updated on March 26th, 2019
Want to see a neat island in Italy, without battling the tourists? We suggest Ischia! It’s a super adorable island that doesn’t see quite as many visitors as nearby Capri. It’s also really easy to get to if you’re already in Naples.
There’s some cool stuff on Ischia, like Castello Aragonese, a castle built onto a teeny island. Even cooler is the creepy nun cemetery inside the castle. Ischia also boasts thermal spas and plenty of island-life atmosphere. Make sure you’ve got your camera packed.
To get to Ischia, you take a ferry from the Molo Beverello ferry port in Naples. We arrived about a half hour before the ferry we wanted, as we were visiting in the off-season, and we could easily buy tickets at the station. If you’re going during the peak of summer, you can book online to be sure you’ve got a seat.
The boat had fairly comfortable seating and after a brief safety presentation, we were free to roam and stand outside on the deck. They also had a snack bar and bathrooms. The ride took about an hour and for most of the trip we were cruising along the coastlines of Italy.
We nearly missed our return trip home, mostly because of stupidity and a language barrier. Apparently, in Ischia, there are two docks for ferries. At the end of the day we cracked a beer on the dock and waited for our boat, which never came. We hadn’t realized there was another dock and somehow didn’t notice our boat getting ready to head home. Luckily, we figured out our mistake at the last possible second! If you’re on this trip, make sure you’re watching to be sure you’re in the line for the correct ferry company.
The fateful beer that nearly cost us a return ticket home.
The ferry port in Ischia
Riding the ferry from Napoli to Ischia was a cake-walk, and Ischia itself was very worth a visit. We went in February and even though a large portion of tourist destinations were closed, we were still glad we went! Add it to your list if you have some spare time on your next trip to Italy.
