Underground · SEA CAVE TOURS IN ITALY

Sea Cave Tours in Italy: 15 We Would Book

22 tours  ·  from $23 a head

Numbers below ground are capped almost everywhere, and the good slots go months out. Here are 15 sea cave tours in Italy to lock in early, what is included and how they differ.

Desirèe experience. Visit of the marine caves of Vieste - Starting at Vieste’s port
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Desirèe experience. Visit of the marine caves of Vieste

1.Desirèe experience. Visit of the marine caves of Vieste

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 732 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $30Our pick

Cruise from Vieste along the Gargano coast, entering several sea caves with a captain who handles the boat skillfully. The trip includes views of the Pizzomunno monolith and, in summer, a 40-minute stop at Vignanotica Beach. Live commentary is offered in English and Italian. Bring swimwear, sunscreen, and patience for possible weather changes.

“A fantastic 3 hour trip. A beautiful day to explore the Gargano Peninsula. The crew and itinerary perfect. Definitely recommend this trip.”

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Siracusa: Ortigia & Sea Caves Boat Tour w/ Prosecco & Fruit - Fonte Aretusa from the water
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Siracusa: Ortigia & Sea Caves Boat Tour w/ Prosecco & Fruit

2.Siracusa: Ortigia & Sea Caves Boat Tour w/ Prosecco & Fruit

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 723 reviews · 1h 30m · from $35

In 90 minutes, a local skipper such as David, Stefano, Antonino, or Emiliano takes you around Ortigia, under Umbertino Bridge, past Maniace Castle and Fonte Aretusa, and into coastal caves. You get a swim stop, snorkeling mask, fruit, prosecco, soft drinks, shade, and music on board.

“Great activity, we enjoyed it a lot and our guide was great. Highly recommend”

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Tour of the island of Ortigia and exploration of sea caves with baths. - Entering Syracuse’s sea caves
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Tour of the island of Ortigia and exploration of sea caves with baths.

3.Tour of the island of Ortigia and exploration of sea caves with baths.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 668 reviews · 1 hour 10 minutes (approx.) · from $24

You’ll circle Ortigia with a local skipper, passing Castello Maniace, the Duomo, Fonte Aretusa, old walls, and the harbor. Then you’ll enter Syracuse’s sea caves and stop for a swim in clear Ionian water. Boats carry no more than 15 people, and guides such as Franco, Laura, Steven, and Stefano are praised for friendly commentary.

“Amazing experience! Our skipper was very kind and explained well. The caves were really impressive. I highly recommend this tour!”

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Syracuse: Ortigia Island & Sea Cave Boat Tour with Prosecco - Under the low bridge and around Ortigia
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Syracuse: Ortigia Island & Sea Cave Boat Tour with Prosecco

4.Ortigia Island & Sea Cave Boat Tour with Prosecco

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 418 reviews · 1 hour · from $23Best value

You’ll circle Ortigia from Via Malta, pass beneath a low bridge, visit Syracuse’s sea caves, and stop for a short swim near Fonte Aretusa. English and Italian commentary comes from your guide, with captains such as Enzo and Alessandro adding local stories and humor. A Prosecco toast, safety gear, and freshwater shower are included.

“We were 9 ladies celebrating a birthday, the trip was great fun the driver was knowledgeable and friendly and processo was fab”

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Boat tour of Ortigia Island and sea caves - Starting at Via Senatore Giuseppe Maielli
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Boat tour of Ortigia Island and sea caves

5.Boat tour of Ortigia Island and sea caves

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 407 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes (approx.) · from $24

Set out from Via Senatore Giuseppe Maielli for a roughly one-hour boat ride around Ortigia and Siracusa. You’ll see Castle Maniace from the sea, pass through sea caves when conditions allow, and may stop for a short swim. Guides such as Ninni and Nunzio add local history, humor, and restaurant tips.

“Fantastic value trip. A great way to see Ortigia. The stop for a swim in the warm sea just made the experience.”

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Syracuse: Pillirina, Ortigia, and Sea Caves Tour by Boat - Starting at the blue flag near Ortigia
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Syracuse: Pillirina, Ortigia, and Sea Caves Tour by Boat

6.Pillirina, Ortigia, and Sea Caves Tour by Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 348 reviews · 2 hours · from $47

Spend two hours on a spacious boat from Ortigia, cruising past Maniace Castle, the Arethusa spring, sea caves, and Pillirina Cove. You can swim and snorkel at two stops, with masks, skipper, and petrol included. Guides such as Francesco and Alessandro use English or a translator app, and the boat has sun and shade.

“THis was an amazing tour!! The whole experience was stunning! The vibe on the boat was fun and uplifting with music and true Italian life!! I cant say enough nice things about our captain!!! I cant wait for others to experience this tour!”

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Syracuse: Coast and Sea Caves Full Transparent Boat Tour - Meeting near A Surgiva in Ortigia
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Syracuse: Coast and Sea Caves Full Transparent Boat Tour

7.Coast and Sea Caves Full Transparent Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 330 reviews · 50 min · from $47

Board Sirakù’s Crystal Boat near A Surgiva in Ortigia for a 50-minute cruise along Siracusa’s coast. Your English or Italian-speaking skipper, often Antonino, Antonio, or Stefano, guides you past marine caves and sea grass, with clear panels below your feet. A swim stop and boat-side photos add to the fun.

“An excellent experience, Antonino was very knowledgeable and also very confident at the helm. He led us through some very choppy waters and he clearly knew what he was doing, we felt very safe all throughout.”

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Polignano Sea Caves: Boat Tour with Snorkeling & Aperitif - Grotta Azzurra and Grotta delle Rondinelle
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Polignano Sea Caves: Boat Tour with Snorkeling & Aperitif

8.Polignano Sea Caves: Boat Tour with Snorkeling & Aperitif

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 310 reviews · 2 hours · from $38

Set out from San Vito with Venture Vibes for a two-hour cruise along the Polignano a Mare coast. Your captain guides you past Grotta Azzurra, Grotta delle Rondinelle, Lama Monachile, Grotta Palazzese, and quieter coves, with a swimming stop, snorkeling masks, Prosecco, and soft drinks. English audio commentary is available when the captain is not an English speaker.

“We were 4 friends and loved the experience! Yana and Nicki were the best! Thank you so much for having us. We recommend!”

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Syracuse: Pillirina, Ortigia, Sea Caves and snorkeling - Starting around Ortigia’s old waterfront
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Syracuse: Pillirina, Ortigia, Sea Caves and snorkeling

9.Pillirina, Ortigia, Sea Caves and snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 133 reviews · 2 hours · from $47

Join a two-hour boat trip from Ortigia with an Italian skipper and English audio guide. You’ll circle Arethusa Spring and Castello Maniace, view the Pillirina, Cappuccini, Corallo, and Grande caves, then swim in Plemmirio’s clear water. Prosecco and goggles are included, but bring your own snorkel tube.

“Definitely recommend! We booked the 9am tour and we were the only ones so ended up being a private tour with the bottle of Prosecco to ourselves! Marco was very nice and showed us all the sites as we went round the coast! Water was crystal clear so we saw lots of fish, recommend taking your own snorkel but they do give you goggles. 2 hours is the perfect amount of time as we were able to have 2 swimming stops and still have plenty of time to enjoy the rest of the day afterwards.”

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Polignano a Mare by Boat: Sea Caves & Apulian Aperitif - Grotta delle Rondinelle and the first coastal views
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Polignano a Mare by Boat: Sea Caves & Apulian Aperitif

10.Polignano a Mare by Boat: Sea Caves & Apulian Aperitif

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 113 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $41

Meet your English- or Italian-speaking skipper at San Vito port for a 90-minute small-group cruise along Polignano a Mare. You’ll see Grotta Palazzese, Grotta Azzurra, Grotta Ardito, and Grotta delle Rondinelle, stop to swim, and enjoy an Apulian aperitif with prosecco and taralli. Alessandro is a popular guide, though the skipper may vary.

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This boat tour in Polignano a Mare was an unforgettable experience from start to finish! Gliding along the coast and entering the famous sea caves was absolutely breathtaking—the colors of the water, the dramatic cliffs, and the hidden grottos felt like something out of a dream. Seeing the town from the sea gave us a whole new perspective on its beauty. Alessandro made everything smooth and fun, making sure we felt comfortable the whole way. The Apulian aperitif was such a special touch—tasting local prosecco and taralli while floating on the Adriatic really captured the essence of Puglia. It was the perfect mix of relaxation & adventure. I would…”

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Syracuse: Ortigia and Sea Caves Excursion by Boat - Arethusa Spring and the first view of Ortigia
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Syracuse: Ortigia and Sea Caves Excursion by Boat

11.Ortigia and Sea Caves Excursion by Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 112 reviews · 1 hour · from $23

Meet at the blue flag by Dolphin Excursion and Rental for a one-hour boat ride around Ortigia. Your captain explains the coast in English or Italian as you pass Arethusa Spring, Maniace Castle, caves, forts, and the Umbertino Bridge. Fresh water, music, and a short swim stop are included.

“It was a great trip, we loved every moment of it!”

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Siracusa: Ortigia & Sea Caves Boat Tour with Sunset Apertif - Meeting outside A Surgiva and getting onto the water
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Siracusa: Ortigia & Sea Caves Boat Tour with Sunset Apertif

12.Siracusa: Ortigia & Sea Caves Boat Tour with Sunset Apertif

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 94 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $77

Spend 2.5 hours cruising from Ortigia past Fonte Aretusa and Castello Maniace, then along the Syracuse coast to sea caves and swimming spots. Your skipper, such as David, Chris, or Antonio, provides local stories, music, water, and a generous Sicilian aperitif with prosecco as the sun sets.

“The skipper was an excellent leader and captain and made important decisions re the route since it was very choppy. The commentary was good- there could have been more as I like to hear lots of information. The aperativo stop at sunset was lovely and a bonus was the almost- full moon hovering over the old Norman fort. A great evening.”

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Tour of the Gargano Coast and Sea Caves - Sea caves and the captain’s close work
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Tour of the Gargano Coast and Sea Caves

13.Tour of the Gargano Coast and Sea Caves

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 63 reviews · 3 hours · from $35

Set out from Vieste’s old port on a large boat for a guided cruise along the Gargano coast. You’ll enter or pass several sea caves, reach Baia delle Zagare, and have about 20 minutes for a swim near Vignanotica beach. The live commentary is in Italian, and the operator is DIMASO ANTONIO.

“Mooi vaartocht langs de kust en soms zelfs in de grotten. Knappe staaltjes stuurmanskunst van de kapitein.”

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Syracuse: Picnic boat tour of Pillirina, Ortigia & sea caves - Leaving Ortigia for the caves
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Syracuse: Picnic boat tour of Pillirina, Ortigia & sea caves

14.Picnic boat tour of Pillirina, Ortigia & sea caves

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 59 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $94

Spend 2.5 hours cruising from Ortigia to Pillirina Bay, the Plemmirio Marine Protected Area, and Syracuse’s sea caves. Your English or Italian-speaking skipper, including Stefano, Emilio, Antonio, and others, handles the route while you swim, view Ortigia from the water, and enjoy a fixed Sicilian picnic with prosecco or wine.

“The boat tour and guide was AMAZING! We ended up having the whole boat as a private excursion, so we swam a few times and enjoyed seeing the mussel farms.”

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Polignano a Mare: Stand-Up Paddle Board Sea Cave Trip - Starting at SUPuglia in Polignano a Mare
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Polignano a Mare: Stand-Up Paddle Board Sea Cave Trip

15.Polignano a Mare: Stand-Up Paddle Board Sea Cave Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 52 reviews · from $30

Meet an orange-shirted SUPuglia instructor in Polignano a Mare for a 2-kilometer paddle past Lama Monachile, Grotta Palazzese, Grotta Ardito, and Grotta Azzurra. Matteo or another multilingual guide teaches the basics, provides safety gear, and can capture photos while you explore the caves and stop for a swim.

“We had such a fun paddle boarding adventure with Mateo! He was very patient with us, took us in all of the amazing coves, and took tons of pictures of us! Highly recommend this experience, super unique way to see the incredible coast of Polignano a Mare.”

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New in Sea Cave Tours in Italy

★ 5.0Siracusa: Ortigia +sea caves +fishing experienceFrom $8215 reviews

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