Stromboli Boats from Milazzo

Milazzo, on Sicily’s north coast, is where the two most-reviewed boat trips on this site set out. Both are large motorships that leave Via dei Mille in the late morning, give you about two hours on Panarea and a little more on Stromboli, then wait off the Sciara del Fuoco around sunset before the long run home. On paper they look almost the same. The differences are in the landing tax, the commentary and what time you get back to the quay.

Tarnav or Navisal: what actually differs

The Panarea and Stromboli Boat Trip by Night is run by Tarnav from its ticket office at Via dei Mille 17. The motorship leaves at 11:00, takes about an hour and a half to Panarea, gives you around two hours in San Pietro and two and a quarter to two and a half hours at Scari, then stops for about 30 minutes off the Sciara del Fuoco. The Aeolian landing tax is included in the ticket. A guide gives commentary on board while sailing, though one reviewer found the English version mostly practical while the Italian one covered the history. Return times move with the season: about 21:45 to 22:15 in summer, 21:00 to 21:30 from 15 September and 20:00 to 20:30 from 1 October. It costs from $63 per person and holds 4.2 from 2,138 reviews (our breakdown).

Despite the name, the Sciara stop is timed around sunset, so the sky may not be fully dark while you are there. Tarnav also notes that the engine is noticeable below deck; one passenger suggested earplugs.

Navisal’s Panarea & Stromboli Cruise Excursion leaves from its own office further along at Via dei Mille 39, where you validate your ticket at least an hour before sailing. From 15 September boarding is at 10:45 for an 11:15 departure; in high summer it is 11:15 for 11:45. You get about two hours to two and a quarter on Panarea, two and a quarter to two and a half on Stromboli and a short Sciara stop. Commentary is a recorded audio guide in Italian, English, French and German. The landing tax is not included and is paid at the office. Arrival back is between about 21:30 and 22:30, depending on sunset. It costs from $57 per person and holds 4.4 from 1,026 reviews (our breakdown).

Navisal sells the same sailing under two more listings, Special Stromboli Sunset from Milazzo and Aeolian Islands Boat Tour with Stromboli Sunset. It is one boat, so check all three for your date and book whichever is cheapest.

In short, Tarnav suits you if you want the landing tax handled and, in October, an earlier night. Navisal is a few dollars cheaper, rates a little higher and gives you commentary in four languages.

Getting to Milazzo port

Both offices are on Via dei Mille by the port. Neither trip includes transport or parking, and one reviewer found parking near the port hard to find, so arrive early.

From Catania airport, Giuntabus runs direct coaches to Milazzo in about two hours, at €13 one way or €26 return. Between 1 July and 31 October the first departure is at 09:00, which reaches Milazzo around 11:00. That is too late for either boat, so if you are flying in, spend the night before in Milazzo.

From Messina, Giuntabus express coaches run from Piazza della Repubblica, by the station, to the Milazzo hydrofoil terminal in about 50 minutes, with 20 departures on weekdays and fewer at weekends.

From Taormina it is about an hour by car, or around two hours by train with a change in Messina. If you would rather not drive, the Chic Panarea and Stromboli Day Tour adds a coach from Taormina to a Milazzo boat; our Taormina day trip page explains what that costs you in time and money.

Landing tax, food and what to bring

The Aeolian landing tax is currently €5 in summer (1 June to 30 September) and €2.50 out of season (1 October to 31 May). Navisal collects it in cash when you check in; Tarnav’s price already includes it. Food and drinks are extra on both boats. One Navisal passenger found the bar’s food choice limited to crisps, so eat ashore or bring a packed lunch.

Bring a passport or ID card, swimwear and a towel for the beach at Scari, sunscreen, cash, and a warm layer. Once the sun goes down the deck cools quickly on the crossing back.

What you see at the Sciara del Fuoco

Boats keep at least 2 nautical miles off the Sciara del Fuoco coast under a 2022 Milazzo port authority ordinance, so you watch the slope from a distance. Binoculars help. Stromboli’s alert level is yellow, and its activity changes from week to week. In early May 2026 lava ran down the Sciara to the sea and drew boats from Sicily and Calabria. On other evenings you may see only a glow and hear the explosions. The captain skips the stop if the sea is rough. Sunset on Stromboli was at 18:45 at the end of September and falls to about 18:23 by mid-October. More in our guide to the Sciara del Fuoco from the sea.

Could you take the hydrofoil instead?

Liberty Lines hydrofoils from Milazzo call at Panarea and Stromboli, and the fastest crossing to Panarea takes about 1 hour 25 minutes. That works if you want to stay overnight on Stromboli and join a guided sunset hike to 400 m. A scheduled hydrofoil does not wait off the Sciara at dusk, though, and that stop is the main reason to book a boat tour. Our guide on boat tour or ferry compares the two.

If Milazzo is not your base

If you are staying on Lipari, the Panarea and Stromboli Cruise with Stops is a shorter afternoon trip with commentary mainly in Italian; see the Lipari departures. From Calabria, the Lipari, Panarea and Stromboli by Night trip leaves Tropea and returns around 22:30; see Tropea departures.

Check dates for the Tarnav night trip.