Capri, Sorrento & Pompeii: Private Tour with Local Guide

Summary

Explore Capri’s Blue Grotto then stroll Sorrento before Pompeii ruins

You’ll meet your local guide at Naples or Sorrento port before riding fast ferries to Capri for a rowboat visit inside the Blue Grotto (if open). Stroll Sorrento’s lively streets and enjoy lunch before exploring Pompeii’s haunting ruins with expert commentary. Expect vivid moments—like sunlight on ancient stones or laughter over lemon-scented hands—that linger long after you return.

What’s the experience like?

“You’re early!” our driver called out as we shuffled off the ferry at Naples port. He had this easy smile and a way of making you feel like you’d already done something right just by showing up. I was still half-asleep, honestly — the air smelled faintly salty and sweet, like pastries from somewhere nearby. We met our guide, Lucia, who handed us ferry tickets with a wink (“Don’t lose these — trust me”). The ride to Capri was quick but loud with chatter and the slap of waves against the hull. I tried to catch a glimpse of Vesuvius through the window but mostly just saw my own reflection blinking back.

Capri is… well, it’s more colorful than I expected. Lucia flagged down an open-top taxi (she called it “the Mamma Mia car” — her words) and we zipped along roads that seemed too narrow for two cars but somehow worked. The Blue Grotto was open that morning — apparently not always a given — so we squeezed into tiny rowboats and ducked our heads under the low cave mouth. It was darker than I thought inside; then suddenly everything glowed blue beneath us. The boatman sang softly in Italian. I think I held my breath for most of it. When we got out, Lucia laughed at how pale I looked (“It happens to everyone their first time”).

The ferry to Sorrento felt slower, maybe because I was hungry by then or maybe because the sun had come out full force. We wandered through Sorrento’s old streets — lemon scent everywhere, even on people’s hands as they gestured while talking. Lunch was simple: pasta with clams and a glass of local white wine that tasted almost salty itself. Afterward our driver picked us up again (he remembered my name this time) for the drive along the coast toward Pompeii. There were moments when all you could hear was wind through the window and someone humming quietly in the front seat.

I didn’t expect Pompeii to feel so… quiet? Even with other visitors around, there’s this hush over everything — dust on your shoes, sunlight catching on old stones, bits of painted wall still clinging to life after all these years. Our guide pointed out where people used to gather for bread or gossip (I liked that detail). By late afternoon my legs were tired but my head was buzzing with images: blue water, lemon trees, ancient streets underfoot. On the way back to Naples I kept thinking about that moment in the grotto — how strange it felt to be inside something so old and bright at once.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Capri, Sorrento & Pompeii Tour

• Meet guide at Naples or Sorrento port
• Ferry to Capri and scenic Mamma Mia Road ride
• Visit Blue Grotto or boat ride around Capri
• Ferry to Sorrento, stroll and lunch
• Drive along Sorrento Coast to Pompeii
• Explore Pompeii ruins
• Return to Naples or Sorrento

Top questions

Is pickup included for this Capri, Sorrento & Pompeii tour?

Yes, pickup is included from Naples or Sorrento port.

Does this day trip visit the Blue Grotto in Capri?

Yes, entrance to the Blue Grotto is included if it’s open; otherwise there’s a boat tour around Capri.

How long do you spend at each stop on this private tour?

The tour covers Capri in the morning, Sorrento midday with lunch, and Pompeii in the afternoon before returning.

Is lunch included during this day trip from Naples?

No set lunch is included but there is free time in Sorrento for a local meal (at your own expense).

Are entrance fees covered for Pompeii and Blue Grotto?

Yes, entrance tickets for both are included in your tour price.

Is transportation between destinations provided?

Yes—ferry tickets between Naples/Sorrento/Capri plus private van transport are included.

Can travelers with mobility issues join this tour?

The tour is wheelchair accessible; please specify any needs when booking.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from Naples or Sorrento port by your local guide, fast ferry tickets to Capri and onward to Sorrento, entrance fees for both the Blue Grotto (weather permitting) and Pompeii archaeological site, a shared boat ride if grottos are closed, private car or shuttle transport on Capri depending on group size, dedicated driver along the coast between towns, and drop-off back at your starting point.