Is the Blue Grotto Worth Visiting in 2025? A Complete Guide to Capri's Sea Caves

If you're planning a trip to Capri, one attraction you'll hear about again and again is the Blue Grotto. But with steep prices, long waits, and only a few minutes inside, you may find yourself wondering... is the Blue Grotto worth it?

Known in Italian as “La Grotta Azzurra”, this dazzling sea cave has captivated travelers to Capri for a long time, and for good reason. Once you're inside, the experience is magical.

If you don't mind the relatively high costs and crowds in the summer, then it's most likely worth visiting.

Read on for all the ins and outs of visiting Capri's Blue Grotto, the pros and cons, as well as an introduction to Capri's other, lesser-known grottos that might just surprise you, so you can determine if a visit to the Blue Grotto is worth it for you.

A mini guide to the Blue Grotto (Capri)

How to Visit The Blue Grotto Capri

First, you’ll need to decide whether you want to stay on the island of Capri for a few days, or just visit the Blue Grotto for the day from Sorrento, Amalfi or one of the other towns on the mainland; in which case you'll need to get a ferry to Capri.

Personally, I’d recommend spending a few days on the island because there’s so much more to see than just the Blue Grotto.

Should You Stay Overnight? Yes! During the peak summer months most of the day-trippers leave by early evening. Once they've gone the island is back to its lovely self. My advice is to spend a couple of nights on the island. That way you'll get to see the "real" Isle of Capri, and experience much more of the island.

Pictured above, the 5-star Villa Brunella is an exquisite choice. A night in paradise starts at ~€350 for two. Image courtesy of Villa Brunella.

Getting to The Blue Grotto

From The Amalfi Coast to Capri

Some of the views you can enjoy while traveling by ferry along the Amalfi Coast.

By Hydrofoil: Numerous hydrofoils depart each day for Capri, from all the main towns including Amalfi, Positano, Sorrento, and Salerno. For those that haven’t traveled on these before, they’re essentially just faster and a bit smaller than regular ferries. I took the photo above from a ferry just like the one speeding along in the distance. You can book tickets either at the marina on the day you intend on traveling, or online. 

If you’re visiting in the summer, it’s best to book online to avoid the long queues at the marina and get more preferable travel times. I’ve included a summary of the times and costs of the main routes below, with links to a local ferry operator’s website where you can purchase your tickets online. 

And remember, the ferries and hydrofoils are a great form of transport all along the coast. So if you’re staying in Salerno for example, you could easily catch one of these to Amalfi or Positano for the day and then return in the evening, or even take the bus back.

Salerno might just be the perfect base for your Amalfi Coast trip...

We stayed here recently and were so glad we did! An effervescent city that in many ways resembles a smaller, more manageable version of Naples, Salerno is the gateway to the Amalfi Coast. Split your time between daytrips along the coast and exploring the old narrow streets of the old town, a wonderful combination.

The "Gateway to the Amalfi Coast", we stayed in Salerno recently and were so glad we did! It might just be the perfect base for your trip...

Arriving at the town of Amalfi by ferry. The views from the water are spectacular...

When you make a purchase using one of the affiliate links below, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you, which enables us to produce more helpful content.

Feel free to use this ferry search tool to find the best routes and times for you:

From Capri to The Blue Grotto

Marina Grande, Capri

By Boat Tour: Departing from Capri’s main port (Marina Grande), you can get tickets for a tour of the whole island (~2 hours) or just a roundtrip to the Blue Grotto (~1 hour). Both of these cost €24.

There are two companies operating these tours (Motoscafisti and Laser Capri), and both their ticket offices are at Marina Grande. A popular choice is the "Island Tour + Blue Grotto Visit" tour, which as the name implies, includes a complete tour of Capri’s coastline and then a stop at the Blue Grotto. They allow passengers to disembark and join one of the small rowboat tours to visit the Blue Grotto itself, which costs €18.

You can also purchase Capri boat tours online, at similar prices, like this one:

By Private Boat: Also departing from Marina Grande are private boats available for hire. For about €200, a skipper will take you on a custom tour lasting 2 hours. You do of course have the option of stopping at the Blue Grotto, with the time spent there included in your 2 hours.

Take note that these private boat tours generally allow for a maximum of seven passengers, and like with the boat tour, an additional €18 fee is required for entering the Blue Grotto.

Private boats and yachts off the coast of Capri

By Bus or On Foot: If you’d prefer to reach the Blue Grotto on foot, from the center of Anacapri, it’s about a 3.5 km or 2 mile walk. There’s also the option of taking the public bus, which leaves from Piazza della Pace in Anacapri. When you get off the bus at the last stop, simply take the stairs leading down to the coast where you’ll see a queue to the rowboats.

What You Need to Know Before Visiting The Blue Grotto

When you arrive at the Blue Grotto, you will probably be met by a queue of small rowboats bobbing about in the water, waiting their turn. Once you 

The Blue Grotto is very popular with visitors to Capri, so once you arrive at the cave, either by boat or by bus, you will probably be met by a queue of tour boats and small rowboats.

Expect to wait for quite a while before boarding a rowboat. During peak times of day in the summer months, it can take up to 1 hour before you get to enter the cave. That’s pretty much the worst case scenario, but just in case, a good dose of patience and sunscreen will go a long way! 

And if you’re arriving by tour boat, bobbing about in the water while you wait your turn can get a little unpleasant if you suffer from seasickness. 

When it is your turn to board the rowboat, just be a little careful as it can be tricky if the water’s rougher than usual. I mean, the worst that can happen is you fall into the refreshing Mediterranean on a hot summer’s day! 

Once you’ve boarded the rowboat and it’s your turn to enter, it’s time to pay the €18 entry fee. Children under the age of 6 can enter for free, while EU citizens under 18 also get free entry. EU citizens between 18 and 25 only pay €2 to enter. 

After paying the entrance fee, you enter an entirely different world. You’re surrounded by a surreal inky blue like you’ve never seen before, while the heat and chaos of the outside world melts away and is replaced by a cool, serene atmosphere.

Inside the Blue Grotto, Capri

The captain of your rowboat will then proceed to sing some classic Neapolitan songs, elevating your time in paradise by just that extra little bit.

Don’t get too comfortable though, because you only have about 5 minutes inside the cave before returning to the outside world.

Keep in mind that the rowboat skippers often ask for a tip, but giving one is entirely up to you.

When is The Best Time to Visit The Blue Grotto?

You definitely want to be visiting on a sunny day, generally around midday, between 11 am and 2 pm. The light and intensity of the blue is at its best at this time of day. This also makes it the busiest time to visit.

If you’d prefer fewer crowds and shorter waiting times, visiting after that ‘perfect window’ is not a bad idea. Even though the light might not be quite as good, it’s still an amazing experience.

Otherwise, if you’re visiting the Amalfi Coast and Capri in the shoulder season, and hope to visit the Blue Grotto, be aware that the weather can be a bit unpredictable and when the water’s too rough the grotto is closed.

Is The Blue Grotto Open?

In summer, it’s almost always open from 9 am to 5 pm, but as mentioned above, during inclement weather in winter and the shoulder seasons, the cave can be closed quite frequently.

Each morning at 9 am, the skippers check if the cave is safe to enter. To find out whether it’s open or not, you can check this website, which is updated daily by one of the main tour operators.

Is The Blue Grotto Worth It?

Personally, it was worth it for us, but it might be different for you. Yes, it can be a bit of a hassle actually getting to visit the Blue Grotto, but once you’re inside, it really is extraordinary. 

Is it worth the €18 fee and costs involved in getting there?

Day-tripping to Capri just to see the Blue Grotto probably wouldn't be my first choice, especially in high season. If you're booking your ferry transport and Capri boat tour separately, between boarding, waiting for boats, and delays at the Blue Grotto, most of the day will either be spent traveling or waiting — not the best way to enjoy your time on Capri.

It can also get quite pricey and your time on the island will be rushed.

Booking a tour to the Blue Grotto from Sorrento (like this small group tour for ~€140/$158), Positano, or Amalfi is a better and simpler option, but again, time is limited, and there's so much more to see on Capri.

If you’re going to stay on the island for a couple days, which I highly recommend, then I’d say the costs involved are definitely worth it, because you have a lot of extra time to see many of the other, free natural attractions on Capri and get a proper feel for the island.

Oh, and don’t forget that in the evenings and early mornings, the island becomes a lot more peaceful since none of the day-trippers are around!

What About Capri’s Other Grottos?

Four spectacular sea caves in Capri. (Top right photo courtesy of Trish Pape, bottom right courtesy of Brandon)

You may already know this, but Capri actually has a lot more than just one grotto. You’ve got a number of them named after the hue of the water, including the White Grotto, the Green Grotto, and even the Red Grotto!

I know what you’re thinking, there’s no way the water can be red right?! 

Well, you’re correct. If you look at the few images available online, you’ll see that the water only has a very slight reddish touch to it. But we're getting off track here!

The reason I’m mentioning these grottos is to illustrate that the Blue Grotto is not your only option.

A visit to one of these lesser-known sea caves could prove to be a really peaceful escape compared to the Blue Grotto.

The experience is much the same with most of these, except without the crowds. They’re not quite as spectacular as their blue counterpart, but certainly still worth considering.

So if you’re not one for popular tourism spots, or you just want to explore a little off the beaten path, then you might find one of these other grottos a better choice.

The Green Grotto

Entrance to the Green Grotto. (Photo courtesy of contributor Trish Pape)

Located on the southern side of Capri, the Green Grotto does actually take on a visible emerald green tone when the light is right.

It’s one of the few sea caves with two openings. You can visit the Green Grotto as part of one of the boat tours around the island departing from Marina Grande. These cost about €24.

There are other tours available as well that depart from Marina Grande, such as the one below, which includes visits to the Green Grotto and the White Grotto.

Some boat tours will give you the chance to take a dip in the emerald green waters, but it’s best to check beforehand.

If you’re visiting Capri via a tour from the mainland, this one starts in Sorrento and passes by the Blue Grotto, Green Grotto, and White Grotto.

The White Grotto

Entrance to the White Grotto, Capri

Capri’s White Grotto is unsurprisingly known for its white limestone interior, and white stalactites that hang from the roof of the cave. It’s on the eastern coast of the island, near the Red Grotto.

Some have said that the natural rock formations appear to resemble the Madonna in prayer. The cave itself is actually quite high, at 24 meters or 78 feet.

The two tours above also include the White Grotto.

The Red Grotto

Entrance to the Red Grotto, Capri. (Photo courtesy of contributor Brandon)

The Red Grotto gets its name from the red-colored coral that gives the water a slight reddish tint.

There don’t seem to be any tours available online that include the Red Grotto, so it’s best to hire a private boat and tell the skipper you’d like to stop at the Red Grotto. 

That seems to be what most visitors recommend. Some people have also mentioned that it’s possible to visit the Red Grotto with one of the tours around the island costing €24.

And that sums up all you need to know about visiting the Blue Grotto, Capri's most famous attraction!

So is the Blue Grotto worth it?

I'd say so, yes. However, if sea caves and crowds aren't your cup of tea, there's nothing wrong with skipping it and visiting an attraction that interests you more.

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