Nettuno Caves and Alghero caves: how to visit<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover Nettuno Caves and other spectacular caves in Alghero, from Capo Caccia sea caves to underwater sites you can reach by boat or car.\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"googlebot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"bingbot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/en\/discover-sardinia-by-car-rental\/nettuno-caves-and-other-caves-in-alghero\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"it_IT\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Nettuno Caves and Alghero caves: how to visit\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover Nettuno Caves and other spectacular caves in Alghero, from Capo Caccia sea caves to underwater sites you can reach by boat or car.\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/en\/discover-sardinia-by-car-rental\/nettuno-caves-and-other-caves-in-alghero\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Ellepirental blog\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ellepirental\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-29T11:06:38+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-29T14:24:38+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/grotte-di-nettuno.jpg\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"628\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Ellepirental\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Ellepirental\" \/>\r\n","pll_sync_post":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2563","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2563"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2563\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2706,"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2563\/revisions\/2706"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2563"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2563"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2563"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

{"id":2563,"date":"2026-01-29T11:06:38","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T11:06:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/?p=2563"},"modified":"2026-01-29T14:24:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T14:24:38","slug":"nettuno-caves-and-other-caves-in-alghero","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/en\/discover-sardinia-by-car-rental\/nettuno-caves-and-other-caves-in-alghero","title":{"rendered":"Nettuno Caves and other caves in Alghero"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You have probably heard of the karst phenomenon<\/strong>, the erosive action of water that, over thousands of years, shapes limestone rock, creating fissures and caves, along with stalagmites, stalactites and alabaster-coloured columns that look sculpted by the most skilled artisan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Alghero<\/a><\/strong>, right in the heart of the Capo Caccia<\/strong> promontory, part of the regional natural park and the marine protected area, you\u2019ll find magnificent karst caves such as the Nettuno Caves<\/strong>, with chambers that feel like cathedrals born deep inside Sardinia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Renting a car at Olbia Airport<\/a><\/strong> is the best choice to reach Alghero in about 1 hour and 30 minutes and explore the area\u2019s most beautiful caves with full freedom. Choose Ellepi<\/strong> for safe vehicles, flexible payments and highly qualified assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Indice dell'articolo<\/p>\r\n
The wonderful Nettuno Caves<\/a><\/li>
The Green Cave<\/a><\/li>
Nereo Cave<\/a><\/li>
Broken Jugs Cave<\/a><\/li>
Sorrel Cave<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\r\n
<\/span>The wonderful Nettuno Caves<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Legend has it that the Nettuno Caves were created by the God of the sea<\/strong> with his trident. When you stand before this vast karst cavity, you won\u2019t struggle to believe the story: it is, in fact, one of the most astonishing natural jewels in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"God$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The discoverer\u2019s name remains unknown: it was probably a fisherman named Ferrandino at the end of the 18th century, although it\u2019s hard to believe far older people were unaware of the cave\u2019s existence, starting with the Romans<\/strong>, who in the 1st century AD were settled in nearby Portus Nymphaeus<\/em>, today\u2019s Porto Conte.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can reach the Nettuno Caves by boat<\/strong> departing from Alghero or from the small harbour of Dragunara, or conveniently by car<\/strong> using the vehicle you chose from the extensive Ellepi car fleet<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From Alghero, drive towards Fertilia, travel along a stretch of the SS127 bis scenic road<\/strong>, then take the Provincial Road 55<\/strong> to the Capo Caccia<\/strong> promontory, where you\u2019ll find the Escala del Cabirol<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Get ready to descend the 654 steps<\/strong> of this zig-zag staircase carved into the cliff, dropping from 119 metres above sea level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inside the Nettuno Caves, among walls that look almost like marble and stalactites resembling drapes, you\u2019ll reach the Royal Hall<\/strong>, with 9-metre calcium columns that nearly touch the ceiling. This is the setting for Lake La Marmora<\/strong>, one of the largest salt lakes in Europe. Look out for the Christmas Tree<\/strong>, a conical stalagmite formation, and above all the Holy Water Font<\/strong>, the column rising from the water with small basins at the top where birds drink. A bit further on you\u2019ll find the Pebble Beach<\/strong>, where visitors\u2019 boats used to dock in the 19th century, when the cave was lit by candles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leave the Royal Hall and head to the Smith Hall<\/strong>, characterised by a column surrounded by flowstone formations that resemble the pipes of an organ<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prepare to be speechless in the Lace and Fine Lace Hall<\/strong>, where the rock has formed shapes that look like lace, filigree and fringes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Say goodbye to the Nettuno Caves from the Music Gallery<\/strong>, from where you can observe the cavern and imagine the times when a small orchestra played while visitors danced on the Pebble Beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>The Green Cave<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Driving along the Capo Caccia panoramic road<\/strong>, you\u2019ll find the entrance to the Green Cave, a naturalistic and archaeological jewel that, according to legend, was once home to nymphs<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This cave, also located within the Porto Conte Regional Natural Park<\/strong>, preserves stalagmites and stalactites covered in algae, 200-million-year-old limestone rock and a very rare colony of madreporarians<\/strong>, ancestors of corals. This precious environment also hosted human life starting from the Early Neolithic<\/strong>, later becoming a Christian place of worship: in the 15th century an altar dedicated to Saint Erasmus<\/strong> was built here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Much of the evidence was submerged by the brackish lake<\/strong> that fills the cave, with emerald reflections that explain the cave\u2019s name. Graffiti, red pottery and funerary objects were identified thanks to underwater excavations: if you want to see the artefacts, visit Sassari<\/strong> and the Museo Sanna<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Nereo Cave<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To visit Nereo Cave, named after the legendary father of the Nereids<\/strong>, you need to love diving. Reach Punta dell\u2019Asino<\/strong> and dive into the waters that have submerged this treasure chest of biodiversity<\/strong>. The light filtering in reveals a subaquatic paradise populated by corals, sponges, sea lace and sea daisies, with the occasional lobster and grouper swimming just inches from your mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exploring the cave, which descends to 30 metres deep, you\u2019ll find a series of tunnels leading into other chambers where coral dominates.
The Nereo Cave is considered one of the largest in the entire Mediterranean basin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In nearby Porto Conte<\/strong>, excursions are organised to the cave, suitable for both beginners and experienced divers, so you can enjoy this extraordinary cavity safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Broken Jugs Cave<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Head towards Capo Caccia near Alghero. From the promontory viewpoint<\/strong>, follow a path that winds through dense Mediterranean scrub, with dramatic cliff-edge stretches overlooking the sea, until you reach the Broken Jugs Cave<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The name of this karst cavity comes from the large quantity of ceramics found inside, which scholars interpret as evidence that this place, in pre-Nuragic times<\/strong>, was used as a sacred site with rituals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At first the cave may seem quite narrow, but then it opens into a chamber rich in stalactites and stalagmites, in a remote and rarefied atmosphere with strong emotional impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The view from the cave\u2019s entrance is truly extraordinary, embracing Foradada Island<\/strong> with the tunnel of the Grotta dei Palombi<\/strong> clearly visible, Porto Conte and its bay, Cala d\u2019Inferno, Punta Giglio and, in the distance, the town of Alghero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Sorrel Cave<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you love Jules Verne novels, reach the Sorrel Cave<\/strong>, almost hidden among the cliffs of the Capo Caccia promontory. This karst environment is highly labyrinthine, with a network of tunnels branching off the main corridor. For that reason, you can only visit the cave with specialised guides<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stalagmites, calcium columns and stalactites will accompany you from the Great Cavern<\/strong>, opening directly onto the sea, down into the meanders of the earth. At times you may find yourself crawling, or walking with your feet in water; in other sections you may need harnesses and ropes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The alternation between marine and freshwater environments inside the cave has created a precious ecosystem<\/strong> that deserves strict protection, and it\u2019s an unmissable stop on your tour of the most beautiful caves in Alghero<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Discover Nettuno Caves and other spectacular caves in Alghero, from Capo Caccia sea caves to underwater sites you can reach by boat or car.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2418,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[226],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2563","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-discover-sardinia-by-car-rental"],"lang":"en","translations":{"en":2563,"it":1797},"yoast_head":"\r\nNettuno Caves and Alghero caves: how to visit<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover Nettuno Caves and other spectacular caves in Alghero, from Capo Caccia sea caves to underwater sites you can reach by boat or car.\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"googlebot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"bingbot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/en\/discover-sardinia-by-car-rental\/nettuno-caves-and-other-caves-in-alghero\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"it_IT\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Nettuno Caves and Alghero caves: how to visit\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover Nettuno Caves and other spectacular caves in Alghero, from Capo Caccia sea caves to underwater sites you can reach by boat or car.\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/en\/discover-sardinia-by-car-rental\/nettuno-caves-and-other-caves-in-alghero\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Ellepirental blog\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ellepirental\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-29T11:06:38+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-29T14:24:38+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/grotte-di-nettuno.jpg\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"628\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Ellepirental\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Ellepirental\" \/>\r\n","pll_sync_post":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2563","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2563"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2563\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2706,"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2563\/revisions\/2706"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2563"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2563"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ellepirental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2563"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}