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Are you looking for a small island to relax on? Somehow remote, but still easy to reach within Europe and yet a destination that not everyone knows? Salina is the perfect place for a few relaxing days in an absolutely breathtaking setting! 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.
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.
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: I’ve researched and tested all recommendations myself!
The name Stromboli may sound familiar to you: It was here that actress Ingrid Bergman shot the avant-garde film “Stromboli ” together 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*
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 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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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, you’ll find everything you need for a relaxing vacation here: 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 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.
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 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 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 were just coming to an end. The quiet atmosphere had something going for it, but I personally would have found it a little too quiet a few weeks later – you really are very isolated on Salina then.
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 just a 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.
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
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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.
If, like me, you are traveling on a road trip in Sicily with a rental car, I recommend leaving the car in Milazzo. The crossing with a car is very expensive and you can always rent a car or scooter on the island. Most accommodations also offer pick-up services at the port of Salina. So it’s really not 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 driven to the parking lot outside for me and brought back to the garage when I picked it up. No problems and super easy!
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 Cefalú. From Catania, a detour to Taormina is a good idea.
You can find more inspiration here: My highlights 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.
