Whenever you image an island getaway in Italy, chances are high Capri is the primary vacation spot that pops to thoughts.
The jet-setting, star-studded rocky outcrop could have the world-famous seaside golf equipment and the glowing turquoise sea grottoes, however it’s the final place you wish to be if genuine Italian attraction, and sun-drenched vacays that will not break the financial institution are in your radar.
Now, imagine it or not, there’s one other island gem not far-off, a brief 1-hour crossing from Naples, that Italians themselves want over Capri.
Suppose picture-perfect pebbled seashores hugged by crystal-clear seas, Historic Roman ruins with possibly half the Pompeii crowds, if that, and laid-back coastal cities the place time simply appears to sluggish to a standstill. Welcome to Ischia:
Now This Truly Feels Like Italy
At roughly 6 miles vast and 4 miles, Ischia is manner larger than the tiny offshore volcano that’s Capri, however nonetheless small-enough to discover in a number of days.
It’s fairly densely populated, with round 62,000 folks unfold throughout coastal settlements and inland mountain villages. And if you happen to’re questioning in regards to the vibe right here, suppose extra lowkey and nature-heavy, far more chill, much less flashy.
Not your typical Southern Italy vacationer hotspot, if you happen to catch my drift.
Thermal sizzling springs and spa parks are an enormous deal, and dominating the island’s panorama, Mount Epomeo is a dormant volcano providing sweeping views of the Gulf of Naples. The seashores are a mixture of sandy and rocky coves, and as for the meals?
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In the event you had been impressed by Amalfi’s half-decent, bog-standard pasta, you’re in for an enormous deal with right here. Ischia just isn’t precisely a hidden gem solely Italians go to, per se, however it has efficiently maintained its authenticity and centuries-old traditions, as a substitute of caving to gentrification and mass tourism.
What To See In Ischia This Summer season
A superb place to begin is Ischia Porto, the principle port and busiest hub on the island.
Identified for its picturesque harbor, dotted with bobbing boats and yachts, and timeless Historic Middle, criss-crossed by buzzing procuring streets, it is the gateway for ferry arrivals and the proper base for some later-on island exploration.
A brief 2 miles from the port, Aragonese Citadel is a must-see fortress perched on a craggy islet, linked to Istria by way of a causeway.
This is the traditional Ischia postcard you will typically see doing the rounds on area of interest Instagram circles, and the go-to backdrop for these blood-orange sunsets over the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Medieval sights apart, if you happen to’re craving a few of Ischia’s famend pasta, you may wish to guide a desk at Portobello Restaurant. Their paccheri with shrimp and zucchini will perpetually stay in our hearts (and palate), and the harbor views are unmatched.
Now, this is what vacationers get flawed: they normally come to Ischia for the day, normally on a return journey from Naples, however they miss the entire level about visiting the island within the first place fully.
Ischia Porto is a reasonably good intro if you happen to solely have two or three hours to spare, alright, however it’s removed from being consultant of the island’s precise uncooked, unspoiled attraction.
Stunning Coastal Villages Galore
Most likely the prettiest village on the island, Sant’Angelo is a low-key coastal spot on the southern coast of Ischia recognized for its car-free core—solely pedestrians can entry the village’s core—and pastel-colored homes that cascade proper all the way down to the water.
Residence to essentially the most legendary sundown in Ischia, due to its prime spot going through the facet of the island the place the solar drops straight into the ocean, Forio has loads of seaside bars and a no-frills, bohemian ambiance you received’t actually discover anyplace alongside the Amalfi Coast.
It is Chiesa del Soccorso, a whitewashed church sitting on a neighboring promontory, which provides off critical Santorini vibes (minus the blue dome), and if you happen to’re coming all this manner, you may as properly get pleasure from some high quality time on the seaside.
Forio has stunning, lengthy, sandy stretches, that are uncommon for the volcanic islands on this Gulf. Citara and Chiaia are a number of the finest ones, and so they supply simpler swimming circumstances than different rockier components of Ischia.
A 5-minute drive from Forio, the Poseidon Thermal Gardens is without doubt one of the island’s many thermal spa complexes. Sizzling springs proper above the ocean, poolside drinks flowing, and terraced gardens stretching all the way down to the water.
For the character lovers on the market, you positively do not wish to skip Serrara Fontana and a hike to Monte Epomeo.
That is one in every of Ischia’s small, quiet mountain villages, with stone homes, slim lanes, and that ‘outdated Ischia’ really feel the resort-lined coast lacks, and it is the bottom for Epomeo hikes. That might be the best volcano on the island, rising some 2,589 ft above sea stage.
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How Truly Low cost Is Ischia?
Onto essentially the most urgent query you’ve most likely been ready for. How truly inexpensive is Ischia?
Although it’s one in every of Italy’s least-developed areas, Campania (which incorporates Naples, the Gulf of Naples islands, and the Amalfi Coast) is among the many nation’s priciest and most touristy locations.
We’ve touched on this briefly earlier than, however Ischia just isn’t your traditional sleepy, backwater, unheard-of Italian gem.
It’s truly fairly widespread and well-established on the vacationer map. That being stated, it has extra space—it is about 4 to 5x bigger than Capri—extra room to breathe, higher for longer stays, much less crowded, and considerably cheaper.
Let’s examine each actual fast:
Value Distinction (Capri vs Ischia)
Lodges
- Ischia: $80–$200/night time (mid-range)
- Capri: $200–$350/night time for comparable lodging
Meals & drinks
Ischia
- Pasta meal: $15–$25
- Good dinner: $30–$50
Capri
- Pasta meal: $25–$40
- Upscale dinner: $50–$100
Transport
Ischia
- Bus rides throughout the island: $2–$3
- Taxi (lengthy experience throughout the island): $20–$40
A lot bigger island however cheaper charges per mile.
Personal automobiles allowed.
Capri
- Taxi from port to city: $25–$40 for a brief experience
- Boat taxis/non-public transfers: $80–$150+
Each mode of transport is priced ‘luxurious micro-island’ type.
No automobiles are allowed for vacationers in summer season.
Usually, costs in Ischia will be as much as 30% cheaper than Capri, particularly when vacationer zones in each are in contrast.
Backside line:
- Ischia is a medium island: not precisely tiny, but simple to discover
- Finest for: sizzling springs, nature, chill Italian vibe
- Prettiest cities: Ischia Porto, Sant’Angelo, Forio, Serrara Fontana
- Prime attracts: thermal baths, castles, sundown views
- Value: mid-range, not essentially budget-friendly, however notoriously cheaper than Capri
Heading to Italy this summer season?
Beat the crowds and go actually off the overwhelmed path: see our 5 handpicked ‘uncovered’ Italy locations in 2026.