Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Capri, Ischia and Sorrento

Before you go

What happens when you get there

Hydrofoils

Hydrofoils run from Molo Beverello and Calata Porta di Massa in Naples to Capri, Ischia and Procida, and from Sorrento to Capri. NLG takes dogs indoors on a lead and wearing a muzzle, and staff can ask for a vet certificate showing rabies vaccination. Alilauro welcomes pets, charges them their own ticket and carries pet life jackets. Caremar and SNAV don't publish dog-specific rules, so carry a muzzle and the EU pet passport on every crossing.

Trains and island buses

EAV runs the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento, Pompeii and Herculaneum, the buses on Ischia and Procida and the Monte Faito cableway. Dogs of any size travel on a lead and muzzle, or small ones in a carrier up to 70 x 30 x 50 cm. Small dogs are free, medium and large pay a single fare, one animal per traveller. No animals Monday to Friday from 7.00 to 9.00, except on the cableway.

Capri funicular and Naples metro

The dog rules for the Capri funicular and minibuses and for the Naples metro and funiculars aren't published in a form we could confirm. Ask at the ticket office before you rely on them.

Weight limits

Romeo Napoli caps at 5 kg and La Palma at 8 kg. Botania, Palazzo Manzi, Syrene, La Madonnina, the Vesuvio, Santa Lucia, Palazzo Alabardieri and the Galleria Umberto all say small dogs only. Regina Isabella takes small and medium. Punta Chiarito, Parker's and San Francesco al Monte publish no limit.

Fees

Free at Punta Chiarito and the Grand Hotel Vesuvio. EUR 10 a stay at the Hermitage and Le Axidie, EUR 10 a night at the Galleria Umberto, EUR 20 at Corte degli Aragonesi, EUR 25 at Santa Lucia, EUR 35 at La Madonnina and EUR 50 at San Francesco al Monte. EUR 60 at Il Capri Hotel, EUR 80 a stay per dog at Parker's and EUR 80 a night at La Palma.

Dogs in restaurants and bars

Punta Chiarito is the clear yes. A clear no at Botania, Palazzo Manzi, Romeo Napoli and the Vesuvio, which also keeps dogs out of the breakfast room. Parker's bars dogs only from George, the rooftop restaurant, and doesn't publish the rest. Everywhere else, ask before the first meal.

Room types

At the Hermitage in Ischia Porto, Deluxe rooms and sea-view Junior Suites don't take dogs, so book another category. La Madonnina marks several room types as suitable for small dogs. Le Axidie wants the dog declared and approved at booking and keeps dogs out of its beach club.

Pompeii and Herculaneum

Pompeii admits small dogs only, on a lead, and there's very little shade, so plan around the heat. Herculaneum takes dogs of any breed or size on a lead or muzzle, but you carry them, or use a carrier, in the Antiquarium, the boat pavilion and the houses with mosaic floors. Herculaneum calls this a trial, so check before you go.

Best walks

On Capri, Via Tragara runs flat for about 1 kilometre from Via Camerelle to the Belvedere di Punta Tragara above the Faraglioni, and the Via Matermania path to the Arco Naturale branches off the same way. On Ischia, the Lacco Ameno promenade past Il Fungo, the Pineta Mirtina pine wood by Ischia Porto, the causeway to the Castello Aragonese at Ischia Ponte, and from car-free Sant'Angelo the path east to the Fumarole and the Spiaggia dei Maronti. In Naples, the pedestrian stretch of Via Partenope, the causeway to Castel dell'Ovo and the Borgo Marinari, and Via Caracciolo past the Villa Comunale to Mergellina. On the Sorrento side, the Marina d'Equa beach out to the Torre di Caporivo.

When to go

Many island hotels are seasonal, so check opening dates before you plan around one. Pompeii has very little shade, so go early in the day in the warm months. If you're using the Circumvesuviana or the island buses, avoid weekday mornings from 7.00 to 9.00, when animals aren't allowed. And if you're in Naples for New Year, the Grand Hotel Vesuvio takes no dogs on the night of 31 December. Beach rules for dogs are set comune by comune and often lido by lido, so ask your hotel which stretch near you takes dogs.