Lipari & Aeolian Islands
Island-hop the World Heritage-listed volcanic Aeolian Islands from a base on Lipari: Vulcano's crater and mud baths, Stromboli's eruptions by night, Salina's capers and chic Panarea.
The Aeolian Islands lie in the Tyrrhenian Sea northeast of Sicily and consist of seven inhabited volcanic islands — Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Panarea, Stromboli, Filicudi and Alicudi — inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2000. Lipari, the largest island and the transport hub, makes an ideal base for island-hopping: the town has its castle acropolis, an archaeological museum and a harbor square, and a loop around the island takes in the pumice quarries and the Quattrocchi viewpoint. Vulcano is just a 10-minute boat ride away, where you can climb the Gran Cratere and try the mud baths; green, mountainous Salina is known for its capers, Malvasia sweet wine and as a filming location for Il Postino; Panarea is small and chic; and Stromboli is a constantly erupting active volcano, with night-time eruption viewing the islands' signature experience. Getting there: hydrofoils from the port of Milazzo in Sicily take about 1 hour, and in summer boats also run from Naples, Messina and Palermo. May–Jun and September are best; in Jul–Aug ferry tickets and accommodation are scarce and expensive, and ferry services are greatly reduced in winter. Allow at least 4–5 days. Volcano hikes and mud baths are subject to volcanic alerts, so check whether they are open before you go; tap water on the islands is mostly desalinated, so please use water sparingly.
Top sights
- Lipari Castle & Acropolis – A citadel rising on a volcanic-rock headland, where a Spanish fortress wall encloses a Norman cathedral, archaeological digs and an open-ai…
- Gran Cratere, Vulcano – A walk of about an hour from the harbour takes you to the rim of the 391-metre crater, where sulphur vents release white steam and the whol…
- Stromboli – The “Lighthouse of the Mediterranean,” erupting roughly every dozen minutes for more than two thousand years. Climbing at dusk with a guide…
- Panarea – The smallest and trendiest island of the archipelago, with white houses, blue shutters and bougainvillea everywhere, crowded with yachts an…
- Aeolian Archaeological Museum – One of the most important archaeological museums in the Mediterranean, displaying finds from the Neolithic obsidian age to ancient Greece…
- Marina Corta – A small fishing harbor square below the castle, with hydrofoils and fishing boats moored and cafés and seafood restaurants around it. Many…
- Pumice Quarries & Rocche Rosse – Abandoned white pumice quarries on the northeast of the island turn the sea a bright emerald green. To the north, Rocche Rosse is an obsidi…
- Valle Muria Beach – A black-pebble cove on Lipari's southwest coast, embraced by volcanic cliffs and facing Vulcano and sea stacks offshore. The landscape is w…
- Belvedere Quattrocchi – A roadside lookout in the southwest of Lipari overlooking sea stacks, a winding coastline and the smoking Vulcano opposite. It is the archi…
- Vulcano Mud Baths – Natural sulfur mud pools beside the harbor. After a mud bath, you can rinse off in the shallow sea area with warm underwater gas bubbles, t…
- Spiaggia delle Sabbie Nere – A bay of black volcanic sand on the west side of Vulcano, with clear, gentle waters and, at sunset, a view of islands silhouetted in the se…
- Vulcanello & Valley of Monsters – A small volcanic peninsula that rose from the sea around 183 BC. Its lava has been eroded by the wind into monster-shaped rocks, and it ove…
- Piscina di Venere – A natural seawater pool enclosed by reefs on Vulcano's west coast, with emerald-green water. It is a swimming stop on island boat tours.
- Sciara del Fuoco – A huge lava landslide on Stromboli's northwest side, where volcanic rocks roll down the steep slope into the sea. You can watch eruptions f…
- Strombolicchio – A solitary volcanic plug in the sea northeast of Stromboli, topped by a lighthouse. It is a landmark on boat tours and a snorkeling spot.
- Ginostra – A small village on Stromboli's southwest coast, reachable only by boat, with fewer than a hundred permanent residents, no cars, and donkeys…
- Pollara, Salina – A bay formed by a collapsed volcanic crater at the western tip of Salina, the filming location of *Il Postino*, with superb sunset views.
- Monte Fossa delle Felci – The highest point on Salina at 962 meters, and the highest point in the archipelago. The summit offers views over all seven islands.
- Lingua, Salina – A small fishing village at the southeastern tip of Salina, with an ancient salt lagoon and a lighthouse. The granita at a local bar and the…
- Cala Junco & Capo Milazzese Village – A bright blue cove at the southern end of Panarea, ringed by columnar lava, with a prehistoric Bronze Age village site on the headland abov…
- Basiluzzo – An uninhabited small island northeast of Panarea, with ancient Roman harbor ruins underwater by the shore. It is a snorkeling stop on islan…
- Filicudi – A quiet volcanic island on the west side of the archipelago. The sea cave Grotta del Bue Marino and the 75-meter Lacana sea stack are highl…
- Alicudi – The most westerly cone-shaped volcanic island of the archipelago. With no roads, only stone steps and mules, it is a place to experience ra…
Where to eat
- Ristorante Filippino – A century-old restaurant in Lipari, founded in 1910 and recommended by the Michelin Guide, known for its “Nonno Filippi…
- Osteria San Bartolo – A popular small osteria on the Marina Lunga waterfront, where chef Danilo Conti focuses on island catches and wine.
- Da Alfredo (Salina) – A long-established spot on the Lingua seafront on Salina, known for its pane cunzato and seasonal fruit granita.
- Gilberto e Vera Panini Bar – An affordable panini bar in Lipari's old town, with nearly 30 fillings and Aeolian wines. Prices are the same for local…
- Il Corallo – A garden seafood restaurant on Lipari's main street, open for dinner only. Its clam pasta and lobster pasta have a stro…
Itineraries
- Aeolian Islands Island-Hopping – Depart from Milazzo and hop between islands, staying overnight on Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, and Stromboli.