Ischia itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Ischia, day by day: the Aragonese Castle, Cartaromana bay, Ischia town and Mount Epomeo first, with Citara Beach or the village of Sant'Angelo, then the La Mortella gardens, Lacco Ameno, Forio and the Giardini Poseidon thermal park as you add a day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Ischia in 1 day
Day 1
Aragonese Castle Must see
Castle on a rocky islet joined to Ischia Ponte by a causeway, with churches, terraces and views over the sea.
La Spiaggia e la Baia di Cartaromana Must see
Bay and beach facing the Aragonese Castle, with clear water and Roman ruins under the sea.
Ischia town
The island's main town, with the port at Ischia Porto, shopping streets and the old fishing quarter of Ischia Ponte.
Mount Epomeo Must see
The island's highest peak, an old volcano reached by footpaths, with views over the whole island and the Bay of Naples.
Citara Beach
Long sandy beach near Forio, home of the Poseidon thermal gardens, with sunset views over the sea.
Santa Maria del Soccorso (Forio)
A whitewashed church on a headland at Forio, a sailors' sanctuary with a wide view over the sea and a famous sunset.
Ischia in 2 days
Day 1
Aragonese Castle Must see
Castle on a rocky islet joined to Ischia Ponte by a causeway, with churches, terraces and views over the sea.
La Spiaggia e la Baia di Cartaromana Must see
Bay and beach facing the Aragonese Castle, with clear water and Roman ruins under the sea.
Ischia town
The island's main town, with the port at Ischia Porto, shopping streets and the old fishing quarter of Ischia Ponte.
Mount Epomeo Must see
The island's highest peak, an old volcano reached by footpaths, with views over the whole island and the Bay of Naples.
Sant'Angelo
Car-free fishing village on Ischia's south coast, joined by a narrow isthmus to a rocky headland, with cafés around its small harbour.
Day 2
La Mortella Must see
Subtropical garden in Forio created by Susana Walton, wife of composer William Walton, with fountains, rare plants and concerts.
Lacco Ameno
Small seaside town on the north coast, known for the mushroom-shaped rock in its harbour and its spa hotels.
Forio
Town on Ischia's west coast with the whitewashed seafront church of the Soccorso and an old centre of shops and cafés.
Giardini Poseidon
Large thermal park above Citara Beach with many pools of hot spring water at different temperatures, set among gardens by the sea.
Santa Maria del Soccorso (Forio)
A whitewashed church on a headland at Forio, a sailors' sanctuary with a wide view over the sea and a famous sunset.
Watch: Ischia
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Ischia
May, June and September are the best months, with warm sea and fewer crowds than in summer. July and August are hot and crowded, especially with Italian holidaymakers in mid-August. Many hotels, restaurants and gardens close from November to March.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Ischia on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Ischia on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Ischia on GetYourGuide
- From the airport: a private transfer in Ischia with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Ischia with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
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Tips for Ischia
- Buses run around the island's main coast road; a pass for the day is easier than paying each ride.
- The walk up Mount Epomeo is steep and sunny; start early, carry water and wear walking shoes.
- La Mortella is open only from spring to autumn and on some days of the week; check before planning the visit.
- Ferries and hydrofoils link Ischia with Naples and Pozzuoli; book ahead in July and August.
- Many thermal gardens and spas on the island use the natural hot springs; bring swimwear for a visit.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Aragonese Castle: Ugeorge, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Forio: unknown author, Public domain
- Giardini Poseidon: francverde, CC BY 3.0
- Ischia town: Ugeorge, CC BY-SA 3.0
- La Mortella: The original uploader was Dr.Conati at Italian Wikipedia ., Public domain
- La Spiaggia e la Baia di Cartaromana: Retaggio, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lacco Ameno: Chiara Marra from Avellino, Italy, CC BY 2.0
- Mount Epomeo: Retaggio, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sant'Angelo: Rudolfo Kithera, CC0
- Santa Maria del Soccorso (Forio): Abxbay, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
