Hiking in the Aeolian Islands

Hiking in the Aeolian Islands off the coast of Sicily: the most beautiful trails and tips

Hiking on the Aeolian Islands is beautiful and very varied. These islands off the coast of Sicily are a wonderful destination for a walking or hiking trip. During peak season, however, it can get really hot, so you need to be careful in the sun, since there isn’t much shade along the trails.

Each island has its own charm and unique natural features, vegetation, and culture. It’s really worth hiking on several of the Aeolian Islands, as you’ll notice distinct natural and cultural differences between them. Read more about the most beautiful hiking trails on the Aeolian Islands.

You can decide for yourself whether to stay overnight on one of the Aeolian Islands and go hiking from there, or to stay on several islands and go island-hopping. Read more about what to see on the Aeolian Islands.

Prefer an organized hiking trip to the Aeolian Islands? Read about our 8-day self-guided hiking trip to the Aeolian Islands.

Hiking in the Aeolian Islands: Hiking Trails on Lipari

  • La Via della Pomice: On the northeastern side of the island, you’ll follow in the footsteps of the old pumice quarries between Acquacalda, Lami, and Canneto. Here you’ll see the shiny black obsidian and the white, porous pumice. You’ll experience the island’s volcanic landscape as well as its history, which is closely tied to the extraction and trade of these two rocks. A 4–5-hour hike of moderate difficulty.
  • The Volcanic Domes: an excursion around “Monte” on the southern side of the island. You’ll discover Lipari’s most beautiful colors. You’ll walk from the town to stunning fields offering the most breathtaking views of the azure-blue sea, with the coastal areas and the “Sotto il Monte” cliff, as well as the island of Vulcano, in the background.
  • From Lipari to Acquacalda. This route takes you along the coast—or through the mountainous region—to Acquacalda in the north.

Hiking in the Aeolian Islands: Salina

Salina is a beautiful island for walking and hiking. You can climb both of the island’s volcanoes. The hike up the mountains takes about 2 hours. The best place to start is at the Santuario della Madonna del Terzito in Valdichiesa.

  • The Monte Fossa delle Felci trail is about 10.6 km from Santa Marina. It’s a steep climb, but the dense vegetation offers plenty of shade from the sun. At the top, there’s a fantastic view of Salina and the other islands.
  • Monte dei Porri is about 5 km from Valdichiesa. You can get there on foot, by bus, or by scooter. Be sure to bring plenty of water, as it’s a sunny climb. The trail is mostly well-marked. It’s steep and slippery in places, so sturdy shoes are a must. At the top, you’ll enjoy a stunning view of the island and can see the other Aeolian Islands in the distance.

Hiking in the Aeolian Islands: Panarea

You can enjoy a beautiful walk around the island on a route of nearly 7 km. You’ll start at the port of Panarea and head south. With a short detour, you can visit a Bronze Age village at Punta Milazzese. Follow the coast until you turn right and cross the island to the west side, where you’ll walk northward, enjoying stunning views from Punta Cardosi and the highest peak, Punta del Corvo (421 m). You’ll reach the northernmost point at Punta Palisi and return to civilization at Ditella, eventually making your way back to Panarea. In the summer, you’ll find a small colony of Eleonora’s falcons here.

Hiking on Vulcano

  • Capo Grillo: You’ll climb through a valley to the upper part of the island, “il Piano.” You’ll pass caves, including Grotte dei Rossi, fields, and forests, and on the way back, you’ll walk along the Via Reale, which was recently made accessible by a group of volunteers. This route takes about 5–6 hours and is not difficult to navigate.
  • Gran Cratera della Fossa. On an easy hike lasting about 3 hours, you’ll see the remnants of the last eruptions between 1888 and 1890. The volcano is still active, as evidenced by the smoke rising from it, the gases it continues to produce, and temperatures that exceed 600 degrees. You can safely climb to the summit, from where you can overlook the entire archipelago. The slopes are already overgrown with plants and broom in some places, while the landscape on higher plateaus is barren. The trail to the crater is open from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Hiking on Stromboli

You can climb to the top of the mountain—only when accompanied by a professional guide—in about 4 hours. From Scari San Vincenzo, you can go on a beautiful hike at sunset. You can organize the hikes on-site and join a group of up to 20 people. The hikes are always subject to weather and volcanic conditions.

Hiking on Alicudi

On this smaller island, you can easily follow the road that connects the villages. You can hike up Mount Colle Alicudi from the harbor to an elevation of 675 m, enjoying beautiful views along the way.

Read more here for practical tips about your stay on the Aeolian Islands. Our comprehensive information about nature in Sicily can be found here.

Where can I book a guided hike?

  • You can book your trip through a travel agency from the Netherlands, but you can also arrange it once you’re there.
  • In Lipari, you can book a hike at http://www.nesos.org/eng.html.
  • For a guided hike on Stromboli: https://www.magmatrek.it/en/.
  • Michele Merenda is an experienced tour guide for the Aeolian Islands. He lives on Salina. Check out his website here.

Hiking Trails on the Aeolian Islands on a Map

Madelon Seignette - author

About the author

Madelon Seignette

With a passion for travel and photography and over 30 years of experience in the travel industry, I love to share my special nature travel tips. Travel is wonderful and important, you meet new people and cultures and it opens your view of the world.

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