A Capri private boat tour is how the island was meant to be seen: the Faraglioni rising straight out of the water, grottoes glowing green and white, Villa Malaparte on its cliff, and a swim wherever the water looks best. One skipper company on Capri sells the loop two ways. The Private Boat Tour of Capri is rated 4.9 across 234 reviews, from about $520 per group. The Half Day Private Boat Tour of Capri is rated 4.9 across 130 reviews, from about $624 per group.
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The verdict
For most visitors, the 3-hour Private Boat Tour of Capri is the one to book. First, it covers the whole coastline, has almost twice as many reviews as the longer version, and costs about $104 less per boat. In addition, it is the tour that is easiest to fit around a ferry from Naples, Sorrento or Positano.
Choose the 4-hour Half Day Private Boat Tour if the day is about slowing down: it adds real time at the Faraglioni, Marina Piccola and the Red Grotto instead of passing by. Also, its record is remarkable, with 127 of 130 reviews at five stars.
Both are run by Living Capri Boat Tours from Pier 21 in Marina Grande, both are private, and both can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before the start.
Good to know before you book
You meet the boat at Marina Grande, where the ferries from Naples, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast dock. So you get to Capri first, by ferry, and walk a few minutes to Pier 21 on Via Cristoforo Colombo. Therefore, book a ferry that lands well before your start time. However, if you would rather be picked up on the mainland and cross by private boat, our Capri boat tour from Sorrento compares the options that leave from there.
I have done both loops. Take an early ferry to Capri, ask your skipper to head for the Blue Grotto first, before the line builds, and keep some euros in cash for the rowers. Also, if you are staying on the island, the four-hour tour is worth the difference: the half-hour stop under the Faraglioni is the moment you will keep. Tony lives in Rome and works as a guide across Italy.
Which one is for you?
Take the 3-hour tour if
- You are on Capri for the day and still want time for the Piazzetta, Anacapri or lunch on land.
- You are a group of up to seven: at about $520 per boat, that is about $74 each.
- You want the full loop of the island with the most-reviewed option.
- Someone in your party is not sure about long hours on a small boat.
Take the 4-hour tour if
- You are staying on Capri and the boat is the day, not a slot in it.
- You want to swim and snorkel properly, with half-hour stops rather than a quick dip.
- You are celebrating: an anniversary or a honeymoon day deserves the slower version.
- You are six or fewer, which is this boat’s limit.
Who should skip both
Wheelchair users: neither tour is accessible. Also, travelers who get seasick easily should think twice, since several reviewers mention choppy water on smaller boats. Finally, if the Blue Grotto is the only thing you want, a shared tour does it for much less.
What each price covers
On both tours
Included: the boat for your party only, a skipper who guides as he drives, bottled water and soft drinks, beach towels, snorkeling gear, a freshwater shower and a Bluetooth speaker for your music.
Not included: entry to the Blue Grotto, which the listings put at €18 per person, and the tip that the rowers who take you inside usually expect. In addition, hotel pickup is offered as an extra option.
The route, and the one difference
Both boats circle the island from Marina Grande past Marina Piccola, the Faraglioni, the Green and White grottoes, the Natural Arch, Villa Malaparte, the Red Grotto and the Punta Carena lighthouse, with up to an hour set aside for the Blue Grotto. On the 3-hour tour, however, most of these are seen as you pass. On the 4-hour tour, Marina Piccola, the Faraglioni and the Red Grotto each get a stop of about 30 minutes.
The Blue Grotto, honestly
You cannot sail into the Blue Grotto on your own boat. Instead, at the entrance you move into a small rowboat and lie back as the rower pulls you through the opening. The wait can be long later in the day: one reviewer advises going there first, before the lines build.
Side by side
| 3-hour private tour | 4-hour private tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9 from 234 | 4.9 from 130 |
| Five-star reviews | 221 (94%) | 127 (98%) |
| Price | from about $520 per group (up to 7) | from about $624 per group (up to 6) |
| Per person, for two | about $260 | about $312 |
| Length | About 3 hours | About 4 hours |
| Longer stops | Faraglioni, Blue Grotto | Marina Piccola, Faraglioni, Red Grotto, Blue Grotto |
| Start | Pier 21, Marina Grande, Capri | Pier 21, Marina Grande, Capri |
| Booked ahead, on average | 70 days | 89 days |
| Wheelchair accessible | No | No |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before | Free up to 24 hours before |
What travelers say
On the 3-hour private tour
This was the absolute highlight of our honeymoon – what an incredible way to see Capri!
Samantha_E, October 2025, via Viator
This boat tour was the best I have ever been on. The boat owner and Captain were friendly, polite, and they owned their craft. My wife and I had tons of fun and were amazed by the knowledge our captain Francesco had on full display.
Philip_D, August 2026, via Viator, in a review titled “20th Wedding Anniversary Boat Tour”
On the 4-hour private tour
This trip was unbelievable! It was the highlight of our Italy trip. Giuseppe was so professional, talented and knowledgeable about the island. This is a must do for anyone! The size of boat allows you to also go in small caves vs. A larger boat.
Kelly_W, October 2024, via Viator
It was our 1 year anniversary and they had a cancellation so Nico even upgraded our boat to a bigger one with a bathroom. My wife was absolutely thrilled with this experience.
Nicholas_M, September 2025, via Viator
The skippers are what reviewers remember: their knowledge of the island, the photos they take for you and how close they bring the boat to the rock. By contrast, the complaints are few and mostly about things outside the boat, like the tip asked by the Blue Grotto rowers or a rough sea.
More around Capri
From the mainland side, compare the Amalfi Coast private boat tour from Positano, or the Capri boat tour from Sorrento. Nearby islands have their own boats: see the Ischia boat tour and the Procida boat tour.
For more at this level across the country, see our guide to luxury experiences in Italy. To plan the crossing, read our guide to Amalfi Coast ferries.
Questions travelers ask
How much is a private boat tour of Capri?
On October 1, 2026, Viator listed the 3-hour private tour from Marina Grande from about $520 per group of up to 7, and the 4-hour version from about $624 per group of up to 6. However, the Blue Grotto entry, listed at €18 per person, is extra.
Where do the tours start?
At Pier 21 on Via Cristoforo Colombo, in Marina Grande, Capri: a few minutes’ walk from where the ferries dock. So you need to reach Capri by ferry first.
Do you go inside the Blue Grotto?
Yes, if it is open. Both tours stop there for up to an hour, and you go in on a small rowboat, paying the entry on the spot.
Is 3 hours enough to see Capri by boat?
For the full loop of the island, yes: the 3-hour tour covers the same coastline. The 4-hour tour adds longer stops for swimming and photos at Marina Piccola, the Faraglioni and the Red Grotto.
How far ahead should I book?
Viator shows these are booked 70 and 89 days in advance on average. So, for summer, book as soon as your Capri day is fixed; you can cancel free up to 24 hours before.
Can I cancel?
Both offer a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start, as shown on Viator on October 1, 2026. Check the terms again when you book.
Book the 3-hour tour to see all of Capri from the sea and still have the afternoon; book the 4-hour tour when the sea is the whole plan.
Editorial assessment by Italy2Love, October 2026. Inclusions and exclusions, meeting points, itineraries, prices, ratings, review counts and cancellation terms read on both Viator product pages (product codes 293728P1 and 293728P2), October 1, 2026. Reviews quoted with attribution to their authors and to Viator. Next review April 2027, or sooner on any change to either option.