Located on the north-western side of the island, the port of Pantelleria consists of two basins:
Ferries and hydrofoils connect Pantelleria with Trapani (about 40 miles of navigation). The former travel all year round, weather and sea conditions permitting; the latter, on the other hand, are insured only during the summer period, roughly from mid-June to the end of September.
The travel time varies from 5h 45min by ferry to 2h 10min by hydrofoil.
As for pleasure boating, the tourist port of Pantelleria guarantees a variety of services: mooring / unmooring assistance; water and electricity supply; mechanical workshop; wi-fi and so on.
The Company Marsala Travel Bus Srl manages the local public transport. Among the active lines, also the shuttle service to / from the airport.
Pantelleria extends over 80 square kilometers (approx. 4 times larger than Lampedusa) and has a very articulated road line. It is possible to embark the car by ferry from Trapani, or it is possible to rent it directly on the island (scooters and electric bikes can also be rented).
There are also taxis and NCCs.
Among the bus lines of the island of Pantelleria there is one exclusively dedicated to the connection with the airport (Pantelleria - Airport Line). There is also another one, more frequent than the first, which in addition to the airport reaches the districts of Buccaram and Sibà (Pantelleria line - Airport - Buccaram - Sibà). The bus station is near the port.
Alternatively, you can take a taxi or book a private transfer.
Pantelleria Airport is located in the central part of the island. Direct flights insured all year round from Palermo and Trapani. During the summer, direct flights are available from other Italian cities (Venice, Bergamo, Verona, Genoa, Turin, etc.)
The ticket office is located near the port, in via Borgo Italia.
Near the port of Pantelleria there are various activities: car and scooter rental; boat and dinghy rental; diving center; bar; restaurants; trattorias; bakery; pastry shop; fruit and vegetable shop; Butcher's; pharmacy and so on.
Those arriving by ferry or hydrofoil in Pantelleria can start their visit immediately. The first thing to see is the Castle at the mouth of the old port. It is a monument of the Norman period which, however, also bears traces of all the successive dominations that affected the island.
The Bourbons used the fortress as a penal bath for the Risorgimento conspirators even if - it must be said - the newborn Italian state also used the Barbacane Castle (the other name by which the fortress is known) to lock up the brigands who opposed the new course unitary. Currently the Castle is the museum of the numerous archaeological finds found almost everywhere in the area.
And just the archaeological tourism is one of the reasons why you choose to come on holiday to Pantelleria. From the Roman acropolis of San Marco and Santa Teresa, passing through the Archaeological Park of Sesi (megalithic buildings in Mursia), up to the dammusi, ancient buildings in local volcanic stone, there is really a lot to see.
It is not over, because together with the various paths that lead to the Montagna Grande (836mt above sea level), the places we have just mentioned in several cases represent the arrival point of as many hiking itineraries for trekking enthusiasts. One more reason, therefore, to pack - in addition to costumes and clothescasual - even technical clothing suitable for this type of outing.
Sea chapter. Pantelleria has a large number of beaches and rocky inlets reachable both by land and by sea. We point out en passant the Arco dell'Elefante, a proboscis-shaped scoglione located in the eastern part of the island. It is one of the symbolic places of Pantelleria and attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Finally, special mention for the Lake of Venus and the Favare, two attractions that clearly betray the volcanic nature of the island. The first is located in the center of Pantelleria, in the locality of Bugeber, and it is a volcanic lake famous for the possibility of making thermal muds. The Favare, on the other hand, are fumarolic springs located on the southern side of the island.