Visit the Aeolian Islands: discover our selection of 10 things to see or do during your trip to this magnificent volcanic archipelago!
Located north of Sicily, in Italy’s Tyrrhenian Sea, the Aeolian Islands have risen from the sea over the past 200,000 years as volcanic eruptions have taken place. Surrounded by small islets and basalt rocks, this archipelago is well known to geologists and volcanologists, who have often come to study its rocks over the past two centuries. In fact, the Aeolian Islands mark the separation between the African and European plates, recognizable by their alignment!
Despite their emblematic conical shape, each of the 7 inhabited islands has its own particularity. Listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2000, they have gradually become a destination of choice for travelers in search of authenticity, peace and quiet, unique landscapes and crystal-clear waters. So what can you do in the Aeolian Islands during your trip? What must you discover?
To help you get the most out of your visit to the Aeolian Islands, we’ve put together a list of the top 10 things to see and do in this unique archipelago off the coast of Sicily!
1. Vulcano
Photo Credit: De Cristian Puscasu / Shutterstock.com
So what’s there to do in the Aeolian Islands? Vulcano isn’t the biggest island, nor the most populated, but it’s certainly one of the best-known and most popular! Apart from the capital island of Lipari, it’s likely to be your gateway to the archipelago.
On site, you’ll find a superb black sand beach, where locals and visitors alike come to bask. It stretches along the coast of the isthmus linking the island to the Vulcanello peninsula.
There you’ll find the Valle dei mostri, the « valley of the monsters » – frozen lava statues. Finally, take advantage of your stay on Vulcano to try out an amazing activity: taking a hot, sulfurous mud bath. It’s likely to be good for the skin.
2. The Vulcano crater
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Before leaving the island of Vulcano, you should definitely climb to the top of La Fossa! To reach it, you’ll need to hike for about an hour. Just make sure you start your adventure at dawn, before the sun rises and the heat gets too intense!
Once up there, you can admire carpets of sulphur crystals and let yourself be enchanted by the fumaroles. You can then enjoy a superb view of Lipari Island and the twin cones of Saline Island to the north.
3. Lipari Castello
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Lipari is the capital of the Aeolian Islands. The town is best known for its formidable bastion-acropolis! Located on its eastern coast, Castello is a must-see monument in the Aeolian Islands. It has been home to a succession of civilizations, each leaving its mark.
The Archaeological Museum, housed in the bishop’s palace, bears witness to this trade-driven history. Nearby, you can discover a beautiful Baroque cathedral, which conceals a small 12th-century Norman cloister in its bowels.
4. Old Lipari
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Before leaving the Aeolian capital to discover the island’s beautiful beaches and volcanic landscapes, take time to linger in the charming streets of Old Lipari. In the picturesque narrow streets, you’ll find typical trattorias, where you can enjoy pizza or pasta with freshly caught fish.
Along the fishermen’s harbour, Marina Corta to the south, you’ll also find a charming promenade, a real picture-postcard setting with its small boats and picturesque buildings facing the sea.
5. Salina
Photo Credit: De Paolo Tralli / Shutterstock.com
In the shadow of its two volcanoes, now extinct, grow the superb malvasia vines of the island of Salina. Charming and greener than its neighbors, this is a charming place to visit in the Aeolian Islands. Here, you can taste delicious local wines, admire the picturesque houses of Malfa, set on the shores of turquoise waters, or stroll through the small port of Rinella.
There’s no doubt about it: Salina is charm incarnate! There’s no shortage of things to do and discover on this fantastic Aeolian island.
6. Stromboli
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What to do in the Aeolian Islands Stromboli is undoubtedly the best-known of the archipelago’s seven islands. Far away, surrounded by mists, the Stromboli volcano is still active. Amazed by its lava explosions, the ancients would even call it the « lighthouse of the Mediterranean »! You don’t come to this island for its beaches or picturesque villages, but to climb its 926-metre-high volcano, day and night.
After a fairly strenuous hike, you’ll be able to admire a breathtaking spectacle. There’s no doubt that this little adventure will leave you with lasting memories!
7. Alicudi
Photo Credit: Flickr – Cristian Viarisio
After discovering the most tempestuous island in the archipelago, why not take the time to do nothing? Alicudi stands out for its absolute calm. There are no white sandy beaches here, just slippery rocks and pebbles to soak up the sun. Once you arrive on the island, you’ll be captivated by its picturesque atmosphere.
Almost nothing has changed since the last century. The mule is still the island’s main means of transport! On site, you can climb the hundreds of stone steps leading to the island’s peaks, from which you can enjoy superb views, or walk along the pebbled shoreline.
In the evening, there’s no choice: everyone gathers in the island’s only bar to enjoy a beer on the terrace, facing the sunset. Picturesque, isn’t it?
8. Filicudi
Photo Credit: Instagram – flavia_figa_talamanca
If the distant Alicudi scares you, you can stop off at Filicudi. Here too, idleness reigns supreme. If the island doesn’t have any beautiful sandy beaches, you can always relax and enjoy the sea on the pebble beaches or on a few well-chosen rocks.
The more adventurous can also take to the trails, among low stone walls and prickly pear trees. In the hills, old hamlets await you, along with magnificent panoramic views, such as that of Ficarrisi!
9. Panarea
Photo Credit: Flickr – Ghost-in-the-Shell
Visiting the Aeolian Islands? You almost can’t miss Panarea. Highlighted by the film L’Aventura, the island’s main source of income is luxury tourism. Although it has lost some of its 70s aura, it still attracts the Italian jet set.
Despite its superficiality, the island offers some incredible scenery: a superb view of Stromboli in the distance, a few old hamlets, magnificent white villas, unspoilt seabeds and breathtaking landscapes.
10. A boat trip
Photo credit: Shutterstock – silky
What if you opted for a boat rental to get you from one place to another, while adding a magical dimension to your stay? That way, you can enjoy the Mediterranean paradise offered by the archipelago even more, without any constraints!
With or without a skipper, you can rent a boat in the Aeolian Islands from a private owner. Which also means you can avoid mass tourism.
What else can you do in the Aeolian Islands?
Photo credit: Flickr – Thilo Hilberer
Still wondering what to do in the Aeolian Islands? Then discover the activities and other places to discover during your stay:
- Relax in Canneto, a charming seaside resort on Lipari, famous for its pebble beach.
- Take a swim at Havana Beach, a beautiful beach with bewitching turquoise waters that’s a must-see on Lipari!
- Discover Filicudi’ s marine wildlife by embarking with Filicudi Wildlife Conservation for a chance to spot sea turtles and whales!
- Explore the Filicudi sea caves by boat.
- Admire the incredible cliffs and crystal-clear waters of Spiaggia di Pollara, on the island of Salina.
How to get to the Aeolian Islands
To visit the Aeolian Islands, you’ll first need to travel to Sicily. There are no airports on these sparsely populated islands. You’ll need to land at Catania or Palermo airports. To find a flight at the best price, we recommend the site of our partner Ulysse, an online flight comparator.
To reach the islands from Sicily, you can choose between boat orhelicopter (very expensive). From Catania airport, a bus service will take you to the port of Milazzo, from where you can take a ferry to the islands of Lipari or Vulcano. There are also connections to both islands from Palermo (between June and September), Messina, Reggio Calabria and Naples. You can find out more about boat routes on the following websites: Libertylines and Siremar.
From Lipari, it’s easy to reach the other islands of the archipelago by boat. Allow 10 minutes to reach Vulcano and up to 1h20 for Stromboli.
Note that ferry frequencies obviously vary with the seasons and the size of the islands. Non-residents’ cars are also prohibited on the islands during the summer.
Where to stay in the Aeolian Islands?
If you’re planning to visit the Aeolian Islands, the best period for accommodation is from May to September. In addition to the low frequency of transport to the archipelago, only a few establishments on Lipari and the other islands are open outside this period. In summer, possibilities increase with prices.
For good-value addresses, it’s best to avoid the months of July and August. It’s also a good idea to look for bed and breakfast or self-catering accommodation. Fortunately, if you plan ahead, you’ll have no trouble finding your dream accommodation on one of the magnificent Aeolian Islands! To find a hotel at the best price, use this hotel comparator.
Map of hotels and accommodation – Sicily