Short tour with a stop at the Blue Grotto
Usually included
- Complete island boat tour
- Captain and crew on board
- Pass by all the sea caves
- Passage between the Faraglioni rocks
- More photo stops than other short tours
Not included or not guaranteed
- Blue Grotto entry: optional extra purchased on-site
- The grotto’s opening, which depends on the sea and tide
- Queue time at the entrance, which in August can reach two hours
- Swimming stops and free time on the island
How it really works
You board at Pier 0, inside Marina Grande’s harbour, and set off: ninety minutes circling the island, past all the sea caves, between the Faraglioni, with a few extra photo stops compared to other short tours. Then you arrive in front of the Blue Grotto and the tour pauses. From there, the choice is yours: climb into a rowing boat, lie back and pay the entry fee on board, or stay seated and admire the entrance from the sea.
Departures every thirty minutes from 9:30 to 14:00 are the real convenience of this tour: you don’t have to build your day around a single time slot. The first departure is also the most sensible, because the queue outside the grotto grows as the morning goes on.
Why 4.1
Five thousand, two hundred and fifteen reviews make for an average that’s hard to shift, and this average says two things at once. First: those who know what they’ve booked come away happy. Lisa, from Canada, writes «we all loved it, highly recommended»; Federica, from Italy, calls it a «great experience» and praises a captain who «gave us really good explanations»; Francisco Javier, from Spain, describes them as «very punctual and professional». Second: many board convinced that the ticket includes entry to the grotto, only to discover otherwise once the engine cuts out at the entrance.
The other common complaints are the wait, which on busy days becomes the longest part of a ninety-minute tour, and departures where the grotto stays closed due to rough seas or high tide. Rosaria Cimmino, who grew up in Marina Grande, tells anyone who asks at the dock: if the mistral wind is blowing, the grotto won’t open, but the boat still goes out. If this is your only day in Capri, read up first on rough seas and cancelled departures.
Who it’s for
For those disembarking in the morning, with the afternoon already booked and wanting ninety minutes at sea without commitments. It’s only suitable with small children if you’ve factored in the queue, as we explain in boating with kids. Not ideal for anyone whose sole goal is the grotto: a full day from Sorrento, which can include it in the booking, is a better bet—reviewed here.
What works best
- Departures every thirty minutes from 9:30 to 14:00, every day
- Ninety minutes: fits into any day on the island
- Passes between the Faraglioni and in front of all the sea caves
- More photo stops than other short tours
- Budget-friendly, ideal for those who’ve already paid for the ferry
What to know beforehand
- The lowest rating of the six: 4.1, due to mismatched expectations rather than the service itself
- Entry to the grotto is paid separately, on the spot, on the rowing boats
- The queue can stretch to two hours at peak season
- If the sea is rough or the tide is high the grotto stays closed and the tour goes ahead without it
- No toilet stops and no free time included
Book the 9:30 departure: the rowing boats only operate when the sea is calm and the line builds as the morning goes on. By eleven the jetty is already a bottleneck.
Dates and availability
Alternatives
For more time on board and live commentary there’s the caves tour; to swim you’ll need a full day, for example the one with lunch.
Departing from the islandCapri: full-island boat tour with grotto visits
Most booked experienceSorrento: exclusive Capri boat tour with optional Blue Grotto visit
Maximum 8 peopleSorrento: Capri boat tour with Blue Grotto, swim stop and lunch
Frequently asked questions
Is entry to the Blue Grotto included?
No. It’s an optional extra you buy on the spot, on board the rowing boats you lie down in to enter. No boat tour includes it in the ticket, except the exclusive tour: the reason is explained here.
How long is the wait outside the grotto?
From just a few minutes off-season to two hours on the busiest days in July and August. On a ninety-minute tour the wait can end up being the longest part: set off at 9:30 if you can.
What happens if the grotto is closed?
The island tour still goes ahead and you pass the entrance without going in. The grotto closes when the sea is rough or the tide is high, often without warning: see rough seas and cancelled trips.
Where is Pier 0?
In Capri’s port at Marina Grande, where ferries and hydrofoils dock. It’s the easiest boarding point for the short tours: see how to get to Capri.
Is it worth it with just a few hours on the island?
Yes, if you accept it’s ninety minutes on the water rather than a full excursion: it’s the quickest way to see Capri from the sea. The full reasoning is in ne vale la pena.