Milazzo

Milazzo is on the north coast of Sicily, Italy, 20km west of Messina. Is it a small town, mainly used as a transit point for the Aeolian Islands.

Get in

By train

Frequent trains run from Palermo, Cefalu and Messina - from where you can connect to Taormina, Catania and Naples and Rome. The train station is about 3 km south of the centre - buses run to the centre frequently and there are taxis.

By bus

Frequent buses run from Messina to the town centre and stop right by the passenger ferry port.

By boat

There are frequent car ferries and much quicker hydrofoils from to the Aeolian Islands (most go to Vulcano and Lipari) - lots in Summer, with fewer during Spring, Autumn and Winter and on Sundays. For timetables see SIREMAR, Liberty Lines and NGI. SIREMAR and Liberty Lines ticket offices share the same building located betwean a molo and a roundabout.

A few car ferries a week also continue on to Naples (see SNAV).

Get around

The centre is quite compact, so you will probably only need to walk around.

A city bus line 5 run by AST company connects a harbour (a stop Port molo Marullo, almost at the end of a parking lot, north of a ferry ticket office) and a railway station (Piazza Stazione F.S., right in front of the station) and costs €1.50. (The bus did not display its destination. Please ask the bus driver.) A schedule.

See

• 1 Castello di Milazzo, Via dei Castriciani, Milazzo (uphill north of a harbour), turismo@comune.milazzo.me.it. The Castle above the centre is imposing and offers good views. The streets around it are also attractive. EUR 5. 
• 2 L'Antiquarium, Via Giovan Battista Impallomeni 16, Milazzo (in the midle of the path betwean a harbour and a castle), ☏ +39 090 9223471. Mo and holidays 9:00-13:00, Tu-Sa 9:00-19:00. A collection of archeological artefacts from Milazzo. Free. 

Do

There is a very long beach there that is never too crowded. Also, there is a promenade with a nice view.

There is a car rental office in town. You can make few easy day trips to Mount Etna or Taormina.

You can also take a day trip by train to Palermo (2 hr each way), or Cefalu (1 hr each way).

There is a very frequent reliable ferry service from Milazzo and the exploration of seven Eolian islands make great day trips. From the same port there are few organized boat tours to the islands. It is possible to make a day trip to Vulcano or Lipari, but you have to stay overnight on the other islands.

Sailing

Milazzo is a good starting point for a sailing vacation on the Eolian islands.

• 1 Marina del Nettuno. Toilets, showers, water, fuel, electricity. The staff is helpful. 

Eat

• 1 La Casalinga. A nice trattoria with good fish and seafood dishes and reasonable prices. Antipasti are worth attention as well. 

Cope

A toll-free toilet is located inside a ferry ticket office.

Go next

The hilltop village of Castroreale 10 km away is attractive and you can stay in the Castle in the Youth Hostel.