Lipari Island Travel Guide, Tranportation and Tourism Information

Tourist Information

Getting there

Getting Around

Citadel or Upper Town

Cathedrale di San Bartolomeo

Archaeological Site

Archaeological Museum

Around the island

Canneto

Cave di Pomice

Porticello

Acquacalda

Quattropani

Quattrocchi

Lower Town

Nightlife

Ultimate Italy / Islands / Lipari

Lipari Island

Only seven of the seventeen Aeolian Islands are inhabited. This archipelago, commonly called the Lipari Islands, is located on the northeast of the Sicilian coast. It can be easily reached by ferry from Sicily. Lipari is the largest of the Aeolians and is also the name of the island's only real town. Volcanic eruptions resulted in the formation of the islands. Homer called it "a floating island, a wall of bronze and splendid smooth sheer cliffs." The town of Lipari is located on a plateau of red volcanic rock on the southeastern shore, with two beaches on either side - Marina Lunga (also the town’s harbour) and Marina Corta.

Tourist activity is centered around Lipari and travelers use Lipari as a base while exploring the archipelago. The town of Lipari also contains the largest concentration of tourist facilities in all the Aeolian Islands. There are also four other villages, including Canneto, which lies only 2km north of Lipari town. Acquacalda is found on the northern tip of the island. Quattropani, which is inland, lies to the southwest of Acquacalda. And southeast of Quattropani is the small town of Pianoconte.
On either side of the castello (or cliff top citadel) are Marina Lunga and Marina Corta. The citadel is still surrounded by walls built in the 1500s for defensive purposes. Enclosed by the walls are the Duomo, the archaeological museum (the major sight on the island), and two decaying baroque churches.
Running north to south and dividing the town of Lipari into two is Corso Vittorio Emanuele. This is the site of most of the businesses catering to visitors, including bars, banks, and trattorie.

Tourist Information

Via Vittorio Emanuele 202 (tel. 090-9880095) in the town of Lipari houses the tourist office. In July and August it's open daily from 8am to 2pm. Monday through Saturday it is also open from 4:30 to 10pm. From September to June, hours are Monday through Friday from 8am to 2pm and 4:30 to 7:30pm, Saturday from 8am to 2pm.

Getting there

Ferries from Milazzo dock at Marina Lunga, and hydrofoils at Marina Corta. Much of what there is to see, aside from the island's scenic wonders, lies between these two small ports.

Getting Around

Lipari is serviced by a limited bus network. Buses leave from Marina Lunga about every hour (more frequently in summer), taking you across the island. Distances are short with no point on the island being more than a half-hour ride away. You can get the bus schedule at Urso Guglielmo, Via Cappuccini 9, lying above Marina Lunga. Tickets cost 1.55€ and can be bought on-board.

Urso buses also operate tours of the island in summer from the beginning of July until the end of September. Three buses at a time leave at 9:30am, 11:30am, and 5pm, costing 3.60€ for the circuit. This is mainly for the benefit of tourists, as you'll pass the highlights of Lipari's scenery along the way.

You can also get around on independently run taxis that are found at Marina Corta.

If you like to explore on you own, the best way to get around is on a bike. You can rent them for 16€ a day. If you want to save your energy for other activities, you can rent a motor scooter at 62€ a day. This cost does not include fuel. However, you’ll have to give a security deposit in form of money, a credit card, or a passport. There are two rental outlets Da Marcello, Via Sottomonastero, Marina Lunga, and Da Tullio, Via Amendola 22, Marina Lunga.

Islands in Italy

Italy Travel Guide