Italy

How to get from Positano to Capri

In this in-depth route guide, you can compare the best ways to travel the 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Positano to Capri. Our team of indpendent travel experts researched each route — breaking down each option by travel time, price, and comfort. Plus, we’ll share the best booking options to help you get the best deal.

Written by Ela - Senior Travel WriterReviewed by Maarten - Trip Planning ExpertLast updated: November 1, 2024

Leaving from...

Going to...

Why visit Capri?

Capri is one of the most popular destinations in Italy’s Campania region. With its stunning seaside scenery and vibrant culture, the island often makes it on the list of those hoping to make unforgettable experiences along the Italian coast.

Also called “Celebrity’s Playground,” locals vow that celebrities own many of Capri’s luxury houses. And any day, it is possible to find A-list stars cosying in cafes or shopping at one of the many high-end boutiques. But the island isn’t just for the rich and famous. Even for those on a lower budget, there’s plenty to enjoy on and around Capri.

What are the 4 ways to travel from Positano to Capri?

There are 4 ways to travel the 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Positano to Capri. You can choose between the direct ferry, indirect ferry via Sorrento, day trip and private tour. The journey takes 30 minutes to 9 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by direct ferry. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by direct ferry with tickets starting at €25 ($29).

Transport

Duration

Pricing

Transport Options

Direct Ferry

30m - 1h 5m

From €25 ($29)

Book Tickets

Day Trip

9h 30m

From €50 ($57) + taxi fare

Indirect Ferry via Sorrento

50m - 1h 30m

From €94 ($105)

Private Tour

From €925 ($1,050)

Book Tickets

Positano to Capri by Direct Ferry

Duration: 30m - 1h 5m

Costs: €25 ($29)

Duration: 30m - 1h 5m

Costs: €25 ($29)

Direct ferries are available from Positano to Capri during the summer (June to October). Alicost, Grassi Junior and NLG (Navigazione Libera del Golfo) offer multiple trips daily on this route.

Ticket prices start at €25 ($29), and travel time is around 30 minutes to 1 hour 5 minutes.

Departure and arrival station

Public and private ferries depart from Positano Ferry Terminal, which you can find at the main beach, around 350m south of Piazza dei Mulini.

They dock at Capri Ferry Terminal, about 1 km south of Piazza Umberto I in Capri town centre.

Ferry schedules from Positano to Capri

Positano Ferry Terminal

High Speed

Ferry Terminal Alilauro Gruson

10:05

0h 40m

10:45

12:25

0h 40m

13:05

Alicost

€25 ($29)

Get Your Tickets

Positano Ferry Terminal

Standard

Capri Port

14:35

1h 5m

15:40

Grassi Junior

€26 ($30)

Get Your Tickets

Positano

High Speed

Capri

09:15

0h 30m

09:45

10:55

0h 30m

11:25

16:35

1h 5m

17:40

NLG (Navigazione Libera del Golfo)

€28 ($32)

Get Your Tickets

You can buy your ferry tickets directly at the port. But if you’re travelling on a busy day, especially during weekends and holidays, we highly recommend booking them online beforehand. You can easily do that via BookAway, our preferred booking platform for its reliable customer service.

Positano to Capri by Day Trip

Duration: 9.5 hours

Costs: €50 ($57) + taxi fare

Duration: 9.5 hours

Costs: €50 ($57) + taxi fare

Day trips are also popular for those planning to spend just one day in Capri.

Tours normally start in Sorrento, so you will be picked up by a car or minivan from a meet-up point in Positano. You’ll then join a group of 12 for a boat tour around the island.

Prices for day trips from Positano to Capri start at €120 ($135) per person. These tours usually take around 10 hours, and 3-5 hours of those would be allotted for exploring the island on foot.

For amazing day trips and trusted tour guides, we highly recommend booking with GetYourGuide.

Check Day Trips with GetYourGuide

Recommended option for groups: Day trip from Sorrento

Duration: 9.5 hours

Costs: €50 ($57) + taxi fare

Duration: 9.5 hours

Costs: €50 ($57) + taxi fare

It is much cheaper to begin your day trip from Sorrento instead of Positano. Day tour rates from Sorrento to Capri start from €50 ($57), less than half the price of kicking off your trip from Positano.

The reason we recommend this only for groups though is that you’ll still have to take a 45-minute taxi ride from Positano to Sorrento. Taxi fares start from €40 ($46) one way.

You would be spending more with this option if you’re travelling alone. But if you can split the round-trip taxi fares with at least another person, then you can already save €29 ($33) by taking a day trip via Sorrento!

Positano to Capri by Indirect Ferry via Sorrento

Duration: 50m - 1h 30m

Costs: €94 ($105)

Duration: 50m - 1h 30m

Costs: €94 ($105)

If you’re travelling to Capri outside the peak season, you can go to Sorrento instead, where ferries to Capri run all year round. This option involves a short taxi ride to Sorrento.

Step 1: Positano to Sorrento by taxi

Duration: 35m - 1h

Costs: €72 ($83)

Duration: 35m - 1h

Costs: €72 ($83)

From your accommodation in Positano, you’ll need to travel 20 km northwest to the Port of Sorrento. Fares start from €40 ($46) for the taxi journey that takes around 45 minutes.

You can also book a private car in advance via BookAway with prices from €72 ($83).

Positano - Any hotel

Standard

Sorrento - Any hotel

17:00

0h 45m

17:45

Ciao Sorrento

€72 ($83)

Get Your Tickets

Positano - Any hotel

Standard

Sorrento - Any hotel

17:00

0h 45m

17:45

Ciao Sorrento

€87 ($100)

Get Your Tickets

Positano - Any hotel

Luxury

Sorrento - Any hotel

17:30

0h 35m

18:05

Blu Welcome Travel

€94 ($105)

Get Your Tickets

Positano - Any hotel

Comfort

Sorrento - Any hotel

17:30

0h 35m

18:05

DTS Travel Group

€96 ($110)

Get Your Tickets

Positano - Any hotel

Luxury

Sorrento - Any hotel

17:30

0h 35m

18:05

Blu Welcome Travel

€115 ($130)

Get Your Tickets

Positano - Any hotel

Comfort

Sorrento - Any hotel

17:30

0h 35m

18:05

DTS Travel Group

€130 ($150)

Get Your Tickets

Positano - Any hotel

Comfort

Sorrento - Any hotel

02:45

03:45

Enjoy Travelling

€165 ($190)

Get Your Tickets

Positano - Any hotel

Comfort

Sorrento - Any hotel

02:45

03:45

Enjoy Travelling

€200 ($230)

Get Your Tickets

Positano - Any hotel

Comfort

Sorrento - Any hotel

02:45

03:45

Enjoy Travelling

€205 ($235)

Get Your Tickets

Show 4 more operator(s)

Step 2: Sorrento to Capri by ferry

Duration: 15-30m

Costs: €21 ($24)

Duration: 15-30m

Costs: €21 ($24)

The ferry ride from Sorrento to Capri island takes only around 15-30m. You can choose among Alilauro, NLG, and SNAV with fares starting from €21 ($24).

There are several departures daily, giving you lots of options. Pre-booking is not necessary when travelling on weekdays. But if your trip is on a weekend or a holiday, it’s best to buy your tickets online at least a day prior to your trip.

Port of Sorrento

High Speed

Ferry Terminal Alilauro Gruson

07:15

0h 20m

07:35

08:05

0h 20m

08:25

08:45

0h 20m

09:05

09:20

0h 20m

09:40

09:55

0h 20m

10:15

10:45

0h 20m

11:05

11:55

0h 20m

12:15

12:55

0h 20m

13:15

13:35

0h 20m

13:55

15:50

0h 20m

16:10

16:05

0h 20m

16:25

16:50

0h 20m

17:10

17:45

0h 20m

18:05

Alilauro

From €21 ($24)

Sorrento

High Speed

Capri

08:30

0h 25m

08:55

09:00

0h 25m

09:25

09:40

0h 25m

10:05

11:10

0h 25m

11:35

14:35

0h 25m

15:00

16:10

0h 25m

16:35

NLG (Navigazione Libera del Golfo)

€24 ($28)

Sorrento

High Speed

Capri

08:20

0h 22m

08:42

11:25

0h 17m

11:42

14:05

0h 27m

14:32

16:35

0h 17m

16:52

SNAV

€24 ($28)

Sorrento Port

Deck Space

Capri Port

08:20

0h 22m

08:42

11:25

0h 17m

11:42

14:05

0h 27m

14:32

16:35

0h 17m

16:52

SNAV

€26 ($30)

Sorrento

High Speed

Capri

07:45

0h 27m

08:12

09:25

0h 32m

09:57

14:40

0h 27m

15:07

19:25

0h 22m

19:47

Caremar

€27 ($31)

Get Your Tickets

Hoping to bring a rented car or scooter to the island? It’s possible with Caremar car ferry, but only during the months of November to March. Only residents are allowed to bring their vehicles to Capri in summer.

Check out our Sorrento to Capri guide to see the options for car ferries, as well as private and group tours.

Positano to Capri by Private Tour

Duration: 6 hours

Costs: €925 ($1,050)

Duration: 6 hours

Costs: €925 ($1,050)

Private tours from Positano to Capri are quite expensive and shorter than regular day tours.

However, the advantage of booking a private tour is that you have an experienced captain to show you around Capri’s best spots. You’ll also have full control of your time throughout the curise, which takes around 6 hours.

Private boat tours for up to 6 people cost around €925 ($1,050), which comes down to about €155 ($175) per person.

Check Private Tours with GetYourGuide

Frequently Asked Questions about Positano to Capri

What is the distance from Positano to Capri?

The distance from Positano to Capri is 20 kilometers (12 miles).

What is the fastest way to get from Positano to Capri?

The fastest way to get from Positano to Capri is by direct ferry and takes 30 minutes.

What is the cheapest way to get from Positano to Capri?

The cheapest way to get from Positano to Capri is by direct ferry with ticket costs starting from €25 ($29).

Rounding it up

We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Positano to Capri. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.

PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!

[ss_social_share]

About the author(s)

Ela

Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.

Maarten

Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.