geocalia
Day itinerary · 38.47° N · 14.95° E
Hydrofoil from Milazzo to Santa Marina Salina, a morning in the village, lunch on the terrace at 'nni Lausta and a hop to Lipari for the castle and museum before heading back.
Part of Aeolian Islands
The plan
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
From Catania to the port of Milazzo by motorway; park in Milazzo
Booking · open from April to October
Via Risorgimento, 188, 98050 Santa Marina Salina · +39 090 984 3486
16:25 hydrofoil from Santa Marina to Lipari and a walk up to the castle · museum until 19:30
Hydrofoil from Lipari to Milazzo
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Salina is the green island of the Aeolians, the one of capers and Malvasia wine. In a day from Catania you take the hydrofoil to Santa Marina, its main village, stroll along the high street, have lunch on the terrace at 'nni Lausta and in the afternoon hop over to Lipari to climb up to the castle and see the archaeological museum before returning to Sicily.
Fly to Catania, with direct flights from several Spanish cities. From the airport or the city to the port of Milazzo it is about 130 km, an hour and three-quarters by car on the motorway. Without a car, the Giuntabus coach links the airport with Milazzo in about two hours, for €13.
From Milazzo, Liberty Lines hydrofoils run to Santa Marina Salina and Lipari several times a day all year round; Siremar also runs car ferries. The hydrofoil takes about an hour and a half to Santa Marina, calling at Vulcano and Lipari on the way. Timetables change with the season: check them at libertylines.it before you go.
6:00 · Leave Catania. Motorway to Milazzo; park near the port.
8:30 · Hydrofoil to Salina. You reach Santa Marina around 10:00. Stroll along the high street, which islanders call U Stratuni, and along the harbour promenade.
13:00 · Lunch at 'nni Lausta. On Via Risorgimento, on a first-floor terrace with a garden. Aeolian cooking from chef Fabio Giuffrè: ceviche of the day, tagliolini with lemon pesto and tuna bottarga, Aeolian-style rabbit with cooked wine and almonds, and their ricotta cannolo. Open every day from 1 April to 31 October; book ahead.
Afternoon in Santa Marina. After lunch you have time for a coffee on the high street and a stroll around the harbour.
16:25 · Hydrofoil to Lipari. About 35 minutes, on the autumn 2026 timetable. From the port, walk up to the castle precinct.
17:00 · Castle and archaeological museum. The Luigi Bernabò Brea Aeolian Archaeological Museum is open until 19:30: the prehistory of the islands, the Greek city, the shipwrecks and the room of theatre masks. Two hours is enough to see the highlights.
19:10 · Return. Hydrofoil to Milazzo and car to Catania; you arrive around 22:00. Some sailings do not run every day: check the timetable for your date.
Where to eat
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
What to order: the ceviche of the day or the cuttlefish battuto with citron, the home-made tagliolini with lemon pesto and tuna bottarga, the Aeolian-style rabbit with vino cotto and almonds, and the ricotta cannolo
What to order: the zuppetta di mare di nonno Filippino, which the Michelin guide recommends, the totani ripieni all'eoliana and, for dessert, the Corinth grape mousse with Malvasia
What to order: raw seafood to start, pasta with sardines or alla Norma, and the fish of the day fried or grilled; if they have it, the pesce alla cipollata, the house speciality
Map
With where to park at each one.
Getting there
When to go
From April to October, when 'nni Lausta is open and there are more hydrofoils. In July and August buy your tickets in advance. In strong wind the hydrofoils are cancelled: check the forecast the day before.
Tips
Milazzo–Salina, Salina–Lipari and Lipari–Milazzo; in summer they fill up.
The terrace at 'nni Lausta is small.
From November to March 'nni Lausta is closed: have lunch in Lipari and go up to the castle first.
Questions
Yes, with the first hydrofoil from Milazzo and a return in the afternoon.
About an hour and a half to Santa Marina, with stops on the way.
No, from 1 April to 31 October.
Not for this plan: Santa Marina is easy to explore on foot.
More plans like this
geocalia.com/en/italy/sicily/aeolian-islands/itineraries/salina-lipari-day-trip-from-catania
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.
Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/sicily/aeolian-islands/itineraries/salina-lipari-day-trip-from-catania
