Stromboli at a glance
Stromboli is one of the seven islands of the Aeolian archipelago off Sicily. Its volcano is so persistently active that this style of small explosive activity is called Strombolian everywhere in volcanology. The summit is listed at 924 m. Ferries call at Scari, the main pier of the island. A second, much smaller village, Ginostra, lies in the south-west and counts as a separate ferry destination.
This guide covers the island only: hiking and access rules, boat trips to the Sciara del Fuoco (the "stream of fire", the slope where material rolls towards the sea), ferries, Ginostra, accommodation and the season. Ferries from the mainland start in Milazzo, which has its own guide: see ferries from Milazzo to the Aeolian Islands. The other islands are covered in the Aeolian Islands guide, and Mount Etna has its own site. This is an independent guide, not the official website of Stromboli, the municipality or the civil protection service.
What matters in 2026
Where older guides can mislead you.
Hiking rules are strict and change
The upper volcano is regulated by municipal ordinance. A press report of 8 October 2026 describes stricter limits than the ordinance of 5 May 2025. Book an authorised guide and ask for the limit on your day.
Hiking rules →Activity on 19 October 2026
The volcano institute INGV reported a lava overflow from the northern crater area that morning, with ordinary Strombolian activity continuing. Warning colours are not opening hours.
Activity and alerts →No visitor vehicles in season
A regional decree of 17 April 2026 bars non-resident people from landing and driving motor vehicles on Stromboli from 1 May to 31 October 2026, with exceptions such as supply, rescue and police.
Getting there →Autumn timetables
Siremar and Liberty Lines publish new plans from 1 October 2026. Summer frequencies do not carry over, and the Liberty Lines sales office in Ginostra closes for winter from 1 October.
Ginostra →Our picks: Stromboli tours
A guided sunset hike, a night boat trip from Milazzo and a small-group day from Lipari.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Small-group boat day from Lipari
Ten hours with a skipper and deckhand, snorkelling gear, water, biscuits and a local Malvasia. Bring your own lunch, towel and sun protection.
Check availability →
Night boat trip to Panarea and Stromboli
Ten hours by boat with the Aeolian Islands landing fee and an onboard guide. A guide on the islands is not included.
Check availability →
Sunset hike above the Sciara del Fuoco
Five hours with a volcano guide, helmet and headlamp.
Check availability →Stromboli tours and day trips
Night boat trips to the Sciara del Fuoco, guided volcano hikes and island-hopping day trips, with live prices and availability.
Three ways to experience the volcano
Each one has different limits, so choose with the rules in mind.
A guided hike
An authorised guide leads you to a viewpoint well below the craters. The advertised adult price in 2026 was €30 for about five hours. The summit hike has been suspended since 2019, so no website can honestly sell you a crater climb.
Read the hiking rules →A night boat trip
Boats from Scari and from Lipari watch the Sciara del Fuoco from the sea after dark. The captain can skip the passage in bad weather, and nobody can promise lava on your evening.
Compare the boat trips →Watching from the island
You can also simply stay overnight and see what the evening brings. The island has two villages, and a night on the island solves the problem of the last ferry back.
Where to stay →Plan your Stromboli trip
One page for every question: what you may do, how to get there and where to sleep.
Hiking on Stromboli
What the ordinance says, what a guided hike costs and what to bring.
Boat tours to the Sciara del Fuoco
Evening trips from Scari and Lipari, what you see and what can change.
How to get to Stromboli
Ferries and hydrofoils from Milazzo, Lipari and Naples.
Eruptions and safety
Activity, alert levels and what to do if the siren sounds.
Ginostra
The tiny second village in the south-west and how to reach it.
Where to stay on Stromboli
Overnight in the village or a day trip: how to decide.
Best time to visit
Guided hike season, ferry timetables and sea conditions.
Good to know before you book
A ferry ticket does not give you permission to hike or to approach the Sciara by boat. Land routes fall under ordinances of the Comune di Lipari (the municipality that governs the island), while swimming and navigation are set by the harbour authority, the Capitaneria di Porto.
Three costs are separate: the crossing, a guide if you hike, and any municipal landing or volcano-access contribution. Ask what a ticket or tour price includes. A ticket to Stromboli is also not a ticket to Ginostra, so check the destination when you book.
Departure and return must fit together. An evening boat trip or hike does not guarantee a scheduled ferry afterwards, so check the last departure before you commit to a day trip. Read where to stay if you would rather sleep on the island.
Stromboli: frequently asked questions
Is Stromboli erupting?
The volcano is almost permanently active at its summit craters. On 19 October 2026 the INGV also reported a lava overflow from the northern crater area. The eruptions page shows that status with its date.
Can I climb to the crater?
No. The summit crater hike has been suspended since 2019 according to the guide company that used to offer it. Guided hikes today stop well below the craters, at heights set by ordinance. See hiking on Stromboli.
How much does a guided hike cost?
One local guide company advertised €30 per adult and €25 for children under 12 for a hike of about five hours in the 2026 season, which it runs from 15 March to 31 October. Ask what is included before you book.
How do I get to Stromboli?
By ferry or hydrofoil from Milazzo, Lipari or Naples. In October 2026 the Siremar plan lists Milazzo to Stromboli at 14:30, arriving 20:30, on Mondays and Thursdays. Details are on the getting there page.
Can I bring a car?
Not in season. A regional decree bars non-resident visitors from landing and driving motor vehicles on Stromboli from 1 May to 31 October 2026, with limited exceptions. You do not need one on an island this small.
Is visitstromboli.info the official website?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the municipality, civil protection, INGV, ferry companies, guide associations or tour operators.