Tours from the mainland
Milazzo is the classic gateway to the Aeolians from land: every day, boats leave its port for Lipari, Vulcano and, in the afternoon, all the way out to Stromboli lighting up after dark. Here are the most requested trips, what they cost and how to plan.
Milazzo is the closest port to the Aeolians on the Sicilian coast: from here the archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2000, is under an hour of sailing. If you arrive by car you get a convenient boarding point without first having to reach the islands by hydrofoil.
It is the ideal base for a day trip: you leave in the morning, take in two islands at an easy pace and are back for dinner, without having to stay overnight in the Aeolians, where high-season prices climb steeply. That is why Milazzo offers the widest choice of shared tours, from the large motor vessel carrying many people to the small-group dinghy. Almost all of these trips come with a crew on board, so you never need a boat licence.
Of sailing to reach Lipari and Vulcano
On the classic day trip: Lipari and Vulcano
Per person, average price of a shared tour from Milazzo
Two formats above all, depending on how much time you have and what you want to see.
The classic trip: you set off in the morning, call at the two closest islands with stops for a swim at the coves and time ashore for a walk. Back in the late afternoon. The right outing for a first visit to the Aeolians without staying overnight.
You leave in the afternoon toward the furthest islands. An aperitif off Panarea, then you wait for dark below Stromboli to watch the Sciara del Fuoco from the sea. The signature outing of the holiday, back late in the evening.
The average cost of a shared tour from Milazzo runs from around 65 to 120 euro per person. The larger motor vessel, which carries more passengers, usually costs less than a small-group dinghy, which offers more intimacy and tailored stops in return. These are average market prices, they vary by season and availability.
Two practical points and the kind of traveller who does best leaving from Milazzo.
You board at the port of Milazzo, with paid car parks a short walk from the quays. In high season, arrive early: the parking spots near the pier fill up fast.
Day trips leave first thing in the morning and return in the afternoon; the Stromboli outings sail after lunch and come back in the evening. Ask the operator for the exact meeting time when you book.
If you are on holiday in Sicily and getting around by car, Milazzo is the most convenient departure: no hydrofoil to catch first, you set off straight from land.
The shared tour is the cheapest way to see the Aeolians in a day, because the cost is split among everyone on board. If you want more freedom, consider a dinghy with no licence from the islands.
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