How to Get to the Blue Grotto on Capri
The Blue Grotto sits on the north-west coast of Capri, reachable by boat or by land. Here are the practical routes from the mainland and from Anacapri, and how the rowboat transfer works when you arrive.
Getting to Capri first
Unless you join a tour that sails directly to the cave, your first step is reaching Capri. Ferries and hydrofoils run to the island's Marina Grande from Naples, Sorrento and, in season, Positano and other Amalfi Coast towns. Naples is the main gateway with the most frequent crossings; Sorrento is the shortest hop. Book ahead in summer, when sailings fill and the port is busy.
By boat from Marina Grande
From Capri's Marina Grande, small local boats run around to the Blue Grotto on the island's north-west shore in roughly ten minutes. This is the classic approach: you cross by boat, then transfer at the cave into a rowboat for the entry itself. Many visitors combine the short hop with a wider island cruise that passes the Faraglioni sea stacks and other grottoes, turning the grotto stop into a half-day on the water.
By land from Anacapri
The grotto can also be reached overland from Anacapri, the higher of the island's two towns. On foot, follow Via Pagliaro out of the centre and then Via Grotta Azzurra down toward the coast — about 3.5 km, and distinctly downhill, so the return is a climb. The easier option is the local bus from Piazza della Pace in Anacapri, which reaches the grotto stop in about fifteen minutes. From the road you take a flight of stairs down to the small landing where the rowboats wait. In summer a seasonal kiosk by the stairs sells drinks and snacks.
By private gozzo
Hiring a private gozzo — the traditional wooden Capri boat — with a skipper from Marina Grande gives you the most control over timing. These boats typically carry up to six or seven passengers, and a private charter lets you reach the grotto when the light is good and the queue short, then continue around the coast at your own pace. It costs more than a shared trip but suits families and small groups who want flexibility.
The floating ticket office and rowboat transfer
However you arrive, entry works the same way. By the cave mouth floats a small ticket office where you pay, in cash, for the cave ticket and the rowboat transport — together about 18 to 19 euros per person, though the figure is set locally and changes. You then transfer from your boat into a rowboat that holds around four people, lie back to clear the low entrance, and are rowed inside for a few minutes. The whole system depends on calm water: if the sea is up, the rowboats do not run and the cave is closed for the day.
What the ferry actually costs and takes
Capri has no airport and no bridge, so every visit begins with a boat. Sorrento is the shortest crossing at roughly twenty minutes on a hydrofoil; Naples runs both fast and slow services and takes between forty minutes and an hour and a half depending which you board. Positano and Amalfi run seasonal services that thin out sharply outside summer.
Two things catch people out. Sailings are cancelled in rough weather — the same weather that closes the grotto — and the last return of the day is earlier than most visitors assume, particularly in shoulder season. Check the return time before you commit to a late lunch on the island.
The routes compared
| Route | How it works | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Day trip from the mainland | Boat from Sorrento, Naples or Positano, cave as one stop on an island cruise | Anyone based on the coast |
| Local boat from Marina Grande | Short transfer from Capri’s own harbour, straight to the cave mouth | Anyone already on the island |
| By land from Anacapri | Bus or taxi to the jetty, then steps down to the same rowboats | Anyone staying in Anacapri |
| Private gozzo | A chartered traditional boat, timed around the queue | Groups and families who want the day to themselves |
Every one of them ends the same way: a transfer into a small rowboat at the floating ticket office, and an entrance barely a metre high.
Which route suits you
If you are based on the mainland, a boat tour that includes the grotto is usually the simplest choice, handling the ferry, the cruise and often the tickets in one booking. If you are already staying on Capri or in Anacapri, the land route or a short local boat from Marina Grande gives you independence and lets you go when the light and the sea look best rather than to a fixed tour schedule. Either way, aim for a calm, bright morning and keep the day flexible. To compare the options, browse the Blue Grotto tickets and tours, or read the full visitor guide.
Related: visitor information · FAQs · history of the cave.