How To Get To Ischia: The Ultimate Guide For 2024

The Italian island of Ischia, located in the Gulf of Naples, is well worth a visit, even for a day trip. As Ischia doesn’t have an airport, the only way to get to Ischia is by ferry.

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The best way to reach it is to get to Naples first. From there, you’ll need to take a ferry to Ischia. Read on to find out how to get to Ischia from Naples, as well as from other parts of Italy such as Rome, Sorrento, Capri, or the Amalfi Coast.

Table of Contents

Ischia Ferry Ports

Ischia has three main ferry ports that serve different parts of the island.

The biggest port of Ischia is the Ischia Porto. It is located in the city of Ischia.

Casamicciola Terme Port is located in the northern part of the island.

Forio Port is located in the western part of Ischia. It operates mainly during the tourist season.

How To Get From Naples To Ischia

Ferries to Ischia run all year round, more frequently from April to October. During the low season, from November to March, there are a few ferries a day. Different ferry companies serve the route between the city and Ischia.

It is always a good idea to check Ischia ferry schedules and prices and buy your tickets ahead of time, especially in the high season, from April to mid-October.

Here are some of them: ⛴️Caremar, ⛴️Alilauro, ⛴️Snav, ⛴️Medmar.

Ferries to Ischia are of two types: regular ferries and hydrofoils. They leave from two different piers, Mollo Beverello Port and Calata Porta di Massa.

The ports of Naples are very close to one another: an easy ten-minute walk. They are also connected by Alibus to the airport and the Central Train Station.

Hydrofoils leave from the Molo Beverello pier and high-speed ferries leave from the Calata Porta di Massa pier.

There are ticket offices at both piers where you can buy your tickets. Give yourself 20-30 minutes in case you have to wait in line to purchase tickets.

Most of the ferries arrive at Ischia Porto and some of them continue to Forio Port. There are very few ferries that stop at Casamicciola Terme, but it’s worth checking your destination as they don’t stop at Ischia Porto.

Ischia Porto is one of the ferry ports on Ischia Island

Hydrofoil vs Ferry: Pros And Cons

The hydrofoil is faster and more frequent. It takes around an hour to travel between Naples and Ischia. The Hydrofoil is more expensive and has very limited if any, open-air seating.

Ferries are slower. The ferry takes about an hour and a half to reach the island. They are less expensive and you can enjoy a scenic trip as there is plenty of open-air seating. The hydrofoil ticket price is app. 17 EUR and the ferry ticket price is 23-25 EUR.

How To Get To Naples Port

A map showing the locations of Naples Airport, Naples Central Train Station, Napes Ferry Ports Na Naples Cruise Port

Arriving In Naples Airport And Getting To The Port

Flights To Naples land at the International Airport or Aeroporto di Napoli-Capodichino (NAP) is located 7 kilometers (about 4.3 miles) from the center of Naples. To get from the airport to the port, take the airport shuttle, taxi, private transfer, or rental car.

The Naples Capodichino airport shuttle bus is called Alibus. It runs between the airport and the port of Naples Mollo Beverello. Along the way, it stops only at Naples Central Station at Piazza Garibaldi.

The Alibus stop is about 50 meters from the airport exit.

In the port, the shuttle bus has two stops. The first one is at Calata di Massa and the last one is at Berello Port, in front of the ferry ticket booths. If you know which pier your ferry leaves from, you can get off at the right stop. If you don’t, it’s no big deal: the two stops are less than a 10-minute walk from each other.

The ticket price is 5 EUR. You can buy it from a ticket machine, from some tabacchi (newsstands), or the driver. Don’t forget to validate your ticket on board the vehicle. It is valid for one and a half hours after validation.

The shuttle buses run every 20 minutes from 6:00 am to midnight. Travel time is 20-30 minutes depending on traffic and time of day.

Taxis are waiting in the designated area outside the arrivals terminal of Naples Airport. Official taxis are usually white.

In the arrivals area, unofficial taxi drivers may approach you to offer their services. Just ignore them and go outside to the official taxis. You may have to wait in line as passengers are served on a first-come, first-served basis.

The fare from Naples airport to Naples city center or Naples port is usually a flat rate of 15-20 EUR. Ask the driver beforehand if there are any surcharges on top of the flat or metered rate and how much they will cost. There may be extra costs for traveling with pets, late at night, or on holidays.

The driver may or may not help you with your luggage. However, a tip is always expected. A few euros to round up the bill to the next round number is enough.

A taxi ride to reach the port takes about 20 minutes or less.

Getting from Naples to Ischia by ferry is a scenic journey

Arriving At Naples Central Train Station And Getting To Naples Port

From Napoli Centrale Train Station you can get to both Naples ferry ports by Alibus, taxi, or subway.

The Alibus (Naples airport shuttle bus) stop is in front of the train station in Piazza Garibaldi. The journey time to the port of Naples is 10-15 minutes. This is the easiest and most convenient way to get from Naples Central Station to Naples Port.

The Metro station is also in Piazza Garibaldi. Take the Metro Line 1 in the direction of Piscinola. For Mollo Beverello Port get off at Municipio station and walk 600-700 meters to the pier. For Calata Porta di Massa get off at Universita station and walk 500-600 meters.

You can find a taxi in front of the station. The fare should not be more than 10-15 EUR.

Arriving At Naples Cruise Port And Getting To Naples Ferry Port

Both the Mollo Beverello and Calata Porta di Massa piers are within walking distance of the Naples Cruise Terminal.

Mollo Beverello is next to the Cruise Terminal. For Calata Porta di Massa, after leaving the Cruise Terminal, follow the signs. It’s a 10-minute walk.

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How To Reach Ischia From Pozzuoli

Pozzuoli is a small town 20 km west of Naples. It has regular, cheap, and fast train connections to Naples. It might be a good idea to go to Pozzuoli first and then take the Pozzuoli Ischia ferry to Ischia Island.

From the port of Pozzuoli, there are only ferries to Ischia. The crossing time is 1 hour and 20 minutes. The price for the ferry is 13-14 EUR.

Pozzuoli Ischia ferries stop at both Ischia Porto and Casamicciola Terme.

Map showing Ischia and the Gulf of Naples with Naples, Pozzuoli, Sorrento, Amalfi, Capri and Procida also marked on it.

How To Travel To Ischia From Rome

To reach Ischia Island from Rome, you’ll need to get to Naples first. The most time-efficient way to get from Rome to Naples is by train.

If your flight lands at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport you can board the shuttle train Leonardo Express to Roma Termini Train Station. If you arrive at Roma Ciampino Airport take a shuttle bus to Termini Train Station.

You can choose between Trenitalia or Italo trains. They are all high-speed trains and the travel time between Rome and Naples varies from 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes.

Trenitalia high-speed trains Frecciarossa or Frecciargento leave from Rome Termini train station.

Italo high-speed trains depart from both Roma Termini and Roma Tiburtina stations.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the stations.

🚄Buy your train tickets by clicking HERE.

Once you arrive at Naples Central Station, follow the steps in Arriving At Naples Central Train Station And Getting To The Port section.

Read more: Florence Instagram Spots

How To Get From Sorrento To Ischia

From Sorrento Circumvesuviana train station, take the Circumvesuviana train to Naples. The train ride takes another hour. The same train stops at Pompeii and Herculaneum along the way.

Once you arrive at Naples Central Station, follow the steps in Arriving At Naples Central Train Station And Getting To Naples Port section.

Alternatively, as Ischia is across the Bay of Naples, you can reach it by ferry. Direct ferries are available in peak season only. The journey takes 1 hour and the price is 24 EUR.

The ferry port in Sorrento is called Marina Piccola. The port is located downhill from Piazza Tasso, the main square of the town.

How To Visit Ischia From The Amalfi Coast

To reach the island from the Amalfi Coast, you’ll need to get to Sorrento or Naples first. You can do this by car, or by bus and train.

You can take a SITA bus from where you are staying to Sorrento. It stops in front of the Sorrento Circumvesuviana Train Station (Stazione Circumvesuviana di Sorrento). The travel time isabout one hour.

Once you arrive at Sorrento Central Station, follow the steps in How To Get From Sorrento To Ischia section.

Alternatively, from wherever you are on the Amalfi Coast, drive or take a taxi to the Naples port. The trip will take one and a half to two hours, depending on traffic and where exactly on the Amalfi Coast you start.

Once you arrive at Naples Port, follow the steps in How To Get From Naples To Ischia From Naples section.

During high season from April to September, you can get from the Amalfi Coast to Ischia by a direct ferry. The ferry connects Salerno with Ischia and stops at Amalfi, Positano, and Capri along the way.

Getting To Ischia From Capri

You can reach Ischia by ferry from Capri. The direct ferry connections run in high season, from April to October. During low season you’ll have to get to Naples first.

The ferry port of Capri is Marina Grande. You can get to Marina Grande by funicular, bus or taxi. The funicular from Capri town (Piazzetta) to Marina Grande is a quick and scenic way to get to the port.

Local buses connect various parts of Capri with the Marina Grande port.

If you have a lot of luggage, a taxi may be the most convenient way to get to the port.

The ferry from Capri to Ischia takes less than an hour and the ticket price is around 22 EUR. Some of the ferries continue to the Island of Procida after Ischia.

To wrap it up: The only way to get to Ischia is by ferry. You can get a ferry to Ischia all year round from Naples and Pozzuoli. In the summer, direct ferries run to Ischia also from Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, and Capri.