Aeolian Islands Travel Guide
The Aeolian Islands is a perfect holiday destination for those who love to go island hopping. It consists of seven beautiful islands with amazing landscapes and several opportunities for relaxation as well as adventure sports options. It is indeed a paradise for swimmers, divers, and trekking enthusiasts.
The Aeolian archipelago islands are also known for their food, culture, hissing volcanoes, rock formations, and black sand beaches, among other things.
Stromboli, Filicudi, and Salina island of The Aeolian Islands were a part of the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2000. It is one of the largest islands known as Lipari Group and lies in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Due to volcanic activity, Aeolian Islands have a different shape; you can find two active volcanoes in this part of Italy, known as Stromboli and Vulcano. Volcanic activity over the years has resulted in fertile soil, and this place is covered with thermal water.
Black-sand beaches with rocky coastlines of the Aeolian Islands will attract you the most, and you will find a place called Spartan Conical Alicudi, where donkeys are the only form of land transport. UNESCO has declared this island as “an outstanding record of volcanic island-building and destruction, and ongoing volcanic phenomena.”
Discover different places of Aeolian Islands
Vulcano Island: If you travel from the Sicilian town of Milazzo, you will find the first island called Vulcano Island. With an active volcano, you can see crystal clear seas surrounded by landscapes. Restaurants are easily available in these areas, and you can make your prior booking to avoid the last-minute rush. You can go hiking on this island and complete your day trip with a launch near the sea. One thing you should not miss when you visit this place is the hot spring bath. You can also soak yourself in the mud bath. The mud at this place is at 28-degree throughout the year.
Lipari: It is the largest of the seven Aeolian islands and is a busy city. Here you will find all amenities like schools, hospitals, and restaurants. You can also visit the Aeolian Archaeological Museum. This museum has a wonderful collection of theatrical masks and murals. You must try some fish dishes as here fresh fish are in abundance. You can also dine at the famous Ristorante Filippino, in Lipari. You can also relish spaghetti with capers and tomato. If you like adventure, you must take a boat ride to islands Lipari, and you can collect some pumice from this place. You can also visit the white beach called Spiaggia Bianca.
Stromboli: This is the last island situated on the eastern side of Aeolian. The main attraction of this island is a volcano. You must know that the only active volcano on this island was closed in 2007 after a mini eruption. Once you visit this place, you must travel through the sea route and explore the remote villages of Aeolian, like Ginostra.
Salina: If you have not visited this place and want to know how does it look like, then you must watch Postino. This film was filmed on the beach of Pollara. You can watch this film to explore the natural beauty, magnificent sunset, and the annual festival of this island. After releasing this film, Salina was included in the world map in 1994. In fact, this place has the world’s most beautiful sunset. Once you visit il Postino, you must drive through the traffic-free street at Santa Marina Salina. You can hike to the top of Monte Fossa delle Felci, the largest Aeolian peak. It is a freezing place where you experience a heavy breeze throughout the year.
Panarea: After leaving Salina, you can visit Panarea. This is a small village where you should use an electric bike for local commutes. You must spend a night in this village and walk to the Bronze Age huts beyond Cala Junco. You can take a boat ride to cover the south and west part of this island. This island is known for its foods, and you must try sushi and other Japanese dishes here. You can stay in Lisca Bianca, the hotel is just a 15-minute drive from Calcara Beach. The hotel opens to a sea view and is a perfect stay for those who are looking for a luxurious and comfortable stay.
Filicudi and Alicudi: These are the hidden jewels of this island. Travelers who are looking to explore the real aura of an island, its serenity, and natural beauty, must pay a visit to this island. The best way to explore this island is via a scooter or boat.
How would you reach the Aeolian Islands?
The Aeolian Islands are connected with the coast of Sicily and the Italian mainland through coastal lines, and you need to take a high-speed boat to reach the Aeolian Islands. You can take a hydrofoil from Milazzo or Messina to reach Aeolian.
Liberty Lines is one of the largest companies that operate hydrofoil services, and their high-speed boats are travel through the seven islands every day. Catania, Palermo, and Reggio Calabria are the major airports connected with the Aeolian Islands, and you can take a shuttle bus from these airports to reach Milazzo or Messina. From there, you can take a boat trip to reach the Aeolian Islands.
If you are planning for a day trip to the Aeolian Islands, you can choose two islands out of seven, and you can choose Lipari and Vulcano, which has good inter-city hydrofoil connectivity. You can book your tickets online and easily find the details of such hydrofoil services online.
Best time to visit the Aeolian Islands
Most residents leave these islands during winter because it is hard to survive in extreme freezing temperatures. So, you should not plan your trip in winter because you cannot find suitable Aeolian Islands hotels to book. Plus, restaurants, shops, and museums remain closed during winter.
Hence the best time to plan your trip to the Aeolian Islands is during summer. You can easily book your hotel from June to September. However, summer is the busiest season, and you need to pay a huge amount for your trip. In this case, you can book your hotels beforehand to save some of your cost. Search online for Aeolian Islands hotels and avail some deals and discounts.
Where do you stay in the Aeolian Islands?
You can find several Aeolian Islands hotels to stay. But, if you want to experience village life and want to stay in peace, you can book a hotel in Salina. Salina is far away from other islands, but you can find many bars and restaurants here. Apart from that, you can stay in Malfa, Lenni or Pollara. These places are connected with boats, and you can easily travel from one island to another. If you plan for a romantic holiday, you can book a hotel in La Locanda Del Postino at Pollara. It is an isolated place where you can stay in peaceful surroundings.
Plan your trip today!
To enjoy the beauty of the Aeolian archipelago, you must surely have this holiday destination on your bucket list. Now that you know what the various islands offer, you can plan your itinerary well.
