Two kinds of boat, one island
Two operators serve Stromboli. Siremar (Caronte & Tourist) runs the slower ferries, including the overnight line from Naples. Liberty Lines runs the faster hydrofoils (aliscafi) for passengers. In summer a second company, SNAV, adds a hydrofoil from Naples. The main landing for Stromboli is the Molo Scari. Ginostra, on the other side of the island, has its own separate harbour, and a ticket to Stromboli is not a ticket to Ginostra.
Most travellers start in Milazzo on the Sicilian mainland. The Milazzo ferry guide covers all sailings from that port, and the Milazzo access guide explains how to reach it. This page stays on the Stromboli end of the trip. It is an independent guide, not the website of a ferry company or the municipality.
Siremar ferry timetable, October 2026
Line C/1 between Milazzo, the Aeolian Islands and Naples, valid 1 to 31 October 2026.
| Route | Departs | Arrives | Planned time | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milazzo to Stromboli | 14:30 | 20:30 | 6 h | Mon, Thu |
| Lipari to Stromboli | 17:05 | 20:30 | 3 h 25 min | Mon, Thu |
| Ginostra to Stromboli | 20:05 | 20:30 | 25 min | Mon, Thu |
| Naples to Stromboli | 20:00 | 06:30 next day | 10 h 30 min | Tue, Fri |
| Stromboli to Naples | 21:00 | 08:00 next day | 11 h | Mon, Thu |
| Stromboli to Ginostra | 06:45 | 07:10 | 25 min | Wed, Sat |
| Stromboli to Milazzo | 06:45 | 12:30 | 5 h 45 min | Wed, Sat |
The times are planned times including intermediate stops, not non-stop sailing times. The table shows one line of the October plan, and the full plan has further island connections, so check the current timetable before you go. Siremar sells seats and cabins on the Naples line. A cabin is not included in the deck fare. Deck fares depend on the season, and a price list valid from 10 September 2026 is on the operator's website.
Stromboli tours and boat trips
Boat trips, hikes and guided excursions on Stromboli, with live prices and availability.
Hydrofoils from Milazzo and Lipari
Faster, but with a seasonal timetable.
Liberty Lines
The operator's plan for the Aeolian Islands applies from 1 October 2026 and covers Stromboli, Ginostra, Lipari and Milazzo. The October plan lists departures from Stromboli to Milazzo at 07:15, 11:00, 16:30 and 17:15. Not every departure necessarily runs every day, so check the day you want. Summer plans have different frequencies.
SNAV from Naples
The 2026 summer hydrofoil sails from Naples Mergellina to Stromboli between 14:30 and 19:00, about 4 h 30 min, from 30 May to 13 September. In the other direction it leaves Stromboli at 09:05 and reaches Naples at 14:00, from 31 May to 14 September. Outside that window use the Siremar ferry. The Naples port can change between seasons.
Prices
The operators calculate prices in their booking systems for your date and route, so check the final price at checkout. A municipal landing contribution may be added to the ticket.
Children, luggage and vehicles
Rules that catch people out.
Children
On Liberty Lines, children aged 0 to 3 travel free and children aged 4 to 11 pay a reduced fare. Children under 12 travel only with an adult. Whether a child under 4 gets their own seat is described differently on the operator's pages, so do not count on one.
Luggage and bicycles
Liberty Lines allows one free piece of hand luggage up to 60 x 40 x 20 cm. Extra luggage is charged separately. Bicycles are not carried on vessels without suitable facilities.
Weather
The operator's passenger charter makes exceptions for weather that endangers safe sailing. Do not plan a same-day flight or train connection straight after the crossing.
Cars
A regional decree of 17 April 2026 bars motor vehicles of people not permanently living on the islands from landing and driving on Stromboli and Panarea from 1 May to 31 October 2026. Exceptions cover supply transport, rescue and police, so leave the car on the mainland.
After you land
Where to go next.
Where to stay on Stromboli
Sleep on the island or come for the day, and how the timetable decides.
Ginostra
The small second village with its own harbour and ferry stops.
Hiking on Stromboli
Guides, rules and why heights change with the alert level.
Best time to visit
Which services run when, and what the sea decides.
The other Aeolian Islands are covered in the Aeolian Islands guide. If you fly in first, see the Sicily airports guide.
Planning the crossing
Three starting points, three different days.
From Milazzo
The ferry that arrives at 20:30 means you land after dark, so have your room booked and know how you will reach it from the Molo Scari. If you prefer to arrive in daylight, compare the hydrofoil plan for your date.
From Lipari
The Siremar ferry leaves Lipari at 17:05 on Mondays and Thursdays and takes 3 h 25 min. That suits an island hop, but it also lands you at 20:30. Hydrofoils are listed in the Liberty Lines plan.
From Naples
The overnight ferry leaves from Calata Porta di Massa at 20:00 on Tuesdays and Fridays in October 2026. Decide early whether you want a seat or a cabin, because the cabin is an extra and not part of the deck fare.
Getting to Stromboli: frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get to Stromboli from Milazzo?
On the Siremar ferry in the October 2026 plan, the Monday and Thursday sailing leaves Milazzo at 14:30 and arrives at 20:30, six hours with stops. Hydrofoils are faster; check the current Liberty Lines timetable for the day.
Is there a ferry from Naples to Stromboli?
Yes. Siremar's overnight ferry leaves Naples at 20:00 on Tuesdays and Fridays in the October 2026 plan and arrives at 06:30 the next morning. In summer SNAV also runs a hydrofoil from Naples, about 4 h 30 min.
Can I take a car to Stromboli?
Not in 2026 if you do not live on the island. Landing and driving by non-residents is barred from 1 May to 31 October 2026, with exceptions such as supply transport and rescue.
Does a ticket to Stromboli also cover Ginostra?
No. The operators list Ginostra and Stromboli as separate destinations. Check the destination when you book, because Ginostra has its own harbour.
Do boats run in bad weather?
Not always. The passenger charter of Liberty Lines makes exceptions for weather that endangers safe sailing. Check the operator's notices on the day and keep your plans flexible.