Lipari

Day 1: Welcome to Lipari and first taste of the sea

Ease into the Aeolian rhythm around the little harbour at Marina Corta, the beating heart of leisure boating. Get your bearings on land, then meet the water the way locals do—unhurried, respectful of wind and light.

• Morning: Stroll Marina Corta to scout reputable kiosks and book a small-group (max 8–12) giro dell’isola for today or tomorrow; ask about wind (Maestrale/Scirocco) before you commit. Duck up to the cathedral to see where the island venerates its patron and hear the tale of Saint Bartholomew arriving by sea.
• Midday: Board a half-day circumnavigation of Lipari: thread the Faraglioni channel, admire Valle Muria’s cliffs, and swim over the turquoise shimmer at the Spiagge Bianche near the old pumice quarries (look, don’t touch—erosion is real). Bring high SPF, a hat, reef-safe suncream, and cash for fuel surcharges if applicable.
• Afternoon: Linger along the west coast’s grottos and Porticello’s skeletal pier. Back ashore, cool down with a granita and keep plans flexible—local skippers may tweak routes for mare mosso; trust their read of the sea.
• Evening: Celebrate with a short sunset boat aperitivo: anchor by the Faraglioni or off Punta Castagna for glowing white cliffs and Malvasia with bites. It can be breezy after dusk—pack a light windproof layer, especially outside peak summer.

Day 2: Panarea and Stromboli by night

Today is the archipelago’s classic: chic Panarea by day, fire and stars off Stromboli after dark. It’s a long, magical outing—pace your morning and bring layers for the night crossing.

• Morning: Slow start and light breakfast; pick up snacks and plenty of water in town. If seas look lively, ask your operator about the plan B route or rescheduling—better a great trip tomorrow than a bumpy one today.
• Midday: Cruise to Panarea for swims at Cala Junco and near Lisca Bianca/Basiluzzo where fumaroles bubble. Enjoy a couple of unhurried hours in the flower-draped lanes; this is the time to wander, not rush.
• Afternoon: Continue to Stromboli and stretch your legs in the village; early supper here keeps you warm for the show. Skipper’s timing rules—expect departures to be “a-chronological” in the best Aeolian way if conditions suggest it.
• Evening: At sunset, the boat holds station off the Sciara del Fuoco for eruptions against the night sky—an unforgettable sight. Carry a jacket, avoid bright torches, and keep decks clear as requested; return to Lipari late (often near midnight).

Day 3: Choose-your-own Aeolian: Vulcano coves or green Salina

Make this your personal day on the water—either free-roaming with a gommone or a relaxed hop to Salina. Let the wind decide; Aeolus still has a say here.

• Morning: If experienced, collect a self-drive gommone at Marina Corta (or hire con conducente if you’re new): aim for Vulcano’s Grotta del Cavallo and the Piscina di Venere for clear, sheltered swims; mind changing chop with a rising Scirocco. Alternatively, book a small-boat Salina run for an easy crossing and coastal cruising.
• Midday: For Vulcano, round the “backside” to quiet black-sand coves and picnic aboard; for Salina, drop into Lingua for pane cunzato and granita by the salt lake. Wherever you anchor, avoid Posidonia seagrass and observe local no-anchoring zones—fines are being enforced.
• Afternoon: Slip south of the Faraglioni to Praia di Vinci (boat access only) for a last, crowd-free swim, or in Salina continue to Pollara’s amphitheatre bay for cinematic views. Keep extra water on board; the sun reflects fiercely off the sea.
• Evening: Return fuelled and unhurried to Marina Corta; toast the trip with seafood and a glass of Malvasia. If you’re here on 24 August, join the sea processions for San Bartolomeo as the island blesses its boats—an authentic window into Lipari’s maritime soul.

By Air

• Catania (CTA) is the main gateway. Direct coach (Giuntabus) from the airport to Milazzo Porto takes about 1 h 45 min–2 h, then hydrofoil to Lipari (~1 h). Private transfers are widely available (about 1 h 30 min to Milazzo in light traffic).
• Palermo (PMO). Train or coach to Palermo Centrale, then Trenitalia to Milazzo (about 2 h 30 min–3 h 30 min), taxi/shuttle 10–15 min to the port, hydrofoil to Lipari. Seasonal hydrofoils run Palermo–Lipari (~3 h) if you prefer to go straight by sea.
• Reggio Calabria (REG). Taxi/bus to Reggio or Messina ports; seasonal hydrofoils to Lipari (~2–3 h). Alternatively, train via Messina to Milazzo.
• Naples (NAP). Seasonal high-speed/overnight services run direct from Naples to Lipari (about 6–9 h), avoiding the Sicily transfer.
• Lamezia Terme (SUF). Useful for Calabria/Tropea. Train to Vibo/Tropea or to Milazzo via Rosarno–Messina (about 3–4 h total), then hydrofoil.

By Train

• Aim for Milazzo station (on the Palermo–Messina line). From the station it’s a 10–15 min taxi or shuttle to Milazzo Porto for hydrofoils/ferries to Lipari.
• Typical timings: Palermo–Milazzo about 2–3 h (direct or via Messina); Messina–Milazzo about 30–50 min.
• From mainland Italy, trains reach Messina (via Villa San Giovanni ferry). Continue by regional train to Milazzo, or walk to Messina’s port for a hydrofoil to Lipari (~2–3 h, usually with stops).

By Ferry/Hydrofoil

• Milazzo–Lipari: most frequent, year‑round. Hydrofoils (Liberty Lines) ~1 h; car ferries (Caronte & Tourist/Siremar) ~2–3 h.
• Messina–Lipari: hydrofoils ~2–3 h (often via intermediate islands), several daily.
• Palermo–Lipari: seasonal hydrofoils ~3 h (some limited off‑season runs).
• Naples–Lipari: seasonal high‑speed and overnight services (~6–9 h).
• Reggio Calabria/Vibo Marina/Tropea–Lipari: mainly seasonal hydrofoils/day boats; good in summer but less practical with luggage.

By Car

• You can drive to Milazzo and use long‑stay car parks near the port, then continue as a foot passenger by hydrofoil/ferry.
• Vehicle disembarkation on Lipari is restricted for non‑residents roughly 1 June–30 September. Outside these dates, car ferries run from Milazzo, but island roads are narrow and parking is limited—bringing a car is rarely necessary.