Lipari and Vulcano Islands Day Trip from Milazzo

Milazzo port and the Capo Milazzo coastline

Milazzo, on the north coast of Sicily, is the closest port to the Aeolian Islands, a volcanic archipelago listed by UNESCO in 2000. The boat leaves Via dei Mille at 9:30 and first follows the foothills of Capo Milazzo, the narrow cape north of the town, where green slopes, small coves and clear water lead to the lighthouse at its tip. On the way you see the large castle that crowns the old town.

The crossing to Lipari takes a little over an hour, with Vulcano appearing first on the horizon. This is the most popular Aeolian Islands day trip from Milazzo because it needs no early flight or long transfer: you board in the town centre, sail in comfort and spend most of the day on the islands themselves rather than at sea.

Lipari old town and castle

Lipari is the largest and liveliest of the Aeolian Islands, and its old town spreads between two harbours, Marina Corta and Marina Lunga, below a high rock crowned by the castle. The fortified hill, enclosed by sixteenth-century Spanish walls built after a pirate raid, has been inhabited for thousands of years; on top stands the Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew, the island's patron, founded in Norman times and rebuilt in Baroque style.

With about 2 hours 45 minutes of free time you can climb to the castle, stroll the lanes of the old centre with its small shops selling capers, pumice and ceramics, and enjoy a granita or lunch near Marina Corta. Off the coast rise the sea stacks of Pietra Lunga and Pietra Menalda, framed by white pumice cliffs that contrast with the blue sea.

The Aeolian Archaeological Museum on Lipari

Inside the castle area you find the Aeolian Archaeological Museum, one of the most important archaeological collections in the Mediterranean. Its halls trace island life from the Neolithic, when Lipari's black obsidian was traded across the sea, through the Bronze Age villages and the Greek and Roman periods. The collection of painted terracotta theatre masks from the Greek era is famous worldwide.

Museum entry is not included in this trip, but tickets are bought on site and the visit fits well into your free time if you go straight up to the castle after landing. Lipari museum opening hours are generally from morning to early evening, with shorter hours in winter. If you prefer the outdoors, the archaeological area of Contrada Diana and the panoramic lanes of the castle hill are open to explore.

Vulcano: black-sand beaches and Vulcanello

Vulcano, the island closest to Sicily, gave its name to every volcano on earth: in ancient myth it was the forge of the god of fire. It was formed by the union of the Fossa cone and Vulcanello, a small peninsula that rose from the sea in historical times. The boat docks at Porto di Levante, a few minutes from the black volcanic sand of the Porto di Ponente bay, and the air carries a light smell of sulphur from the fumaroles.

With about two and a half hours you can relax on the beach, swim in summer or explore Vulcanello and the Valley of Monsters, where hardened lava has taken strange shapes. The climb to the Gran Cratere is often closed for safety, so check restrictions before planning it. The best time to visit Vulcano for swimming is from June to September.

Sea caves and rock formations of Vulcano by boat

During the day the boat makes a sightseeing cruise along the coast of Vulcano, on the way out or on the return depending on the sea. You pass the tall sea stacks known as the Faraglioni, the Grotta degli Angeli sea cave, the Horse Grotto and rocks shaped by wind and waves into figures that local sailors have named the Mummy and the Little Mermaid, each with its own legend.

This part of the trip is often the favourite of children and photographers, as the boat sails close to cliffs streaked with red, yellow and black volcanic rock and the water turns deep turquoise in the coves. The cruise lasts about 30 minutes; if strong wind or high waves prevent it, the boat sails directly between the islands instead.