HV72
Ischia
Ischia
Our pick in Ischia
The Hidden Voyage guide
Ischia
The green island of thermal springs, gardens and long Italian summers.
Best months
May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Ideal stay
7 nights
Fly into
NAP · FCO
Getting around
Taxis, scooters or a hire car on the island
Our villas here
12 private villas
Why go
Why choose Ischia
The largest island in the Bay of Naples is a volcanic garden of vineyards, pine woods and chestnut forests, crowned by Monte Epomeo. Its fame rests on the hot springs that bubble up everywhere, feeding thermal parks, spas and even coves where the sea runs warm. Add sandy beaches, fishing villages and a castle on its own rock, and Ischia is endlessly varied.
Ischia is larger and less showy than Capri, with a relaxed, family friendly spirit and plenty of space. A villa here suits those who want wellbeing as part of the holiday, families who enjoy easy beaches, and travellers who like good food, island wine and long, unhurried days that end with a sunset over the open sea.
Ideal for: Families, Wellness, Value in high season · Relaxed, with spa days and boat trips
Our villas of the month · October 2026
Chosen this month by our team
Getting there
Airports and arrivals
NAP
Naples International (Capodichino)
about 20 to 30 minutes by car to the ports of Naples or Pozzuoli, then 40 minutes to 1h30 by sea
Main gateway for the island
FCO
Rome Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci)
about 2h45 by car to Pozzuoli, then the ferry
For long haul arrivals; alternatively take the high speed train to Naples
- Hydrofoils from Naples Molo Beverello reach Ischia Porto, Casamicciola and Forio in about 50 minutes to 1h; car ferries from Calata Porta di Massa take about 1h30.
- From Pozzuoli, the closest port to Naples airport, hydrofoils and ferries cross to Ischia Porto and Casamicciola in about 40 minutes to 1h, all year round.
- In season, boats also link Ischia with Capri, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.
- Private water taxis and helicopter transfers from Naples can be arranged for the fastest arrival.
We arrange private transfers, drivers, boats and helicopters for every villa.
Where to stay
Choosing your base
Ischia Porto and Ischia Ponte
First timers, shopping, evenings out
The island's liveliest town, with the harbour, shopping streets and the historic quarter beneath the Castello Aragonese.
Forio
Couples, gardens, sunsets
On the sunny west coast, with a characterful old town, the island's finest gardens and spectacular sunsets.
Lacco Ameno
Wellbeing, culture, families
A small, elegant resort around a sheltered bay, home to historic spa hotels and the island's archaeological museum.
Sant'Angelo
Romance, car free charm
A pedestrian fishing village on the south coast, joined to a rocky islet by a narrow isthmus, with boutiques and waterfront restaurants.
Barano and Serrara Fontana
Nature lovers, walkers, privacy
Hillside villages of vineyards and terraces above the Maronti beach, quiet and rural with sweeping views.
Positions are approximate: the exact address is shared once your stay is confirmed.
What to see
The highlights
01
Castello Aragonese
A fortified citadel on a volcanic islet joined to Ischia Ponte by a stone causeway. Its terraces, churches and convent ruins look out over the sea and are especially beautiful at sunset.
02
Giardini La Mortella, Forio
The subtropical garden created by the composer Sir William Walton and his wife Susana, laid out with the landscape designer Russell Page. It opens from spring to autumn on selected days and hosts chamber music concerts.
03
Monte Epomeo
The island's highest point, at 789 metres, reached on foot from Fontana through woods and vineyards. The summit, carved with a small chapel in the tufa, overlooks the whole bay.
04
Sant'Angelo
A car free village of pastel houses and a tiny harbour, with boat taxis to the Maronti beach. Its lanes come alive in the evening.
05
Baia di Sorgeto
A rocky cove at Panza where hot springs mix with the sea, making it possible to bathe outdoors even in winter. It is reached by a long flight of steps or by boat.
06
Museo di Pithecusae, Lacco Ameno
Housed in Villa Arbusto, the museum tells the story of the earliest Greek settlement in the western Mediterranean. Its treasure is the Cup of Nestor, which bears one of the oldest known inscriptions in Greek.
07
Spiaggia dei Maronti
The island's longest beach, a sweep of sand on the south coast where steam rises from the sand in places. Nearby, the ancient springs of Cavascura are set in a narrow gorge.
What to do
Experiences worth planning for
A day at a thermal park
Gardens such as Poseidon at Citara bay and Negombo at San Montano bay offer pools at different temperatures among exotic planting, with direct access to the sea.
Boat tour of the island
A private boat circles Ischia in a day, with swims at Sant'Angelo, the Sorgeto springs and the cliffs of Punta Imperatore.
Wine tasting in the hills
Family estates on the slopes of Epomeo open their terraced vineyards and tufa cellars for tastings of Biancolella and Forastera.
Hike up Monte Epomeo
A walk of a couple of hours from Fontana leads to the summit, best timed for early morning light and cooler air.
Sunset in Forio
The terrace of the white church of the Soccorso, on a headland above the sea, is the island's classic sunset spot.
By the sea
Beaches and coves
Maronti
A long sandy beach on the south coast with beach clubs and natural fumaroles, reachable by road or by boat taxi from Sant'Angelo.
Citara
A golden beach below Forio, beside the Poseidon thermal gardens, with views towards Punta Imperatore.
San Montano
A sheltered bay at Lacco Ameno with shallow, calm water, ideal for children.
Cartaromana
A small bay facing the Castello Aragonese, with warm springs on the seabed and the remains of a Roman settlement under water.
Baia di Sorgeto
Natural hot pools among rocks at the edge of the sea, unforgettable at sunset or on a cool evening.
Where to stay
Private villas in Ischia
At the table
Food and wine
What to eat
Coniglio all'ischitana
Rabbit slowly cooked in a terracotta pot with tomatoes, white wine, garlic and herbs, the island's signature Sunday dish.
Bucatini with rabbit sauce
The rich sauce from the rabbit dish is traditionally served first, tossed with long pasta.
Fresh fish all'acqua pazza
Local fish gently poached with cherry tomatoes, garlic and parsley in a light broth.
Rucolino
A herbal liqueur flavoured with wild rocket, served as a digestif.
Ischia chestnuts and honey
The island's woods give chestnuts and fragrant honeys, found in local cakes and on breakfast tables.
What to drink
Ischia DOC
One of Italy's earliest DOC appellations, created in 1966, covering the island's whites and reds.
Biancolella
The island's flagship white grape, giving fresh, saline wines perfect with seafood.
Forastera
A traditional white variety with a soft, floral character, often grown on steep terraces.
Per'e Palummo
The local name for Piedirosso, a light, aromatic red that suits rabbit and grilled meats.
Beyond the villa
Day trips
Procida
about 15 to 20 minutes by boat
A small, colourful island of fishermen's houses, perfect for a slow lunch at Marina Corricella.
Capri
about 1h by seasonal boat
Combine the island's grottoes and Faraglioni with a swim stop by private boat.
Naples
about 1h by hydrofoil
The archaeological museum, Spaccanapoli and a true Neapolitan pizza.
Pompeii
about 2h by boat and car
A long but rewarding day to the Roman city buried by Vesuvius, best with a private driver waiting at the port.
When to go
The year, season by season
April to October, with spa season stretching beyond. June and September are the sweet spot.
Spring
Wildflowers cover the hills, gardens reopen and thermal parks are pleasant before the summer heat. It is a wonderful time for walking and wellbeing.
Summer
Warm sea, long beach days and lively evenings, with August the busiest month for Italian visitors. Book boats, beach clubs and restaurants ahead.
Autumn
September and October bring the grape harvest, warm water and quieter beaches. Thermal pools are at their most pleasant as the air cools.
Winter
Many hotels and thermal parks close, but the island stays inhabited and genuine, and hot springs like Sorgeto can be enjoyed all year. Ferries to Naples and Pozzuoli run year round.
Weather month by month
Bars: hours of sunshine a day. Above: average daytime high. Below: sea temperature. Shaded: the best months.
Full weather table
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daytime high, °C | 13 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 24 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 23 | 18 | 14 |
| Night low, °C | 5 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 6 |
| Sea, °C | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 20 | 17 |
| Sunshine, hours a day | 3.7 | 4.6 | 5.1 | 6.3 | 7.9 | 9.3 | 10.1 | 9.5 | 7.8 | 6.1 | 4.2 | 3.4 |
| Rainy days | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| Dry days | 22 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 21 |
Air: averages 1991 to 2020, Naples airport weather station. Sea: average surface temperature at Positano. Dry days have less than 1 mm of rain.
Events through the year
Easter Monday and 24 June
'Ndrezzata, Buonopane
Dancers in traditional costume perform an ancient circle dance, beating time with short wooden sticks, in the village of Buonopane in the hills of Barano.
Late June to early July
Ischia Film Festival
Open air screenings and encounters with filmmakers in the setting of the Castello Aragonese.
26 July
Festa a mare agli scogli di Sant'Anna
Decorated boats parade in the bay of Cartaromana and the evening ends with the symbolic burning of the Castello Aragonese in fireworks.
April to October
Concerts at La Mortella
Chamber music and recitals in the Walton gardens on selected days of the season.
Planning Ischia?
Tell us your dates and the group: we reply with availability and the full price, usually within one working day, and arrange transfers, chefs and boats.
Good to know
Practical tips
- From early April to the end of October, residents of Campania may not bring vehicles to the island; visitors from elsewhere can, but traffic is heavy in summer and taxis, scooters or a car with driver are easier.
- Pozzuoli is the closest port to Naples airport and its ferries run all year, often with shorter queues than Naples.
- Thermal pools are not advised for long periods or for everyone; follow the time limits posted and ask your doctor if in doubt.
- Sant'Angelo and the Castello Aragonese involve walking; Sant'Angelo is closed to cars, so arrange porters for luggage.
- Book beach clubs and thermal parks in advance for August weekends.
- Hydrofoils can be cancelled in rough seas; car ferries are more reliable in poor weather.
Questions
Ischia: frequently asked
Is Ischia better than Capri?
They are different. Ischia is larger, greener and more relaxed, with sandy beaches, thermal springs and room for families, while Capri is smaller, more glamorous and more crowded with day visitors.
How do I get from Naples airport to Ischia?
A private car to Pozzuoli or to Naples Molo Beverello takes about 20 to 30 minutes, followed by a hydrofoil of about 40 minutes to an hour. Water taxis and helicopters are faster alternatives.
Can I bring a car to Ischia?
Cars registered to Campania residents are banned from early April to the end of October. Other visitors can bring a car on the ferry, though most find a hire scooter, taxis or a driver more practical.
Which is the best area of Ischia to stay in?
Forio is ideal for sunsets and gardens, Lacco Ameno for spas, Ischia Porto for shops and evening life, and Sant'Angelo for car free charm. The southern hills suit those who want peace and views.
When are Ischia's thermal parks open?
Most open from around April to October, with a few spa hotels open longer. The Sorgeto hot springs in the sea can be enjoyed all year.
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