How to reach the Aeolian Islands

The Aeolian Islands can be reached from the airports of Catania,Naples, Palermo and Reggio Calabria:

• by sea, by hydrofoil, from the ports of Naples, Messina, Milazzo, Palermo and Reggio Calabria.

• by ship from the ports of Naples and Milazzo.  

The Aeolian islands can be reached from the following airports :

• Catania,  Palermo

bus services to and from the airports:
in Reggio Calabria, there is a free bus service for the port in connection with each flight. Regular bus service from the airport of Reggio Calabria to Messina.
 

 From Catania, there are:

- Regular bus services to  Messina   (s.a.i.s. bus company)

- Regular coach service  from the airport of Catania “Fontanarossa” to the port of Milazzo (from  01/04 to 30/09) every day:

Departure from the port of Milazzo at 08.30

Departure from Catania airport at 16.00

- from Messina to the port of milazzo  and vice versa by coach

- from Catania to milazzo :

Transfers (must be booked in advance)  - return services from catania airport to the port of Milazzo and from the port of Milazzo to the airport of Catania

by ferry from :

NAPLES :

• by ship or hydrofoil from naples to the aeolian islands and viceversa with the following shipping companies

-          SIREMAR

-          MED MAR

-          ALILAURO

-          SNAV

-          USTICA LINES

frequency depends on the time of year

MILAZZO :

• by ship from milazzo to the aeolian islands and viceversa with the following shipping companies:

  • -          SIREMAR

  • -          N.G.I. it is the most reliable ferry which guarantees the highest number of sailings every day, even in low season

By hydrofoil from :

• Messina, Milazzo, Palermo, Reggio Calabria (the number of sailings is increased during the summer season, in particular from Milazzo and Naples.

• by car from :

  -          the port of Milazzo

  -          the port of Naples

• departure by ferry from the ports above. the crossing from Milazzo to lipari takes two hours (traditional ferry boat), 1 hour by high speed ferry, and 8 hours from Naples. 

 BY TRAIN :

• -to Milazzo :  there is a bus every half hour to the port of milazzo.

• -to Messina : the station is 1 km away from the hydrofoil terminal; you can also go to Milazzo from Messina by bus – a 50-minute journey – the bus stop is near the hydrofoil terminal.

• -to Naples : get off the train in piazza garibaldi for the siremar ferry or the ustica lines hydrofoil ; for the SNAV hydrofoil  get off the train at Naples mergellina station.