Ischia is the big green island at the northern edge of the Bay of Naples: a volcanic block of vineyards and pine woods topped by Monte Epomeo, ringed by fishing villages, sandy coves and countless hot springs. People have soaked in its thermal waters since the Greeks settled here in the 8th century BC, and today its spa parks, with warm mineral pools set in gardens by the sea, are why many visitors return year after year. Add the Aragonese Castle on its rock, the subtropical La Mortella gardens, car-free Sant’Angelo and long sunsets over Forio, and Ischia makes a relaxed, unhurried counterpoint to glamorous Capri across the bay. It is about an hour by fast boat from Naples. The best months are May, June, September and early October.
Right now in Ischia (Ischia Porto)
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Top tours in Ischia
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Ischia at a glance
- Best for: thermal pools and spa days, beaches and swimming, gardens, a castle on the sea, walks up Monte Epomeo and slow seafood lunches.
- How long: a day trip is possible but rushed; 3–5 nights let you mix a spa park, a beach day, the castle and a walk, and still have time to do nothing.
- Best time: May–June and September–early October. July and August are hot, busy and expensive; most thermal parks close from November to April.
- Book ahead: hotels for June to September, and a sunbed at the bigger thermal parks on summer weekends. The castle and the gardens sell tickets at the gate.
- Getting in: ferries and hydrofoils from Naples (about an hour by fast boat) and car ferries from Pozzuoli; in season also from Sorrento and Capri. Unlike Capri, Ischia has no landing fee.
- Before you go: entry rules, money, trains and general safety are on our Italy travel guide.
Ischia’s towns and who each one suits
Ischia is about 10 km across and is shared between six towns, each with its own character. A ring road circles the island, and buses link them all, so where you stay is mostly about the mood you want.
Ischia Porto and Ischia Ponte
The town of Ischia, in the north-east, is the main arrival point and liveliest base. Ischia Porto grew around a round harbour that was once a crater lake, and is all cafés, boutiques and hotels. A 20-minute stroll east brings you to Ischia Ponte, the old fishermen’s quarter facing the causeway to the Aragonese Castle. Best for: first-timers, car-free stays and easy ferry connections.
Casamicciola Terme and Lacco Ameno
Along the north coast, Casamicciola has a second ferry port and a long spa tradition. Parts of the town are still rebuilding after the 2017 earthquake and the 2022 landslide, so check where your hotel is. Neighbouring Lacco Ameno is smaller and smarter, curled round a bay with a mushroom-shaped rock offshore, the Negombo thermal park and the Villa Arbusto museum of the island’s Greek past. Best for: spa hotels and quieter, elegant stays.
Forio
The largest town, on the west coast, with a walkable old centre, a busy harbour, the white church of the Soccorso on its headland and the best sunsets on the island. La Mortella gardens, the Poseidon thermal park and the beaches of Citara and San Francesco are close by. Best for: sunsets, restaurants and a good-value base with plenty going on.
Sant’Angelo, Serrara Fontana and Barano
The south coast is the wildest side. Sant’Angelo, part of Serrara Fontana, is a car-free fishing village of pastel houses tied to a rocky islet by a sandy isthmus; it is one of the prettiest places in the bay of Naples, and from here water taxis run to the Maronti beach. Barano looks down on the Maronti, and Fontana and Serrara, high on Epomeo, are farming villages where the summit walks start. Best for: couples, peace and quiet and beach-and-walk holidays.
Top things to see on Ischia
Prices and hours below were checked on the official sites in October 2026, unless we say otherwise; check again before you go, as many places change hours with the season.
The Aragonese Castle
The Castello Aragonese rises from a volcanic islet joined to Ischia Ponte by a stone causeway built in the 15th century by Alfonso of Aragon. For centuries the rock was a fortified town with a cathedral and convents; today a path and a lift climb past the ruined cathedral, the nuns’ cemetery, terraced gardens and cafés to views over the whole bay. As of October 2026 the castle’s own site lists a full ticket of €15, €12 for over-70s, €6 for ages 10–18 and free entry under 10. It opens every day from 9:00 until sunset (19:00 in early October), with the last ticket an hour and a half before closing, and it closes for maintenance from 7 January to early March. Allow two to three hours.
La Mortella gardens
Created by Susana Walton, wife of the English composer Sir William Walton, with the designer Russell Page, La Mortella in Forio is one of Italy’s great gardens: a valley of tree ferns, palms, water lilies and fountains, and a hillside garden with a Greek theatre and sea views. According to the Walton Foundation, the 2026 season runs from 2 April to 1 November, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays only, 9:00–19:00 with last entry at 18:00. Tickets cost €15 (€12 reduced, €10 for ages 12–18, €8 for ages 6–11, free for under-6s) and are sold only at the gate; there is no online sale. In spring and autumn chamber concerts are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons (€20, booking required, garden entry included). Allow at least two hours.
The thermal parks
Ischia’s signature experience is a day at a thermal park: a garden by the sea with pools at different temperatures, fed by the island’s hot springs, plus a beach, saunas, treatments and a restaurant. The two best known are Giardini Poseidon, above Citara bay in Forio, and Negombo, on the San Montano bay at Lacco Ameno. As of October 2026 Poseidon’s official price list gives €50 for a full day and €45 for the afternoon, with half price for children aged 4–11 (children are not allowed in the thermal area itself); its 2026 season runs from 18 April to 31 October, 9:00–18:00 from 1 October. Negombo opens 8:30–18:30 from 5 October and closes for the season on 13 October 2026. Limit your time in the hottest pools, and ask a doctor first if you are pregnant or have heart or blood-pressure problems.
Sant’Angelo and the Maronti beach
Walk down into car-free Sant’Angelo for a drink by the harbour and a stroll over the isthmus to the islet. From the harbour, small water taxis cross to the Maronti, Ischia’s longest sandy beach, about 3 km long, where steam from the volcanic subsoil warms the sand in places; you can also walk there in about 30 minutes. At its western end, the Cavascura gorge hides old hot-spring baths cut into the rock.
Monte Epomeo
At 789 m, Epomeo is the island’s high point, a block of green volcanic tuff rather than a classic cone. The usual walk climbs from Fontana through woods and vineyards in about an hour and a half. Near the top, a hermitage and the little church of San Nicola are cut into the rock, and the view takes in the whole bay. The final stretch is narrow and exposed; wear proper shoes.
More to see
- Chiesa del Soccorso, Forio: a whitewashed sailors’ church on a headland, with majolica tiles and the classic sunset viewpoint.
- Villa Arbusto, Lacco Ameno: the archaeological museum of Pithekoussai, home of the 8th-century BC Nestor’s Cup, one of the oldest known Greek inscriptions; check opening days locally.
- Baia di Sorgeto: a rocky cove below Panza where hot springs bubble into the sea, so you can bathe in warm water even in autumn; reached by a long stairway or by water taxi from Sant’Angelo.
- Cartaromana: a small bay by the castle with warm springs at the water’s edge and the rocks of Sant’Anna.
Other things to do on Ischia
Beaches and swimming
Unlike Capri, Ischia has real sandy beaches. The Maronti is the longest; Citara, below the Poseidon park, faces the sunset; San Francesco and San Montano are sheltered coves on the north-west; and the Spiaggia dei Pescatori at Ischia Ponte has a view of the castle. Most beaches mix free stretches with lidos that rent sunbeds and umbrellas. The water off the rocky headlands is good for snorkeling, and the island’s waters belong to the Regno di Nettuno marine protected area. See our beaches guide.
Boat trips
Boat tours round the island leave Ischia Porto, Forio and Sant’Angelo in season, with swim stops at coves such as the Bay of Sorgeto and the Scarrupata cliffs, which you cannot reach by road. Renting a small boat with or without a skipper is popular too. See our boat trips guide.
Walking and diving
Old mule tracks cross the hills: the path to the Falanga plateau, with houses carved into boulders, and the coastal paths around Sant’Angelo are favourites; see our hiking guide. Under water there are seagrass meadows and rocky walls, with dive centres in several towns; see our diving guide.
Food and wine
Ischia’s signature dish is coniglio all’ischitana, rabbit slow-cooked in a terracotta pot with tomatoes and herbs. On the coast, eat fresh fish. The island has its own DOC white wines from Biancolella and Forastera grapes grown on steep terraces; see our wine tasting guide.
Day trips from Ischia
Procida
The small neighbouring island is a short hop away: Caremar’s slow ferry from Ischia to Procida cost €9.40 and its hydrofoil €10.50 one way in October 2026, and a €3.50 landing fee is added for Procida. Walk to the pastel houses of the Marina Corricella, the abbey and fortress of Terra Murata on the hill, and the beach at Chiaiolella, and eat seafood by the harbour.
Naples, Capri and Sorrento
Naples is about an hour away by hydrofoil; from there the train reaches Pompeii. In season, direct boats also run from Ischia to Capri and to Sorrento, the gateway to the Amalfi Coast; out of season you change in Naples. Remember that Capri adds a €5 landing fee to the ticket.
Nearby destinations
- Naples32 km
- Capri35 km
- Sorrento42 km
- Amalfi Coast60 km
- Rome175 km
- Apulia222 km
- Matera228 km
- Aeolian Islands264 km
Getting there and getting around
Ferries and hydrofoils
Ischia has three ports: Ischia Porto, the main one, Casamicciola Terme and, for some hydrofoils, Forio. Several companies share the routes, including the regional ferry company Caremar and private hydrofoil and ferry lines. From Naples, hydrofoils leave Molo Beverello and take about an hour; car ferries leave Calata Porta di Massa and take about 1 hour 30. From Pozzuoli, west of Naples, car ferries are shorter and cheaper, about an hour. As examples, Caremar’s published fares in October 2026 are €21.60 for the hydrofoil from Naples, €14.80 for the ferry from Naples and €11.20 for the ferry from Pozzuoli, one way per adult; tickets bought in advance carry a 12% booking charge (minimum €1) and online tickets €1 more. There is no landing fee for Ischia. Keep a margin on your last day, as crossings can be cancelled in rough seas.
From Naples airport and station
Fly into Naples International Airport (NAP). The Alibus runs from arrivals to Napoli Centrale and the port at Molo Beverello for the hydrofoils; a ticket is €5, as on our Naples guide. From Napoli Centrale, a taxi to the port takes about 15 minutes. For Pozzuoli, take metro line 2 from Napoli Centrale (Piazza Garibaldi) to Pozzuoli and walk downhill to the port.
Buses, taxis and scooters
Buses run by the regional company EAV circle the island in both directions (the CS and CD lines) and connect every town, the beaches and the thermal parks, with branches up to Fontana and down to Sant’Angelo. Buy tickets before boarding at tobacconists, newsstands and ticket booths at the port, and validate them on board; day tickets are good value if you hop around. Taxis and small three-wheeled microtaxis wait at the ports and main squares; agree the fare first. Scooters are popular, but roads are narrow and busy.
Bringing a car
Each year a national decree limits cars on Ischia during the season. In 2026 it applies from early April to 31 October and bars vehicles owned or driven by residents of the Campania region, other than islanders, with exceptions for longer hotel stays in some towns. Visitors from outside Campania may bring a car, but you rarely need one: parking is scarce, traffic is heavy in summer and buses go everywhere. Most people leave the car on the mainland.
When to go and how long to stay
Ischia has a mild Mediterranean climate: warm, dry, sunny summers and soft, wet winters. There is no long-term station on the island, so the table uses the WMO 1991–2020 climate normals of the Italian Air Force station on Capri, at 160 m, about 30 km away across the bay and the same station used on our Naples and Capri guides: average daily highs and lows, and days with at least 1 mm of rain. These are long-term averages; recent summers have often been hotter.
| Season | Average high / low | Rainy days per month | What it’s like | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | 14–15 °C / 8–10 °C | 7–9 | Mild, often windy; most thermal parks and many hotels closed | Quiet stays at spa hotels with indoor pools, low prices |
| Spring (Mar–May) | 17–24 °C / 10–16 °C | 4–7 | Green and flowering; parks and gardens reopen in April | Walking, gardens, thermal pools, first swims in late May |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | 29–32 °C / 20–23 °C | 1–2 | Hot, sunny and busy, especially in August | Beaches, boat trips, evenings by the sea |
| Autumn (Sep–Nov) | 28 °C falling to 18 °C / 20 °C falling to 13 °C | 6 in September, 9 in November | Warm sea in September, quieter October, parks close by November | Swimming, spa days, walking |
The sea is warmest from July to September. October is lovely for a spa holiday, but check closing dates: in 2026 Negombo closes on 13 October and Poseidon on 31 October, and La Mortella on 1 November.
Events worth planning around
- Late July: the Festa a mare agli scogli di Sant’Anna, a night parade of decorated floats on the water below the Aragonese Castle, with fireworks; in 2026 it was held on 31 July.
- Summer: the Ischia Film Festival at the castle and other film and music events; dates change each year.
- April–June and September–October weekends: chamber concerts at La Mortella, on Saturdays and Sundays at 17:00.
How long to stay: day trip, 3 and 5 days
Day trip: take an early hydrofoil to Ischia Porto, walk to Ischia Ponte and visit the Aragonese Castle, then bus to a thermal park for the afternoon, or to Sant’Angelo for a swim, and catch an evening boat back.
3 days: day one, the castle and Ischia Ponte; day two, a full day at a thermal park and sunset at the Soccorso in Forio; day three, La Mortella (if it is a garden day) and Sant’Angelo with the Maronti. 5 days: add the walk up Epomeo, a boat trip round the island, a day on Procida and a lazy beach day.
Where to stay on Ischia and the tourist tax
- Ischia Porto and Ischia Ponte: the most convenient, with the main port, shops and restaurants; lively in the evening.
- Lacco Ameno and Casamicciola: classic spa hotels with their own thermal pools; calmer.
- Forio: good value, sunsets, beaches and the big parks nearby.
- Sant’Angelo: romantic and car-free; you walk in from the bus stop, so pack light.
Many hotels have their own thermal pools. Book months ahead for June to September. Each of the six towns sets its own tourist tax (imposta di soggiorno), paid at your hotel. In the town of Ischia, the 2026 rates in force from 15 May are per person per night, for up to 7 nights: €4 in 1- to 3-star hotels and B&Bs and €5 in 4- and 5-star hotels from April to October (€3–4 the rest of the year), and €3 for flats; under-18s are exempt. Ask your hotel for the rate in the other towns.
Practical tips for Ischia
- Check the port: boats use Ischia Porto, Casamicciola or Forio; your ticket says which.
- Plan garden days: La Mortella opens only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Go easy in the hot pools: short dips, plenty of water, no alcohol before; children are not allowed in some thermal areas.
- Volcanic ground: Ischia is an active volcanic island, and the 2017 earthquake and 2022 landslide hit Casamicciola. Follow local signs and closures.
- Emergencies: call 112.
What to pack for Ischia
Bring two swimsuits for the pools and the sea, flip-flops for the parks and water shoes for rocky coves and the hot sand on the Maronti. A large quick-dry towel is useful. For Epomeo, pack walking shoes with good grip. In summer add a hat, high-factor sunscreen and a refillable bottle; in spring and autumn, a light jacket for the ferry deck and the evenings.
Ischia travel FAQ
Is Ischia worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you want a relaxing island holiday rather than a sightseeing rush. Ischia has thermal pools, sandy beaches, gardens, a spectacular castle and a more local, less expensive feel than Capri.
How do I get to Ischia from Naples?
By hydrofoil from Molo Beverello in about an hour, by car ferry from Calata Porta di Massa in about 1 hour 30, or by ferry from Pozzuoli in about an hour. Caremar’s hydrofoil from Naples cost €21.60 one way in October 2026.
Is there a landing fee for Ischia?
No. Caremar’s 2026 fares list landing fees only for Capri (€5) and Procida (€3.50). Ischia’s towns charge a tourist tax on overnight stays instead.
Can I take my car to Ischia?
From early April to 31 October 2026 cars of Campania residents who do not live on the island are banned, with some exceptions. Visitors from elsewhere may bring a car, but buses, taxis and scooters are easier.
How much is a day at a thermal park on Ischia?
At Giardini Poseidon a full day cost €50 and an afternoon €45 in the 2026 season, with half price for children aged 4–11. Prices vary between parks and by season.
When are the thermal parks open?
Roughly from mid-April to October. In 2026 Poseidon is open from 18 April to 31 October and Negombo until 13 October. Many spa hotels keep indoor thermal pools open longer.
How much does the Aragonese Castle cost?
€15 for adults, €6 for ages 10–18 and free under 10, as of October 2026. It is open daily from 9:00 to sunset, except from 7 January to early March.
When is La Mortella open?
From 2 April to 1 November 2026, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 9:00–19:00 with last entry at 18:00. Tickets cost €15 at the gate.
Where should I stay on Ischia?
Ischia Porto or Ponte for convenience and evenings out, Forio for sunsets and value, Lacco Ameno for spa hotels, and Sant’Angelo for a romantic, car-free village.
What is the best time to visit Ischia?
May, June, September and early October, when the sea is warm, the parks are open and the island is calmer than in July and August.
Plan your trip
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Sources · last reviewed 4 October 2026
Researched and last reviewed on 4 October 2026. Aragonese Castle prices and hours: the castle’s official site; La Mortella season, hours and prices: the William Walton Foundation; thermal park seasons and prices: Giardini Poseidon and Negombo (the operators); ferry fares and landing fees: Caremar’s published fares; tourist tax: the City of Ischia’s published 2026 rates; climate: WMO 1991–2020 normals of the Italian Air Force station on Capri. The seasonal car rules, bus details and the Villa Arbusto museum hours could not be read on official sites and are flagged for checking. Prices, hours and boat timetables change, so check the official sites before you go. For entry rules, money and general safety, see our Italy travel guide.
Data: Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Sea temperature: NOAA CoastWatch · Rates: ECB · Costs: World Bank ICP and price levels · Wikidata (CC0)