When planning our 3 days in Capri itinerary, we discovered the island’s most popular attraction was called the Blue Grotto. At first look, we saw those stunning photos of blue light dancing, bouncing and echoing around the personal swimming hole of Roman Emperor Tiberius and added it straight into our itinerary.
But the more we researched, the more we realized it had mixed reviews from previous visitors. And we don’t just mean some people thought it was okay and others thought it was slightly underwhelming. The reviews were extreme – people either loved it or hated it. And this only added to the intrigue for us.
Here we are outside and inside the Blue Grotto
Hi, we’re Mark and Kristen Morgan. We left our scientific careers in 2018 to become travel writers and photographers, and since then our expert guides have helped millions of travel planners take better trips. Read more about us.
Why trust us with your Blue Grotto plans? We share our genuine experiences from the notorious sea cave, with a completely unbiased perspective so you can make the right call. As always, every photo in this guide is ours.
So what did we think after visiting the Blue Grotto? Well, we totally understood both sides of the split opinion. The very short time we had inside cave was magical, but the rest of the whole drama surrounding it was a terrible experience. And we travel the world visiting attractions for a living, so we have the reference points and perspective.
This guide explains exactly what happened when we visited the Blue Grotto in Capri, along with the two different ways you can visit the sea cave and mistakes you should avoid based on what we learned. Okay, let’s begin!
Note: Our content is reader supported and contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you and it helps us keep this site running.
Our Blue Grotto Experience
We’d already spent 2 awesome action-packed days exploring the east and central parts of Capri, before heading over to Anacapri for our last day on the island.
We visited Villa San Michele, took the chair lift to Monte Solaro, ate lunch at Sciue Sciue, saw a stunning floor inside the Chiesa di San Michele and then took a bus to the Grotta Azzurra.
This was the line on land after we got into our boat
The bus dropped us off at a dead end, just a few paces from a zig-zagging staircase which led us down the cliffs to a small restaurant and souvenir shop. We bypassed the food, continued down to the bottom where the rowing boats were, and arrived to a surprisingly small line of around 5-6 groups.
Not only was the cave open (it closes due to poor conditions far more often than we thought), but the queue on land was tiny and there were only around 7 or 8 boats on the water approach, which was also shockingly light.
We arrived at around 2:00pm on a beautifully sunny weekday in the middle of May, and we honestly expected the line to be enormous. So we definitely rode our luck a bit, but we were happy with the result.
Paying To Get In
It didn’t take long for the groups of people ahead of us to hop into rowing boats, and before we knew it we were already being helped into a boat of our own. We were ushered to the rear, and another group of two were helped into the front of our boat.
This was the line on land after we got into our boat
The skipper moved our boat around to the back of the line of row boats hugging the cliff, before explaining that we had to dock beside a floating kiosk to pay €14 each for entry in cash (€10 for the boat and €4 for entry tax – whatever that is).
Note: The price has gone up to €18 per person since we visited, and you can also pay by card now.
Here we are right after getting in our boat 
This was our line to get inside the cave
As we were waiting in line, our skipper went on to strongly encourage us to tip €5 each – and it was assertive to the point of being uncomfortable. It also wasn’t clear when we were supposed to give the tip, but we (and the other group in our boat) waited until after the cave.
Note: Some recent Google reviews mention being asked to tip before going inside, and the more they tipped the longer they’d get. We can’t attest to that, but we don’t like it if it’s true.
The Sea Cave
After waiting for a few boats to go in and come out, our skipper grabbed the chains, told us to lay back and stay low, and quickly pulled us inside the sea cave. Our immediate reaction? Wow!
It was like going through a portal or being transported to another world. In a split second we went from bobbing around on the sea next to a cliff (which felt totally normal and familiar) to being encapsulated by brilliant blue water and a low hanging cave.
We did enjoy how much the cave lit up and glowed with bouncing light
Light was dazzling and reflecting all around us, the loud singing of multiple oarsmen at the same time was echoing around the compact chamber, and our senses were acutely heightened.
Our skipper circled the cave as we attempted to absorb everything, take as many photos as we could and enjoy the experience. It was a hard balance because we knew it was going to be over quickly, but we also knew we had to get the photos to write this guide.
The blue color inside was super vibrant
To be fair to our skipper, his singing was actually pretty soothing and he took our phone to snap a quick photo of us, which turned out to be the best photo of our Blue Grotto visit.
Those two things combined made the inevitable upcoming tip a bit less begrudging and compulsory, and more of a genuine thank you from us. It just would have been nice not to feel like we “had” to tip. There’s a big difference.
We took this photo right as we were about to exit the cave
In what felt like 5 seconds, but was actually closer to 5 minutes, we were already back at the cave entrance waiting our turn to slip back through the portal into the real world. We tipped €10 for the two of us, and in a flash we were back on dry land.
Our Pros + Cons
What we loved :
- Stunning deep blue colors
- Totally unique experience
- Easy enough to reach by land
What we didn’t like :
- Mostly unfriendly oarsmen
- Tipping expected, not appreciated
- Very rushed and disingenuous
- A lot of negative energy
- Dreadful customer service (this is a paid attraction after all)
Do It Yourself Or Book A Guided Tour?
Okay, that was our experience, but there’s more to consider before you decide whether you want to give it a try or not. For starters, you have to decide how you’d get to the Blue Grotto.
Would it be by land or by sea? Ask yourself, would you rather work out the logistics yourself and do it on the cheap, or go as part of a private boat tour and pay a bit more?
Let’s take a look at the best ways to do both.
These groups all went inside while we were stood in line
Doing It Yourself By Land
To get to the Blue Grotto by yourself, you’ll need to take a bus from the corner of Viale T. De Tommaso and Viale Cimitero. On Google Maps it’s called Stazionamento Autobus, and it’s located a few minutes south of Piazza Vittoria in Anacapri.
We took this very bus. It cost us €2.40 each and it took around 15 minutes with a few other stops along the way. The bus dropped us off right at the Blue Grotto, so overall it was super easy, cheap and convenient.
Now, getting to the Blue Grotto is a piece of cake if you book a hotel in Anacapri because you’re already close by. Read our guide on where to stay in Capri if you’re not sure which hotel to book yet.
But if you’re staying on the east side of the island in Capri, or you’re taking a day trip from Sorrento, Naples or Positano to Capri by ferry, you’ll need to take a bus from Capolinea Bus Terminal on Via Roma to reach Piazza Vittoria in Anacapri. Then you’ll also need to take that second bus to the Blue Grotto. We paid €2.90 each for the bus from Via Roma to Anacapri first thing in the morning.
Alternatively, you can hike up the Scala Fenicia from near Marina Grande to reach Anacapri. But the seriously old staircase (6th century BC) is a bit of a beast with over 900 meaty steps to climb. We went down the staircase at the end of our day in Anacapri and it was steep!
So you take two buses for a combined €5.30, pay €18 to enter the Blue Grotto, and let’s say you tip €5. Your total is €28.30 per person by doing it yourself by land.
It’s a bit more faffing around with public transport, but it’s easy to tie in the sea cave with other great things to do in Capri. Whereas by boat you won’t also be able to do Monte Solaro or hike the Sentiero dei Fortini.
Plus, arriving by land is typically the quickest way to get inside the Blue Grotto. The oarsmen prioritize land visitors over boat visitors, so if there’s a ton of boats waiting it can take ages.
Spare oarsmen went out to pick people up from boats
Doing It Yourself By Sea
We didn’t arrive at the Blue Grotto by sea, but it’s easy enough to do if you’d rather skip the buses or if you’d prefer to be out on the water.
This direct local ferry from pier 23 at Marina Grande goes to the Blue Grotto and back. It costs €24 per person and has departures from 9:30am-1:00pm, but you must also pay the €18 entry and tip on top for a total of €47 per person (with €5 tip included).
If you go with this option and you’re visiting in peak season, we highly recommend taking the earliest ferry to arrive at the sea cave before the worst of the crowds. That means if you’re coming across to Capri from somewhere else, you really need to take a super early ferry to then get one of the earlier local boats to the Blue Grotto.
Even in the off season, we wouldn’t risk it by taking a midday ferry because the boat operator reserves the right to return to port if the wait is longer than 45 minutes. You would be able to try again the next day for free with the same ticket, but that would be wasted time on your itinerary.
And there were even more boats arriving as we left
Booking A Full Island Boat Tour
The final option you have is to let someone else do the work instead of figuring out buses or the local ferry. You can book a private tour of the island including the Blue Grotto that originates in Capri, Naples, Sorrento or Positano.
Booking a full island tour by boat will cost you more and some don’t arrive at the Blue Grotto until the middle of the day when it’s busiest. And you do still have to pay the €18 entry and tip on top, despite the boat tour already costing more initially.
Important: If the Blue Grotto line is too long, some private tour operators may not wait for you to go inside. However – and this is just as important – full island tours also stop at the White Grotto and Green Grotto, which are free to enter, are also very beautiful and some even let you swim in the Green Grotto.
Here are the top rated full island tours we can find:
From Capri: Private 3 hour tour for up to 7 people with lunch time Blue Grotto. Works out much cheaper if you’re visiting Capri in a group of 6 or 7.
From Sorrento: Popular small group 7-8 hour boat tour from Sorrento with early Blue Grotto and 3 hours free time on the island.
From Positano: Full day 8 hour tour from Positano with early Blue Grotto and 4 hours free time on the island.
From Naples: All-inclusive 9 hour tour from Naples with early stop at Blue Grotto, plus minibus transport on the island between top attractions for 4 hours.
These were the groups ahead of us about to leave
Mistakes To Avoid
Arriving when the sea cave is closed: It’s crucial to know that the boatmen can and do close the Blue Grotto at any given time. Factors like high tide, strong winds, rough seas and poor visibility frequently lead to closures, sometimes several times within a day. Between November-March the cave is closed more regularly due to adverse conditions. If the cave is closed and you’ve paid for a tour, it’s tough luck.
Not having a backup plan: What will you do if the cave is closed? Make sure you know exactly how you’ll spend your time if you can’t get into the grotto, otherwise you’ll end up losing a day and Capri isn’t a cheap place to waste a day.
Visiting at peak times: The Blue Grotto is busiest between 12:00pm-2:00pm daily when lines can reach up to 1-2 hours in peak season. We must have been lucky the day we arrived at 2:00pm in mid-May. Avoid arriving around lunch time.
Not taking cash: We had to pay for everything in cash but recent comments suggest card payments are accepted for the cave. Even so, the oarsmen will still expect a tip to be paid in cash. Carry €5 in cash for each person in your group.
Going when it’s cloudy: If you’re doing the Blue Grotto by yourself by bus, make sure the sky is blue and the sun is shining when you visit the sea cave. If it’s cloudy and overcast you won’t get those brilliant blue lights leaping around inside. Only go if it’s actually sunny!
Thinking the best light is at midday: We chose to arrive at 2:00pm because we read that the sun is strongest in the middle of the day from 12:00pm-2:00pm, but our skipper told us the light is just as good earlier in the morning and that’s when the lines are shortest. Don’t plan your visit around light alone.
Waiting until the afternoon: If you can’t make it there early and don’t want to go when it’s busiest in the middle of the day, the reasonable conclusion to do is go later in the afternoon, right? But the problem with afternoons is rougher seas, which lead to more frequent cave closures.
Being lulled into overpaying: Don’t let the oarsmen trick you into having a boat to yourselves for €50 or anything similar. It’s €18 each plus tip. We were asked if we wanted a private experience and said no.
Forgetting about seasickness: Do you get seasick? If so, your best bet is to approach by land instead of sea. But if you must visit by water, make sure you carry Dramamine. You could be bobbing around for an hour out there waiting to get in.
Not thinking about the sun: If you end up in a one-hour wait in the blazing sun you’re going to get torched. Make sure you have sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water.
Expecting a long time inside: The whole experience only lasts 3-5 minutes. Understand that you might not think it’s worth all the effort and money.
Not listening to your skipper: The most important mistake to avoid is not doing exactly what your oarsman says. What that means is when they say duck, you duck. The opening is only 1 meter high and the boat goes through quickly. You do not want to hit your head.
It started getting busy and loud when more boats were inside
Is Capri’s Blue Grotto Really Worth It?
If we’re being totally honest, we thought Capri’s Blue Grotto was overhyped. People (including us) feel like they “have” to do it because it’s big on social media – but all that effort, time and tension with money for just 3-5 minutes inside wasn’t worth it to us.
The most frustrating thing? It would be so easy for them to make it a more pleasant experience for tourists, and as a result we’re sure the negativity would disappear.
We don’t regret visiting the Blue Grotto and the unique light show inside really was amazing, but we absolutely would not do it again if we went back to Capri. Whereas we would definitely take the chair lift to Monte Solaro and hike the Sentiero dei Fortini, which speaks volumes.
For us, the better water activity would be to book a full island boat tour that visited all the other sea caves except the only one with crowds, an entry fee and a weird atmosphere.
Remember, the sea cave was open for us and we barely had to queue. If we had to wait an hour (or longer) we’d have left feeling even more like it wasn’t worth it. Or if we booked an expensive private tour in advance, got unlucky with weather and arrived to the cave being closed, we’d be pretty frustrated.
But we can understand why some people love it. For us, it all depends on the type of person you are. If you’re super chilled out and just want to see cool things, you’ll love it. But if you hate waiting in long lines or feeling like you’ve been ripped off, you probably won’t enjoy it.
We travel the world for a living and always approach things like this from a neutral standpoint to help our readers make more informed decisions without bias. But this is still our opinion, so don’t just take our word for it.
Before booking anything or even planning the Blue Grotto into your itinerary, we encourage you to read the latest comments on Google Reviews and on Tripadvisor. You’ll be able to get a bigger picture about what to expect based on other people’s recent experiences.
Next Steps
We hope our guide to Capri’s Blue Grotto helps with planning your visit to the Amalfi Coast, but please let us know if you have any questions in the comments box a little further below.
Still figuring out your plans?
Finally, if you’ll be visiting more places on the same trip, we recommend reading our Italy travel planning guide for helpful tips and advice.
Happy Travels,
Mark and Kristen
Find our guide helpful? Pin it for later!
All Rights Reserved © Where Are Those Morgans, LLC. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, maps, graphics, etc.) in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.
Mark and Kristen spent 6 years traveling the world, visiting over 40 countries across 4 continents and more than 30 US states. They created Where Are Those Morgans in 2018 to help others plan the best possible vacations by writing authentic travel and hiking guides based on their real experiences.
Since the arrival of baby Maya in late 2024, Mark and Kristen’s extensive travels have slowed down but they still take plenty of trips. Where Are Those Morgans now helps millions of travelers each year to visit new places and hike new trails through information-packed blog posts and expert travel guidebooks. Read more about Mark and Kristen.
Please visit:
Our Sponsor