The volcanic archipelago of the Aeolian Islands is situated off the Northeast coast of Sicily, Italy and is named after the Greek God, Aeolus. The God was the divine keeper of the winds and king of the mythical, floating island of Aeolia. He kept the violent Storm-Winds locked away inside the cavernous interior of his isle, unleashing them only at the command of greatest gods to wreak devastation upon the world. Each of the seven UNESCO protected islands: Lipari, Panarea, Stromboli, Salina, Alicudi, Filicudi and Vulcano, has its own distinct landscape and offerings. Hiking extinct and active volcanoes, bathing on black sand beaches, sailing around the incredible rock formations and caves off the coast are just some of the highlights. On the other hand, you will be impressed by the sweet villages, fascinating traditions and delicious local dishes. A glass of Malvasia sweet wine is the perfect sun-downer on board of your rented boat.

Arriving in the Aeolian Islands

You can arrive by plane at Aeroporto Dello Stretto ‘Tito Minniti’ in Regio Calabria, being the closest airport for your point of departure in the Aeolian Islands. From the airport you can rent-a-car or travel by bus and ferry to Milazzo. Around Milazzo there are four marinas that offer charter services: Marina di Portorosa, Marina Capo Nord, Poseidon Marina, Porto di Milazzo.

Weather in the Aeolian Islands

If you are looking for the warmest time to sail in the Aeolian Islands, then you should sail from July to September, with westerly winds and an average of 26.6°C with highs up to 31°C. The best temperatures are expected in May to July and October to November with an average of 23°C.

Wind in Aeolian Islands is usually calm. During summer, you will mostly have a gentle breeze, with average winds of 8.6 knots, so a good opportunity to raise the sails and enjoy the breeze, but it’s also recommended to keep an eye on the storms, as wind can blow with up to 40 knots in this region. The windiest time in the Aeolian Islands is November to April with an average of 14 knots.

Check regularly the forecast on the VHF Radio - Channel 68 or mobile apps like Windy or Lightning.

Planning your sailing itinerary

Prepare for a 7 days memorable journey, sailing around the Aeolian Islands. You will start from Portorosa Marina Yaching, and sail on your yacht for more than 145 nautical miles around sparkling Mediterranean waters, wonderful blending of cultures and outdoor adventures.  Depending on your boat type, course and pace the below information may vary.

• Leg 1 - Portorosa to Lipari Island – 22 nautical miles – 4 hours
• Leg 2 - Lipari Island to Panarea Island – 12 nautical miles – 2 hours
• Leg 3 - Panarea Island to Stromboli Island – 13 nautical miles – 2.5 hours
• Leg 4 - Stromboli Island to Salina Island – 23 nautical miles – 4 hours
• Leg 5 - Salina Island to Alicudi&Filicudi Islands – 25 nautical miles – 4.5 hours
• Leg 6 - Alicudi&Filicudi Islands to Vulcano Island – 30 nautical miles – 5.5. hours
• Leg 7 - Vulcano Island to Portorosa – 18 nautical miles – 3 hours

Rent your boat in Portorosa

• Sailing cruiser (37 feet) with three cabins starting price: 198 EUR/day.
• Catamaran (38 feet) with four cabins starting price: 541 EUR/day.

1. Portorosa to Lipari Island – Leg 1

Sailing to Lipari

After provisioning the boat and leaving Portorosa Marina, you need to head N-NW to Lipari Island. The Port of Lipari is situated on the south-eastern part of the island at 38°28'38.0"N 14°57'47.8"E. There are around 22 nautical miles to Lipari and you should reach the port in about 4 hours, depending on your course and speed.

Attention: approaching the island, keep an eye on the ferries, because the Port of Lipari has heavy traffic.

Sightseeing in Lipari

After mooring in the largest of the Aeolian islands, you should explore the Lipari town. A must-do here is the Aeolian archaeological museum in the upper town. Surrounded by old fortified city walls, the museum contains relics from the islands throughout the ages.

• Address: via del Castello – Lipari
• Timetable: every day h. 9.00-13.00/15.00-18.00 except for holiday afternoons
• Opening – Winter: on reservation
• Opening - Summer: every day h.9.30-13.30/15.00-18.00 winter period on reservation
• A ticket: Full prize 6.00 €/ Reduced: 3.00 €

High above, on the eastern extremity of the town centre is the Castle of Lipari enclosed by the 16th century fortified walls an also the Cathedral of San Bartolomeo, some ancient Greek ruins and a couple of fantastic panoramic viewing points.

• Address: via del Castello – Lipari
• Timetable: every day h. 9.00-13.00/15.00-18.00 except for holiday afternoons
• Opening – Winter: on reservation
• Opening - Summer: every day h.9.30-13.30/15.00-18.00 winter period on reservation
• A ticket: Full prize 6.00 €/ Reduced: 2.00 €

Accomodation when sailing to Lipari Island

Good accommodation can be found on the island like Hotel Villa de Pasquale Lipari**** with starting price from 120 € / night or Hotel Carasco**** from 160 € / night.

2. Lipari Island to Panarea Island – Leg 2

Sailing to Panarea

Leaving the Port of Lipari, take the north course to Panarea Island. The Port of Panarea is located on the eastern part of the island at 38°38'16.8"N 15°04'40.8"E.

Sightseeing in Panarea

Before visiting Panarea you should definitely drop the anchor and take a swim at Basiluzzo Island, a spectacular island rising high out of the water.

Nevertheless, you have to sail to Lisca Bianca and Il Bottaro islands. At the north end of Bottaro is an amazing phenomenon related to the island chain’s volcanic history—underwater volcanic vents that bubble up to the surface, so you should definitely take a dive and admire the unnatural underwater scenery.

After anchoring in one of Panarea’s bays, the perfect place to intentionally get lost on the car-free streets and admire the classic Greek architecture and beautiful flowers.

Accomodation when sailing to Panarea Island

Good accommodation can be found at Hotel la Piazza**** with starting price from 190 € / night and Hotel Raja**** from 100 € / night. Amazing local dishes can be served in the harbour at Raya Ristorante.

3. Panarea Island to Stromboli Island – Leg 3

Sailing to Stromboli

After a good breakfast and morning coffee in Panarea Island, you should set sail to Stromboli Island with a NE heading. Stromboli is one of Italy’s three active volcanos which has erupted continuously for thousands of years. In about 2.5 hours you will reach Stromboli however, the volcano is unmistakable from miles away as it rises 924 meters above sea level.

Sightseeing in Stromboli

If you want to anchor, there are not many places where you can do it due to the great depth of water. The best place to anchor is located in Ficogrande, in front of the restaurant La Tartana. Just about 100 m from the port of Ginostra is another good anchoring point. There are no docks on the island but during summer there are reliable buoys operated by Sabbienere transfer service allowing you to leave the boat safely. You can reach them on VHF channel 16/77 or phone number 090986390.

If you want to visit the volcano, it’s a must to wear adequate mountain equipment but if you have none, no worries, you can rent all needed equipment at Totem Trekking.

• Boots 6.00 €
• Trekking Sticks 4.00 €
• Wind stopper 5.00 €

For a more detailed expedition to the volcano, we recommend you to hire a professional trekking guide starting from 40.00 € / person. You can find below some of the top trekking agencies we recommend:

• https://stromboliadventures.it
• https://magmatrek.it
• https://ilvulcanoapiedi.it

The tours on top of the volcano are guided tours and starts around noon or afternoon, in order to reach the top of the volcano at sunset. When darkness is setting in, Stromboli will uncover its impressive fireworks show rages with explosive magma that shots up in the sky.

4. Stromboli Island to Salina Island – Leg 4

Sailing to Salina

Head SW and in about 4 hours you will reach Salina Island, 23 nautical miles away from Stromboli. Salina has become a popular destination for hikers, the Regional Natural Reserve Montagne delle Felci e dei Porri represents an amazing habitat of pine forests, alder, chestnut trees and lush ferns covering the old crater.

Sightseeing in Salina

If you anchor on the west coast, in the bay of Pollara, you can visit the streets where the movie ‘Il Postino’ was filmed and have lunch at Ristorante – punto Vendita Al Cappero.

If you are mooring on the eastern part of the island, in Marina Turistica Salina, you can reprovision your boat and try some of the fabulous dishes in harbour area: Gastronomia Rundo and Nni Lausta are among our favourites. The remains of a fourth century BC settlement inhabited until the Middle Ages stands near Santa Marina Salina, attesting that the island has been populated since ancient times.

Accomodation when sailing to Salina Island

Good accommodation can be found at Hotel Ravesi*** with starting price from 180 € / night and Resort Al Belvedere Salina**** from 116 € / night.

5. Salina Island to Alicudi & Filicudi Islands – Leg 5

Sailing to Filicudi

Check the weather forecast and set sail to Filicudi Island, around 12 nautical miles away from Porto di Marina Salina. Take the West heading to Filicudi Island on the coordinates: 38°34'02.5"N 14°33'33.7"E.

Known by the Greeks as Phoenicusa (rich in ferns), uncompromisingly rustic Filicudi has a permanent population of just 200 inhabitants, mostly living in Pecorini a Mare and Filicudi Porto.

Sightseeing in Filicudi

The coastal landscape is characterized by rugged terraces rampant with gorse, stony beaches like Capo Graziano, and steep cliffs that plunge down into caves, of which the most celebrated is the Grotto del Bue Marino, on the western side of the island. This cave can be visited on the way to Alicudi Island, 8 nautical miles west to Filicudi.

Sailing to Alicudi

West to Filicudi at 38°32'21.9"N 14°21'04.1"E, you can find another paradise island, the island of Alicudi.

Sightseeing in Alicudi

On the western part of the island, a must visit place from the sea is the Scoglio della Galera. A dragon head shaped stone is raising from the shore that will surely stimulate the imagination of the little ones.

On Alicudi Island you can find several restaurants and cafes like Il club di Lea and Golden Café Noir and also, some retail shops. You can enjoy a sunny afternoon at the beach on Spiaggia Bazzina, a rustic and quite untouched by humanity place.

Accomodation when sailing to Alicudi

Good accommodation can be found at Casa Falco Della Regina*** with starting price from 290 € / night and Casa Artemisa*** from 200 € / night.

6. Alicudi & Filicudi Islands to Vulcano Island – Leg 6

Sailing to Vulcano

Raise the sails in the morning and head SE to Vulcano Island. In around 5 hours you should reach Vulcano Island, and you can confirm your approach if you scent the smell of sulphur. One of the first thing you need to do when in Volcano island is taking in the splendid views, the majestic scenery and the breath-taking landscape that surrounds you.

Sightseeing in Vulcano

Whether you visit Vulcano during the spring, summer or early fall, make sure to explore the beaches. There are two beaches on each side of the island that connects the main island to a smaller one known as Vulcanello. Both beaches, Spiaggia Sabbie Nere and Spiaggia delle Acque Calde are characterized by an out of this world scenery with dark, volcanic sand.

If you are ready for a hike, then definitely you should climb the Gran Cratere. Hikers use to start the climb in late afternoon, and while during the fall the temperatures will be pleasant, this is not a hike you should underestimate on warmer days. Trekking to the Gran Cratere is free of charge and can be performed all year long, but this tour is very popular and in summer time, so expect crowds.

The scenery during the hike is so picturesque that you’ll stop every corner for memorable pictures. From the top you can see all the archipelago of the Aeolian Islands: Lipari and Salina in the proximity and Alicudi, Filicudi, Stromboli and Panarea in the distance. On a very clear day it is also possible to see the northern coast of Sicily and Etna.

Accomodation when sailing to Vulcano

If you don’t want to spend the time at anchor, a stay at Therasia Resort*****, one of the best accommodations on the island will put you back on tracks, but doesn’t come cheap as prices start from 491 € / night.

7. Vulcano Island to Portorosa – Leg 7

Sailing to Portorosa

Portorosa is only 18 miles away, so take your time and enjoy what is left from this amazing expedition. Head SSE and you will find Portorosa Marina at 38°07'40.4"N 15°06'39.2"E. After you enter the marina, on your starboard side there is the gas station, from where you can fill up your tank.

Sightseeing in Portorosa

Portorosa is an amazing city and if you have some extra time to spend here, the city will definitely have a special place in your heart. The Marina si fabulously decorated with a view to remember. Around the marina there are several restaurants like La Plaza that will delight you with some fabulous local dishes.

Accomodation when sailing to Portorosa

If your flight back home is not scheduled on the same day, we recommend spending the night at Monolocale Portorosa*** with starting price from 120 € / night.

Capetanos sailing and general recommendations

For a memorable sailing week in the Aeolian Islands, we recommend to plan in advance by consulting the best weather to visit the islands, you can buy the Aeolians chart and also, a good advice would be to have at hand the Aeolian Islands Pilot, which most probably can be found in the marina.

Aeolian Islands will be for you, your family and friends a great opportunity to discover an amazing part of Italy with exploring the Stromboli active volcano, the underwater volcanic vents and the chic shops of Panarea, the history and cuisine in Lipari, and the greenness of Salina.

Sailing bugdet calculator / Rent boat calculator Aeolian Islands

These calculations are performed for one-week charter on a 36 feet sailing boat in mid-august and crew of 6.

1-week total	5.940 €
3 cabins sailing boat	3.890 €
Skipper (optional)	1.050 €
Food	180 €
Water	80 €
Diesel	180 €
Moorings	200 €
Food out	360 €