Hydrofoil (fast ferry)

• Passengers only: Vehicles can’t be brought aboard, but you can bring luggage and pets, following the regulations.

• Average crossing time: The crossing takes about 50-60 minutes, or 70-80 minutes if it stops first in Procida.

• On-board services: Air conditioning, restrooms, and a small snack bar on some boats.

Note: Traditional vehicle ferries don’t run on the Sorrento-Ischia route. If you need to embark a vehicle, you’ll have to depart from Naples or Pozzuoli. From there you can take a ferry to Ischia with Caremar or Medmar. During the summer, residents of the region of Campania aren’t allowed to bring vehicles to Ischia.

High season (April-October)

The first ferry from Sorrento to Ischia usually departs around 9 am. On this page you can check ferry routes and hydrofoil timetables in real time. In the event of bad weather or rough seas, call the ferry company to check if crossings have been suspended.

The last ferry departs in the afternoon around 5 pm.

Low season (November-March)

There aren’t any direct crossings in low season, so you’ll have to depart from Naples (Napoli) or Pozzuoli for the island of Ischia.

During this period, it may be easier to organize the trip with connections by land, using the Circumvesuviana or bus to Naples and then a ferry or hydrofoil.

Tip: Always check the updated timetables online or via the call center. Schedules may change based on weather conditions.

Sorrento

Departures take place at the Port of Sorrento (Marina Piccola), located just below the historic center. To go down to the port you can use the public elevator or take the scenic staircase.

In high season the area can be very crowded, and parking is expensive. If you arrive by car and need to leave it in Sorrento, consider using the parking lots just outside the center, which offer a shuttle service to the port.

Ischia

Boats usually dock at Ischia Porto, the island’s main port and the central hub for transport to other towns on the island such as Casamicciola, Forio, Lacco Ameno, Sant’Angelo.

Some crossings may stop first in Procida, which extends the crossing length by a few nautical miles and about 10-20 minutes.

As already mentioned, hydrofoils on the Sorrento-Ischia route are passenger-only, so you can take luggage and pets on board but no vehicles. If you have a car and want to bring it to the island, you‘ll have to take a ferry from Naples or Pozzuoli. Keep in mind that Ischia (as well as Capri) imposes traffic restrictions for non-residents in the summer months.

Book in advance

During peak months (July and August) you can easily find all the routes full. It is better to buy tickets online, especially if you want to guarantee a place on the first available ferry.

Arrive early

Show up at least 20 minutes before boarding time. If you need to collect a paper ticket, you may have to wait a bit at the ticket counter.

Luggage and extras

• Usually one piece of luggage, a carry-on bag, is included in the ticket price.

• For trolleys and bulky suitcases you may have to pay an extra 2-3 euros.

• Make sure that the dimensions of the luggage respect the guidelines indicated by the company (Alilauro, NLG, Gescab or Alilauro Gruson).

Check the weather

Hydrofoils are more sensitive to waves than ferries. If seas are rough, sailings are likely to be suspended or rescheduled. We recommend checking the weather forecast in real time or contacting the company's call center.

Plan your excursion

The island of Ischia is large, so if you’re only coming for a few hours, choose a single activity (such as a boat tour, Aragonese Castle, or thermal spa) to make the most of your time.