Hello! We will be spending three nights in Praiano in May. For one of our full days, we are planning to hike the path of the gods and go to Positano. For the other full day, we're trying to decide on Ravello or Capri. For Ravello, we'd likely take a water taxi to Amalfi, walk around there for a bit, then bus to Ravello for lunch, shopping, gardens, etc. For Capri, our hotel hosts a day long tour (up to 12 people) with boat to Capri - includes driving through Grottos and drop off in Capri for 4 hours for lunch, shopping, etc. I know both are wonderful and everyone's preferences are different, but I'd still love to get feedback on which you would choose if you had to pick one! Thank you!
Posted by
3464 posts
If it's a tie, I would go with the Capri tour offered by your hotel, just for ease of use.
Posted by
Miami
338 posts
Ravello is very small and the bus stop is right by the plaza. You can visit Villa Cimbrone, Villa Rufolo and have lunch in 4 hours.
Capri is much larger, is actually 2 towns (Capri and Anacapri) and the marina area and you need to travel by bus between each, or funicular between the marina and Capri town. The attractions are spread out between Capri and Anacapri. In a 4 hour visit midday I bet you would spend 1 hour to 1.5 hours in a bus or waiting for a bus or walking to a bus stop.
The sweet spot for a Ravello visit is 4/5 hours. The sweet spot for a Capri visit is 2/3 nights. Capri is fantastic, but not for a 4 hour visit.
I think you would be better off going to Ravello.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7943 posts
The weather is likely hot and clear in May, but you might wish to find out the size of the hotel boat, and how long the ride to Capri is. (I get seasick fairly easily, but did not on the 200-300 passenger ferries from Sorrento to Capri.) But I agree that the small boat product sounds otherwise very attractive. (We skipped the Blue Grotto, a notorious time-sucker, only seen by water, do you care about that? Or are you saying you'll be a walk-up customer for the Blue Grotto?)
I agree that 4 hours free time is very little for a large island like Capri. It's also highly pedestrianized, and very hilly. You cannot "do Capri" with a hired taxi, for example.
I have NOT walked the Path of the Gods, but the fact that you are doing that suggests that you'll see enough "views" to compensate for missing the exceptionally attractive Ravello. So, wave action aside, my vote is for Capri. Even in May, you can expect heavy car and bus traffic on the Amalfi Coast, slowing local transportation.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks for the helpful feedback! I think we're going to choose the Capri option from our hotel - mainly because we won't have another water experience during our trip and the ease of the trip seems appealing, since our hotel is arranging it. Thanks again!
Posted by
1045 posts
Frankly, I would skip PotG and go to Ravello instead. It’s not worth the time, energy and effort.