Unique Things to Do in Ischia, Italy: Capri’s Less Touristy (more local) Little Sister
What a difference a 90-minute ferry ride from the chaotic streets of Naples can make.
There my mum and I were, sitting on the top deck, the sun warming our faces, salty sea air blowing through our hair and seagulls riding the wind waves behind the boat as we made our way towards the volcanic island of Ischia ~ the fourth stop on our two-and-a-half-week Italian adventure.
Within an hour and a half, the loud at all hours Naples had faded into the distance and a much slower dolce far niente sound track had taken its place.
In case you’re not already familiar with Ischia, it’s often described as Capri’s much quieter, much less touristy little sister.
“It’s where the Italians go on holiday,” I kept hearing. And this in itself was the attraction. To be somewhere authentic that offers a heartwarming dose of real slow Italian living AND also focusing on the wellness of mind, body and spirit. Sounds perfect doesn’t it?
I ended up spending nine beautiful days here, and if you’re planning a visit yourself, I’m about to share with you some tips that will serve as a starting point of discovery to some new and unique experiences that only this beautiful island offers. There’s also a short video at the end of this post to give a better visual impression of some of the places mentioned.
But first, where to stay?
Before we get onto what to do, I’d love to tell you where I stayed, in case that’s a question you’re also currently trying to answer. I spent the entire time at Villa Ravino, a beautiful family-run boutique hotel overlooking the sea.
As you may now know, if you’ve been following my journey on instagram or browsed enough posts here, I’m a firm fan of staying in places that come with a story, and with family-run boutique hotels, there’s usually always a touching one.
In the case of Villa Ravino, it begins with “woman meets sailor.” A marine man who spends years at sea, each time coming back with various succulents from around the world. Eventually, they decide to start a small hotel together, which over years saw extra beautiful rooms added to it and that small cluster of well-traveled succulents turned into a 6000 sqm botanical garden, hosting free roaming peacocks.
You’ll still see the lovely parents around the property, while their son Luca now runs the hotel day to day and truly manages to make every guest feel more like a family friend than a booking confirmation.
The sunsets from here alone are enough to make you never want to leave. I loved my stay here so much, and would return again in a heartbeat. If there are rooms available, I’d book your stay here without hesitation.
Eat Lunch that’s Cooked Beneath the Sand
Be sure to visit Le Fumarole Beach and witness locals cooking food underneath the piping hot sand. What a rare experience to be able to enjoy a meal that’s been cooked in a natural oven. It was a first for me and I remember standing there, wide eyed (at a safe distance from the warning sign) as one of the restaurant workers started digging the sand with a shovel before pulling out a basket that had been happily cooking away for some hours.
It’s one of those wonderfully simple experiences that reminds you just how closely life on Ischia has always been connected to the volcano beneath it. And eating a perfectly cooked lunch using nothing but the Earth’s natural geothermal heat… how many people can say they’ve done that?
Visit Cavascura: a true spa for spartans
Ah Cavascura, the oldest, most authentic and ANCIENT healing spa on the island. Embedded in the mountains, with stone tunnels, mud baths and steam caves, it truly feels like a spa for spartans.
It’s easy to forget that long before infinity pools and wellness retreats, people were travelling to places like this simply to soak in the island’s naturally heated waters.
If you’re expecting five-star luxury, this probably (no, definitely!) isn’t the place. But if you’re curious about experiencing a spa that’s remained remarkably authentic and untouched, don’t miss it. Its imperfections and rawness are exactly what make it so memorable and the reason I loved it so much.
Spend an Afternoon at Negombo Thermal Spa
While Cavascura definitely feels like travelling back to an entire different century, Negombo feels like nature and wellness beautifully coming together.
Set beside its own private beach, there are multiple thermal pools, waterfalls, volcanic caves and mineral-rich waters that people have travelled to for centuries, believing its waters to have the ability to help heal a variety of skin disorders and physical conditions
You can easily spend an entire afternoon moving from one pool to the next before wandering down to the sea for a swim. Even if you don’t believe in the waters magical powers, it’s simply a beautiful place to enjoy the day.
My Favourite Restaurants on the Island
For me, two places stood out above the rest.
Terra e Sapori, tucked away in the mountains, feels more like visiting somebody’s countryside home slash farm, than going to a restaurant. If you can, please don’t leave without visiting this special spot, surrounded by gardens and nature. It was one recommended by locals and although I won’t gatekeep as it was easily one of the most beautiful spots on the island, I hope it stays the hidden gem that it is.
Then there’s Trattoria il Focolare, another wonderfully authentic family-run restaurant where several generations work together. Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and cousins in the kitchens and serving the meals. It felt deeply traditional, generous and full of warmth ~ exactly the kind of place I always hope to discover when travelling. Pro tip: if you’re a meat eater, definitely order the speciality of ischia, wild rabbit (and eat it with your hands!).
I truly hope this small but mighty list of unique things to do in Ischia has either got you very excited for your upcoming trip or perhaps inspired you to look into taking a trip to this quieter, lesser known little gem in Italy.
A little glimpse of the island
In you’re more of a visual person, I’ve added a video I created while on the island to give you a better impression of some of the places mentioned in this post:
