What to do on Ischia island

The island of Capri is pretty well-known. But less well-known to foreign tourists is the island of Ischia, less than an hour by boat from Naples, and equally worthwhile. Take my recommendations below for what to do on Ischia island.

Natural Hot Springs

Ischia island is, of course, wonderful in the summer because of its sandy beaches. However, the island is actually famous for its natural hot springs, which bubble up around the rocks. This means that the Island of Ischia is a wonderful place to visit in the cooler months.

What to eat on Ischia Island

Go to Ischia anytime for good food: fish, of course. But we recommend also sampling the local dish coniglio all’ischitana.  This very unique dish is made with rabbits bred in a ditch (!). Don’t forget to sample the local wine and honey as well.

Learn about Ischia’s History

Like most places in Italy, Ischia has a rich history which dates back to the Greeks in the 7th century B.C. When you’re done at the beach, or to learn about Ischia’s long history, visit:

• the Archaeological museum, which among other artifacts houses the famous Nestor’s Cup from Homer’s Illiad
• the Sea Museum to see old nautical instruments, fishing equipment, and models of boats
• the Farmer’s Museum to see original farming equipment
• the whitewashed Church of the Soccorso for the spectacular views
• the Sanctuary of Santa Restituita built 1000 years ago
• the Castello Aragonese. This castle, which was built to protect the island from pirates, is accessible by crossing a short bridge from Ischia Porto. The castle inspired 16th-century author Ludovico Ariosto to write the famous poem Orlando Furioso, included in the Italian high school curriculum to this day.

Getting around Ischia Island

Ischia is small enough to easily explore in a few days, but big enough that you can’t do it on foot. Note that traffic can be heavy, and the roads are narrow and winding. In addition, parking can be a challenge, so we rented a couple scooters to get around. After we figured out how to operate them, the scooters ended up being a fun solution. (Although the guy renting them to us had no qualms about handing over the keys with very little instruction).

Photo by Sanjay