Traveling to Malfa, Salina
Getting To Malfa Is As Easy As 1, 2, 3… 4
1. Fly Into CTA, REG, or PMO
There are three airports with easy access to the four ports with ferries servicing Salina: Catania (CTA), Reggio (REG), and Palermo (PMO).
2. Taxi To Port
Taxi from the airport to one of the nearby ports. More info below.
3. Ferry to Salina
Take a ferry to Salina. The fast ferries are all on Liberty Lines. Ferry times below. Book tickets on Liberty’s website.
4. Taxi To Hotel
We’ll be in touch about taxi services after you’ve booked your hotel and confirmed your arrival dates.
The town of Malfa is on the Island of Salina, off the coast of Sicily
Getting from the Airport to the Port
The most common way to get from the airport ot the port is via bus or taxi. Pricing and booking info here.
Alternatively, if flying into CTA, you can rent a car at the airport and then take a car ferry. This can make a lot of sense if you’re already intending to have a car for the week. It ends up being around the same price as a private taxi round trip but the Siremar vehicle ferry is less frequent and takes around an hour longer.
AIRPORTS & FERRY CONNECTIONS
-
Reggio Calabria (REG)
Ferry Port: Reggio
Time from airport to port: 15 minutes
Ferry length: 2h 30m
SCHEDULE
8:45am*, 12:55pm, 7:10pm
* = connecting ferry
-
Catania (CTA)
MILAZZO
Ferry Port: Milazzo
Time from airport to port: ~2h
Ferry duration: 1h 40m
SCHEDULE
6:30am, 7:00am, 8:00am, 8:30am, 9:30am*, 10:45am, 12:30pm, 2:00pm, 2:30pm, 3:00pm, 5:45pm, 6:30pm** = connecting ferry
MESSINA
Ferry Port: Messina
Time from airport to port: ~1.5h
Ferry duration: 3h
SCHEDULE
6:45am, 8:05am*, 12:15pm, 6:30pm
* = connecting ferry
-
Palermo (PMO)
Ferry Port: Palermo
Time from airport to port: ~30 minutes
Ferry length: 3h 15m
SCHEDULE
1:30pm
MILAZZO
A second option from Palermo is driving to Milazzo, which takes around 2.5 hours. (See “Catania” column for Milazzo ferry times.)
-
Naples (NAP)
Ferry Port: Naples (SNAV imbarco EOLIE)
Time from airport to port: 25 minutes
Ferry length: 5h 30m
SCHEDULE
2:30pm
The Naples Route
Another option is flying into Naples, which has non-stop flights from NYC, but that ferry is 5.5 hours. (Kate and I did it in 2022 and it wasn’t all that bad!)
Getting home
Don’t forget to take into account return ferry times when booking flights home or to your next destination.
Creative flight connections
While there are plenty of flights from the US that connect straight into all three airports, you might find it easier to book yourself a roundtrip flight to a major airport like Paris or Milan, then pair that with a European low-cost carrier like Ryan Air, easyJet, etc. (Just be mindful of situations where cities have multiple airports.)
Transportation FAQs
Do I need a car?
Friday through Sunday activities take place in Malfa and are walking distance from the hotels (or bus will be provided). But if you’re planning to explore other towns on your own, you might want one.
There are a few local vendors on the island that can rent cars with a reservation or upon arrival. Rent Bongiorno is a one minute walk from the ferry stop in Santa Maria Salina. Experience Salina rents cars and scooters in Malfa.
Do I need a scooter?
You don’t. But you’re welcome to rent one. So Italian!
Rent Bongiorno has lots of options. You can book in advance or walk up on arrival.
What other ways are there to get around the island?
Each town is fully walkable, but getting between towns requires taking the local bus, a taxi, or a rental car/scooter.
How early do I need to book ferry tickets?
Try and book ferry tickets at least two weeks ahead of time. They’re also exchangeable at any Liberty Lines port as long as its before your scheduled departure time.