Italy has more than 400 islands. Twenty of them are worth planning a trip around, another dozen or so are worth a side trip from a bigger island, and the rest are day-visit curiosities. We cover the first two groups. Sorted by archipelago, because that is how travellers actually plan.
Featured islands
Nine islands to start with.
Sicily
The Mediterranean’s largest island. Etna, Norman-Arab Palermo, Cefalù, Syracuse, Taormina, Noto. Ten days minimum; two weeks is fair.
Sardinia
Second-largest, culturally distinct. Costa Smeralda, La Maddalena, nuraghi, Cannonau. September is the best month.
Capri
45-minute aliscafo from Molo Beverello. The Faraglioni sea stacks, Anacapri’s calm, and hotel rates that keep climbing.
Ischia
The largest Bay of Naples island. Thermal terraces, Aragonese castle, Elena Ferrante’s fictional Ischia is this Ischia.
Procida
Smallest of the three. 2022 Italian Capital of Culture. Marina Corricella’s pastel amphitheatre.
Stromboli
Europe’s most reliably active volcano. Aliscafo from Milazzo, evening boat to watch the Sciara del Fuoco.
Elba
Napoleon’s exile island, a full week’s worth of coast, and vineyards behind Portoferraio.
Favignana
Flat, butterfly-shaped, best by bike. Cala Rossa water is as clear as anywhere in Italy.
Pantelleria
Volcanic, Arabic-influenced, black dammusi. No sand beaches; extraordinary swimming.
Archipelago hub · Isole Eolie
The Aeolian arc: seven islands, one volcanic story.
North of Sicily, the Aeolian (pronounced Ay-oh-lee-an) arc runs from Alicudi in the west to Stromboli in the east. Each island keeps its own character: Panarea’s yacht set, Salina’s caper farms, Stromboli’s nightly eruptions, Lipari’s ferry-hub bustle. Ferry from Milazzo year-round, seasonally from Naples.
Lipari
The archipelago’s ferry hub and only real town. Base here for onward hops.
Ferry hub
Vulcano
Sulphur mud baths, a summit crater hike, and the smell that gave volcanoes their name.
Day-trip friendly
Stromboli
Europe’s most reliably active volcano. Evening boat tours watch the Sciara del Fuoco glow.
Editors’ pick
Panarea
The smallest and glossiest of the seven. Yacht season peaks in August.
Splurge
Salina
Twin-peaked, green, and quiet. Caper farms, Malvasia wine, and the calmest base.
Slow travel
Filicudi
Rustic, remote, low-lit. One road, a handful of pensioni, and dolphin research boats.
Off-grid
Alicudi
No roads. Donkeys carry the luggage. The purest test of whether you actually want quiet.
Off-gridArchipelago hub · Egadi
The Egadi: Sicily’s western answer to overtourism.
Three islands off Trapani’s western coast: Favignana (flat, bike-friendly, tuna-fishing heritage), Levanzo (smallest, Neolithic cave paintings), Marettimo (steepest, wildest, best for walkers). Aliscafo from Trapani in 20 to 60 minutes. Sea temperature holds 22°C into October.
Archipelago hub · Isole Ponziane
The Pontine: Rome’s weekend islands.
Off the coast of Lazio, halfway between Rome and Naples. Ponza is the larger, more social of the two; Ventotene is smaller, older, and carries the weight of its confino history. Ferries from Formia, Terracina, and Anzio, plus seasonal Naples runs.
Archipelago hub · Arcipelago Toscano
The Tuscan archipelago: Elba, Giglio, Capraia.
Seven islands protected as Italy’s largest marine national park. Only three take non-resident visitors at any scale: Elba (the biggest, best for a full week), Giglio (Argentario’s cliff-hanging neighbour), Capraia (walkers, ex-penal colony, remote). Ferries from Piombino, Porto Santo Stefano, and Livorno.
Archipelago hub · Isole Pelagie + Pantelleria
Italy’s southernmost islands: closer to Tunis than Palermo.
Pantelleria (pronounced Pan-tel-lay-ree-a) is technically its own province; grouped here for editorial coherence. Lampedusa, Linosa and Pantelleria all sit below Malta on the map. Ferries from Porto Empedocle and Trapani, seasonal flights from Palermo and Milan. Zibibbo grapes on the terraces, capers everywhere.
