Top 10 Reasons to Visiting Ischia in Italy
Island of Ischia – The Hidden Gem Island in Southern Italy
The top 10 reasons to visiting Ischia in Italy is because Ischia is a hidden gem island in Southern Italy, and it is the biggest island in the Campania region.
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How to get to Ischia Island?
Airports and Ferries
Once you arrive in Naples, whether by taking the fast train from Rome or a direct flight to Naples International Airport.
From Naples Airport, you can get a taxi or rent a car to get to the ferry point, the ferries and hydrofoils depart from 3 points ports from Naples, these are:
Tip: some ferries don’t take cars onboard, just make sure you book the right ferry, the hydrofoils usually don’t accept cars and you would need to book the ferry.
Main Sea Ports to Travel to Ischia from Naples
- Pozzouli Port the ride takes around 1 – 1:30 hours each way (depending on if it stops by Procida Island).
- Porta di Massa the ride takes around 50 minutes.
- Naples Beverello the ride takes between 1 – 1:25 hours each way.
I recommend to pre-book your ferry ticket in advance, at least 2 months before your trip if you are travelling during the summer season.
Tip: If you are renting a car, when you book the ferry, they request the car model and plate, and given that you probably don’t have this information, just mention RENT in the space.
Best Way to Get Around Ischia
Car Rental:
You can take a car to Ischia, although in Ischia you will find public transportation widely available with reliable schedules, my preferred method of travel is renting a car, there are available parking spots across the island, with around 7 euros for full day or 2 Euros per hour (reasonably priced).
Public Transportation in Ischia:
Once you get to the island, you will find taxis available and/or reliable public bus schedules. Taxis can range around 25-50 Euros depending on the location.
Top 10 reasons why you should visit Ischia in Italy:
First Reason to visiting Ischia in Italy : Ischia the Emerald Island
The number one reason you should consider Ischia is because of its lush greenery that is reflected in its waters and painting the waters in emerald colour.
The sea colour is so inviting to jump in, the water is so pristine and fresh for a nice dip in the sea.
Ischia Beach Clubs:
In fact, across Ischia you will find plenty of beach clubs, you don’t have to prebook your sport, but it is advised that you arrive as early as 9:00 am to ensure your spot. Price ranges between 15 -35 Euros depending on the beach club and the location of your sunbed proximity to the sea.
Lux Beach Clubs:
If you are a fan of more luxurious beach club vibes, here are my top Luxury Beach Club Recommendations in Ischia:
Giardino Eden Ischia
Giardino Eden Ischia, one of the trendiest beach club spots in Ischia, Giardino Eden is chic and trendy and offers an excellent gourmet restaurant while relaxing under the true Italian sunshine.
Mezzatorre Resort & Spa Ischia
Mezzatorre Resort & Spa Ischia is the ultimate 5-star Spa and beach club in Ischia where your chances of spotting a high-profile celebrity are high. The catch here, it is a very luxurious and private hotel, and, on some occasions, you cannot access their beach if you are not staying there.
However, if they have a spare capacity for outside guests they can accommodate you in their beach club, but keep in mind the entrance fees come with a high price tag.
Club La Scannella
Club La Scannella is one of the most Instagram-able beach clubs in Ischia, La Scannella is famous for its natural rock pools by the sea and offers an amazing restaurant with authentic Ischia vibes.
Similar to Mezzatorre Resort & Spa Ischia, if you are not a resident at their hotel, it may be difficult to get a beach access reservation, they would ask you to call them 3 days in advance and most likely you won’t be able to access the club. Perhaps another way to access the club is by booking a table for lunch at their restaurant and perhaps once you are there, you could negotiate your way through to the beach club!
Second Reason to visiting Ischia in Italy: Ischia the Emerald Island: Ischia Thermal Spas
One of the key reasons that Ischia is well-known is due to its past volcanic activity, the island is rich with natural and hot thermal springs and therefore, it houses some of the most beautiful thermal day spas. My top picks are:
Giardini Poseidon Terme (Poseidon Thermal Spa):
Poseidon Thermal Spa is absolutely the locals’ favourites and happens to be mine too! The spa consists of 22 spring water pools, hot and cold and Japanese foot pools, a sauna, and a spacious beach that overlooks the picturesque emerald sea.
Giardini Poseidon is a unique spa due to the high hygiene levels they maintain throughout the day. They replace the pool waters every single day and while you are visiting you must wear a head cap covering your hair when you are using the pools. You can buy one of those head caps at the spa and it costs around 3 Euros (as of the article’s publishing date).
Food and Outlets at Giardini Poseidon Terme
For food, Giardini Poseidon offers wide variety of choices, it offers both healthy and fast food, and if you are a wine lover, like me! I would go to the Grotta del Vino (The Wine Cave), it is for adults only. over the age of 18 years old.
Once at the Grotto, you will have unlimited views of the emerald waters crashing to the soft sandy beaches.
Negombo Beach
Another beautiful thermal spa is Negombo Beach , Negombo has a beautiful and spacious beach and multi-level hot and cold pools and jacuzzies, very beautiful and very relaxing atmosphere.
Al Fuga Negombo Restaurant
The best part of this beach is the award-winning restaurant Al Fuga Negombo by Chef Emmanuel di Liddo (you need to prebook at least 1 week prior to secure your lunch spot), I had probably the best seafood dishes in my life!
The fruit platter after the main course was another highlight at Al Fuga, dining at Al Fuga is a must when you are in Ischia, the experience and the taste of the food are simply INSANE!
Third Reason to visiting Ischia in Italy: Ischia is the Home of the Best Fresh Seafood Cuisine
Given it is an Island in the Mediterranean, Ischia is famous for its fresh and delicious seafood cuisine.
Across the island, you will find seafood restaurants ranging from fancy to less formal ones, and the quality of the seafood is superb, and super delicious.
My top Seafood restaurants around Ischia Island are:
Sant’Angelo Area
- Ristorante Deus Neptunus Ischia
- Dolce e La Vita
- Taverna Pietro Paolo Detto Stalino
- Ristorante Taverna Verde da Morzariello
- Capricci d’Ischia
Ischia Area:
- Portobello Restaurant
- Ristorante Dortas Ischia
- Ristorante L’Altra Mezzanotte
- Bagno Tre Stelle
- Aenaria Beach
- Restaurant La Lampara
- Taverna Antonio di Antonio Cervera
Forio Area:
- Ristorante La Capanna
- Ristorante “Terra e Sapori”
- Ristorante Bar Il Fortino
- Seasons Lounge Bar & Restaurant
- La Sciavica / sea restaurant
Fourth Reason to visiting Ischia in Italy: Castello Aragonese d’Ischia
The Castello (castle) of Aragonese history dates to the 5th century BC when it was built to defend Ischia Island and later became a significant castle witnessing key events throughout the years from the Romans, Normans, Spanish, and so on.
Today the Castello welcomes you when the ferry enters Ischia’s main port, standing tall on a separate rock that connects the Castel with Ischia by a bridge.
Festa Al Mare – Castello Aragonese d’Ischia
The Castello represents major significance to the people of Ischia where cultural events and festivals mainly take off from the Castello, one of the key events is the Festa Al Mare (Festival of the Sea) which takes place on July 26th every summer, is a beautiful event where people compete to create the best carnival sea figures and at the evening a spectacular firework show is displayed over the Castel lighting the whole island.
Fifth Reason to visiting Ischia in Italy: Swimming in the sea – Castello for the underwater bubbles
Another reason to visit the Castello Aragonese is at the bottom of Castel Rock, if you go for a swim with a snorkel, you will find fine bubbles bubbling from the seabed, those bubbles are CO2 bubbles because of the undersea volcanic activity.
You may probably think is it hot water flooding into the sea? The answer is, it is not hot nor thermal water, it is just bubbly water coming from the seabed, it is quite a fun and unique phenomenon. Book your snorkelling tour here.
Sixth Reason to visiting Ischia in Italy: Ravino Botanical Gardens -Cactus Gardens
In Forio, there is a little hidden gem botanical garden waiting for you to visit. Ravino is a splendid garden that was created by Luca and his brother and together they created a Cactus Haven on the island. Luca and his brother with their passion for our planet and plants, collected cactus plants from all over the world and planted them at Ravino Botanical Gardens, and soon after it became one of the island’s main attractions for tranquillity haven.
At the garden, you will come across all shapes of cactus plants that were collected from all over the world, after the visit you could sit at the Garden Café and enjoy their special cactus drink with some tasty snacks.
The vibe is so relaxing and calming, perfectly themed with Ischia Island.
Seventh Reason to visiting Ischia in Italy: Full Day boat trip around the Island to explore the fisherman’s small villages
The best way perhaps to enjoy Ischia during the day and without the hustle of driving around is to rent a small boat trip that will take you around the Island to explore the small fisherman villages, Castel Aragonese from the sea while doing some swimming stops to refresh yourself in the beautiful emerald waters.
Top Boat Charter in Ischia
My top recommendation to hire a boat for either a half-day or a full day, is contacting Giosymar Ischia Charter I have been using their services for 2 consecutive years and their service is optimum, they could also recommend top-notch restaurants and make the booking for you while you are on the Boat, if you book with them, take a screenshot of this article and send it to their contact email and you will get 10% discount on the half and full days private boat trips, thank me later!
Eighth Reason to visiting Ischia in Italy: Full-Day Boat Trip to Procida Island – The Colourful Island
Less than 25 minutes by boat and you could reach a very picturesque island, this island is called Procida. It is a very colourful island. There are 2 ways to get to Procida, the first economical option is to book a ferry from Ischia port and spend the day at Procida (no need to pre-book the ferry tickets) and the second option is to rent a private boat to spend a full day around Procida to enjoy it at your own pace, which the latter is my personal preferred option.
Marina di Corricella
If you take the boat tour, you can start the trip by stopping at Marina di Corricella, the picturesque and colourful Procida marina where you can enjoy a fresh seafood lunch at Il Caracale.
Things to do in Procida
After your delicious lunch, you could make some swimming stops and then you could end your trip at Marina di Procida and indulge in some yummy gelato from Tentazioni Gelateria and shop from some of the island boutiques at the waterfront, I did enjoy shopping from a cute boutique called Maricella, once you are there, please say hello to Maricella, the owner of the shop, on my behalf!
Ninth Reason to visiting Ischia in Italy: Full-Day Boat Trip to Capri Island
Capri! The most iconic island in the Mediterranean Sea! Where A-List celebrities flock to Capri every summer to show off their true Italian La Dolce Vita escape.
To reach Capri, it is a 50 minutes reachable by either a privately rented boat or a direct ferry from Ischia, prebooking the ferry tickets in advance during high season is highly recommended.
Capri from the Land
Once in Capri, you have several options to enjoy a full day in Capri, if you enjoy exploring gardens, shopping, and key attractions of the island you could either take the classic taxi cars (those are a bit pricy) and head towards Anacapri to enjoy its Pizzetta and small shops and/or visit Giardini di Agustus.
The other option is taking the funicular from Marina Grande where in a few minutes you will reach Capri Pizzetta and the main shopping street with some fancy restaurants on the side for a light bite or nice lunch.
Faraglioni & Beach Clubs Capri
If you are brave enough to battle the blazing heat during the summer months and willing to take the steps down from Capri Pizzetta to some of the infamous beach clubs on the island, it is a few minutes’ walk from the Pizzetta. The scenery is insane, you will have uninterrupted views of the famous Capri rocks, called Il Faraglioni (where some Italian brands, like Dolce and Gabbana, shot some commercials under the rocks) so prepare your camera!
Faraglioni Beach Clubs
At the end of the steps, you could enjoy lunch at either La Fontelina Beach Club (you need to book your lunch spot 3-4 months in advance!) or at Da Luigi ai Faraglioni both clubs need advance booking, and both come with a hefty price tag.
Capri from the Sea
If you would rather enjoy seeing Capri from the sea and skipping the crowds, rent a private half/full-day boat trip and the boat will take you around the island and make stops at the Blue Grotto, Green Grotto, White Grotto, and the famous Faraglioni rocks, your skipper can snap a nice photo under one of the rocks natural made gate!
Your skipper will recommend some lunch stops at the beach clubs scattered around the island, in addition to the ones I mentioned above, you could have a nice meal at one of these recommendations at Marina Piccola:
Tenth Reason to visiting Ischia in Italy: Shopping at local boutiques and artisanal shops
If you like shopping from unique and concept stores, then Ischia offers a unique shopping experience. If you go to Sant’Angelo, you will be walking by the seaside with many Ischia concept stores.
There are lots of artistic vibes in these shops, especially ceramics and unique clothing choices. So, make sure you keep some cash for the shopping experience and buying travel gifts and souvenirs.
How many days should I consider visiting Ischia Island?
My recommendation is if you want to enjoy Ischia Island to the fullest, you need at least 5 full days, and trust me when I say, your chances of extending your stay will be probably high for all the reasons I mentioned above!
It is a truly hidden gem island that offers so much and the slower the pace you explore it the more enjoyable your experience would be.
My top Accommodation Recommendations to stay in Ischia:
Top Luxury Hotel in Ischia
For the ultimate luxury stay is Mezzatorre Resort & Spa Ischia , a hotel that is visited by A-lister celebrities worldwide and offers the true La Dolce Vita experience.
Mid-range Accommodation in Ischia
Mid-Range with Beautiful Scenery stay, I recommend staying at Villa Ravino, not only because they have the beautiful Cactus Botanical Gardens that is free to visit if you are a guest at Villa Ravino, but the service, the rooms, and its proximity to Forio and Sant’Angelo, my personal favourite areas.
It is also tranquil and offers beautiful sunset scenery from its garden.
A final note, Ischia is a true hidden gem at the Italian Riviera where the authenticity of Italian escapes is maintained and in Ischia, you will find the island is less busy than the Amalfi Coast and Capri Island.
If you want to explore more of Italian hidden gems for summer breaks, visit my homepage.
