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Located in the Tyrrhenian Sea midway between Rome and Naples, Ponza is part of a group of islands that really comes alive in the summer. With translucent water, more beaches than you can count, and delicious fresh seafood, Ponza is a destination you definitely should consider. It is quite small and not well known to tourists yet so get ready for a true local summer vacation destination. Below are the top 7 things to do in Ponza.

7 things you can’t miss in Ponza

1. Visit the islands finest beaches

Ponza is a summer dream destination with 40 km of rugged coastline with coves, beaches, and limestone cliffs overlooking the sea. You can not visit this island without taking a dip in the sea and spending some time at the beach. The most famous beaches to visit in Ponza are Frontone Beach, Piscine Naturali, and Spiaggia di Lucia Rosa. Chiaia di Luna beach is a stunning beach located on the western side of the island with white tuff cliffs that reach more than 100 meters high. Unfortunately, the tunnel to it is closed due to security hazards so therefore you can not visit this beach by land anymore. 

Read my post Best beaches in Ponza to find more beaches to visit.

2. Go on a hike

Ponza has some good hiking trails across the island with some stunning viewpoints. My personal favorite is the hiking trail to the lighthouse Il Faro in the south part of the island. You can either do the challenging hike all the way to the lighthouse or you can settle for some amazing views from the top of the mountain that is called Punto Panoramico su Punta della Guardia. A less strenuous hike is the old mule track that leads to the highest point on the island and the abandoned Naval building at Monte Guardia. Punta Incenso on the other end of the island is also a good hike.

3. Watch a sunset

Isn’t watching a sunset while on vacation something special? I mean there are sunsets every day but how often do you take time to watch them when you are at home? I confess that I am really bad at it. Sunsets are a big thing on Ponza and people flock to the western side of the island to watch it go down. Chiaia de Luna is the perfect spot to visit if you want to see a good sunset and the scenic viewpoint is often pretty crowded. You can also see a nice sunset while eating at Il Tramonto which is also located on the western side of the island.

4. Rent a boat

Ponza has to be explored by boat since there are several little caves all around the island and many of the most beautiful beaches are only accessible by boat. You can hire a small boat on Ponza without having a license which is so fun! If you feel confident in navigating a boat, I really recommend you to hire one. Don’t rent your boat at the main harbor, as the prices there are higher there than at other ports of Ponza. Hire the boat at the port of Santa Maria which is only a 10-minute walk from the port of Ponza – it’s much cheaper. There are two different boat rentals there to choose from, GianMaria Maltese and Albatross.

The classic Ponza-style wooden boat called gozzo costs around €50 for the day, which is until 6 pm. They also have dinghies that you can rent at 120€ for the day. Be aware that the cost of gas isn’t included in that price. If you know in advance which day you want to hire a boat, it is good to pre-book your boat, especially on weekends.

You should definitely circle the whole island and try to stop at Cala Gaetano, Grotte di Pilato, Chiaia Di Luna, Punta Di Capo Bianco, Cala dell’Acqua, Cala Cecata, Cala Felce, Arco Naturale and Spiaggia Di Frontone. See all of the best beaches to visit on this island in Best Beaches In Ponza.

5. Go on a boat tour

If you rather let someone else plan the day on the sea you can also join a boat tour of the island. GetYourGuide has a really nice 5-hour excursion where you circle the island and stop at some different swimming spots. Having a local guide really adds some value to the tour as you will probably learn some interesting things. Also, lunch is included in this tour which can give you an insight into the local cuisine. For sure worth the money!

6. Try local wine 

Italy is known for its wine and Ponza is no exception to the wine culture. Although it is a small island there is a famous winery on the island. Antiche Cantine Migliaccio is a small family-owned winery that likes to arrange wine tastings. During this tasting, you get to try four different wines paired with local delicacies. Luciana, one of the owners, is a lovely host that makes everything for their guests.

7. Eat fresh seafood 

Ponza has been a big fishing center since forever. As the island is quite isolated, the population has always relied on fishing to put food on the table, and the cuisine is definitely based on seafood. If you truly appreciate seafood, you shouldn’t order anything other than that when visiting Ponza. I promise that you will taste some of the best seafood you’ve ever eaten. 

To know what local dishes you should order, read my Lazio food guide.

How to get to Ponza 

Ponza is connected to the mainland by a few different ports. The closest ports are the ones in Formia, San Felice Circeo and Anzio. You can also get to Ponza from the port of Naples but that is a ferry ride of around three hours in comparison to the others which is about half the time. Formia and Naples service Ponza all year around. San Felice Circeo and Anzio only service Ponza during the summer. The companies that service Ponza are: 

• Pontina Navigazione – from the port of San Felice Circeo (1 hr)
• SNAV – from Naples (2.50hr)
• Lazio Mar – from Formia (1.20hr) and Anzio (2 hr)

Be aware that only a few ferries allow you to embark your car. My suggestion is that you don’t bring a car to the island as it is very small and parking will be hard to find. You can hire a scooter there if you want to move around a bit. See where to hire a scooter in Ponza here.

Where to stay in Ponza?

Ponza is not the biggest island but there are still quite a few small villages where you can stay. Alhough, I recommend staying in or near Ponza town, because of the simplicity, it’s not that hard to stay anywhere else. There are buses going from one part of the island to the other all the time. I also recommend renting a scooter while on Ponza, since it gives you the ultimate freedom. No matter where you want to stay, below are my favorite places on the island.

Budget:

Piccolo Hotel Luisa – A small and cozy little hotel close to the port in Ponza. Rooms are spacious and the terrace is perfect to lounge in on a sunny day. Breakfast included!

La Limonaia a mare – This is a green and yellow little cupcake of a place in the hills above the town of Ponza and I love it! There is a big garden, a terrace, and the sea view is incredible!

Midrange:

Domus Ɫ Ponza SeaView – WOW! Have you seen the terrace of this place? Check it out right now! The most stunning sea view I’ve seen in a long time. Hosts are super friendly and the rooms are tidy and perfect.

Hotel Gennarino A Mare – A beautiful little family hotel in a little bay, 7 minutes walking from Ponza port. With sea view on three sides of the hotel it feels like you are living on water.

Didn’t find what you were looking for? Check more accommodation below.

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Has this spiked your interest in going to Ponza? See my two-and-a-half-day itinerary for Ponza Island in this post for some more inspiration. 

The rest of this region is also stunning. Check out Top 10 Things To Do In Lazio for more places to visit in Lazio.

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