Salina itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days on Salina, day by day: the salt lagoon and lighthouse at Lingua with granita and pane cunzato at Alfredo, the port of Santa Marina, a Malvasia tasting at Capofaro, the caper village of Malfa and the pebble beach of Scario, the Madonna del Terzito and the sunset over Pollara, the Il Postino bay, then a morning climb up Monte Fossa delle Felci from the Madonna del Terzito and the little harbour of Rinella as you add a day. The other islands are on the Aeolian Islands page. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Salina in 1 day
Day 1
Lingua: the salt lagoon and the Punta Lingua Lighthouse
Fishing hamlet on Salina's south-east tip, with the old salt lagoon that gave the island its name and a small lighthouse.
Da Alfredo, Lingua (granita and pane cunzato)
Bar Alfredo on Lingua's seafront, known across the Aeolian Islands for its fruit granitas and generous pane cunzato; expect a summer queue.
Historic centre of Santa Marina Salina (the port and Via Risorgimento)
Salina's main port, with Via Risorgimento running behind the harbour, a pedestrian street of shops, bars and caper and Malvasia sellers.
Capofaro Locanda & Malvasia (Tasca d'Almerita vineyard)
Malvasia vineyard and inn round the Capo Faro lighthouse, run by the Tasca d'Almerita wine family; tastings and meals by booking.
Historic centre of Malfa
Village of white houses among the caper fields and vines on the north coast, the home of Salina's capers and Malvasia.
Spiaggia di Scario
Pebble beach below Malfa, with clear water, a few boats pulled up on the shore and views to Lipari and Panarea.
Sanctuary of the Madonna del Terzito
Pilgrimage church in the green Valdichiesa saddle between Salina's two mountains, and the usual start of the path up Fossa delle Felci.
Pollara: the Il Postino bay and the sunset
Village in a half-collapsed crater on the west coast, where Il Postino was filmed; watch the sunset from the belvedere above the bay.
Salina in 2 days
Day 1
Sanctuary of the Madonna del Terzito
Pilgrimage church in the green Valdichiesa saddle between Salina's two mountains, and the usual start of the path up Fossa delle Felci.
Monte Fossa delle Felci hike
Climb through ferns and woods to 962 m, the highest point of the Aeolian Islands, with views over all seven islands.
Rinella
Small fishing hamlet and hydrofoil landing on the south coast, with a little beach, a few houses and a quiet seafront.
Day 2
Lingua: the salt lagoon and the Punta Lingua Lighthouse
Fishing hamlet on Salina's south-east tip, with the old salt lagoon that gave the island its name and a small lighthouse.
Da Alfredo, Lingua (granita and pane cunzato)
Bar Alfredo on Lingua's seafront, known across the Aeolian Islands for its fruit granitas and generous pane cunzato; expect a summer queue.
Historic centre of Santa Marina Salina (the port and Via Risorgimento)
Salina's main port, with Via Risorgimento running behind the harbour, a pedestrian street of shops, bars and caper and Malvasia sellers.
Capofaro Locanda & Malvasia (Tasca d'Almerita vineyard)
Malvasia vineyard and inn round the Capo Faro lighthouse, run by the Tasca d'Almerita wine family; tastings and meals by booking.
Historic centre of Malfa
Village of white houses among the caper fields and vines on the north coast, the home of Salina's capers and Malvasia.
Spiaggia di Scario
Pebble beach below Malfa, with clear water, a few boats pulled up on the shore and views to Lipari and Panarea.
Pollara: the Il Postino bay and the sunset
Village in a half-collapsed crater on the west coast, where Il Postino was filmed; watch the sunset from the belvedere above the bay.
Watch: Salina
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Salina
May, June and September are the best months, green or golden, with warm sea and fewer people. July and August are hot and busy, with full hydrofoils, so book ahead. From November to March many places close and boats run less often. Capers are picked from late spring through summer, and the Malvasia grapes are harvested in September.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Salina on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Salina on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Salina on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Salina
- Book the Capofaro tasting or meal ahead: visits are by booking only, and it is closed at weekends.
- Expect a queue at Alfredo in Lingua in summer; go mid-morning for a granita, or late for pane cunzato.
- Start the Fossa delle Felci climb early in warm months: the path from the Madonna del Terzito is steep and has little shade, so bring water.
- Pollara's beach is under a bathing ban for rockfall and can't be reached on foot: watch the sunset from the belvedere above the bay.
- Take home Salina capers and Malvasia from the shops in Malfa and Santa Marina, and taste both on pane cunzato.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Da Alfredo, Lingua (granita and pane cunzato): Davide Mauro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Historic centre of Malfa: Ghost-in-the-Shell, CC BY 2.0
- Lingua: the salt lagoon and the Punta Lingua Lighthouse: Clemensfranz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Monte Fossa delle Felci hike: Paolinasca, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Rinella: Falk2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sanctuary of the Madonna del Terzito: chrisaliv, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
