The 7 Aeolian Islands of Sicily: the full experience

The Aeolian Islands, located off the coast of northeastern Sicily, are one of southern Italy’s greatest natural and cultural treasures.

Formed by volcanic eruptions over time, the archipelago is made up of seven islands – Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Panarea, Stromboli, Filicudi, and Alicudi – each one with its own identity.

Here’s an itinerary for a week or 10 days with highlights of what to see, do and eat on these islands!

Read my brain:

✿ Really worth doing!

✎ Not worth it, unless you have time to spare!

Your perfect plan for a 1-week (or 10 days) trip in the Aeolian Islands in Sicily:

If you wish to find my map pins and easily follow them, **follow me on mapstr**!

Who to go with:

I think this is the typical place to go to with either your partner or a friend, it can be a very romantic place, and it’s mostly about adventure. There is not great nightlife. Though, if you go there with friends, you won’t regret it, it’s the type of experience you want to share with someone you love!

How long:

1-week minimum! Especially if you are planning to go there without renting a boat, but benefitting from the local ferry tours, you need to stay there the entire week: most of the island tours only happen on specific days, and you don’t want to miss them!

Where to stay:

Lipari is the place you want to settle in for sure, it’s the most connected island from where you can reach all the islands on a daily basis!

There are 2 possible scenarios here, I recommend them both depending on what you are looking for!

1) Get a place to stay in the center (either in Marina Corta, Marina Lunga, or Canneto - ps: Marina Corta is probably the best choice because it’s where most of the nightlife, stores, and activities are happening. Canneto is a bit smoggy and detached, but has a direct beach in front of your place).

2) Get a villa on the top of the hill, here you would definitely need a car to then more around but you will enjoy wonderful views, sunrises, and fresh air and silence (which you don’t find in the center, being full of traffic and things going on!). When I was there, I stayed at the Ville Panorama.

Island 1: LIPARI

✿ Visit the Lipari Castle

You can enjoy a great view from there too!

✿ Enjoy a coffee or drink at Cafè du Port

They also have live music in the evening !

✿ Enjoy fresh seafood over dinner or lunch at Ritrovo Calandra, in Canneto beach

***✿ Taste the best Granita Siciliana at Pasticceria Pino D’Ambra***
They usually pair it with a brioche: do not miss out on this combo!

✿ Buy souvenirs only from local stores: try Liscart

It’s a homemade and locally crafted souvenir shop creating amazing island-inspired sculptures in all sizes and marine shapes!

✿ Enjoy one of the best views from this hidden spot: Belvedere Terme di San Calogero

You can walk there, and do a picnic on the tables in front of the view! You will be completely immersed in nature.

✿ Dance at Turmalin club

Some nights, the state radio RTL takes over and goes live on the radio from the club making the experience even more fun!

✿ Stroll around Marina Corta: where most of the life happens!

✿ Taste local ingredients and homemade food at the food truck “U Cammiu”

You will find it in Via San Vincenzo every afternoon and evening. Nunzio, the owner, is collecting ingredients himself and cooks every day with the highest quality of meat, vegetables, pizzas, and more.

✿ Have dinner or lunch at Trattoria del Vicolo

✿ **Eat a quick and local lunch at Trattoria “La Sfiziosa”**

✿ Have a day far from the crowd at Piscine di Eolo

They are open air pools with hot tubs and a super nice café with the best view on oversea!

✿ **Enjoy the sunset & have a quick snack at Belvedere Quattrochi**
Go to this spot to find a food stand to take a quick picnic food and sit and relax!

✿ **Aperitivo & Sunset at Quattropani: try Restaurant Tivoli**
This is the view you will enjoy from here, sided by good food:

✿ Enjoy beautiful waters at Spiaggia De La Forbice!

✿ Eat some fried typical sicilian takeaway food here at Mancia e Fui

✿ **Have some wine and music at L’Approdo**

Island 2: Vulcano

The last reported eruption of the volcanoes occurred over a two-year period between 1888 and 1890. Since then, their activity has never completely ceased.

A phenomenon known as ‘fumarole’ is frequent here. This term indicates sprays of steam on the crest and underwater that get used to power an industrial complex producing sulfur.

✿ Enjoy a lunch or a great Granit (number 2!) at A Zammara

Right on the beach, this is one of the only restaurants here but also making one of the best Granita on the islands!

Island 3: Salina

✿ Take a bath at Pollara beach

If you are a movie enthusiast like me, then you’d know or should know this place! It’s where the Italian movie “Il Postino” (directed by Michael Radford and starring Italian actor Massimo Troisi) was shot. Not the entire movie, but the most iconic ones!

The first is the scene where Pablo Neruda, the Chilean poet, was making poetry with Massimo on the beach.

Secondly, all the scenes were shot at Pablo Neruda’s Villa, which you can find right on top Pollara beach (it should be reachable from there or from Salina).