
Sicily · Agrigento
Lampedusa e Linosa
Italy's southernmost comune, three islands on the African continental shelf, closer to Tunisia than to Sicily.
Known for
AFRICA, NOT EUROPE
Italy's southernmost commune on the African continental shelf, with flora and fauna of North Africa and seas no deeper than 120 meters between.
LOGGERHEAD TURTLES
Spiaggia dei Conigli on Lampedusa and Pozzolana di Ponente on Linosa, two of the last regular Mediterranean nesting beaches for Caretta caretta.
FRONTIER
Main European arrival point from Libya since 1998, the reception centre at the heart of every Mediterranean migration cycle of the past quarter-century.
When to visit
Best · May–Oct
- J16°
- F16°
- M16°
- A17°
- M20°
- J23°
- J27°
- A28°
- S27°
- O24°
- N21°
- D18°
- Best
- Hot or crowded
- Quiet
- Mostly closed
Daytime averages, 2020–2024. The sea is warmest in August at 28° and coldest in March at 16°. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com.
The festa: Maria, 22 September
Why come
Lampedusa e Linosa is Italy's southernmost commune, three islands in the Strait of Sicily that form the Pelagie archipelago: Lampedusa, Linosa and the uninhabited Lampione. Lampedusa lies 220 kilometers southwest of Agrigento and 260 southeast of Tunis, on the Lampedusa Plateau, a structural high of the African continental shelf separated from Sicily by sea no deeper than 120 meters. The two main islands are geological opposites.
Lampedusa is white Cretaceous limestone, rising to 133 meters at the Sole Tree on the northwest side, with the Spiaggia dei Conigli on the south coast, a protected reserve and one of the last regular Mediterranean nesting sites of the loggerhead sea turtle. Linosa is black basalt with three ancient craters, the southernmost active volcano of the Italian system, with dark cliffs and small coves. The flora and fauna match North Africa. Since 1998 the Lampedusa reception centre has been the main European entry point for migrants crossing from Libya and Tunisia, and the island has held that role through every Mediterranean migration cycle of the past twenty-five years.
The Sunday letter
We haven’t written Lampedusa e Linosa’s letter yet.
One town every Sunday, with the photo, the food, the festa. Be there when this one comes up. Free, by Peter & Sophia from Pietrasanta.
How to get there
Lampedusa e Linosa is on an island and is reached by ferry.
There is an airport on the island (LMP), so you can fly in rather than take the ferry.


What to see
Spiaggia dei Conigli
Protected south-coast beach of fine sand, a 220-meter cove inside a 320-hectare nature reserve and a loggerhead sea turtle nesting site.
Riserva Naturale Isola di Lampedusa
Sicilian regional reserve established 1995, managed by Legambiente, covering most of the south coast from Vallone dell'Acqua to Cala Greca.
Linosa
Small volcanic island of black basalt with three ancient craters, around forty kilometers north of Lampedusa, with deep coves and a single village.
Area Marina Protetta Isole Pelagie
Marine protected area established in 2002, covering the waters of Lampedusa, Linosa and the uninhabited Lampione.
The slow-trip planner
Building a trip? Find where Lampedusa e Linosa fits in a slow Italy circuit.
Answer five questions. We will shape a geographically coherent slow trip from the 1,000 Italian towns most travelers skip. Yours to save and share.
We recommend
Where to eat
Not our picks, but places the guides put their name to: a Michelin star, a Gambero Rosso fork, a Slow Food snail, a Michelin Key for the hotels. Worth a table, a counter, or a night when you pass through.
Cavalluccio MarinoRistorante
Cavalluccio Marino carries one Gambero Rosso fork (79/100).
Trattoria Terranova da BernardoTrattoria
One Gambero Rosso prawn, at Trattoria Terranova da Bernardo.
Living here
- Population 6,505
- Very remotei
- Pharmacy in town
- High school within a 30-minute drive
- Regional capital Palermo, 46 h 59 min drive
Common questions
- What is Lampedusa e Linosa known for?
- Italy's southernmost comune, three islands on the African continental shelf, closer to Tunisia than to Sicily.
- Where is Lampedusa e Linosa?
- Lampedusa e Linosa is a comune in the province of Agrigento, in Sicily, at 25 meters above sea level.
- What is the nearest airport to Lampedusa e Linosa?
- There is an airport on the island (LMP).
- How do you get to Lampedusa e Linosa?
- Lampedusa e Linosa is on an island and is reached by ferry.
- When is the best time to visit Lampedusa e Linosa?
- Best in May–Oct. August is the warmest month, averaging 28 degrees, and December the wettest, with about 9 rain days.
- Is there a sagra or a festival in Lampedusa e Linosa?
- The town keeps its patron saint's day: Maria, 22 September.
- Which other towns are like Lampedusa e Linosa?
- Pantelleria, Ustica and Lipari.
- How many people live in Lampedusa e Linosa?
- 6,505 at the 2023 count.
Tags & datadesignations · numbers · sources
Recognised as
The numbers
- Elevation: 25 m
- Population: 6,505
- Surface area: 25.22 km²
On the map
These figures were compiled from public directories: ISTAT, OpenStreetMap and Wikidata, and from the official listings of the guides named on this page. Town details change; verify with official sources before you travel.
Similar
Towns like Lampedusa e Linosa
Pantelleria
Province: Trapani
both on the Sicilian coast · both between 3,000 and 10,000 people
Ustica
Province: Palermo
both on the Sicilian coast · both near sea level
Lipari
Province: Messina
both on the Sicilian coast · both near sea level
Ponza
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both between 3,000 and 10,000 people · both near sea level
San Vito Lo Capo
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both on the Sicilian coast · both between 3,000 and 10,000 people
Carloforte
Province: Sud Sardegna
both between 3,000 and 10,000 people · both near sea level
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