🇮🇹Ischia

Ischia is a volcanic island in the Bay of Naples offering families thermal springs, medieval fortresses, lush hiking trails, and some of the most distinctive food in Italy.

Your family guide

Ischia: Italy's volcanic island where your family slows down and soaks it all in

“Warm springs, wild hiking trails, and the best rabbit stew you'll ever taste: Ischia does island life properly.”

— San & Jo

Ischia is a volcanic island sitting in the Bay of Naples, and it has been quietly winning over families for decades. Known as the 'Green Island' for its lush, fertile landscapes, it offers something genuinely different from the polished glamour of Capri or the tourist rush of the Amalfi Coast. Here, the pace is slower, the beaches are real, and the thermal springs bubble up straight from the earth beneath your feet.

What makes Ischia special for families is the sheer variety packed into just 46 square kilometres. One morning you can be hiking up Mount Epomeo with sweeping views over the Gulf of Naples, and by afternoon you're soaking in a natural hot spring on the shoreline. Throw in a dramatic medieval fortress, a world-class botanical garden, and some of the most distinctive food in southern Italy, and you have a destination that genuinely has something for everyone in your family.

Travel and Leisure named Ischia the Best Island in the World, and once you arrive, it's easy to understand why. This is not a place that tries to impress you with spectacle. It earns your affection slowly, through good food, warm water, and the kind of unhurried atmosphere that reminds you why you went on holiday in the first place.

Bay of Naples, ItalyCampania region

Volcanic islandNatural thermal springs

46 km²Largest island in the Bay of Naples

Best things to do

Why we love Ischia for families

Castello Aragonese

This dramatic fortress sits on its own rocky islet, connected to Ischia Ponte by a stone bridge. Inside you'll find dungeons, ancient churches, a museum with archaeological finds, terraced gardens, and panoramic views stretching across the Bay of Naples all the way to Capri. It's genuinely one of the most atmospheric historic sites in the whole of southern Italy, and kids tend to love the drama of it.

Go in the morning before the afternoon crowds arrive

Half day

Giardini la Mortella

This world-renowned botanical garden is home to over 3,000 plant species spread across terraced hillside grounds. It's lush, beautifully maintained, and surprisingly engaging for children who enjoy exploring winding paths and discovering unusual plants. The garden has a real sense of discovery about it: you genuinely don't know what's around the next corner.

Check the website for seasonal concert events held in the gardens

2-3 hours

Mount Epomeo

At 789 metres, Ischia's highest peak offers sweeping views over the island, Procida, Capri, and the Gulf of Naples. The trail from Fontana is around 3 kilometres and passes through volcanic terrain and chestnut woodland. At the summit stands a 15th-century hermitage dedicated to San Nicola. It's a proper hike, so bring water and good shoes.

Start early to avoid the midday heat and catch the clearest views

3-4 hours

Sorgenti Termali di Sorgeto

A natural thermal spring where hot volcanic water meets the sea right on the shoreline. You can sit in the naturally formed rock pools and feel the warm water bubbling up beneath you: it's a genuinely magical experience and completely free to access. The steps down to the spring are steep, so take care with younger children.

Visit at dusk for a quieter, more atmospheric experience

1-2 hours

Poseidon Thermal Gardens

One of Ischia's most popular thermal spa complexes, set amid volcanic terrain with multiple pools at different temperatures. It's a more organised and family-friendly alternative to the wild springs, with facilities, sunbeds, and food available on site. A good option if you want the thermal experience with a bit more comfort and structure.

Book ahead in peak summer season as it gets very busy

Half day

Bosco di Zaro and Belvedere di Zaro

A volcanic forest trail leading to a series of scenic viewpoints overlooking the coastline. The walking is gentle enough for most families and the forest itself has a quiet, almost otherworldly character thanks to the volcanic landscape. A lovely way to see a side of Ischia that most visitors miss entirely.

Combine with a stop in Forio for lunch afterwards

2-3 hours

Sant'Angelo and Forio villages

Sant'Angelo is a picturesque fishing village with a genuinely authentic atmosphere and no cars in the centre, making it wonderfully relaxed for families. Forio is the island's second-largest town, known for its pastel-coloured shops, ceramics workshops, and good restaurants. Both are worth a leisurely wander.

Sant'Angelo is best explored on foot: leave the car at the edge of the village

2-3 hours each

Sunset at Punta Imperatore Lighthouse

The lighthouse at Punta Imperatore is one of the best spots on the island for watching the sun go down over the Tyrrhenian Sea. It's a straightforward spot to reach and the views are genuinely spectacular. A simple, memorable way to end a day on the island.

Arrive 30 minutes before sunset to find a good spot

1 hour

Our verdict

How Ischia scores for families

Kids

Between volcanic springs, a fortress with dungeons, and easy beach days, there's plenty to keep children genuinely engaged rather than just tolerating the trip.

Culture

Castello Aragonese alone is worth the trip for history lovers. Add in the botanical gardens, ceramics in Forio, and the island's literary connections, and the cultural offer is surprisingly rich.

Food

Ischia's food is distinctive and genuinely delicious. From volcanic-steam-cooked chicken to rabbit slow-cooked in clay pots, this is an island with a real culinary identity.

Nature

Volcanic forests, thermal springs, mountain trails, and lush botanical gardens make Ischia one of the greener and more naturally varied islands in the Mediterranean.

Budget

Ischia is more affordable than Capri but still carries a premium island price tag in peak season. Eating well and staying comfortable is very doable at mid-range.

Planning your visit

How long should you stay in Ischia?

3 days

Short break

Enough for the castle, a thermal soak, and a village wander. You'll get a taste but have to prioritise.

sweet spot

5 days

Sweet spot

Time to hike Epomeo, explore multiple villages, soak in the springs, and actually relax. This is how Ischia is meant to be enjoyed.

7 days

Full immersion

A full week lets you slow right down, discover hidden corners, and eat your way properly through the island's food scene.

Fun facts

Things about Ischia your kids will love knowing

It starred in a hit TV series

Ischia was used as a filming location for two episodes of HBO's My Brilliant Friend, the acclaimed series based on Elena Ferrante's beloved Neapolitan novels. Keep an eye out for recognisable spots as you explore the island.

Your chicken is cooked by a volcano

Fumarola chicken is a uniquely Ischian dish slow-cooked in natural volcanic steam vents in the earth. The volcanic heat gives the meat an extraordinary tenderness you simply cannot replicate anywhere else in the world.

The world's best island (officially)

Travel and Leisure magazine named Ischia the Best Island in the World. Not the best in the Mediterranean, not the best in Italy: the best on the entire planet. And it's bigger than Capri by about four and a half times.

Taste Ischia

What to eat with your family on Ischia

Coniglio all'ischitana

Must try

Trattoria il Focolare

Rabbit slow-cooked in a clay pot with tomatoes, white wine, garlic, chilli, and the local herb piperna. This is the iconic dish of Ischia and a genuine must-try. It tastes like nowhere else on earth.

Cornetto ischitano

Kids love it

Local bars and pasticcerie across the island

A double-dough croissant filled with pastry cream and black cherry jam. It's the local street food pastry and a brilliant breakfast or mid-morning snack for the whole family. Kids tend to be immediately devoted to it.

Spaghetti alle vongole

Local favourite

Restaurants along the Ischia Porto waterfront

Fresh clams tossed with spaghetti, white wine, garlic, and parsley. Seafood doesn't get much fresher than this on an island surrounded by the Bay of Naples. A reliable, crowd-pleasing choice for the whole table.

Rucolino digestif

Local favourite

Most traditional restaurants across the island

A traditional liqueur made from rocket (arugula) and unique to Ischia. It's bracingly herbal and utterly unlike anything you'll find elsewhere. A small glass after dinner is a proper local ritual worth trying.

Fresh lemon granita

Daily treat

Bars and cafes throughout Forio and Ischia Porto

Made with Ischia's own sun-ripened lemons, this simple iced dessert is the perfect antidote to a hot afternoon of sightseeing. Light, intensely flavoured, and refreshing in a way that only fresh local citrus can deliver.

More places in Naples & Campania

6 places

Capri

Discover Capri with kids: the glowing Blue Grotto, a chairlift to Mount Solaro, Roman ruins at Villa Jovis, and boat tours past the iconic Faraglioni sea stacks.