We will arrive in Naples at 7:00 a.m. on a cruise and depart at 6:00 p.m. We would love to go to Capri and tour the Blue Grotto or would we be better off doing the Amalfi Coast by boat or auto. Any recommendations would be helpful. We are a group of 6.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23548 posts
Time could be an issue especially for the Blue Grotto. A few years ago we were on cruise and took the high speed boat to Capri had lunch and did a walking tour of the area. That pretty much occupied all our time. My understanding of the Blue Grotto tours is that they are very dependent on weather, tide, and timing. You don't want to be in a position of missing the return boat to Naples.
Posted by
Victor, NY, USA
62 posts
I made a day trip to Capri this past week. Once in Capri, I took one of the regular buses to Anacapri, then connected with another bus to the Blue Grotto (as opposed to taking the boat from Marina Grande). The bus was not only far cheaper, but we got into the grotto with no waiting time. This gave us enough time to also explore a lot of the island and even enjoy a nice leisurely lunch. We also made a wonderful day trip to Positano using the SITA bus from Sorrento and ferry back. I definitely would not be inclined to drive the narrow roads of the Amalfi coast by auto.
Posted by
Bromley, Kent,, UK
1829 posts
Depending on the time of year be aware that during the height of the holiday season the roads along the coast are very often nose to tail traffic. As well as foreign visitors, Neapolitans leave town en masse to enjoy a trip to the coast. You could find that a lot of your time could be spent enjoying the view of the bus or car in front of you.
Posted by
San Francisco, CA, USA
125 posts
We were in Capri early April, and got in line for the bus to Anacapri around 11am, and met some fellow travelers from CA. They had just taken the train from Rome to Naples (9:30am), and got on a Hydrofoil to Capri. We all rode the bus to Anacapri, then hopped on another bus down to the Blue Grotto. Headed down the steps to wait for a rower to come over. Almost no wait at all for the row boat. I'd say within an hour we were back on the bus back to Anacapri. By then it was a little after 1pm. So yes, you should be able to get to Capri and the Blue Grotto and still have a few hours to roam around Capri before getting back on the Hydrofoil to Naples.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32322 posts
Shelley,
Taking a day trip to Capri is certainly possible, but you'll want to plan your trips very carefully so that you don't miss departure of your ship.
Capri can be VERY busy at times, so my suggestion would be to drop the Blue Grotto this time ("assume you will return") and just explore Capri. That might be all you'll have time for with such a short visit.
Be sure to research the return times for the boats to Naples. If you find a huge lineup at the Funicular from Capri down to Marina Grande, take one of the open top Taxis (about 10 minutes from what I recall) so that you're ON your boat in time to get back to Naples.
Happy travels!