Capri / Blue Grotto
Capri / Grotta Azzurra
A famous holiday island in the Bay of Naples. Small boats slip into the Blue Grotto to reveal glowing blue water, and a cable car carries visitors up Monte Solaro for views of the Faraglioni rocks.
Capri covers just 10 square kilometers and has been a resort for the elite since the Roman emperor Tiberius built a villa here. The Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) lies on the island's northwest coast. Its entrance is only about 1 meter high, so you transfer from a large boat into a four-person rowboat and lie down to slip inside. Sunlight enters through the underwater opening and refracts, making the cave glow an intense blue. You have about 5 minutes inside. The rowboat costs €14 and cave admission costs €18, payable in cash. Boats leave from Marina Grande harbor (about €18 round trip). Alternatively, take a bus from Anacapri to the Blue Grotto stop and walk down the steps to the cave entrance, where you queue for a rowboat without paying for the large boat. The Blue Grotto is open 09:00–17:00 and closes in strong winds or high tide. In peak season the wait can be 1–2 hours, so go first thing after arriving, or take a circumnavigation boat tour (about €20–25, 2 hours), which passes the Faraglioni, the White Grotto and the Green Grotto. Entry to the Blue Grotto is paid separately on the boat. Other highlights: take the funicular from Marina Grande (€2.40, 5 minutes) to Piazzetta, the small square in Capri town. From there, walk to the Gardens of Augustus (€2.50) for views of the three Faraglioni rocks and the zigzag Via Krupp path. Or take a bus to Anacapri and ride the single-seat chairlift (round trip €14) up Monte Solaro, at 589 meters, for panoramic views of the whole island. Getting there: fast ferries from Naples' Molo Beverello pier take 50 minutes (about €25). From Sorrento the trip takes 20–25 minutes (about €20–22). There are also summer routes from Positano and Amalfi. The last boat usually departs between 18:00 and 19:00, so check in advance. A day trip around the whole island takes 8 hours, so take an early boat. Prices on the island are high. Lunch is cheaper on the Anacapri side. In July and August, crowds are heavy, and in the narrow lanes of Capri town you may have to turn sideways to pass.
Opening hours
Blue Hole 09:00–17:00 (depends on sea conditions)
Nearby sights
- Villa San Michele
- Sorrento
- Procida
- Castel dell'Ovo
- Lungomare Caracciolo
- Phlegraean Fields
- Spaccanapoli
- Piazza del Plebiscito