There is a small public bus network that loops the coast and connects the inland villages, but services are infrequent and the timetable bears only a passing relationship to reality. To see Pantelleria properly you need a car, a scooter or a strong pair of legs.
Car rental is available at the airport and harbour and is inexpensive in the off-season. The perimeter road is around 45 kilometres and easy enough to drive in either direction, though tight stretches around Scauri and Cala Tramontana demand attention. Bikes and scooters are good for the milder weather; in August the wind and the midday heat make either option a serious workout.