An Ischia boat tour is the easiest way to see the island’s coves, beaches and the Aragonese Castle from the water. The choice depends on where you sleep. We compared the two best-rated options. Boat excursion with lunch on board to discover Ischia leaves from Forio, on the island, and is rated 4.9 across 584 reviews, from about $81. Small Group Ischia and Procida Boat Day Tour from Sorrento crosses the bay from Sorrento and is rated 4.7 across 120 reviews, from about $230.
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The verdict
Choose by where you are staying. If you are on Ischia, Boat excursion with lunch on board to discover Ischia is our pick: 556 of its 584 reviews give it five stars, it costs about $81 per person, and the price includes lunch and drinks. It circles the island with stops at beaches such as Citara and Maronti, the village of Sant’Angelo, San Pancrazio and the Aragonese Castle.
If you are based in Sorrento, Small Group Ischia and Procida Boat Day Tour from Sorrento is the way to see the island without moving hotels. It costs more, about $230 per person, and adds a €10 destination fee paid on the spot, but it includes the crossing, four hours ashore on Ischia and an hour on Procida.
Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. Neither is wheelchair accessible.
These tours are not competitors. The Forio tour is a day on the water around Ischia, for people already on the island. The Sorrento tour is a day trip to two islands, with most of the time spent ashore on Ischia. If you only have one day in the Bay of Naples and are staying in Sorrento, the second is the practical choice. If you are spending several days on Ischia, the first shows you its coastline from the sea. For the island itself, see our guide to Ischia, the green island.
Which one is for you?
Take the Forio boat tour if
- You are already staying on Ischia.
- You want the option with the most reviews and the highest share of five-star ratings.
- You want a proper lunch on board, not a sandwich.
- You want to see the island’s coast and beaches from the sea.
Take the Sorrento boat tour if
- You are staying in Sorrento and want Ischia as a day trip.
- You want to see Procida too, in the same day.
- You want time ashore: four hours on Ischia, for lunch or the beach.
- You like a small group, with drinks from soft drinks to Prosecco and limoncello included.
What each price covers
The Forio boat tour
Included: a boat trip around Ischia, bruschetta served with Ischian wine, a lunch on board in the Neapolitan tradition, coffee or tea, soft drinks, bottled water and a restroom on board. The route stops for about 20 minutes each at Citara beach, Sant’Angelo, Maronti beach, La Scarrupata, the Aragonese Castle, Spiaggia degli Inglesi and San Francesco beach, with an hour at San Pancrazio.
Not included: Wi-Fi on board and scuba equipment.
The Sorrento boat tour
Included: an English-speaking skipper, a one-way transfer from a central meeting point to the port, snacks, soft drinks, water, beer, wine, Prosecco and limoncello, a caprese sandwich for lunch and a homemade sweet treat. The itinerary allows about four hours on Ischia and one hour on Procida.
Not included: hotel pickup and drop-off, snorkeling equipment (you can bring your own or buy it before boarding: €15 for a mask and €9 for a snorkel), and a €10 per person destination fee for docking and landing, paid on the spot.
Where each one starts
- Forio boat tour: the Cristoforo Colombo parking lot in Forio, on the west coast of Ischia.
- Sorrento boat tour: the Achille Lauro municipal parking lot on Via Correale, Sorrento.
Side by side
| Forio boat tour | Sorrento boat tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9 from 584 | 4.7 from 120 |
| Five-star reviews | 556 (95%) | 103 (86%) |
| Price | from about $81 per person | from about $230 per person, plus a €10 fee on the spot |
| Length | 8 hours | 11 hours |
| Format | Boat tour around Ischia | Small-group boat day trip |
| Lunch | Neapolitan lunch on board | Caprese sandwich |
| Islands | Ischia, from the water | Ischia (4 hours ashore) and Procida (1 hour) |
| Start | Forio, Ischia | Sorrento |
| Wheelchair accessible | No | No |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before | Free up to 24 hours before |
What travelers say
On the Forio boat tour
This boat excursion was more than just a boat ride around Ischia – it was an immersion into Neapolitan life on the Island of Ischia.
Michael_A, August 2026, via Viator
From the first meeting in the parking lot until we left the boat I felt like I was with family, a family I truly enjoyed.
Jennifer_R, July 2026, via Viator
On the Sorrento boat tour
Even though the weather was a bit cold, this was the highlight of our trip. We loved the boat ride and the stops, the crew was amazing.
Christine_J, September 2026, via Viator
Our Ischia tour was excellent. Francesca and Captain Nello were outstanding and made the tour amazing.
Geoff_E, August 2026, via Viator
Reviewers of the Forio tour talk about the atmosphere on board as much as the scenery, and 95% give it five stars. The Sorrento tour’s reviewers praise the crews and the stops; its lower ratings are a small share of 120 reviews.
More of the Bay of Naples
Ischia’s neighbor has its own boat tours: compare our Procida boat tour options, or cross to the other side of the bay with our Capri boat tour. For the full picture, see the best boat tours in Italy.
For planning, read our guides to Ischia, things to do in Sorrento and hot springs in Italy, which covers Ischia too.
Questions travelers ask
Which Ischia boat tour is best?
If you are staying on Ischia, the Boat excursion with lunch on board to discover Ischia: it is rated 4.9 across 584 reviews and starts at about $81 per person with lunch included. If you are staying in Sorrento, the Small Group Ischia and Procida Boat Day Tour from Sorrento is rated 4.7 across 120 reviews.
Can I visit Ischia on a day trip from Sorrento?
Yes. The Sorrento boat tour takes about 11 hours, with about four hours ashore on Ischia and one hour on Procida, according to its itinerary on Viator.
Is lunch included?
On both. The Forio tour serves bruschetta with Ischian wine and a lunch on board in the Neapolitan tradition. The Sorrento tour includes a caprese sandwich, snacks and drinks.
Are there extra costs?
The Sorrento tour lists a €10 per person destination fee for docking and landing, paid on the spot, and does not include snorkeling gear. The Forio tour lists no extra fee on Viator, but excludes Wi-Fi and scuba equipment.
Can I cancel?
Both offer a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start, as shown on Viator in September 2026. Check the terms again when you book.
Book the Forio tour if you are sleeping on Ischia; book the Sorrento tour if Ischia is a day out from the mainland.
Editorial assessment by Italy2Love, September 2026. Inclusions and exclusions, meeting points, itineraries, prices, ratings, review counts and cancellation terms read on both Viator product pages (product codes 338529P1 and 51921P17), September 2026. Reviews quoted with attribution to their authors and to Viator. Next review March 2027, or sooner on any change to either option.