"Minus the weather conditions the guide and driver were really good hosts and always asked us what we needed and we appreciated it, the experience was overall wonderful"
Sorrento · Bay of Naples · Capri Island
Capri Trip from Sorrento
The most-booked Capri boat trip from Sorrento — cruise the coastline, swim in turquoise coves, see the Blue Grotto, and get hours of free time to wander Capri town.
From
$156
per person
Free cancellation
- 4.8 / 5 4557+ Reviews
- 5 - 8 hours Duration
- Small Group Intimate Experience
- English Guide Local Expert
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
Why This Capri Trip from Sorrento Stands Out
A small-boat cruise with swimming stops, the Blue Grotto option, and free time on the island — not just a ferry transfer.
Highlights
- Boat around Capri to admire the dramatic coastal scenery of the island
- Go swimming and snorkeling around the island
- Opt to visit the Blue Grotto and admire the intense blue of this famous sea cave
- Explore the narrow winding streets of Capri at your own pace
- Enjoy drinks onboard, and sample the traditional liqueur Limoncello
What's Included
- Swimming stop
- Blue Grotto stop (if option selected)
- Free time on Capri
- Services of a professional skipper and guide
- Use of snorkeling masks
- Drinks (Prosecco, water, beer, soft drinks)
How Your Capri Trip from Sorrento Works
Four steps from Sorrento's harbour to Capri and back — most trips run 5–8 hours.
Board at Sorrento's Marina
Meet your skipper-guide at Sorrento's Marina Piccola (the harbour below town). Many trips also offer hotel pickup so you don't have to find the port yourself.
Cruise to Capri
Sail across the Bay of Naples — roughly 20–35 minutes — past the Sorrentine coast toward Capri's dramatic Faraglioni sea stacks.
Swim, Snorkel & Blue Grotto
Stop in turquoise coves to swim and snorkel, with the option to add Blue Grotto entry (€18 in cash, sea conditions permitting).
Free Time on Capri
Step ashore at Marina Grande for free time in Capri town — espresso in the Piazzetta, the gardens, or lunch — before the afternoon cruise back to Sorrento.
Photo Gallery
Your Capri Trip in Pictures
Faraglioni sea stacks, hidden grottoes, and the turquoise water you'll swim in on the crossing from Sorrento.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. Instant confirmation — free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
Capri Trip from Sorrento — Compare Your Options
Shared boat trip, private charter, or ferry and explore solo — here's how the three ways to do Capri from Sorrento stack up.
| Feature | BEST VALUE Shared Boat Trip | Private Boat Charter | Ferry + Explore Solo |
|---|---|---|---|
| What It Is | Small-group guided boat from Sorrento with swimming stops and free time on Capri | Private boat for your group only — flexible route and timing | Take the scheduled ferry, then explore Capri independently |
| Typical Duration | 5–8 hours (full day on and around the island) | Half or full day — you set the length | As long as you like, within ferry timetables |
| Blue Grotto | Optional add-on — skipper handles the approach (€18 cash entry) | Optional — captain navigates on request | Possible, but you queue and pay separately at the cave |
| Swimming & Snorkeling | ✓ Included stops in turquoise coves, masks provided | ✓ Swim anywhere your captain can safely anchor | Limited to public beaches and lidos |
| Guide & Local Insight | ✓ English-speaking skipper-guide on board | ✓ Private skipper — most personal attention | None — you research the island yourself |
| Free Time on Capri | ✓ Usually 3–4 hours ashore at Marina Grande | ✓ Flexible — built around your plan | ✓ Maximum — limited only by the last ferry |
| Drinks Included | ✓ Water, soft drinks, often Prosecco or Limoncello | Varies by operator — often included | None — buy on board or ashore |
| Free Cancellation | ✓ Up to 24 hours before | ✓ Up to 24 hours before (most charters) | Ferry tickets are usually non-refundable |
| Starting Price | From $156/per person | From ~$400 per group | Ferry ~$20–30 + Blue Grotto €18 |
| Check Availability | Browse Private Trips | Browse Ferry Options |
More Options
Explore More Capri Tours
Looking for something different? Browse popular alternatives — all with free cancellation and instant confirmation.
BEST VALUENaples: Capri & Anacapri ferry included - Small Group Tour
Take a hydrofoil from Naples to Capri, and explore Piazzetta and the Gardens of Augustus. Enjoy guided highlights, and free time to stroll and relax.
BLUE GROTTOFrom Sorrento: Capri Boat Tour with Blue Grotto Optional
Set sail from Sorrento and get ready to discover Capri and the Blue Grotto (optional). Meet early, beat the crowds and enjoy time to explore the island and swim.
BUDGET PICKSorrento: Coast and Capri Boat Trip with Limoncello Tasting
Grant yourself a day in the name of the sea and the beauty. Discover the island in Capri on this boat tour. With a stop of about 6-hours, you will explore the island and see for yourself how stunning it is.
FULL DAYFrom Naples: Capri, Anacapri, and Blue Grotto Full-Day Trip
Discover Capri with a local guide on a small-group tour from Naples. Visit the Blue Grotto, weather permitting, or enjoy a scenic boat tour, with free time to explore the charming Anacapri and more.
MOST POPULARFrom Sorrento: Capri Island Boat Day Trip With Transfer
Visit Capri island on a day tour that includes sailing all around Capri island, exploring some grottos, stops for swimming, snacks, drinks, limoncello tasting, and going ashore to enjoy 4 hours of free time.
The Boat Trip, Start to Finish
What a Capri Boat Trip from Sorrento Is Really Like
Boat trip or ferry, when to go for the Blue Grotto, and how a full day on the water actually unfolds — the parts the booking page leaves out.
Capri sits just across the water from Sorrento, in the Gulf of Naples — close enough that the crossing is short, but far enough that how you cross shapes the whole day. A scheduled ferry gets you there in around 20 minutes and leaves the island to you. A guided boat trip turns the journey itself into the experience: you cruise the coastline, anchor for a swim, weigh up the Blue Grotto, and still get hours ashore. Here’s how to decide — and what the day actually involves.
Boat trip or ferry — which to book
The ferry from Sorrento is the cheapest, fastest way over — roughly $20–30, about 20–25 minutes on a fast boat (30–35 on a traditional one), leaving from Sorrento’s Marina Piccola (the harbour below town, not to be confused with the restaurant cove of Marina Grande). It’s the right call if you want to explore Capri independently and keep costs down.
A guided boat trip costs more but does more: a small boat cruises hidden coves you can’t reach on foot, makes swimming and snorkelling stops, handles the Blue Grotto approach, and includes drinks and an English-speaking skipper. You trade a little flexibility for an itinerary that shows you the island from the water — the angle most first-timers remember. To compare every departure side by side, see our Capri tours from Sorrento overview.
The Blue Grotto: brilliant, but time it right
The Grotta Azzurra — the sea cave lit an electric blue from below — is the island’s signature sight, but it runs on its own rules. Entry is €18 per person in cash (€14 for the rowboat that carries you through the metre-high mouth, plus €4 admission), paid at the floating ticket office by the cave, and it’s almost always separate from your tour price. It only opens in calm seas: the low entrance closes whenever wind or tide make it unsafe. Hours are seasonal — roughly 8:30am to 5pm in summer, closing nearer 2pm in winter — and the calmest water, best light and shortest queues are all in the morning. Book a morning departure and treat the Grotto as an add-on you confirm on the day, not a guarantee. Our Blue Grotto guide covers the entry in detail.
Sailing past the Faraglioni
Almost every boat trip rounds the Faraglioni — the three limestone stacks off Capri’s south-east coast you’ll recognise from a hundred postcards. The one joined to the island is Stella (about 109m); the middle stack, di Mezzo, has a natural arch your skipper can often steer the boat straight through; and the outer stack, Scopolo, is home to a rare blue lizard found almost nowhere else on earth. Passing between them, close enough to read the rock, is the moment most cameras come out.
When to go from Sorrento
May, June and September are the sweet spot: warm water for swimming, calmer seas for the Blue Grotto, and noticeably lighter crowds than peak July and August. Whatever the month, mornings give the best sea conditions and the best Grotto odds. Plan your return around the timetable — in summer the last ferries back to Sorrento run until about 7–7:30pm, far fewer and earlier (around 6:40pm) in winter. Our best time to visit guide breaks it down month by month, and if you’re still choosing a base, Sorrento vs Naples weighs the two.
What the day actually looks like
A typical trip starts mid-morning at Marina Piccola (many include hotel pickup), crosses to Capri in well under an hour, then spends the middle of the day cruising the coast with one or more swimming stops and the optional Grotto. You’re usually dropped at Marina Grande for three to four hours of free time — long enough to ride the funicular up to the Piazzetta, walk to the Gardens of Augustus, and have lunch — before the afternoon cruise back. For an hour-by-hour version, see our full Capri day trip from Sorrento guide.
Ready to pick a date? Check live availability and book — most trips offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before, so it’s worth reserving a morning slot early in high season.
Guest Reviews
What Guests Say
5/5
from 4557 verified guests
"The pickup was easy by our apartment. The boat ride was good and the island is very nice. Be aware that you do get off at marina picolo (small marina) and not grande. Not an issue but there weren’t many cabs at piccolo so we had to take the bus which was slower and packed. The captain did a nice job and the other guy who gave us information seemed to have good things to say but the boat was so loud you really couldn’t hear anything or understand him that well. Maybe they could coordinate the information giving when the boat slows down or is stopped. When we did stop for the various stops (blue grotto, green grotto, etc) both guys were nice and personable. We did get to do the blue grotto which was very cool but very busy. They got us in fast and it was quite amazing to see. Overall a good trip. Other trips talk about snacks. We did have our choice of water, beer or Pepsi (no diet or 0). We also had prosecco and limoncello."
"check the time of the tour, the sea is sometimes very rough"
"it was a fantastic day the crew Emmanuel and Fabricio (sorry not sure of the spelling) were great ,blue grotto was an experience, expensive for what it is..5 mins but we still enjoyed, Capri is a lovely place but the boat journey around the island made it the best trip we had and to finish it off we had drinks and a swim in the sea.Would recommend this trip"
"I had the best day with helpful staff for my recovering leg. They did everything if I needed help. The alone time seemed a bit overwhelming at first but was explained fully and they even helped us all with a copy of the island map."
Read all 4557 verified reviews
See All ReviewsReady to Explore Capri?
Book a Capri tour today — 80+ options ranging from budget-friendly group boats to premium private experiences. Free cancellation on most tours. Starting from $156 per person.
Check Availability & BookCapri Trip from Sorrento — Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to plan a Capri boat trip or day trip from Sorrento.
The crossing itself is short — about 20–25 minutes on a fast ferry or 30–35 minutes on a traditional boat. Guided boat trips run longer overall (typically 5–8 hours) because they add coastal cruising, swimming stops, the Blue Grotto option, and free time on the island. See our Sorrento to Capri ferry guide for crossing times and the port.
Group boat trips start around $73 per person. Mid-range cruises with swimming, drinks and snorkeling run $100–$160, and full-day or premium tours with Anacapri and a guide reach $170–$196. Blue Grotto entry (€18 in cash) is almost always a separate add-on paid at the cave. Most trips include free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Sorrento's Marina Piccola — the harbour below the town, reached by a short walk, lift or drive from the centre. (Don't confuse it with Sorrento's Marina Grande, a fishing cove with restaurants.) Most guided trips offer hotel pickup, so you won't need to navigate to the port yourself.
Usually it's an optional add-on, not included. Entry is €18 per person (€14 rowboat transfer + €4 admission), paid in cash at the floating ticket office by the cave. It only opens in calm seas, so your skipper decides on the day. Read our Blue Grotto tour guide for how the entry works and the best timing.
The ferry is cheapest and fastest if you just want to reach Capri and explore solo. A guided boat trip costs more but cruises hidden coves, includes swimming and snorkeling, handles the Blue Grotto logistics, and gives you free time ashore — it's the experience, not just transport. Compare both in our Capri tours from Sorrento overview.
Yes — most boat trips make one or more swimming stops in turquoise coves around the island, and many provide snorkeling masks. Bring a swimsuit and a towel; the water is clearest from June to September. Our Capri packing list covers exactly what to bring on the boat.
Yes. Alongside shared group trips, you can book a private boat charter from Sorrento for your group only — more flexibility on route, timing and swimming stops, at a higher price. Group trips are the better value for couples and solo travellers; private charters suit families and small groups who want the boat to themselves.
Yes — guided boat trips from Sorrento are run with English-speaking skippers and guides, and most also offer Italian. The product page lists the available guide languages before you book.
Most full trips give you roughly 3–4 hours ashore at Marina Grande — enough to ride the funicular up to Capri town's Piazzetta, see the Gardens of Augustus, grab lunch, or shop. Shorter half-day boat tours focus on the water and give less island time. Our Capri day trip guide shows a realistic hour-by-hour plan.
Some boat trips do cruise the Amalfi Coast and Capri together, but a full Capri trip plus a proper Positano visit makes for a very long day with a lot of boat time. If both matter to you, choose a dedicated Capri-and-Positano cruise rather than trying to squeeze in everything independently.
Sorrento has the shorter crossing and is the more relaxed, walkable base — ideal if you're already staying on the Sorrentine Peninsula or Amalfi Coast. Naples offers more tour variety and works if you're based in the city. Our Sorrento vs Naples comparison weighs crossing time, convenience and choice.
May, June and September give warm seas, good Blue Grotto odds and lighter crowds than peak July–August. Mornings have the calmest water and the best chance the Blue Grotto is open. Our best time to visit guide breaks the season down month by month.
In summer the last departures run until roughly 7:00–7:30 PM; in winter service ends earlier (around 6:40 PM) with far fewer crossings. Guided trips schedule your return for you, but if you explore independently always check the day's timetable so you don't miss the last boat.
Typically: round-trip boat transfer, coastal cruising, one or more swimming stops, snorkeling gear, and drinks (often water, soft drinks and Prosecco or Limoncello). Blue Grotto entry, lunch ashore and hotel pickup vary by tour — check the inclusions on each product page before booking.
Yes, especially from May to September. Popular Sorrento boat trips sell out days ahead in high season, and morning departures (the best for the Blue Grotto and calm seas) go first. Booking online secures your spot with free cancellation up to 24 hours before, so there's no downside to reserving early.
Still have questions? Email us at info@gocapritour.com