Capri & Blue Grotto Day Tour from Naples: Fast Ferry & Monte Solaro

The Blue Grotto & Capri's Clifftop Views in One Day from Naples

You take a fast ferry from Naples to Capri, then spend the day moving between the Blue Grotto (by small boat, weather permitting), a chairlift up Monte Solaro for island views, the Piazzetta cafe square, and Augustus Gardens overlooking the Faraglioni rocks. A local guide handles the route and timing, and lunch is included in Anacapri. The return ferry gets you back to Naples by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each4 stops

1. Blue GrottoEntry included1h
2. Monte SolaroEntry included1h
3. Piazzetta di Capri2h
4. Gardens of AugustusEntry included30m

Capri Island and Blue Grotto Tour

• Travel to Capri by ferry
• Visit the Blue Grotto by small boat
• Stop in Anacapri for lunch
• Ride chairlift to Monte Solaro peak
• Visit Villa San Michele and gardens
• Relax at Piazzetta square
• Tour the Gardens of Augustus
• Return to Naples or Sorrento by ferry

The experience

"How do we actually get inside that cave?" That's the question most people ask on the boat ride over, and the answer is: you duck. The entrance to the Blue Grotto is barely a meter high, so you're lying back in a small rowboat as it slides through the opening, and then the water around you turns this impossible shade of blue: the light bouncing off the limestone floor underneath. It's the kind of thing that sounds like it might be oversold until you're actually in there. The whole day starts with a 50-minute fast ferry from Naples to Marina Grande, Capri's main port, where your guide meets you and the real climbing begins.

From there, depending on your group size, you're either in a convertible car or a shuttle bus heading toward the Blue Grotto (weather permitting, if the sea's too rough, you get a shared boat ride around the island instead, which honestly covers a lot of the same coastline). After the grotto, you drive up to Anacapri, the quieter side of the island, where you stop for lunch before getting on the chairlift at Monte Solaro. The chairlift takes about ten minutes, and you're rising above the whole island: the Gulf of Naples spreads out below you, and on clear days you can see all the way to Mount Vesuvius and the islands of Ischia and Procida. It's the kind of view that makes you understand why people have been fighting over this place for two thousand years.

The afternoon moves through the smaller stops: the Piazzetta, which is basically a tiny square where locals and tourists sit at cafes and pretend they're not watching each other; Villa San Michele and its gardens (though the main garden stop is Augustus Gardens, where the Faraglioni rock formations frame the view like they were placed there on purpose); and then back down to Marina Grande for the return ferry. The whole thing takes eight hours if you're coming from Naples, or six if you're already staying on Capri. Your guide handles the timing and the logistics. You just show up at the port, and the ferry, the car or bus, the chairlift tickets, and the Blue Grotto entry are all arranged.

One thing to know: the Blue Grotto can close without warning if the sea gets choppy, and when it does, the tour pivots to a boat ride around the island's perimeter instead. It's not the same experience, but it's not nothing. You still see the Faraglioni and the cliffs and the coastline that made Capri famous. If you're traveling with young kids, strollers are fine for most of the day, though the chairlift and the boat into the grotto require you to be mobile. Book early if you're going in summer. The ferry fills up and the grotto gets crowded by mid-morning.

What’s included

• Your day includes round-trip shared fast ferry from Naples to Capri, transport by private convertible car (groups up to 5) or shuttle bus (6+ people), Blue Grotto admission and small boat entry, chairlift tickets on Monte Solaro, Augustus Gardens admission, a lunch stop in Anacapri, and a local guide for the full route.
• If the Blue Grotto closes due to weather, a shared boat ride around the island replaces it.
• Specialized infant seats are available if needed.

Options for this experience

3 options

From Naples PortGuide in 4 languages · 07:30If you are arriving on a cruise ship, please give the ship's name so the guide can meet you at the exit gates of the port.

From Sorrento's PortGuide in 4 languages · 07:40Meeting point: Via Marina Piccola, 80067 Sorrento NA, Italy

From CapriGuide in 4 languages · 08:15Meeting point: Capri, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 8h, runs every day at 07:30, 07:40 and 08:15, from € 500 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish, French and German, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30, 07:40 and 08:15

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (4 to 90 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on site€ 10

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Tours of Capri-Private Tours of Amalfi Coast & Pompeii

Is this one for you?Book this if you want Capri's main sights (the Blue Grotto, Monte Solaro's views, and the island's famous gardens) without arranging ferries, tickets, and transport yourself. The fixed itinerary and included guide handle all the logistics so you just move through the day.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the ferry from Naples to Capri?

50 to 60 minutes each way on a shared fast ferry.

What happens if the Blue Grotto is closed?

You do a shared boat ride around the island instead, seeing the coastline and rock formations from the water.

Is the Blue Grotto entry included?

Yes, Blue Grotto admission and the small boat ride inside are both included.

How long is the chairlift ride on Monte Solaro?

About 10 minutes up, with time to walk around at the top and take in the views.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

You should have at least a moderate level of fitness. There's walking on uneven ground, stairs, and the chairlift, but nothing extreme.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes, strollers are fine for most of the day, though you'll need to manage them on the chairlift and the small boat into the grotto.

How many people are in the group?

Groups vary. Small groups (up to 5 people) travel by convertible car. Larger groups use a shuttle bus.

What if I'm already staying in Capri?

The tour can start at your hotel lobby and lasts 6 hours instead of 8, skipping the ferry rides.

Is a guide included?

Yes, a local guide is included for the entire day.