Ischia Travel Guide: 13 Best Things to Do

Planning a trip to Ischia? Discover the best beaches, thermal spas, hotels, food spots, and everything you need to know about this dreamy Italian island.

If you're planning a trip to Ischia, be sure to also check out my travel guides to Capri and Naples so you can easily combine island time with classic southern Italy highlights.

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Jump To

• Why I Fell in Love with Ischia
• How to Get to Ischia
• 8 Best Things to Do in Ischia, Italy
• Is Ischia Considered the Amalfi Coast?
• Ischia vs. Capri: Which Should You Visit?
• Best Beaches in Ischia for Sunbathing, Swimming & Sunsets
• Top Thermal Spas and Natural Hot Springs in Ischia
• A Tour of the Beaches in Ischia
• Ischia's climate?
• Thermal Bliss - Ischia's Thermal Baths
• Where to Stay in Ischia: Best Areas and Boutique Hotels
• Hotels in Ischia, Italy
• 3-Day Ischia Itinerary
• What to Eat in Ischia: Local Dishes You Must Try
• Travel Tip: Combine Ischia with Procida or Capri
• FAQs About Visiting Ischia

Why I Fell in Love with Ischia

As soon as I saw a picture of Ischia - the clear green waters, the steep ground clothed in vines - the island had me. Just a small, rounded rock, in the Tyrrhenian Sea two hours north of Naples, the destination promised natural beauty, layers of history, and serious off-work time - the kind that alleviates the stresses of the 21st century.

Ischia was one of my favorite places I visited this summer in Italy. This Ischia travel guide has everything you need to plan a dreamy escape-whether you're coming for the spas, beaches, or food.

What, for me, held the most promise? The thermal spas. I'd heard that Ischia's natural hot springs worked miracles on flesh and bones, and I wanted to be part of it. The appeal of sinking into centuries' worth of mineral-rich water where human beings had been relaxing their weary muscles and soothing their overexposed psyches for centuries, was a powerful draw.

How to Get to Ischia

If you're planning a visit to southern Italy, one of the most scenic journeys is the ferry from Naples to Ischia. Once you arrive, it's super easy to get around by local bus, which connects the whole island and is very budget-friendly. If you're up for a little adventure, renting a scooter is a fun way to explore at your own pace. Taxis are available, but they can get pricey.

FROM NAPLES (FERRY INFO + TIPS)

From Naples to Ischia, you need to figure out whether to take the slow ferry or the fast hydrofoil. The ships leave from different piers - ferries roll out of Porta di Massa and the hydrofoils dart from Beverello - and it's a matter of tactics, depending on your schedule or your budget.

If you're coming from Naples, the easiest way to get to Ischia is by ferry. Here are the main options:

• Ferry companies: Alilauro, Caremar, Medmar
• Departure ports: Molo Beverello (high-speed ferry) or Porta di Massa (regular ferry)
• Duration: 50 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes depending on the ferry

Tip: You can book tickets online in advance, especially during summer.

8 Best Things to Do in Ischia, Italy

Ischia offers a great variety of things to do for people with different hobbies and interests, from natural sights to historical sites and culinary experiences. This is my top list of the top things to do in Ischia:

1.Castello Aragonese visit.

When you drive up to Castello Aragonese, you can't help but feel the crush of time. The fortress, which sits on a rock just off the main island, is connected to the mainland by a bridge that seems as old as the castle itself. It's a must-stop for any visitor to Ischia, and when you get there, the views that could kill are matched by an extensive historical tour of the island. During the summer, the castle hosts a variety of cultural events, from local art exhibits to the festival of Ischian cinema.

2.Explore Giardini La Mortella

Here nature and art essentially meld as a result of the vision of Susana Walton. Music plays a large part in the life of Giardini La Mortella, with live performances from the outdoor amphitheatre cascading through the garden.

3.Relax in Ischia's Thermal Parks

Thanks to its volcanic entrails. Ischia is viscous; there are thermal parks everywhere - Negombo, Aphrodite Apollon, and others. The pools are therapy, often set in almost surreal landscapes.

4.Enjoy the Beaches

The beaches are some of the best: the quiet Spiaggia dei Pescatori, the extensive sands of Maronti Beach, the small, wild and natural bathing spot of Sorgeto Beach, its waters bubbling like natural hot springs at the sea's edge.

5.Hiking Mount Epomeo

If you're climbing the wild side of Mount Epomeo, as many do, it gets the lungs going. But the reward is a 360-degree view of Ischia and beyond, and a beauty so raw it's almost unseeable, the kind that forces you to always remember it.

6.Savor Local Cuisine

In Ischia, eating old and eating new are paired, hand in hand. Don't leave without trying coniglio all'Ischitana (a rabbit stew as local as the sea), and also without sampling rucolino, a home-brewed liqueur made from arugula (an acquired taste, but Ischian to the bone). And no matter if your table is in a quaint household kitchen or a regal villa with castle views, every meal here is wonderful.

7.Take a Boat Tour

Seeing Ischia from the deck of a boat have you skirting the coast, dropping into hidden bays and perhaps drifting over the tiny Procida, all in view. Sea as road; horizon as guide.

8.Visit Local Vineyards

Then there is the landscape of vineyards, such as Cenatiempo, estates that allow to taste wine and to hear the history, the dirt and the soul of Ischia's winemaking past, one glass at a time.

9. Wander the Streets of Sant'Angelo

Sant'Angelo feels like a postcard you stepped into. This tiny, car-free fishing village sits on a rocky promontory with narrow lanes, pastel houses, and stylish cafés overlooking the sea. You wander, you browse artisan shops, you grab a gelato, and you let the village do the rest.

10. Discover Ischia Ponte

Ischia Ponte is the island's historic core, a seaside neighborhood where fishing boats bob in the water and locals gather in family-run trattorias. It's the perfect spot to slow down, enjoy an aperitivo, and take in castle views in a quiet, atmospheric setting.

11. Visit the Ravino Gardens

Giardini Ravino is a cactus and succulent paradise created by a passionate sea captain. You explore winding paths lined with towering cacti, rare plants, and panoramic terraces. The garden's tea house is the ideal place to stop for a cold lemon granita under the sun.

12. Take a Dip at Baia di San Montano

This sheltered, crescent-shaped bay sits between rocky cliffs and offers some of the island's calmest, shallowest waters. It's perfect for a relaxing swim, especially in the late afternoon when the light turns golden and the crowds thin out.

13. Explore Forio's Historic Center

Forio is the island's cultural heart, filled with volcanic stone churches, artisan boutiques, and waterfront promenades. Stop by Chiesa del Soccorso, a whitewashed church perched dramatically above the sea. The sunsets here hit differently-soft, cinematic, unforgettable.

Ischia Italy Map

Ischia is shaped like a rough trapezoid, 10 kilometres long east to west and around 7 kilometres north to south, and packs a powerful punch into its 34 kilometres of winding coastline and its total area of 46.3 sq km.

The island is high in itself - literally, rising to 788 metres (Mount Epomeo, the highest in the Phlegrean archipelago, and the highest point from which you can, really, almost touch the heavens).

Is Ischia Considered the Amalfi Coast?

Ischia is not on the Amalfi Coast. It is its very own, an island in the Bay of Naples, part of Campania, just like the Amalfi Coast. Alternatively: the Amalfi Coast is a stretch of coastline on the southern end of the Sorrentine Peninsula; it runs from Positano to Vietri sul Mare by the Tyrrhenian Sea and is terraced in cliffside towns, postcard views.

Ischia vs. Capri: Which Should You Visit?

If you're deciding between the two, here's the vibe:

• Capri: Glamorous, expensive, day-trip crowd
• Ischia: Authentic, bigger island, more affordable, less touristy

Both are worth visiting, but if you want to relax and soak in thermal waters, Ischia wins.

Personal Reflection

For me, Ischia was easier to get into a groove in. It was also the kind of place where its unpretentious scapes, the warmth of its inhabitants, provided a space for renewed breath and connection. If the right kind of 'dazzle' can be the currency of remembrance (the 'luxury of recall') then, on Capri, it was sometimes hard to see why I would want to return.

Best Beaches in Ischia for Sunbathing, Swimming & Sunsets

"Looking for the best beaches in Ischia? From peaceful coves to lively stretches of sand, these are my favorite places to relax and swim.

Ischia has some incredible beaches-and many are free!

• Spiaggia dei Maronti - Longest beach, natural hot springs
• Citara Beach - Great for sunsets and close to thermal parks
• San Montano - Calm, family-friendly, turquoise water
• Cava dell'Isola - Popular with locals and younger crowd

Top Thermal Spas and Natural Hot Springs in Ischia

Ischia is known for its thermal spas, and it's honestly one of the best parts of visiting the island. These are the most relaxing and scenic spots to check out.

• Negombo Thermal Gardens - My personal favorite (Forio)
• Poseidon Thermal Gardens - Largest, with multiple pools (Citara Beach)
• Cavascura - An ancient Roman-style spa tucked into a gorge (Maronti Beach)

A Tour of the Beaches in Ischia

Spiaggia di Sant'Angelo:

Sant'Angelo is where sea meets village. Small of stature but large of heart, this beach is attached by a narrow neck to an outcrop of ragged rock. To walk here is to follow a thread through lanes of color, the crescendo of town life before a respite in its sea. A beach where everyone knows your name and the water replies in ripples.

Spiaggia dei Maronti:

The Ischia coast is a lava-scoured study in fire and ice, but my favourite beach is Maronti, where the sea laps at towering ebonite lava flows and the shore is lined with natural thermal fumaroles, a volcano-heated spa gifted to the world by Mother Nature.

Heat your lunch under your towel at Maronti and you'll feel like the Goddess of the Sea has blessed you. It's a place of science and magic. Here, the view stretches out to the far horizon, blurred by heat waves, and the stories rise like steam from the broth.

Baia di Sorgeto:

A little bit off the beaten track, Sorgeto can be reached only by a steep climb or a boat, but is well worth it.

The natural sea pool is fed by underground hot springs a natural spa and a hot tub, but in nature. And it is divine. The striking nature of the hot springs in the sea means that a simple swim turns into a luxurious soak in a watery tub, all scented with salt and encircled by cliffs.

Lacco Ameno, Fungo Beach:

With its distinctive mushroom-like rock just yards from the shore, Fungo is a beach of white sand before long rows of colorful dwellings. Shallow, sun-filled and good for wave-free swimming for hours, it's a good place for kids and for sunbathing into the late afternoon. The place is all laughter and chatter of children, and the easy banter of grown-ups.

Ischia's climate?

Usually Mediterranean. Hot sunny days, lovely for these beach walks, yet in midsummer the sun shines hard. But at twilight the air turns, carrying cool breezes that make nights magical - sometimes even to the accompaniment of fireworks, as if the island is celebrating another day well spent.

Thermal Bliss - Ischia's Thermal Baths

While I was writing about Ischia, I stayed at the Ischia Blu Resort and Spa, right at the water's edge. The place had its own private section of sand, and a heated infinity pool along the edge that also crept over the land, whirlpools built into the sand.

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The accomodations? They're cutting-edge (that is, contemporary Mediterranean-style) in a comfortable green way (solar panels, recycling systems, the works). They're out-of-the-way enough to be serene but close enough to town to get to the port or the countryside for locally grown produce.

However, it's the volcanic-sourced thermal baths for which Ischia is so lauded. I gorged on mud baths and hydropools and was left feeling rejuvenated.

Ischia also has some fantastic thermal parks, like Negombo and Giardini Poseidon. Negombo is hidden away near San Montano Bay, with a selection of thermal pools and a relaxed private beach that make it easy to melt away completely.

Giardini Poseidon is another choice with its multitude of pools, and a beach set into the beautiful Bay of Citara, all amid classic Mediterranean greenery. You submerge in mineral waters that will aid everything from arthritis and eczema to the everyday stresses of life, and it shows.

Immersion in these waters is a mental and spiritual reboot. The place pares down all the clutter until you are left with something like peace - a peace you often barely knew existed. A sincere reset.

Where to Stay in Ischia: Best Areas and Boutique Hotels

Wondering where to stay in Ischia? Each part of the island offers something different.

Each area on the island has a different vibe:

• Ischia Porto - Best for nightlife and convenience
• Forio - Gorgeous sunsets, great beaches
• Sant'Angelo - Peaceful and romantic
• Casamicciola Terme - Known for spas and a quiet local feel

Some boutique hotels and B&Bs I loved:

• Botania Relais & Spa (Forio)
• Miramare Sea Resort & Spa (Sant'Angelo)
• Hotel Ulisse (Ischia Porto, great value)

Hotels in Ischia, Italy

The door to Ischia is thrown wide, with an array of accommodation options to suit any budget. From the palatial pads where you're treated like the king or queen of royalty, to the cool and quirky boutique spots, and everything in between, there's plenty of places to lay your head and make your stay as comfortable as possible, whether you're spending like the most-affluent visitor in the history of the island or you're counting your pennies.

Luxury Hotels

Ischia's got you covered if you're looking to splurge. The Grand Hotel Il Moresco is an institution, with rooms facing the Mediterranean and a wellness centre that is downright opulent, in grounds bubbling with thermal baths.

The Miramare Sea Resort Spa sits on a choice piece of property, famed for its location and its facilities.

Boutique Hotels

For vibe, Ischia's boutique hotels are in spades: Semiramis Hotel De Charme Pools: if you are looking for a killer combination of palm-shaded serenity with a thermal pool, this place is just a hop, skip and jump to the Giardini Poseidon.

Tenuta Del Poggio Antico: killer views in a setting that rocks the mind into a stillness that even the busiest brains can't escape.

Budget Accommodations

Can't afford those high-end hotels? Not to worry. Hotel Don Felipe offers panoramic views of Cartaromana Bay for a fraction of the cost of the five-star hotels, and is conveniently situated within walking distance of Ischia Porto.

Booking Advice

Best Areas to Stay

Looking for vibrant street life and easy ferry access? Head to Ischia Porto. More interested in sunset views and a little history? Forio's your place. Would you rather have a quiet touch of civilization, with fishing-village vibes? Try Sant'Angelo.

You might want to book ahead, particularly once summer gets into full swing and Ischia is the place to be on a weekend. Go to Booking.com or a similar site to figure out where you can stay and what you can afford. Book your place, and then explore.

3-Day Ischia Itinerary

Below is my personal 3-day Ischia itinerary to help you plan the perfect long weekend. Whether you're looking for the best beaches or iconic thermal spas, this itinerary has a bit of everything.

Day 1:

• Arrive in Ischia Porto
• Check in to your hotel
• Dinner at Ristorante Umberto a Mare
• Stroll the port at night

Day 2:

• Spend the morning at Negombo Thermal Gardens
• Lunch on the beach
• Explore Forio and watch the sunset from Chiesa del Soccorso
• Dinner in Forio

Day 3:

• Morning hike to Monte Epomeo (highest point of the island)
• Afternoon beach time at Maronti or San Montano
• Visit Sant'Angelo for an aperitivo

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What to Eat in Ischia: Local Dishes You Must Try

What to Eat in Ischia

• Coniglio all'Ischitana - Rabbit cooked in white wine and herbs
• Spaghetti alle vongole - Clam pasta, always fresh
• Zingara sandwich - Local panini specialty
• Delizia al limone - Lemon sponge cake with custard

Restaurants I recommend:

• Il Focolare - Known for rabbit and local dishes
• Da Peppina di Renato - Family-run and delicious
• Ristorante Emanuela - Right on the beach
• Ristorante L'Arca Damaurizio - Cozy, local feel and incredible seafood
• Da Gisella - Scenic terrace and rustic island dishes
• Ristorante La Capanna - Casual, authentic, and great pizza

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And Ristorante Indaco, where it's all about the sea - the view and the food, in this case a terracotta-tiled terrace with a setting sun and the catch of the day.

If you're looking for an ultra-contemporary vibe, try Danì Maison - with chef Nino di Costanzo serving up dishes that helped the place earn two Michelin stars. Cosy, elite, a place with one foot on the cutting edge.

DINING TIPS: Choosing where to eat here is a bit of a minefield. As a general rule, go local. Ingredients produced here on the island simply taste better than produce shipped in. And the kitchens that really serve up the aromas and tastes of Ischia? Ask the locals. They know the real hotspots.

And if you are going, don't forget the rabbit dishes … and the Spaghetti alle Vongole (mmmm!) … and of course the vineyards or so: nothing compares to pairing local wines at the table. Buon Appetito!

Travel Tip: Combine Ischia with Procida or Capri

If you're staying a few days in Ischia, consider hopping over to Procida (just 15-20 minutes by ferry) for a half-day trip. Capri is also nearby, but expect higher prices and more crowds.

FAQs About Visiting Ischia

Is Ischia worth visiting? Absolutely. It's one of the best-kept secrets in southern Italy with something for every type of traveler.

Can you visit Ischia as a day trip? Yes, but I recommend at least 2-3 nights to really enjoy it.

Do people speak English in Ischia? Yes, especially in hotels and restaurants, but knowing a few Italian phrases goes a long way.

What's the best time to visit? May, June, or September for fewer crowds and perfect weather.

May and June offer perfect weather with fewer tourists. July and August are beautiful but crowded and hot. September is ideal for warm seas and fewer crowds. If you want to experience Ischia like a local, aim for shoulder season.

If you're planning a trip to Naples, Capri, or the Amalfi Coast, don't skip Ischia. It's one of the best-kept secrets in southern Italy. Hopefully this Ischia travel guide gave you some ideas on where to stay, what to eat, and the best things to do in Ischia.