What are the Aeolian Islands in Sicily?

The Aeolian Islands make up one of the three archipelagos of Sicily: Lipari Islands, Egadi Islands and Pelagie Islands. This includes seven main Islands: the island of Lipari, the island of Alicudi, the island of Filicudi, the island of Panarea, the island of Salina, the island of Stromboli and Vulcano Island. 

All seven islands are located in the north of the Sicilian coast, in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The beauty of the volcanic scenery, along with the transparent water and thermal mud baths attracted the attention of film producers, who started to show on TV the magnificence of this place. From there on, visitors started arriving to the islands, shortly after UNESCO declared this little paradise as part of the World Heritage in December 2000. Discover with us the best ways to go and to enjoy the Aeolian Islands of Sicily.

How to get to Aeolian Islands: transport services in Sicily

Ferry Routes

There are several shipping lines that you can use to take your ferry. The most popular ones are SNAV, Liberty Lines, Fast Ferry & Siremar. However, if what you want is a planned trip by ferry and forget about any complications, for the moment SNAV and Liberty Lines are the only two shipping companies that have announced their designated routes for 2024. 

The common departure to the Aeolian villages is from Naples. However, the interesting thing about moving around the islands is that you can visit them independently, or one followed by the other. You can go from the Peninsula of Italy (Regio Calabra or Naples) or from Sicily (Mesina and Milazzo) to the islands by ferry. 

Prices can go from 10 or 15 euros to a hundred depending on the shipping line as well as the day and time of day.

Hydrofoil Services

If you want to go to the different islands using hydrofoil services, Liberty Lines is one of the few companies that can give you this service. Hydrofoil services usually pick you up at the ports of Milazzo and Calabria. From there, it leaves you in Ustica (Sicily) to make a connection by ferry or hydrofoil. If you want to go to the other two archipelagos of Italy, Trapani is the connection with the Egadi Islands. However, if you wish to move to Pelagie Islands, you can take the hydrofoil in Empedocle. 

Hydrofoil is more commonly used to move in-between archipelagos as it needs to travel longer distances.

Private Boat Charters

The Aeolian Islands, Sicily, are very well placed strategically to move around from one to another. It could be of use, if affordable for your pocket, to rent a boat for at least a day. This way you can go to the specific places that you are interested in and in the order you want. 

You can as well find different boat charter companies that you can find online. The prices to rent a boat can have a very wide gap from one page to another, depending on the liability of the company, the exclusivity of the boat, also, if you rent it to a particular or through a third party. You can find prices from 100€.

Flights

No Aeolian village has an airport, so the only way to get to every and each island is through ferry or hydrofoil services. However, you can take a flight from your country to the island of Sicily (Catania airport) and then, move by ferry to your next destination.

Ports of connection from Sicily

The island of Sicily is the easiest way to make a connection with other means of transport to get to your destination. Since the ferry is the transport that almost everyone takes, they do have at visitor’s disposal four ports:

Milazzo

Milazzo is the main port for departures heading to the islands. Nowadays, you can find departures by ferry almost every day, and the routes to Lipari, Alicudi, Filicudi, Panarea, Stromboli, Vulcano and Salina islands, next to Sicily, are operational during the whole year. The port’s accessibility is good by car, train or bus and there are many bars and restaurants near it. The shipping companies that harbor this airport are Liberty Lines and Siremar, offering the possibility to use the hydrofoil services as well.

Palermo

This port is located in the northern-west coast of Sicily, in the Tyrrehnian sea. The port has piers, terminal loads and special equipment for the transportation of goods. Nowadays, this port is an important meeting and connection point for those passengers who are traveling in ferry lines to the diverse islands near Sicily. The port is easily accessible by car, train, bus or even flights and it is 14 minutes away from the central train station. There are departures every day from 2 p.m. onwards on the day, and its shipping ferry lines are GNV, Grimaldi Lines, Siremar, Tirrenia and Liberty Lines.

Messina

From this port, you can have astonishing views of the Calabrian and Sicilian mountains, the Aeolian islands of Sicily and the Italian peninsula’s coast. 

The main and only route to the Islands is from Messina to Lipari, and from Lipari to Messina. In this case, there are different departure times in winter and summer: during winter, the first train leaves at 12.45 p.m., while in summer the first is at 6.45 a.m. and the last at 18.15 p.m. However, even though there is no direct destination indicated for the other islands, ferries do make little stops in every Sicily Island passing through to their destination. The shipping line you can find in this port is Liberty Lines.

Catania

Catania was founded in 729 b.C. by the Greek settlers on top of a hill. Currently there are two ferry shipping companies operating: Virtu Ferries and Grimaldi Lines. The shipping company Virtu Ferries does not allow the booking of new tickets with little time in advance. However, it is highly recommended to look into the different search engines to see the availability.

Travel Tips and Advice to Walk All the Aeolian Villages

Before getting to know how to get to the Aeolian Islands, it is important that you know the kind of setting, landscapes and wilderness of Sicily that we are going to be in. We can give some tips:

Best Time to Visit

Sicily has a location that lets its residents and visitors enjoy a very warm climate for long periods of time, particularly from May to October. April and May are the best moments of the year as the beaches are still empty, and it is not too hot, however September and October have better prices, and it is still warm.

What to Pack

As in any trip, we must be ready for any circumstance that could be given. However, there is only one thing that is indispensable to take with you: make sure that you are carrying with you the most important documentation for your travel. 

If you are from the European Union, your ID card and a health card should be enough. However, if you are coming from another continent, you are going to need your passport and maybe a Visa. About the rest of the luggage, take summer clothes with you and keep it short as, being in the south of Italy, Sicily in summer can get really heated.

Booking Tips for the Aeolian Islands in Sicily

To make sure you are booking in the hotels you want in the Aeolian Islands with the best value for money, it is recommended to book everything months in advance. If you are looking to go on holiday during August, it is expected that all the flights and hotel reservations will be complete and full by June. However, if you book in March, or even sooner, you will probably find the best prices in the market without any complications on flights, times, etc.

Local Customs

The Aeolian islands, Sicily, are an archipelago with several and enriching local customs: a marine life that is an integral part in the lifestyle, festivities and festivals where the islands are the hosts, craftwork and a rural lifestyle (many residents keep their vineyards and olive trees).

Accomodation: Aeolian Islands hotels

If you are looking for an accommodation our Hotel NH in Palermo might be one the best options. Consider that the port of Palermo has departures to the Aeolian islands almost every day. You can stay as well in Catania in our NH Catania Centro, 15 minutes away by car from the port. 

Accomodation in Sicily

Attractions and Activities to do in an Aeolian village

Since the islands are seven, and you may not have time to see everything, we can give you a guide of the main and top activities and attractions you must do and go to first:

Must-See Spots as soon as you get to the islands

There are three main spots that you can’t miss: 

● Stromboli Volcano: it is famous for its constant activity. You can have an amazing experience watching the lava as if it were fireworks during sunset time. 

● Sciara del Fuoco: this is another volcano that is worth going to. This volcano is outstanding because of its enormous rounded crater. 

● Ex Cave Pomice: is one of the most beautiful beaches of Lipari. The sand used to be white because of mining activity that ceased in the year 2000 when the Aeolian Islands became World Heritage.

Activities

The typical activities you will find in these islands are: 

● Boat excursions: to be able to see the islands properly, the best way to do it is to rent a boat and visit the islands for free. You also have the option to pay excursions that will take through the best routes in the sea. 

● Sightseeing: these islands have stunning sandy paths and memorable walks up to the craters. Take advantage of the sunset time to watch the contrast of the beautiful colors of the sky with the bright orange lava. 

● Excursions to the craters: go to all the volcanoes and enjoy the show of the volcanos’ eruptions during the sundown.

Costs of traveling to the islands

The price of the trip will depend on the place you are flying from, the excursions you pay and the hotels you choose. Flight tickets can cost around 200€ if you are flying from Europe. The excursions can be for free if you take your time exploring, pay excursions up to 100€ with a guide, or even rent yourself a boat that can go from 100€ to more than 500€ depending on what you are looking for.

Exclusive Insights

Cultural

Culturally, the Aeolian Islands, Sicily are very rich as they have been declared World Heritage by UNESCO due to its incredibly active volcanic activity. Moreover, these islands have cities with history that date back to the Bronze Age and have been conquered by several civilizations throughout time like the Romans, Greeks, Normans and Muslims. To finish, these islands are all involved in mythology, with a very rich Greek traditional mythology according to which Aeolus the God of the Winds lived here.

Historical

The islands have gone under some serious natural disasters. The last records are: 

● 2022: Stromboli Island suffered an earthquake after it went into an eruptive phase with overflowing lava on the northern side of the crater. This process came along with an earth displacement that ended up in the sea. 

● 2019: in July the volcano had an unusual eruption spewing ash with a huge cloud of smoke of the height of more than a mile. It devastated a very big part of vegetation causing fires.

Environmental

Wildlife is very much appreciated in the Aeolian villages, due to the fact that they have been declared a World Heritage by UNESCO. In these islands it is promoted and encouraged the preservation of nature and wildlife, making a big emphasis in preservation. People are raised with the values of respect for nature.

FAQs about the Aeolian Islands in Sicily

How can I get from Sicily to the Aeolian Islands?

The best way to get to the Aeolian islands is through ferry. You have departures from Milazzo, Catania, Palermo and Messina. Each place has a port with different schedules and shipping companies. Check out on their webpages the best option for you.

What are the best ports in Sicily for traveling to the Aeolian Islands?

The best ports are Milazzo, Catania, Palermo and Messina. However, the one that is traditionally used to go to the islands is Milazzo. If you are going to the islands from the Italian peninsula, you can check the port of Naples and Reggio Calabria as they also have ferry routes to the islands and might be a better option for you.

What is the best time of year to visit the Islands?

The best time to visit the islands is during spring and summertime. Preferably, the months of April and May or September and October, are the best options. During these periods, it is not too hot, but it is warm enough to enjoy the sun and have a lovely and pleasant stay.

How much does it cost to travel to the Aeolian Villages?

The price can vary depending on how much you are willing to spend and the area you are flying from. You can find flight tickets around 200€ if you take them with enough time in advance, and the stay can cost from 50-100€ per night. Then, the amount of money you spend during your stay in the islands will depend on the excursions you pay.

Are there direct flights to the Aeolian Islands?

There are direct flights from pretty much anywhere in Europe to Sicily. However, there are no airports in the Aeolian islands, Sicily. Therefore, we recommend you fly to Sicily and from there on, move by ferry to the rest of the places you want to visit. If you come from the States or Latin and South America, you will need to make a stopover in Madrid or any other airport in Europe.