While Ischia isn’t close to a secret paradise anymore, it’s often overshadowed by its world-renowned neighbor Capri next door. Well, after an amazing 2 days in Ischia Italy, we can’t recommend the island enough! Aside from the beautiful beaches and historic sites, this underrated destination also has an authentic Italian feel to it. Follow along with our ultimate 2 day Ischia itinerary, the best things to do, and what we can’t wait to do next visit.
How to Get to Ischia Italy
One of the best parts about visiting Ischia is how easy it is to get there. We wrote a complete guide about our trip on the Naples to Ischia ferry, which takes just 50 minutes from the city.
Check out sites like Omio to compare the different times and prices. You can also buy tickets directly at the ferry port. However, it’s wise do so a few days beforehand during the busy summer months.
Something we should also mention is that there are actually two different ferry ports in the city. The most central is Naples Beverello, and this is where you’ll likely be leaving from unless you’re bringing a car on board. There are even buses from Naples International Airport that go directly to this ferry terminal.
We recommend to first book your Ischia Italy hotel before your ferry tickets. This is due to the fact that the boat from Naples goes to several different places around the island.
We stayed in the main port town during our 2 days in Ischia. Yet, we would probably choose to stay in Forio on our next visit. It’s a beautiful town on the opposite side of the island, and the ferry can drop you off directly there from Naples.
Getting Around Ischia Island
One thing we were confused about before arriving is how we would get to all the beaches and attractions. I mean, it is an island after all! After visiting so many Greek islands, we know there can be limited options.
As we were on a family trip with a group of five, renting a car didn’t seem like a great choice. So what did we end up doing for our 2 day Ischia itinerary?
It turned out that getting around Ischia Island was much easier than we expected! The two most common modes of transportation are the public bus and local taxis.
We ended up using a mix of both, which worked out nicely for group and budget. Many of the best things to do in Ischia Italy are spread out around the island.
While it’s much bigger than Capri and Procida, it still seemed pretty quick to get everywhere. For example, one day we hopped on the bus, and 20 minutes later we were dropped off right in front of the famous Maronti Beach!
The taxis have set rates to the most popular towns and beaches. We also saw that many advertisements to hire a driver for a full island tour.
If you’re the adventurous type, then renting a scooter can be a fun idea for your Ischia Italy itinerary. There are tons of storefronts to pick one up at right at the main ferry port. Just make sure to have an international drivers license and double check your travel insurance coverage.
Where to Stay in Ischia Italy
We picked the main Ischia port to stay for its central location and easy access from the Naples ferry. It was very convenient and worked well for our trip. However, after a full 2 days in Ischia, we would probably choose a different area for next time.
If we had to choose one place, our pick would be the seaside town of Forio! We also loved the charming neighborhood on the east coast of Ischia Ponte.
As we mentioned before, you can book a ferry that goes directly from Naples to Marina di Forio. This will certainly make your travel day easier.
For other spots like Ischia Ponte, you can hop on a boat to the main port and take a taxi (or the bus) for the short ride.
Best Hotels in Forio
Hotel Nettuno: Great location with free parking in Forio. Highlights include the colorful decor and panoramic rooftop terrace with hot tub.
Casa Vacanze Parco Del Generale: 5 minute walk to the center of Forio, comfortable rooms, and a large swimming pool.
B&B Marina Garden: Private terraces with seaviews and just a short walk from all the shops and restaurants.
Hotel Picks for Ischia Ponte
Hotel Mare Blu Terme: Popular resort style hotel overlooking the ocean. Very close to the walking street and just steps from the beaches.
Hotel Don Felipe: Small boutique hotel set in a quiet area of town, with a beautiful panoramic swimming pool.
B&B La Vigna – Ischia Ponte: Cosy bed and breakfast with large rooms and nice outdoor spaces.
What’s the Deal with Ischia Thermal Spa Hotels?
Did you know Ischia is a volcanic island? That’s right! There are over one hundred thermal springs dotted around this Italian getaway to enjoy.
Visiting a thermal spa park is one of the best things to do in Ischia Italy. To have the full experience though, staying at an actual spa hotel is the way to go.
With that said, there is one caveat to this unique feature. During our two days in Ischia in early June, the temperatures were already scorching!
We love thermal spas and have visited hot spots from the Szechenyi Thermal Baths in Budapest to those in Germany, and even Hanmer Springs New Zealand. It would just not have been as enjoyable in the heat of the summer.
Still, this makes Ischia Italy a great travel destination in the swing months. We recommend visiting in the months of April, May, September, and October for the best spa weather.
If you plan to go in the spring or fall, then you should definitely try to stay at a thermal spa hotel. Some of the most highly rated are Regina Isabella‑Resort Spa Restaurant, Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa, and Grand Hotel Il Moresco.
For those traveling to Ischia on budget, you can also get a day pass to these epic thermal parks. Spots like Giardini Poseidon Thermal Park and Negombo are two excellent options.
Our 2 Day Ischia Italy itinerary
Day 1: Arriving From Naples
Lunch on the Harbor
We took a mid-morning ferry from Naples and arrived in Ischia port just before noon. Our Airbnb let us leave our bags at the accommodation even though it was a bit too early to check in.
We decided to grab lunch right on the harbor at Taverna Antonio, and it was so delicious! This restaurant set the bar high for the rest of our 2 days in Ischia. Our order was a mix of shared starters, including prosciutto and melon, salad, mussels, octopus, and bruschetta.
The pesto bruschetta was absolutely amazing, and something we would definitely go back for. Taverna Antonio is an awesome restaurant if you’re looking for a local meal in the port.
Swimming at Spiaggia di San Pietro Beach
After lunch, it was already hot and we were ready for a cool down. We headed to Spiaggia di San Pietro Beach, which was a quick 10 minute stroll away. The beach was actually nicer then we expected for being so close to the main port.
The left side was a big sandy area to lay our towels down, while the right section of the beach was lined with chairs and umbrellas for rent in front of the restaurants. We spent most of the afternoon swimming in the water, walking along the sand, and enjoying the island life.
Dinner with an Ischia Castle View
We didn’t pre-book a restaurant, but ended up getting lucky to get a table at Restaurant Auras. Now, if you are visiting Ischia and want dinner with a surreal view, this is the place to go!
It is on the pricer side, but you really can’t beat the quality of the food and view of the castle. To get to this area called Ischia Ponte, we walked along Via Roma.
This is basically one long walking street from the main port that runs parallel to the coast. The 30 minute walk had shops, local cafes, and plenty of dip downs to the water.
What makes Ischia Ponte so special is the amazing view of Castello Aragonese d’Ischia. We had dinner around 7:30pm, which was the perfect time for sunset. The castle was completely lit up in a golden glow and illuminated by the sky.
We started with a salad but the star of the meal was a the Pasta alla Genovese. Instead of cooking in with beef which is the traditional way it was made with octopus! Don’t worry, we made sure to come back to this area on our last day to climb to the top of Castello Aragonese d’Ischia!
Day 2: Sun-Soaked Island Adventures
Beach Day at Spiaggia dei Maronti
Since we had just spent few days experiencing the best things to do in Naples, we knew we wanted to spend as much time at the beach as possible. So for our only full day, we decided to jump on the bus to Maronti Beach.
It was only a 20 minute ride from Ischia port and not at all crowded in early June. Arriving just before noon, we had no problem getting a front row beach chair!
This beach is often said to be one of the most beautiful on the island, and it’s easy to see why. Another plus is that it’s massive, which is great if you are visiting during a busy time of the year.
The beach is mostly made up of small pebbles instead of sand. It’s definitely worth the 10 euros to grab a beach chair and be more comfortable. A pair of water shoes like these will also come in handy here for your trip.
We took a walk along the planked boardwalk that stretches half way down the beach before heading to lunch. Most noticed most of the restaurants served similar dishes. Ristorante Nuovo Tropical wound up being a great choice right that was close to our beach loungers.
The view over the water couldn’t be beat! We highly recommend the prosciutto and melon, as well as any of their fresh pasta dishes.
If you’re in the mood for something quick, then you can also grab to go sandwiches to go from most restaurants.
Private Sunset Cruise
After a long beach day, we took a quick break back at our Airbnb to get out of the sun. Our next activity would be the highlight of our Ischia Italy itinerary!
We knew we wanted to take a boat trip initially. When we discovered a private sunset tour around the island with Dolce Vita, it was an easy pick.
If you can get out on the water during your time on Ischia, you absolutely should. Whether it’s taking a private boat like we did or joining a group trip like this popular one, it really is the ultimate activity!
We sailed from Ischia port all the way to Forio. This was not only our favorite town, but also the best place to watch the sunset.
During our ride, we sipped on Prosecco as the captain pointed out different sites along the coastline. Jumping in the Tyrrhenian Sea directly from our boat as the sun went down was so magical!
Once we got back to the port, we chose Ristorante Pizzeria Da Ciccio for dinner. They had excellent pizza, but the star of the show was definitely the seafood. Make a point to try local dishes like clams and mussels on your trip to Ischia Italy.
Final Morning in Ischia Italy
Climb Up the Ischia Castle
Even with a ferry back to Naples at 1pm, there were still so many things we wanted to do on our last day. Our first stop was a local cafe for a pastry and cappuccino. After all, we needed our energy for the big morning we had planned!
No trip to Ischia would be complete without making the climb up Castello Aragonese d’Ischia. Here you can learn all about the history of the island and get some incredible views of the coast.
The site dates all the way back to 474 BC, when it was first fortified by Gerone I of Syracuse. Many dynasties would come later, including the Romans, Byzantines, and Normans.
The current castle was constructed in 1441 by Alfonso V of Aragon. He made many stunning contributions to the fort, such as the stone bridge you may recognize from pictures.
The first part of the climb is definitely steep. Just be sure to save some energy! From the top, there are unreal gardens and much more of the castle to explore.
There were two things we weren’t expecting on our visit to the Ischia Castle. First, there is an unreal cafe at the top with immaculate views over the sea. We would have totally had breakfast or a coffee there if we hadn’t already eaten.
The castle even has its own boutique hotel! With only 20 rooms, you’ll want to make a reservation here well in advance during the summer.
Bagno Francesca Beach Swim
We still had a couple of hours left before we had to catch our ferry after the castle. This gave us just enough time to get beach chairs at Bagno Francesca. It was just a 15 minute walk though town after we checked out and stored our bags.
Swimming with a view of the castle in the distance is easily one of the best things to do in Ischia! The water was super refreshing after our climb, and we ordered some sandwiches to our chairs for lunch.
If you end up here, we recommend trying the Zingara. This is a famous sandwich from the island filled with prosciutto, mozzarella, tomatoes, lettuce, and mayonnaise.
Before long, we had to call a taxi and head back to the main port. Ischia was one of our favorite parts of this recent trip to Italy, and we were definitely sad to leave!
Ischia Italy Itinerary Tip: There are several luggage storage places near the port. This is a great option if you have to leave your accommodation early as we did.
5 Ischia Italy Travel Tips
If you couldn’t tell, we had an incredible 2 days in Ischia. It was the perfect place to combine with the big city of Naples for some much needed beach time!
Nevertheless, there were so many things to do in Ischia that we didn’t have time for on our short visit. Here’s some quick tips to end our Ischia Italy itinerary and what we would do differently.
1. Stay in Forio: We adored this town and would base ourselves from here on our next trip. It’s one of the prettiest towns on the island with direct ferries from Naples.
2. More Days: Our 2 nights on the island were fine, but we could have easily spent more. We recommend at least 3-4 nights if you have the time. The more days in Ischia the better!
3. Rent A Scooter: After seeing how massive the island is from our boat ride, we would definitely plan to rent a scooter next visit. It would be such an adventure to circle the entire island! If you’re not comfortable renting a scooter, you can get a car, or even hire a private driver to tour it.
4. Day Trip to Procida Island: We passed Procida on the ferry and were blown away by its beauty. This island is quite small, so you could easily see it in a few hours. Hop on a ferry or book a boat day trip like this one if you have the time.
5. Visit in Cooler Weather: We would 100% return to Ischia outside of the summertime. As we’ve said, we LOVE thermal spas, and it would be so fun to come back to enjoy the island in a different way.
Have any questions about this article or want to share your perfect 2 day Ischia Itinerary? Let us know in the comments below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
