Ischia sits on a still-active volcano, and its hot springs have drawn bathers since the Greeks and Romans. Today that water feeds a string of thermal parks gardens of pools at different temperatures, most of them opening straight onto the sea. Here are the ones worth your time, from the grand to the secret.

01 Giardini Poseidon Terme (Citara)

The island's largest and best-known thermal garden, set above Citara Bay in Forio, with around twenty pools ranging from cool to very hot, plus a natural steam grotto and its own stretch of beach. It is built for a full, unhurried day.

Good to know Open daily through the warmer months; a swim cap is required, so bring one. There is a self-service cafeteria, or you can carry in your own food.
Concierge Tip Citara faces west stay late and watch the sun drop into the sea straight from the pools.

02 Negombo (San Montano)

The most beautifully designed of the parks, wrapped around the sheltered San Montano bay near Lacco Ameno. Sub-tropical planting, sculpture, and salt-water thermal pools step down to one of the calmest swimming beaches on the island.

Good to know Open daily in season. Drinking water and towels are sold rather than free, and it's a short taxi ride from the main port.
Concierge Tip Bring your own water bottle and beach towel you'll skip the rental fees and stay hydrated between soaks.
The crescent bay of San Montano near Lacco Ameno, turquoise water with moored sailing boats and the sandy beach beyond
San Montano

03 Parco Aphrodite Apollon (Sant'Angelo)

A quieter, more rustic park on the slope above Sant'Angelo, with a run of pools at different temperatures and wide views over the village and the southern coast. The thermal water here is unfiltered, and emptied and refilled each night.

Good to know Open daily in season; reached on foot from the pedestrian village or by boat. A swim cap isn't required, and there's a small restaurant.
Concierge Tip Take a water taxi from Sant'Angelo's harbour rather than walking it spares you a long, hot climb.

04 Parco Termale Castiglione (Casamicciola)

A large terraced park dropping down to its own little bay near Casamicciola, with salt-water thermal pools, a big seawater pool, and easy bus access. A reliable family choice.

Good to know Open daily in season; a swim cap is required. Towel rental usually needs a small cash deposit, returned at the end.
Concierge Tip Head for the lower pools nearest the sea they have the best outlook and tend to be the quietest.

05 'O Vagnitiello (Casamicciola)

A tiny hydrotherapy garden tucked into the cliffs along the Casamicciola shore, with a handful of warm pools, a sauna, and direct access to a clear patch of sea. It feels private in a way the big parks can't.

Good to know Open daily in season; small enough that it fills quickly. No swim cap required, and there's a good little restaurant on site.
Concierge Tip Come early or late, or outside high summer, to have the pools almost to yourself.

06 Antiche Terme di Cavascura (Maronti)

The oldest thermal site on the island, set in a narrow gorge behind Maronti beach and used since Roman times. Expect stone tubs, a sauna carved into the rock and heated by the spring, and a raw, historic atmosphere rather than polish.

Good to know Open daily in season; reached on foot from Maronti, or by water taxi to the beach and then a short walk inland. Treatments are sold as packages.
Concierge Tip Pair it with a morning on Maronti, and try the cave sauna it's the reason to come.

07 Free thermal soaks: Sorgeto & the Maronti fumaroles

You don't need a ticket to feel the island's geothermal heat. At Sorgeto Bay near Panza, hot water rises into the sea among the rocks. Along Maronti, steam vents the fumaroles heat the sand so much that locals cook in it.

Good to know Both are free and open to all. The ground and rocks get genuinely hot, so tread carefully and wear water shoes.
Concierge Tip Near the fumarole end of Maronti, dig a shallow hollow in the warm sand for your own natural footbath.
Baia di Sorgeto the rocky cove beneath the cliff, where thermal water warms the crystal-clear sea
Sorgeto

08 Planning your thermal day

A few habits make the experience better. The classic rhythm is hot, then cold, then hot again a warm pool, a cool plunge or a dip in the sea, and back. Most parks run from spring to autumn and offer full- or half-day tickets.

Good to know Bring swimwear, flip-flops, a towel, and a swim cap; check current opening times and prices before you set out, as they shift with the season.
Concierge Tip Keep the hottest pools to ten or fifteen minutes, drink plenty of water, and if you're pregnant or have a heart condition, check with your doctor first.