Ponza might be my favorite Italian destination.
It’s a quaint island off the Western Coast of Italy and is beautiful, raw and very Italian! Steve’s family is actually from Ponza and we visited the island nearly 8 years ago when we first started dating. It was a month and a half into our relationship and we fell in love under the Ponzese sun (doesn’t have quite as nice a ring as Tuscan sun, but you know what I mean) and we decided to go back to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary.
We spent 5 nights on the island, 3 in an apartment in Le Forna, a village in the center of the island, and 2 in a hotel in the port and main town of Ponza. I loved splitting up our trip like this because we were able to enjoy the island as locals when we stayed in Le Forna but were also able to relax a bit more and enjoy the luxurious amenities of staying in a nice resort.
My parents who also were traveling around southern Italy came and met us in Ponza and we had a beautiful time exploring the island, visiting the many beaches and of course, eating our way through the villages.
If you’re planning a trip to Italy and want to try a new destination, I couldn’t recommend Ponza more. It’s where Italians vacations. It has all of the Italian charm of nearby regions like the Amalfi Coast but without the steep prices or hoards of tourists. Also, Beyonce and Jay Z AND Rihanna just recently visited in Ponza so you know it’s going to blow up soon!
Below is travel guide to help you plan your trip!
When you should go:
September!!! September is the best month to visit Ponza, or Southern Europe in general, because the weather is still very warm so but since it’s right after the busiest month of August, prices are often way less and there’s a fraction of the tourists. If you can’t make it in September, you definitely want to visit during the summer since Ponza is an island and the main highlights are the beaches!
How to Get There:
You need to take a ferry. Ferries from Anzio, Terracina and Formia depart 2-3 times per day. The easiest itinerary is to fly into Rome (FCO) and then take a train from Rome to either Anzio or Formia and then take the ferry to Ponza. Both time we visited Ponza we took the ferry from Formia. This ferry website efficiently helps you plan your itinerary.
You can search the date you want to arrive in Ponza and see what boats you can take from all cities. We took the boat from Formia because it had the latest departure time so it was the only option if we wanted to make it to Ponza on our 1st day. There is a lot of moving pieces but it’s actually quite easy. From our experience the boats always run on time, however, the trains can have delays so leave some extra time just in case you train is running late.
The Train Line and Rome to Rio are also great websites to help you plan your transportation.
Where to Stay:
Hotels:
Hotel Chiaia di Luna: A beautiful hotel with stunning views of Ponza’s crescent-shaped beach and cliffs. The hotel is very chic, walking distance to the port, has a great restaurant, a fun outdoor bar and a saltwater pool. My parents stayed in the hotel for 1 night and enjoyed their stay! They loved the property and the room but did say the room was a bit small.
Grand Hotel Santa Domitilla: This is the hotel Steve and I stayed at for 2 nights and I couldn’t recommend it more. We booked a classic room but were upgraded to a Superior (benefits of staying in September), which was spacious and had an outdoor patio that was huge and had beautiful views! The hotel is steps away from the port and has Roman Grottos that make for an incredibly relaxing stay. There were hot ones with jets and cold ones as well and you can go from hot to cold. The whole experience was very cool. We also loved eating at the hotel’s restaurant Il Melograno which was delicious.
Apartments:
Another option in Ponza is to stay in apartments. This allows you to experience the island like a local. If you stay in an apartment I recommend staying in Le Forna which is a village in the center of the island. There’s a lot of great beaches and cute restaurants in this part of of the island. The easiest way to book apartments is through Airbnb & VRBO.
What to do:
Go to the beach: The beaches in Ponza are unlike any others I’ve ever been to. The are almost all rock beaches with crystal blue waters. While you can rent chairs and umbrellas at most and lounge, they are definitely more for the adventurous type. Water shoes are necessary! My favorite beaches are Piscina Naturali located in Le Forna, and Frontone accessed by a $5 boat ride from the port.
Rent a boat: This is my favorite activity in Ponza because it allows you to see the whole island, swim at beaches only accessible by boat and it just makes for a fun and adventurous day. You can rent boats from a number of stores down by the port and they are on average 70 euros for the day plus gas which is usually 20 euros. You do not need a hi-speed boat! The island is very small and you can easily travel around the whole island in a few hours even with stops to swim at beaches. I would suggest visiting a deli first, getting some paninis and beers and spending the whole day at sea.
Explore the port: The port has tons of great restaurants and lots of shops ranging from contemporary clothing boutiques to tourist shops selling local merchandise. One of my favorite things to do in the port is grab an Aperol Spritz during sunset and sit back and people watch.
Where to eat:
Il Timone: Great for pizza and oysters! LOVE THEIR OYSTERS.
Il Melograno: This was the restaurant at Grand Hotel Santa Domitilla. The food was delicious. When we went there was an option to pay for the chef’s menu which included an appetizer, primi piatto, secondi piatto and dessert all for 30 euros. It is so worth it.
Oresteria: Cute trendy restaurant located in the port. I loved their calamari!! Smaller portions and not exactly cheap but every plate was fantastic.
Local Deli: Found at the back of almost every supermarket is the deli. Words can’t explain how good the paninis are! I think we had them every single day. If you’re spending a day at the beach I would pop by a deli first and get a bunch of food to bring with you! The paninis are normally 3-5 euros depending on what you get!
How to get around:
Take the bus: There is only 1 main road that runs across the island and the bus system is Ponza is very efficient. We used it as our primary mode of transportation. The bus runs from early am until 3 am so almost 24 hours a day, although it’s obviously slower late at night. The drivers are also very helpful and friendly and most speak decent enough English to answer any questions you might have.
Rent a car or motorbike: You can also rent a car or a bike during your trip to Ponza. The first time we were there we rented an ATV. There are a few rental locations right in the port and although the streets can be small and winding, it is very easy to get around Ponza so I think it’s worth it and very safe to rent your own car or bike if you don’t want to take the bus.
Any other questions about Ponza?! Let me know! Would be so happy to help you plan your trip!!
What I wore in Ponza
xoxo Kristina
