Itinerary: Giada’s Family Weekend in Capri

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Here’s how Giada and her family spend 2 days on the Italian island.

Giada’s special connection to Capri is well-known; the De Laurentiis family has been visiting this iconic island off the Amalfi Coast for decades. Dino De Laurentiis, Giada’s grandfather, grew up in nearby Naples and spent many summers on Capri, and he passed down his love for the picturesque island to his family—Giada included!

Here’s how Giada and her family love to spend their weekends in Capri:

Stay: Grand Hotel Quisisana

Giada loves staying at the centrally located Grand Hotel Quisisana (Via Camerelle, 2, Capri). One of the largest and oldest hotels on Capri, its prime location on the island truly can’t be beat and the rooms are comfortable and elegant. Aperitivo at the outdoor Quisi Bar is a must—it’s one of Giada’s favorite ways to unwind on the island. Explore the hotel gardens or relax by the pool for a true taste of la dolce vita.

Day 1

Bar Tiberio

10am

Start your weekend by enjoying a coffee (for Giada, an espresso lungo with hot water) and a sfogliatella (an ultra-flaky, cream-filled pastry from the Campania region) at Bar Tiberio (Piazza Umberto I, 18, Capri) down the street from Grand Hotel Quisisana. Located off the Piazzetta, Capri’s busiest piazza, it’s the perfect place to enjoy breakfast outside. Giada’s grandfather loved people watching in the Caprese sun at this iconic spot.

11am

After breakfast, call a taxi to take you to Anacapri, the upper part of the island known for its architecture, serenity, and gorgeous views. There, Giada loves strolling the grounds of Villa San Michele (Via Axel Munthe, 34, Anacapri), a former private residence filled with Roman, Etruscan, and Egyptian art, and surrounded by beautiful gardens with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean. Designed by a Swedish doctor in the early 1900s, this airy, light-filled museum is a must-visit for art lovers.

Photo Credit: Il Riccio Restaurant

1pm

For lunch, head to the Jumeirah Capri Palace and dine at Il Riccio Restaurant (Via Gradola, 4, Anacapri). Perched cliffside above the island’s famous Blue Grotto, this elegant restaurant is known for its spectacular views and fresh, innovative seafood dishes. Start with a crisp glass of falanghina wine as you gaze at the sparkling sea. Then, be sure to order a seafood dish. From lobster to sea urchin to local fish like ricciola (also known as amberjack), you’ll be blown away by the freshness and delicate flavors. Have a sweet tooth like Giada? Be sure to save room for a visit to the restaurant’s dessert room!

3pm

Make your way back to your hotel and enjoy some rest and relaxation by the water. As the hotel pool can get busy in the height of summer, Giada likes to take this time to visit the beach! There are a number of beach options a 20-minute walk from town, including Torre Saracena and Aunt Raffy’s favorite, La Fontelina. Rent a chair and umbrella from the beach club (called a lido or stabilimento) or walk along the rocky shore and enjoy views of the faraglioni.

6pm

Before getting ready for dinner, grab your final photo op of the day at the Gardens of Augustus (Via Matteoti, 2, Capri). A small, terraced botanical garden just a short walk from town, you’ll find the most beautiful panoramic views of Capri here. This is the perfect spot to snap some photos or just unwind in the quiet of the evening before going out on the town.

Photo Credit: La Capannina

9pm

Fashionably late dinners are a part of island life in Capri and all over Italy. Head to La Capannina (Via le Botteghe, 14, Capri), a family-run restaurant in town that has been handing down traditional recipes for more than 90 years. Choose a bottle from the restaurant’s enormous wine cellar and order the creamy ravioli caprese or a seaside classic, the spaghetti alle vongole. Giada is friends with the owner, Francesco—tell him that she sent you!

Photo Credit: Il Capri Hotel

12:15am

For night owls who want a taste of Capri nightlife, visit Rumore (Via Roma, 71, Capri). A discoteca housed in the Il Capri Hotel, Rumore is Capri’s premiere nightclub during the summer season and is Giada’s go-to when she wants to let loose and dance the night away. Open from 12:15am to 6am June through August, the club hosts a variety of bands and DJs that will keep you partying all night long!

Day 2

10am

After a quick breakfast at the hotel, head to Capri’s Marina Grande and rent a boat from Ciro Gargiulo. Ciro offers a wide variety of boats to choose from, including the very boat Giada’s grandfather used to own. Just be sure to book at least 24 hours in advance!

As Giada will tell you, the best way to see Capri is from the water. Take the morning to boat around the island, admiring the iconic faraglioni and Monte Solaro and stopping to snorkel or swim in the Mediterranean’s crystal clear waters. You can also ask your skipper to stop at the famous Grotta Azzurra, though you can only enter by rowboat. From there, head toward the mainland to experience the most incredible views of the Amalfi Coast.

1pm

Have your skipper take you to Lo Scoglio da Tommaso (Piazza delle Sirene, 15, Massa Lubrense) in Nerano on the mainland for lunch (it even has its own dock for you to arrive at!). One of Giada’s favorite restaurants, this famous spot specializes in local cuisine, offering fresh-caught seafood and produce straight from the family’s farm. The dining terrace extends right over the water, so you can, bask in the breathtaking scenery as you enjoy authentic, seasonal dishes. Giada’s order? Spaghetti alla Nerano, a pasta with fried zucchini that’s so fresh that the simplicity of the ingredients seem to supersede the sum of its parts.

4pm

After returning to Capri and freshening up at the hotel, take advantage of the late afternoon sun to wander the shops in Capri town. From souvenirs to island wear, Capri’s shops have something for everyone to take home and remember their trip for years to come. Whenever Giada is in Capri, she visits Da Costanzo (Via Roma, 49, Capri) for a pair of handmade leather sandals. Da Costanzo has been crafting this classic Capri souvenir the same way since 1963—made to order and measured on your own foot! Looking for some ceramics to bring home? The Sea Gull (Via Roma, 23, Capri) has been creating stunning handmade pieces since 1951 that are sure to brighten up any dining space.

6pm

For aperitivo hour, make your way to Quisi Bar, the outdoor bar at Grand Hotel Quisisana. An island institution, this bar has served Capri’s most famous visitors for years from princes to actors to Ernest Hemingway! The outdoor terrace faces busy Via Camerelle, making it the perfect place to take in the vibrant energy of town. This is Giada’s favorite spot for aperitivo when she’s in town, but it fills up quickly, so be sure to make a reservation in advance.

8pm

For dinner, take a page from Giada’s Nonno Dino and grab a spot at Aurora (Via Furlovado, 18, Capri), a bustling restaurant in town that has been serving up uniquely Caprese dishes for over 120 years. The institution is famous for its pizza all'acqua, an exquisitely thin-crust pizza topped with mozzarella, basil, and spicy pepperoncini. Looking for a quieter dinner option? Giada loves Da Paolino (Via Palazzo a Mare, 11, Capri), outside the center of town, where you can dine under the enchanting tranquility of century-old lemon trees. Order their spaghetti al limone, the inspiration for Giada’s famous lemon spaghetti.