Blue Caves Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Blue Caves. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Zakynthos: 1-Day Small-Group Tour to Navagio Beach, Blue Caves & Top View

• Zakynthos All-Day Tour: Shipwreck Beach, View Point, Blue Caves

• Shipwreck and Blue Caves - Private Speedboat Tour (Up to 6 Pax)

• Zakynthos Private Tour to Navagio Shipwreck by Land and Sea

• VIP Full-Day Tour Shipwreck, Blue Caves, and Top View

There’s no charge to visit the Blue Caves, but, as swimming to the caves is forbidden, you need to arrange a boat. Expect to pay around US$25 for a short boat trip, about US$320 for a full-day island cruise with food and drink, and roughly US$700 for a private charter.

Yes, the Blue Caves are worth visiting. They're one of Zakynthos' signature attractions, and the caves' vivid colors stand in comparison with Capri's famed Blue Grotto. Joining a tour that covers other island sights, whether by land or sea, makes for an even more enriching experience—not to mention tons of great photo opportunities.

Per one customer who booked the Shipwreck and Blue Caves - Private Speedboat Tour (Up to 6 Pax), "A gorgeous adventure we will never forget! The captain was awesome. He was very friendly and knew all the best places to see! We loved sailing beside the dolphins and swimming in the beautiful blue waters of the Mediterranean!"

Yes, you can visit the Blue Caves without a tour—but you’ll need your own boat to get there. That’s why most visitors choose to explore the Blue Caves with guides who know the coast well. Most guided tours of the Blue Caves also include additional stops, such as Shipwreck Beach.

You have two main options for reaching the Blue Caves in Zakynthos, a day cruise featuring multiple coastal stops or a shorter trip from a nearby harbor. Shorter boat trips generally depart from Agios Nikolaos Harbour (St. Nikolaus Harbour), and can make the return trip—including a swim stop—in an hour.

Yes, you can swim in the Blue Caves—but only in the smaller, quieter areas. Swimming is not allowed at the main entrance to the Blue Caves, as busy boat traffic around the mouth of the caves can create unsafe conditions. Many tours of the Blue Caves make swimming stops nearby.

You can take an hour-long tour of the Blue Caves: Since round-trip boat journeys from Agios Nikolaos Harbour take 40 minutes, these tours generally budget for 20 minutes at the caves themselves. Many day cruises to the Blue Caves last all day, with time for stops at beaches and viewpoints.

Midday light makes the most of brilliantly colored water at the Blue Caves, so many recommend coming around noon. That’s a busy time at the caves, however—and the morning light is also gorgeous. If you prefer fewer crowds, opt for a boat trip that leaves first thing in the morning.

July and August are busy months in Zakynthos, when the Blue Caves, beaches, and harbor towns can be crowded. For beachy weather and fewer crowds, consider visiting in the shoulder-season periods of June and September; you’ll find lower prices, fewer tourists, and water that is still warm enough for swimming.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Blue Caves. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in the Ionian Islands:

• Paleokastritsa

• Old Fortress

• Navagio Beach

• Myrtos Beach

• Achilleion Palace

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in the Ionian Islands.