The Aeolian Islands: A Guide to Sicily's Volcanic Archipelago

Lipari is the largest and liveliest of the Aeolian Islands. You can spend three nights there as part of Culture Trip’s exclusive 10-day Sicily adventure, led by our local insider. Good hydrofoil links and plenty of places to stay and to eat make this a logical base for exploring the rest of the archipelago. We recommend nosing around the castle; its fortified walls enclose two baroque churches and an archaeological museum. At the end of the day, relax with a glass of Malvasia delle Lipari, a sweet dessert wine produced locally.

Vulcano takes its name from Vulcan, the Roman god of fire. An hour’s uphill trek will take you to the volcano’s La Fossa crater. Its rotten egg smell comes from the sulphurous gases that indicate this volcano is only sleeping, but the views from the crater over the Aeolian archipelago are remarkable. Soothe your aching legs in the baths below, where warm mineral-rich mud and submarine jets of hot water are a geothermal treat. Interested in visiting? A trip to Vulcano features on Culture Trip’s specially curated small-group Sicily tour.

Peaceful Salina is the island of the twin peaks: Monte Fossa delle Felci and its slightly smaller neighbour, Monte Porri. Visitors arrive in Santa Marina Salina, a port town known for its elegant 19th-century merchants’ houses. Hire a car and head over to Lingua, a small town beside a salt lake, to tuck into a fruity granita at da Alfredo’s. Another road winds up to Semaforo and a viewpoint overlooking the crater of the island’s extinct volcano.

Stromboli’s drawcard is its volcano which has been erupting incessantly for over 2,000 years. Watch as incandescent cinders and lava bombs are ejected in mild explosions. Occasionally the show ramps up a bit and lucky visitors get to witness lava fountaining, nature’s answer to a fireworks display. Climbing to the crater is permitted with a guide; an alternative is a shorter ascent to the Sciara del Fuoco viewpoint, from where a blackened lava trail can be seen.

Filicudi was the first of the Aeolian islands to emerge from the sea around 600,000 years ago. Hike along the island’s old mule tracks or better still, take a boat ride. The beaches and steep cliffs are merely the photogenic pre-show. Don a snorkel to appreciate caves such as the Grotto del Bue Marino. Experienced scuba divers will want to explore the island’s many shipwrecks, which include a 17th-century Spanish galleon.

Unspoilt, sleepy Alicudi rises from the Tyrrhenian Sea as an almost perfect cone. There are no motorised vehicles here. Anything you can’t carry yourself will be loaded onto a mule. You’ll pass olives, vines and prickly pear trees, which thrive in fertile volcanic soils. Higher up, in the Filo dell’Arpa, they’re replaced by chestnut trees and ferns. People come here to swim, dive or fish. Down by the ferry dock, eat locally-caught seafood overlooking the water.

Glamorous Panarea attracts the rich and famous. It’s not hard to see why. Azure blue doorways pop against whitewashed walls draped with hot pink bougainvillea. Its maze-like streets are ripe for exploring. No matter how lost you get, you’ll find yourself at the door of San Pietro church, dedicated to the patron saint of fishermen. Check out the island’s beaches, such as the popular Cala Junco, before retreating to the terrace of the chic Hotel Lisca Bianca for an Aperol spritz.

This centrally located four-star property overlooks Lipari’s harbour and Marina Lunga Bay. Enjoy the outdoor pool and a terrace restaurant serving Sicilian and Aeolian dishes, set amongst attractive gardens. Rooms are comfortable, colourfully decorated and traditional in style. Some have balconies and sea views.

This intimate boutique hotel consists of eight apartments, conveniently located close to Ficogrande Beach. Varying in size, most have kitchens and some have their own private terrace or garden. There’s a pool for the exclusive use of guests and a deck that’s perfect for both daytime sunbathing and sunset aperitifs.

This delightful four-star boutique hotel sits on a narrow isthmus. Its unique position makes it ideal for watching both sunrise and sunset. You’ll have direct access to Spiaggia delle Acque Calde, the island’s famous geothermal beach. Bright and airy rooms are furnished in Mediterranean style and enjoy sea views.