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Panarea

Exclusive and expensive, Panarea is the smallest and most fashionable of the Aeolians, attracting international jet-setters and Milanese fashionistas for a taste of dolce far niente (sweet nothing). In summer, luxury yachts fill the tiny harbour and flocks of day-trippers traipse around the car-free whitewashed streets of San Pietro, the port and principal settlement. Panarea is a strictly summer-only destination with very little going on outside the tourist season – in fact, arrive between November and Easter and you'll find most places closed.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions

Cala Junco
Panarea
Directly below Panarea's prehistoric village, about 45 minutes south of San Pietro, steps lead down to this gorgeous little cove with a rock-strewn beach…
Villaggio Preistorico
Panarea
Dramatically sited on Punta Milazzese, an elevated headland surrounded by the sea, these round foundations of 22 stone huts are the only vestiges of a…
Spiaggia della Calcara
Panarea
At Panarea's northeastern corner, this pebbly beach with full-on Stromboli views and jets of hot water escaping from undersea fumaroles is reached via a…
Spiaggetta Zimmari
Panarea
This small stretch of brown sand backed by a steep overgrown dune, about 25 minutes on foot south of San Pietro, is Panarea's only sandy beach and gets…
Dattilo
Panarea
Reachable only by private boat, this dramatic islet off Panarea's east coast is best known for the pretty Le Guglie swimming spot at its southwestern tip.
Basiluzzo
Panarea
The largest of the five islets off Panarea's east coast, Basiluzzo is given over to the cultivation of capers and can only be visited by private boat.
Lisca Bianca
Panarea
Only accessible by private boat, this islet off Panarea's east coast offers good swimming on a small white beach.
Bottaro
Panarea
Measuring only 7300 sq metres, Bottaro is the second smallest of Panarea's offshore islands. The island itself is of negligible interest, but scuba divers…