Monte Solaro: Standing Above Capri

After returning to Marina Grande a little after noon, we were ready for the next part of our Capri adventure—heading inland to Anacapri and making our way up Monte Solaro, the highest point on the island.

We had already experienced Capri from the water that morning, cruising beneath towering cliffs, passing hidden coves, and admiring the famous coastline from the sea. Now we wanted to see that same dramatic landscape from above. At approximately 589 meters (1,932 feet) above sea level, Monte Solaro offered the perfect opportunity.

Our journey to the summit turned out to be more memorable than we expected. We initially decided to hike rather than take the famous Monte Solaro chairlift. Neither of us was particularly excited about the idea of sitting on a small open chair suspended high above the mountainside. For me especially, heights and chairlifts were not exactly something I looked forward to. Hiking seemed like the better option—it would give us a chance to explore more of Anacapri on foot while making our own way toward the summit.

Unfortunately, our plan didn’t go quite as expected. Somewhere along the way, we managed to lose the trail. After wandering around for a while and realizing that we were no longer sure where the path was taking us, we eventually reached the point where the chairlift became our only practical option. Ironically, the experience I had been trying to avoid ended up becoming one of the highlights of the day. We bought our tickets and took our seats on the small open chairlift. As the chair slowly began moving upward, I was initially very aware of the height. But as we climbed higher, my attention shifted from the drop below us to the incredible scenery around us.

The chairlift moves at a leisurely pace, giving you plenty of time to take in the landscape. Below us, Anacapri stretched across the mountainside, its white buildings, winding roads, gardens, and terraces becoming smaller as we climbed. Farther away, the deep blue Mediterranean seemed to stretch endlessly toward the horizon.

The Monte Solaro chairlift itself has been part of the island’s landscape for decades. It was built in 1952 and later underwent a major renovation in the late 1990s. With its individual open-air chairs, the ride takes roughly 12–13 minutes to reach the summit, making the journey almost as much a sightseeing experience as a way of getting there.

And to my surprise, I actually enjoyed it. What started as something I had been reluctant to do became a peaceful and memorable ride above Anacapri. Looking back, getting lost on the hiking trail may have been a blessing in disguise. If we had successfully completed our hike, I might never have discovered that the chairlift was actually one of the most enjoyable parts of our journey to Monte Solaro.

The View from Monte Solaro

When we finally reached the summit, the views immediately made the unexpected journey worthwhile.

Standing at the highest point of Capri, we could look in almost every direction and see a completely different side of the island. Far below us was Anacapri, spread across the slopes with its white buildings, winding streets, gardens, and terraces. Beyond it, the mountainside dropped dramatically toward the Mediterranean.

The same cliffs and coves we had admired from our boat earlier that morning now looked almost miniature from above.One of the most spectacular sights was the Faraglioni Rocks. Earlier in the day, we had seen these enormous rock formations from sea level, surrounded by the brilliant blue waters of Capri. From Monte Solaro, we could see them from an entirely different perspective. Their three distinctive formations stood prominently against the sea, making it easy to understand why they have become one of Capri’s most recognizable symbols.

On a clear day, the panorama extends far beyond Capri. The Bay of Naples opens out toward the mainland, while the Sorrento Peninsula stretches along the horizon. Mount Vesuvius can also be visible in the distance on particularly clear days, adding another dramatic feature to an already spectacular landscape. We spent some time simply walking around the summit and exploring the different viewpoints. Everywhere we looked seemed to offer another photograph-worthy scene—the Mediterranean disappearing toward the horizon, steep cliffs plunging into the sea, boats leaving thin white trails behind them, and colorful villages scattered across the island.

There was something special about seeing Capri from this height. Earlier that morning, we had been surrounded by the sea, looking up at the towering cliffs from our boat. Now we were standing nearly 2,000 feet above the Mediterranean, looking down at that very same coastline. Experiencing Capri from both perspectives made us appreciate just how dramatic and diverse the island’s landscape really is.

Eventually, we found a quiet spot to pause and simply enjoy the view. After spending a couple of hours exploring the summit, taking photographs, and soaking in the incredible panorama, it was time to make our way back down.

This time, we didn’t hesitate about the chairlift. After our unexpectedly enjoyable ride to the summit, we happily took the chairlift back toward Anacapri. From the descending chairs, we got one last chance to enjoy the views we had admired from above before continuing our journey back to Marina Grande.

From there, we caught the ferry back to Sorrento. By the time we reached the port, the day was beginning to wind down and the sun was already getting low over the horizon. We stopped near the port to take in the sunset, watching the sky slowly change as warm shades of orange and pink spread across the horizon. After such a full day—from the Blue Grotto and Capri’s coastline to getting lost on a hiking trail, discovering our unexpected love for the chairlift, and standing at the summit of Monte Solaro—it felt like the perfect way to end our adventure.

Standing by the water in Sorrento, watching the last light of the day reflect across the sea, we realized just how much we had experienced in a single day. Capri had given us a little bit of everything: adventure, beautiful landscapes, unexpected moments, and plenty of memories to take home with us.