Bring with you
Swimsuit, sunscreen and water; a mask and snorkel if you want to snorkel. You can also buy them in our shop in Marina Grande.
The island loop
What you'll see from the water.
From the Faraglioni to the caves, here are the places you can see while circling the island by sea. Let go and enjoy the waves!
The sights of the loop
Eight stops along the coast of Capri, each best seen from the sea.
Faraglioni
The rocks that rise off Capri's southern coast: the symbol of the island. From the boat you admire them in all their majesty and they make the perfect backdrop for photos.
Blue Grotto
Capri's most famous cave: the light entering through the submerged opening turns the water a deep blue. You approach the entrance, tie up to the buoys and an authorised rowboat takes you inside. Separate ticket, calm seas only.
Green Grotto
Named for the emerald reflections the light creates on the water inside. Wider and more open than the Blue Grotto: in many cases you can enter with the boat and stop for a swim.
White Grotto
Opens along the island's eastern coast, near Capo di Massullo, named for the pale formations on its walls. From the boat you recognise it by its wide, bright entrance.
Natural Arch
A large rock arch left standing after a cavity collapsed, on Capri's eastern coast. From land you reach it on foot, but from the water you see it in full, framed by the green above the cliff.
Punta Carena
The lighthouse marks Capri's south-western tip, one of the most important working lighthouses in Italy. The area around it is made of rocks and coves: just after it, Limmo Bay is one of the quietest spots to swim.
Villa Malaparte
The red house that seems to hang on the rock of Punta Massullo, on Capri's eastern coast. Its trapezoidal rooftop staircase is one of the island's most recognisable images, best seen only from the water.
Marina Piccola
On Capri's southern side, at the foot of the Faraglioni: the sunniest, most sheltered part of the island, with coves and small beaches for swimming.
How much time you really need.
How much time you need depends on what you want to see. In about two hours you circle the island; with more time you swim, visit the Blue Grotto and have lunch without rushing.
2 hours
- Island loop
- Swim stops
- Blue Grotto
- Lunch stop
Most chosen
3–4 hours
- Island loop
- Swim stops · A few
- Blue Grotto · Possible
- Lunch stop
Full day
- Island loop
- Swim stops · As many as you like
- Blue Grotto · Yes, unhurried
- Lunch stop · On board or Marina Piccola
The four-hour loop is the most popular compromise between time at sea and relaxation.
Boat or dinghy?
Choose the right vessel for your day on the water. Both license-free, departing from Marina Grande.
Boat
Small, open, license-free
Up to 4 people
- About 5 metres, fibreglass hull
- 25 or 40 HP engine
- Agile and easy to handle, ideal for couples and small groups
- Sun canopy, cooler and ladder
- License-free, depart from Marina Grande
Dinghy
More space, still license-free
Up to 6 people
- Larger and roomier
- Stable, safe tubes, great with children
- Perfect for families and groups
- Sun canopy, cooler and ladder
- License-free, depart from Marina Grande
Less to think about
What to bring, what's on board.
What to put in your bag, and what is already waiting for you on the boat.
Already on board
Sun canopy for shade, a cooler for drinks and a ladder for the water.
How the Blue Grotto works
Approach the entrance, tie the boat to the buoys and wait for an authorised rowboat to take you inside. The ticket is bought at the entrance to the Grotto. The wait can be very long, even 90 minutes in high season.
For the sun hours
A hat and a light shirt help in the central hours, when the sun is strongest.
Three honest limits.
There are three things to know before booking, so there are no surprises.
Range
The rental boat stays close to the Capri coast
Crossings
Amalfi, Sorrento and Positano require a skipper
Blue Grotto
Opens only in calm seas and the wait can be very long, so treat it as a bonus
The boat in action
Out on the water
You set the pace
Sights and itinerary, answered.
Yes, with the rental boat you can approach the entrance of the Blue Grotto and wait for one of the authorised rowboats to take you inside. Entry is paid separately and the grotto opens only in calm seas; the wait to enter can be very long, even over an hour.
No. For safety reasons the rental boat without a skipper stays close to the Capri coast. Crossings to the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento or the other islands require a skipper, because the open sea of the Bay of Naples can get demanding, especially in the afternoon.
The loop takes in Capri's best-known sights: the Faraglioni, the Blue Grotto, the Green Grotto and the White Grotto, the Natural Arch, the Punta Carena lighthouse and Villa Malaparte. Along the way there are coves to stop and swim. You will find a description of each spot on this page.
Among the quietest spots are Limmo Bay, just before the Punta Carena lighthouse, and the coves on the southern side toward Marina Piccola, the sunniest and most sheltered part of the island. The Green Grotto is another good spot for a swim, where the water takes on emerald reflections.
From the boat you can get close to the Faraglioni, but passing under the Faraglioni arch is not allowed.
No. The Blue Grotto only opens in calm seas, because the entrance is low and with waves above a certain height it is not accessible. The queue to enter can also easily exceed one hour.
In two hours you circle the island with time for a quick dip, enough to see the main sights from the water. A full day lets you swim at a relaxed pace, visit the Blue Grotto without rushing and have lunch on board or at Marina Piccola. The four-hour loop is the most popular compromise.
Yes, along the coast there are several waterfront restaurants where you can stop for lunch and be picked up by their tender. Alternatively you can eat on board: the cooler keeps drinks cold and you can bring your own packed lunch. With a full day you have plenty of time for a relaxed stop.
Bring a swimsuit, sunscreen and some water; for snorkelling, a mask and snorkel. The canopy for shade, the cooler for drinks and the ladder for the water are already on board. A hat and a light shirt are useful in the central hours, when the sun is strongest.
Yes, you can bring your own packed lunch and drinks on board: the cooler keeps them cold all day. It is a good option if you want to stop and eat in a quiet cove rather than at a restaurant. We only ask that you take your rubbish back ashore.
