7 Best Capri Boat Tours (Departing from Capri)
Capri is beautiful from land, but some of the island’s most famous sights are best seen from the water. The Faraglioni, dramatic cliffs, sea caves, and tiny coves are exactly why I think taking a boat tour is one of the best things to do in Capri.
I’ve actually explored Capri by boat twice, once on a budget shared boat tour and once on a private boat. They were very different experiences, but I enjoyed both for different reasons.
The shared tour was an easy and inexpensive way to see the coastline, while the private boat gave us much more freedom to slow down and enjoy the experience.
All the boat tours in this guide depart from Capri itself, specifically from Marina Grande. These are not day trips to Capri from Sorrento, Naples, Positano, or the Amalfi Coast.
Below, I’ve selected the best Capri boat tours for different budgets and travel styles, from inexpensive island cruises to small-group swimming tours, Blue Grotto trips, private boats, and a sunset cruise.
Best Capri Boat Tours at a Glance
Small Group Capri Island Boat Ride
A well-reviewed two-hour island circuit with a small group, swimming, snorkeling, snacks, and drinks.
CHECK AVAILABILITYFlexible Private Capri Boat Tour
Choose from two to six hours and enjoy Capri with your own skipper, swimming stops, and a completely private boat.
CHECK AVAILABILITYCapri Island Boat Trip with Grottos
The inexpensive option for seeing Capri from the water, with different versions for a quick loop, swimming, or the Blue Grotto.
CHECK AVAILABILITY| Tour | Duration | Best for | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Group Capri Island Boat Ride Small-group swim cruise | ~2 hours | Most travelers | SEE TOUR |
| Flexible Private Capri Boat Tour Private flexible-duration boat | 2–6 hours | Private experience | SEE TOUR |
| Private Blue Grotto Boat Tour Private Blue Grotto-focused tour | ~3 hours | Private Blue Grotto trip | SEE TOUR |
| Capri Island Boat Trip with Grottos Budget sightseeing cruise | 1–2 hours | Lower budgets | SEE TOUR |
| Blue Grotto Semi-Private Boat Tour Small-group Blue Grotto tour | ~3 hours | Blue Grotto + small group | SEE TOUR |
| Grottoes, Swim & Limoncello Value small-group cruise | ~2 hours | Small group for less | SEE TOUR |
| Private Capri Sunset Cruise Private sunset boat | 2–3 hours | Sunset | SEE TOUR |
1. Best Overall: Small Group Capri Island Boat Ride
The best balance of small-group sightseeing, swimming, and value for most travelers who want to see Capri from the water.
If you want one easy recommendation, this small-group Capri boat tour is the one I would choose for most travelers. It lasts around two hours, keeps the group small with a maximum of 14 passengers, and combines the classic circuit around Capri with time to actually get into the water.
You cruise past the Faraglioni and around Capri’s dramatic coastline, including several of the island’s sea caves. There is also a swimming and snorkeling stop, with equipment, snacks, water, and drinks included.
The big difference is that this tour does not spend time waiting for the Blue Grotto. That is a plus if you mainly want to cruise, swim, and enjoy the coastline. If entering the Blue Grotto is one of your top priorities, I would choose Tour #3 or #5 instead.
It offers the best balance for the widest range of travelers. You get a small-group boat, a full island circuit, a swimming stop, and useful extras without moving into private-tour prices.
- ✓ Small-group format
- ✓ Swimming and snorkeling stop
- ✓ Snacks and drinks included
- ✓ Excellent traveler feedback
- ✕ Blue Grotto is not included
- ✕ Two hours can feel short if you want lots of time to relax and swim
2. Best Private: Flexible Private Capri Boat Tour
If you want to splurge, this flexible private Capri boat tour is the option I would choose. You can book two, three, four, or six hours, which makes it much easier to match the experience to your budget and how much of the day you want to spend at sea.
You have the boat and skipper to yourselves as you cruise around Capri, passing the Faraglioni, sea caves, and other coastal landmarks. The private format also gives you much more freedom to slow down for swimming instead of following the pace of a shared group.
Pay attention to the duration when you book, because the different options are not identical. The two-hour version focuses on the Faraglioni and sea caves, while the three- and four-hour options are designed to include the Blue Grotto.
If the Blue Grotto is important to you and you also want plenty of downtime, I would consider the four-hour option.There is also a six-hour option for travelers who want to spend much more of the day on the water.
I personally took a similar two-hour private boat tour around Capri, although the exact tour I booked is no longer available. I loved it, but I actually wished we had booked three hours. Two hours was enough to circle Capri and see the main coastal sights, but another hour would have given us more time to relax and fit in a proper swim without feeling like we needed to keep moving.
- ✓ Completely private
- ✓ Choose from several durations
- ✓ More flexibility for swimming and relaxing
- ✓ Excellent option for couples and small groups
- ✕ More expensive than shared tours
- ✕ Blue Grotto admission is extra and entry is never guaranteed
3. Best Private Blue Grotto Tour
If the Blue Grotto is high on your Capri wishlist, this three-hour private Blue Grotto tour makes more sense than booking a general private cruise and hoping you have enough time.
The trip uses a traditional Caprese boat and still includes the classic Capri circuit, with the Faraglioni, sea caves, and an optional swimming stop. This tour is specifically designed around trying to visit the Blue Grotto, while still including the classic Capri circuit, with the Faraglioni, sea caves, and an optional swimming stop.
There is still an important caveat. Blue Grotto entry can never be guaranteed because the cave closes when sea conditions are unsuitable, and admission is paid separately. If this is one of the main reasons you are visiting Capri, my Blue Grotto guide explains the practical side in more detail.
- ✓ Completely private
- ✓ Three-hour itinerary prioritizes the Blue Grotto
- ✓ Skipper, fuel, towels, and drinks included
- ✕ Blue Grotto admission costs extra
- ✕ The grotto may close because of sea conditions
- ✕ Fixed three-hour format is less flexible than Tour #2
4. Best Budget: Capri Island Boat Trip with Grottos
If price is your main concern, this inexpensive Capri island boat trip lets you see the coastline without spending much of your Capri budget.
There are three quite different versions, so pay close attention to the option you select when booking. You can choose a one-hour island circuit without the Blue Grotto, a 1.5-hour version with a swimming stop but no Blue Grotto, or a two-hour option that attempts to visit the Blue Grotto.
I’ve personally taken a similar budget shared boat tour around Capri, and I think this type of tour is absolutely worth considering if you mainly want to see the island from the water without spending much.
It isn’t nearly as personal or relaxed as going private, but you still get the views of the Faraglioni, cliffs, and sea caves that make a boat trip around Capri so worthwhile.
If you want fewer people and more of an experience rather than a simple sightseeing cruise, Tour #6 is the better-value upgrade, while Tour #1 is my stronger overall small-group pick.
- ✓ One of the cheapest ways to cruise around Capri
- ✓ Several tour options and durations
- ✓ Classic island sightseeing circuit
- ✓ Blue Grotto version available
- ✕ Less intimate than the small-group tours
- ✕ Swimming and Blue Grotto depend on the booking option you choose
5. Best Blue Grotto Small-Group Tour
This semi-private Blue Grotto boat tour is the middle ground between the cheap sightseeing boats and a fully private Blue Grotto tour. The trip lasts around three hours and keeps the group to a maximum of 12 people.
You still get the full Capri boat experience, including coastal sightseeing and time for swimming or snorkeling, plus drinks and local food. The Blue Grotto is one of the tour’s main goals, rather than a minor add-on.
However, entry is not guaranteed. If the estimated Blue Grotto wait is longer than about an hour, the crew may skip it rather than sacrifice most of the boat tour to the queue. Sea conditions can also close the cave completely, and the entrance fee is paid separately.
- ✓ Blue Grotto is a major focus
- ✓ Maximum 12 travelers
- ✓ Longer three-hour format
- ✓ Swimming, drinks, and local food included
- ✕ Blue Grotto entry is not guaranteed
- ✕ Blue Grotto admission costs extra
6. Best Value Small Group: Grottoes, Swim & Limoncello
This small-group Capri boat tour is the option I would look at if you like the idea of Tour #1 but want to keep the price down. The group is limited to 10 people, so it still feels much more personal than the basic sightseeing boats.
The two-hour trip takes you around Capri’s coastline and sea caves and includes a swimming stop, towels, and limoncello. It gives you the main ingredients of a classic Capri boat experience without moving into premium or private pricing.
The main tradeoff is that the Blue Grotto is not part of the itinerary. If that cave is important to you, choose Tour #3 or #5. Otherwise, this is a strong choice for travelers who mainly want a smaller boat, a swim, and the island scenery.
- ✓ Maximum 10 travelers
- ✓ Swimming stop included
- ✓ Towels and limoncello included
- ✓ Good value for a genuine small-group tour
- ✕ Blue Grotto is not included
- ✕ Two hours gives less time to linger than the longer tours
7. Best Sunset: Private Capri Sunset Cruise
This private Capri sunset cruise is the most romantic option in the roundup and also one of the easiest to fit around a full day of sightseeing on land.
The experience lasts around two to three hours on a traditional wooden boat and combines coastal sightseeing with time for swimming, snorkeling, and an aperitivo with wine or Prosecco.
I especially like the timing. You can spend the middle of the day exploring Capri and Anacapri, then head back to the water once the busiest sightseeing hours are winding down. The tradeoff is the higher private-tour price, but this is much more of an experience than a simple transportation-style boat loop.
- ✓ Completely private
- ✓ Sunset timing
- ✓ Swimming and snorkeling
- ✓ Aperitivo and drinks included
- ✕ Premium private-tour price
- ✕ Smaller review base than the most established tours in this guide
How to Choose the Right Capri Boat Tour
The easiest way to choose is to decide how much you want to spend, whether the Blue Grotto matters, and how much time you want on the water.
Best if: You want a small group, swimming, and a good all-around experience without paying private-tour prices.
My pick: Small Group Capri Island Boat Ride
Best if: You want your own boat and the freedom to choose how much time you spend cruising, relaxing, and swimming.
My pick: Flexible Private Capri Boat Tour
Best if: You want a private experience and visiting the Blue Grotto is one of your main priorities.
My pick: Private Blue Grotto Boat Tour
Best if: You mainly want to see Capri from the water and keep the cost as low as possible.
My pick: Capri Island Boat Trip with Grottos
Best if: You want to prioritize the Blue Grotto but do not want to pay for a private boat.
My pick: Blue Grotto Semi-Private Boat Tour
Best if: You want a smaller boat and swimming stop but still want to keep the price relatively low.
My pick: Grottoes, Swim & Limoncello
Best if: You want a private experience and would rather spend the daytime exploring Capri on land.
My pick: Private Capri Sunset Cruise
FAQ About Capri Boat Tours
Where do these Capri boat tours depart from?
All the tours in this guide start on Capri itself, with most departures in or around Marina Grande. Always check the exact meeting point on the booking page, especially if you are arriving on Capri by ferry the same morning.
Is the Blue Grotto guaranteed on a Capri boat tour?
No. The Blue Grotto can close because of sea and weather conditions, and long queues can also affect whether some tours attempt the visit. Even tours that focus on the Blue Grotto cannot guarantee entry. My Blue Grotto guide explains when it closes, how entry works, and what to expect.
How long should I book a private boat tour around Capri?
Two hours is enough for a fairly quick circuit around Capri, but based on my own experience, I would book three hours if your budget allows. I took a similar two-hour private tour and wished we had another hour to relax and swim without watching the clock. This private Capri boat tour lets you choose between several different durations.
Can I take a boat tour and still explore Capri on land in the same day?
Absolutely. Most of the shared tours in this guide last around one to three hours, so you can easily combine one with several of the best things to do in Capri on land. A four-to-six-hour private boat tour will take up much more of the day, so I would treat that as one of your main activities.