In this article, we give you a one week itinerary in the Aeolian Islands in Italy. Be ready to live the Dolce Vita on a sailboat or a catamaran from Portorosa in Sicily.
The Aeolian Islands or Lipari Islands, named after the main island, are a volcanic archipelago north of Sicily in the Tyrrhenian Sea in Italy.
Weather conditions in the Aeolian Islands
In order to sail in the best conditions, we advise you to leave between May and September.
The outside temperatures for this period are between 22 and 27 degrees. And the water is between 19 and 25 degrees.
Do I need a licence to sail in the Aeolian Islands?
In the Aeolian Islands, a licence is required to sail a sailboat beyond 6 miles from a shelter. And for motorboats, there is no need for a licence, if the power is less than 40 horsepower.
Day 1: Portorosa
We suggest you rent a boat with SamBoat at the marina of Portorosa. The marina is located in Sicily at the bottom of the large bay between Cape Tindari and Cape Milazzo. It has become the perfect starting point for a navigation journey in the Aeolian Islands.
Close to all amenities, you can stock up on supplies for the week, go to the beach and visit the town.
Day 2: Portorosa → Vulcano
20 nautical miles, 4 hours of sailing
On this first day of sailing, sail towards Vulcano. A steep and wild island, where you will be completely mind blown, between active volcanoes, hot water beaches, mud baths, and fumarole phenomenons that can be found in the crater of Fossa II, in the bay of Acqua Calda and in the underwater world of Spiaggia Lunga. You surely won’t be disappointed by this stopover!
We advise you to go to the crater of Fossa II. There you can admire the sulphur deposits that colour the ground in fluorescent yellow, a delight for the eyes!
As for the anchorage, we recommend spending the night in the Porto Ponente cove or in the Formaggio cove which are both protected from the winds.
Day 3: Vulcano → Lipari
4 nautical miles, 1 hour of sailing
Now sail to Lipari, an island with many mythological stories. It is the largest island in the Aeolian Islands! Here you will see volcanic landscapes, hot springs and mediaeval architecture.
For this first activity on the island, we suggest that you set foot on land to enjoy the park of Contrada Diana, where the oldest thermal complex in the Mediterranean was discovered. Afterwards, we suggest an excursion to Monte Pelato. It is one of the only obsidian deposits in Europe.
For the anchorage, we suggest you spend the night a few nautical miles from the city. Away from all the tourist hustle and bustle, anchor in the Cugno cove on the west side of the island. In addition to being nice, this piece of paradise is sheltered from the winds!
Day 4: Lipari → Salina
11 nautical miles, 2 hours of sailing
On this third day of sailing, sail towards Salina, the second largest Aeolian Island. And also the greenest! This stopover will surely be the most relaxing, swimming in the bay of Polara and walking surrounded by olive trees and orchards.
As far as anchorages are concerned, we suggest spending the night at Santa Marina, a quality anchorage located at the entrance to the port of Salina.
Day 5: Salina → Panarea
10 nautical miles, 2 hours of sailing
Head for Panarea, also called “the little Saint-Tropez”. It is a small volcanic island of about 3 km2. This Cycladic island with its picturesque little streets and white houses will make you want to visit more.
We recommend you to dine at the Trattoria Da Adelina, where you can eat homemade pasta and fresh fish with a breathtaking view of the sea.
For the anchorage, we recommend you to spend the night in Punta Milazzese. Buoys are at your disposal!
Day 6: Panarea → Stromboli
22 nautical miles, 4.5 hours of sailing
Last stop, but not the least. Sail towards the volcanic island: Stromboli. We recommend that you drop anchor in front of the island and contemplate this wonder at sunset.
To spend the night, we suggest you anchor in Ginostra located on the south coast. Or in Ciminiera, located on the northeastern coast, sheltered from any sirocco and libeccio. In both cases, we recommend staying on board with a view of the volcano.
Day 7: Stromboli → Portorosa
42 nautical miles, 8 hours 20 minutes of sailing
On this last day of sailing, it is time to return to Portorosa. This is a rather long sail as it takes about 8 to 9 hours to cross. Once you arrive in port, remember to fill up on water and fuel before the checkout.
If you liked this itinerary, make sure you read our 7 day trip in the Bay of Naples!
🍃 By doing this itinerary entirely by sail you will travel 175 km and save 16 litres of fuel.
