7 Best Capri Tours from the Amalfi Coast

Capri is one of the most popular day trips from the Amalfi Coast, and joining a tour can turn the journey there into part of the experience. Instead of simply taking the ferry, you can cruise around the island, swim near the cliffs, see the Faraglioni from the water, and still have time to explore Capri itself.

But not every Capri tour works the same way. Some are mainly boat days with swimming stops and a few hours of free time on Capri. Others focus much more on exploring Capri and Anacapri on land, with a guide and transportation around the island.

Your departure point matters too. The strongest options leave from Positano, Praiano, Amalfi, and Maiori, and the experience can be quite different depending on where you are staying.

I’m Italian and know this part of the region well! For me, the first thing to decide is what you actually want from your Capri day. If cruising and swimming are the priority, choose one of the small-group boat tours. If you really want to see the island, a ferry-based tour with transportation around Capri makes much more sense.

Below, I’ve selected the best Capri tours from the Amalfi Coast for different types of travelers, including small-group cruises, a Blue Grotto-focused option, guided land-and-sea tours, and a private boat.

Best Capri Tours from the Amalfi Coast at a Glance

If you want one Capri tour that works well for most itineraries, this full-day Capri boat tour is the option I would choose. You can depart from Positano, Praiano, or Amalfi, which already makes it one of the easiest choices for travelers staying in several different parts of the coast.

A big part of the day is spent seeing Capri from the water. The boat cruises around the island past sights such as the Faraglioni, White Grotto, Natural Arch, and Marina Piccola, rather than simply taking you across to Capri and back.

There are also two swimming stops, with drinks, snacks, Prosecco, limoncello, towels, and diving masks provided on board.

What makes this my top pick, though, is that the boat experience does not take over the entire day. You still get around three to four hours of free time on Capri, so you can actually get off the boat and explore rather than feeling like the island itself was just a backdrop to the cruise.

Your time ashore is independent, which I actually think works well here. You can decide whether you would rather spend your time around Capri town, head farther across the island, stop for lunch, or simply explore at a slower pace. That flexibility is one of the reasons I prefer this tour as an all-around option rather than a more structured guided itinerary.

The boat may attempt the Blue Grotto if conditions, queues, timing, and the group allow it, but I would not book this particular tour specifically for the Blue Grotto. If entering the cave is one of your main priorities, Tour #5 is a better fit.

2. Best from Positano or Praiano: Small-Group Capri Boat Tour

If you are based in Positano or Praiano, this small-group Capri day trip is a particularly strong option. The group is limited to 12 travelers, and you cruise to Capri on a traditional wooden gozzo.

Before and after your time ashore, you cruise around Capri to see the island from the water, passing sights such as the Faraglioni, White Grotto, Green Grotto, Natural Arch, and Punta Carena. There is also time for swimming and snorkeling, with drinks and towels provided on board.

The boat also plans a stop at the Blue Grotto. Entry is not guaranteed because it depends on sea conditions and waiting times, and the group decides together whether to wait. You then get around four hours to explore Capri independently, which is generous for a boat-based day trip.

You can join from Positano or from Praiano at Marina di Praia or La Gavitella. If you are departing from Praiano, make sure you inform the operator in advance, otherwise they assume you are joining the tour in Positano.

There is no guide with you during your free time on Capri, and food is not included. I think that is fine if you like exploring independently, especially since the four-hour window gives you enough time to do more than simply walk around Marina Grande.

3. Best from Amalfi: Group Boat Tour to Capri with Swimming

If you’re staying in Amalfi and want to spend more of the day swimming and cruising, and less time sightseeing on land, this small-group Capri tour is the better fit. It leaves directly from Amalfi and carries a maximum of 12 people.

The day includes three opportunities to swim, around Punta Campanella, Capri, and Li Galli. Prosecco, water, snacks, limoncello, cookies, and the Capri landing fee are included.

You get around two to three hours of free time on Capri. That is less than Tours #1 and #2, but that is also why this option makes sense for a different traveler. The focus is more on enjoying the sea than packing a lot of island sightseeing into the day.

The boat intentionally does not stop at the Blue Grotto because of the long queues. You can try to visit it independently during your free time, but I would choose Tour #5 instead if the grotto is one of your priorities.

4. Best for Exploring Capri by Land + Sea: Guided Capri & Anacapri Tour

Most tours in this roundup are primarily boat experiences. This guided Capri and Anacapri tour is different. It is the one I would choose if your priority is actually exploring the island rather than mainly spending the day swimming and cruising.

You travel to Capri by hydrofoil, where your guide takes care of the logistics for the rest of the day. Private transportation around the island is included, so you can move between Anacapri and Capri town without dealing with the public buses yourself.

In Anacapri, you have time to explore and can add attractions such as the Monte Solaro chairlift or Villa San Michele if you want. You also visit Capri town, where you can walk around the center and enjoy some free time before continuing with the rest of the itinerary. These optional attractions are not included in the tour price.

The day is not entirely land-based. The shared Amalfi Coast options also include around two hours on a private boat around Capri, giving you a proper look at the island’s coastline and sights such as the Faraglioni from the water. The exact order can change depending on conditions and crowds, which gives the guide some flexibility in how the day is organized.

When booking, select the shared option that matches where you are staying: From Positano shared or From Amalfi shared. Private versions are available too. Pay close attention to the departure point when booking, because some of the other options listed on the same page depart only from Sorrento.

5. Best for the Blue Grotto: Capri & Blue Grotto Shared Boat Tour

If visiting the Blue Grotto is high on your Capri wishlist, this Blue Grotto-focused tour from Positano is the strongest fit in this roundup. The group is limited to 12, and the itinerary includes a dedicated stop at the grotto.

There is one logistical difference worth knowing. You are picked up in Positano and transferred by road to Marina della Lobra, where you board the boat. From there, you head toward Capri and the Blue Grotto before continuing around the island.

The tour also includes swimming, snorkeling masks, drinks, and limoncello, plus around four hours of free time on Capri. That means the grotto is not the only focus of the day.

The Blue Grotto entrance itself costs extra, and no tour can guarantee that you will get inside. Sea conditions can close the cave, while long queues can sometimes make a visit impractical. Still, if you want a tour that makes a real attempt rather than treating the grotto as an afterthought, this is the one I would choose.

6. Best from Maiori: Capri & Anacapri Full-Day Guided Trip

Good Capri tours are more limited once you move farther east along the Amalfi Coast, which is why this guided Capri and Anacapri trip from Maiori stands out. You board a direct fast ferry from Maiori to Capri, so there is no need to first travel to Positano or Amalfi.

When you arrive, the day includes a boat circuit around Capri followed by minibus transportation to Anacapri and Capri town. You explore both areas with a guide, with free time built in for things such as lunch, shopping, or the Monte Solaro chairlift.

This is very different from Tours #1, #2, #3, and #5. There are no swimming stops. The point is making it easy to see Capri by land without dealing with island transportation yourself.

You can also book this tour from Amalfi. I would particularly recommend it to Maiori travelers, though, because there are fewer strong organized Capri options leaving directly from that part of the coast.

7. Best Private: Capri Private Boat Tour from Positano or Amalfi

If you want to experience Capri without sharing the boat with another group, this private Capri boat tour is my pick. The traditional gozzo carries a maximum of six passengers, making this a much more intimate option than the shared tours above.

The day is focused on cruising around Capri itself. You circle the island past the Faraglioni and its famous grottoes, with opportunities to stop for swimming along the way. Snacks, Prosecco, wine, beer, soft drinks, water, and towels are provided on board.

Because this is a private tour, you have much more freedom to customize the day. You can spend more time swimming and cruising or choose to go ashore to explore Capri, have lunch, and walk around the island before returning to the boat.

There are two important extra costs to factor in. Fuel costs €350 per booking, and if you choose to disembark on Capri, there is an additional €150 embarkation and disembarkation fee. Snorkeling equipment is also not included, although you can bring your own or buy it on board.

Those extras make this considerably more expensive than the shared options, but for a group of up to six people, you are paying for privacy, flexibility, and a Capri itinerary built around your group.

How to Choose the Right Capri Tour from the Amalfi Coast

The biggest question is not really which tour has the longest list of stops. It is how you want to spend your Capri day.

FAQ About Capri Tours from the Amalfi Coast

Which Capri tour is best if I want to see Capri and Anacapri?

If sightseeing on the island is your main priority, I would choose the guided Capri and Anacapri tour. It includes transportation around the island and a guide, so you can see much more than you normally would on a swimming-focused boat trip.

Is the Blue Grotto guaranteed on a Capri tour?

No. The Blue Grotto can close because of sea conditions, and long queues can also make a visit impractical. If seeing it is especially important to you, this Blue Grotto-focused tour is the option I would choose because the cave is a planned part of the itinerary rather than an occasional extra.

Where do Capri tours leave from on the Amalfi Coast?

The strongest organized options generally leave from Positano, Praiano, Amalfi, and Maiori. Positano and Amalfi have the widest choice. Praiano also has good small-group boat departures, while Maiori has fewer options but does have a useful guided ferry tour to Capri and Anacapri.

What can I do with a few hours of free time on Capri?

With two to four hours, I would focus on one or two areas rather than trying to see everything. You could explore Capri town and a viewpoint, head to Anacapri for the Monte Solaro chairlift, or simply enjoy lunch and wander. My guide to the best things to do in Capri will help you decide what is realistic with the time your tour gives you.