Things to Do in the Aeolian Islands

The Aeolian Islands are a volcanic archipelago reached by hydrofoil from Milazzo, with Lipari as the main hub, Vulcano known for its sulphur mud baths, Salina for capers and Malvasia wine, and Stromboli for its still-active, visibly glowing crater. Sailings between islands are frequent in summer but genuinely cancellable in rough seas, so a tight island-hopping schedule can fall apart, so build in a spare day if you can. Boat tours around the coastlines and the crater climb on Stromboli — guide required, weather-dependent — are what's actually worth booking, more than any single town.