Alghero’s Caves: How to Visit Neptune’s Grotto, the Green Cave and the Underwater Caves

Neptune’s Cave is certainly the best-known cave near Alghero, but it is far from the only one worth discovering. Nearby lies the striking Green Cave, an important archaeological site. Beneath the sea, an extensive network of underwater caves can be explored only on dives organised by authorised operators.

To explore these natural wonders at your own pace, Torre del Porticciolo makes a particularly convenient base. The property is located within Porto Conte Regional Natural Park, surrounded by Mediterranean scrub and approximately 10 kilometres from Neptune’s Cave. From here, you can reach both Capo Caccia and Alghero, where boats depart for the caves.

Neptune’s Cave: A Natural Wonder at Capo Caccia

Located on the western side of the Capo Caccia headland, Neptune’s Cave is one of the most spectacular places to visit during a holiday in Alghero.

The karst cave system extends for approximately 2.5 kilometres, although the visitor route covers only part of it. On the guided tour, you pass through chambers shaped by water over thousands of years, among stalactites, stalagmites, columns and striking limestone formations. One of the cave’s most distinctive features is Lake La Marmora, a saltwater lake connected to the sea and considered one of Europe’s largest underground marine lakes.

The guided tour lasts approximately 30 minutes. Visits are possible throughout the year, except on 24 and 25 December, but always depend on weather and sea conditions. Because the entrance is almost at sea level, waves and wind may force a temporary closure even for visitors arriving by land.

How to Reach Neptune’s Cave by Car

Guests staying at Torre del Porticciolo can drive towards Capo Caccia by following the signs for the headland and Casa Gioiosa, home to the Porto Conte Park Ecomuseum.

For the 2026 season, a new access system was introduced on 22 June. Visitors leave their cars in the car park near Casa Gioiosa and take a shuttle to the Capo Caccia parking area. The service operates daily, generally from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with departures every 15 minutes. The first four hours of parking are free. A return shuttle ticket costs €5 per person, up to a maximum of €10 per family. The shuttle fare is separate from the Cave admission ticket.

Outside the seasonal shuttle period, access arrangements may change, and visitors may be allowed to drive directly to the Capo Caccia parking area. Before setting off, check the latest information from Porto Conte Park or the official Neptune’s Cave website.

From the parking area, the famous Escala del Cabirol leads down the cliffside to the Caves entrance. The staircase has 654 steps and offers remarkable views of the sea and Foradada Island. Remember that you will also need to climb back up, which can be demanding during the hottest hours of the day.

Visitors arriving by land must book a time slot. In summer, it is advisable to arrive at the car park at least one hour before your scheduled visit, allowing enough time for the shuttle and the walk down the staircase.

How to Reach Neptune’s Cave by Boat

Travelling by sea is a more relaxed option with panoramic coastal views. Boats depart mainly from Alghero’s tourist harbour and, depending on the seasonal schedule, also from the Cala Dragunara area in Porto Conte Bay.

The boat trip from Alghero takes approximately 40 minutes. Along the way, you can see the city walls, the Punta Giglio coastline and the imposing limestone cliffs of Capo Caccia from the sea. The boat arrives close to the caves entrance, allowing you to avoid the 654 steps of the Escala del Cabirol.

Keep in mind that:

• The boat ticket and the caves admission ticket are separate.
• Departures and schedules depend on sea conditions.
• Arriving by boat does not guarantee entry if the caves closes for safety reasons.
• During the busiest months, it is best to book both the boat trip and caves admission in advance.

For Torre del Porticciolo guests, the choice depends on the experience they prefer. The land route suits visitors who enjoy walking and want to admire the views from the Escala del Cabirol. The boat is better suited to those who want to avoid the long staircase and enjoy a trip along the coast.

Neptune’s Cave Tickets, Opening Times and Visitor Tips

The official prices currently published are €18 for a full-price ticket and €10 for an eligible reduced-price ticket. Other conditions apply to groups, residents, children, visitors with disabilities and accompanying persons. Boat transport and the land shuttle are not included in the admission price.

Opening times may vary throughout the year. The published summer schedule provides visits across the day, generally with the last admission in the late afternoon. It is always advisable to check that the caves is open on the morning of your visit, especially when it is windy or the sea is rough.

If you plan to take the land route, bring:

• Comfortable shoes with good grip.
• Water, especially in summer.
• A hat and sun protection.
• Light clothing for the staircase and an extra layer for inside the caves.

Flip-flops are not recommended. Eating, touching the cave formations and smoking are not permitted inside. There are no toilets in the caves, but facilities are available in the area above it. The staircase is not recommended for people with certain heart or respiratory conditions, and the route is not wheelchair accessible.

The Green Cave at Capo Caccia: Nature and Archaeology

Less well known than Neptune’s Cave but equally interesting, the Green Cave, or Grotta Verde, lies in the same natural area of Capo Caccia. Its name comes from the green tones created by mosses and lichens on the rocks near the entrance.

The cave is especially important from an archaeological perspective. Research has documented evidence of human activity dating back to the Middle Neolithic, as well as human remains, pottery fragments and engravings. A visit offers the chance to see both a natural site and a place connected with the area’s earliest communities.

Visits are organised by Porto Conte Park and have limited capacity, generally up to 30 people per session. Visitors use the Ecomuseum’s official app, which includes audio content in Italian and English. Booking is essential or strongly recommended, particularly during the high season.

How to Visit the Green Cave

The Green Cave is reached by land through the Capo Caccia area. For the 2026 season, visitors leave their cars at the Casa Gioiosa car park and continue on the shuttle organised by the Park.

The same transport system serves both Neptune’s Cave and the Green Cave. Guests travelling from Torre del Porticciolo can therefore drive to Casa Gioiosa, park there and follow the instructions provided when booking.

Unlike Neptune’s Cave, the Green Cave is not normally served by scheduled tourist boats. The usual way to reach it is by land, in coordination with the organised tour times.

The official schedule generally lists daily opening from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with last admission at 5:00 p.m. The published full-price ticket costs €14. Reduced rates for children and combined-ticket options are available to holders of certain Ecomuseum tickets or the Alghero Ticket. Check opening times and prices again before your visit.

Underwater Caves Between Capo Caccia and Punta Giglio

The waters between Capo Caccia and Punta Giglio contain an extensive network of submerged caves. More than 100 seabed caves have been recorded within the Capo Caccia–Isola Piana Marine Protected Area, and 14 of them may be visited on authorised dives. The karst system, which includes caves both above and below the water, is considered internationally significant.

Among the best-known sites are:

• Nereo Cave and its various branches.
• Ghost Cave.
• Stalactite Cave.
• Falcon Cave.
• Deer Cave.
• Well Cave.
• Peppa Cave.
• The Porticato, Fiordo and Cattedrali cave systems.
• Caves near Foradada Island and Punta Salinetto.

Each dive offers a different experience. Some routes reveal entrances, arches and plays of light in more open areas. Others lead through more complex environments and require specific training, experience and equipment.

How to Reach the Underwater Caves

The submerged caves cannot be visited independently or reached directly by car. The journey generally has two stages:

1. Drive to the authorised dive centre or its designated departure point.
2. Travel by boat to the selected dive site.

Meeting points may be in Alghero, Porto Conte Bay or at other authorised operating locations. The dive centre will confirm the route, departure time and meeting place based on the chosen site, sea conditions and participants’ experience levels.

Diving Requirements and Safety

Dives in the Capo Caccia caves must be carried out exclusively with operators authorised by the Marine Protected Area. Regulations require specific authorisations for guided underwater visits and training activities within the protected area.

It is essential to distinguish a recreational open-water dive from a dive in an overhead environment. Entering a submerged cave may require specialist certifications, documented experience, redundant equipment and specific techniques.

The choice of dive site should always be left to the dive centre, which will assess:

• Your diving qualification and certifications.
• The number and type of dives you have completed.
• Your confidence in enclosed or low-light environments.
• Sea conditions and visibility.
• The technical features of the route.

Visitors who do not meet the requirements for cave diving can still join other guided dives at authorised sites within the Marine Protected Area. These may offer views of underwater walls, reefs, seagrass meadows and rocky habitats without entering the more demanding caves.

Where to Stay to Explore the Caves of Alghero

Staying at Torre del Porticciolo allows you to plan your excursions while remaining surrounded by the natural landscape that defines this part of Sardinia.

The property occupies a spacious area of pine woodland and Mediterranean scrub overlooking Porticciolo Bay, within Porto Conte Regional Natural Park. Neptune’s Cave is approximately 10 kilometres away, while Alghero’s historic centre is about 15 kilometres away. This location provides convenient access both to the land routes at Capo Caccia and to the tourist harbour where boats depart.

Torre del Porticciolo can be the starting point for a holiday exploring the area:

• Spend a day at Neptune’s Cave and Capo Caccia.
• Visit the Green Cave and Casa Gioiosa.
• Take a boat trip along the coast.
• Join an organised dive in the Marine Protected Area.
• Explore Alghero, the beaches of Porto Conte and the Punta Giglio headland.

The reception team can also provide information about excursions and help guests check availability and booking arrangements.

A Two-Day Itinerary for Alghero’s Caves

Day One: Neptune’s Cave and Capo Caccia

You can spend the morning visiting Neptune’s Cave, choosing either the land route or a boat trip.

If you prefer the staircase, drive to Casa Gioiosa, take the shuttle to Capo Caccia and descend the Escala del Cabirol. After the visit, stop at the headland’s viewpoints before returning to Torre del Porticciolo in the afternoon.

If you choose the boat, depart from Alghero harbour, visit the caves and spend the rest of the day exploring the city’s historic centre.

Day Two: The Green Cave or a Guided Dive

On the second day, book one of the available visits to the Green Cave and combine it with Casa Gioiosa and other Ecomuseum sites.

Certified divers can instead contact an authorised dive centre in advance and arrange a dive suited to their experience. Family members and companions who are not diving can spend the day at Torre del Porticciolo beach, Porto Ferro or on the trails of Porto Conte Park.