We will be in Sorrento in October--a total of 4 adults. We'd like to go over to Capri for a day, but not necessarily with a guide. Can we take a ferry from Sorrento on our own? Can we pay to go to the Blue Grotto once we're there? We want to stay for the day and enjoy the town. Any suggestions on a day in Capri (coming from Sorrento) are most appreciated!
Posted by
8105 posts
It has been over 35 years since I visited Capri, but we did it on our own. Also, did the Blue Grotto, which was wonderful, on our own.
Today there are more tourists at places like Capri, so do some research and it would probably be best to make reservations for a hotel and/or the Blue Grotto (if you can).
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
5347 posts
We went to Capri as a day trip from Sorrento about 10 years ago. We felt no need for a guide - just our guidebook. We didn't do the Blue Grotto - there was more than enough other things to see. Buy your Ferry tickets at the dock, but buy a return ticket, since from what I've read, the last couple of ferries in the afternoon can be very crowded. Since the Grotto can be closed at any time due to unfavorable winds or tides, by those tickets at their dock.
Posted by
11506 posts
We went to Capri for three nights a few years ago. We took a ferry there from Naples and then a ferry to Sorrento at the end of our stay. The ferry marina is down below and you can take a funicular up to the town. If it is very crowded, try to get a taxi up the hill to avoid standing in the hot sun waiting for the funicular.
We never went to the Blue Grotto, had no interest after hearing about the experience. The seas were choppy during our stay and we only were able to go out on a boat around the island the last day. Get away from the town center and visit Giardini di Augusto, Punta Tragara and walk the pedestrian paths in that area with sea views. There are some very nice restaurants in this area too. You have no need for a guide at all.
You can also take a bus up to Anacapri, if interested, to ride the chair lift up for even more views. A guide book will be helpful.
Posted by
West Chester, PA
44 posts
It is very easy to travel to Capri from Sorrento on your own. There are numerous ferries that run between the two each day.
http://www.alilauro.it/en/departures-and-rates
You can easily catch a boat tour to the Blue Grotto, if the grotto is open, in the marina where you depart the ferry. However, the Grotto is not open every day - a decision is made daily whether it will open based on conditions.
I would give serious consideration to not going to the Blue Grotto if you only have one day to visit Capri. We went in August 2016 and regret our decision. A trip there involves a 15 minute or so boat ride to the Grotto. You then wait to transfer to a row boat which takes you in the Grotto for less than 5 minutes. After that, you return to the marina.
When we went we waited for over 90 minutes in the hot sun, while one passenger on our boat got seasick and vomited over the side of the boat, before we could transfer to a row boat and enter the Grotto. The whole trip took over two hours from the time we left until the time we got back to town - all to spend a few minutes in the Grotto itself. The Grotto was beautiful but it wasn't worth spending that much of the time that I had to see Capri so I could spend 3 or 4 minutes in it.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16409 posts
Can we take a ferry from Sorrento on our own?
Certainly. Just show up at the Capri dock EARLY or buy tickets in advance for the LAST boat back to Sorrento as it'll likely be packed.
Can we pay to go to the Blue Grotto once we're there?
Yes you can but I personally think there are much better things to do with your time and $$. IMHO, if there's a tourist trap on Capri, that's the one! We skipped it during our 2-night stay on the island and didn't feel we'd missed anything at all.
Here's where you look at ferry schedules/prices to/from Sorrento (prices shown are one way):
https://www.naplesbayferry.com/en/t/sorrento/capri
Capri has a very helpful website for things like getting around (which will be largely on foot) and things to do. Just ignore the ads for tours as you don't need them: pick up a good map at the tourist info center upon arrival and do some reading in advance:
For getting around Capri to the few places you might want the bus for and/or funicular from marina up to Capri town (use the dropdown):
https://www.capri.com/en/bus-schedule
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7060 posts
Take a look the the Mondo guides Capri day trip- www.sharedtours.com
We just did this in May and it was one of the highlights of our trip. The cost is not that much more than doing it yourself. There were just 8 of us on the boat, the captain and first mate were so wonderful- so friendly, informative and attentive to our every need. We almost got cancelled because weather was iffy- but then were able to go- so glad! The Blue Grotto was closed- we had no intention of doing that tourist trap anwyay- huge waste of time/money.
We went from Sorrento to Capri- viewed the Blue Grotto entrance then continued all the way around the island- simply fabulous, in and out of coves and caves and thru the rocks. Then we were dropped off to take funicular up and had about 3.5 hours on our own in town- which was suffiicient- had lunch, walked to gardens, enjoyed views, ate gelato, some took bus up to Anacapri...
Drinks were provided on the boat- (beer, wine, prossecco, limoncello, water and sodas). Had the weather been warmer we would have had opportunity to go for a swim off the boat.
Worth every penny.
Posted by
46 posts
We went to Capri last year taking the ferry from Sorrento to the island. There are several options to select from that take you there. But the last boats retuning to Sorrento for the day fill up quickly, so purchase the return ticket when you get to Capri when you know what time you will return.
Take a boat trip around the island. My husband and I said it was one of the highlights of our trip to Capri. There are boats that don’t stop at the Blue Grotto, and you can purchase all those tickets when you arrive on the island.
I recommend taking the gondola ride to the top of Mt. Solaro on Anacapri (the other side of the island of Capri), and having some awesome gelato at the top of the mountain. You can eat your gelato while enjoying the beautiful view! Be aware that the buses to Anacapri are far and few between and they fill up really quickly, seeing they are extremely small. Take the funicular up to Capri and try to catch a bus from there. The other alternative is to take a cool taxi to Anacapri and split the cost among the four of you. That would be fun and save you money, as the cost is a whopping €25!