MilazzoSicily · Italy

All About Milazzo

Today, the town of Milazzo in northern Sicily is home to 31,500 permanent inhabitants, as well as a large number of visitors keen on discovering its ancient streets during the high season summer months of May to September. It has such an attractive position on the island’s coast that it has drawn in everyone from colonists from ancient Greece to the forces of King Charles V of Spain. Leaving behind them an impressive array of attractions, today Milazzo maintains important links with other cities in Sicily, and with the Aeolian Islands.

Not only is Milazzo positioned perfectly for it to act as one of the primary ports for ferry services to the Aeolian Islands, but it also points towards them on a long finger of land. It is located just 40 kilometers west of Messina, making reaching Milazzo very easy too. Being a coastal city on the Mediterranean’s largest island, ferry tickets to Milazzo remain important transport routes. To easily compare ferries and even book ferry tickets to Milazzo, be sure to use Ferryscanner.
 

Routes and Ferries to Milazzo

To explore the glorious Aeolian Islands, scattered across the Mediterranean Sea north of Sicily, ferry tickets to Milazzo remain your only option. But that’s no problem, given the short sailings that link Milazzo with these islands are comfortable journeys on modern vessels operated by Liberty Lines and Siremar, two major ferry companies in the region. What’s more, they offer some specular seascapes of both Milazzo and the islands.

The shortest of all the routes selling ferry tickets to Milazzo is that from the island of Vulcano. Lasting just 40 minutes in either direction, there are also up to 11 sailings per week, meaning you’ll never have to wait long for the next departure. Prices for an adult start at €11 and rise to €35, largely dependent on how popular the route is on any given date. You can also reach Lipari from Milazzo in less than an hour, with sailings between the two scheduled to last just 55 minutes. There are 11 sailings per week, and prices also very similar to Vulcano departures.

However, few of the Aeolian Islands are that far from Milazzo. San Vincenzo on the famed volcanic island of Stromboli, for instance, is only one hour and ten minutes from the city. There are also an impressive 30 sailings per week in either direction, making it the easiest of the Aeolian Islands to reach, with an average of four crossings per day. Prices range from €16-45. An alternative route to the island, docking at Ginostra, takes 15 minutes longer at one hour 25 minutes but tickets cost about the same. Many of the ferries that travel to Stromboli pay a visit to the island of Panarea on the way, with this part of the sailing lasting one hour and 25 minutes.

There are also two alternative ferry routes from Milazzo to Salina and vice versa. The route to Santa Marina Salina, on the island’s east coast, takes roughly 1.5 hours. That to Rinella on the southern coast lasts around two hours. There are 19 sailings per week for both these destinations on Salina, with prices starting at €14 and rising to around €40.

The westernmost of the islands, Alicudi, can be reached in a one-way journey lasting two- and three-quarter hours, with up to 16 sailings per week, or an average of two crossings per day. Prices are roughly €10 more than ferry tickets to Salina.

Away from the Aeolian Islands, ferries also ply the sea route between Milazzo and Palermo, providing a welcome alternative to the overland route. With two sailings per week to the island’s capital, the sailing usually takes five hours and 15 minutes. The train between the two cities takes an average of three hours and 15 minutes, with more than 15 departures most days. Trenitalia also operates regular services between Milazzo and Messina. The nearest airport is further still, in Catania.
 

Ports of Milazzo

Although Messina also has some routes to the Aeolian Islands, Milazzo is arguably the main gateway to the islands, with a greater number of ferry services to a larger number of islands in the chain. Passengers should look to arrive at the port at least one hour before their scheduled departure time to ensure time to pass through security. Those making a crossing with a motor vehicle should think about arriving two hours before departure. If you are leaving a vehicle at the port, you will need to make use of one of the pay-for parking spaces. The ferry terminals are located at the southern end of the Milazzo peninsula, around which you’ll find plenty of ways to spend your time, from enjoying a traditional Sicilian meal, spending an afternoon on some of the best beaches in Milazzo, or discovering some of the many places to visit around the city.
 

Best Beaches

Forming a stunning region of coastline, the beaches of Milazzo have almost no limit to their natural beauty or that of the vistas they unveil. Add the exceptional Mediterranean climate of the island to the mix, and you some truly wonderful options to decide between.

Ponente Beach

Facing westward and located just a short distance from the ferry terminals, Ponente Beach is probably the most popular of all the best beaches in Milazzo. Equipped with excellent facilities, it attracts everyone from small children to nanas because of its gleaming smooth pebbles.

Croce di Mare

This is another favorite beach with locals because of the sheer variety it welcomes beachgoers with. There are not only pebbles but also an area of sand much appreciated by younger visitors. Towards one end you’ll find some rocks, on which stands a statue of the Virgin Mary.

Paradise Bay

You’ll take a look at Paradise Bay and realize its name is an incredible fit. Its turquoise waters are beyond tempting, and clear enough that it’s possible to gaze down onto the seabed from the shallows without even needing a snorkel.
 

Places to Visit

Dating back at least two thousand years, Milazzo has retained some intriguing remnants from its past, which sit high on the list of places to visit for anyone interested in discovering more about the city.

Castello di Milazzo

Nowhere tells the story of Milazzo better than this brooding hilltop castle. Begun by Arab settlers, it has been occupied by the Norman French and various Sicilian kings, who each adapted and reshaped the structure to their own desires.

Old Cathedral

One of two cathedrals within the city limits, the Old Cathedral is believed to have been begun in the early 1600s and displays an unlikely blend of architectural styles.

L’antico Borgo

Immediately below the Old Cathedral on its coastal side stands the L’antico Borgo or ‘Old Village’. An atmospheric area of ancient medieval homes, it remains protected by historic walls and is perfect for exploration on foot.
 

Transportation Around Milazzo

If your time in Milazzo is short, the center is such that it’s unlikely you’ll need to seek out any transport. The Milazzo train station, which offers services to Messina and Palermo among other destinations, is about three kilometers from the ferry terminal. It can be reached by bus number 5, which runs roughly every 30 minutes from 6:00 until 21:00 (except Sundays and public holidays). It takes just 10 minutes to complete the journey. Tickets can be bought from the driver, and from tobacconists and newsstands around the city. Milazzo also has a small taxi fleet, although drivers are likely to have limited English.