Capri Questions

If you take a ferry to Capri, it's highly unlikely that your return trip will be canceled. Ferry companies won't risk running ships if there's a chance of rough seas.

It’s impossible to predict what the weather or sea conditions will be for next April

I believe that both April 25 and May 1 are holidays, and that many Italians take vacations then- so perhaps more crowding, on top of the Jubilee folks, who may be spilling over from Rome.
No way to predict the weather so far in advance.
Good luck!

Keep in mind the boat ride from Sorrento to Capri is only 9 nautical miles. It only takes hydrofoils and ferries 15-30 minutes to complete the trip. That makes it unlikely— even in choppy seas—that every boat would be cancelled for an entire day. In rough weather, it’s more likely the lighter hydrofoils and catamarans would be cancelled before the ferries.

Be aware that most longer distance ferries (like Capri) do not have outdoor seating or standing areas. You'll be inside a cabin, most likely.

Hey everyone! Thanks for replying first time on a Rick Steves forum haha. Now we are debating stationing in positano and doing a day trip to Capri, how much different do you think this would be?

You need to use the Search box here to do a whole new bit of research on Positano. It's a unique place, tending towards more expensive, but with hundreds of steps to your hotel on the hill, you can find budget accomodations. There are small pebbled beaches (versus only one tiny beach in Sorrento, located between two diesel-odor marinas.) I know there isn't much swimming in April!

The key issues are daytrips and restaurant access. You haven't mentioned Pompeii, which is very expensive (or, very slooooow) to get to from Positano. Are you going to sit in Positano anyway? We slept five nights in Sorrento, making daytrips almost every day. Each night, we had a 15-minute, level, walk to a different restaurant among the dozens in Sorrento. We hired a car service for 8 hours on the actual Amalfi Coast, and while seeing Positano was a must, I was disappointed. I can look in the windows of international clothing and cosmetic boutiques (where I have no desire to shop) in Rome, Paris, or a dozen other cities.

What are your departure plans? You CANNOT wake up in Positano and fly home from Rome the same day. It's nearly impossible to do that from Sorrento.

I was in Sorrento April 25 to May 2 this year (2024) and we were able to take the ferry several days to Capri, Amalfi and Postiano and the weather was no problem.

Positano has a smaller dock so if weather and sea conditions are going to cancel ferries, Positano would definitely be canceled before other large docks like Sorrento

As Tim has mentioned -you need to be in your departure city night before flight whether that is Naples or Rome

You need to do more research on transportation around the AC

@Tim that sounds more like me!! i never sleep in Italy haha too much excitement! so no I plan on being outside all day everyday its just that last time we came we we missed out on Capri and Amalfi literally because of the wind conditions. And guess what?? It happened in the summer, the time when its least likely to happen. So I guess I've been so determined to look out from those colored buildings stacked on top of each other (Positano) There are few budget options but im willing to put down for 4 nights. So it sounds like though Sorrento again would be a good option as its accessible for day trips. I'm just so traumatized from last time because we really supposed to go and i dont want to miss out on that opportunity again. But I will look into it. Thank you for your advice as well as the whole thread!

Would you say that ferry access from Positano to Amalfi as well as Positano to Capri would still be reliable? Even in early April like April 4th?

@Christine so my departure city is Rome so yes if we stay in Sorrento we are planning on taking train from sorrento station to Naples then Naples to Rome
If we stay in Positano we were going to get a private transfer from Positano to Naples station so we can stay longer in positano and get on like a 7:30 train from Naples back to Rome

First impressions really do matter because my first interaction with ports in Sorrento or southern Italy wasn't the best as our day trip to both Amalfi and Capri were canceled. I am willing to give Sorrento another try but Im concerned in April maybe weather could be more volatile as it is the Spring and changing from that cold season just a month and a half prior, especially early April. I have entertained the idea of staying with her early April in either both Sorrento or Amalfi. Thats why now I spoke it over with my mom and shes open to staying Positano for 4 nights. From your past experience do ports from sorrento to both amalfi & positano and ports from sorrento to capri still function that early in April like the 4th?

@Pat hmmmmm I see, what you mean due to the holidays. So even if ports aren't functioning properly taking the bus wouldn't still be the best idea. What are your thoughts on either staying 4 nights in Sorrento or Positano during early April as April 8th which is the first full week of April? Do you think if we stayed that early and the wind conditions end up being good, should ports still operate to and from Amalfi, Positano, capri and Sorrento?

@Kenko so based on your response from what I'm gathering is that Sorrento to Capri is still feasible, what do you think about Sorrento to Positano and port of Amalfi?

Hi s26139061 -
The issue is that you still seem to be looking for some sort of guarantee that the boats will be running to ____ on any given day and we simply can't give you that, much as we'd like to! Mother Nature throws us what she will, when she decides to do so. Travel to the Sorrentine/Amalfi Coasts means having to be flexible as wet/windy days, cancelled boats and long waits for SITA buses can be par for the course.

I remember looking at the boat schedules at one point this past spring and seeing them cancelled due to weather. It happens, and unless they've managed to better stabilize the dock in Positano (it was completely closed for construction for two months last year) that one is most susceptible weather closures. IMHO, boats to/from Sorrento and Capri would be less likely to cancel as residents also use them for business in larger towns/cities (Positano isn't one of those) that can't be accomplished on the island. Still, it can happen.

Your odds of having a nice day, of course, increase with the number of days you have to spend in the region but you're going to have to be ready to flex with the moment. Weather report favorable for the next day? Get down to the dock early and purchase your tickets.

No, there's no 3rd option by sea to Capri if the ferries/hydrofoils are cancelled nor would you want to take one if there was: they cancel because sea conditions are unsafe.

As mentioned above, Positano is also not an easy place to get around - the stairs will get old in a hurry - it offers little to do, and it's a pain to get to Pompeii if that's in the plan. Colored buildings stacked above each other? Are you sure you're not thinking about the Cinque Terre? Positano's aren't really very colorful (I've been there.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positano#/media/File:Positano_veduta_003.jpg

@Kathy yes, youre right im basically fighting fate, we have to be flexible. What would be your recommendation for using SITA buses? How was your experience this past spring? So from what I gather you are basically saying that Positano is the port that is more likelier to receive cancellations? Would that also include trips from both Positano to Amalfi and Positano to Capri?

So if we do Sorrento the plan is flight Saturday Apr 26, Stay in Rome Sunday and Monday, then on Tuesday get on the 9:53 AM train from Rome to Naples arrive at 11:06 and then take a private transfer to Sorrento, Wednesday morning we do a day trip from Capri to Sorrento organized by a guided service 7 hours with 4 hours of free time on the island they also do hotel pick up and drop off, Thursday we do another guided day trip with a guided service from Sorrento to both Amalfi and Positano about 3 hours in Amalfi and one hour in Positano (no hotel pick up and drop off), hopefully if nothing is canceled Friday we would like to get to the ports early and go from Sorrento to Positano on our own with our own time, Saturday spend the day in Sorrento before private transfer from Sorrento to Naples to take the 7:40 and train to Rome for our flight on Sunday. Our flight is at 2:15 PM and will be returning NYC at 6:15 PM

Would purchasing tickets through Omio be a good alternative if ports get packed?

I think with 5 days in Sorrento that is a good amount of time to adjust our schedule if things change

We went to Pompeii actually two years ago from Sorrento! We really enjoyed it seeing so much history my family is from Naples so this part of Southern Italy of Campania has a special place in my heart. Hmmmm when you say get old do you mean like grow tired of it? So it sounds like staying in Sorrento as a homebase is better option than staying in Positano as a homebase if we are trying to go from port to port. Ah yes Cinque Terre, i've been there before as well I feel that CT is easier to plan than Amalfi because of the trains making it much more accessible.

In addition, I meant to ask you Kathy how did you plan your itinerary on the Amalfi coast for the first time?