Italy’s not just another summer getaway for me.
It’s my go-to escape whenever I get the chance. Blame it on those ridiculous $30 round-trip Ryanair fares to Bergamo, or the fact that it quite literally runs through my veins (thank you, nonno).
Not to brag, but I’ve pretty much covered the country at this point, from the northern fringes of the Dolomites, practically brushing against Austria, all the way down to the wild, overlooked edges of the boot, with every cultural heavyweight and natural wonder in between.
I’ve cruised through Venice by gondola, village-hopped across Tuscany, and left no ancient stone unturned in Rome, a city I’ve returned to more times than I can count. At this stage, I thought there wasn’t much the old country could throw at me that would still genuinely surprise me…
Then I reached Pantelleria.
One of Italy’s most remote islands, closer to Africa than Europe, in fact.
It’s not your typical Italian escape of pastel villages and postcard beaches, but something far more rugged, and deeply authentic. It feels like a world entirely of its own.
And the best part? Unlike some of Italy’s overcrowded hotspots where locals are increasingly tired of mass tourism, this forgotten corner of the Mediterranean still genuinely wants visitors to come:
An Italian Island In… Africa??
Pantelleria is one of those places you wouldn’t even know to look for unless you zoom into a very specific patch of the Mediterranean and suddenly… “wait, what island is that?“
It’s a tiny volcanic speck measuring only around 32 square miles, with no immediate neighbors, yet if geography had the final say, it would probably belong to Africa rather than Europe.
It’s just 43 miles from the Tunisian coast, compared with roughly 60 miles from Sicily, the closest Italian landmass, and somehow feels like the ultimate crossroads between the Mediterranean and the Arab world.
Think dramatic landscapes, terraced vineyards cascading toward the deep-blue sea, ancient stone houses, and turquoise calas where you’ll share the water with a fraction of the crowds found on the Italian mainland.
Actually, that’s an understatement: were it not for the handful of Sicilian families with a niche love for the island who return every summer, and Italian blue bloods who’ve spent secluded holidays here, from Giorgio Armani to Madonna, Pantelleria would feel almost completely deserted.
Foreigners simply don’t come here.
It’s Italy’s hidden island within a hidden island, the kind of place even seasoned European travelers accidentally overlook.
That’s a shame, as Pantelleria is maybe one of a handful of Italian destinations that actually wants more tourists.
Not a whole cruise load of them, mind you, but the ‘right’ kind of crowds: higher-spending, experience-seeking visitors who appreciate good food, are wellness-oriented, and look for that Italian elite-style exclusivity.
Pantelleria Wants More Tourists
Pantelleria is quietly calling on tourists to visit in 2026, and if you’ve made it to this page, and you’ve read this far, chances are you’re just the type of tourist they want to attract:
Better Visibility
The island has been quietly trying to raise its international profile, helped in no small part by its association with high-profile names like Giorgio Armani, whose private dammuso estate has become almost legendary among the island’s elite visitors.
New Projects
In recent years, the island has received funding for developing tourism initiatives focused on slow travel, cultural routes, local traditions, and showcasing Pantelleria’s unique identity beyond just summer swimming spots.
Year-Round Tourism
Local authorities and businesses have been investing in cultural, sporting, and nature-focused events designed to stretch the tourist season beyond the busy July-August window, attracting visitors during the quieter spring and autumn months.
More Flights
Getting here is still part of the adventure, but connections have improved, with more seasonal flights and ferries linking Pantelleria to Sicily, plus direct summer routes from mainland hubs like Milan Linate and other Italian cities making the island more accessible than ever.
If you’re flying to Europe this summer, make sure you double-check the travel rules that apply at your specific destination on the Entry Requirement Checker.
Whether it’s mandatory fingerprinting or new e-Visas, there’s a lot you need to catch up on if you don’t want to get denied boarding at the gate.
That Real Remote Island Feel
For most visitors, the journey starts in Sicily before boarding a small Pantelleria-bound ATR 72 turboprop, with its twin propeller engines and 69-seat configuration.
The good news for our American readers is you can now fly nonstop to not one, but two cities in Sicily that offer nonstop flights to Pantelleria.
Touch down in either Palermo or Catania, and this secret slice of paradise is practically within arm’s reach.
It’s only a 45-minute flight from Sicily’s two main hubs, but the tiny aircraft, the endless blue stretching beneath you, and the feeling of arriving somewhere genuinely remote make it feel like a mini Mediterranean expedition… with a very worthy reward once you arrive.
Pantelleria’s remoteness is not the only thing that makes it special. Thanks to its unique geographical position, this island has sat at the crossroads of civilizations for at least two millennia.
From the Phoenicians, to the Romans, to the Byzantines, and later the Arabs—who controlled Pantelleria for more than 300 years and left a lasting imprint on its architecture, agriculture, and even local dialect—the island has always been a cultural heavyweight punching far above its size.
And honestly, that’s a huge part of why I fell so hard for it.
This isn’t really a sightseeing checklist destination. It’s a wake-up-late, follow-the-sun, see-where-the-day-takes-you kind of place.
Most visitors base themselves around Pantelleria Town, simply because that’s where you’ll find the largest concentration of restaurants, shops, and ferry connections.
But ironically, the island’s main harbor capital is probably the least charming part of it, especially with ongoing construction along the lungomare and some rather tired-looking buildings.
That massive castle on the waterfront’s cool, though? Half the magic, however, comes down to choosing where you stay.
The Hotel That Makes The Long Journey Completely Worth It
Listen, I do love me some agriturismo and rustic countryside escapes, but Pantelleria is proper wild: limited infrastructure, winding roads, and dramatic coastlines where the sea looks like it belongs in a nature documentary.
Not everyone can own their own little dammuso villa on Pantelleria like Giorgio Armani, but Pantelleria Dream Resort is a close-enough alternative.
Located a breezy 10-minute drive from the airport, overlooking the terraced hills of Kamma, a quiet, traditional settlement on the island’s central-eastern coast, and just a short walk from the famous Cala Tramontana, this hotel is an experience in itself.
And honestly, it’s the main reason I couldn’t stop talking about Pantelleria weeks after leaving. Well, their homemade baci panteschi probably helped too, but we’ll get there.
Every room here is a repurposed dammuso, and sorry, but I have to go full history geek for a second: the dammusi (plural) are traditional stone dwellings with thick walls and a distinctive white domed-roof, a building style found exclusively on Pantelleria.
Nowhere else in the world.
They’re perhaps the most visible legacy of the island’s Arab period, with the name itself deriving from the Arabic word dammūs, referring to a vaulted or domed structure.
Dammusi are everywhere on Pantelleria, scattered in tiny clusters along coastal cliffs, hidden between vineyards, and lining the dirt roads that cut through the mountainous interior, but here, you don’t just admire one from the outside.
You actually get to sleep inside one.
Stay In An Actual Dammuso
I’m no stranger to unusual stays, having slept in everything from a fortified church in Romania to a giant amphora in the Caucasus Mountains, but I was genuinely surprised by how modern these rooms felt beneath their centuries-old stone shells.
Minimalist design, a huge double bed facing sliding glass doors that open onto sweeping Mediterranean views, and sleek bathrooms that wouldn’t look out of place in a boutique city hotel. Oh, and actual hot water whenever you want it.
It barely feels like you’re in the middle of a island where rainfall is scarce and water has historically been one of the biggest challenges.
The property itself feels like a little village, with palm-lined pathways weaving between individual dammusi, and that infinity pool floating above the endless Mediterranean?
The moment I saw it, I knew this was the kind of place worth the flights, ferries, and all the effort it takes to get here.
That’s only a third of the experience.
Book a table with a view at the resort’s acclaimed restaurant, Acquamore Pantelleria, led by award-winning chef Pietro Mangani, and indulge in fresh seafood, local ingredients, and glasses of rich Passito di Pantelleria wine as you watch the sun disappear into the Mediterranean.
What I’m about to say next is of utmost importance: once you’ve finished licking your lips after that sun-dried clam with burrata and bottarga in tomato sauce, and you’ve washed it all down with enough glasses of local wine, the only acceptable dessert order is baci pantesco.
A flower-shaped, sugar-dusted pastry sandwich held together by fresh ricotta cheese, this is Pantelleria’s signature sweet, and after trying at least a dozen different versions during my three-day stint on the island, I can confidently say Acquamore’s version takes the crown.
Book your dreamy stay at the Pantelleria Dream Resort here.
What To See In Pantelleria
It may take only around 90 minutes to drive the entire extent of Pantelleria’s 32-mile coastal loop, but trust me when I say you’ll be desperately wishing you had planned more than a single long weekend here by the time you’ve reached cala number one, only to reluctantly drag yourself away.
They’re all so incredibly picturesque.
Now, here’s one thing you need to bear in mind:
Pantelleria has no sandy beaches.
This is a volcanic island, shaped by dark obsidian-like rock, ancient lava flows, and a rugged coastline carved by the sea. So when you hear ‘calas‘, don’t picture endless stretches of golden sand backed by resorts and flashy Italian lidos.
Instead, think of small rocky coves reached by tourist-friendly walkways and rock-carved steps, natural lava platforms perfect for sunbathing, and impossibly-clear swimming holes hidden between black cliffs.
No beach clubs in sight. Go to Amalfi for that.
You can easily ask AI to create a 3-day Pantelleria itinerary for you, so I’m not here to do that. If you’re wondering which cale—or calas, if we’re not being overly strict about how we Italianize our plurals—actually deserve a spot on your list, here are my absolute must-visits from someone who’s actually been:
The Best Calas In Pantelleria—After Visiting Nearly All Of Them
Laghetto delle Ondine
Not technically a cala, but rather a natural volcanic pool where waves crash dramatically over the lava rocks, while the inner basin, filled with crystal-clear turquoise water, remains perfectly calm. Pantelleria in a nutshell.
Bue Marino
The closest swimming spot to Pantelleria Town, and a small rocky inlet famous for its lava platforms. It’s perfect for sunbathing, and especially magical around golden hour when the rocks glow.
Cala Gadir
A small harbor-like cove famous for its natural thermal pools right by the sea. Bring snorkeling gear—unlike me, thanks to those low-cost airlines’ ridiculous baggage restrictions—and you can even explore archaeological remains just offshore.
Balata dei Turchi
Where enormous cliffs plunge into unbelievably clear water, with wide lava platforms perfect for sunbathing and jumping into the sea. I actually tried to drive down to it, but the road suddenly turns into a rocky goat track you’d be crazy to drive on unless you want the rental company charging you for a brand-new suspension. Go by boat.
Cala Levante
One of the easiest calas to access, set inside a sheltered bay surrounded by volcanic landscapes and a handful of trattorie. It’s also right next to Arco dell’Elefante, Pantelleria’s most iconic natural rock formation.
Cala Tramontana
Convenience played a big role here. It was just a short walk downhill from my room, and I loved spending late afternoons here, floating in the crystalline water before hiking back up for dinner and, naturally, another serving of baci panteschi. Yes, I was having those every chance I got.
Pantelleria’s Top Secret
Want a top-secret spot even AI probably won’t suggest?
Just a few minutes from Spiaggia Sataria, on the western side of the island, you’ll find Grotta di Sataria: a natural thermal spa carved directly into a coastal cave. The warm waters fill stone pools, steam rises from the walls, and when it gets too hot, you can simply jump straight into the open Mediterranean.
Fair warning: it isn’t exactly a polished luxury spa these days. There is algae creeping along some surfaces, and the sulfur smell can get pretty intense inside the cave, but that’s also part of its charm.
This isn’t some manicured resort experience: it’s a wild, free hot spring that feels like you stumbled upon a secret corner of the island.
And honestly? That’s Pantelleria at its best.
How Safe Is The Island?
Time to address the elephant in the room. And no, I’m not talking about the island’s famous elephant-trunk-shaped rock arch dramatically plunging into the Mediterranean.
Wondering how safe it feels to visit Pantelleria given its unique geographical standing?
You might think this is a hotspot for small boats crossing over to Europe, much like Lampedusa is, but unlike its sister island, Pantelleria is a craggy outcrop forged by nature like a volcanic fortress.
Though it is much closer to Tunisia than Lampedusa, for example, the fact that the latter has unprotected sandy beaches puts it in a much more vulnerable position than Pantelleria, making it a far more hotly vied-for destination for boats.
While there are occasional irregular dockings, they are extremely limited in comparison, perhaps only a handful per year, compared with Lampedusa’s staggering hundreds per month, and the situation remains largely under control.
Even when new arrivals are detected approaching the island, local authorities and the Italian Coast Guard are well-trained, experienced, and prepared to handle the situation.
You’ll barely even notice it.
In fact, tourists generally feel extremely safe in Italy overall, despite the occasional sensational headlines and fearmongering narratives pushed by some sources.
On the Traveler Safety Index, the country scores an impressive 92 out of 100, placing it among the highest-rated Mediterranean destinations.
More Than Just Turquoise Calas
Pantelleria is much more than just swimming spots. The island’s true appeal lies in its landscapes, Arab-influenced architecture, wine, and feeling of being somewhere between Europe and North Africa.
You haven’t been to Pantelleria until you’ve laid eyes on the mesmerizing turquoise-green shades of Specchio di Venere, or Mirror of Venus, a crater lake surrounded by reeds and mountains.
The water is incredibly warm, especially near the edges, and the mud at the bottom is rich in minerals. The place is also steeped in ancient lore:
According to local legend, the lake was a place where the goddess Venus, the Roman counterpart to the Greek Aphrodite, came to admire her own reflection before meeting the hero Perseus.
Unless you’re completely dammusi-ed out at this point, some of the best spots for discovering Pantelleria’s greatest cultural treasure are actually not in or around the main settlement, but the charming rural villages, like Khamma, right in the vicinity of Pantelleria Dream Resort, Tracino, and Scauri.
Scauri itself is the second-largest village on the island, home to a lively weekend farmer’s market, and Pantelleria’s oldest vintage cinema, which doubles as a roadside bar Italian nonni still bike to for a bicchiere di vino and their daily dose of gossip-filled chatting.
Pantelleria is synonymous with wine, as their passito is a silky-sweet treat famous all over Italy.
Just outside Scauri, at the family-run Azienda Agricola Bonomo, you can sample the sweet wine, visit vineyards, and learn more about the island’s unique heroic agriculture on volcanic slopes.
La cucina pantesca is well-deserving of its own story, but until, ahem, Travel Off Path gets around to unleashing that unabashed, full-blown Italophile monster that lives in me, I’ll have to contend with sprinkling a few paragraphs here and there.
If you visit only one countryside restaurant in Pantelleria, make it Trattoria Runcune.
A bumpy uphill drive from Cala Gadir, this rock-hewn gem serves a killer Sicilian couscous, a variation of the classic North African staple prepared with fish stew and seafood, and their coniglio alla pantesca, an oven-baked rabbit simmered in tomato, olives, capers, and oregano, is not to be missed either.
Actually, it reminded me a lot of Malta’s own rabbit stew, minus the wine.
I guess it’s a ‘remote-island-in-between-Sicily-and-Africa‘ thing.
