Italy has so many fantastic destinations that the country’s smaller islands don’t usually make it onto international travellers’ itineraries. A couple of exceptions to this are two islands in the Bay of Naples: glamorous Capri and thermal-spa-and-beach-resort Ischia. But Italy has many other little offshore islands offering spectacular scenery and a laidback holiday lifestyle to their mostly Italian visitors. I’m a big fan of Italian island holidays in general and several breath-taking islands in particular.
Italian island travel won’t suit everyone: the journey to reach some islands is long enough to make them unviable for overseas visitors with limited time. And some, with their shabby-picturesque charms and low-key attractions, suit self-starters best, and those accustomed to making the most of Italy’s provincial destinations. It can help to speak Italian and understand a little of Italian-style summer vacationing – but English is increasingly spoken, foreign visitors are welcomed, and any island-lover will find plenty to enjoy and appreciate.
On this page you’ll find my guide to Italy’s islands with links to my detailed articles which should help you choose your own island destination(s). You’ll find practical travel advice, and ideas for things to do and see.
On my island pages I include links for booking accommodation and recommendations for B&Bs, hotels or apartments I’ve stayed in (I pay my way, so these tend to be the cheaper, good-value options). Accommodation links on Italy Heaven are affiliate links, so if you use them you will be supporting this website without paying extra. I really appreciate the help to keep Italy Heaven online and as up-to-date as possible. If you’ve found my ideas and guides helpful for planning your travels, you could alternatively “buy me a coffee”; offering support via my tip jar: https://ko-fi.com/italyheaven. Thank you.
Note: Two large Italian regions are also islands, famed for their history and natural scenery. I don’t include Sicily (Sicilia) and Sardinia (Sardegna) when I talk about smaller Italian islands, though – they are large enough to form their own category. Both are great destinations, especially for touring holidays, and both have their own smaller off-shore islands, some of which are listed below.
Italian islands: a guide
Islands in the Bay of Naples (Campania region)
These three islands in the Bay of Naples, Capri, Ischia and Procida, can all be reached by frequent ferries from Naples (Napoli). Naples Airport is only a short bus or taxi ride from the port, so travel is straightforward. All islands have a sizeable resident population all year round with good transport connections. The islands have very different geographies and characters, from worldly Capri to quaint Procida.
Capri
Capri is beautiful, with ancient history, modern glitz and spectacular natural scenery. It’s an expensive destination, crowded with daytrippers by day and the wealthy (and celebs) by night. But if you don’t enjoy the glamour or crowds, there are ways to enjoy Capri’s quieter side: Read about Capri and its secrets
Ischia
Ischia is among the largest and most populous of Italy’s ‘smaller’ islands. With several little towns, beaches, thermal springs, footpaths and an interesting fortress, there’s lots to do and all more cheap and cheerful than Capri: Ischia tourist guide
Procida
Smallest of the islands in the Golfo di Napoli, Procida has a charmingly cinematic 1950s vibe, a sandy beach and one of the loveliest harboursides in Italy. Read about Procida
Pontine islands (Isole Pontine)
The Pontine islands are in the Lazio region, off the Tyrrhenian coast between Rome and Naples. The principal port for reaching the islands is Formia, on the Rome-Naples railway line, although some connections run from other ports. Two of the islands are great tourist destinations with places to stay; other smaller islands are uninhabited and visitable on boat trips.
Ponza
Ponza is the largest of the Pontine islands and the liveliest. With a busy, picturesque little port town, scattered settlements and rocky shores, it has a simple charm. Read about Ponza
Ventotene
Much smaller and more basic than Ponza, Ventotene has a Roman harbour and ruins, a quaint village and overlooks fascinating ex-prison island Santo Stefano. More about Ventotene
Tuscan islands
Although the island of Elba is known to both tourists and students of Napoleonic history, Tuscany’s smaller islands are not very well-known outside Italy. A smattering of small, hard-to-visit islands include a prison and a nature reserve. But the two islands below are both accessible and welcoming, and make great destinations for lovers of peace and walking as well as the usual island pursuits.
Capraia
Capraia is a charming natural paradise with a lot of unspoilt scenery. There’s a little marina, a village clustered around a restored fortress and the evocative ruins of a prison colony. Otherwise footpaths, nature and sea are Capraia’s main attractions. Reached from Livorno. Learn about Capraia
Giglio
Another island with well-marked footpaths, ideal for lovers of the outdoors. Plus sandy beaches, superb scenery and a fortified village. Reached from Porto Santo Stefano. Discover Giglio
Sicilian islands
Sicily has the best range of small islands, clustered in several archipelagos to the north, west and south of the main island of Sicily. I love the Sicilian islands, but on the whole visitors should be prepared for a shabbier kind of picturesque. Expect sunny but rugged charm, dusty streets, and a more casual approach to life and organisation, as well as a friendly welcome, vivid colours and unforgettable scenery. Footpaths can be hit and miss, but where they exist and have been kept clear, they are often world-beating for views and atmosphere.
My favourites are the Aeolian islands (Isole Eolie), off the northern coast of Sicily and western coast of Calabria. They can be reached from a number of ports in Italy and Sicily (some with seasonal crossings), but the main departure point is Milazzo in Sicily. Milazzo is reachable by direct coach service from Catania Airport. It can be possible to reach the Aeolian islands from the UK in a day, depending on flight and coach times (my record was 9½ hours door to door), but sometimes an overnight stop in Sicily is required.
A quicker-to-reach archipelago that’s handy for travellers on a budget is the Egadi islands. These are off Sicily’s western coast, just a short ferry-ride from Trapani (with a bus to the port from Trapani Airport, used by Ryanair). Read on for more on the best Sicilian islands.
Ustica
A solitary island north of Sicily (ferries from Palermo), Ustica is a low-key destination out of high season, has an attractive port, agricultural inland and the unusual bonus of a coastal path all around the island, walkable in a few hours. Ustica travel guide
Lipari (Aeolian islands)
Of the seven inhabited Aeolian islands (Isole Eolie), Lipari is the liveliest and largest, with a busy port town full of restaurants, a fantastic archaeological museum, panoramic footpaths and pebble beaches. A great base for exploring the other islands or a starting point for island-hopping. Read more about Lipari
Stromboli (Aeolian islands)
A unique and adventurous destination, Stromboli is an active volcano which erupts almost continually. When danger levels permit, you can hike up to see the eruptions or enjoy a pizza watching the fiery explosions. It’s a ruggedly picturesque and dramatic choice. More about Stromboli
Panarea (Aeolian islands)
Panarea is the most classy (and expensive) Aeolian island. Highlights are dreamy terraces with views of Stromboli’s eruptions, hotels with pools, little coves to discover and scenic footpaths. Read about the charms of Panarea
Salina (Aeolian islands)
Known as the ‘green pearl’ of the Aeolian islands, Salina has a rustic charm and village feel as well as some quietly chic hotels and restaurants. Salina offers walks, coves, boat trips and the best local food in the islands. Discover Salina and its villages
Alicudi (Aeolian islands)
Island of an elemental magic: a steep-sided extinct volcano which feels like the end of the earth (or Italy). Walkers will need to be fit to tackle the steps which climb and criss-cross the slopes. An unforgettable place to stay. Read about Alicudi
Favignana (Egadi islands)
Low-key dusty island of cycling, adventurous coves, beaches and a fabulous ‘impossible’ garden. Read about Favignana
Marettimo (Egadi islands)
Remote and simple mountainous island appealing to divers and hikers. More about Marettimo
Levanzo (Egadi islands)
Stunningly picturesque port with turquoise water and white houses. Beyond this, a wild island with a prehistoric cave to visit. Levanzo tourist information
Sardinia’s islands
La Maddalena (island & archipelago)
La Maddalena is the principal island of this low-lying archipelago off north-eastern Sardinia. The island and its neighbours boast legendarily beautiful unspoilt beaches, boat trips, and on neighbouring Caprera, Garibaldi’s home, now a museum. Read about La Maddalena
Island-hopping
If you enjoy the idea of island-hopping in Italy, the best options are the archipelagos with a choice of places to stay. These are the only reliable chances for direct island-to-island transport connections (with occasional seasonal exceptions). The Aeolian islands are my top recommendation, with seven islands to skip between, all of which have accommodation options. Transport between the Aeolian islands is frequent and straightforward with crossings lasting from ten minutes up to a couple of hours. You have to get to the Eolie in the first place though …
Other areas where you can hop between islands easily are the Egadi islands (three islands) and the Pontine islands (two islands to stay on, others to visit on excursions). In the Bay of Naples, Ischia and Procida are on the same ferry route from Naples, so are easily combined in a two-centre holiday. To reach Capri from either of those islands, you will probably have to return to Naples and change ferries, though you may find seasonal summer connections between Ischia and Capri.
When to travel to Italy’s islands
The island holiday season for Italians essentially consists of two months: July and August. Most islands can become very crowded with Italian families and partying young people. The tourist season does extend beyond this peak though, with tourist businesses usually up and running, and the weather warm, between May/June and September.
My favourite time for islands is mid-May to mid-June, when you are almost guaranteed warm or hot weather and sunshine, there’s a holiday atmosphere and some (not all) boat excursions are operating. The islands are green and blooming and usually still comfortable temperatures before the summer gets really baking. For serious walking opportunities, April-May is better to avoid heatwaves. I had a great trip to a nearly tourist-free Ustica in the middle of April one year.
I also enjoy September island trips, but the weather can turn stormy and there can be a narrow window between peak season (high prices, crowds) and the winding-down of tourist activities and the onset of autumnal rain and the associated ferry disruptions. Travelling becomes more of a gamble, though there are rewards when trips go smoothly.
Over the winter half of the year (October-May) you may still find excellent weather and mild temperatures, especially on the Sicilian islands. But ferry services are reduced and there is more risk of cancellations; occasionally islands may be cut off for several days by high seas. Most hotels and B&Bs will be closed. If travelling over this time, be prepared for more limited sleeping/eating/travel options, and for practicality, consider sticking to the islands closest to the mainland with substantial resident populations, like the Bay of Naples islands; these will have the best connections and services.
More Italian islands
I have visited, loved and written about many of Italy’s islands. But there are still some enticing islands I’ve yet to visit and research in person. These include:
- Elba – large island tourist destination with mining and Napoleonic heritage
- Pantelleria – exclusive holiday appeal south of Sicily
- Lampedusa – another island between Sicily and Africa, destination for migrant boats but also some tourism
- Tremiti islands – small islands off the coast of Puglia
Looking for more ideas? Try my guide to Italy’s best seaside resorts
