Planning a Trip

Getting There

Ischia's three main harbors -- Ischia Porto (the largest), Forio, and Casamicciola -- are very well connected to the mainland, with most ferries leaving from Pozzuoli and Naples's two harbors of Mergellina Terminal Aliscafi and Stazione Marittima. Both ferry and hydrofoil service is frequent in summer but slows down during the winter, when some of the hydrofoil lines are suspended because of rough seas. Medmar (tel. 081-3334411; www.medmargroup.it), Caremar (tel. 081-5513882; www.caremar.it), and SNAV (tel. 081-4285555 or 081-4285500; www.snav.it) offer regular service from Napoli, Pozzuoli, and Procida to Ischia Porto and Casamicciola. Alilauro (tel. 081-4972238; www.alilauro.it) runs hydrofoils from Naples (Mergellina and Molo Beverello) to Ischia Porto and to Forio; NLG-Navigazione Libera del Golfo (tel. 081-5527209; www.navlib.it) operates from Salerno to Ischia; Alicost (tel. 089-234892; www.lauroweb.com/alicost.htm) offers connections from Salerno, Capri, Amalfi, and Positano to Ischia Porto. Note: During high season, car access to the island is restricted and the number of car slots is limited; if you are planning to bring your car, check with the transport company and make your reservations well in advance.

Getting Around

Ischia is quite large and hilly, and you will need some form of transportation. Public transportation is good, with a well-organized bus system with SEPSA (tel. 081-991828) and Pegaso (tel. 081-908581). One line circles the island toward the right (circolare destra marked CD), and one toward the left (circolare sinistra, marked CS), plus a number of other lines crisscrossing the island among its major destinations. Tickets cost 1.20€ and are valid for 90 minutes; a daily pass costs 4€; they are for sale at bars, tobacconists, and news kiosks. You can get a printout of the bus schedule from the tourist office.

More expensive, taxis wait at stands strategically located around the island, including: Piazza Antica Reggia (tel. 081-984998), Piazza degli Eroi (tel. 081-992550), and Piazzetta San Girolamo (tel. 081-993720) in Ischia Porto; Piazza Marina (tel. 081-994800), Porto (tel. 081-900369), and Piazza Bagni (tel. 081-900234) in Casamicciola; Porto (tel. 081-994310) and Piazza Girardi (tel. 081-995183) in Lacco Ameno; Forio (tel. 081-997085, 081-997450, 081-997367, or 081-997482); and Piazzetta S. Angelo (tel. 081-99899) in Serrara Fontana. Some of the taxis are picturesque three-wheelers -- motorette -- but they are rapidly disappearing. A 10€ minimum charge applies in the small town of Ischia (it's pretty much a flat rate), while drivers use the meter for trips outside town.

You can rent motor scooters, bicycles, and cars on the island from a number of agencies, including Ischia, Via Alfredo de Luca 61 (tel. 081-992444), and Island Center, Via V. Di Meglio 161 (tel. 081-902525).

For boat rental, contact Futurnautica, Via Porto 86 (tel. 081-993699), or Nautica Effe, Via Iasolino 110 (tel. 081-993185) in Ischia town.

Visitor Information

The AACST tourist office (tel. 081-5074231; fax 081-5074230; www.infoischiaprocida.it) is at Corso Vittoria Colonna 116, 80077 Ischia; at its information booth at Via Sogliuzzo 72, Ischia Porto, you'll find free maps of the island as well as information and brochures. In addition, the Proloco (tel. 081-4972293; www.prolocoischia.it) maintains an information booth at Piazza Antica Reggia 11, Ischia Porto, and organizes guided tours.

Fast Facts

You'll find pharmacies in each of the main villages on the island, including in Ischia, at Via Alfredo De Luca 117 (tel. 081-3331275) and Via Michele Mazzella 143 (tel. 081-985089); in Lacco Ameno, at Corso Rizzoli 77 (tel. 081-900224); and in Casamicciola Terme, at Piazza Marina 1 (tel. 081-994060). The hospital (tel. 081-994044 or 081-5079111) is in Lacco Ameno, on Via Fundera, and the medical center (tel. 081-998989) is on Via Cava delle Pezze, Forio. For an ambulance, dial tel. 081-996405 or 081-995495. You can call the police at tel. 113 or 112. The main post office (tel. 081-992180; Mon-Sat 8am-2pm) is at Via Sogliuzzo, on the corner of Via Pontano. You will find several banks with ATMs, including a Banco di Napoli (tel. 081-993480), at Via Iasolino 26, Ischia Porto.

Special Events

In May, the island hosts Ipomea, an international exposition of rare temperate-zone plants that is held on the exclusive grounds of the Parco Termale del Negombo (tel. 081-986152; www.negombo.it).

The Festival of Sant'Anna on July 26 is celebrated with evocative displays by the Aragonese Castle. The festival originated from the adoration of Saint Ann, the mother of Mary, who is believed to protect pregnant women. Originally, locals would sail to the small bay of Cartaromana with candles on their bows to honor the saint. Slowly, this tradition developed into the spectacular Festa del Mare, in which a procession of boats and floats crosses the water, and the castle and harbor are illuminated. If you are in the area around this time, be sure not to miss this memorable sight.

Summer is also the height of the musical season at La Mortella (tel. 081-986220; www.lamortella.it), the seat of the William Walton Foundation. Besides the concerts, the foundation also hosts a yearly music and opera workshop. An additional musical event is the Ischia Jazz Festival (www.ischiajazz.eu or www.circuitojazz.it), which usually takes place over 5 days in the beginning of September.