Capri Day Trip from Sorrento: Blue Grotto Tour & Free Time

Eight hours on Capri: boat tour of the grottoes and rocks, then the island on your own terms

A full-day Capri island tour from Sorrento combines a morning boat circuit of the island's sea caves and landmarks with 5 hours of free time to explore Anacapri and Capri town at your own pace. The boat departs Marina Piccola at 8 AM, circles the island to show the Green Grotto, White Grotto, Faraglioni rocks and Lighthouse of Punta Carena, then drops you at Marina Grande. You rejoin the boat at 3:15 PM for the return to Sorrento. A live guide in English, Spanish or Italian provides onboard commentary during the crossing and the boat tour. The Blue Grotto entrance ticket (€18 per person) is optional and purchased separately; if you choose it, wait times can reach two hours, which shortens your free time on the island.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Capri Island by Sea and Land

• Depart Marina Piccola, Sorrento at 8:00 AM
• Enjoy Sorrento coastline panorama
• Boat tour around Capri island
• Visit White Grotto and Green Grotto
• Admire Lighthouse of Punta Carena
• See Faraglioni Rocks and Arch of Love
• Free time in Anacapri: visit Villa Saint Michele, The Red House
• Take chairlift to Mount Solaro summit
• Explore Capri town: Via Camerelle and Piazzetta Umberto I
• Boat transfer from Capri to Sorrento at 3:15 PM
• End tour at Marina Piccola, Sorrento

The Experience

The boat leaves Marina Piccola in Sorrento at 8 AM and heads toward Capri along the Sorrento coastline. During the crossing, a guide on board explains the territory and what you're seeing. Once at Marina Grande on Capri, the boat circles the island so you pass the White Grotto and Green Grotto from the water, see the Faraglioni rocks and the Arch of Love, and spot the Lighthouse of Punta Carena—the second most powerful lighthouse in Italy. The boat tour itself is included; if you want to enter the Blue Grotto, you buy the ticket separately once you arrive and queue at the site. Wait times there can stretch to two hours depending on sea conditions and the day's traffic.

After the boat tour, you have 5 hours free on the island. Most people head to Anacapri, the historical center, to visit Villa Saint Michele, the Red House, or take the chairlift up Mount Solaro for views across the whole island and the coast. Others spend the time in Capri town proper, walking Via Camerelle and the Piazzetta Umberto I, where the shops and cafés line the main square. The length of your free time depends on whether you visit the Blue Grotto—if you do, the wait cuts into it. You meet the boat at Marina Grande at 3 PM, and it departs at 3:15 PM for the return to Sorrento.

Headsets let you hear the guide's commentary during the boat portions. The tour suits all fitness levels; infants can travel in a pram or stroller, and service animals are allowed. The Blue Grotto's opening depends on weather and sea conditions, so it may be closed on your departure day—in that case, you'll have the full 5 hours free on the island instead.

What’s included

• Round-trip boat ticket from Sorrento to Capri.
• tour leader on board during the crossing and boat circuit of the island.
• headsets for onboard commentary in your chosen language.
• 5 hours free time to explore Anacapri and Capri town on your own.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by HP Travel

Is this one for you?Choose the option with the Blue Grotto if you want to see inside the cave—just know the wait can take two hours, which cuts into your free time on the island. Without it, you keep all 5 hours to wander Anacapri's Villa Saint Michele and Mount Solaro chairlift, or spend the afternoon in Capri town's shops and squares without the queue.

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Top questions

What exactly do I see on the boat tour around Capri?

The boat circles the island to show you the White Grotto and Green Grotto from the water, the Faraglioni rocks (passing through the Arch of Love), the Lighthouse of Punta Carena, and other coastal landmarks. You stay on the boat for this part; the guide provides commentary through headsets.

How much time do I actually have to walk around Anacapri and Capri town?

You have 5 hours free on the island after the boat tour ends. If you visit the Blue Grotto, the wait—up to two hours—comes out of that time, so your free time shrinks depending on the queue. Without the grotto, you have the full 5 hours to explore both towns or focus on one.

Do I have to buy a ticket for the Blue Grotto, or is it included?

The Blue Grotto entrance ticket is not included in the tour price; you buy it separately for €18 per person once you reach the island. The grotto's opening depends on weather and sea conditions, so it may be closed on your departure day.

What time does the boat leave Sorrento and return?

The boat departs Marina Piccola in Sorrento at 8 AM. You meet it again at Marina Grande in Capri at 3 PM, and it leaves for Sorrento at 3:15 PM, arriving back at the starting point in the evening.

Is there a guide, and what language does he or she speak?

A live guide is on board during the crossing and the boat tour around the island, providing onboard commentary through headsets. The guide speaks English, Spanish or Italian depending on the tour option you choose.

Can I bring a baby or a stroller on this tour?

Yes, infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller. Specialized infant seats are available. Service animals are also allowed on the tour.