chair lift in Anacapri

Yes I took the chair lift up to Mount Solara, but no I am not afraid of heights. It is a fantastic ride and I felt safe. It is exactly the same as a ski lift, except they are single chairs, not double or quad chairs. You sit in a little single chair with a small bar or strap in front of you, sort of like an amusement park ride. You are never very high up, maybe 20 feet or so. It is really fun and the view at the top is amazing, so I highly recommend it. But if you are just terrified of the idea of being 20 feet in the air while sitting in a small chair, then you may not enjoy it.

Ruth,
I, too, have problems with heights. I was uneasy about taking the chair lift in Anacapri, but, much to my surprise, I had no problem at all. I'm not really sure why. If you can go early in the morning before all of the cruise ship groups get there, you'll have a much nicer experience. Not only will you not have to wait in long lines (we had none), but your time at the top will be so much better without the crowds.

Great to know - the videos I've seen make it look like waaaay more than 20' or so. Another question, though - they look like they move you along pretty fast. If you are 'slow-moving' (arthritic, an injury, etc.) could you take this chair lift? Or, do you have to hop-on and hop-off very quickly? I'm talking about something like taking 10 secs or so max to get in and out. (sorry to hijack your thread, Ruth!)

It's been a while since I was there, but I think you have to be able to off the lift pretty quickly. I don't think that it stops. it is comparable to getting off a ski lift if you have any experience with that.

HI All, Thanks for you replies! Eileen, your question fits in perfectly on this thread! I have had two complete hip replacements and so I am a bit concerned about being quick myself! I agree that the videos make it look like a lot more than twenty feet. It's nice to know it's not as high as it looks! To those who have ridden the lift: Does that bar that goes across you snap or fasten, or do you just pull it and that's it? Also, does the part where the chair attaches to the cable seem securely fastened? I worry about if it will get dislodged somehow.
I want so much to get over my fear about this, but then again I have read some scary stuff about lifts . . . in fact, in the 1990's I read there was a forest fire in Anacapri, and people were jumping off the chairs to avoid the smoke. Even though it's twenty feet, that is a big fall! Then again, many many people go on the lift and have a fantastic experience. It would be a great memory for my son and me to share . . . Ruth

Hi, My wife and I took the ride last year. We are around sixty. The height of the lift is not a problem for us. The major problem is when we getting off the lift. Since the lift do not complete stop, you have to kind of jump off the lift at the right time when the lift arrive the perform. You have to move very fast. If you are tall enough, you might not have to jump off. But if you are short, you have to jump off the lift. Also the small bar in the chair do not operate automatically, you have to lift it up yourself shortly before you lift arrive the perform. May be just a few seconds. So that you can get off the chair.
They have a attendant to have you get off the chair. It might sound kind of scary, but it is not too bad.

They have an attendant there to grab/steady you as you get off. I was grateful for their assistance, but probably wouldn't have needed it. My husband has had three hip replacements and he had no trouble at all - didn't even need assistance from the attendant. I don't remember how the bar worked, but I'm a fairly cautious person and it didn't worry me at all. I was glad I had worn securely fastened shoes as some sandals might easily fall off.

Thank you ever so much everyone for your comments! Maybe I will give it a try . . . still thinking and pondering this! It just seems like such a fantastic experience that I really want to try to get over my fear. Bar question: I saw in one video on YouTube that one man got on the chair then as the chair was lifting he put the bar across. I don't want to be in a position to be swinging forward and trying to move the bar because I don't want to fall out. will there be an attendant to help me put the bar across before "liftoff"? Am I a worrier or what! lol Also, how long is the trip to the top of Mt. Solerno there and back?
Ruth

Ruth, the chairlift is a wonderful, peaceful experience.....topped only by the truly fabulous views from the top of Anacapri. That said, it does require one to be quick and agile to literally place one's bottom in the chair as it comes up from behind you. The attendant will hold the chair for that moment (a QUICK moment) while you jump in....and may or may not put the bar in place, depending on how much general assistance he is giving you otherwise. Said another way, if you are not settling well into the chair, he may be more concerned with getting you situated and then you would be on your own to pull the bar down in front of you. I would recommend the chairlift and the walk around up top only for those who are in reasonably good physical condition. My husband giggled when he heard me say to the guy as I was getting in the chair, "please don't let me fall." It looked more tricky than it actually was. I was a bit concerned about a smooth landing,
but it was no problem....I think the attendant sort of grabbed the back of the chair and my upper arm at the same time, while I flipped the bar off..........and yes, you move quickly, sort of an "out and off to the side" as one gets off. If you have serious doubts, practice getting into a chair as your spouse brings it up from behind you and places in on the floor....while you also pretend to quickly bring a bar down in front of yourself. For the departure, go to a playground and practice getting off a slow-moving swing while your spouse holds the chains. If you do okay with those, then you may be okay. If you plan to have a purse or daybag with you when your travel, consider how you would handle that on the chairlift, too. If these practice sessions cause total stress/poor results, skip the chairlift. If you decide to ride the chairlift, let us all know how it goes.

Thank you for all your wonderful comments on the chair lift. I am planning to do it and nervous, yet excited! I will definitely let everyone here know how it went! How do we get from Capri to Anacapri? Do we take a bus or a funicular? I have done some reading about this but am confused! Ruth

Ruth, You can take the funicular up to the town. There is a bus station near the center of the town. May be just five minutes walk in the main road. There are three bus route in the station. One is to Anacapri. It will take about 30 to 40 minutes. Most people get off in Anacapri. Ask people before you get off. The cable car station in Anacapri just a few minutes walk from the bus stop. Also you can take the bus from the ferry port (Marina Grande) to Anacapri. Its seem to me that there are just one or two bus per hour.
Last year, I took the same bus getting back to the town center bus station and than take a bus from the bus station go down to the ferry port. Have a good trip!