Sicily Insider’s Pocket Guide is a short and fun guide with just a few explanations, but it’s everything you will need for your perfect stay in Sicily.
Summer is definitely the best time to visit all the small Sicilian islands. Which one is the best for you? How to arrive? What to eat? Save this article for your next trip and find out our best recommendations.
Obviously it’s hard to describe all these magnificient islands just in a few words. Every island has so much more to offer, here is just a tiny selection of some of the best things.
Read also: 7 Underrated Places To Visit In Sicily
Quick Sicily Travel Guide
Sicily Accommodation: San Domenico Palace and Grand Hotel Timeo for luxury accommodation in Taormina, and Casa Nostra Boutique Hotel or Palazzo Natoli Boutique Hotel for intimate vibes in Palermo. Dome or B&B Oriental Palace in Catania. Room Of Andrea Hotel or Gaura Apartments in Trapani. Le Tre Campane Ortigia or Palazzo Alfeo Aparthotel in Syracuse. Principe Di Salina Boutique Hotel or Il Gabbiano Relais in Stromboli on the Aeolian Islands.
Top Sicily Activities:
- Palermo street food walking tour
- Etna, wine and Alcantara tour from Taormina
- Boat tour to Favignana and Levanzo from Trapani
- Private tour of 3 Etna wineries with food and wine tasting
- Travel photoshoot in Palermo
- Quad excursion from Ribera
The small Sicilian Islands
These are the islands of Sicily that you can’t miss visiting this summer.
Aeolian Islands:
- Alicudi
- Filicudi
- Lipari
- Panarea
- Salina
- Stromboli
- Vulcano
Aegadian Islands:
- Favignana
- Levanzo
- Marettimo
Pelagie Islands:
- Lampedusa
- Linosa
Other islands:
- Pantelleria
- Ustica
Choose your Sicilian island
Find out which island is right for you.
Alicudi: Unspoiled, remote, quiet, peaceful, offers endless beauty.
Filicudi: For sea lovers, great for snorkeling, diving, hiking.
Lipari: Lively, great nightlife, full of various activities, easily accessible beaches.
Panarea: Scenic, lively, famous for it’s nightlife.
Salina: Very green, great for hiking, nice villages, scenic beaches.
Stromboli: Fascinating with an active volcano, black sand beaches, quiet, nice for hiking.
Vulcano: Black sand beaches, scenic views, great for diving, hiking, closest to the mainland.
Favignana: Very turquoise water beaches, rocky, great nightlife, lively.
Levanzo: Tiny village life, wild nature, crystal clear water.
Marettimo: Sea caves with the bluest water, rocky, remote, quiet.
Lampedusa: Paradise beaches, lively, scenic views.
Linosa: Colorful volcanic grounds, very wild, remote, great for diving and snorkeling.
Pantelleria: A black island, volcanic mud and saunas, great for hiking and relaxing.
Ustica: The best place for snorkeling and diving, easily accesible beaches.
On every island you can have a wonderful culinary experience, swim in amazing locations, enjoy the transparency of the sea and the beauty of the nature.
Things you must do on small Sicilian islands
There are way too many things to do on the small islands of Sicily, but here are a few of them.
- Explore the sea caves of Marettimo with a boat tour offered by local fishermen.
- Swim in the paradise beach of Isola dei Conigli in Lampedusa.
- Have an aperitivo with a sunset on the roof of a dammuso in Pantelleria.
- Discover the beauty of silence and peace in Alicudi.
- Eat the freshest fish on Levanzo.
- Have a sailboat trip around all the 7 Aeolian Islands.
Things you must eat on the small Sicilian islands
The food you must try at least once on the small islands of Sicily.
- Eat the swordfish rolls in Ristorante Da Filippino of Lipari.
- Eat pasta con le triglie in Lampedusa.
- Eat pane cunzato in Da Alfredo of Salina.
- Eat raw fish and sea fruits in Osteria Il Principe e Il Pirata of Pantelleria.
- Drink malvasia after dinner in Lipari.
- Eat the fish of the day in Ristorante Bar Romano of Levanzo.
How to arrive to the small islands of Sicily
Here’s how to arrive to the small Sicilian islands from the mainland of Sicily.
By ferry starting from Palermo:
- Aeolian Islands
- Ustica
By ferry starting from Trapani:
- Aegadian Islands
- Pantelleria
By ferry starting from Milazzo, Messina:
- Aeolian Islands
By ferry starting from Porto Empedocle:
- Lampedusa
- Linosa
By plane starting from Palermo:
- Lampedusa
- Pantelleria
Please let us know if this guide was useful for you during your stay in Sicily. Which island was your favorite? And what would you recommend to visit to all the first time visitors? Let us know in the comments.
All the photos in this article were taken by Chiara Magi. Book your travel photoshoot in Palermo here or write us at [email protected].
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