islands
Islands Beyond Capri
The Italian islands worth a ferry that aren't Capri — from the Aeolians' smoking cones to Sardinia's granite archipelagos.
Curatorial note
Capri is the one everyone books. These are the ones we'd book again: Procida before it got famous, the Aeolians for a volcano you can climb at dawn, Elba for an island with Napoleon's ego and proper beaches, and La Maddalena for water so clear it feels exaggerated.
Island · Toscana
Elba
The most accessible Italian island — sandy beaches, Napoleon's exile (Villa San Martino), the iron-mining history, and the mountain. Worth a few days for the beach-and-history mix, and it's an easy ferry from Piombino.
Island · Sardegna
La Maddalena
The archipelago off the Costa Smeralda — pink granite rocks, turquoise water, and the national park. Worth a day or two for the boat and the Caprera (Garibaldi's island).
Island · Campania
Procida
The colorful, un-touristy sister of Capri — a small island of pastel houses, fishing harbors, and lemon groves, without the day-trip crowds. Worth a night for the slow island.
Island · Campania
Capri
Capri is worth a day trip or one night. It is extraordinarily crowded in season — the day-tripper crush from 11am to 4pm is intense. Stay overnight to see it empty, or ferry in early and leave by late afternoon.
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