The Aeolian Islands: Lipari
Seven volcanic islands off Sicily's north coast, sewn together by hydrofoil.
- Best forBeach lovers · Couples · Adventure seekers
- Ideal stayA week
- Approx. flying time~13h 20m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageItalian
- Local time12:211h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / F / LBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+39
Why go
Seven volcanic islands rise from the Tyrrhenian north of Sicily, each with its own temperament and all linked by hydrofoil. Coastlines are rock and dark shingle rather than soft sand, dropping quickly into water clear enough to read the bottom from a boat. Capers grow on the terraces, houses are whitewashed with wide arched porches, and the volcanoes announce themselves through steam, sulphur and, on Stromboli, fire.
A week lets you split time between two or three islands without living on the boat. June and September bring warm sea and manageable crowds; August is hot and heavily booked; in winter much of the archipelago closes and rough seas cancel sailings. Arrival means a flight to Catania or Palermo and a transfer to Milazzo. Anyone who needs reliable schedules should reconsider.
- Ideal stay
- A week
- The vibe
- Volcanic, salty, slightly out of reach
From our guides
Lipari makes the lively base, with pumice-pale beaches and a fortified old town; Salina is greener and slower, all caper farms and Malvasia vineyards; and Stromboli supplies the finale — an evening boat trip to watch the crater flinging lava into the dark. Swimming is off black sand and warm rock into deep, clear blue. Hydrofoils run from Milazzo; go in June or September.
Featured in Ten island-hopping routes for the perfect beach fortnight
Things to do
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Stromboli by night
Boats leave in the evening to watch the crater's regular eruptions from the water. Access to the higher slopes is restricted and permitted only with authorised guides.
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Lipari's citadel
A fortified acropolis above the town holds the archaeological museum, which sets out several thousand years of island settlement unusually clearly.
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Salina's twin peaks
The greenest island, with caper terraces, Malvasia vineyards and two extinct cones. The crater bay at Pollara is the best-known viewpoint.
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Vulcano's fumaroles
A steady walk up the Gran Cratere reaches a rim of hissing yellow vents and views across the archipelago. The sulphur smell reaches the port.
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Spiaggia Valle Muria
A dark sand and pebble beach below cliffs on Lipari's west coast, reached on foot or by small boat, and best in the late afternoon.
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Malvasia and capers
The sweet Malvasia delle Lipari and the islands' salted capers turn up in almost every meal. Both are sold direct by producers on Salina.
Getting there
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Fly to
Catania (CTA)
Nearest airport to Stromboli, about 148km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Lipari
Most visitors fly into Catania (CTA) and take a bus or train across Sicily to Milazzo, roughly two and a half to three hours, then a hydrofoil to Lipari in about an hour. Reggio Calabria (REG) is nearer as the crow flies but sits on the mainland with far fewer connections.
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On the ground
Getting around
Hydrofoils link Lipari, Salina and Stromboli in short hops through the season. Lipari town is walkable, and the Stromboli eruption-watching trips leave by boat in the evening.
Public transport: Ferries and hydrofoils are the transport system here, backed by small island buses; leave the car on the mainland.
Flights
Los Angeles Stromboli, Italy
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Where to stay
Small family-run pensioni, converted Aeolian houses with terraces and a handful of design hotels. Self-catering is common. No large resorts, and most places close from November to spring.
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Best base overall
Lipari town
The largest island and the hydrofoil hub, so day trips to the others all work from here. It has shops, a proper old town and the most beds, but also the most traffic.
Find stays in Lipari town -
Best for couples
Malfa or Santa Marina, Salina
Green terraces of capers and vines, a few beautifully converted old houses and long evenings over Malvasia. Far calmer than Lipari, with correspondingly fewer boats after dark.
Find stays in Malfa or Santa Marina, Salina -
Best value
Canneto, Lipari
A pebbly beach suburb a couple of kilometres from Lipari town, with simple rooms and pensioni at lower rates and a bus along the coast. Less charm, more practicality.
Find stays in Canneto, Lipari -
Quietest
Stromboli village
Whitewashed lanes with no street lighting and almost no cars, right under the smoking crater. Sleep here for the night eruptions, but the ferry links are the most fragile in the group.
Find stays in Stromboli village
Worth knowing before you book: August is booked from winter and many islands impose minimum stays. Rough seas can cancel hydrofoils, so avoid an island hop on the day you fly home.
Search everything else in Lipari by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Ferries
- Hydrofoils run from Milazzo year round and more widely in summer. Rough seas cancel sailings, so leave a buffer day before a flight home.
- Getting there
- Catania and Palermo are the nearest airports, with a coach or train transfer to Milazzo of two to three hours.
- Cars
- Vehicles are restricted or pointless on most of the islands. Scooters, three-wheelers and boats do the work instead.
- Pack this
- Reef shoes for the stony beaches, a torch for unlit lanes and proper boots if you intend to walk on the volcanoes.
- Season
- Most hotels and restaurants open only from Easter to October. Outside that window, the smaller islands are very quiet indeed.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Taormina
Sicily, Italy · 105km away →
Cefalù
Sicily, Italy · 133km away →
Palermo
Sicily · 179km away →
Amalfi Coast
Italy · 213km away →
Ravello
Amalfi Coast, Italy · 214km away →
Ischia
Italy · 241km away →Elsewhere in Italy
Related articles
Quick answers
How long should I spend in The Aeolian Islands: Lipari?
Our suggestion: a week.
How do I get to The Aeolian Islands: Lipari?
Most visitors fly into Catania (CTA) and take a bus or train across Sicily to Milazzo, roughly two and a half to three hours, then a hydrofoil to Lipari in about an hour. Reggio Calabria (REG) is nearer as the crow flies but sits on the mainland with far fewer connections.
Do I need a car in The Aeolian Islands: Lipari?
No. Ferries and hydrofoils are the transport system here, backed by small island buses; leave the car on the mainland.
What currency and language are used in The Aeolian Islands: Lipari?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: Italian. Plugs: type C and F and L.
Who is The Aeolian Islands: Lipari best for?
Best for beach lovers, couples and adventure seekers. In a phrase: volcanic, salty, slightly out of reach.