Panarea: The Chicest Italian Island You've Never Heard Of Before

Sicily – with its incredibly hot and reliably sunny summers, slow pace of life, and excellent beaches – is one of the Italy's best holiday destinations for sun-worshippers and those looking to relax and to well and truly get away from it all. Idyllic as the island, as a whole, is, it is perhaps most impressively perfect on the island of Panarea. Panarea, the smallest and chicest of the Aeolian Islands, is located not far from Lipari and is the kind of place that attracts celebrities, fashionistas, and Italy's wealthy youth. With the kind of perfect sheen that comes from places in which tourism is, without a doubt, the prevailing industry, there is little by the way of an authentic experience or local heritage, but there is a stunning landscape, cute towns lined with neat streets full of pretty little white-washed buildings (big developments, thankfully, have not descended on the place) framed by colourful flowers, one of the few sandy beaches in the Aeolian islands, a harbour full of luxury yachts, scenic walks and hiking routes, a vibrant party scene in July and August, and peace and tranquility for the rest of the season. Incredibly expensive during the summer months (and though it is more affordable outside this period, it is essentially boarded up between November and Easter), we recommend heading for a day-trip or for a couple of days if you have found a vacation rental in Sicily and are up for exploring all that the island has to offer.

Ferries will get you to Panarea's only port, in the village of San Pietro, and some other ferries and hydrofoils headed for Stromboli from Milazzo will stop at Panarea on the way. During the summer, Alilauro run a service from Naples that stops at Panarea. In general, however, it should be noted that Panarea has fewer connections than the larger islands around Sicily. If you are planning a day-trip or visit to the island during your stay in Sicily, you should consult the timetables of the various services carefully before heading out and you should also keep in mind that these timetables are completely dependent on the weather and can change accordingly, if there are storms or high winds. Times to get to Panarea vary drastically depending on which port you leave from and if the service is stopping elsewhere or not. If you have plenty of time, want to spent more time on the water, then you can afford to take one of the more circuitous routes around the Aeolian Islands. However, if you are looking for something more direct, the Milazzo to Panarea ferry with Liberty Lines can get you there in less than an hour and a half and the journey itself is delightful, as you skim over the azure waters past other beautiful islands.

For those who arrive on the island for a day trip, there are a few options of things to see and do. If you step off the ferry after watching the waves (keeping an eye out for marine pals along the way) and enjoying the breeze over the water, you may be utterly relaxed and in mind to maintain this tranquil mood. Should that be the case, we recommend simply strolling around San Pietro, admiring the pretty, Crete-like white-washed surroundings, grabbing a bite to eat in one of the excellent restaurants in town, gawking at some of the more impressive and astounding yachts in the marina, and hanging out on the beautiful sand beach of Caletta dei Zimmari. If you're more interested in taking in the impressive natural beauty of the island and you are in a more active mood, then we suggest heading to the island's old network of mule paths. These have fallen into disuse and are now largely overgrown but a few of the paths are cleared and still in use and will bring you from the harbour to the island's summit, Punta del Corvo, to take in astounding views over both Panarea and the other Aeolian islands. Do keep in mind that day-trippers descend in their droves in the summer so you'll likely be one of many and things may be a bit hectic in the afternoon when the numbers are at their highest. If this doesn't bother you, there won't be a problem. If you are somewhat concerned, you can plan to visit earlier or later in the day, slightly out of season, or for a long period during the day, setting aside the early afternoon and busiest time for a hike, a picnic, or something that will take you away from queues and crowds.

However, you'll have the fullest and best experience of Panarea if you are able to stay even one night on the island. Then you can party it up during July and August, if that is where your interest lies, or you can experience the complete relaxation of the island by sipping a great wine after dinner, looking out over the sea and watching the sun set over the water, before wandering the quiet paths of the island's little settlements, with the stars bright and very visible overhead as there are minimal lights illuminating the streets. It is an incredibly beautiful and innately romantic place and, understandably, a popular honeymoon spot.

So, if you're exploring Sicily and looking for even more peace and quiet, or you're looking for a great party, or you want to go on an excellent day trip, or you want a taste of the Panarea lifestyle without the often exorbitant price tag, just plan to set aside one or two days and come explore this magic gem in Italy.