The ruins of the ancient Greek city of Paestum lie within borders of the comune.

Located in northern Cilento, near the mouth of Sele, Capaccio is a hill town surrounded by a plain in which resides almost all of the hamlets (frazioni) and the majority of the population, mostly concentrated at Capaccio Scalo, seat of the train station.

The municipality borders with Agropoli, Albanella, Cicerale, Eboli, Giungano, Roccadaspide and Trentinara.

The hamlets are Borgo Nuovo, Capaccio Scalo, Cafasso, Chiorbo, Foce Sele, Gaiarda, Gromola, Laura, Licinella, Linora, Paestum, Ponte Barizzo, Rettifilo-Vannulo, Spinazzo, Santa Venere, Tempa di Lepre, Torre di Mare, Tempa San Paolo, and Vuccolo Maiorano.

[3] The nearest airport is Salerno-Pontecagnano (QSR), 35 km from Capaccio.