it's a great place for scuba diving. lots of coves. the beaches are not great if you're a sun worshiper. the best time to go is july when regular parties are put on. the town centre is fairly limited-you'll be bored of it within 2 days. you can go trekking inland, but there are far better trekking destinations than ustica. take the 4 star rating with a pinch of salt, i would say 1-2 days are sufficient for this destination...unless you're an avid scuba diver. similarly, if you like partying, go in july and you may decide to stay for longer.

We sailed to Ustica and docked in the port. No water or power but totally acceptable due to the time of year. If you stay at the marina prepare to climb as it appears this was nothing but uphill. This is one of the charms of the island. The people were very welcoming and the food was great. The only problem with this port was from a bar at the marina about seven hunderd feet away slightly up the hill. The music started about 11:30pm and ended around 5am and was incredibly loud similar to a concert. From inside the boat with earplugs in i could still clearly hear the music and words of the songs. Needless to say, nobody had much sleep. I have no clue if this is normal for the island but for this I have to give a poor rating. No music would have warranted a four star.

Did a day trip out to Ustica while staying in Palermo. One of the highlights of our 2 week trip there. Ferries leave out of the port (down the street from the Opera) and take about 2 hours. We had a great lunch, spent 2 hours in a boat hired from a local at the pier and saw the grottos, went around the island, and swam (cost was 60 Euros) for 4 of us. Grottos are spectacular and so is the swimming. Walk around the small town and then took the bus that circled the island which was great mainly because the locals on the bus were so friendly.

We visited the island of Ustica, off the coast of Palermo, for three nights after staying in a series of cities: Rome, Sorrento and Palermo. It is a beautiful place, small, friendly, and a great way to slow down after a busy itinerary that has been mainly in cities. It would also be a great place to visit if you want lots of down time and places to dive and snorkel. It is Italy's first marine preserve and home of the annual Underwater Photography Festival. There are nice hotels and restaurants. Sogni nel Blu was our choice. It is a family run hotel that is very relaxed and friendly, and very helpful. Highly recommended for a rural-beach getaway.