Aeolian Islands, Italy: One Week Itinerary

The Aeolian Islands, a group of seven isles off the north coast of Sicily, range from uber-chic (Panarea), to actively volcanic (Stromboli), to quiet and romantic (Filicudi). Colonized by the Greeks in the 6^th century B.C., each of these islands has a different flavor, offering the visitor dramatic rocky shores, azure waters, black sand beaches, charming whitewashed houses, a fabulous archaeological museum and the famed Malvasia wine.

To reach the Aeolian Islands, there are ferries departing Naples or Reggio Calabria on mainland Italy, or Messina, Cefalù or Palermo on Sicily. For those who prefer a shorter boat ride, numerous daily hydrofoils depart from Milazzo in northeast Sicily to each of the islands. The main ferry lines are Siremar and USTICAlines. Eurofly now flies from New York directly to Catania on the east coast of Sicily, nearest to Milazzo, and to the capital, Palermo, in the northwest.

While all seven islands are worth a visit, not all have desirable accommodation. For a week’s stay I recommend staying on 3 islands and taking day-trips to others, although some prefer to park it on one island and lazily explore the rest at their own pace. The order of your island-hopping depends on whether you’d like to work logistically (i.e.: farthest to closest) or on the type of experience you’re looking for and when (i.e.: relaxing first, end with nightlife). Please note that many of the islands are not more than a port and feature few amenities. It is always a good idea to have cash on you, as ATMs on the smaller islands are scarce and some hotels and restaurants don’t take credit cards.