I have to start by saying that Ischia is a very big, little island. What I mean by that is that you can drive around the entire island in just a few hours, but to really enjoy it you’d need (in my opinion) a considerable amount of time. We only had about 48 hours in Ischia so we focused our time in one area and that is what this little guide will cover. I will add a small section at the end of this post of things I’d do if I were to go back, knowing what I know now.
Why choose Ischia Ponte on the Island of Ischia, Italy
I chose Ischia Ponte for a number of reasons. First of all that it was close to the main port area of Ischia. When we arrived at the port we were able to get a taxi to our accommodation very quickly. The port was also completely walkable to our accommodation and we ended up walking back for our return ferry. This made it very easy to explore without needing a car or scooter at all. With such a short time on the island, I wanted to keep it simple.
Second, the proximity to the castle. I knew that I wanted to enjoy views of the castle as well as eat a dinner there. So it was easy to be within walking distance of the castle itself.
I wanted to be near beaches and shops and Ischia Ponte delivered on both. There was a charming little town area near and around the castle. There was also a lovely strip of shops and dining all the way from Ischia Ponte to the port. Overall, we could have kept busy here for a few days even if we had more time.
Day 1:
Check into Hotel: Hotel Ulisse in Ischia Ponte
We stayed at Hotel Ulisse in Ischia Ponte. We found it to be a perfect hotel for our budget and needs. The hotel had a pool, an incredibly beautiful view of the castle and surrounding scenery, a very nice breakfast, and clean and comfortable rooms. One thing to note about the pool: I have traveled pretty extensively throughout Italy over the years and I’ve never stayed in a place that required a swim cap for swimming in the pool. However, a swim cap is a requirement here at Hotel Ulisse. It wasn’t bothersome to me. But it was unusual compared to what I am used to, so I wanted to note that.
The hotel was walkable to anything we wanted to do in Ischia Ponte. It was also walkable, in my opinion, to the port and to the busses that travel around the island. You could easily get anywhere you wanted to go.
Click here to view & book Hotel Ulisse
Another hotel option: The Castle
We decided not to stay at the Castle on this trip. However, it IS in fact, a hotel and if we were to visit again I would love to stay. We did have dinner there (more details to come) and absolutely loved it. The castle itself is a marvel and is so neat to explore. I would have loved to have been a guest and had more time to explore all around and enjoy the views. It is slightly more pricey than where we stayed. I think it’s also partly due to the amazing experience of being able to stay in a castle. If you’re looking for something special with unreal views this would be your spot for sure!
Click here to Book Hotel Monastero
Lunch at Chalet Primavera & beach
Upon arrival we strolled right up to the main beach area to grab lunch. I was concerned that some of the spots on the main drag would be “touristy” due to their positions. But I quickly realized that this island is really almost free of that vibe. You can get good food at a fair price nearly anywhere here. We had lunch at Chalet Primavera and it was perfect. The dining room actually juts out over the water and it feels like you’re dining on the sea. It also had incredible views of the castle! I was able to have a lovely grilled calamari and my cousin was able to have a pizza so everyone was happy here. They had a very large menu so I think nearly anyone could find something they liked.
After lunch we were able to spend time right on the beach and enjoy the lovely day. The water here is crystal clear and very shallow so you can walk around about waist deep and just enjoy.
aperitivo & explore the town
After lunch and beach time we got cleaned up to explore the town. There are plenty of options here for aperitivo and we enjoyed just strolling around and checking out what looked good! I also recommend popping into the little Rucolino Shops if you can. They have so many lovely flavors and they are all made on the island. They are fun to taste and great to bring home as a gift for friends and family too!
Dinner at the castle: La Cucina Il Monastero
Dinner at the castle is an expensive and time consuming endeavor, but we found it to be so worth it! I don’t mind paying the price when a dinner is a full experience. One thing I will note, we arrived on time, but they offered us to sit and have a drink before dinner. It kind of didn’t feel like it was optional, so we had a drink, and then were charged for it. When you’re paying upwards of 200 per person for a dinner and show up on time, I would assume the drink offered would be complimentary. This wouldn’t turn me off from visiting again, just something to note.
This is the most epic place I can imagine to watch sunset on Ischia. It felt like an event that went on for hours and I was so glad we got to enjoy it. I also loved that we were able to do different tasting menus from one another. My cousin is a picky eater and I wanted to do the seafood menu. Thankfully, I was able to do the seafood menu and she was able to do the vegetarian. They had multiple choices for coursed out menus that you could choose from.
You can view their menus online before booking to decide if this experience is for you or not. I can wholeheartedly say that we each loved every single dish we had. This dinner was a long experience taking about 3 hours, again just something to note. Admittedly, the one thing we found slightly disappointing was the wine by the glass pours were very small, which is unusual in Italy. If you’re able, I’d recommend splitting a bottle so that you can enjoy a bit more for your money.
Day 2:
Tenuta Cest la Vie above Forio, Ischia
This could also be included as a “place to stay” and if we visited again I would highly consider it. Tenuta Cest La Vie is nestled up in the hills above the town of Forio and it is exactly what we’d call a hidden gem. We booked a day pass there and we thought it would be full of people. We ended up having it all to ourselves and it was absolutely magical, although we wouldn’t have minded a shared experience.
For 100 euro per person we were able to use the pool and spa facilities all day, we did a full charcuterie lunch with wine tasting and dessert, and they were even so kind that they drove us home when our day was over.
This place has the most incredible views over the island, had such a kind staff, and the food and wine were fantastic. If I were to return to Ischia, I would book a night here, come up around 4pm, do wine tasting during sunset, have dinner, and stay the night. I think it would be a fantastic way to experience this place.
Click here if you want to book and stay at Teunta Cest La Vie
Option to explore Forio or St Angelo (Other towns on Ischia Island)
After spending time at Tenuta Cest la Vie we were going to head down to Forio to explore another town a bit, but our timing was poor and it was “siesta time” in the towns. We noticed that in Ischia the mid-day shut down is very real. (You should make sure to take note of that if you are visiting.) So we headed back to Ischia Ponte. But if you wanted to explore further you could bus or taxi to some of the other towns of the island to explore for a bit.
Explore the town towards the port of Ischia
We took this opportunity to walk the strip of shops, restaurants, and bars between our hotel and the port. The strip is very long and very lively and we had a great time popping in and out of shops, people watching with a spritz, and just enjoying the vibes of Ischia.
Dinner at Auras
We had the most lovely dinner to end our time in Ischia at Auras restaurant. We sat down just as the sun was beginning to set and we got to sit by the water and watch sunset from below the castle. It was beautiful to see this way after having been up in the castle the night before. We ordered a la carte here and everything was fantastic. The staff were so kind and friendly! When we told them we were celebrating my 40th birthday they even let us try their special applecello! It was a great experience and a great way to end our time on the island.
What I’d Do Next Time We Visit Ischia, Italy
I am going to try not to make this section too long, but there are a number of things we saw and were very interested in during our quick time on the island. Here are some things I’d love to do if we were to go back!
Visit Thermal Bath Resorts (Ischia is known for this)
This is HUGE on Ischia, and even though I wouldn’t consider this to be my particular vibe, it is the THING to do here. I always want to see and learn about the things a place is known for, so I regret that we didn’t get to give it a try. There are many resorts on the island that have this as an option, the largest and most popular being “Giardini Poseidon Terme”. If we returned I’d definitely check it out.
Eden Resort
This is another spot that I wanted to get to but we just didn’t have time. They are a beach club and dining spot that just looks like the most fantastic Italian vibes. If we were to return I’d spend a beach day here or go here for a sunset dinner.
Visit other Towns: Particularly Sant Angelo and Forio
Sant Angelo is the number one spot we didn’t get to that I wish I got to see on this trip. It looks like such a special and charming little town. If we returned it seems like the kind of place I’d like to stay the night and enjoy when it is as it’s most peaceful. I also wish we’d had time to wander around and watch sunset in Forio. I would definatley do this if we returned.
Take a boat tour of Ischia Island
We absolutely loved our boat day on the neighboring island of Procida and I know we would have immensely enjoyed a boat day here as well. If we visited again I’d absolutely get out on a boat.
There are a number of options for boat days, there is one here that leaves from Forio and another that does a stop at Sant Angelo! You can obviously browse and choose the one that looks best to you!
More in this area
If you’re also interested in visiting Procida, which you SHOULD be, you can check out my post here —–> Perfect Procida, the Italian Island you Need to Know
This post contains affiliate links, if you book through my links I may earn a small commission at absolutely NO COST to you. This helps to keep my blog ad free and easy to read.