Best of the Aeolian Islands

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Aeolian Islands
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Map of Volcanoes of Sicily: Aeolian Islands & Mt. Etna - 9 Days
Volcanoes of Sicily: Aeolian Islands & Mt. Etna - 9 Days

Dominated by volcanic peaks, some of them still active, Sicily and the Aeolian islands offer dramatic coasts and fertile interiors. Explore the beautiful Aeolian Archipelago—7 diverse islands including Lipari, Vulcano, and Stromboli—whose active volcanic cone dominates the horizon. End your trip with a climb to the top of Mt Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano.

Visit the impressive baroque Church of Sant'Agata al Carcere in Catania
Map of Sicily Highlights Self-Drive Tour with Aeolian Islands - 9 Days
Sicily Highlights Self-Drive Tour with Aeolian Islands - 9 Days

Experience Sicily's coastal cities, Sicilian-baroque towns, and the remote Aeolian Islands with this 9-day circuit from Catania. Start in Milazzo and discover the ruins of Lipari and the black-sand beaches of Stromboli before picking up your rental and driving to elegant Taormina. Learn to prepare traditional Sicilian fare in a cooking class in Taormina, navigate narrow and winding lanes and alleys in Syracuse's historic Ortygia, and take in the embellished architecture of charming Noto.

Trek the crater rim amid steaming fumaroles on Vulcano Island
Map of Sicily Highlights Self-Drive Tour with Aeolian Islands - 12 Days
Sicily Highlights Self-Drive Tour with Aeolian Islands - 12 Days

This 12-day grand tour of Sicily is a perfect mix of culture and adventure and includes four nights on the Aeolian Islands. Beginning and ending in Catania, you'll discover historic ruins on Lipari, soak in a mud bath on Vulcano, and go on a sunset hike of Stromboli before picking up your rental car in Milazzo. Tour Palermo, the regional capital, wander amid the impressive Greek temples in Agrigento, and enjoy a passeggiata along Syracuse's seaside promenade in Ortygia.

Head to Ortygia's Fonte Aretusa, a natural spring
Map of Sicily Highlights Self-Drive Tour with Aeolian Islands - 10 Days
Sicily Highlights Self-Drive Tour with Aeolian Islands - 10 Days

Discover the highlights of Sicily with this 10-day loop of the island, featuring three nights on two of the Aeolian Islands as well as time spent in Palermo, the regional capital, and historic Syracuse. You'll witness Stromboli's spectacular pyrotechnic display of red and orange lava, take a passeggiata along Cefalù's seaside promenade, and enjoy traditional Sicilian fare in a rustic trattoria in Syracuse's historic core. Explore historic Norman castles, ancient Greek temples, and Roman amphitheaters, and enjoy the impressive baroque architecture of lively Catania.

Relax on the black sand beach of Stromboli and enjoy views of the small promontory of Strombolicchio
Map of Sicily Highlights Self-Drive Tour with Aeolian Islands - 13 Days
Sicily Highlights Self-Drive Tour with Aeolian Islands - 13 Days

Perfectly blending culture and history with adventure, this 13-day tour starts in the regional capital of Palermo and takes you to three of the Aeolian Islands. You'll pick up your rental car and check out the popular Lungomare beach in Cefalù, discover the impressive Norman-Byzantine Monreale Cathedral, and wander amid the ridgetop temples in Agrigento. From there, you'll explore the tightly woven network of narrow and winding alleys in Ortygia, hike Mount Etna, Europe's largest volcano, and end your trip in Catania, Sicily's next largest city.

Lie out on the black sand beach of Stromboli Island
Map of Sicily Highlights Self-Drive Tour with Aeolian Islands - 14 Days
Sicily Highlights Self-Drive Tour with Aeolian Islands - 14 Days

Spend two weeks delving into Sicily's historic and cultural highlights on this complete itinerary. Discover remote island settlements on Stromboli, meander and climb the narrow laneways and staircases in Modica, Ragusa Ibla, and Scicli,  and dine on fresh seafood in sophisticated Taormina. You'll begin and end in lively Catania and spend four nights on the Aeolian Islands before picking up your rental car and touring the Italian island from Palermo to Taormina, with Cefalù, Agrigento, and Syracuse in between.

Take a passeggiata along Cefalù's seaside promenade
Map of Sicily Highlights Self-Drive Tour with Aeolian Islands - 11 Days
Sicily Highlights Self-Drive Tour with Aeolian Islands - 11 Days

Enjoy this 11-day itinerary from Catania to explore the Aeolian Islands before picking up your rental car and continuing to circle Sicily. Starting with the regional capital of Palermo, you'll dive into its colorful history and impressive architecture on a city tour, then discover the ridgetop temples of Agrigento and the Greek and Roman ruins of Syracuse, capping off the trip with a hike up Mount Etna.

Head to Cape Milazzo to visit the Pool of Venus
Map of Sicily Highlights Self-Drive Tour with Aeolian Islands - 15 Days
Sicily Highlights Self-Drive Tour with Aeolian Islands - 15 Days

Explore Sicily's highlights, including four days on three of the Aeolian Islands, on this 15-day itinerary. Starting from Catania, you'll head to Milazzo and on to Lipari, Vulcano, and Stromboli to relax in mud baths and on black sand beaches, and to hike the Stromboli volcano. Visit Palermo, the regional capital before checking out the Greek and Roman ruins of Agrigento and Syracuse and ending the trip with a cooking class in the elegant seaside town of Taormina.

Watch Stromboli's routine eruption on an evening tour of the volcano
Map of Sicily Highlights Self-Drive Tour with Aeolian Islands - 16 Days
Sicily Highlights Self-Drive Tour with Aeolian Islands - 16 Days

Experience the highlights of Sicily on this in-depth tour. Beginning and ending in Catania, you'll cover the Italian island as well as spend some time exploring the impressive Aeolian Islands. You'll visit ancient Greek, Roman, and Norman ruins, medieval fortressed towns dotted with ornate baroque buildings and stunning beaches. Discover remote island settlements on Stromboli, meander and climb the narrow laneways and staircases in Modica, Ragusa Ibla, and Scicli,  and dine on fresh seafood in sophisticated Taormina.

Other popular travel destinations in Italy
Tuscany · Rome · Florence · Venice · Amalfi Coast · Sicily · Milan · Naples · Palermo · Lakes District · Lake Como · Lake Garda · Verona · Taormina · Cinque Terre · Syracuse · Siena · Italian Riviera · Sorrento · Emilia Romagna · Capri · Bologna · Agrigento · Piedmont · Chianti · San Gimignano · Turin · Catania · Umbria · Puglia · Alberobello · Lecce · Bari · Dolomites · Montepulciano · Ragusa · Sardinia · The Langhe