How do you get from Sicily to Vulcano? I would like to go on Sunday October 3, 2010. I think there is a ferry from Milazzo to Vulcano but when I went on the Siremar (Ferry company) site I could not get a schedule for Sundays. Do they not run on Sundays? Is there another company? Help is needed.

Thanks
Helen

The Siremar schedules have not been uploaded for October, but rest assured that they WILL be operating both hydrofoils and ferries between Milazzo and Vulcano. For the moment, use the schedules for May 2010 as your rough guide. There are also hydrofoils operated by Ustica Lines.

www.siremar.it
www.usticalines.it

Thanks GAC

My concern was that we could get a schedule for Monday through Saturday but not Sunday. What also seemed strange is that the Saturday schedule listed only one time. We want to make a hotel reservation but want to know that we can get there.

Helen

Helen: I checked the Ustica Lines schedules for October 2010, and they show FIVE DAILY hydrofoils from Milazzo to Vulcano. Ustica Lines does not operate any ferries, only hydrofoils.

The Siremar schedules for October won't be uploaded until the end of September, but the May 2010 schedules can be used as a guide. They show FIVE DAILY hydrofoils as well, plus TWO or THREE DAILY traditional car ferries from Milazzo to Vulcano, one at 7:00 a.m., a second at 9:00 a.m., the third at 18:30. I am extremely familiar with the ferry ships used by Siremar on this route. I gather that your preference is to take one of these car ferries, rather than one of the hydrofoils, because you want to enjoy the stupendous panoramas from the top deck of the ferry ship (that would be my preference as well). My prediction is that all three Siremar car ferries will be running on Sunday, October 3. Time will tell if I am correct. For the time being, you may want to focus on taking either the 7:00 a.m. or the 9:00 a.m. boat out of Milazzo.

GAC

Thank you so much for the information. What site did you get your information from. I've tried Usticalines.it but cannot read Italian and my google translate does not seem to work. I've tried the Italian consulate but I get a busy signal or I'm put on hold and they never return. Based on your assurance we will make reservations. Now we are rethinking which island.
What's your choice Lipari, Salina, Vulcano.

Thanks
Helen

Helen,

There's a small round button on the lower right of the usticalines.it website that has a little British flag symbol. Click on that and you have your translation.

My recommendation for a first visit to the Aeolis would be to stay in Lipari. The small main town on the island (also named Lipari) is a lively little center of shops, bars, restaurants, and archaeological sites and provides the best transportation connections for daytrips to the other islands. Plus a good mix of tourists and locals.

Salina is lovely as well, but larger with not quite as commercial development. If you stay on Salina I recommend basing in Santa Marina, one of the ferry stops, with Malfa as a good option too.

Vulcano did not appeal to me, though I loved the climb up the Gran Cratere to its smoking center (not hard, just quite a bit of up).

I loved staying in Panarea in the off season. And Stromboli was nice too!

Lots of options--how long will you be there?

I second Aprillilacs' recommendation to use Lipari Town as your base of operations, particularly for a first-time visitor to the Aeolian Islands, and particularly for the low season which starts in October. You should most certainly plan on several day trips to the outlying islands: Salina, Panarea, Stromboli and Vulcano (in that order), then, time permitting, Filicudi.

I recommend using the car ferry (when available and when schedules are convenient) rather than the faster and more expensive hydrofoils.

Take advantage of dry and sunny days for the daytrips. There is always the possibility of encountering some rain in October, when you might prefer staying in Lipari Town.