Boutique Hotels in Ponza Island

Bring a book, your knitting needles, your paint brushes, and your bathing suit. It’s island life. You know that dolce vita or the dolce far niente you’ve been hearing about? Well Ponza is where it’s at. Hang out. Eat. People-watch. Go for long walks. Lay on the beach. Enjoy fresh food. Get to know the locals.

Getting to Ponza

From Rome, take the train to Anzio or Formia, either of which is just over an hour ride away (to the south, so in the direction of Naples) as long as you don’t get the slow train. Then take the 1-hour hydrofoil (www.vetor.it) or the 2-3 hour boat (www.caremar.it). Boats to Ponza also leave directly from Naples in July and August.

Getting Around Ponza

Even though it’s where the boats come in, staying near the harbor is convenient because you can do a lot on foot. Don’t rent a car, or you’ll spend your time stuck in traffic. If you’re a very confident scooter or motorbike driver, the perfect way to get around the island is by motorbike/vespa/scooter, but I highly recommend not trying to learn to drive one on Ponza. You can also take taxis, water taxis, or the bus – which is somewhat old and dilapidated, but will get you around the island.

Beach-hopping in Ponza

Many of Ponza’s beaches are reached only by water taxi, so grab one in the harbor and either set a time to have them pick you up, or call when you’re ready.  Beaches worth visiting include  Frontone, Cala Felice, Lucia Rosa grotto, Tirreno beach, Cala Feola beach (on the other end of island), the natural pools, Piana bianca. If you’ve got more than 2 or 3 days, consider a day trip to the nearby island of Palmarola. 

Other than beach-hopping and participating in the Italian dolce far niente on the island of Ponza, I’d recommend a meal at Il Tramonto (“sunset”), which has the best views on the island.