Ischia Travel Guide
A guide to the island of ISCHIA, a majestic little oasis off Naples that has so much to offer and full of charm.
WHERE TO STAY
The Mezzatorre Hotel is pure luxury and part of the Pelicano Group. It's a 5 star hotel that's an absolute must on the island of Ischia. It's breathtakingly beautiful and oozes charm, with a rich history. Definitely checkout their website and learn more about the history of the Watchtower, it's infamous owners and how it was a mecca of creativity and the arts! It's also the inspiration behind our Mezza and Visconti collections so it's no secret we love this hotel!
A gorgeous hotel, right on S'Angelo beach - it's really terriric for swimming and accessibility to food and little shops. The private swimming area, beach and spa is amazing, great for long days in the sun with an on-site restaurant. The beach can only be accessed by guests of the hotel so if you're looking for a beach stay - then S'Angelo is the best location for you. The breakfast is heaven and you can get amazing views from nearly every room in the hotel which is also newly refurbed.
Hands down, the most beautiful location on the island, we couldn't have dreamt of a more perfect day and they have really gorgeous on site accommodation which we can't wait to book next time we return! This is also alot cheaper than the other hotels and it's good to mix it up with a few days here and a few days on another part of the island.
TRAVEL TIP: Ischia can be really expensive for accommodation, my travel suggestion would be to spend 6 days on the island and do 3 days in S'Angelo and 3 Days at Giardino Eden. Splitting up your time on either side of the Island so you can settle in and explore but also save on travel costs from one side to the other. S'Angelo has everything you need and great beaches, beautiful sunsets, if you want to splurge and its a special occasion like your Honeymoon then difinitely do Mezzatorre and look out on Booking.com for specials on all hotels.
WHERE TO EAT
You have to checkout Zio Jack if you visit Ischia, you have to! The staff are gorgeous and so charming, the food and the location is incredible and so well priced, I was blown away at how affordable it was in comparison to other venues. We had an awesome night here, you need to be picked up in town by a little van and one of the friendly staff will take you all the way up the hill to the top of the vineyard where you can get a magical sunset and 360 degree views of the island. Magical!
Seafood Restaurant at S'Angelo Beach
I don't have the name of this gorgeous little sea side restaurant but it's right at the bottom of S'Angelo beach below Miramare and it has the best mussels you'll ever try, great wine and an epic menu of local dishes including Rabbit Ragu pasta which was heavenly. Right on the beach, this little low-key gem is a must.
S'Angelo Piazza
There's lots of little wine bars and smaller restaurants in the heart of the S'Angelo Piazza. Great ice-cream, seafood and pizza. Also, great to have an aperitif to start your night along the shore with a great sunset and views of the island.
WHAT TO DO
If you only have a few days in Ischia, then definitely make a point in spending the day at Giardino Eden and get your own private swimming area and deck chairs. Definitely stay for lunch and/or dinner - the menu and food is incredible and the team at Giardino are so lovely, we had the best time, it's a must!!
This was a really fun day out, a little expensive but we made a day of it and enjoyed all the different thermal pools and there's a great set of lunch and snack options. It is busy and full of tourists so if you're looking for something low-key, then this isn't for you. If you're looking to try something unique and relaxing definitely give it a try!
Other Tips:
The island is a lot bigger than I first thought, making it a little tricky to get around unless you have your own transport. We had a wonderful driver we booked for day trips and it was a great way to explore and also have a local show us around. The island isn't as busy as Capri, which is amazing making it a little more relaxing and not too touristy a town.
