Hi there, Could you please help? I will be in Palermo (June 21 through 24), Salina (June 24 through 27)and then back Palermo to rent a car and drive to Agrigento (where I must be on June 28) and continue my trip. GAC suggests taking a ferry as opposed to a hydrofoil and I would like to follow his recommendation. How can I fit this into my itinerary? Are there any ferries leaving in June from Palermo? Should I go by hydrofoil to Salina and return by ferry to Milazzo? Any info re: June timetables? Thanks a million
The Ustica Line runs between Palermo and the Aeolian Islands. Here's a link to their website: http://www.usticalines.it/orari_tariffe.php?lingua=E. They don't have their June schedule published yet but it likely will be available soon.
The B&B Casa Mafalda on Lipari has information about the ferry and hydrofoil service between many places on Sicily and Naples and the Aeolian Islands: http://www.casamafalda.it/index4.htm.
Part 2 of your question: going from Salina to Milazzo by hydrofoil.(?)
If you are picking up a car in Palermo it might make sense to just go back to Palermo from Salina. Looking at the map, Palermo to Agrigento looks like a much shorter drive than from Milazzo to Agrigento.
I am sure other folks who have done the drive can give you more info.
But from Salina to Palermo:
Last year's Ustica schedule shows this: Leave Salina (Santa Marina port) 8:05 am or Salina (Rinella Port) 8:20 am Arrive Palermo 11:35 am or Leave Salina (Santa Marina port) 16:55 pm or Salina (Rinella port) 17:15 pm Arrive Palermo 21:05 pm
There are several daily hydrofoils which leave from Salina to Milazzo. I have usually taken Siremar lines from Santa Marina www.siremar.it
Posts: 188 | Location: western maine mountains | Registered: 26 February 2005
There has never been FERRY (i.e. car ferry) service between Palermo and Salina Island. The ferries depart out of Milazzo and Naples ONLY.
There is year-round HYDROFOIL service between Palermo and Salina (stopping at Alicudi, Filicudi, Rinella, Santa Marina di Salina, Lipari and Vulcano), operated by Ustica Lines, as the previous postings correctly point out. During the summer, the hydrofoil operates twice daily in each direction. During the remainder of the year, the service runs thrice weekly only.
GAC, I am feeling lazy today and know I should use the search facility, but can you tell me the travelling time between Salina and Naples. I will access your other information relating to the various ferries before I head off in mid-May, but for now I would be very grateful for your reply.
Posts: 107 | Location: Kempton, Aus | Registered: 14 April 2005
In mid-May, the Siremar overnight car ferry departs Salina (probably Rinella dock) on Mondays and Thursdays at 18:30, arriving Naples the next morning at 8:00.
I forgot to mention that we will not have a car so does that mean that the hydrofoil service take us to Napoli. We will be on Salina from 14-17th June. Thanks in advance GAC.
Posts: 107 | Location: Kempton, Aus | Registered: 14 April 2005
In mid-June, there will be the SNAV Lines hydrofoil between Napoli and Salina (as well as the overnight Siremar Lines car ferry). You might also check the Alilauro Lines hydrofoil schedules.
On Salina, you can rent a tandem gasoline-driven go-cart, a motorbike, or you can simply rely on the bus service, which runs roughly every 60 minutes (less frequently between Malfa and Pollara).
