Stromboli

Stromboli village (San Vincenzo)

Port, most rooms, restaurants and the beach; walk everywhere, 5–15 min between ends.

Ginostra

About 30 residents, no cars, reached by boat or a long coastal trail; two restaurants and a tiny port. Book ahead or you may not eat.

Piscità and Ficogrande

Quieter west-side hamlets with rented rooms and the black-sand beach, 10–20 min walk from the port.

Etiquette

• Greeting: Say buongiorno (until mid-afternoon) or buonasera on entering shops and bars; avoid: Walking in and pointing without a greeting
• Cheek kisses: Two kisses, right cheek first, among friends; follow their lead; avoid: Kissing strangers or in business settings
• Dress: Smart-casual in cities; covered shoulders and knees in churches; avoid: Beachwear, bare chests and flip-flops away from the beach
• Queues: At delis and pharmacies take a number (numerino); avoid: Assuming the crowd at a bar counter is chaos — pay at the till first where asked
• Restaurants: Wait to be seated and ask for the bill; avoid: Splitting a bill item by item with a large group
• Conversation: Food, football and family are safe openers; avoid: Mafia jokes and north–south stereotypes
• Dinner at a home: Bring pastries, wine or flowers (not chrysanthemums, which are for funerals); avoid: Refusing seconds too firmly

Scams and watch-outs

• The crater path above 400 m is guide-only and closes when activity rises; fines apply if you go alone.
• The 2024 eruption and the 2019 events show the volcano can turn violent; follow the mayor's orders and evacuation drills.
• Eruptions can trigger small tsunamis: if you feel a strong quake or see the sea withdraw, move uphill.
• The Stromboli–Ginostra coastal trail has rockfall and hip-deep water sections; skip it in wet weather.
• Book hydrofoils ahead in July–August; sailings fill and afternoon crossings are often cancelled by swell.
• Carry cash: some small businesses and the Ginostra restaurants may not take cards.