The hike to the Gran Cratere is the centrepiece of any visit to Vulcano. The path starts from the port and climbs steadily for about 45 minutes on a well-worn trail through a landscape of ochre, rust, and sulphur yellow. The crater rim at 391 metres is enormous — the caldera below exhales continuously through vents studded with bright yellow sulphur crystals.
The views from the top span the entire Aeolian archipelago. On a clear day you can see Stromboli to the north and the Sicilian coast to the south. The crater walk around the rim takes another 20 minutes and passes through alternating clouds of steam. Bring water, sunscreen, and a jacket for the wind; the path is exposed throughout. Go in the morning before the hydrofoils from Lipari deposit their day-trip crowds.