Ischia Unveiled: Navigating the Gem of the Tyrrhenian Sea - Tips, Tricks, and Thermal Thrills

In today’s episode we’ll be covering the Island of Ischia. We'll be chatting about:

• Why we went to Ischia
• Where to stay? Ischia Porto, Ponte or Forio?
• Transport, accommodation, food and fun
• The value for money
• and some overall tips from Italian residents if you're planning on visiting Italy

SEASON ONE SCOREBOARD

Salerno: 98

Florence: 88

Naples: 88

Ischia: 85.5

Lake Garda: 85.5

Rome: 85

Siena: 84

La Spezia: 79.5

Venice: 76

Lake Como: 74.5

Sorrento: 67

 

FUN FACTS ABOUT ISCHIA

• Ischia is well known for its thermal water and thermal gardens used since ancient times. Its volcanic nature makes Ischia one of the largest spas in Europe.
• It also has ancient vinyards with some of Cormac's favourite wines in the world.
• Procide (an island close by) is where parts of the film Il Postino was filmed
• The typical representative dish of the island is “Rabbit all’ischitana" a rabbit stew.

TRANSPORT

• Transport: Naples Airport - Taxis, Bus, Metro to Molo Beverello Port (behind Castel Nuovo)
• Boats - We got the Hydrofoil
• Ischia - Busses and Taxis - 50 euro for 5 of us across the island from Ischia Porte to Forio
• It took 20 minutes to walk from Ischia Porte to Ischia Ponte
• Ebikes & Car Rentals - You can rent an ebike for a day for 25 euro (9am to 6pm) but a car for almost the same price for 24 hours

Accommodation: 

• We rented an Airbnb in Ischia Porte as we had a large group and had several activities planned, although there are some beautiful hotels around Ischia Ponte.

Food: 

• RIP OFF: Trattoriva (Sapori Ischitani)
• Amazing chicken at Antico Girarrosto Ischitano
• Pizza Village: Cheap and cheerful
• Ristorante Pizzeria Fratelli La Bufala by Giardini di Enzo

FUN: 

• Beach - Ischia Porte - 5 euro for 66cl beers
• Procida - Boat Tour - get your guide - 79 euro
• Castle Castello aragonese - top tip - get the lift
• Bar beside the castello.- amazing value for good cocktails - Ristorante Bar da Coco' 
• Archangelo Michael Festival - Patron Saint Festival in September
• Poseidon Thermal Pools - 37 euro for 1/2 day
• RIP OFF:  Porto51 for cocktails
• Bar del Porto dal 1963 - cheap place for drinks
• U' MUORZ - another pub in Ischia Porte
• Honourable mention - China Tempto for amazing vinyard tours and wine tastings

ABOUT SEASON ONE

Irish Expats Cormac and Jane discuss their highs and lows of travel. Season one follows their journey across Italy. Topics include remote working, realistic travel budgets, top tips, and what it’s really like to work and live abroad. In season one, each episode will focus on a region or city they visited on their six-week holiday from Southern Naples to Lake Garda in the North.

ABOUT US

Cormac is a professional Irish bartender having worked in the hotel and bar industry for 8 years. Originally from Leitrim, he studied Hotel Management and Business at GMIT. He was working in Galway in the bar trade for 5 years before he decided to move abroad. His original plan was to work on a vineyard in Northern Italy using WWOOF. 

Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is a worldwide movement to link visitors with organic farmers, promote a cultural and educational exchange, and build a global community conscious of ecological farming and sustainability practices. Find out more: https://wwoof.net

Jane is a communications consultant working in the culture and energy sectors. She has previously produced and promoted international organisations including Web Summit, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and European Capital of Culture projects. After 10+ years of working in Communications & Events, Jane has transitioned to fully remote consulting work. Although regularly travelling back to Ireland for work, she is now based in Florence with Cormac.

 

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE DAY-BY-DAY GUIDE (FREE)

Here is our day by day excel sheet of our 6 week summer trip across Italy. It includes the following categories: Dates, Transport Methods, Accommodation Links, Fun (Tours, Bars & Excursions), Food and Tips for the following cities:

• Naples
• Salerno
• Sorrento
• Rome
• Siena
• Florence
• La Spezia (and Riomaggiore)
• Venice
• Desenzano del Garda
• Sirmione
• Malcesine
• Riva del Garda

Download the travel guide for free at: https://www.altlivin.com/shop

FOLLOW US

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Youtube: /Altlivin