The largest of the islands in the Gulf of Naples, Ischia rises from the Tyrrhenian Sea, dramatic, verdant, and enchanting. Pastel towns cluster between the coastal cliffs or rise high along the steep slopes of Mount Epomeo, the island’s volcanic centerpiece.
Ischia is the kind of place that draws you in, so enchanting that when it’s time to leave, you long to stay.
Ischia is a popular summer spot among Italian vacationers that flies under the international radar compared to nearby destinations, such as Capri, Sorrento, and the Amalfi Coast. An affordable alternative to those places, Ischia boasts spectacular beaches, thermal spas, and a plethora of other draws for an island escape like no other.
Let’s take a look at 18 of the best things to do in Ischia.
Table of Contents
Best things to do in Ischia
1. Hit the beach (duh!)
This one goes without saying. On Ischia, you can find the perfect beach for you — small and intimate coves, long-stretches fine sand, and beaches with sand heated by volcanic activity.
Take a look at our list of the best beaches in Ischia for recommendations. You can’t go wrong with your choices, as each beach offers spectacular island views and glittering Mediterranean waters.
2. Explore Ischia underwater
As an island that’s ancient in both a geological and historical sense, Ischia has plenty of curiosities to explore beneath its glittering waves.
Lost to all but legends for centuries, the ruins of the ancient city of Aenaria were discovered in the bay beside the Aragonese Castle in the 1970s. Since then has been one of Ischia’s attractions for underwater spelunkers.
Additionally, the southern coast is riddled with natural sea caves, or grotte in Italian, that come to life with a breathing tube and a pair of goggles. Guided tours allow you to visit many of these spots to witness firsthand the marine magic of Ischia.
3. Lunch on a zingara ischitana
Nothing says an Ischian lunch like the zingara ischitana, a type of sandwich found on this Italian island. With lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, prosciutto, fiordilatte cheese, and olive oil between two crispy toasted slices of bread, the zingara ischitana carries the essence of Ischia with a flavorful punch.
In Ischia Porto, visit Pub La Virgola, where the legendary sandwich was born, or head to Porto 51, a favorite among locals. My personal favorite is a hole-in-the-wall deli called Il Pizzicotto, a perfect spot for a to-go zingara in Forio Porto.
4. Catch the ferry to Procida
A stone’s throw from Ischia lies the much smaller but no less pleasant island of Procida. Named the Italian Capital of Culture 2022, Procida’s picturesque scenes have attracted artists, directors, and visitors from across the world.
Twenty minutes by ferry from Ischia Porto, the island is a great place to spend a day during your trip to Ischia. Quaint marinas and monumental castles cluster together on the island of only 4 square kilometers, and the satellite islet of Vivara, an undisturbed ecological preserve, is connected to Procida by a bridge.
5. Geek out over geological curiosities
Ischia has some strange rocks, natural sculptures created by the volcanic and weather conditions of the island that make for interesting sightseeing.
The most notable is Il Fungo (the mushroom), an aptly named rock that dominates Lacco Ameno port. Off Citara Beach, Scoglio della Tartaruga (Turtle Rock) crests the waves like a petrified giant sea turtle, onto whose back you can climb with some determined swimming.
Or catch a sunset cocktail from a bar near the scenic Scoglio degli Innamorati (Rock of the Lovers), where romance is eternalized in stone.
6. Paddle the Ischian coastline by kayak
Renting a kayak and paddling across the waves of Ischia is an excellent way to admire the island’s rugged coasts. Kayak rentals (noleggio canoe) will be available at the marinas and ports around the island
Depending on where you embark, you can even reach some of the hidden spots I’ve mentioned, such as Turtle Rock, Grotta Verde, or Spiaggia di Varulo.
7. Charter a boat tour around the island
A trip to Ischia is incomplete without a boat tour that takes you along the island’s dramatic southern coasts, where villages cling to lofty cliffs and hidden coves await your discovery.
Clear your itinerary — a boat tour can (and should) last all day. Charter a tour that includes lunch on board for some fresh, Italian food between stops for swimming. You can also search for boat tours or rentals (giro in barca or noleggio barche) in the town ports.
8. Savor some rabbit stew at dinner
One of Ischia’s most signature dishes is coniglio all’Ischitana (rabbit Ischian-style), a rabbit stew cooked with white wine and seasoned with rosemary, basil, and other flavors. Ischian rabbit is a tender, savory dish where the meat falls off the bone and melts in your mouth.
Coniglio all’Ischitana is, of course, best enjoyed with a stunning view. Climb the slopes of Mount Epomeo to grab a seat at La Porta di Agartha to try the traditional dish, or overlook the impressive Aragonese Castle with a table at La Capannina in Ischia Porto.
9. Sip on an arugula digestivo
I know, I know, it sounds bizarre. But I promise you, this digestivo does not carry the bitter taste you expect from arugula. Known as rucolino, this arugula liquor is an iconic product of Ischia.
Trying it after a traditional dinner is one of the best things to do in Ischia to connect with the local gastronomy.
10. Wander the walls of the Aragonese Castle
Proud and mighty as it towers over Ischia’s eastern coast, the Aragonese Castle sits on a tiny islet that has been the site of churches and fortresses, palaces, and prisons for 2,500 years.
The castle has withstood invasions and served as a refuge for Ischians fleeing volcanic eruptions, establishing itself as a cornerstone of the island’s heritage. Today, the Aragonese Castle is one of Ischia’s top attractions, open year-round to the public. Inside, you can wander the gardens, churches, and chambers to enjoy the incomparable views.
The castle features a restaurant, a café, and a boutique hotel. It is also a cultural space, hosting events such as the Ischian Film Festival each year.
11. Criss-cross the island on a scooter
We all want to be invited by a local on a scooter ride around the Italian coast, but sometimes it’s better to take matters into your own hands. Ischia has no shortage of scooter rentals (autonoleggio scooter) for you to zoom along the twisting, scenic island roads.
Scooter rentals should fall somewhere between 25 to 35€ for 24 hours, a much more affordable joy ride than nearby destinations. In the high season, make sure to call (or ask your accommodation host) a day or two in advance to arrange your rental.
12. Bathe in a thermal bay
The volcanic activity from which Ischia spring is still active today such that it is essentially a massive natural spa. Ischia’s hot springs have been one of Ischia’s attractions, perhaps its primary, for millennia.
The thermal bay of Sorgeto, also considered one of Ischia’s hot springs, features water naturally heated by the volcano mixing with the refreshing Mediterranean tide. Baia di Sorgeto is open to the public at all hours of the day, but I recommend a nighttime visit to avoid overheating and to enjoy the wonderful stargazing.
13. Pamper yourself at a thermal spa
In Ischia, volcanic activity meets hydrotherapeutic luxury at its many thermal spas. Whether they’re luscious, thermal gardens, or ancient bathing caves, these spas allow you to experience the restorative waters that humans have sought for thousands of years.
Thermal parks like Negombo Thermal Spa, located at San Montano, and Poseidon Gardens at Citara, channel thermal waters into a variety of pools of different temperatures. Terme di Cavascura is another thermal spa at the site of ancient caverns once used by Greeks and Romans for bathing.
You can pass anywhere from a few hours to a whole day at most of Ischia’s nine thermal parks, which offer extra spa services like massage. I spent a long afternoon floating in the cerulean pools at the stunning Poseidon Gardens and cannot recommend the experience of an Ischia thermal spa enough.
14. Stroll through botanical gardens
Why not shake up the beach routine with a stroll through the island’s botanical gardens, among the best of Ischia’s attractions?
Renowned across Italy, Giardini La Mortella is a floral paradise in Forio that rises on a hill above the bay. Named after the mortella (myrtle) tree, the garden takes you on a journey through rare endemic and foreign flora alike as you wind from the Valley, the lower garden, to the terraced Hill, with sweeping views of the coast.
Not far down the road, towering cacti and savvy succulents dominate the 6,000-square-meter Giardini Ravino. The half-century passion project of one man, Giardini Ravino hosts a collection of Mediterranean succulents that displays the wide variety of flora from the region.
Don’t forget to try the garden’s curious cactus cocktail to truly get a taste of the place!
15. Spend a rainy day in the island’s museums
A perfect rainy day plan in Ischia is to hit a museum or two. In my month there, it only rained on me once, so I headed to the Archaeological Museum of Pithecusae.
With a wide collection of relics and pottery, the museum explores the history of the island from the time of the Greeks to the modern era. The villa that houses the museum also includes an art museum and beautiful gardens, which I explore once the sun came out.
On the other side of the island, one man has transformed a series of cellars and caves into a “house museum.” Casa Museo at once serves as his family home and as a gallery for stone and word curiosities that the owner creates. Admission to the museum, located in Serrara Fontana, is free.
16. Get adventurous at Ischia Adventure Park
The largest adventure park in Southern Italy, Ischia Adventure Park is one of Ischia’s top attractions. Navigate through the treetops of the island with these complex of ziplines, footbridges, and rope structures. The park unites thrill-seeking with a passion for the outdoors.
The adventure park offers many other activities as well, like team-building exercises, outdoor education, trekking, tree-top camping, and yoga. Browse their website for information on hours and entrance fees.
17. Watch an epic sunset
I like to say that in Ischia, every sunset is the best sunset you’ve ever seen. The island’s dramatic topography leads to innumerable incredible views.
My favorite spot to watch the sunset was at the Chiesa del Soccorso in Forio, a white-washed church rising on a promontory above the waves.
From a rooftop terrace in the port towns to the lofty plazas of Serrara Fontana, the sunsets are always radiant. If you’re feeling adventurous, the view from the summit of Mount Epomeo is unbeatable.
18. Climb Mount Epomeo
But how exactly do you get to the summit of 789 meters-high Mount Epomeo? There are two routes: walk all the way up or reach Serrara Fontana by bus, car, or scooter and then climb the last bit from there.
I used Maps.Me, an offline trail map app, to guide me from the center of Forio to the peak of Mount Epomeo in about two and a half hours. The hike takes you through forests, terraced farms, and a mountainside village before you reach the summit, where there is a church built into the stone and a restaurant.
Otherwise, the walk from Serrara Fontana takes around 45 minutes. There’s nothing quite as wonderful as seeing Ischia in its entirety below you, and the views of the sea and the Italian coast are unbeatable.
Final thoughts
There are unlimited ways to spend your vacanza ischitana, but with these things to do in Ischia, you will experience the island to its fullest and find it uncannily difficult to leave. But don’t worry about that now — in Ischia, it’s natural to live in the moment. Buon viaggio!
