Has anyone been to Ischia (Italian island in Bay of Naples)?

[inigomontoyahwillcox]

Am taking DD(14) for a week to Ischia - bit of a mother and daughter thing, she's had a rough year.

Just wondering if anyone who has been there has any recommendations on what to do on the island? Best beaches, sights to see (will go see the castle of course) etc?

We're organising our own transfer from Naples, so any advice on that would be very gratefully received.

Also planning on a day trip back to the mainland to visit Pompeii - is that a ridiculous idea?!

I'm so bloody excited, Italy is my favourite country, and we've not been abroad since, well probably about 2018!

There's a garden called La Mortella which was owned by the composer William Walton and his Italian wife. Its very pretty, but watch out for mosquitoes due to standing water. There's also a convent on a headland somewhere on the island which is interesting.

I took public transport (bus) to get to both.

I went there over a decade ago so don't have any recent advice, but those 2 places should definitely still be there!

Thanks @happysunr1se - was thinking of getting a bus pass for the week, so they both sound doable. I'll definitely stock up on the insect repellent!

Pompeii is brilliant but very hot and absolutely no shade. Take lots of water and wear a hat.

You might find Herculaneum a bit easier. It's just as interesting if not more so than Pompeii, because of the port buildings, and it's smaller with more shade. Easy ride on the Circumvesuviana train from Naples Central Station then a short walk. I'm going to Naples next week - can't wait!

Just came in to say Herculaneum is a smaller version of Pompeii and fabulous. Also the museum in Naples is well worth a visit as artifacts from both sites are on display. Some of the medical instruments wouldn’t look out of place in a Drs office today.

Oh ischia is beautiful, I sang in a concert there about 20 years ago in La Mortella, then Mrs Walton made us sandwiches and let us swim in her pool!

I wouldn't have said it was more than a couple of days of visiting though but then I was a teen who possibly didn't appreciate it!

The boat from sorrento is easy enough.

Seconding everyone else about pompei, take lots of water and a hat as very little shade. It's worth it though.

I'd maybe suggest a trip to capri too, and take the cable car up anacapri.

Ischia is fantastic. We rented a little motor boat (no previous experience necessary!) and went round the whole island. There was a beautiful restaurant accessible from the water - you drop anchor and they row out to get you - and some caves that you can swim to off the boat. It was magical.

there’s also a great spa plaxs

…no idea what happened there. Spa is called Negombo and you can spend a whole day there.

The Castello is gorgeous and the nun's "graveyard" is interesting. We hired a scooter to drive round the island. Though are buses. I really liked Sant Angelo and the fumaroles (hot water springs) in the sea. The Giardini Poseidon has lots of pools and thermal springs at different temperatures. We did a day trip to vesuvius and Pompeii. It was an organised bus thing. My friends went to Capri but hated it. Procida, the other island in the group, is meant to be gorgeous.

Oh wow, the boat and restaurant sound amazing @FolkSongSweet. Not sure if I'm confident enough a sailor to shoot off with just DD and I onboard though!

Thanks for the tip about Herculaneum - I hadn't even considered that, so might be a better idea for pasty white me (DD has the benefit of being 1/2 Brazilian and can take the heat a lot better than I).

That sounds idyllic @AnnaBegins - we'll definitely take a walk through the gardens. Get what you mean about only a couple of days worth of stuff to do, but I am expecting quite a bit of lounging around the pool (and the hotel we're at has its own thermal pools and spa!).

You gonna love Ischia!!😍 Well done for choosing it as your Mum+daughter holiday destination!
I’m from Ischia and there so much to do there; from walking/trekking, sunbathing, boat tours, eating&drinking, lots!
The Castello Aragonese is a must of course, as well as Giardini La Mortella.
You can also visit the Thermal Parks: Poseidon, Castiglioni, Negombo to name a few. Sorgente di Nitrodi in Barano, is a must as being one of the oldest Spa in the world, with Natural Spring water.
Maronti in Barano, is one of the longest beach on the island, with beautiful and great restaurants to choose from, along the shores.
Sorgeto in the neighbourhood of Panza, with his hot springs is a gorgeous spot.
Walking/trekking to the Pizzi Bianchi is simply breathtaking…

I’m sure your daughter will love a bit of shopping too; Ischia centre - Via Roma is full of lovely shops. Forio is great for shopping too.
Ischia centre and Forio are great for a stroll in the evening/night time too.
Italians have dinner late, so the summer evenings are long and the night life goes on until the morning😅.

I could go on and on. I’m sure you’ll both love it!
…and as someone suggested it in another post above…yes do bring the insect repellent and also it can get very hot there!!

Enjoy my beautiful Island😍

Oh how lovely @LiLiO - you're like our personal tour guide - thank you!

Had no idea the oldest spa in the world was on Ischia - will definitely be adding that one to the list.

The beach suggestions are great - thanks - there's nothing quite like getting recommendations from the locals!

We went a few weeks ago and rented a boat to go round the island, it's very popular and doesn't need any specific skill at all.
It's absolutely beautiful and somewhere I'd definitely return to.
We didn't do much but mooch around but it's a great place to do just that!

Just book the ferry from Naples, it's quick, cheap and easy. You can also do day trips to Sorrento or Capri via the same ferry services.

Awww I hope you have a fabulous time. I don't really have anything to add other than Ischia is also on my dream holiday list thanks to the Neapolitan Quartet by Elena Ferrante and the resulting TV series (My Brilliant Friend). It just looks so beautiful and serene. Enjoy, it sounds like you both really deserve it 😊

Lilio we are coming in September for an one night stay from Sorrento just looking for some advice we are taking the ferry out of sorrento does it go there every day and how many times a day does the ferry from Sorrento go there. Also if you only had two days there where would you stay we are looking for the best bang for the buck. TIA. Glen

Do go to one of the thermal water parks and take your swimming gear. One wouldn’t think swimming in hot water in hot sunny weather would be so glorious but it is.

😓

If getting the ferry for a short stay - I would stay in Ischia Porto - it's really easy to get the bus (or a taxi) round the island from there. I've been again since my post above. We stayed in the Ischia Blu resort - which is stunning, but not cheap - and this time did the botanical gardens and a trip to Procida alongside another visit to Sant'Angelo and the Castello. I love Ischia.

The hydrofoil from Sorrento goes twice a day I think.