Capri Island

Capri is a small limestone island in the Bay of Naples — only about 10 square kilometers — that has been drawing the wealthy, the famous, and the wonderstruck for over two thousand years. Roman emperors built palaces here; Gracie Fields had a villa; the Kennedys vacationed here. But Capri's pull isn't just about prestige. It's a genuinely stunning place, with vertiginous cliffs dropping into some of the clearest, most intensely blue water in the Mediterranean, two hilltop towns, and a light that photographers chase for a reason.

Most visitors arrive by ferry from Naples or Sorrento and immediately face a choice: the two towns of Capri and Anacapri, each with a distinct character. Capri town is the glamorous hub — the Piazzetta, which locals call the world's smallest stage, is ringed with cafés where people-watching reaches competitive sport levels. From there, you walk to the Gardens of Augustus for views over the Faraglioni rock stacks, or take the chairlift from Anacapri up to Monte Solaro, the island's highest point, for a panorama that stretches to Vesuvius and beyond. The Blue Grotto — a sea cave lit by an otherworldly azure glow from light refracted beneath the water — is the island's signature experience, though it requires timing and a bit of patience.

Come in May, early June, or September if you can. July and August are genuinely hectic — the Piazzetta turns into a scrum, day-trippers flood every path, and prices spike accordingly. The island is small enough that it's easy to escape the crowds by simply walking further than most people bother to go — the path to the Arco Naturale, or the descent to the lighthouse at Punta Carena on the western tip, will shed most of your fellow visitors within ten minutes.