Ischia Boat Excursion: Lunch & 4-5 Swimming Stops

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.87 (577 reviews) 95% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/37

Duration7h–8h

GroupUp to 35

LanguagesEN · IT

Mobile ticketAccepted

A Day Circling Ischia by Boat, With Lunch Cooked Onboard

You board at Forio, swim in four or five different coves and caves around Ischia, eat a proper Neapolitan lunch on deck with local wine, and see the Aragonese Castle and thermal bays without arranging transport or timing yourself. The boat handles all the stops and the meal, so you show up and the day unfolds.

7h–8h

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat tour discovering Ischia island

Depart from Forio port
Observe Church of Soccorso
Stop at Baia di Citara for bruschetta and wine
Pass by Punta Imperatore lighthouse
View Sorgeto bay thermal waters
Swim stop at Sant'Angelo village
Visit Maronti beach and fumaroles
Optional stop at La Sgarrupata coast
Excursion to Grotta Verde and lunch on board
Pass by Cartaromana beach and Aragonese Castle
Swim stop at English beach
Pass by Fungo di Ischia rock
View mountainous coast of Zaro
Optional stop at San Francesco beach
Return sailing to Forio port

The Experience

The boat leaves Forio port in the morning, and within minutes you're watching the white plaster of the Chiesa del Soccorso slide past — the church that sits on the rocks like a lighthouse, glowing against the blue. From there, the route unfolds in stops: first Citara Bay, where bruschetta and local wine arrive before you've even anchored, then Punta Imperatore with its lighthouse story, then the thermal waters of Sorgeto Bay where the sea itself is warm because of what's happening beneath. You'll swim four or five times across the day, each stop a different cove or cave, each one chosen by the captain depending on the water and wind.

The Grotta Verde — the Green Grotto — is where lunch happens. It's a sea cave you have to swim into, and once inside the light turns phosphorescent green. The boat anchors nearby and the crew serves a traditional Neapolitan lunch on deck: not a sandwich, but proper food, the kind that takes time. Wine comes with it, also local. After lunch there's Sant'Angelo, the pedestrian village with the tuff tower, then Maronti Beach where the volcanic fumaroles rise from the sand at nearly 100 degrees Celsius. If the sea is calm, you'll see the Aragonese Castle — a 113-meter rock fortress built on an island that formed over 300,000 years ago, connected to the mainland by a 220-meter bridge. The route ends back at Forio port as the afternoon cools.

What makes this different from a standard boat tour is the swimming itself — you're not just looking. Four or five stops means you're in the water at Citara, then Sorgeto's thermal bay, then Sant'Angelo, then Maronti, possibly the English Beach on the north coast. The boat carries restrooms, coffee, tea, bottled water and soda. Children need close supervision, and the crew says they'll help anyone with mobility concerns, though rough seas or certain health conditions make the boat not suitable — they're honest about that upfront.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup (check availability with operator), entry to all stops and swimming areas, bruschetta with Ischia tomato and basil accompanied by local wine before lunch, a full traditional Neapolitan lunch served on board, coffee, tea, bottled water, and soft drinks.
Restrooms are available on board.
The route visits the Chiesa del Soccorso, Citara Bay, Punta Imperatore lighthouse, Sorgeto thermal bay, Sant'Angelo village, Maronti Beach, the Green Grotto, Cartaromana Beach, the Aragonese Castle, and other coastal landmarks depending on sea conditions and the captain's choice.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Alcione Boat

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to swim multiple times around Ischia and eat lunch without arranging a rental boat, a restaurant reservation, or transport between stops — the fixed route and included meal are what make a full circuit possible in one day.