Hi! I'm staying on Capri for 5 nights. I'll spent 3 nights visiting the island. I wanted to spend the other two days for days trips. One day trip is for Naples. The other one is for Ischia, but I don't know exactly what to visit there. So far Ischia Ponte and Sant'Angelo seem the best options but I don't know which one to choose. Any tips or recommendation on which one to choose? I love visiting towns and historical city centres.

Just be sure that Capri is where you want to base yourself. It may not be as convenient as Amalfi or Positano for the different daytrips you want to take. I did a daytrip to Capri, and it was lovely, but I wouldn't have wanted to stay there for five nights.

By the way, don't miss Ravello and the gardens of the Villa Cimbrone.

Hi ABENDIGO, well I have stayed for 10 nights on Capri (AnaCapri actually) and adored every minute but we were in Italy for two months so Capri was rather our vacation from our vacation.

I too would think that a night or two on Capri and than staying on the A/C or even Naples would be more convenient for you since you want to understandably do day trips.

Thanks! Actually, I'm staying on the Amalfi Coast as well for three nights to visit Amalfi, Positano and Ravello. Do you think it's better to visit Naples from Amalfi or from Capri? I don't want to base myself in Sorrento (I have a bad feeling about it) and everybody says that basing in Naples isn't really a good idea because it is chaotic and dangerous. So I was thinking of staying 5 nights in Capri and 3 in Amalfi.

Do you think that dedicating 3 nights on Capri (included the day I get there, which is early in the afternoon) are OK to visit the island and be able to spend at least half a day on the beach? Is it doable to visit Naples from Amalfi and do just one day trip from Capri to Ischia? Thanks!

I think that 3 nights in Capri and 5 in Amalfi makes more sense. Do a google search on "ferry capri ischia" "ferry amalfi naples" and see what comes up. But it seems like what you propose is immensely "doable."

I have already downloaded different ferry schedules and there are ferries from Amalfi to Naples and viceversa, so I guess I'll visit Naples from Amalfi. I don't know yet about Ischia, I've looked up ferry schedules, but, since it's still winter (I guess) they have no information available yet. I know there are ferries from Capri to Ischia because it's one of the day trips suggested on one of the Capri websites. I'm still looking up information about it, though. Thanks!

Well, for what it's worth, there are organized tours/cruises that leave from Sorrento's Marina Grande that visit the neighboring islands, Capri, and Amalfi Coast environs on a weekly basis.

I was in Sorrento in September and on Thursdays only, the Marine Club (www.marineclub.it) offers a minicruise called the "Green Mini Cruise" that specifically goes to the islands of Ischia and Procida only. It costs 21,37 euros/pp and is an all-day trip from 8:30 am-6:30 pm. You spend 1/2 the day in Procida (touring the town, swimming in Chiaiolella Bay if you want to), then on to Ischia where there is an optional shuttle bus tour (13 euros) around the island that starts at the Ischia harbor and goes completely around the island, ending in St. Angelo. There are stops along the way identifying sites of interest, also a stop at a winery/restaurant, all the while with commentary by a local guide on the bus. I was very pleased with the minicruise as it was a nice oppty to take a "cruise" out on the open seas, as well as learn more about the lovely islands of Procida and Ischia, which I hadn't known too much about. Perhaps you could take an early morning boat/ferry over from Capri to Sorrento, in time to catch one of these Thursday "Green Mini Cruises" to Ischia and Procida? I heartily recommend it.

It sounds good and it's not expensive. I'll check that out. Procida was also one of my interests, but I didn't want to add an extra day. Thanks for that information. Did you have to book that minicruise in advance? Or did you just show up and bought your ticket? Thanks for that information!

So, I've come up with this final Campania itinerary:

Day 1. Ischia Ponte: Arrival and rest on the beach.
Day 2. Ischia Ponte: Visiting "Borgo del Celso" and "Castello Aragonese".
Day 3. Ischia Ponte: Visiting San't Angelo and maybe spending some time on the beach.
Day 4. Capri Town: Arrival and rest on the beach.
Day 5. Capri Town: Visiting the town.
Day 6. Capri Town: Visiting Anacapri.
Day 7. Amalfi Town: Arrival and rest on the beach.
Day 8. Amalfi Town: Visiting Positano and maybe spend some time on the beach.
Day 9. Amalfi Town: Visiting Ravello.
Day 10. Amalfi Town: Visiting the town and leave for Rome early in the afternoon.

I know the switching hotels may seem a drag, but we (my friend and I) pack light and I prefer to take only 3 ferries early in the morning than basing in one place and taking like 10 ferries going back and forth from place to place worrying about when the last ferry is leaving and if it's really leaving because of sudden bad weather.

I've found, what I think, are good deals on hotels: "Hotel Europa" in Ischia Ponte (88 Euros for a double room with breakfast), "Villa Palomba" in Capri Town (105 Euros for a double room with breakfast), and "Hotel Amalfi" in Amalfi Town (90 Euros for a double room with breakfast).

Sounds like a fine plan. When you're in Amalfi, try to take a walk down the coast to the next little town of Atrani--maybe 1/4 mile. It has a lovely little beach--more like a cove than Amalfi's--and a square that I thought was especially charming.

Thanks! It was one of my plans to take that walk down to Atrani on my way back from Ravello to Amalfi. I've read the views are breathtaking. I've seen pictures from the square you're refering to and it seems pretty charming.

www.capitanmorgan.it will give you a schedule for aliscafi between Ischia and Capri. I think it's only in the summer. Ischiaonline has schedules for Naples (you want Molo Beverello) to Ischia. They run very regularly so no matter what time you go you won't have to wait long. Alilauro and Caremar go regularly winter, spring, summer and fall.

Abendigo: Re: the "Green Mini Cruise" to Ischia & Procida, I bought my tickets online beforehand with Sorrento.net, and thus received the discounted price of 21,37 euros (the regular price is 25,00 euros/pp). Indeed you can buy your tickets directly from the cruise ticket window at Sorrento's Marina Grande harbour. I was staying in Sorrento and it was very convenient because the price included a shuttle bus transfer that picked us up from our hotel in the morning, and dropped us back off at night. It is a terrific deal and I would do it again for all the interesting things I saw and did. We really liked Procida and Ischia - beautiful islands with very nice people. Please note that many of the shops on the islands are so small and many do not take Visa or MC. I was surprised to learn that and had to get out euros in order to buy simple things from the stores, grocery, etc. (even a jewelry store!).

However, it looks like you have worked out your complete itinerary now with stays on Ischia Ponte. If you felt like seeing Procida, you could easily take a boat over from Ischia to Procida as there are several crossings daily intra-island. Buon viaggio!

Thanks! I've added Naples and Pompei to my itinerary, too. Let's see how that goes. Thank you for the information about the stores no accetting credit cards!

Is it a good idea to visit Ischia Ponto/Porto on Sundays or are most places closed? I'll be there the first week of July.