Naples to Ischia Ferry

The Naples to Ischia ferry comes in two kinds, from two piers. High speed ferries run by Alilauro, SNAV and Caremar leave Molo Beverello and reach Ischia in 50–60 minutes for €23–26.20. Conventional car ferries run by Caremar and Medmar leave Calata Porta di Massa and take about 1 hour 30 minutes, for €15.90–16.70 as a foot passenger. In late September 2026 there were more than 30 departures a day between them, from 06:00 to 21:55. The one thing a first-timer should know: Ischia has three ferry ports, Ischia Porto, Casamicciola Terme and Forio, and the island is big. Book the boat to the port nearest your hotel and you can save an hour on the island's buses.

Ferry options compared

On the Naples to Ischia route you choose between speed and price. If you bring a car, only the conventional ferries will do.

High speed ferries from Molo Beverello

• Alilauro. The busiest ferry operator on the route. In late September 2026 it ran nine daily high speed ferry departures to Ischia Porto (09:40 to 20:20), extra early boats on weekdays (06:50, 07:05, 07:35) and several a day to Forio on the west coast. About 1 hour, €23–24.10. Luggage: one bag up to 50×35×20 cm and 9 kg.
• SNAV. Six daily departures to Casamicciola Terme (08:30, 11:30, 12:30, 16:20, 17:10, 19:00), with extras on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. About 1 hour, €24.80–26.20. Luggage: one bag of 9 kg, 50×35×20 cm.
• Caremar fast ferry. Five daily departures to Ischia Porto (08:55, 11:45, 13:10, 14:45, 18:15), plus 21:05 on Saturday and Sunday. About 1 hour, €23.90. Caremar allows 10 kg of hand luggage on its fast boats.

Conventional ferries from Calata Porta di Massa

• Caremar. Seven daily conventional ferry departures to Ischia Porto (06:00, 09:25, 10:45, 15:10, 17:35, 19:25, 21:55) and one to Casamicciola (15:45). 1 hour 30 minutes, €16.70. The luggage allowance is 20 kg, and the ships carry cars.
• Medmar. Three daily ferries to Ischia Porto (08:40, 14:20, 19:00), plus 10:05 and 16:50 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and 21:30 on Friday. It also runs a 03:40 weekday ferry to Casamicciola. 1 hour 30 minutes, €15.90. It carries cars.

For foot passengers, the high speed ferry or hydrofoil saves about half an hour of travel time. The conventional ferry is cheaper, steadier in rough seas and better for heavy luggage. Some Caremar sailings call at Procida on the way, which adds time. Check whether your ferry is direct.

Timetable and season

Ischia has the busiest ferry schedules in the Bay of Naples. Ferryhopper counts over 30 daily crossings in high season, and Direct Ferries counted 157 sailings a week in September 2026. Timetables vary by day of the week: on Friday, Saturday and Sunday there are extra boats from Naples, while some early Alilauro sailings run Monday to Friday only (not on Saturday, Sunday or public holidays).

Times change often, and some are seasonal. In late September 2026, Alilauro's evening 20:20 departure moved to 20:45 on some weekdays, and several SNAV extras ran only until 30 September. The route runs year round, but in winter the timetable is reduced, with fewer high speed sailings.

In the other direction, the first boats from Ischia leave early: Caremar at 06:10 and Medmar at 06:25 from Ischia Porto to Porta di Massa. In late September 2026 the last Alilauro high speed ferry to Molo Beverello left at 19:10 (19:25 on Friday and holidays), and the last direct Caremar ferry left at 20:20.

When the sea is rough, high speed ferries are cancelled first and the conventional ferries keep sailing. For real time updates, Caremar posts its next departures ("prossime partenze") on its website.

Getting to the Naples ferry port

Both Ischia terminals are on the Naples waterfront below Piazza Municipio.

• Molo Beverello is the high speed ferry pier. It is a five-minute walk from Municipio station on Metro Line 1. Alilauro, SNAV and Caremar each have a ticket office here.
• Calata Porta di Massa is the car ferry pier, about 500 metres east along the waterfront. Walk-on passengers for Caremar and Medmar ferries go here too.

From Naples Capodichino airport, the Alibus stops at Porta di Massa and at Molo Beverello. It runs every 15–25 minutes from about 05:30 to midnight and costs €5; the ride to the port takes about 30 minutes. A taxi from Naples airport to the port has a fixed fare of €24 (ask for the tariffa predeterminata). From the train station, Napoli Centrale, take Metro Line 1 from Piazza Garibaldi to Municipio, or the Alibus.

Arrive 30–45 minutes before departure as a foot passenger, and earlier with a car.

The Pozzuoli alternative

Pozzuoli, west of Naples, has the shortest ferry route to Ischia. Medmar, Caremar and smaller companies (Gestour, Ippocampo) ran about 25 departures a day in summer 2026 to Ischia Porto and Casamicciola. The crossing takes about 1 hour by motorboat and 1 hour 20 minutes by ferry. Car fares are lower than from Naples: from about €36 for a car up to 4 metres, against about €47 from Porta di Massa. If you are driving from the north or staying near the Phlegraean Fields, Pozzuoli is usually the better car ferry port.

Arriving in Ischia

• Ischia Porto is the main port, on the north-east corner of the island in Ischia town. Most Alilauro, Caremar and Medmar boats arrive here. EAV buses start from the port: the CS (circolare sinistra) and CD (circolare destra) lines circle the island in opposite directions, via Casamicciola, Lacco Ameno, Forio, Serrara Fontana and Barano. The bus stop is a short walk from the ferry: go left (facing the island) and follow the road.
• Casamicciola Terme on the north coast gets SNAV's high speed ferries and some Caremar and Medmar ferries. It is convenient for hotels in Casamicciola and Lacco Ameno.
• Forio on the west coast gets some Alilauro sailings. Use it if you are staying in Forio or near the western beaches.

EAV changed the island's bus lines from 6 July 2026, so check the current routes when you arrive. Tickets are sold at the port and at newsagents.

Taking a car to Ischia

Unlike Capri, Ischia allows visitors' cars, but with a big exception. From 3 April to 31 October 2026, vehicles registered to residents or companies based in the Campania region cannot land or circulate on Ischia. Foreign-registered cars are exempt. Some municipalities allow limited exemptions for Campania residents on longer stays (7 or more nights in a hotel, or 15 or more in private accommodation). Fines run from €430 to €1,731. Medmar advises all non-residents to read the decree before booking a vehicle ticket. If you pick up a hire car in Naples, ask the rental company where it is registered.

Car fares in 2026 were about €47.30 for a car up to 4 metres from Naples and €67.60 over 4 metres, plus the driver and passenger tickets. Only Caremar and Medmar carry vehicles. The Alilauro and SNAV high speed ferries are foot passengers only.

Tickets and prices

You can book online direct with Alilauro, SNAV, Caremar and Medmar, or search all ferry companies at once on Ferryhopper or Direct Ferries. You can also buy at the ticket office at either pier. A one way adult ticket in September 2026 cost:

• €15.90 (Medmar) or €16.70 (Caremar) on the conventional ferry
• €23–24.10 with Alilauro, €23.90 with the Caremar fast ferry and €24.80–26.20 with SNAV on the high speed ferry
• from about €47 for a car, plus passengers

As a foot passenger, book a few days ahead for Friday, Saturday and Sunday sailings in summer and around public holidays; mid-week you can usually buy at the port. With a car, book as early as possible. Return tickets tie you to one company, so a one way ticket each way keeps you flexible.

Tips

• Match the port to your hotel. Ischia's three ports are far apart by road. Forio or Casamicciola can save you a long bus ride from Ischia Porto.
• Travel mid-week if you can. The operators add extra Friday to Sunday sailings because weekends are busy. Mid-week crossings (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) are quieter and easier to book at the port.
• Bring less luggage on the high speed ferry. Alilauro and SNAV include one 9 kg bag and charge for more. Caremar's conventional ferries allow 20 kg.
• Check for Procida stops. Some Caremar ferries call at Procida, which adds time but makes an island-hop easy. See Naples to Procida ferry.
• Plan the whole bay. Our Bay of Naples ferries guide, the Ischia ferries port page and the Naples ferry port page cover connections to Capri and Sorrento. For operator details, see Caremar, SNAV and Alilauro.