Hello! Thank you for all of your wonderful shows they really helped me plan my trip. I am touring Italy starting in June and we are planning a day trip from Rome into Capri for the Blue Grotto experience and would like to know what is the fastest route from Rome. I understand the fastest ferry travels from Sorrento. Is there a high speed train I can take from Rome to Sorrento? Thank you!
Regards,
Lily
Lily, I'll be perfectly honest and advise against trying to do this.
First off, there is no "fast" way to Capri from Rome.
Secondly, even if you put in the time and effort it's going to take to get there, there's no guarantee that you'd even see the grotto: it can't be accessed when the seas are too rough, and that can occur at any point during the day. Chances are fewer than more, for sure, but it happens enough to be a concern.
Thirdly, it would involve a LOT of time and money for the very short amount of time you'd actually be in the thing even if the seas DO cooperate. It would be a lot of time that, IMHO, could be much better spent actually sightseeing elsewhere and which would involve little-to-no risk.
Capri really only makes sense as a day trip from Naples or another closer location, and I'd never do it if the grotto was the only reason for going.
That said, probably the quickest way would be fast train to Napoli Centrale, taxi or bus transfer to the port, jetboat to Capri, and then bus or transfer to the grotto. You could also take an urban train from Napoli Centrale to Molo Beverello port - if you choose a boat which departs from there - in Naples. Check train schedules/prices on Trenitalia or Italo:
http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en
There are no direct or high-speed trains to Sorrento from Rome; you'd have to change to a local Circumvesuviana train in Naples if wanting to get there via rail.
Check boat schedules from Naples to Capri (or Sorrento or Capri) here:
https://www.capribooking.com/en/ferry-schedule?path_id=11
Buses run to the Grotto from Anacapri on a regular basis or book a direct transfer from the Capri marina.
http://www.capri.com/en/s/la-grotta-azzurra
As suggested in the first reply, Rome to the Blue Grotto is what might be called a "Seven Seat" ride.
1.Rome Metro or bus to Termini Station
2.Frecciarossa fast train to Naples
3.Circumvesuviana to Sorrento
4.Long walk or bus to marina
5.Ferry to Capri
6.Large boat to grotto area
7.Small boat into grotto.
Since they're all public transportation, you have a wait for each, and a risk of missing you non-changeable, non-refundable discount ticket for the Frecciarossa. (All the others don't require reservation, but in June, the ferry companies will pressure you to take certain ferry runs that they are trying to sell out, while some boats will in fact be sold out already.)
And you'll be missing Pompeii, Positano, and Naples (not to mention all the rest of Capri), all worth a day each. Certainly, you could take a ferry from Naples, but that's a longer boat ride. You have a romantic idea that's, alas, a terrible plan. And (OPINION) the attraction isn't worth it!
Agreeing with Tim that it's just not worth it for just a few minutes (and I do mean few minutes) in the thing but I think it's shorter to take a jetboat to Capri directly from the Naples ports (fastest boats take an hour or so) as to take a train from Naples to Sorrento, transfer to the port there, and then take a jetboat to Capri.
We stayed on the island for two nights and skipped the grotto altogether; didn't feel as if we missed a thing.
(Edited)
We were lucky enough to get into the grotto when we went to Capri as a day trip from Sorrento. But I agree with others that for what it would take to get there from Rome, it's just not worth it, especially if you got there and then couldn't go into the grotto. It's fascinating but not worth that kind of cost, time, and effort. There are escorted day tours from Rome to Capri that would eliminate some of the individual effort involved, but they are long (13-14 hrs) and costly (around $150-250/person plus extra $$ to go to the grotto).
IMHO the Blue Grotto isn't even a "must" if you happen to be in Capri - there are so many other ways to spend time in Capri that are more enjoyable. Logistically, it is too much of an effort from Rome. I wouldn't attempt it for all the reasons mentioned by the prior posts.
I agree with everyone else - this is too much hassle for an experience that might not be possible onc you get to the island. My bf and I spent 4 days on Capri last year and the blue grotto was never open :/
That said, Capri is fabulous! There is great hiking, an awesome chair lift, a beautiful lighthouse, and the best shopping! If you can, build 3-4 days on the amalfi coast into your trip, saving two of those for Capri. Just don't set yourself up for disappointment by assuming you can do the grotto! If you do this, take the fast train from Rome to Naples and get on a ferry from there.
To everyone: Thank you for all of your suggestions, I have been sharing them with my group. I am staying in Italy for 10 days before boarding a cruise and would appreciate more suggestions and tips. I will be staying in Venice, Florence and lastly, Rome. I have many day trips planned from all these locations including Cinque Terre while in Florence. I also want to see the Amalfi coast while in Rome.
You may want to start a new thread with your second question, people with suggestions for that might not read through the Rome-to-Capri question if they don't have experience with it.
Yes, posting individual questions for each location will be helpful. Otherwise, people are not going to see them, and the thread would also become impossibly long and difficult to wade through.
But a comment?
I am staying in Italy for 10 days before boarding a cruise and would
appreciate more suggestions and tips. I will be staying in Venice,
Florence and lastly, Rome. I have many day trips planned from all
these locations including Cinque Terre while in Florence. I also want
to see the Amalfi coast while in Rome.
Have you ever been to Italy before? If not - and with just 10 days - you can easily fill that time without ever leaving the 3 cities on your list. I'm unsure about the wisdom of planning "many" day trips, especially to places which are going to take a lot of time to get to from those cities, such as the Amalfi Coast and the Cinque Terre.
It's tempting, I know, to want to see everything but too often all that does is eat up a lot of valuable sightseeing time dealing with hours of sitting on trains, buses, etc; not the best use of one's travel budget, IMHO. Let's just say for what it costs me to go to Europe, I want to actually see and experience it, not spend hours every day on transport.
Further to Kathy's good observation, our host, Rick, often says -even to impoverished backpackers staying in youth hostels - "assume you'll return." It makes for a better visit.
