Boat tours from Sorrento to Capri and the Amalfi Coast

A boat tour from Sorrento is a must-do if you’re spending your holidays in this dreamy Italian city. On the day of the excursion, you can admire several different places that are famous all over the world.

Depending on your preferences, you can take part in a group or private boat tour. In both cases, it is important to highlight that the boats typically used for these kinds of boat trips from Sorrento are quite small. This allows for an even more intimate experience. In fact, when visiting Capri or the Amalfi Coast, you often have to deal with a large number of tourists. As such, you will find peace and quiet on the boats departing from Sorrento, the perfect atmosphere for a calm and relaxing day surrounded by the dreamy Campania region of Italy.

In this article, we will detail the characteristics of the boat tours from Sorrento and we will briefly illustrate the most beautiful places to visit. This way, it will be easy for you to decide which boat tour is right for you.

Boat tours from Sorrento, what to see between the Gulf of Naples and the Gulf of Salerno

If you are interested in a specific route on the map, go directly to the route description: yellow, red, blue.

Boat tours from Sorrento start from a strategic location. The Sorrento peninsula, in fact, separates the Gulf of Naples from the Gulf of Salerno. Hence, starting from Sorrento, you are right between two of the most beautiful gulfs of Italy, and indeed Europe. Both gulfs are full of architectural and historical treasures and both are used as starting points for many boat trips. The Gulf of Naples has many islands such as: Ischia, Vivara, Procida and Capri. However, the Gulf of Salerno is home to many famous cities such as Amalfi, Positano and Ravello.

Amalfi Coast:

The Amalfi Coast extends along 16 municipalities on the Sorrento peninsula and overlooks the Gulf of Salerno. In 1997 the Amalfi Coast was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The coast is characterized by its mountains close to the sea, with towns situated on their steep slopes.

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• Amalfi

Geographically in the centre of the Amalfi Coast, the town of Amalfi, lends its name to the entire coast. In Amalfi, some of the best places to visit are the beaches, many of which, being several meters lower than the city, can be reached only by long walks or from the sea. The cathedral of Amalfi is a real architectural gem, which can also be reached via a long stairway.

• Positano

The most famous town on the Amalfi Coast is Positano, a town that, given the presence of the mountain, has developed vertically, providing a striking cityscape that can be admired both from the land and from the sea. In Positano, the alleys and streets of the old town, intricate like a labyrinth, are absolutely fascinating and attract tourists from all over the world.

• Ravello

Finally, Ravello is a town surrounded by greenery and which is famous for its villas. Not to be missed in Ravello is the Villa Rufolo. The gardens of the villa (or Belvedere) are built on a terrace overlooking the coast from above. They are a succession of geometrically ordered and colourful figures. A spectacle of indescribable beauty.

Capri:

Capri is, without doubt, the most famous attraction in the area. Here, tourists and international celebrities find history, culture and natural beauty.

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• The Faraglioni

The Faragioni are 3 large cliffs that are located near the island of Capri. The impressive sight of these spectacular cliffs, the highest of which reaches 109 m, has contributed to making the island of Capri famous throughout the world.

• The Blue Grotto

Another impressive attraction on Capri is the Blue Grotto, which is thought to have already been used by Emperor Tiberius. The cave has a very small entrance and therefore only a small number of visitors can enter the grotto at one time. If you wish to visit it, you should book a boat tour with guaranteed entry to the Blue Grotto.

Characteristics of the boat tours from Sorrento

Enjoying the view of Capri or the Amalfi Coast from the sea will be an unforgettable experience. The coast will continue to change under your eyes and you will spend the entire time of your trip admiring cliffs, caves, towns built overlooking the sea, fishing villages, ruins of Roman villas, more caves and so on.

The characteristics of the boat tours from Sorrento are different depending on the provider you choose. There are two providers suggested by CheckYeti: You Know! Boat and Capitano Ago.

The two providers offer similar but not identical boat tours from Sorrento. With both providers, the maximum number of passengers on the board during group tours is 12 people, with one exception, the boat tour that leads to the Blue Grotto. In this case, the maximum number of passengers on board the boat is only 7. In contrast, private tours host up to 10 people only.

Boat tours from Sorrento to Capri (yellow and red routes on the map)

The boat tours from Sorrento to Capri usually last between 7 and 8 hours. However, if you are on holiday for only a few days and do not wish to spend a full day on a boat, the half-day boat tour from Sorrento to Capri is undoubtedly a great solution.

All boat tours to Capri, except the half-day one, allow people to visit Capri independently. The break on the island can last from 1 hour up to 5 hours, depending on the offer.

Red route:

The boat tour from Sorrento to Capri, shown on the map as the red route, is offered by both providers: Capitano Ago and You Know! Boat. It is an experience that lasts about 8 hours. This tour is suitable for you if you want to spend around 4-5 hours on Capri by yourself and relax on the boat for the remainder of the time. The tour includes stops in isolated places for swimming and snorkeling. Snorkeling equipment is on board and can be rented for free. Also included in the price are alcoholic and soft drinks as well as small snacks. The offer is ideal if you want to spend a relaxing day out, as the providers also offer a shuttle service to and from hotels in Sorrento.

The red route also represents almost perfectly the route taken by the boat during the half-day tour. In this case, there is no stop at Marina Grande, as there is no break to visit Capri independently.

Yellow route:

The yellow route on the map depicts the boat tour from Sorrento to Capri with a visit to the Blue Grotto. The route of this boat tour is very similar to the red route. Here, you also have a 3-4 hour stop on Capri to explore the island. The stop at the Blue Grotto lasts about 40 minutes. During the tour, the captain will make several stops in isolated areas where you can snorkel with equipment offered free of charge. To make the experience even more special, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as a shuttle service to and from the hotel, are also offered.

Boat tours from Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast (blue route on the map)

Boat tours from Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast usually have 2 shorter stops that last between 1 and 2 hours in order for passengers to admire both towns: Positano and Amalfi.

Blue route:

The first stop, after having coasted the Sorrento peninsula and part of the Amalfi Coast, will be in Amalfi. After the first break, the boat will continue onwards to Sorrento. On the way back, the ship will stop in Positano for a second break. Once you’ve had the chance to explore Positano, you will also be able to admire the archipelago of Li Galli. After that, the boat will return to Sorrento.

Throughout the day, there will also be time for the boat to stop in some isolated areas where you can swim or snorkel. Alcoholic and soft drinks, as well as small snacks, will be offered on board. During your stops in Amalfi and Positano, you can then enjoy a real Italian ice cream, a delicious pizza or anything you like while roaming the streets of the historic centres of the two cities.

During a private boat tour from Sorrento, you can choose the attractions you wish to visit. If you decide to visit the Amalfi Coast, we recommend a stop in Ravello as well. The city is located on the Amalfi Coast but is a little less well known and therefore has fewer tourists. Nonetheless, it is a wonderful place that’s definitely worth a visit, thanks to the famous villas.