The Blue Grotto is a sea cave on the northwest coast of Capri, about 60 metres long, whose light comes from a small opening below the waterline. Sunlight enters through that underwater gap and lights the water from beneath, which is why the cave seems to shine silver-blue and why objects in the water look as if they are glowing. The entrance above the surface is so low that visitors transfer from the larger boat into a small rowboat, lie back in the bottom as the rower pulls on a chain, and slip through. Inside you spend only a few minutes, often with the rower singing, before heading out again. The strongest colour comes around the middle of the day, and overcast skies dull it. Almost everything about a visit is decided by the sea. When swell or wind rises the entrance is simply closed, sometimes for days, and the operators decide each morning whether to open. From November through March the cave is closed more often than not, so a boat tour that includes the grotto may carry you around the island and then sail past the entrance. Any tour you book should explain what happens in that case, and the entrance and rowboat fees are normally paid on the spot on top of the tour price.
How you reach it matters. From Marina Grande on Capri, motorboats make the ten-minute run along the coast, or you can combine the grotto with a day trip by sea from Sorrento, which is the usual choice for visitors based on this side of the bay. The tour linked here is a small-group boat day trip from Sorrento that names the Blue Grotto in its title, so it is the right way in if you want a single booking that covers the crossing.
On a rough day the boat will usually offer the rest of the Capri circuit, including the Faraglioni rocks and other sea caves, and many travellers say that is a pleasant outcome in its own right.
Be realistic about November. Capri's tourist businesses wind down from late October, the grotto's winter hours run only through the middle of the day, and boats from the mainland are cancelled whenever the sea is rough. The sensible approach is to book a refundable option, ask the operator on the morning of travel whether the grotto is open, and have a plan B on the island, such as Anacapri and Monte Solaro. If the ticket offices at Marina Grande are shut, the grotto is shut.
Expectations help as well. The visit is short and slightly theatrical, in high season there can be long waits in a queue of rowboats, and the blue is most vivid on bright, calm days. In the quiet season the queue disappears, which is the compensation for the odds. Wear something you do not mind getting a splash on, keep cameras and phones secure while you lie back, and leave bags on the main boat.
What to expect
The experience
A boat trip from Sorrento to Capri, then a transfer to a small rowboat to enter the cave, with a few minutes inside before returning to the boat.
Best time
Calm, bright days around midday for the strongest colour. In winter it is often closed, so keep the day flexible.
How long
Five minutes inside the cave; plan most of a day when it is part of a crossing from Sorrento.
Tips
Book a refundable option, ask the operator that morning whether the sea allows entry, and expect the entrance and rowboat fees to be paid on site.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Travellers who want the classic Capri sight and accept that the sea decides.
- Families
- Children enjoy the rowboat, but the low entrance and swell make it a poor fit for very young or nervous kids.
- Couples
- A memorable few minutes if the day is calm; pair it with a quiet lunch in Anacapri.
- Pair with
- Anacapri and the Monte Solaro chairlift, or a circuit of the island by boat.
- Time needed
- A full day from Sorrento, because most of the time is spent crossing and queuing.
Good questions
Is the Blue Grotto open in November?+
It is open year-round only when the sea allows, and from November to March it is closed more often than not. Winter opening hours run roughly from morning to early afternoon, and the skippers decide each morning.
How do I check whether it is open?+
Ask your tour operator on the day of travel, or look at the ticket offices at Marina Grande on Capri. If they are closed, the grotto is closed.
What happens to my tour if the grotto is shut?+
Most boat tours continue around the island and may pass the entrance without going in. Check the cancellation and refund terms before you book.
Is the entrance included in the price?+
Often it is not; the entrance and rowboat fees are typically paid separately on site. Read the inclusions on carefully.
When is the colour best?+
Around the middle of the day on a bright, calm day. Cloud and low sun reduce the effect.
