In short
- Boat transfers cost €24 to €25 and take 15 to 20 minutes.
- Buses from Anacapri cost roughly €2.50 and take 15 minutes.
- Walking from Anacapri takes 40 to 50 minutes.
In this article
Getting to the Blue Grotto requires planning your route from Marina Grande. Your choice depends on your budget and tolerance for seasickness. Every route eventually leads to the same queue for the official rowboats.
How do you take a boat to the Blue Grotto from Marina Grande?
You can book a shared transfer boat from the main harbor directly to the cave entrance.
Companies like Motoscafisti and Laser Capri operate these transfers. The boat ride takes 15 to 20 minutes. Tickets cost €24 to €25, which does not include the €18 cave entry fee. This is the most popular route. Expect long queues on the water once you arrive. The bobbing boats frequently cause seasickness during the wait.
How do you reach the cave by bus?
Take a public bus from Anacapri to the Grotta Azzurra terminal stop.
The bus ride from Anacapri takes 15 minutes. Tickets cost approximately €2.50. After getting off the bus, you walk down a set of cliffside stairs. You wait in line on these stairs until a rowboat is available. This route is much better if you suffer from motion sickness.
Can you walk to the Blue Grotto?
Yes, you can walk downhill from the center of Anacapri via Via Grotta Azzurra.
The walk takes 40 to 50 minutes. The path is scenic but steep. Once you reach the bottom, you join the same queue on the cliffside stairs as the bus passengers. The walk is free, but you still pay the €18 entry fee in cash to board a rowboat.
Which transport method is best?
The bus is the cheapest and best for avoiding seasickness, while the boat is faster from the port.
Compare your options based on travel time, transport cost, and queuing conditions. In peak summer, queues easily exceed an hour or two regardless of how you arrive.
| Method | Transit Time | Transport Cost | Queue Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boat from Marina Grande | 15-20 min | €24-€25 | On the water |
| Bus from Anacapri | 15 min | ~€2.50 | On the stairs |
| Walking from Anacapri | 40-50 min | Free | On the stairs |
Can you hire a private boat to the Blue Grotto?
Yes, you can rent a private traditional wooden boat or speedboat for a customized island tour.
Private rentals cost from €160 for a two to four-hour trip. These tours stop at the cave entrance. You still have to transfer into the official rowboats to enter the cave. A private tour does not let you skip the wait times.
What happens when you arrive at the Blue Grotto?
You must transfer into a small official rowboat and pay the entrance fee.
The official entrance fee is roughly €18 to €19 per person. You must pay this in cash at a small floating ticket office. Entry costs cover a €6 site ticket and the required rowboat passage. No private boats or kayaks are allowed inside.
Questions travellers ask
Does the boat transfer ticket include cave entry?
No. The €24 to €25 boat transfer from Marina Grande only covers transport. You pay the €18 entry fee separately in cash at the cave.
What is the best way to avoid seasickness at the Blue Grotto?
Take the bus or walk from Anacapri. You will wait in line on solid ground rather than bobbing on a boat outside the cave.
Can I enter the cave straight from the bus?
No. The bus takes you to the cliff above the cave. You must walk down the stairs and board an official rowboat to enter.
