The 13 Island Day Trips in Italy That Earn the Road Time

1.Sardinia: La Maddalena Archipelago Full-Day Trip by Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,710 reviews · 6 - 7 hours · from $59Our pick

Spend 6 to 7 hours aboard Elena Tour Navigazioni, visiting La Maddalena, Spargi, Budelli, and Santa Maria. You’ll swim from white-sand beaches and the boat, explore La Maddalena’s old streets, and buy Sardinian food and drinks onboard. Live commentary and smartphone audio are available in English, French, and Italian.

“Very nice and clean boat and a great tour, they also had wonderful food options on board.”

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2.From Palau: La Maddalena Islands Full-Day Trip by Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2,414 reviews · 7 hours · from $59

Spend seven hours aboard the Sea Star from Palau, visiting Spargi, Budelli, Santa Maria, and nearby islands. You’ll have beach time, boat swims, multilingual commentary, and food for sale. The final stop changes by day: Cala Coticcio and Caprera on some departures, La Maddalena town on others.

“Very nice trip. It was a pity that we didn’t go to tahiti :( Maybe next time ;)”

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3.Small Group Boat Day Excursion to Capri Island from Sorrento

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 926 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $131

You’ll circle Capri by boat with an English-speaking skipper such as Tony, Michele, or Antonio, stopping at sea caves, Faraglioni, Marina Piccola, and Punta Carena. After swimming and onboard drinks, you get about 3.5 hours on Capri before returning to Sorrento.

“Didn’t have the best weather but the tour team made the best out of the situation, made us feel safe and comfortable. Had a great experience that was very memorable!”

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4.From Sorrento: Capri Island Boat Day Trip With Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 762 reviews · from $123Top rated

Join Meditours for a small-group Capri cruise from Sorrento, limited to 12 people. Guides such as Italo, Giuseppe, Tony, and Valentino share island tips, serve drinks and snacks, stop for swimming, and give you four hours ashore.

“absolutely amazing! raffe was the greatest skipper ever!!!! book this if you want to go to capri!”

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5.From Sorrento: Capri Island Day Trip with Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 469 reviews · from $164

Join an English or Italian-speaking skipper for an eight-hour cruise from Sorrento to Capri. Expect grotto views, swimming with provided goggles, onboard drinks and snacks, and four hours to explore Capri or Anacapri. The crew may include captains such as Mario, Luigi, Marco, or Ago.

“We spent a lovely few hours in Capri. Took the fenicular into the town then a bus down to Marina Piccolo, well worth seeing. Aqua seas and so lovely to swim in. So glad we were able to do this as we were unable to visit the Blue lagoon or go around Capri in the boat due to the wind. A very wet but fun boat trip”

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6.From Rome: Ponza Island Day Trip with Boat Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 278 reviews · from $191

Spend 13 hours traveling from Rome to Ponza by coach and fast ferry, then cruise to grottoes and swimming spots with a captain-cooked pasta lunch, wine, and free time by the harbor. Guides such as Mara, Valerio, Luca, and Gina add useful commentary along the way.

“Sooo much fun! So worth it to be able to leave Rome for a day.”

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7.From Rome: Capri Island Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 242 reviews · from $186

Travel from Rome to Capri with an English-speaking tour leader handling the coach and ferry connections. You get about 5 hours 40 minutes on the island for the Piazzetta, Blue Grotto options, Anacapri, gardens, or lunch. Expect an early start and a long but efficient day.

“This was an easy way to see Capri! Our guide Enrico was very helpful and kind. It was nice to have the logistics taken care of. Would recommend!”

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8.From Naples: Procida Island Day Trip with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 137 reviews · from $90

Take the 8:00 am ferry from Naples to Procida, then explore at your own pace. Visit Terra Murata, Corricella, and Marina Grande, with a three-course restaurant lunch, wine or a soft drink, and round-trip ferry tickets included.

“It was so badly arranged as I was wrongly given the ferry tickets. Luckily I found it out before boarding and the guide assisted to solve that. A lunch voucher was given but you’re advised to take lunch at 1400.. which was very late for a tour started at 08:00… the location and opening hours of the restaurants were not clearly provided. I found one was not even opened on the day… Procida was worth to visit but i had to pay extra for changing the ferry ticket for an earlier depart.. very disappointing”

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9.Small Group Boat Day Excursion to Capri Island from Amalfi

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 97 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $204

Start near Amalfi’s Piazza Flavio Gioia, ride by minivan to Sorrento, then cruise to Capri with a small boat crew. Expect Faraglioni views, swimming, snacks, drinks, and about four hours to explore Capri independently. Blue Grotto entry, towels, and the €10 docking fee cost extra.

“Great experience and team! Super friendly and fantastic communication. We loved our time on the boat and at Capri!”

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10.Poltu Quatu: La Maddalena Archipelago Sailboat full-day trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 36 reviews · from $192

Spend 7.5 hours aboard Rosa Velata with skippers Cindy and Mario, sailing from Poltu Quatu to three La Maddalena islands. Swim and snorkel at Spargi, Budelli, and Caprera, then enjoy North Sardinian food, pasta, wine, coffee, and dessert in a small group of up to eight.

“Our personal thank you goes to Cynthia and Mario! This very kind and hospitable skipper and his partner have created an unforgettable trip around the Sardinian Archipele. Both work very professionally and synchronized together making the trip safe yet very pleasant and diversified. Both are very human and make a great Sport with interesting conversations! They have shown us around the most wonderful parts of the islands with adorable beaches and gorgeous water color giving us enough time to swim around and discover by ourselves. Another big advantage is that the guys speak many languages like Italian, Spanish, German and English which made the trip very comfortable although we where…”

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11.Catamaran: Day trips in La Maddalena’s Archipelago

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 34 reviews · from $113

Join a young local crew aboard Scatto, a fast 10x7-meter prototype catamaran, for seven hours around La Maddalena. You will sail when the wind allows, stop at Budelli, Santa Maria, and Spargi, swim in clear water, and bring your own food and drinks.

“Great day spent with a great crew who interact with each of the passengers. There were only 8 of us which allowed us to fully enjoy the boat unlike others. Magnificent swimming stops in the Maddalena archipelago. To recommend without hesitation”

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12.Ponza Island: Day Trip from Anzio with 5 Hour Boat Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 28 reviews · from $180

Meet your English-speaking EcoArt tour leader at Anzio’s Laziomar office, then take a 1.5-hour ferry to Ponza. After a short port break, cruise the island for five hours, stopping to swim and snorkel before a captain-cooked pasta lunch, then enjoy one final hour ashore.

“Boat was fantastic, crew was delightful and the island was breathtaking. All the swim breaks were amazing, great sea life and unforgettable clear waters. A bit costly but when I checked booking each thing (boat ride to Ponza/Boat tour) individually it was about $15-$20 USD more so good value.”

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13.From Naples: Capri Day Trip with Ferry and Island Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 24 reviews · from $135

Travel from Naples to Capri by ferry, then spend five hours exploring on your own before joining a one-hour boat tour past the Faraglioni rocks and Marina Piccola. An Italian or English-speaking host helps with transfers, but food, drinks, the funicular, and Blue Grotto tickets cost extra.

“The ferry was packed and the food on Capri was pricey and my dinner was missed and then dropped and I was made to feel that it was my fault”

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