Ischia and Procida in one day from Sorrento - possible? good idea?
 

I'd like to visit both Procida and Ischia from Sorrento (in July 2014). It looks like I'd need to take a ferry to Naples and change to get to either of them (no direct ferries from Sorrento to either?). Are the ferry schedules frequent enough to make this possible? None of the links to the ferries that I tried have summer schedules up at the moment.

How much time is reasonable to have a pleasant visit to either island? Obviously you cannot 'see everything' in a day. We tend to like climbing up to castles both for the castle experience itself and for the views. On Ischia we would only do Porto/Ponte/Castello and not try to go anywhere else on the island. Same with Procida - just the port/town/castle.

What do you think?

I don't know what the ferry schedules are like but I would pick one so that I could enjoy one rather than try to rush around trying to get to two islands.

there are several daily ferries at that time to Ischia from Sorrento - anyway I took one - depends what you want to go on Ischia - just see the main port town or walk around a bit - like trekking out to Hadrian's digs where after adolescent boys grew up and his sexual desire for them receded he allgedly, according to what I read about it in several sources - just throw them off the high cliff to their deaths below as he did with many enemies as well - Ischia can consume a whole say easily - getting there from Sorrento I do believe went via Procida- so you can play it by ear perhaps and see how long Ischia holds your attractions

I see from schedules that there appears to be no ferry to Sorrento - that is directly I think but there are ferries to Ischia from Capri and Procida - you may have to connect via one of these islands - but just a few years ago I had no problem reaching Ischia and Procida from Sorrento but forget whether I had to change boats or not - anything to avoid the Naples route I would do - not because Naples isn't fascinating in its own right or unsafe but the boat docks there are a long haul by tram or tqaxi or foot from the CircumVesuviana train line that would take you back to Sorrento from Naples - you could of course go by boat from Sorrento to Naples if schedules allowed it but that would be more expensive.

so I see your quandry!

I know I'll need to ferry to Naples and switch to another for Ischia or Procida just wondering how frequent the boats run in high season - the problem would be if we had long waits. The actual time on the boats between all the places doesn't bother me. .

In terms of amount of time on either island - about how long does it take for example, to walk from the where the ferry docks in Ischia up to the castle? Same for Procida.

Have not been to Procida except when the boat to Ischia ('Is-sia' or something like that I heard locally) but that island looked tiny - from Ischia boat dock I walked thru the rather suave town to the castle - so not very far - I'd say less than a mile or so.

http://www.comuni-italiani.it/mappa/...52,13.948&z=13

I remember I came into the boat dock in Ischia town and walked about and left for Naples (I came from Sorrento via Capri I guess) at the other boat down. But as the map shows the castle is a short enough stroll from the Ischia town docks.

In the summer, there is a ferry (hydrofoil I think) from Sorrento to Ischia (may stop at Capri on the way), but I think it's only one departure and one return. You would probably have to visit Ischia first, then ferry to Procida, from there to Naples and train back to Sorrento. Keep in mind that most ferries do not run late (not much past 7 even in summer).

There's also a mini-cruise from Sorrento that covers both islands, but I don't think it's daily so you would have to check if that interests you.

http://www.marineclub.it/en/minicroc...ise-green.html

There might be other companies in Sorrento that offers this besides this one. Perhaps your hotel would know.

And to clarify PalenQ's post, it is pronounced "Is-kia" ...

And to clarify PalenQ's post, it is pronounced "Is-kia" ..>

ky - thanks for that link. I'll keep it but hopefully public transportation will work. I did notice they only give you an hour and a quarter on Procida. At least that gives me an idea of how long 'average' tourists might need somewhere. I was thinking of 3-4 hours on each island.

Pal - that also confirms what I found about the distance. So you think you got to the castle and back in a couple hours? Did you go up to the top?

And thanks for the pronunciation.

Well I went to the castle from the boat dock in about a half hour or so - I assume there are buses and of course taxis at the docks too - but I remember a pleasant stroll down a spiffy street lined with neat houses and hotels - about an hour for the castle, yes I went to the top - but then I walked over to Hadrian's Villa or whatever they call it and walked over thru the center of the island on a nice small road and left from the other boat docks to Naples.

I think two hours there and back would be a little hurried.

The Alilauro from Sorrento to Ischia only runs late April (might be a bit earlier depending on when Easter is) until fall.

>>>Pal - that also confirms what I found about the distance.<<<

There's more than one port. You should confirm it's the same port. This tells about the buses and ports.

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/beginisc

Be sure you get a bus ticket and validate it. I've seen reports of people being fined. They said they were unable to find anywhere to buy a ticket.

If you get the 3 day Campania Artecard Tutta La Regione (32€), it covers transportation along the coast (trains, buses along the coast, trams/metro in Naples, etc.) from Naples to Sorrento and on down the coast (Positano/Amalfi)as far as Paestum. I believe it includes Ischia also, but you would need to check the website and make sure. It also includes two free admissions (best used on the more expensive entries such as Pompeii which is 11€). Most other Artecards do not include transport (the 7 day does not).

http://www.campaniartecard.it/en/art...m#.UmaDNlM6yYE

It seems the 3 day Tutta La Regione does include the transport on Ischia and Procida.

http://www.campaniartecard.it/en/tra...m#.UmaFF1M6yYE

If you can structure your visit to take advantage of this card, you will more than get your money's worth, but it might make for a busy three days.