The easiest way to see Capri from Sorrento is by boat: around the island’s grottoes and the Faraglioni, with a stop in town and an attempt at the Blue Grotto. On Viator, two of the best-reviewed boat days split on price and comfort: a small-group boat for 12, rated 4.7 across 2,983 reviews, from about $115, and a semi-private boat for eight with lunch and Sorrento hotel pickup, rated 4.9 across 2,494 reviews, from about $208.
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The verdict
The semi-private boat is our pick if the budget allows: eight guests at most, lunch, drinks from water to prosecco and limoncello, and hotel pickup in Sorrento are included, and 2,305 of 2,494 reviews are five stars.
The small-group boat costs about $93 less and covers much the same route around the island: Marina Grande, the Grotta Verde and the White Grotto, the Faraglioni and Punta Carena. It includes prosecco, soft drinks, water, beer and fruit, snorkel masks and a restroom on board, but not lunch, and the group is up to 12.
On both, the Blue Grotto ticket is extra and entry is never guaranteed: it depends on the sea and the queue.
The Blue Grotto closes with rough sea or high tide, and in peak season the wait can reach an hour and a half, according to the semi-private listing; one traveler on the small-group boat waited two hours. Several reviewers skipped it and swam in other grottoes instead. Budget for the entrance ticket and for tips to the rowers, which the listing notes are usual but not mandatory.
Which one is for you?
Take the small-group boat if
- You want the island by boat for about $115.
- You are happy to buy lunch on Capri.
- You like snorkeling: masks are provided.
- You can get to the Marina Piccola pier in Sorrento on your own.
Take the semi-private boat if
- You want at most eight people on board.
- You want lunch and drinks included, limoncello to finish.
- You are staying in Sorrento and want hotel pickup.
- Reviews matter most to you: it is rated 4.9 from 2,494 travelers.
What each price covers
The small-group boat, from about $115
Included: a professional skipper, a bottle of prosecco per boat, soft drinks, water, beer and seasonal fruit, a snorkel mask and life jacket per person, a restroom and outdoor shower on board, and fuel.
Not included: lunch, beach towels, the Blue Grotto ticket and a fee for assistance at embarkation. If the Blue Grotto is closed, the listing offers extra time on the island or a longer swim stop instead.
The semi-private boat, from about $208
Included: hotel pickup and drop-off for stays in Sorrento, an English-speaking skipper, soft drinks, water, beer, wine, prosecco and limoncello, lunch and a homemade sweet at the end.
Not included: the Blue Grotto ticket, snorkeling gear (bring your own or buy it before boarding) and a destination fee paid on the spot for docking and landing.
Where each one starts
- Small-group boat: Via Marina Piccola 2, Sorrento, in the square between La Scogliera Kitchen & Bar and Ruccio Restaurant; look for the MBS logo T-shirt.
- Semi-private boat: pickup from hotels and rentals in Sorrento; the boat leaves from the Marina di Cassano harbor.
Side by side
| Small group | Semi-private | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7 from 2,983 | 4.9 from 2,494 |
| Five-star reviews | 2,569 (86%) | 2,305 (92%) |
| Price | from about $115 | from about $208 |
| Length | 7 to 8 hours | 7 to 8 hours |
| Group cap | 12 | 8 |
| Lunch | Not included | Included |
| Drinks | Prosecco, soft drinks, beer, water | Adds wine and limoncello |
| Hotel pickup | No | Sorrento only |
| Blue Grotto ticket | Extra | Extra |
What travelers say
On the small-group boat
Rough sea could not enter the blue grotto. But the trip was great anyway.
Joseph_H, September 2026, via Viator
They took us around Capri, explained everything to us and made our day enjoyable.
Karen_L, September 2026, via Viator
On the semi-private boat
Our group decided not to wait 2 hours for the blue grotto so we were able to see and swim in several other caves
Alisa_H, September 2026, via Viator
Also worth it to get early to Capri and avoid chair lift and bus lines
Melissa_C, September 2026, via Viator
Most reviews of both boats are five stars. The critical ones on the small-group boat mention crowds on Capri and a less structured day for first-timers; on both tours, the recurring caveat is the Blue Grotto queue.
How a Capri boat day fits a Sorrento or Naples trip
From Sorrento, a boat is the most relaxed way to see Capri. Staying in Naples instead? Compare the Pompeii and Capri day trip from Naples, or the Amalfi Coast boat tours for the other side of the peninsula.
For the island itself, read Capri: what to see, our best day trips from Naples and the Amalfi Coast guide.
Questions travelers ask
Which Capri boat tour from Sorrento should I book?
For comfort and the best reviews, book the semi-private boat for eight, with lunch and Sorrento hotel pickup, rated 4.9 on Viator, from about $208 (checked September 2026). For a lower price, the small-group boat for 12 starts from about $115, without lunch.
Is the Blue Grotto included in Capri boat tours?
No. On both tours the Blue Grotto entrance ticket is extra, and entry depends on the sea, the tide and the queue.
How long is the wait for the Blue Grotto?
In peak season it can reach about an hour and a half, according to one listing, and some travelers report two hours. Many groups choose to swim in other grottoes instead.
Is lunch included on a Capri boat day?
Only on the semi-private boat. On the small-group boat, you buy lunch on the island.
Can I cancel a Capri boat tour?
Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, and both can be cancelled by the supplier for bad weather, with an alternative date or a refund.
Book the semi-private boat for a smaller group, lunch and pickup; book the small-group boat if you want the same island by sea for much less.
Editorial assessment by Italy2Love, September 2026. Inclusions and exclusions, routes, group caps, Blue Grotto conditions, meeting points, prices, ratings, review counts and cancellation terms read on both Viator product pages (product codes 42612P9 and 51921P48), September 2026. Reviews quoted with attribution to their authors and to Viator. Next review March 2027, or sooner on any change to either tour.