So you’re in Sicily on holiday and enjoying the wonderful towns, breathtaking vantage points and historic landmarks. While the island of Sicily has nice beaches, they can be rather crowded especially during summertime. Why not head out with the ferry to nearby islands for some more private time and adventure? Here’s how to get from Sicily to the Aeolian Islands the best way.
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The main ferry ports in Sicily
There are several ferry ports in Sicily that will take you to mainland Italy or to the nearby islands. But not all ferry ports will take you everywhere. It’s all location dependent.
Here are the main ports of Sicily as an overview in case you want what additional ferry day trips from Sicily you could take:
- North West: Palermo (to Naples, Salerno, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Genua and Ustica) and Trapani (to Aegean Islands, Pantelleria and France)
- West: Marsala and Trapani (to Aegean Islands)
- North East: Messina (to Calabria, Salerno, Aeolian Islands) and Milazzo (to Aeolian Islands, Ustica, Palermo and Naples)
- South East: Pozzallo (Lampedusa, Linosa)
- South West: Empedocle (Lampedusa, Linosa)
Where to take the ferry to the Aeolian Islands from Sicily
Since the Aeolian Islands are located North of Sicily, the best ferry ports to get there are Milazzo and Messina.
If you are staying in Taormina or Catania, these ports are the closest for you too.
When you travel in the summer, you can also catch a ferry to the Aeolian Islands from Palermo, although it is much farther.
I have listed the number and times for crossings for the specific ports and combinations further below in this article so you get a better idea of what works depending on your interest and flexibility.
How to get to the ports of Sicily
The good thing is that the ports are not far from the city centre, everything is in walking distance once you arrive in town.
The best way to get around is of course in a rental car but there are a few bus lines connecting the towns of Sicily too.
Rapid Q&A
What is the best time to go to the Aeolian Islands?
From April through September. High season runs from June to end of August. But most ferry times operate from mid June to mid September.
How often do Aeolian Island ferries leave?
Ferries leave Sicily daily, though not all crossing combinations operate every day of the week. You have the most options during high season as more crossings are performed and should always check the specific timetables.
Once you’re on the islands, you can catch hydrofoils daily from between the islands. They do not operate as often as between Sicily and the Aeolian Islands.
How many Aeolian Islands are there?
In total, there are seven Aeolian Islands as well as some more minor islands and rocks. The islands names are Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Stromboli, Filicudi, Alicudi and Panarea.
Where are the Aeolian Islands located?
Just off the North coast of Sicily and South of mainland Italy you can find them clustered in an archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
What Aeolian Islands are there?
The largest and most visited Aeolian Island is Lipari. Its capital and commune carries the same name, so don’t get confused.
Which ferry ports in Sicily connect to the Aeolian Islands?
Ferries leave daily throughout the year from Messina and Milazzo. During the summer, commutes also leave from Palermo.
Which ferry ports do the Aeolian Islands have?
The Aeolian Island ferries will take you to either of these three ferry ports: Marettimo, Levanzo and Favignana.
How long does it take to get to the Aeolian Islands?
The fastest way to reach the Aeolian Islands is by hydrofoil (Italian: aliscafi), which takes 90 minutes. Regular ferries (Italian: navi) take 3 to 4 hours.
What’s the difference between a hydrofoil and ferry in Italy?
The short answer is that hydrofoils are smaller without the typical amenities of a larger ferry, such as cabins or car decks. They are also faster and tickets are therefore more expensive.
In appearance they somewhat resemble an airplane due to the wings that help it quickly “fly” over the water.
Depending on the company and hydrofoil you can only bring one piece of luggage and some don’t allow pets. Always double check in advance! You can find more information here.
Do people live on the Aeolian Islands?
Yes. Aeolians, as locals are called, counted15,419 in number on 1 January 2019.
Can you take a car to Aeolian Islands?
It is possible, but you need to have booked a stay on Lipari for a minimum of seven nights. Ask your accommodation to use you a permit, which you are asked to show when buying your ferry transfer ticket.
Why are they named Aeolian Islands?
The demigod of the winds Aeolus was the reason. One story says he lived on the island of Aeolia, which belonged to the Lipari islands. Homer wrote down that he ruled over the Aeolian Island that was made home of the wind by the god Cronos. (You can read more here.)
What are the COVID19 guidelines for Italy?
You can check current regulations here.
More detailed information on ferry routes and times
Ok, now that we got the basics out of the way, you need to decide which Sicilian port you would like to travel from.
Always make sure you know when the last ferry is supposed to leave! Just because they leave daily doesn’t mean they leave often. Also, ferry timetables may change throughout the year, so always double check on the official websites.
It’s also wise to book ferry tickets to the Aeolian Islands in advance so you are sure to get a seat. You can do that directly at Ferryhopper, where you can search for the different ferry connections from Sicily.
Furthermore during high season, I would recommend not insisting on the last ferry in case it is popular that day.
Let me give you the current basic information on connections here (as of July 2022):
Milazzo to Aeolian Islands
Ferries from Milazzo to Santa Marina Salina
- Daily ferries leave between 06:30 and 19:30 and take about 1h 37m
- Prices for ferries vary from 17.55 to 29.57 EUR (18 – 30 USD) and are operated by Liberty Lines
Ferries from Santa Marina Salina to Milazzo
- Daily ferries leave between 06:20 and 19:25 and take about 1h 42m
- Prices for ferries vary from 17.55 to 29.57 EUR (18 – 30 USD) and are operated by Liberty Lines
Ferries between Milazzo and Salina operate year round and there are up to eight crossings per day during off season and up to 20 per day in summer.
You can check the timetable here.
Ferries from Milazzo to Stromboli
- Daily ferries leave between 06:00 and 16:30 and take about 2h 2m
- Prices for ferries vary from 25.95 to 34.33 EUR (26.58 – 30.29 USD) and are operated by Liberty Lines
Ferries from Stromboli to Milazzo
- Ferries leave 6 days a week between 07:15 and 17:55 and take about 2h 25m
- Prices for ferries vary from 20.95 to 29.33 EUR (21,5 – 30 USD) and are operated by Liberty Lines
If you take the ferry from Sicily to Stromboli, you can catch up to 9 daily crossings in off season and 13 in summer.
See the timetable here.
Ferries from Milazzo to Vulcano
- Ferries leave daily between 06:30 and 19:30 and take about 45m
- Prices for ferries vary from 20 to 26 EUR and are operated by Liberty Lines
Ferries from Vulcano to Milazzo
- Ferries leave daily between 07:15 and 20:05 and take about 55m
- Prices for ferries vary from 15 to 21 EUR and are operated by Liberty Lines
To take the ferry from Milazzo to Vulcano in summer, there are up to 10 crossings. During off season, it’s 20.
The timetable is here.
Ferries from Milazzo to Lipari
- Ferries leave daily between 06:30 and 19:30 and take about 1h
- Prices for ferries vary from 20.80 to 27.12 EUR and are operated by Liberty Lines
Ferries from Lipari to Milazzo
- Ferries leave daily between 07:00 and 19:50 and take about 57m
- Prices for ferries vary from 15.80 to 22.12 EUR and are operated by Liberty Lines
To take the ferry from Milazzo to Lipari in summer, there are up to 15 crossings. During off season, it’s 20.
Here’s the timetable.
Ferries from Milazzo to Filicudi
- Ferries leave three days a week between 06:30 and 15:10 and take about 2h 22m
- Prices for ferries vary from 27.25 EUR and are operated by Liberty Lines
Ferries from Filicudito Milazzo
- Ferries leave three days a week between 09:05 and 18:35 and take about 2h 22m
- Prices for ferries vary from 22.25 EUR and are operated by Liberty Lines
When you take the ferry between Milazzo and Filicudi, expect up to four daily crossings in summer and three during the other seasons.
View the timetable here.
Ferries from Milazzo to Alicudi
- Ferries leave three days a week between 06:30 and 15:10 and take about 2h 57m
- Prices for ferries vary from 32.70 to 43.78 EUR and are operated by Liberty Lines
Ferries from Alicudi Milazzo
- Ferries leave three days a week between 08:35 and 18:05 and take about 2h 55m
- Prices for ferries vary from 27.70 to 38.78 EUR and are operated by Liberty Lines
To catch a ferry between Milazzo and Alicudi, note that there are up to only five daily crossings in summer and four during the other seasons.
Get the timetable.
Ferries from Milazzo to Panarea
- Ferries leave six days a week between 06:00 and 16:30 and take about 1h 50m
- Prices for ferries vary from 22.80 to 29.92 EUR and are operated by Liberty Lines
Ferries from Panarea Milazzo
- Ferries leave six days a week between 08:00 and 18:20 and take about 1h 52m
- Prices for ferries vary from 17.80 to 24.92 EUR and are operated by Liberty Lines
When you take the ferry from Milazzo and Panarea, expect up to four daily crossings in summer and three during the other seasons.
See the specific ferry times here.
Palermo to Aeolian Islands
Ferries from Palermo to Rinella in Salina
- One ferry leaves daily at 13:50 takes about 3h 12m
- Prices for ferries vary from 43.60 to 51.80 EUR and are operated by Liberty Lines
Ferries from Rinella in Salina to Palermo
- One ferry leaves six days a week at 8:15 and takes about 3h 22m
- Prices for ferries vary from 43.60 to 46.80 EUR and are operated by Liberty Lines
Ferries between Palermo and Salina operate during summer only and only one ferry leaves per day for a round trip. Check for any changes here.
Ferries from Palermo to Stromboli
- One ferry leaves daily at 13:50 and takes about 5h 25m
- The price is 70.70 EUR
- The ferry stops at Lipari (17:45) and Ginostra (19:00)
Ferries from Stromboli to Palermo
- You need to take the ferry to Lipari, Santa Marina Salina or Vulcano, stay overnight and then take the ferry back to Palermo (book separately)
The ferry between Palermo and Stromboli only runs in summer.
Ferries from Palermo to Vulcano
- One ferry leaves daily at 13:50 takes about 4h 10m
- The price is 52.35 EUR
Ferries from Vulcano to Palermo
- One ferry leaves daily at 7:25 takes about 4h 20m
- The price is 47.35 EUR
Note that the ferry from Palermo to Vulcano operates only from mid June to September. The timetable is here.
Ferries from Palermo to Lipari
- One ferry leaves daily at 13:50 takes about 3h 55m
- The price is 52.90 EUR
Ferries from Lipari to Palermo
- One ferry leaves daily at 07:45 takes about 4h
- The price is 47.90 EUR
Here also, the one daily ferry between Palermo and Lipari is in service only from mid-June to early September.
Ferries from Palermo to Filicudi
- Ferries leave three days a week between 06:30 and 15:10 and take about 2h 22m
- Prices for ferries vary from 27.25 EUR and are operated by Liberty Lines
Ferries from Filicudito Palermo
- Ferries leave three days a week between 09:05 and 18:35 and take about 2h 22m
- Prices for ferries vary from 22.25 EUR and are operated by Liberty Lines
When you take the ferry between Milazzo and Filicudi, expect up to four daily crossings in summer and three during the other seasons.
View the timetable here.
Ferries from Palermo to Alicudi
- Ferries leave three days a week between 06:30 and 15:10 and take about 2h 57m
- Prices for ferries vary from 32.70 to 43.78 EUR and are operated by Liberty Lines
Ferries from Alicudi Palermo
- Ferries leave three days a week between 08:35 and 18:05 and take about 2h 55m
- Prices for ferries vary from 27.70 to 38.78 EUR and are operated by Liberty Lines
To catch a ferry between Milazzo and Alicudi, note that there are up to only five daily crossings in summer and four during the other seasons.
Get the timetable.
Ferries from Palermo to Panarea
- Ferries leave six days a week between 06:00 and 16:30 and take about 1h 50m
- Prices for ferries vary from 22.80 to 29.92 EUR and are operated by Liberty Lines
Ferries from Panarea Palermo
- Ferries leave six days a week between 08:00 and 18:20 and take about 1h 52m
- Prices for ferries vary from 17.80 to 24.92 EUR and are operated by Liberty Lines
When you take the ferry from Milazzo and Panarea, expect up to four daily crossings in summer and three during the other seasons.
See the specific ferry times here.
Messina to Aeolian Islands
Ferries from Messina to Santa Marina Salina
- Ferries leave 5 days a week between 07:00 and 18:30 and take about 2h 40m
- Prices for ferries vary from 28.85 to 33.85 EUR and are operated by Liberty Lines
Ferries from Santa Marina Salina to Messina
- Ferries leave four days a week between 05:30 and 17:20 and take about 3h 25m
- Prices for ferries vary from 28.85 to 40.70 EUR and are operated by Liberty Lines
During summer, there can be up to 6 crossings a day. Check the current timetable here.
Ferries from Messina to Stromboli
- Ferries leave 5 days a week between 07:00 and 15:00 and take about 3h
- The price is 31.10 EUR
Ferries from Stromboli to Messina
- Ferries leave 5 days a week between 12:45 and 19:25 and take about 1h 25m
- The price is 26.10 EUR
Note that the ferries leave only between mid June and mid September, twice a day. More information on the crossing times can be viewed here.
Ferries from Messina to Vulcano
- Ferries leave daily between 08:15 and 18:30 and take about 2h 27m
- The price is 30.90 EUR
Ferries from Vulcano to Messina
- Ferries leave daily between 06:15 and 17:20 and take about 2h 27m
- The price is 25.90 EUR
Ferries leave up to three times daily and the timetable can be seen here.
Ferries from Messina to Lipari
- Ferries leave daily between 07:00 and 18:30 and take about 2h 30m
- The price is 31.10 EUR EUR
Ferries from Lipari to Messina
- Ferries leave daily between 06:40 and 18:05 and take about 2h 22m
- The price is 26.10 EUR
There are up to 5 daily crossings with the ferry from Messina to Lipari. This varies, so do check the timetable.
There are no ferries from Messina to Filicudi and Alicudi
Ferries from Messina to Panarea
- Ferries leave five days a week between 07:00 and 15:00 and take about 3h
- The price is 32.10 EUR
Ferries from Panarea Messina
- Ferries leave six days a week between 12:05 and 18:40 and take about 2h 7m
- The price is 27.10 EUR
View the timetable here to see more specific times for the two daily crossings that operate in summer.
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