The Italy Travel Podcast - An Only A Bag Podcast

Now that you know the general vibe of Ischia, it's time to talk about how to get there, and how to get around once you're there. We also talk about things you can do once you get to Ischia (taking a hike to the top of a volcano, for instance) as well as the absolute plethora of thermal baths and pools.

So if you're looking for a relaxing way to spend some of your time in Italy, consider visiting one of Ischia's hundreds of thermal baths and soaking in the relaxed atmosphere of the island.

Getting to Ischia

The only way to get to Ischia is by sea via ferry or hydrofoil. The companies listed below are the operators of transport from mainland Italy to Ischia.

To Ischia from Naples:

⁠Caremar⁠

⁠Alilauro⁠

⁠Medmar⁠

To Ischia from Sorrento:

⁠Alilauro⁠

Getting Around Ischia

If you're looking to take a public bus around the island, you can see bus timetables for Ischia here:

eavsrl.it/orari-autobus

Shopping

There are tons of great local shops in the town of Ischia. Here are a few recommendations:

Mariarosaria Ferrara - sandal shop where Darcy bought her custom sandals

Project Lab Vintage - tiny and cool vintage clothing store

Myosotis 1955 - ceramics

La Ceramica Di Meglio Dei F.Lli Di Meglio & C. Sas - ceramics

There are lots of great jewelry stores along via Roma which turns into Corso Vittoria Colonna, particularly between via delle Terme and the Santa Maria delle Grazie church.

Things to do and See

Here are links to some of the major sites and tourist destinations we mentioned in this episode.

Castello Aragonese (Aragonese Castle) - castelloaragoneseischia.com

Giardini La Mortella (Mortella Botanical Garden) - lamortella.org

Giardini Poseidon Terme (Poseidon Garden Thermal Baths) - giardiniposeidonterme.com

Monte Epomeo is panoramic hike that we mention in this episode. It is free to visit.

You can join our Patreon for free! Want to support us and get a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate). 

Thanks for listening! 

xDarcy and Nathaniel

In this episode we're hopping over to the lesser-known island of Ischia. Ischia is an island renown in Italy for its thermal springs and spas, though "renown" might be a bit strong, seeing as outside of Italy it isn't very well known at all. We'll tell you about the town of Ischia proper and Ischia Porto and a little about our experience visiting for the first time. We found it useful—and fun!—to talk about the "vibe" of Capri and Sorrento as a way of framing the town, so in this episode we're doing a vibe check for Ischia.

We'll get into how to get to Ischia and what there is to do on the island in the next episode. However, if you're looking for a ferry to get there, you have a few options. Below are links to ferry companies that can take you to Ischia.

To Ischia from Naples

Caremar

Alilauro

Medmar

To Ischia from Sorrento

Alilauro

You can join our Patreon for free! Want to support us and get a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate). 

Thanks for listening! 

xDarcy and Nathaniel

We're back and we're still talking about Capri! In this episode, we wanted to discuss the Blue Grotto—one of southern Italy's most famous natural wonders—and whether or not it's worth it. We also wanted to try and answer the classic question of "Should I go to Capri just for the day or spend the night?" Lastly, while Capri can be (and very much is) expensive, we wanted to offer some of our thoughts on where to splurge on Capri and where to watch your wallet.

You can join our Patreon for free! Want a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate). 

Thanks for listening! 

xDarcy and Nathaniel

Having recently returned from a trip to Capri, we were once again reminded why it's so popular. Yes, it's touristy, and yes, finding authenticity in Capri can feel like a Herculean effort. But at the end of the day, it's one of the most beautiful places in Italy, not only for its views, but also for its nature and (believe it or not!) tranquility.

In this episode we discuss getting there, getting around the island (including getting to Anacapri), and the general vibe of the island.

You can join our Patreon for free! Want a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate). 

Thanks for listening! 

xDarcy and Nathaniel

Today we're discussing upcoming strikes in Italy for the month of June (of which there are thankfully few, so your June trip shouldn't see too many hiccups!). We're also talking about new rules and restrictions around electric scooters in Rome, the expansion of the STVR ban in Florence, and the first ever USA to Sardinia direct flight courtesy of Delta.

You can join our Patreon for free! Want a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate). 

Thanks for listening! 

xDarcy and Nathaniel

Today we're discussing the new EES (Entry/Exit System) that you will most likely encounter on your trip to Europe this year. Likewise, we're also looking at the court case that recently made it big in the headlines, establishing the fact that Italians (and people in Italy) have no "right" to tap water at a restaurant.

Thankfully, we're both no longer as sick as we were, so hopefully this episode is more cohesive sounding!

You can join our Patreon for free! Want a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate). 

Thanks for listening! 

xDarcy and Nathaniel

While it can be amazing to stay right smack-dab in the middle of Sorrento, it can also come with unforeseen challenges. Likewise, staying just outside of Sorrento might be a quiet retreat from the hubbub, but it can also mean you don't get the experience you were hoping for.

In this episode, we break down the various small towns around Sorrento and neighborhoods in Sorrento to help you figure out the best place to stay.

As mentioned in the episode, our "comments" on Spotify have been a little strange. We've been getting notifications for comments, but they don't always appear. So if you've left a comment and we haven't responded, please feel free to leave the comment again or reach out to us directly!

You can join our Patreon for free! Want a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate). 

Thanks for listening! 

xDarcy and Nathaniel

We're back!

Today we're talking about Sorrento, which we had briefly started talking about two weeks ago. This episode focuses on how to catch the bus, things to keep in mind surrounding using the bus, our experience with using taxis, and, of course, food. While in the past we've normally tried not to give specific recommendations (mainly as we know that food can be highly subjective, and what we might love y'all might not), we do end this episode with a few recommendations for where to eat.

As mentioned in the episode, our "comments" on Spotify have been a little strange. We've been getting notifications for comments, but they don't always appear. So if you've left a comment and we haven't responded, please feel free to leave the comment again or reach out to us directly!

You can join our Patreon for free! Want a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website ⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com ⁠⁠⁠

If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate). 

Thanks for listening! 

xDarcy and Nathaniel

We are still out of town, but we'll be back next week! Until then, please enjoy one our episodes from the end of last year.

"How could we talk about Naples and not about the pastries? After all, this is why you listen to Only A Bag! After a few thousand years of outside rule, one of the few good things (which is a weird way of saying, "Thanks for leaving behind some of your food when you ruled over us with an iron fist.") that came from it is the introduction of pastries. Graffa from the Austrian krapfen, baba from the French (and earlier Polish) baba, and sfogliatella from the nuns of Conci die Marini and then through a pastry chef who purchased the recipe and the rights to sell it (which is far more wholesome!). 

And, of course, like any other sweet thing over the course of history, someone looked at it and asked the age-old question, "Yes, but can it also be fried?". With that, we introduce you to the wonderful world of Neapolitan pastries!"

You can join our Patreon for free! Want a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website ⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com ⁠⁠⁠

If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate). 

Thanks for listening! 

xDarcy and Nathaniel 

As mentioned in last week's episodes, we are out of town this week! Instead of leaving you all without an episode, we're going back into the past to bring you an episode from the fall of last year. We hope you enjoy!

"Continuing the Naples theme, we delve into dinner time, street food (like the famous pizza portafoglio, or pizza folded into a triangle) and the most famous dish to ever come out of such a storied city: pizza not folded into a triangle. 

We mentioned a list of the best pizzerias in Italy which can be found here: ⁠https://www.50toppizza.it/50-top-pizza-italia-2025/ "

You can join our Patreon for free! Want a shout out on the podcast? Check out our paid tiers. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website ⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com ⁠⁠⁠

If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate). 

Thanks for listening! 

xDarcy and Nathaniel