Capri or amalfi coast

[Anna2111]

We have one day docking at Naples in July- debating a private tour of amalfi coast in car/ van ( amalfi, ravello, Positano)-possibly lot of time spent in the car or a ferry to capri for the day. It does sound like capri maybe very crowded in July
Any suggestions would be appreciated. ( 2 families kids 10-16).
thank you

We did Capri last year. You land at the port, then either slog up a windy hill on foot to get to the centre or queue to get a ticket at the ticket booth then queue to get on a lift. Takes a long time. Capri centre itself is full of chi-chi shops, with some gardens and viewing points. And crowded.

Do the Amalfi coast. Spectacular views, lovely villages - they're also touristy, but provide more options than being stuck on an island.

100% Amalfi coast tour over Capri

Also 100% Amalfi coast over Capri.

we had a great time using the lift to top of capri

I loved Capri but would not do it over a drive around the Amalfi coast.

You're docking at Naples for a day, so one day? Or staying longer?

Why dont you just explore Naples?

I would also consider Naples. Amalfi coast is also a decent way from Naples.

The best way to see capri is to stay overnight (day trippers disperse!)

This is the equivalent of saying that we have one day in London: should we visit Stonehenge or Stratford-on-Avon?

Go to Pompeii / Herculaneum instead.

Thank you. We are leaning towards amalfi - ravello looks beautiful and possibly less crowded also!

It was a long time ago but I found amalfi coast was much nicer than capri. Capri has lovely views but it is very pretentious and expensive!

Leaning towards amalfi coast -mainly as ravello looks beautiful and less crowded. Also ease of just being picked up - just concerned that traffic in July could be an awful. The views from the mountain chairlift in anacapri do look amazing though! But the crowds in summer seem overwhelming and I’ve heard the boat ride can be rough. I want to see the coastal views so not keen on naples city or pompeii ( no shade , super hot at that time).

Ravello less crowded? I doubt it. Total honeypot! I’d look around Naples or go to Pompeii. I’d go back and stay on the coast if you want to see it.

Stay in Naples

Posillipo?

100% the amalfi tour. You stop at some beautiful places and have time to walk around, shop, generally enjoy the locations. There was also a fab boat trip from amalfi so you could take in the views from the water

capri we wouldn’t do again. Very commercial, not as picturesque and very overpriced

boat trip from Naples to Amalfi - the best way to see the coast and the beautiful towns clinging to the cliffs is by boat. The snaking roads around Amalfi and Positano (and the drivers!) made me feel sick

You say ‘docking’. I presume you’re on a cruise then? It’s about a 3 hour drive from Naples to Positano then Ravello if you want the scenic route. That’s in low season. So you could be sat in a bus in the heat of the day feeling very car sick due to the nature of the roads for 6 hours. Sounds like hell to me.
Better to get to Sorrento then take a boat trip around the coast.

I'd stay in Naples, or go to Herculaneum, or do a trip to Procida or Ischia over Capri. Capri is a complete rip off. Amalfi coast will be heaving and probaly spend ages stuck in traffic.

For your next holiday stay in Sorrento which is a beautiful base, and from there you can spend plenty of time visiting all these lovely places.

For now though I agree with people who say choose the Amalfi coast over Capri.

Capri is the most disappointing place I have ever visited. Apart from the Blue Grotto, which is fun to visit (but often the sea is too choppy to get in it), it's just posh shops and expensive, poor quality cafes.

Amalfi Coast much better (although if I had just that one time in Naples I would probably do Pompeii or Herculaneum - although edited to add, I see your point about lack of shade at Pompeii. I was there on a 38 degree day whilst pregnant and it nearly did me in! From memory, Herculaneum is more shady).

I would do something like this tour - I have done several guided tours in Italy and the guides are usually very nice. It’s a good way to see the coast in a nice air conditioned coach or minibus with somene else driving. The Amalfi coast drivers are very skilled at it!

Amalfi tour

Sorry to hijack OP but I’ve always wanted to visit the Amalfi coast and looks like there are experts on this thread.

i wanted to ask if first two weeks of October would be a good time to visit or would May be better?

If we are going to amalfi - we would be in a private 8 seater air conditioned picking us up from the port. So there would be some flexibility.

It seems like the view from the cable car in anacapri is lovely- but the crowds/ rest of capri is not that great. Some people have said it was the highlight of their Italy trip - but seems others don’t rate it. I wonder if it depends on the crowds and whether they spent time in anacapri ( meant to be nicer) or capri town.

Procidia looks good for a day trip - ischia seems like it would need more time. Never cruised before - but it’s really a taster for each place to see where would like to return to.

I found the Amalfi coast in June so crowded you couldn’t get a seat in a restaurant, had to push past people, shops were crowded. I couldn’t wait to leave. It is stunning but if there is a cruise ship docked it’s awful.

We spent a day in Capri when we were visiting Sorrento, and it was beautiful! We took the bus up the windy hill and we also went on the cable car at the top. We had a reasonably priced stop for coffee and cake at the top, and a lovely lunch up there too, also fairly priced. We browsed the shops and visited the Villa San Michele which was amazing, and also had fabulous views. I would definitely do it again. By contrast, we also took a boat tour around the Amalfi coast, stopping at Positano, which was heaving, and Amalfi itself which we found very busy and touristy. We visited in September.

However, if you do have only 1 day, I would agree with OPs saying that you should explore Naples and maybe Pompeii/Herculaneum.