Rome to Ischia
 

I need step by step instructions on how to go from Rome to Ischia. Too many choices of trains, hydrofoils and stops!!! I'm so confused. I thought there was only 1 train, 1 train station, 1 ferry dock & 1 hydrofoil. I see I was wrong.
What's the easiest way to do this?
thanks...

Hi Gipsy - For trains to Naples (- Napoli centrale) see:

http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

AV and ES trains are fastest. You can get a reduction by
booking 'Amica' fares.

There are frequent ferries/ hydrofoils to Ischia from Molo Beverello dock (- a short tram/bus or taxi ride from Napoli Centrale).

Take tram No.1 to Molo Berverello from Piazza Garibaldi (- the stop is across the piazza from the station exit - near the Garibaldi monument.
(Buy tickets in advance and 'validate' on boarding)

Hydrofil are the quickest option, of course. For timetables see:

http://www.ischiaonline.it/ischia.ph...amp;sez=MOVIME

Most go to Ischia Port (- with less frequent services to Forio and Casamicciola).

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Steve gave you perfect instructions on the logistics of getting from Roma Termini to the Molo Beverello in Napoli

I would like to add a few comments:

The AV train should take about 1 1/2 hrs., EuroStar is about 2 hrs.

A taxi cab ride takes about 10 min. from the Garibaldi train station to Molo Beverello and, in May, 2006, it cost us 20 euro.

Sometimes you can't take a hydrofoil out to Ischia because of bad weather and rough water. In our case, it was a windy, rainy day, and we had to board the Caremar ferry at a cost of 17,50 euro each. The ride took one hour to Ischia Porto.

Upon arrival, however, the sun was shining!

"we had to board the Caremar ferry at a cost of 17,50 euro each."
Current Caremar fares on www.caremar.it are from 5.10 to 6 euros for a ship to Ischia, or 10.90 euros by fast craft.
Public transport in Italy is cheap.

After reading GeoffHamer's comment about the cost of the Caremar ticket I found my actual ticket.

I stand corrected: The fare was for two passengers at 10,40 and another charge for "Bunker/Diversi" at 8,80, for a total of 17,20 euro.

We were actually running up the gangplank (if that's what it is called as the crew was pulling the ropes in), to get on the ferry, and tired after our flight overseas plus all the train travel...never looked at the ticket again until today.

Geoff, do you think we were overcharged by 8,80? If we were overcharged, this may be a heads-up for other people boarding watercraft - or were we charged for carrying on luggage?

I will be doing this same trip in reverse. Is there anything I need to know about going from Ischia to Rome via Naples?

Ferry/hydrafoil from Ischia to Naples Molo Berverello

Tran/bus or taxi to Napoli Centrale/Piazza Garibaldi

Train from Napoli Centrale to Roma Termini

Train from Roma Termini to FCO Airport

Is this right? Is there any easier way to get from Ischia to Rome?

Thank you for any help you can add.

debp, I wouldn't do this trip on the day of your flight. Too many things can go wrong starting with the ferry being cancelled due to bad weather/rough seas. Then there's strikes, breakdowns, etc., all of which are fairly frequent in Italy.

Better to go to Rome the day before, spend the night in Rome, then go to the airport the day of your flight.

Thank you Mimar for you advice. Our flight is very early the following day and we plan to stay at a hotel near the airport. After what seems to be like a full day of travel I think it will be nice to relax and rest at the hotel the night before.

Is there any easier way to get from Ischia to Rome without driving?

It's an OK journey from here - just over 3 hours door to door with a fast train, or 4 on the half-price IC at 10:17.

We go up every six months or so, taking the hydrofoil at a reasonable time, and are there for lunch, with our stuff already unpacked - even through last February's blizzard...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/rome0210

Once in Naples we rarely bother to drag up the hill to the Alibus, but take a taxi from the rank next to the quay, for about €15. Skip the tram idea - the line's been undergoing works for ages now, and still wasn't running a few weeks ago. Once at the station, the train's very easy and the fast ones get to Termini in just 70 minutes.

You'll find a few details that may perhaps help, here....
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/gettingtoischia

Seems to be the choice of an airport hotel that's ruining the day?

Peter

Thank you Brit. We will take your advice and skip the tram, take a taxi instead. It sounds like a lot of transferring but I'm sure it will all be ok. People do it everyday, how bad can it be? As for the airport hotel, we have already been to Rome a few times this time we are only going there because we couldn't get a flight home from Naples using points.

Just a shame that, with all your bags etc, you'll presumably head straight out there - and then just be waiting for the next morning... is the check-in too early for a taxi out from the city?

Otherwise, with plenty of time on your hands, you might find it more enjoyable on one of the ferries rather than a hydrofoil - they nearly all have big open decks where you can sunbathe and watch the coast slide past. Slower, but smoother - and a little less expensive!

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/114636233

And/or you could store your stuff at Termini's left luggage for a few hours, and spend the afternoon in Rome? Or even taxi over to Ostia Antica from the airport?

Peter

Brit, since you said the total travel time from Ischia to Rome should be around 3 hours, we could spend most of the day in Ischia and take a later ferry to Naples. There should be later ferries/trains, etc. right?

Loads and loads of them!

For example, the Alilauro hydrofoil list can be had by using the "Scarica pdf degli orari del Golfo di Napoli" link, here....

http://www.alilauro.it/orari.php?lingua=english

Or, while you're on the island, buy our local paper - Il Golfo - for €1.20, which lists them all daily!

Not sure if you'll make much of this, copied from the paper last May....

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/124709503

I'll not bother to do a new one now as they'll be making changes tomorrow, March 1st.

.........................

We don't often use such things but, if it all seems a bit daunting, there are serveral Ischia-based outfits who offer a variety of transfer services - including this one, whose site has good English...

http://www.insulatransfer.com/en/

Peter

Thank you Peter, you have been very helpful. Do you think it is necessary to make train reservations in advance for Naples to Rome, Rome to Airport? Since I'm not sure what ferry/hydrafoil we will be taking from Ischia I'd rather just get the tickets when we arrive. Will that be a problem? We will be traveling in June.

We do sometimes book ahead but, with the variety of things that can cause a slight delay, only rarely!

In almost a decade of going through the station in Naples I don't think we've ever not been able to buy tickets for whichever train we wanted on arrival there. Services are very freqent.

If anything, it's been an advantage to wait as occasionally we've been able to steer clear of one that was running late on its journey northwards... some do come a very long way!

Peter

PS - Many years since we used it, but I've a recollection that the tickets you buy at the station for the Rome airport line, are "open" and can be used on any of the Leonardo Express departures... but you should check that!

Good to know, thank you again Peter.

What can you tell me about the thermal spas? We are planning to go to Negombo. I think I read somewhere that we should bring towels. What about beach/water shoes and bathing caps? I'm not sure if someone already mentioned this.

Not having to wear the blessed swimhats, which just about all the others insist on, is only one of many joys of going to Negombo!

A few photos, and some links etc...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/spagards

There's lots of video on YouTube, but search for Negombo Ischia - to avoid Sri Lanka!

We use flip flops and change into them for the day once there, but jelly shoes would also be good... and do indeed take towels - they're expensive to hire, I imagine because they're a bother?

You'll love it!

Peter

PS: Do ask at your hotel - for most of the season they can often get you a reduction on the entry price..

Great pictures Peter! Thank you again for all your help. So I wasn't wrong about the smimhats. One more reason to go to Negombo, can't wait. I'm going to check out youtube now.

I was just thinking about hiring a private driver from the port in Naples to the airport in Rome. Does anyone know how long the trip would take and how much it would cost for 2 passengers?

Thank you.

Couldn't guess how long it might take, but fairly mad money - 300 to 350 Euro probably...

But then why not go the whole hog, and be taken from Ischia?

This local firm has an English site..
http://www.insulatransfer.com/en/

Peter