A few days on Salina and the world looks completely different: Why you can relax so well here and which hotel alone is worth the trip to the small volcanic island.
Are you looking for a small island to relax on? Somehow remote, but still easy to reach within Europe and a destination that not everyone knows? Salina is the perfect place for a few relaxing days in absolutely breathtaking surroundings! I’ll show you a Mediterranean island that really impressed me with its charm – and one of the coziest accommodations I’ve experienced in a long time.
Where is Salina actually located?
Salina is a small island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the northern coast of Sicily. Together with the six other islands of Stromboli, Lipari, Filicudi, Panarea, Vulcano and Alicudi, it forms the archipelago of the Aeolian Islands, which are often referred to as the Lipari Islands.
The name Stromboli may sound familiar to you: This is where actress Ingrid Bergman shot the avant-garde film “Stromboli ” with director Roberto Rossellini, which also made the island itself more famous. The island is also home to Stromboli, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. It erupts regularly. As part of a guided tour, you can even observe these eruptions yourself during a climb.
Book a tour to Stromboli here*
Hey, I’m Tatiana and I’m the blogger behind The Happy Jetlagger. Since 2014, I’ve been sharing my personal travel stories on this blog. I don’t have a big team behind me, so I’m pretty much a one-person show: All recommendations are fully researched by just me!
Santa Maria Salina: Welcome to Salina
Santa Marina is the lively main town on the island and the most important port of arrival for ferries. You can feel the special flair of this small harbor town as soon as you dock: it is lively, but not overcrowded.
The main street, which runs from the harbor through the town, is lined with small boutiques, souvenir stores and cafés. You can take a leisurely stroll here, especially during the season from April to October, and soak up the relaxed atmosphere.
Malfa: Foodie’s paradise
Malfa is located in the north of the island and is the center of viticulture on Salina. Here you will find the famous Malvasia vineyards. Foodies will be delighted anyway: Salina is also known for its capers! The village itself is small and cozy – and my personal tip for spending a few days on Salina.
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Principe di Salina in Malfa
The Principe di Salina* is a genuine boutique hotel: Family-run and designed with great attention to detail, you will feel like you are in a cozy nest that you will hardly want to leave.
Basically, there’s everything you need here for a relaxing vacation: Nice company, breathtaking views and – really good food. The food is cooked on a large scale for all guests every evening, served at a long wooden table and everyone somehow gets to talk to each other.
The Principe di Salina is my absolute heartfelt recommendation. However, there is a catch: it’s usually almost impossible to book spontaneously (I was very lucky because it was already the end of the season) – all rooms are usually fully booked by mid-October in spring! So if you find capacity, book quickly. You won’t regret it!
Book your stay at the Principe di Salina here*
Pollara: The end of the world
Pollara is a small, remote village that became famous thanks to the 1994 film “Il Postino“. The film, in which the paths of a simple letter carrier and the Chilean author Pablo Neruda cross, is actually set on the island of Procida near Naples.
But Pollara, with its striking half-crater and the rocks all around, has a very special atmosphere, so it’s not surprising that this place has made it into a movie set.
Pollara is probably the most remote place on the small island of Salina, and many of the houses are abandoned. Together with the impressive surroundings, this creates a very special atmosphere. In good weather, you can also swim in the Baia di Pollara.
There is no real sandy beach, but that is also the charm of this place. However, if you visit Pollara in stormy weather like I did, you’d better be careful; the rough rocks and high waves can quickly become dangerous.
Helpful tips for your trip to Salina
When is the best time to visit Salina?
As always, it depends a little on what you want to do on the island. If you want to do a lot of hiking, e.g. through the Riserva Naturale Orientata or up to Monte Fossa delle Felci, the months of May/June and September/October are more suitable. The temperatures are mild to warm, but not too hot.
If you want a real summer feeling, balmy nights and a bit of entertainment, then you should visit Salina in July and August. That’s when all the restaurants are open, the island is full of life and the Mediterranean climate means you’re almost guaranteed good weather during these months.
But the island is small and the number of accommodations is limited. It is very difficult to find something spontaneously, especially in summer. The price level is correspondingly high and comparable to regions such as the Amalfi Coast or the Cinque Terre.
Book your accommodation on Salina here
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Many accommodations are closed from November to April. Ferry services may also no longer run regularly or may be canceled altogether due to weather conditions.
I myself was on Salina at the end of October. The end of the season was already very noticeable and the last days of late summer had just come to an end. The tranquil atmosphere had something going for it, but I personally would have found it a little too quiet a few weeks later – then you really are very isolated on Salina.
How many days do you need for Salina?
If, like me, you are also traveling in Sicily and therefore don’t have that much time, two days are enough. Salina is not particularly big, so you can explore a lot in a short time if you plan well.
However, I would plan an extra 1-2 days if possible. Salina is really great and simply very relaxing; it’s a real shame if you only experience the island in a rush. Especially if you’ve found such great accommodation as the Principe di Salina*, where you can really unwind.
How to get to Salina
By ferry to Salina
There is no airport on Salina. You have to travel here by ferry or hydrofoil, which depart from various ports in Sicily, e.g. Milazzo, Palermo or Messina. The journey from Milazzo is the quickest and takes around 1.5 to 2 hours. There are connections several times a day with the ferry companies Liberty Lines and Siremar.
Book your ferry ticket online*
If you are already on one of the other Aeolian Islands, you can also take a boat from there to Salina. There are regular connections from Lipari in particular, the largest of the islands; the journey takes just 30 minutes.
By car to Salina
If, like me, you are traveling with a rental car on a road trip in Sicily, I recommend leaving the car in Milazzo. The crossing by car is very expensive, and you can always hire a car or scooter on the island. Most accommodations also offer pick-up services at the port of Salina. So it really isn’t necessary to take an expensive rental car with you.
There are several garages near the port of Milazzo, as well as cheaper parking lots with a shuttle service a little outside. I simply parked my rental car for several days at Garage del Porto, and the car was parked for me in the parking lot outside and brought back to the garage when I picked it up. No problems and super easy!
Arrival from outside Sicily
If you are not already in Sicily, you can fly to either Catania or Palermo and from there take a rental car or bus to Milazzo. It takes a little longer from Palermo to Milazzo, but you will also pass beautiful places such as Cefalù. From Catania, a detour to Taormina is a good idea.
You can find more inspiration here: What to see in Sicily
If you have time, you can also get to Milazzo by train from the Italian mainland. Train travel in Italy is quite pleasant, and the north-south connection is often scenic.
You can check train connections within Italy here
This article was written on behalf of a research trip for Travellers Insight, the travel blog of Munich Airport. You can find more articles about Sicily here.
