How long is the boat ride from Sorrento to Capri?

Twenty to twenty-five minutes on a hydrofoil, about thirty on a fast ferry, and longer again on Laser Capri’s motorboats. That is the crossing. A boat tour is a different measurement altogether: five to eight hours, because the price covers the crossing both ways, the full island circuit, two or three swim stops and three to four hours ashore. If somebody quotes you six hours, they are not describing a slow ferry.

Hydrofoil20–25 min

Fast ferryAbout 30 min

MotorboatSlower again

Boat tours5–8 h

Time ashore3–4 h

Shortest island tour2 h

The crossing

Five companies work the route out of Marina Piccola and the vessel decides the time. A hydrofoil crosses in 20 to 25 minutes at roughly €20 to €30 one-way; a fast ferry takes about thirty and sits more steadily in a swell; Laser Capri’s motorboats are the slow option. In high season one leaves every 30 to 60 minutes, so the wait for a boat is often longer than the boat ride — the timetable is on the ferry page.

The tour

Our six run five to eight hours. The circuit alone is not the reason: the shortest island tour sold on Capri itself lasts two hours, with three, four and seven-hour versions available. What stretches a Sorrento day is the crossing at both ends and the block of free time in the middle. The snorkelling boat gives three hours ashore, most of the others about four, and the small group day runs eight hours in total. Which shape suits you is the argument on ferry or boat tour.

Insider tip

Judge a tour by the hours ashore rather than the headline duration. Two boats billed at six and eight hours can leave you with the same afternoon on the island.

Check crossing and tour times

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Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get from Sorrento to Capri by boat?

Twenty to twenty-five minutes on a hydrofoil, about thirty on a fast ferry, and longer on a motorboat. All of them leave from Marina Piccola in Sorrento.

Why are boat tours five to eight hours long?

Because they include the crossing both ways, the island circuit, swim stops and three to four hours ashore. The pricing behind those hours is on what a boat tour costs.

Is the crossing rough?

It can be. A fast ferry handles a swell better than a hydrofoil, and reviewers on tour boats have described choppy water and a skipper who kept everyone comfortable through it.