The Aeolian Islands sit off the northern coast of Sicily, scattered across the Tyrrhenian Sea like a chain of volcanic stepping stones. Each island has its own personality, which is why people either stay put on one or slowly hop between a couple. The Aeolian Islands are north of Sicily, roughly between Milazzo and the open Tyrrhenian Sea.
They’re close enough to the mainland to reach in a morning, but far enough to feel properly detached once you arrive. Most ferries and hydrofoils leave from Milazzo, with a few longer routes from Palermo and Messina.
