Ischia: Italy's Hidden Paradise
How to use this guide:
🗺️ Click on the "map" feature to see where each of our recs is located! You can also open an individual rec and click "directions" to map to it using Apple or Google Maps.
🍽️ If we recommend reserving your table for a particular restaurant in advance, you'll find links in the relevant place cards below.
🇮🇹 We were lucky to enough to be invited by Ischia's Tourism Board to experience the island. Much of this itinerary was suggested by our contact, Vincenzo, and multiple businesses came together to make our trip possible.
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An Introduction to Ischia
The volcanic island of Ischia is the third-largest island in Italy. Settled by the Ancient Greeks in the 8th century BC, Ischia is now revered for its thermal spas, blue waters, striking Aragonese castle, and straightforward yet top-tier culinary scene. The island is a refreshing contrast to its famous neighbor, Capri.
In this guide, we'll refer to Ischia the island and Ischia the city. Ischia is made up of six comuni, each with its own micro-culture and unique attractions.
1. Ischia
2. Forio
3. Casamicciola
4. Lacco Ameno
4. Barano d’Ischia
5. Serrara Fontana
Food & drink to try:
🐇 Coniglio all’Ischitana - Central Ischia is known for its rabbit-based dishes varying from Rabbit Stew to Rabbit Ragu.
🐟 Fried Cod - This lightly fried cod has a surprising delicate texture!
🍷 Pescha al Vino - This peach wine is delightfully sweet but surprisingly complex in flavor!
How to get to the Island
We took an Alilauro Ferry from Beverello Terminal in Naples. It's an easy system with signs on where to go. The ferry itself is an enjoyable ride with both outdoor and inside seating. They have drinks and snacks for purchase, too!
How to get around the Island
Ischia does have a bus system, but the routes are often unhelpful. The best way to get around Ischia is via taxi or by renting a car/moped.
Fair warning, Ischitano roads are often narrow and require some hectic driving! You'll also run into parking issues in small cities. We suggest using taxis or hired drivers, so the guide will assume you are.
Day 1
We highly recommend catching an early ferry to the island to get the most out of your trip!
Once you arrive at the terminal, you're just a 6-minute walk from our hotel recommendation, Ischia Blu Resort.
Once you've settled into your hotel, catch a taxi to Ischia Ponte to see a breathtaking castle and eat a traditional Ischitano lunch. First, head to lunch.
After lunch, walk along the Ponte Aragonese, the land bridge connecting Ischia to the Historic Cittadella of Castello Argonese. The castle boasts 25 centuries of history all the way back to the Ancient Greeks.
During your visit, stop for a drink at one of the charming cafes that boast incredible views of the sea. Don't miss the shop either, that offers a wide variety of locally made artistic goodies.
Once you're done with the castle, follow the coast back to Ischia. Along the way, make sure to walk down Via Roma, where you'll find a variety of shops to browse. Feel free to grab a taxi to the shopping area, as the total walk from the castle to the hotel is around 45 minutes.
Once you've explored the shopping area, return to your hotel to freshen up, relax, and prepare for an evening of culinary delight.
Day 2
Get excited because today, you'll be boating around the entire island of Ischia! This boat is gorgeous and involves a cove, steep cliffs, a sea view of Castle Aragonese, and more. We highly recommend MG Boat Charter for the best boat tour in Ischia.
For lunch, do yourself a favor and head to the stunning seaside Ristorante Guarracino. This place truly puts you in paradise and serves various delicious seafood dishes. The fried cod is a must!
Ristorante Guarrachino is located at the bottom of a resort, with primary access from the water. The restaurant picked us up from our boat tour, but they also offered pickup from Ischia's harbor.
After lunch, head to Tenuta Calitto for a relaxing Wine & Spa Experience!
After a day of culinary delights, return to the hotel to rest and relax. Head to Bar Epomeo for light food options and quality cocktails.
Day 3
Ischia is also known for its excellent selection of easy-to-difficult hikes with beautiful views. While this hike is doable by yourself we had a hiking guide show us the way and educate us as we went down.
We highly recommend hiring Marianna. Not only is she an incredible hiking guide, but she's also just the best person. She radiates passion about the island and will get you excited about the smallest things!
We took a taxi and met our guide, Marianna, at this cute cafe in Serrara Fontana. The cafe below, La Floreana, is known for its beautiful views and freshly made orange juice (with a secret twist!). We enjoyed the view before hiking down to Sant' Angelo.
This hike is a quick downhill jaunt that should take around 45 minutes to 1 hour. It's a great option if you're hot and don't want to have a full day of hiking. Follow the google maps link below for a rough path down to Sant'Angelo.
Head to Dolce è La Vita for a refreshing drink and snack. They have a lovely patio overlooking the water.
After exploring Sant'Angelo, take the convenient water taxi located to Maronti Beach! They'll drop you right on the sand.
When you're done with the beach, head to a 2000-year-old Thermal Spa located at the end of a ravine. This unique experience places you in the heart of a historic tradition where you'll benefit from the natural hot spring in various ways.
Call a taxi and head back to the hotel and freshen up for dinner!
This Itinerary serves as a taster of Ischia if you only have a few days like we did. You'll get a great taste of the island and realize you need way more time! Our guides suggested a week-long trip at minimum to experience the whole island and all it has to offer.
Thank you so much for saving our guide!
We hope you have the most amazing time in Ischia.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out at olivia.frances.biz@gmail.com.
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- Jack and Liv
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