Sorrento to Capri Ferry: Times, Prices & How to Book

The fastest and cheapest way to get to Capri from Sorrento is the public ferry: a 20–35 minute crossing from Sorrento's Marina Piccola port to Capri's Marina Grande, with one-way fares from about €19 in 2026 (rising to around €26 on the pricier hydrofoils), plus a small Capri landing tax. Boats run frequently all year, with departures roughly every 30–60 minutes in high season.

This guide covers everything a day-tripper or overnight visitor needs: the 2026 operators and prices, the timetable structure, where to buy tickets, how to reach the port and get around once you land, how the ferry compares with a boat tour, alternative routes from Naples and the Amalfi Coast, and practical tips on luggage, seasickness, crowds and cancellations.

Quick Facts: Sorrento to Capri at a Glance

Ferry Operators & Prices 2026

Several companies share the Sorrento–Capri route. Service levels are broadly similar; the main differences are price, vessel type and departure times. All depart from Sorrento's Marina Piccola and dock at Capri's Marina Grande.

NLG's "I.R." fare applies to its year-round departures; third-party sites sometimes display NLG closer to €24.50 once booking fees and the landing contribution are folded in, so the exact number varies by where you book. Caremar's fast ferry is consistently the least expensive option and the only Sorrento vessel that carries vehicles — though that's relevant only off-season, since non-resident cars are banned on Capri from Easter to early November.

Two extra costs to budget for:

• Capri landing tax (contributo di sbarco): €2.50 (Nov–Mar) or €5.00 (Apr–Oct) per person. In practice it's normally already included in your ferry ticket and charged only on the outbound leg.
• Luggage: a small hand bag is included; large suitcases cost extra (NLG charges €5 per piece; other lines roughly €2–€3).

Ferry Timetable & Frequency

High season (April–October): across all operators combined there are more than 20 daily departures, running roughly every 30–60 minutes from early morning until evening. The first boat generally leaves Sorrento around 7:15 am, and the last ferry from Capri to Sorrento departs around 7:40 pm — though the exact last-boat time varies by operator and date.

Low season (November–March): frequency drops significantly. Fewer companies run, departures may be every couple of hours, and weather cancellations are more common. Because timetables shift through the season and can change without notice, always confirm your specific date's schedule shortly before travel.

Where to Buy Tickets (Online vs at the Port)

• Online in advance: book directly on operator sites (nlg.it for NLG; the Gescab/Caremar portals for Alilauro/SNAV) or via aggregators like Ferryhopper that compare all operators in one place. Many companies support e-tickets with a QR code.
• At the port ticket offices: every operator has a window at Marina Piccola. Buying on the day is fine in the off-season and on quieter days.
• Caremar tickets for some sailings are only available on the Caremar website, so if you specifically want the cheapest fast ferry, check there.

Do you need to book in advance? Not always — but strongly recommended in peak periods. On summer weekends and throughout July and August, popular departures (especially the first morning boats and the afternoon returns from Capri) sell out. Note that hydrofoil seating is not assigned; a ticket guarantees passage on that departure, not a specific seat.

Departure: Sorrento's Marina Piccola (Mind the Name!)

This trips up a lot of visitors, so it's worth being clear: all scheduled ferries and hydrofoils leave from Sorrento's Marina Piccola, Sorrento's main commercial port. Confusingly, Sorrento also has a Marina Grande — but that's a small fishing cove used only for private boat tours, not public ferries. And when you arrive in Capri, you land at Capri's Marina Grande. So: leave from Marina Piccola (Sorrento), arrive at Marina Grande (Capri).

To reach Marina Piccola from central Sorrento, it's about a 10-minute walk down from Piazza Tasso (via roughly 100 steps then a downhill stretch), or take the Sorrento Lift from the Villa Comunale park (about €1.10 one way) — ideal with luggage. Local buses also run between the town centre and the port.

Arrival: Capri's Marina Grande (Onward Travel)

Capri's Marina Grande is a lively, colourful harbour and the island's only public ferry port. From here you have three main ways up to Capri town:

• Funicular: the classic route, €2.40 a ride, running every 15 minutes and taking 4 minutes up to the Piazzetta. Note it closes from January until Easter for maintenance, with a replacement bus.
• Bus: small orange buses connect Marina Grande with Capri town and Anacapri — €2.40 from a ticket office or €2.90 on board.
• Taxi: Capri's iconic open-top taxis charge fixed rates, around €17 for up to 4 passengers to Capri town.

Once up top, buses link Capri town, Anacapri, Marina Piccola and the Blue Grotto, and the Monte Solaro chairlift from Anacapri climbs to the island's 589 m summit in about 13 minutes.

Ferry vs Boat Tour: Which Is Better for Visiting Capri?

Both get you to Capri, but they're very different experiences. The ferry is point-to-point transport; a boat tour turns the journey itself into the day out.

Choose the ferry if you want to maximise time on the island, keep costs down, travel on your own schedule, or plan a separate Blue Grotto or Monte Solaro trip. Choose a boat tour if you want the sea to be the main event: cruising the coastline, passing the Faraglioni and the White and Green Grottos, stopping to swim, often with drinks and a snack included, plus a few hours ashore. On GetYourGuide, concrete examples from Sorrento include a small-group full-day cruise from around €114 per person and the "Capri Island Boat Day Trip With Transfer" (with hotel pickup) around €123 per person — Blue Grotto entry extra on both. If a scenic cruise appeals more than a fast crossing, check availability below.

Check Availability — Small-Group Capri Cruise

A key point on the Blue Grotto: it's almost never included in tour prices. Entry is about €18 per person, paid on-site, and only possible when seas are calm. If the cave is your priority, read our full Blue Grotto guide for how to time a visit, or book a tour that targets it early in the morning.

Other Routes to Capri

• Naples to Capri: year-round hydrofoils from Molo Beverello (about 50 minutes) and slower ferries from Calata Porta di Massa (about 80 minutes), from around €19–€25 one way. Useful if you're flying into Naples.
• Positano to Capri: seasonal (roughly April–October), about 30–40 minutes, NLG's official fare €23 one way. Handy if you're combining Capri with an Amalfi Coast stay.
• Amalfi to Capri: seasonal, about 50 minutes to 1h15, often via Positano, roughly €25–€30 one way.

For someone based in Sorrento, the Sorrento–Capri crossing is almost always the best choice: it's the shortest, cheapest, most frequent and runs year-round.

Day Trip Timing Strategy

1. Take an early ferry. Aim for one of the first morning departures (around 7:15–8:30 am) to reach Capri before the mid-morning wave of day-trippers and cruise passengers — ideally before 9:30 am.
2. Work against the crowd flow. Head straight up to Anacapri and Monte Solaro first thing, then explore Capri town and the Piazzetta in the early afternoon once the initial crush disperses.
3. Plan how long to stay. A full day (early out, evening back) covers both Capri and Anacapri comfortably; even 4–5 hours is enough for the highlights.
4. Mind the last boat. Afternoon and early-evening returns sell out first in peak season. Buy your return in advance and don't cut it fine — missing the last boat means an unplanned night on the island.

Check Availability — Round-Trip Sorrento–Capri & Positano Ferry

What If Seas Are Rough? Cancellations & Refunds

Crossings can be suspended in rough weather. Hydrofoils are the first to be cancelled; fast ferries and conventional ferries are hardier. Between April and the end of October, complete suspensions are rare. If you're travelling in marginal weather, call the ferry company or Capri tourist information before heading to the port. If you're prone to seasickness, choose a fast ferry over a hydrofoil. Refunds are generally available when a crossing is cancelled for weather — keep your booking documentation, as some travellers report slow refunds with certain operators.

Practical Tips

• Arrive early. Get to the port at least 20–30 minutes before departure; on busy summer weekends allow up to an hour to collect tickets and board.
• Best side for views. On the Sorrento→Capri crossing, the side facing the Sorrentine Peninsula gives the nicer coastal scenery; if views matter, ask the crew as you board.
• Luggage. Travel light — you'll be navigating stairs, the funicular and crowds. Large bags incur a supplement on the ferry and again on Capri's funicular/buses.
• Buy Capri transport tickets early. You can often buy funicular and bus tickets at the tobacconist at Sorrento's port before you sail.
• Non-resident vehicles are banned on Capri from Easter to early November — don't plan to bring a car.