Browse these private boat tours and group boat tours to visit the Italian island of Capri in a day trip from Sorrento. You can trust us when booking your special boat trip: we’ve personally evaluated and selected each one of our experiences and tours.
Sorrento is an ideal base for visiting the island of Capri, as it's only a 30-minute hydrofoil trip. You can take part in a tour of the island on your own, or book your spot with a group boat tour or private boat tour. A small group tour is a great option if you’re looking to maximize your budget, while a private guided tour of Capri island is a wonderful way to enjoy more independence and freedom. You can even add in stops for swimming and snorkeling or a trip to the famous Blue Grotto. There are so many options for a tour of Capri; just choose the boat ride that best suits your needs!
Cheap tours from Sorrento to Capri
Private tours from Sorrento to Capri
Tour to Capri and Positano by ferry
These tours include pickup from locations around the Sorrentine Peninsula and transfer to the port in Sorrento, the boat crossing to the island, a mini cruise around Capri passing the Faraglioni, and about six hours of free time on land to take in the sights. Stops to swim and visit the Blue Grotto are not included in the mini cruise around the island. You can also choose a tour that includes a guided walking tour of the towns of Capri and Anacapri.
These tours are via traditional wooden gozzo boats that can fit up to 12 passengers. The itinerary generally includes departure from the port in Sorrento, a cruise to Capri with stops along the coast and time to admire iconic sights such as the Faraglioni rocks, a trip around the entire island with time to swim, and free time to explore on land. Blue Grotto visits are usually not included in these tours, due to the long wait to enter the cave.
A sandwich and drink are often included in the price of this cruise. During your free time on land you can go sightseeing in Capri town, taking the funicular that runs between the port in Marina Grande and the Piazzetta in Capri town above, visit famous sights such as the Villa Jovis, built by the Emperor Tiberius; take the chairlift to the top of Mt. Solaro; relax on the beach; or dine in one of the seaside restaurants. You can try local Mediterranean specialities such as mozzarella, Caprese salad, or the traditional lemon liqueur known as limoncello.
These tours are very similar to the small-group tours described above, but include a stop to visit the Blue Grotto. Many tours do not include a Blue Grotto visit as there are often long lines to enter. Tours that include the grotto generally set sail first thing in the morning to arrive at the grotto just as it is opening at 9 a.m. and beat the crowds that form later in the day.
Private tours let you enjoy the boat all to yourself, with a professional skipper at the helm. There are a number of different types of boat available, from a traditional wooden gozzo to a powerful speedboat.
You can spend your day on the boat or dock to explore Capri by land. Keep in mind that there is a docking fee of EUR 100 per boat if you decide to spend time on land.
The docking fee does not need to be paid if you decide to dine at a seaside restaurant (restaurants offer a round-trip tender service to get to the restaurant from the boat).
There are also tours that include a mini cruise along the Amalfi Coast, as well as a trip around Capri. These tours do not include free time to explore the island by land.
How do I get to Capri from Sorrento? It's easy! Simply take one of the ferries which depart daily for Capri from Sorrento's port.
Ferries run frequently from April through October, but can be quite crowded with other day trippers. We suggest you buy a round trip ticket and reserve ahead of time to avoid the long lines, especially during the month of August.
Take a seat on the left side of the ferry for the best views of the coast between Sorrento and Punta Campanella.
Duration of trip between Capri - Sorrento: about 30 minutes
What is the difference between the high speed ferry and the ferry?
Ferries and slow ferries are cheaper and slower than fast ferries. We recommend taking a ferry if you are on a budget or if you suffer from sea sickness.
Book a ferry from Capri to Sorrento
Tickets for the funicular and the buses on Capri can be purchased at the tabacco shop ("tabaccheria") at the port of Sorrento. We recommend purchasing them here so you won't have to wait in line at the ticket office once on Capri.
At the Marina Grande port, there are always crowds of tourists during the summer months, so it's better to have an itinerary for visiting the island in mind when you disembark so you can quickly get away from the chaos around the pier.
Here are our insider suggestions:
Boat tour to the Blue Grotto: If the Blue Grotto is on your bucket list, it's best to visit as soon as you disembark on the island in the morning, to avoid the long lines which form during the day. At the Marina Grande pier, there are ticket offices for the Laser and Motoscafisti boat tour companies, which offer tours of the island by sea and boat transfers to the Blue Grotto.
The ticket to enter the Blue Grotto can only be purchased directly at the grotto and costs EUR 18. The entry ticket is NEVER included in boat tours or transfers.
Chairlift for Mount Solaro and Villa San Michele: From the Marina Grande port, you can take the bus directly to Anacapri. From here, you can board the chairlift which takes passengers up to the top of Mount Solaro, where you are treated to an unrivaled view over the island and sea. Afterwards, stop in to visit Villa San Michele, just steps from the chairlift departure.
La Piazzetta: Take the funicular from the port up the cliffside to Capri town's famed Piazzetta in just 4 minutes. Unfortunately, it may take much longer than that to simply board in high season due to the crowds. Your best bet is to arrive as early as possible in the morning: purchase your ticket ahead of time from the tobacco shop at the port of Sorrento and head to the funicular (the tunnel right in front of the arrival pier) immediately after disembarking on Capri. From the Piazzetta, you can take a walk to the Gardens of Augustus and along Via Camerelle to Punta Tragara.
If you want to have a quick lunch rather than a full restaurant meal, you can pick up a traditional panino caprese made with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes at the "Da Aldo" deli in Marina Grande (considered the best on the island), or sample a traditional dish at "Capri Pasta", which prepares ready-made take-out near the Piazzetta. A refreshing gelato from Buonocore is also a great pick-me-up.
If you would like to sample traditional island cuisine without breaking the bank, try the Verginiello restaurant/pizzeria in the center of Capri. For excellent food with a view over the Piazzetta, we suggest Pulalli, a small restaurant on the square's clocktower.
One of the inconveniences each year on Capri during the May to September high tourist season are the numerous groups which descend on the island for day trips, creating long queues at for the funicular and bus. Crowds can be especially problematic in July and August, when visitors are forced to wait under the hot sun. During these busy months, you may find it hard to follow our suggested itinerary, so consider instead spending the day on board a boat touring the coast or relaxing on the beach, and saving your stroll through the Piazzetta for the early morning or late afternoon.