I know. Telling someone to skip Capri when they’re visiting this part of Italy almost sounds illegal.
And to be clear, I don’t dislike Capri. It’s beautiful. The cliffs are dramatic, the water is ridiculous, and there’s a reason people have been coming here for decades.
But if I had limited time and had to choose where to go back? I’d pick Ischia and Procida.
They’re completely different from each other, but both gave me more of what I actually want when I travel: places that still feel lived in, where sightseeing isn’t the only reason to be there.
Getting there:
Ferries and hydrofoils leave Naples throughout the day. I’d take the hydrofoil unless you’re bringing a vehicle or specifically want the slower ferry.
Current operators include Caremar, Alilauro and SNAV. Schedules change seasonally, so I’d always check the operator directly before traveling.
| . | Ischia | Procida |
|---|---|---|
| From Naples | ~1 hr by hydrofoil | ~40 min by hydrofoil |
| Best for | Beaches, thermal water, exploring | Easy day trip, atmosphere, wandering |
| Time I’d spend | 2–3 days | 1 day |
| Getting around | Bus, taxi, scooter | Walk + bus |
| My take | Stay here | Day-trip here |
Procida: small, colorful, and easy
Procida is the smallest of the three main islands in the Bay of Naples, and you can feel that almost immediately.
You don’t really need a complicated itinerary here.
Walk around. Get lost for a little bit. Stop for lunch. Find a beach. Keep walking.
The place most people recognize is Marina Corricella, the colorful fishing village that looks almost unreal from above.
But what I liked about Procida was that the island didn’t feel like it existed purely for visitors.
There were still fishermen working, laundry hanging outside windows, scooters squeezing through tiny streets and people going about their normal lives.
It feels like somewhere people live first and somewhere tourists visit second.
And because the island is small, it’s an easy day trip without feeling like you spent the entire day trying to check things off a list.
A few things to do in Procida:
Marina Corricella – Probably the most beautiful part of Procida. Walk down to the colorful fishing village, wander along the waterfront and stop for lunch or a drink by the harbor.
Terra Murata – Walk up to the oldest part of the island for one of the best views over Procida and Marina Corricella. It’s an easy stop to combine with Corricella.
Chiaia Beach – A great place to add a swim to your day. The beach sits below Corricella with beautiful views back toward the colorful houses. Just be prepared for the stairs down, and back up.
Pozzo Vecchio – A small volcanic-sand beach also known as Il Postino Beach because scenes from the movie were filmed here. A good option if you want something quieter.
Ischia: the island I’d actually stay on
Ischia is almost the opposite.
It’s much bigger, and one day really isn’t enough if you want to see it properly.
There are beaches, thermal springs, small towns, mountain scenery and enough different areas that the island almost feels like several destinations combined into one.
That was probably the biggest surprise for me.
Before going, I mostly knew Ischia because of its thermal water. I didn’t realize how much there was to explore.
You can spend part of the day at the beach, walk through a town like Ischia Ponte, see Castello Aragonese rising out of the water, and then end the day somewhere completely different on the other side of the island.
It also felt noticeably less polished than Capri.
And I mean that as a compliment.
There’s more normal life happening around you. More little restaurants that don’t seem designed specifically for Instagram. More places where you can just sit around without feeling like you should be moving on to the next famous viewpoint.
Ischia feels like somewhere I could stay for a week.
A few things to do in Ischia:
Spend some time in Sant’Angelo – This was one of my favorite parts of Ischia. Walk through the little pedestrian village, head up for the views and stop for a spritz overlooking the sea. Afterward, go down to the rocks by the water for a swim. When I went, it was mostly locals swimming there and it ended up being one of my favorite moments on the island.
Swim at Cartaromana Bay – On the other side of the island, this was probably my favorite beach area. The water is beautiful and you get an incredible view of Castello Aragonese from the bay. There are also natural thermal springs beneath the water in this area.
Try Ischia’s thermal water – Ischia is famous for its natural hot springs. Sorgeto Bay is one of the most unusual places to experience them, where hot thermal water mixes directly with the sea.
If I had to plan one perfect Ischia day again, I’d do Sant’Angelo, have a spritz with the view, swim off the rocks, and then head across the island for the afternoon at Cartaromana.
So should you actually skip Capri?
Not necessarily.
If you’ve never been and Capri has always been on your list, go.
I went too, and I’m glad I did.
But I think Capri has become such an automatic choice that a lot of people never even consider the islands sitting right next to it.
If you only have one day and want something small, beautiful and easy to explore, I’d choose Procida.
If you have a few days and want beaches, towns, thermal water and more variety, I’d choose Ischia.
And if your dream is specifically Capri, the views, the glamour, the famous coastline… Then Capri is still Capri.
Travel doesn’t always have to be about finding the “best” place.
Sometimes it’s just about figuring out which place is more you.
For me?
I’d go back to Ischia and Procida first.
