Here, you will find the 5 best family boat trips in northern Sicily with descriptions, highlights and links to book the experience. Boat tours in Sicily are a great way to discover the coast in a relaxing and fun way. When choosing a boat trip for the whole family, including very young children, it is best to pay attention to what kind of boat trip you are going to book.
Some useful information might be whether the boat has a shaded area, whether there is a bar on the boat to buy some soft drinks or an ice cream, and whether there is enough space to get on the boat with a stroller. Below, I will list the best family boat tours in northern Sicily, starting with the one furthest west and moving eastwards. In the West of Sicily, you will find a wonderful boat tour to the popular and beautiful Egadi Islands.
Boat trip for families to the Aegadian Islands: Favignana and Levanzo
A boat tour to the Egadi Islands combines comfort and a desire to explore. The large boat is ideal for families with children of all ages. In fact, on the lower deck, there is comfortable seating with a table that offers some space away from the sun, while large windows allow you to admire the landscape. The upper deck, on the other hand, has an outdoor area with a 360-degree view.
The first stop the ship makes is at the island of Favignana. Here, you can stroll through the streets of the town centre, eat a delicious ice cream or head to the nearest beach for some sun and a refreshing swim. After a 2-hour stop, the trip starts again.
After a tour of the island and, in case of good weather, a short stop for swimming, the tour continues to Levanzo, where you have another hour to spend as you please. On the way back, you will see the Faraglione, before returning to Trapani.
Suitable for children because:
- Spacious and comfortable boat with with seating areas that are protected from the sun and wind
- Bar on the boat with cold drinks
- Free for children up to 4 years & discounted for children up to 12 years
- Enough space for a stroller
| Operator: | Egadi Escursioni |
| Port of departure and arrival: | Port of Trapani |
| Duration: | 8,5 hours |
Boat trip for families to Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro
This boat trip to the Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro (Zingaro Nature Reserve) is perfect for all families. The short duration of 4 hours allows everyone to enjoy the adventure and not get bored. In addition, the boat, which accommodates only 30 people, gives you a homely atmosphere.
The boat tour departs from San Vito Lo Capo and travels along the eastern part of the Zingaro Nature Reserve. The first stop is Cala dell’Uzzo and will last for about 30 minutes. The second stop will be at the Faraglioni di Scopello beach and lasts for another 30 minutes.
Suitable for children because:
- Sun-protected area
- Free for children up to 3 years & half price up to 12 years
| Operator: | San Vito Coast Charter |
| Port of departure and arrival: | Port of San Vito Lo Capo |
| Duration: | 4 hours |
Boat trip for families to Cefalù
This 3-hour boat trip allows you to admire the West coast of Cefalù. The duration of this boat trip is perfect for children because they will never have time to get bored: after a short sail, during which you will see the entire historic part of the town, the cathedral fortress and the old port, there will be a first stop for a swim, lasting 30-40 minutes. After some fun in the water, the tour will continue towards the beach of Mazzaforno, where participants can go for another swim and enjoy an aperitif.
There is free juice for the little ones on the ship and you can bring as many snacks as you like. Throughout the tour, there will be commentary provided in 3 languages: Italian, English and French, a great way to create interest for adults, but also to entertain children.
Suitable for children because:
- Sun-protected area
- Juice included
- Free for children up to 3 years & half price up to 12 years
| Operator: | Sea Land Tours Cefalù |
| Port of departure and arrival: | Port of Cefalù Presidiana |
| Duration: | 3 hours |
Boat trip for families to the Aeolian Islands: Lipari and Vulcano
This 8,5-hour boat trip takes you to 2 beautiful islands: Lipari and Vulcano. The large capacity and facilities inside the boat ensure maximum comfort for you and your children.
All the Aeolian Islands are volcanic islands and are therefore quite spectacular.
During the breaks, you’re free to spend your time as you like. Lipari will fascinate you with its castle on a 50 m high promontory, visible from the sea and surrounded by walls dating back to 1500 AD and the Belvedere Quattrocchi. On the island of Vulcano, you can walk to the main crater, swim in the thermal waters or relax on the beach. Vulcano is a dormant volcano. Its last eruption was in 1890, but even today, you can see the smoke coming out of the Gran Cratere (Great Crater).
Suitable for children because:
- Sun-protected area
- On-board bar with snacks, ice cream and soft drinks
- Free tickets for children up to 3 years and discounted tickets for children up to 10 years
- Enough space for a stroller
| Operator: | Tarnav Tours Eolie |
| Port of departure and arrival: | Port of Milazzo |
| Duration: | 8,5 hours |
Boat trip or families to the Aeolian Islands: Lipari, Panarea and Stromboli
This boat trip to Lipari, Panarea and Stromboli is an extremely long one: it lasts 12 hours. However, the many comforts of the boat make this possible: air conditioning, many shaded areas, snack bars and much more make the sailing parts of the tour very pleasant.
The boat tour will take you first to Lipari, then Panarea and finally to Stromboli. On each island, you will have a 2,5 hours stopover, during which you can do whatever you like: walk around the picturesque streets of the city centre, eat a good artisanal ice cream, or relax on the small beaches.
All three islands are worth a visit:
- Lipari is an island with high cliffs and beautiful beaches. Its faraglioni, near the island of Vulcano, offers an exciting landscape.
- Panarea is the smallest of the Aeolian islands covering just over 3 km squared. Cars are not allowed here, and walking through the small villages is fascinating.
- Stromboli is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Its eruptions are both effusive (the lava flows) and explosive, but it is mainly in effusive form. Because of its unique characteristics, a name has been given to this particular type of eruption: the Strombolian eruption.
Suitable for children because:
- Sun-protected area
- On-board bar with snacks, ice cream and soft drinks
- Possibility of bringing your own food
- Free tickets for children up to 3 years & half price up to 10 years
- Enough space for a stroller
| Operator: | Tarnav Tours Eolie |
| Port of departure and arrival: | Port of Milazzo |
| Duration: | 12 hours |