Amalfi Coast & Capri
The Faraglioni at dusk, the Blue Grotto by tender, Positano from the water — Italy's original glamour coastline, still trading on the reputation the Piazzetta earned in the 1950s.
Capri and the Amalfi Coast form the Mediterranean's original glamour circuit — the Faraglioni stacks, the Blue Grotto, Positano's stacked pastel houses, and Amalfi's cathedral steps, all inherited from the 1950s–60s Italian jet set and never handed back. The cruising ground is compact and dramatic: sheer limestone falling straight into deep water, a handful of legendary anchorages, and tables that have hosted the same roster of names for seventy years. It rewards a short, slow week more than a long fast one.
The coast, in frame
Signature anchorages
Deep water hard against the cliffs — shelter is scarce, and everyone still comes for the same six places.
- The Faraglioni, Capri15–25m on sand and rock beneath the three stacks; the fleet's dusk gathering spot, with Marina Piccola for shelter from the north.
- Marina Piccola, CapriThe sheltered bay beneath the Faraglioni approach — calm in northerlies, the classic view back up to the town.
- Positano roadsteadOpen anchorage off the beach beneath the pastel town; deep water close in, exposed to southerly Scirocco swell.
- Li Galli islandsA private three-islet archipelago off Positano, once home to Nureyev; clear water, a quiet swim stop.
- Nerano / Marina del CantoneThe coast's best-sheltered overnight — good holding, calmer than the open Amalfi shore, and home port of spaghetti alla Nerano.
- Ieranto Bay, Punta CampanellaInside the marine protected area between Nerano and Capri — a scenic swim stop; respect posted no-anchor zones.
The scene
Onassis moored Christina off these waters for parties that drew Grace Kelly, Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor — and it was here his romance with Jackie Kennedy went public in 1963. Heidi Klum chartered the same restored yacht, now Christina O, for her Capri wedding in 2019.
La Fontelina & Il Riccio
Fontelina, beneath the Faraglioni since 1949, has drawn stars from Bardot to today's fleet; Il Riccio, the Capri Palace's club on the Anacapri coast, is the glossier alternative.
The Piazzetta
Capri's tiny square was ground zero for 1960s jet-set life. The passeggiata still runs Piazzetta to the Grand Hotel Quisisana, then the boutiques of Via Camerelle.
Ravello Festival & the Regatta
Villa Rufolo's clifftop Belvedere hosts the Ravello Festival's orchestral and dawn concerts each summer; Amalfi takes its turn hosting the Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics.
Table & stay ashore
Quattro Passi, Nerano
Campania's first three-star table, chef Fabrizio Mellino's Linguine alla Nerano the signature dish.
Lo Scoglio da Tommaso
The water's-edge original home of spaghetti alla Nerano, unpretentious despite an A-list regular list.
'Zass, Il San Pietro
Cliffside dining above Positano from Il San Pietro's own kitchen garden, a 600-label cellar.
Le Sirenuse, Positano
The Sersale family's converted seaside villa, now 58 rooms; the coast's most storied address.
J.K. Place Capri
Twenty-two rooms on the cliff above Marina Grande, in a building first opened as a hotel in 1885.
The week, sketched
Capri
Arrive via Marina di Stabia or straight to anchor off the Faraglioni; tender to the Blue Grotto at the right tide, dine above Marina Grande, evening passeggiata through the Piazzetta.
Capri, at leisure
Beach club day at La Fontelina or Il Riccio; Via Krupp and the Gardens of Augustus for the cliff views; a second night on the hook at Marina Piccola.
Positano
Cross to Positano, anchor off the beach beneath the town, lunch and boutiques ashore, dinner at Le Sirenuse or Il San Pietro.
Nerano & Li Galli
Swim off Li Galli, lunch at Lo Scoglio or Quattro Passi in Nerano's sheltered bay — the coast's best overnight anchorage.
Amalfi & Ravello
Round Punta Campanella to Amalfi; the Duomo and old Arsenale, then a car up to Ravello for dinner with the Villa Cimbrone view.
Ieranto Bay & Capri redux
A slow swim stop inside the Punta Campanella marine park, back to Capri for a final night under the Faraglioni.
Depart
Naples (NAP) via Marina di Stabia, or helicopter direct from Capri to Naples for onward jets.
The Capri long weekend
The island alone, unhurried — no crossing to the mainland coast at all.
Capri — the Faraglioni
Anchor beneath the stacks on arrival, via Marina di Stabia or direct; settle in before the fleet gathers at dusk.
The Blue Grotto & Marina Piccola
Tender in on the morning tide, before any swell closes it; shift round to Marina Piccola for the night, sheltered from the north.
La Fontelina, at anchor
A full day at the beach club beneath the stacks — no crossing, nowhere else to be.
The Piazzetta & Via Krupp
Ashore for the passeggiata and the cliff paths by the Gardens of Augustus; dinner at J.K. Place above Marina Grande.
Depart
Naples via Marina di Stabia, or helicopter direct from Capri.
The long table
The full coast, paced around its most storied kitchens and a night given over to Ravello.
Capri — the Faraglioni
Arrive and anchor beneath the stacks; the passeggiata through the Piazzetta to the Grand Hotel Quisisana.
Capri — Anacapri & Il Riccio
The quieter north side of the island for a beach-club day; Via Krupp and the Gardens of Augustus on foot.
Blue Grotto & Marina Piccola
In on the right tide, overnight sheltered from the north.
Positano
Anchor off the beach beneath the pastel town — fine in settled weather, exposed if the Scirocco gets up; dinner at Le Sirenuse.
Nerano
Li Galli by day, dinner at Quattro Passi or the original Lo Scoglio da Tommaso, in the coast's best-sheltered overnight.
Amalfi
Round Punta Campanella for the Duomo and the old Arsenale; in season, the Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics.
Ravello
A day given to the clifftop: Villa Cimbrone's Belvedere, dinner with the view, and, in season, the Ravello Festival after dark.
Ieranto Bay & Capri, once more
A slow swim inside the Punta Campanella marine park, then a final night at anchor under the Faraglioni before departing via Stabia.
Pair with
The year, measured
Monthly means at the heart of this water — daily maxima averaged, wind as mean daily peak.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air, day °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 18 | 15 |
| Sea °C | 17 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 24 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 20 | 18 |
| Wind, peak kt | 17 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 17 |
ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo · 2019–2023 means · sea temperature 2022–2023
The yachts that run these waters
Profiles from the record — introductions via the harbour desk.
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