See full version: How to Get to the Aeolian Islands
Liberty Lines runs year-round fast ferries from Reggio Calabria on the mainland, as well as seasonal rides from the mainland port of Vibo Valentia on the mainland. Travel time from Reggio Calabria is 1 hour, 40 minutes. Travel time from Vibo Valentia is 3 hours, 15 minutes, and the trip is currently offered on Thursday and Sunday only from Jun to September. here
If your trip to Sicily involves a visit to the fascinating Aeolian Islands to the north, there are a few ways to get to the chain of islands, and almost all of them involve a boat. There are year-round ferries and hydrofoils from the Sicilian town of Milazzo and seasonal boats from Messina and Palermo. From the mainland, ferries and hydrofoils travel to the Aeolians from Naples, Salerno, Reggio Calabria, and Sapri, but most run only in the summer. If you're visiting the islands without a car, hydrofoils are the fastest means of transport, though they cost more and are considered less comfortable than ferries. If you're bringing a car or wish to save money on the journey, ferries are the better option.
Hydrofoils are rather odd-looking boats that, once they pick up speed, glide across the surface of the water on ski-like apparatus. The hydrofoils connecting Sicily and mainland Italy to the Aeolian Islands are much smaller and faster than conventional ferries and are intended for foot passengers only. Because of what can be a bumpy, wet ride, hydrofoil passengers must remain inside the enclosed portion of the boat and remain seated at all times. Liberty Lines is the largest carrier to the Aeolians, with daily year-round departures for the Aeolians from Milazzo and Messina. The majority of sailings are from Milazzo to Lipari, the largest of the islands. This is the shortest route, at 1 hour, 5 minutes. Many of these itineraries include a first stop at Vulcano, the closest island to Milazzo, then Lipari, then the other Aeolian islands of Stromboli, Panarea, Alicudi, Filicudi, and Salina. Hydrofoils also travel from Messina to Lipari, with a travel time of 1 hr, 50 minutes. Note that from about mid-September to late May, the frequency of daily sailings is greatly reduced.
From Salerno on the mainland, Alicost offers seasonal ferry service to the Aeolians, with a travel time of 4 hours to Stromboli and 6 hours to Lipari. Alicost ferries to the Aeolians currently leave only on Friday and Sunday, with return trips on Saturday and Monday. more
This volcano-focused tour of the Aeolian Islands concludes with a climb up Mount Etna, one of the world's most active volcanoes.
Salina is a very quiet island where green scenery and stone beaches reign. Here, you can eat one of the world’s best granitas, Italian ice, at Da Alfredo’s in Lingua and enjoy a glass of Prosecco from one of the hotels’ terraces. [links]
Just off the northeast coast of Sicily, the outstanding Aeolian Islands, with their cobalt-blue waters, are an imaginable corner of paradise.
Panarea is the party island. This is a perfect for youngsters who want to go on a beach holiday and dance all night. [links]
Almost from anywhere in Sicily, you can take the Aeolian Island ferry. If you are in Palermo, it could take from 2.5 to 5 hours, depending on the island you choose to go to. You can choose one of the many Aeolian Islands boat tours that will allow you to see more than only one of these marvellous islands.
Stromboli has some of the Aeolian Islands best beaches and restaurants. You can hike to the top of the volcano or go on one of the Aeolian Islands tours and enjoy the stunning view of the volcano.
Filicudi and Alicudi are the best Aeolian Islands for a honeymoon at the sound of the sea. Peaceful and remote, these islands have blue water where you can take a boat tour or scuba dive.
The islands are made of Lipari (the largest and most populous), Filicudi (small westerly Island with few amenities), Alicudi (the second smallest of inhabited islands and the most remote), Salina (one of the larger islands and the greenest and most fertile of the group), Vulcano (the southernmost island, famous for its mud baths), Stromboli (to the northwest of the group and home to one of the most active volcanoes in Europe), Panarea (hugely popular in the summer) and the uninhabited Basiluzzo.
The fastest route between Sicily and Aeolian Islands is Milazzo to Vulcano with a crossing duration of around 40 minutes. With so many routes on offer we make it simple by comparing all similar routes in one search so you can quickly find what you are looking for.
Sicily is a hub for ferry connections with ferry services operated by some of Europe’s biggest ferry companies travelling to and from most of the surrounding islands, ports on the mainland, Malta and North Africa via Tunisia.
There is no shortage of options to choose from when it comes to selecting a ferry from Sicily to Aeolian Islands. There are 2 ferry companies with a combined offering of 21 Ferry Routes connecting Palermo to Vulcano, Milazzo to Stromboli, Rinella, Vulcano, Lipari, Salina, Alicudi, Panarea, Filicudi & Ginostra (Stromboli), Messina to Lipari, Rinella, Salina, Vulcano, Panarea & Stromboli & Milazzo to Stromboli, Rinella, Vulcano, Lipari, Salina, Alicudi, Panarea, Filicudi & Ginostra (Stromboli). here
The Aeolian Islands boast extraordinary natural beauty and with their Mediterranean climate attract hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
The Unesco-protected Aeolian Islands are a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the northern coast of Sicily consisting of a number of islands and some small islets.
Further out, Case Vacanze Margherita and La Casa del Mandorlo are walking distance from some of southern Lipari’s most scenic viewpoints. [links]
Still, my experience on Salina wouldn’t be too difficult to replicate if you’re a visiting tourist. here
I call Vulcano ‘the scenic island’ because it’s basically a set of extremely beautiful landscapes and views strung together by winding roads. Vulcano is closest to the Sicilian mainland so it’s popular a day trip, but most tourists don’t make it past the harbour area, which is honestly quite touristy. [links]
And if you’re going to take advantage of the thermal baths on Vulcano, pack a set of old clothes to wear in the mud pool. The sulphur smell is notoriously tough to wash off – you wouldn’t want to ruin your best swimming costume! A bag like this is handy for carrying wet items home. here
We travelled in the last week of May, which by all accounts is one of the best times to visit the Aeolian Islands. The mornings were cool enough for hiking, and the afternoons warm enough for a swim. Everything was opening up for the new season, but the bulk of the tourists were yet to arrive. The weather was a bit mixed, but we had plenty of sunny days and really enjoyed seeing the wildflowers on Vulcano. more