Idyllic island group (UNESCO world heritage listed) ✅
Perfect hot dry Mediterranean climate ✅
One of the Top 10 Old Towns in all Europe (Lipari) ✅
Wineries offering world class dessert wine (Salina) ✅
Volcanoes to provide the extra (Stromboli and Vulcano islands) ✅
Easy to access and not expensive (15 1hr hydrofoils leaving per day Milazzo to Lipari alone) ✅
. . . and the critical feeling of adventure as you jump on and off ferries to get around ✅
I’m surprised the Aeolian Islands don’t get more attention. They really do tick so many of the boxes that any island experience in the world would be happy to meet, yet alone one right in the middle of the Mediterranean. I wouldn’t quite put it up there with the likes of the Galapagos, Sorrentino Peninsular, Komodo, Raja Ampat etc (it probably misses the outrageous “wow” factor), but if done right it’s as idyllic an experience you can get in the Mediterranean.
