There is no regular airport on Stromboli, so visitors arriving from other parts of Italy or Europe normally fly to Catania, Naples, Palermo or Reggio Calabria and then continue by hydrofoil or ferry.
There are also direct and seasonal sea connections from Naples and other Aeolian Islands.
Can You Fly Directly to Stromboli?
No. Stromboli has no airport, so you cannot book a regular commercial flight directly to the island.
Instead, you need to combine air travel with a boat journey.
The most useful airports for a trip to Stromboli are:
Catania Airport (CTA) – usually the most practical choice when visiting Sicily and Mount Etna
Naples Airport (NAP) – useful for travellers coming from mainland Italy or combining Naples with the Aeolian Islands
Reggio Calabria Airport (REG) – another possible option when travelling from southern Italy
Palermo Airport (PMO) – can work for a Sicily itinerary, particularly when seasonal sea connections are operating
The best airport depends largely on where the rest of your trip takes you.
Getting to Stromboli by Plane from Catania
For travellers visiting Sicily, Catania is one of the most convenient airports to use.
The usual route is:
Catania Airport → Milazzo → Stromboli
Catania Airport's own passenger information lists a Giuntabus service connecting Fontanarossa Airport with Milazzo port and the Aeolian Islands.
Step 1: Fly to Catania
Catania Fontanarossa Airport receives flights from destinations across Italy and Europe.
For current flight arrivals and departures, check the official Catania Airport website.
Step 2: Travel from Catania Airport to Milazzo
From the airport, you can take a bus, private transfer or rental car towards Milazzo.
One particularly convenient option is the Giuntabus connection between Catania Airport and Milazzo port, where you can continue by hydrofoil or ferry to the Aeolian Islands.
Step 3: Take a hydrofoil or ferry to Stromboli
From Milazzo, Liberty Lines operates high-speed hydrofoil services to Stromboli, while Siremar operates ferry services on selected routes.
Check the latest schedules before travelling:
Liberty Lines – Stromboli routes and tickets
Liberty Lines – Timetables and fares
Liberty Lines – Live departures
Siremar – Ferry timetables
The exact timetable changes throughout the year, with considerably more services during the main tourist season. Liberty Lines publishes seasonal Aeolian timetables and live departure information.
Getting to Stromboli by Plane from Naples
Flying to Naples can make sense if Stromboli is part of a trip around southern Italy.
Instead of travelling from Naples airport to Milazzo, you can continue from Naples directly by sea during periods when seasonal services are operating.
For example, SNAV operated a fast ferry between Naples Mergellina and Stromboli.
You can check current schedules here:
SNAV – Timetables and routes
Siremar also publishes seasonal services between Milazzo, the Aeolian Islands and Naples. Its 2026 timetable included Stromboli on the Milazzo–Aeolian Islands–Naples route during the June–September period.
Siremar – Timetables
Because these Naples connections are seasonal, always check the timetable for your exact travel date before booking flights or accommodation.
Getting to Stromboli from Reggio Calabria Airport
Another option is to fly to Reggio Calabria Airport (REG) and continue towards the Aeolian Islands by sea.
Reggio Calabria Airport is close to the city and is connected with the port area by local transport. The airport's own travel information also describes hydrofoil connections linking Reggio Calabria with the Aeolian Islands, although routes and frequencies vary.
This option can be particularly interesting if you are already travelling through Calabria.
You can check:
Reggio Calabria Airport – Official website
For boat services, check:
Liberty Lines – Timetables
Getting to Stromboli from Palermo Airport
Palermo can also be used as an arrival airport, although the logistics are different from travelling through Catania.
Liberty Lines operates seasonal connections between Palermo, Milazzo and the Aeolian Islands, with the frequency depending on the period of the year. Liberty Lines' 2026 service information lists Palermo–Aeolian connections, including daily departures during the high season.
This route can therefore work well for travellers who want to explore western and northern Sicily before continuing to the Aeolian Islands.
Check the latest timetable here:
Liberty Lines – Timetables and fares
Getting to Stromboli by Ferry or Hydrofoil from Milazzo
For travellers already in Sicily, Milazzo is one of the main gateways to Stromboli and the Aeolian Islands.
You can reach Milazzo by car, bus or private transfer and then continue by sea.
The two main types of service are:
Hydrofoil
Hydrofoils are faster passenger vessels and are usually the most convenient option if you are travelling without a car.
Liberty Lines operates hydrofoil services to Stromboli and the other Aeolian Islands.
Check Liberty Lines Stromboli departures
Ferry
Ferries are generally slower but can provide another option, depending on the route and date.
Siremar publishes its current ferry timetables online and allows travellers to select the departure port, destination and travel date.
Check Siremar ferry timetables
Getting to Stromboli from the Other Aeolian Islands
Stromboli is also connected by sea with the other major Aeolian Islands.
This makes it easy to include Stromboli in an island-hopping itinerary.
Popular combinations include:
Lipari → Stromboli
Vulcano → Stromboli
Salina → Stromboli
Panarea → Stromboli
Milazzo → Lipari → Stromboli
Because schedules change according to the season, use the official operator timetables rather than relying on an old timetable found online.
Liberty Lines – Aeolian Islands timetables
You can also check the live departures page before leaving for the port:
Liberty Lines – Live departures
What Is the Best Way to Get to Stromboli?
For most people flying into Sicily, a practical itinerary is:
Fly to Catania → bus or transfer to Milazzo → hydrofoil to Stromboli
This route is particularly convenient if you are already planning to visit Mount Etna, Taormina or eastern Sicily.
If you are starting your holiday in Naples, a seasonal direct sea service can be attractive.
And if you are already exploring the Aeolian Islands, taking a hydrofoil from Lipari, Vulcano, Salina or Panarea is often the easiest solution.
Can You Take a Car to Stromboli?
Generally, there is little reason to bring a car to the island.
Motorised vehicles are restricted to residents and that visitors can use electric taxis instead. Stromboli is compact enough that much of the inhabited area can be explored on foot.
For most visitors, it makes more sense to leave a rental car on Sicily and travel to Stromboli as a foot passenger.
What About Bad Weather?
Remember that the final part of your journey to Stromboli is by sea.
Wind and sea conditions can affect hydrofoil and ferry services, so it is important to check the operator's latest departure information before travelling.
This is especially important if you have a flight, train or other booking immediately after leaving Stromboli.
For this reason, avoid planning an extremely tight connection between your boat from Stromboli and your flight home.
Do You Need to Book the Boat in Advance?
During the busiest summer weeks, booking your boat tickets in advance is a good idea, especially if you have already booked accommodation on Stromboli.
However, don't simply rely on a timetable you found several months earlier.
Boat schedules can change between seasons, and services may be modified because of operational or weather conditions.
Before travelling, check:
Liberty Lines: Timetables and fares
Liberty Lines: Live departures
Siremar: Ferry timetables
SNAV: Naples–Aeolian Islands timetable