What are the beaches of Lipari? And how easy is it to reach them? Are you planning a trip to the Aeolian Islands and asking yourself all these questions? In this article we present a complete guide to all the beaches of the island.
How to reach the beaches of Lipari
Before starting the list of Lipari’s beaches, it is important to understand how to reach them. In fact, this may depend on where you decide to stay on the island. All the beaches of Lipari are not within walking distance, unless you want to take an hour-long walk in the sun. If you want to visit all the beaches, you will have to rent some kind of transportation. Mopeds are the most convenient, but you can also rent cars, quads or bicycles. The rentals are all concentrated in the port area, but especially in the summer months it is best to call a week before arrival to reserve the vehicle. If you prefer to stay at the same beach all the time, you can find accommodation in the Canneto area. From here you can take a taxi to the other beaches of Lipari. In this case, you will only need a means of transportation to reach the center, where the clubs and restaurants are concentrated.
What are the beaches of Lipari?
Now that you know how to get to the beaches of Lipari, it is important to know what the beaches of Lipari are. It may sound strange, but their number can vary from year to year. In fact, in some cases the action of the sea has greatly reduced the part of the beach until it almost disappears. A very important thing to know is that before reaching a beach you should first ask if it is accessible or not. Some parts of the Lipari coastline are in danger of collapsing and it is possible that the local authorities prohibit access to some beaches.
Canneto beach
Let’s start the discovery of the beaches of Lipari with the Canneto Beach. It is the first one we meet if we go from the center of Lipari towards the north of the island, that is, on the eastern side. The coastline is narrow between the road and the sea and not very wide, but on the other hand it stretches for more than 3 km. So you have a lot of Lipari beach at your disposal, but if you prefer the comfort of deckchairs and umbrellas, there are also several bathing establishments. It is definitely a beach suitable also for families with children or the elderly. There are also several bars, restaurants and accommodations nearby. There is also a taxi boat service from Canneto beach to the other beaches on the east coast of Lipari.
Papesca Beach – Formerly Spiagge Bianche
Continuing north, you will come to Papesca Beach. In the past this area of Lipari was known to everyone as Spiagge Bianche. This is because both the seabed and the beach were completely of this color. The quarrying of pumice, for so many years a precious resource for Lipari, produced a waste sand that was dumped in the sea, coloring the sand and making the sea turquoise. With the closing of the quarries in 2007, all the elements returned to their original color. If you expect to find the white beaches that were seen in all the photos of Lipari a few years ago, you will unfortunately be disappointed. The sea, however, will not disappoint you; it is still breathtaking. Both the coast and the seabed of Papesca Beach are made up of small to medium sized pebbles, so it is best to bring rock shoes.
White Beach
A little further north is White Beach, one of the most famous beaches of Lipari. Like Papesca Beach, this beach is not white and the sea is not turquoise. The beach can be reached either by taxi boat or on foot. In the latter case, once you park your car along the road, you will have to continue on a rather slippery path. It is therefore advisable to wear closed shoes with non-slip soles. The beach at this point in Lipari, called White Beach, offers a “jeep shuttle” service. It is possible to have lunch on the beach and from 4 p.m. there is music and aperitifs. The White Beach is also open in the evening for dinner, while at night it turns into a real disco.
Porticello Beach
Approaching the northern part of Lipari, one reaches the beach of Porticello. It develops between the old pumice quarry of Campo Bianco and the black obsidian stream of Rocche Rosse. The beach of Porticello is composed of a mixture of sand and pebbles in some sections, especially along the coast. There is a lido, Havana Beach, where it is possible to rent umbrellas and deck chairs. There is also a café nearby where you can have lunch. In a part of Porticello Beach you can still see the remains of Pumex, the company responsible for the extraction of pumice from Lipari’s quarries until 2007. In the sea you can also see the long pier that connected the quarry to the boats.
Acquacalda Beach
The last beach of Lipari that you will find in this area before returning to the center of the island is the beach of Acquacalda. In fact, on the entire west coast there is only one beach accessible from the land, Valle Muria Beach, but to reach it you must first return to the town of Lipari. The beach of Acquacalda takes its name from the nearby fishing village and extends for over a kilometer. It consists of medium pebbles, both on the coast and on the seabed, so the use of rock shoes is recommended. There are a few equipped bathing establishments and, just across the road, there are a few bars where you can have lunch. From the beach of Acquacalda there is a beautiful view of the islands of Salina, Panarea and the Scoglio dei Monaci.
Valle Muria Beach
Valle Muria Beach is located in the southwestern part of Lipari and is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. It is a stretch of coastline between two headlands, where the coast is made up of black sand and large stones. To reach it, it is necessary to take the road from the port of Lipari to Pianoconte. Just before reaching Belvedere Quattrocchi there is a junction with signs for Piano Greca and Valle Muria Lipari beach. When you reach the sign “Valle Muria” you have to park your car and continue on foot. After a walk of about 15 minutes you will reach the beach. The small effort will be amply rewarded by a beautiful sea and a panorama with a view of Vulcano and the Faraglioni of Pietra Lunga and Pietra Menalda.
Praia di Vinci Beach
The last beach of Lipari before finishing the tour of the island is that of Praia di Vinci. It is located in the southern part of the island and can only be reached by sea. From the nearby Marina Corta there are several boats that offer service to reach the beach. The coastline is sandy with some pebbles and extends for a few hundred meters. The seabed is perfectly crystal clear, which is why Praia di Vinci beach is a favorite destination for snorkelers. Here and there some rocks rise from the sea, which in some stretches become real “stools” in the water. On these natural chairs you can relax and enjoy the view.
Marina Corta Beach
In the list of the beaches of Lipari you can add the small stretch of sand of Marina Corta. In the past the beach was wider, but over the years it has been increasingly eroded by sea activities. Although it is the only beach accessible on foot from the center of Lipari, it is not the most suitable beach for swimming. Marina Corta is in fact a small port of Lipari from which the boat excursions to the other Aeolian Islands depart. Since there is no lack of beautiful beaches, it is better to choose one of the others in this list.
