Siremar

Who they are

Siremar (Sicilian Regional Maritime Company) is the conventional car-ferry operator for Sicily's minor islands, running a network of ro-ro vessel services that carry passengers, cars, motorbikes, campervans and commercial vehicles to the same island groups that Liberty Lines serves by hydrofoil. The two companies are complementary: Siremar is slower but vehicle-capable; Liberty Lines is faster but passenger-only.

Siremar operates under public service obligation contracts on several routes, which means it maintains year-round services to small islands where a purely commercial service would not be viable. This public service role gives the company a different operational character from purely tourist-focused operators — it is, in part, a lifeline service for island communities rather than a leisure provider.

The company has gone through several ownership and concession changes over the decades, and the brand has at times operated under different parent structures. The current Siremar network retains the geographic footprint that has served the Sicilian archipelagos for generations.

Network and routes

Siremar's primary base is Milazzo, on Sicily's north-east coast, which serves as the mainland gateway to the Aeolian Islands. The Aeolians — Lipari, Vulcano, Stromboli, Salina, Panarea, Filicudi and Alicudi — are a UNESCO-listed volcanic archipelago with a mix of tourist resorts (Lipari, Vulcano, Stromboli) and quieter, less-developed islands (Alicudi, Filicudi) at the western end of the chain.

Trapani in western Sicily is the departure point for the Egadi Islands — Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo — a compact group popular with divers and those seeking a quieter Sicilian island experience. Favignana is the most visited and the most accessible.

Palermo and Porto Empedocle (near Agrigento) handle sailings to the Pelagie Islands — Lampedusa and Linosa — and to Ustica north of Palermo. Lampedusa, the most southerly point of Italy and closer to Tunisia than to Sicily, has a long crossing from Porto Empedocle and is one of the most remote destinations in the Mediterranean for car travellers.

Fleet and on board

Siremar's fleet consists of conventional ro-ro car ferries of varying sizes. The larger vessels on the Milazzo–Aeolians and the Pelagie Island runs are multi-deck ships with vehicle decks, indoor lounges, cafeteria facilities and open deck space. Smaller vessels serve the shorter and lower-demand routes.

On-board amenities are functional: cafeteria or bar service, indoor seating and external deck areas. Crossing times range from under an hour for the nearest Aeolian stops to many hours for Lampedusa, which is a genuine overnight journey from Porto Empedocle.

Vehicle reservation is mandatory for peak summer sailings. Car capacity on island routes is finite and the most popular sailings sell out well in advance.

Booking and tips

Book vehicle spaces as early as possible for July and August across all routes. Lampedusa in particular has limited total car-ferry capacity and demand far exceeds supply in peak summer weeks — late booking means a guaranteed refusal.

For the Aeolian Islands, consider which island you are heading to before booking. Lipari is the hub of the archipelago and the first major stop from Milazzo; many travellers leave their car in Milazzo and travel by hydrofoil, using Siremar or Liberty Lines for inter-island hops on foot once on the archipelago.

Passengers who need speed rather than vehicle transport should use Liberty Lines' hydrofoil services on parallel routes. The combination of Siremar for outbound vehicle transport and Liberty Lines for return foot-passenger travel is a practical approach for island-hoppers.