Naples to Capri by ferry, across the bay under Vesuvius

Along the way

1. Naples
2. 1

   the first 5 minutes

   Leaving Molo Beverello

   The fast boats leave from the quay below Castel Nuovo, the royal castle on the harbour front, with the Castel dell'Ovo on its rock to the west. Naples spreads up the hill behind.

3. 2

   as you clear the harbour, behind you to the left

   Vesuvius astern

   The volcano stands alone at the eastern end of the bay, its Gran Cono 1,281 metres high and its crater 450 metres across. It stays in view, slowly shrinking, for most of the crossing.

4. 3

   mid-bay, to the right

   Ischia and Procida

   The two other islands of the bay lie low on the western horizon: Procida flat and close to the mainland, Ischia larger and higher behind it.

5. 4

   the second half of the crossing, to the left

   The Sorrento peninsula and Bocca Piccola

   The mountains of the peninsula run out towards Capri and stop at Punta Campanella, with a channel of open sea between the headland and the island.

6. 5

   the last 10 minutes

   The approach to Marina Grande

   Capri's north face fills the windows: Monte Solaro, 589 metres, on the right above Anacapri, the cliffs of Monte Tiberio on the left, where Tiberius's Villa Jovis stands at 334 metres, and the white houses of Marina Grande between them.

7. 6

   from Marina Grande

   The funicular to the Piazzetta

   From the ticket office in Piazza Vittoria the funicular climbs through gardens and terraces to Capri town, and you step out beside the Piazzetta, the square at the heart of the island, with the bay you have crossed below.

8. Capri

Ways to do it

• The fast boat (aliscafo or jet) from Molo Beverello

  From€23 one way on NLG's 2026 fare list (€25 at other times), plus the landing contribution

  NLG and SNAV run the passenger-only fast boats in about 50 minutes, with around 20 departures a day between them in summer 2026, from 07:00 to 20:00 out of Naples. The cheaper regional-interest fare applies on sailings NLG marks in its timetable and, on SNAV, on sailings between 06:00 and 09:30, 13:00 and 15:00, and 18:00 and 20:30.

• Caremar's fast car ferry (TMV) from Calata Porta di Massa

  From€21.50 one way (2026), plus the landing contribution

  The motonave veloce Isola di Capri does 25 knots and takes 40 to 60 minutes, three times a day each way in the October to December 2026 timetable. It is the earliest boat of the day, leaving Naples at 05:35, and the latest home, leaving Capri at 20:17.

• Caremar's car ferry (traghetto) from Calata Porta di Massa

  From€14.80 one way (2026), plus the landing contribution

  The slow way: a 690-passenger ship with a bar and outside decks, taking 75 to 87 minutes, three times a day each way. The cheapest crossing, the best for big luggage, and the way to be out in the air for the whole bay.

When to go

• Winter

  From 4 November NLG and SNAV share 8 fast boats a day, 4 each, and in November and December 2026 Caremar keeps 3 fast ferries and 3 car ferries a day each way. The landing contribution halves to €2.50, the island is quiet, and the weather is the thing to watch: see below.

• SpringAt its best

  The summer timetable starts on 1 April, and so does the €5 landing contribution. NLG's last boat from Naples leaves at 20:00 in May, and the longer days make the slow ferry's open deck worth the extra half hour.

• SummerAt its best

  The full service: up to 12 NLG and 9 SNAV fast boats a day from Beverello, and NLG's late boat back from Capri at 19:55 from 16 June to 30 September. An early boat gives you the island before the day-trippers, and on SNAV the sailings before 09:30 carry the cheaper regional-interest fare.

• AutumnAt its best

  The summer timetable runs to 3 November, so October keeps the full fast-boat service. In October 2026 the last boat back to Naples is Caremar's 20:17 fast ferry, which gives a long day on the island.