One of Italy's most famous sea caves, the Blue Grotto is a sea cave that glows with an ethereal electric-blue light caused by sunlight refracted through an underwater opening. Visitors enter on small rowing boats, ducking through a low entrance into the magical cavern.
The Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) is a sea cave on the northwestern coast of the island of Capri in the Gulf of Naples, Campania, Italy, and one of the most visited natural attractions in Italy. The cave is approximately 60 metres long, 25 metres wide, and rises up to 14 metres in height, but its significance lies entirely in a remarkable optical phenomenon: sunlight enters through a large submerged opening below the cave's entrance and is refracted upward through the water column, filling the cave interior with an intense, shimmering electric-blue light that makes the water appear to glow from within. This effect is at its most dramatic between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM when the sun angle is optimal for illuminating the underwater aperture. Access is only possible through an extremely low entrance arch measuring approximately 1 metre in height, which requires all visitors to lie flat in small traditional rowing boats (gozzo) while the boatman pulls the craft in using an iron ring. The full internal experience lasts approximately five minutes. Ancient Romans knew the cave: the imperial villa of Gradola, whose ruins are visible on the cliff above, appears to have had private access to the cave for ceremonial bathing. Small silver and bronze statuettes of ancient divinities were found on the cave floor during 19th-century exploration. The cave is reached by motor boat from Marina Grande or directly by rowboat from the cave's external entrance; separate admission fees apply for the motor boat taxi, the rowboat entry, and the cave admission itself. In rough weather or high seas, the cave frequently closes as wave action makes the entrance impassable.
Good to know
- Hours
- 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (weather permitting)
- Best time
- midday
- Best for
- nature lovers, couples, families
Location
Grotta Azzurra, 80073 Anacapri NA
40.5634, 14.1993 View on map
Highlights
- Experience the cave's extraordinary electric-blue glow caused by sunlight refracted through the underwater entrance
- Enter lying flat in a traditional rowing boat through the 1-metre-high cave entrance
- View the ancient Roman villa ruins of Gradola on the clifftop above the cave entrance
- Take a motor boat from Capri's Marina Grande as part of an island circumnavigation including the Faraglioni
- Photograph the cave's iridescent blue light, which intensifies dramatically at midday
Tips for visiting
- Visit between 11 AM-1 PM for best light effect
- Often closed in rough weather
- Arrive early as queues can be long in summer
When to visit
Midday (11:00 AM–1:00 PM) provides the strongest blue light effect inside the cave. Early June or September visits before the July–August peak reduce queue times for the rowboats. In high summer, queues for entry can exceed 90 minutes; arriving by private speedboat rather than the public service reduces waiting time.
Accessibility
The Blue Grotto is not accessible to wheelchair users due to the requirement to transfer to small rowboats and lie flat to enter. The motor boat from Marina Grande involves stepping from a jetty to a moving vessel, which may not be suitable for those with significant mobility difficulties.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Blue Grotto?
Between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM produces the most intense blue light effect as the sun is positioned to maximise illumination through the submerged opening. Earlier visits will have lower light intensity. The cave is often closed on high-sea or windy days regardless of time.
How much does it cost to visit the Blue Grotto?
The total cost is approximately €14 cave admission plus €16 for the rowboat, plus the motor boat from Marina Grande (approximately €18 return). All fees are paid separately at different points. The total visit costs approximately €48 per person including boat transportation from the port.
Is the Blue Grotto accessible to all visitors?
Visitors must be able to lie completely flat in a small rowing boat for several seconds during the low entrance. The experience is not suitable for those with severe back problems, claustrophobia, or significant mobility limitations. Children must be able to follow instructions to duck on command.