rossa: the red villa of a 19th-century American colonel, now a museum with paintings of the island. Ticket €5.
- Punta Carena lighthouse: working since 1867, about 3 km from the centre, with rocks for swimming and sunsets over the open sea.
How long
- Chairlift and summit: 1 hour. If you like walking, you can come down on foot past the Cetrella hermitage.
- Villa San Michele: 1 hour; in summer it opens 9:00–19:00, in October 9:00–17:00.
- Sentiero dei Fortini (the Forts trail): about 6 km from the Blue Grotto to the lighthouse, 3–5 hours, little shade and almost no water along the way.
- Punta Carena at sunset: 2 hours with a swim.
Villa San Michele closes for all of February and on Tuesdays in January, November and December. Monte Solaro is best in the morning, before the clouds roll in.
Tip: as soon as you land at Marina Grande, take the bus to Anacapri. Chairlift at 9:30, Villa San Michele straight after: head back to Capri town in the afternoon, when the Piazzetta empties.
Getting there
- Bus from Marina Grande or the Capri town bus station: about 15 minutes, €2.50.
- Taxi from Marina Grande: about €25–30 a ride.
- From Anacapri, buses run to the Blue Grotto and the lighthouse.
The chairlift is a few steps from the Piazza Vittoria bus stop; Villa San Michele is 5 minutes away on foot.
More Capri guides
- Capri: the complete guidewhat to see and what it costs
- Blue Grottoby bus from Anacapri
- Capri in two daysAnacapri and sunset at Punta Carena
- Where to eat in CapriAnacapri included
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Monte Solaro chairlift?
The operator's website lists €14 return and €11 one way. Fares change from season to season: check at the ticket office in Piazza Vittoria.
Who was Axel Munthe?
A Swedish doctor who built Villa San Michele on the remains of a chapel and a Roman villa. His book The Story of San Michele (1929) made Anacapri famous around the world.
Is the chairlift scary?
It is an open single-seat chairlift, with your feet dangling over the gardens, but it is slow and low. If you suffer from vertigo you can walk up from Anacapri in about an hour.
How do you get to the Punta Carena lighthouse?
By the Anacapri–Faro bus, or on foot along the Fortini trail from the Blue Grotto. Check the time of the last bus before staying for sunset.
Where to stay in Capri
11 places to stay in Capri on Napolibnb.it, the Naples holiday-rental portal: you contact the host directly, with no booking fees. Every listing shows its official CIN code.
