I have finally figured out how to get to Lipari - there is a bus company (www.gaaragedelleisole.it) that is reasonably priced at 25 Eu. pp each way and it leaves Catania for Milazzo - Milazzo for Catania at frequent intervals and reasonable times.
NOW I need advice re. where to stay. My husband and I were in Lipari about 6 years ago but we were traveling with a group and the place we stayed was not a hotel - it was simply rooms..not very clean rooms at that. We often passed by what looked like a lovely hotel as we walked into town...the hotel was perhaps just a few blocks up the hill from the right hand side of the village as you face the sea. - a nice little jewelry shop was just down the hill across from the hotel...obviously I can't remember the name of it! If the position sounds familiar to those of you who've spent time wandering around Lipari..and YOU remember the name I'd appreciate your letting me know. In the meantime any other suggestions are welcomed. We'd like to be an easy walk to town. I'm finding some of the hotels I've looked at on-line to already have no availability for the 1st 2 weeks of Sept.
Thanks,
Giannetta

OK - I'm answering my own entry as we, my husband and I, are at this very moment on the island of Lipari happily ensconsed in one of the most welcoming and charming hotels we've ever stayed in. I can't say enough about the villa de Pasquale. Our room has a lovely covered balcony - it's the only room with a real little patio size covered balcony...good during rain spells. The room is realatively small but well appointed and very very clean with bedside tables and lamps. The hotel overlooks the village, the castle on the hill and the sea...our room has the same view as does the lovely pool and comfortable covered pool area. One can walk into the town in about 5 - 10 minutes down the hill. The service is supurb and the owner, Giovanni de Pasquale is friendly and extraordinarly helpful arranging visits to other islands etc. It couldn't have been a better choice...

Lovely, giannetta, and due to the fact that Lipari is in your title if anyone else uses the search box on Fodor's they should be able to pull up this recommendation.

gianette,

Grazie! I've been planning a trip to the Aeolian Islands that had to be postponed, but there is very little available on lodging recommendations! I'll remember this one.

Have a wonderful time! How is the weather? I should have been there too, right now!!!

Have a fantastic time in beautiful Lipari. For a nice dinner try Trattoria a Sfiziusa on 29 Via Roma. It's just off Marina Corta. I should be there too!!!

I was just about to recommend Diana's Rooms or Bed and Breakfast Diana Brown as it is called now on TripAdvisor, but am so glad you find a nice place to stay. We loved Lipari and loved Diana's, it was quite a number of years ago we visited but current reviews are still excellent. This may be useful for anyone else visiting Lipari. One thing to note was the ferry timetables were a little, shall we say, fluid?

Kay

Boat schedules:

www.usticalines.it (hydrofoils only)

www.siremar.it (car ferries (including overnight to Naples) and hydrofoils, currently in bankruptcy)