Reviews at glance

A once-in-a-lifetime experience that’s worth both the wait and the price, even if you only stay inside for a few minutes. The light is unforgettable. Just be patient: lines are long and the grotto is not always open, so it’s best to check sea conditions the same morning

PRO

• A truly unique natural wonder.

• Stunning colors and reflections, especially at midday.

• Magical and almost mystical atmosphere.

• Short but unforgettable experience.

• Rowers often sing, adding to the charm.

CONS

• Very long waiting times (up to 1–2 hours).

• Visit inside lasts only 3–5 minutes.

• Price feels high compared to the short stay.

• Unpredictable closures due to rough seas.

• Chaotic organization at the entrance

INSIDER ADVICE FROM PAST VISITORS

• Arrive early (by 9:30 am) to avoid the longest lines.

• Bring water, a hat, or an umbrella for waiting in the sun.

• Book your tour in advance to secure a spot.

• Skip cloudy days: the reflections are almost invisible.

• Don’t plan your visit late in the day → rough seas often close it.

• If you get seasick, queue from land in Anacapri.

• Keep in mind the visit lasts only 5 minutes: manage expectations.

• Take photos quickly: time inside is very limited.

• Prepare children for the dark, narrow entrance.

• Always have a backup plan in Capri in case the grotto is closed.

• With a shared tour boat: at Marina Grande's port, you can purchase tickets for tours of the island by sea or a roundtrip ticket to the Blue Grotto at the ticket offices of the Motoscafisti and Laser Capri charter companies. If you specifically want to visit the grotto, we recommend choosing the transfer-only option. During the full island tour, the stop at the grotto is often skipped because of the long queues. The boat will take you directly to the grotto entrance. Here you will have to disembark from your tour boat and take one of the small rowboats to enter the cave itself.

• With a private boat: if you are visiting Capri island with your own private boat and want to tour the Blue Grotto, you can anchor at the buoys near the cave and signal to one of the waiting rowboats to be picked up. You can also hire a private "gozzo" with skipper from Marina Grande. These traditional island boats carry a maximum of seven passengers (thought there are larger versions available, as well). The cost for a 3-hour tour starts at around €300. A 3-hour rental is the minimum required to complete a full island tour and visit the grotto.

• Walking or by bus: from the center of Anacapri, first walk down Via Pagliaro then down Via Grotta Azzurra (3.5 km). There is also a public bus which leaves from Piazza della Pace (5 minutes). From the final stop, take the stairs down to the seaside where there is the queue to the rowboats. Along the stairs, there is a small concession stand (open only in summer) which sells drinks, snacks, and souvenirs.

The time when the reflections inside the Blue Grotto are at their most spectacular is between 12 pm and 2 pm. However, the difference compared to early morning is actually minimal, while the line is much longer at midday. We do not recommend planning your visit on very cloudy days, since without sunlight the blue effect is faint. In the afternoon, queues are usually shorter, but after 3 pm the sea often becomes rough and visits may be suspended.

Time of day

Tickets cost EUR 18 and are purchased from the floating ticket office (EUR 12 for the rowboat).
Discounts: Children entrance under 6 years old: free. For citizens of the European Union younger than 18 entry is free, so tickets must be purchased solely for the rowboat (EUR 12). For citizens of the European Union between 18 and 25 years of age, the entry ticket is EUR 2 , for a total cost of EUR 14.
Tickets for the Blue Grotto are in addition to tickets for boat tours from Marina Grande. For boat tours by sea of the island or for a roundtrip transfer to and from the Blue Grotto, the ticket price per person is EUR 24.
The rowboat skippers who take visitors inside the grotto usually ask for a tip, though this is at the discretion of passengers.

The visit inside the grotto on rowboats lasts about five minutes. However, the wait to enter the cave can be long, reaching an hour during high season at peak times of the day. The average time for a simple roundtrip transfer and visit to the cave, plan for about two hours.

In case of strong winds or rough seas, entrance to the grotto will be suspended; often, the grotto will open and close a number of times on the same day when the weather is unstable. Unfortunately, it's hard to forecast closures due to weather, though if the weather forecast reports rough seas, the grotto will probably be closed. , You can check if the cave is open by looking at the signal at the top of this page, after 9 AM. The signals works from March to late October. During the winter the Grotto is mostly closed.

• Calm sea and clear skies → high chance the grotto is open.

• Strong winds (especially from the North: Maestrale or Tramontana) → the grotto is almost always closed.

• Rough seas or cloudy days → very likely closure or weak light effect.

How to check:

• Every morning, after 9:00 am, boatmen verify the entrance conditions.

• There is no way to confirm the day before. But you can check the weather forecast: Windfinder or IlMeteo.it

• If the ticket offices at Marina Grande (Motoscafisti, Laser Capri) are closed, it means the grotto is not accessible.

It’s quite easy to visit the Blue Grotto on a day trip from Sorrento, Positano, or Naples. You can either book an all-inclusive tour that covers transportation, boat ride, and grotto visit, or plan it on your own by taking a ferry to Capri and heading to the Blue Grotto as your first stop of the day, before the queues get too long. To make the most of your time on the island, you can also add the boat tour around Capri, which lets you admire the Faraglioni rocks, the White Grotto, and the Green Grotto up close.

The best option to optimize your time and see everything in just 3–4 hours is a private boat tour, offering full flexibility with timing and stops.

We don’t recommend a day trip from Rome, as travel times are too long to truly enjoy the experience.

During the reign of Tiberius in Roman times, the grotto was used as a marine temple, and ancient Roman statues found here are now on display at the Casa Rossa in Anacapri. For many years afterwards, the Blue Grotto was avoided by sailors, as local legends told of spirits and demons living there. One day in 1826, however, local fisherman Angelo Ferraro accompanied German author August Kopisch and painter Ernst Fries to the cave, and their tales of its marvels have led to the grotto being one of the must-see sights on any visitor to Capri's itinerary.

After your visit, if it’s already lunchtime, it’s best to climb the steps at the land entrance instead of returning to Marina Grande. Just above the stairs you’ll find Bar Tortuga, a great spot for a refreshing lemonade paired with quality snacks such as sandwiches, pizza, salads, and eggplant parmigiana. If you prefer a full restaurant experience, within walking distance you can choose between the Michelin-starred cuisine of Il Riccio and the traditional fare at Ristorante Gradola. Right next to Gradola, you’ll also find rocky platforms perfect for a refreshing swim.