The Blue Grotto
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The Grotta Azzurra is a sea cave on the north-west side of Capri, in the municipality of Anacapri. Sunlight enters through an underwater opening, reflects off the sandy floor and turns the water and walls a bright, unreal blue. In Roman times it was a nymphaeum, a decorated grotto belonging to the imperial villa of Gradola on the cliff above; it became famous after two German painters, August Kopisch and Ernst Fries, ventured inside in 1826. The mouth is so low that you enter lying back in a small rowboat while the boatman pulls it in on a chain.
The price is two tickets. The state entry ticket is €6, and the rowboat service is another €12, bought separately: €18 at the cave. From October 16 to March 31 the grotto is open only 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. And it closes, sometimes all day, whenever the sea makes the entrance unsafe.
At a glance
- Admission
- €6 state entry ticket (EU 18–24: €2; under 18 free) plus €12 for the rowboat, bought separately: €18 at the cave.
- Hours
- April 1 to September 30: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. October 1 to 15: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. October 16 to March 31: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Closures
- Closed whenever sea or weather conditions make the entrance unsafe. No official figures on how often.
- Getting there
- By motorboat from Marina Grande (transfers from €25 return), or by bus from Anacapri to the Grotta Azzurra stop and steps down to the water.
- Time inside
- About five minutes. The wait outside can be far longer.
- Combined ticket
- The €15 Capri combined ticket includes the €6 entry plus Villa Jovis, the Certosa and Casa Rossa; the rowboat is still extra.
In this guide
What it really costs
The Musei e Parchi archeologici di Capri, the state body that runs the grotto, publishes the prices. Here is a full budget for one adult arriving by sea from Marina Grande:
| Item | Price | Who sets it |
|---|---|---|
| Entry ticket | €6 (€2 EU 18–24, free under 18) | Ministry of Culture |
| Rowboat into the cave | €12 | Listed on the official price page, bought separately |
| Motorboat Marina Grande-grotto and back | from €25 | Private boat companies |
| Total by sea | about €43 |
By land it is cheaper: two island bus rides at €2.40 each from Anacapri, plus the €18 at the water, about €23. Any tip to the rower is on top and up to you. The first Sunday of the month makes the €6 entry free, but the rowboat is still charged. Our is the Blue Grotto worth it page runs the numbers by type of trip.
How to get there: by sea or by land
By sea. At Marina Grande, boat companies sell transfers to the grotto and round-the-island tours. Their boats take you to the cave mouth, where you climb down into one of the small rowboats. Choose the direct transfer, not the island tour, if the grotto is what you want: tours may skip the stop when the queue is long. In high season you can wait on the rocking boat for a long time; people who get seasick should consider going by land.
By land. Take the bus to Anacapri, then the line from Piazza della Pace to the Grotta Azzurra, at the end of the road. The official guide puts the whole land journey from Marina Grande at about 45 minutes. Steps lead down to the landing where the rowboats load, and you queue on dry ground.
For the boats to Capri itself, see our Capri page and ferries guide.
How often it closes, honestly
Nobody publishes a closure statistic, and we will not invent one. What the official sources say is this: opening hours "may vary or be suspended" because of weather and sea conditions, and the grotto closes when it is unsafe to pass the entrance. The opening is about a meter high, so even a moderate swell or a high sea stops the rowboats.
- Check on the morning. Local sites and the boat desks at Marina Grande know by about 9 a.m. whether the rowers are working.
- Winter is riskier. From mid-October there are only five opening hours a day, and rough seas are more common.
- Have a plan B. Villa Jovis or the Gardens of Augustus fill the morning if the cave is shut.
What happens inside
The cave is about 60 m long. You lie back on the floor of the rowboat, a maximum of a few passengers each, as the rower pulls through the opening. Inside, the rower turns a slow loop and many sing. The visit lasts about five minutes. Rules are strict: no swimming, no leaning out of the boat, no animals, no smoking, children under 14 with an adult. Wear shoes with grip for the landing.
The light is strongest when the sun is high and the sea is calm. Late morning in clear weather is the classic time, but from October 16 the cave closes at 2 p.m., so that window is short.
Booking, queues and the best time
Entry is limited in number. The state ticket can be reserved online through the official booking partner and paid on site, and people who reserve go ahead of those who do not when places are short. The rowboat ticket is sold at the cave. Our advice:
- Take an early boat to Capri and go to the grotto first, before 10 a.m.
- Buy the €15 Capri combined ticket if you will also see Villa Jovis and the Certosa: it includes the grotto entry.
- Bring cash as well as a card for the rowboat and any tip.
If you would rather see the coast from the water without depending on the cave, read about the Capri boat tour, which circles the island and passes the grotto whether or not it is open.
Tickets and tours you can book
Sorrento: Exclusive Capri Boat Tour and Optional Blue Grotto
Not included, per the listing: the Capri landing and destination fee (€10), Blue Grotto entry (€18) and pickup (€5 each way). The grotto stop only comes with the early option.
Rating as shown on GetYourGuide
Capri Blue Grotto Small-Group Boat Day Tour From Sorrento
Extra, per the listing: a €15 'assistance and reception' fee and the Blue Grotto ticket (€19). If the grotto is closed you get more time ashore or swimming.
Rating as shown on Viator
Capri: Island Boat Trip with Grottos
Starts on Capri, so the ferry is extra. Blue Grotto entry is not included (the listing says €19, paid on the spot) and the wait there can be up to two hours; the swim option skips the grotto.
Rating as shown on GetYourGuide
Booking through these links supports this site at no cost to you. Prices move by date, so we do not print them here; the official prices we checked are in the page above.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Blue Grotto cost in 2026?
€6 for the state entry ticket plus €12 for the rowboat, bought separately, so €18 per adult at the cave. EU citizens aged 18 to 24 pay €2 for the entry and under-18s enter free, but the rowboat is still charged. Getting there by boat from Marina Grande adds from €25 return.
What are the Blue Grotto opening hours?
April 1 to September 30, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; October 1 to 15, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; October 16 to March 31, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hours can change or the cave can close because of weather and sea conditions.
How often is the Blue Grotto closed?
No official statistic exists. The cave closes whenever sea conditions make the low entrance unsafe, which happens more often in winter. Check on the morning of your visit before paying for a boat.
How long are you inside the Blue Grotto?
About five minutes. The queue outside, on the water or on the steps, is often much longer in busy months.
Can you get to the Blue Grotto by bus?
Yes. Take a bus to Anacapri, then the line from Piazza della Pace to the Grotta Azzurra stop. The official guide estimates about 45 minutes from Marina Grande. Steps lead down to where the rowboats load.
Can you swim in the Blue Grotto?
No. The visitor rules forbid swimming or entering the water inside or outside the cave.
Further reading
Official sources
- Musei e Parchi archeologici di Capri - FAQ (official) – €6 entry, €12 rowboat bought separately, reductions, hours by period, €15 combined ticket, land route via Anacapri about 45 minutes; checked September 30, 2026
- Musei e Parchi archeologici di Capri - Villa di Gradola and Grotta Azzurra (official) – The grotto as the nymphaeum of the imperial Villa di Gradola; 1826 discovery; checked September 30, 2026
- Musei e Parchi archeologici di Capri - Visitor rules, August 2026 (official PDF) – Weather closures, 30-minute extensions, prices; checked September 30, 2026
- CoopCulture - Grotta Azzurra (official booking partner) – Hours, reductions, limited access, rules (no swimming, lie back, under 14 accompanied), access by sea or land; checked September 30, 2026
- cultura.gov.it - Grotta Azzurra (Ministry of Culture) – Free online booking and on-site payment, rowboat ticketed separately, priority for booked visitors; checked September 30, 2026
- capri.com - Blue Grotto guide and Laser Capri transfer – Marina Grande-grotto transfer from €25; 60 m cave length and daily 9 a.m. check by skippers; checked September 30, 2026
