trapani and western sicily - what is there to see and do?

Trapani's central location makes it a good base for exploring western Sicily. Many of the region's attractions are only a short train, bus, or cable car ride away.

In the old town of Trapani, the traveler will find cozy promenades, restaurants, and cafés, among other things.

Walking street in Trapani's old town.

Tourists usually focus on the old town when visiting Trapani. That's where the city's main attractions are. You can see them in a day or two.

If you intend to visit other places - as recommended - you can easily spend a week in Trapani. You should also take into account the variable weather, especially if you are traveling other than in summer.

For example, rain can make traveling to Marsala difficult. Even a single heavy shower will stop the train service. And if it rains a lot, the main roads turn into puddles.

We also didn't get to salt flats, as the road flooded after a night's rain. This was in October, though. So autumn was already on its way.

So... What is There to See in Western Sicily?

A view over western Sicily, seen from the hilltop town of Erice.

The Arab influence is more visible in western Sicily than in the rest of the island. Some even attribute the origin of the mafia to customs inherited from the Arabs.

Maybe so. Either way, western Sicily has traditionally been the place where the mafia's influence has been the strongest.

Attractions in western Sicily include nature, beaches, people, food, and an authentic way of life. It's also not as touristy as the eastern parts of the island.

Western Sicily is one of the places I plan to explore more in the future.

So, here's my guide to what to see and do in western Sicily.

Evening time at Trapani.

1. Hang Around, Eat and Admire the Seaside Scenery at Trapani

Perhaps the most famous attraction of Trapani is its embankment (Lungomare Dante Alighieri), which fringes the northern edge of the peninsula. It is a great place to admire the sunset.

Below the embankment is a sandy beach where you can swim. The water is clean and clear, despite the proximity of the town.

From Lungomare, it is a short walk to the Vittoria Emanuele promenade. There are lots of places to eat and drink in and around it. There are also a few restaurants/bars on the Lungomare itself.

Trapani's seaside promenade, Lungomare Dante Alighieri, in the evening lighting.

In the morning, it is worth visiting the fishing harbor. It is at the very tip of the peninsula, on the south side. There's a fish market where you can buy fresh fish.

For regular shopping, head to Corso Piersanti Mattarella. It is a long street with many shops: food, clothes, meat, ice cream, and more. There is also a shopping center at the other end of the road.

A fisherman in his "office."

2. Enjoy Nature, Scenery, and Beaches on the Island of Favignana

The Egadi Islands are a short boat ride from Trapani. The nearest of these is the island of Favignana. It is also the most easily accessible.

The island of Favignana is a peaceful paradise with several beaches and beautiful scenery. You'll need to rent a bike or scooter to get around the island. These are available right in front of the harbor.

A Hydrofoil ticket from Trapani to Favignana costs a little over ten euros.

The Hydrofoil to Favigna leaves from the pier along the Via Staiti. They run about once every hour. The journey takes half an hour.

Here you can see timetables between Trapani and Egadi islands.

3. Expand Your Views from the Hilltop Town of Erice

Trapani peninsula and the island of Favignana, seen from Erice.

The hilltop town of Erice is a good enough place to take in the scenery. Views stretch northeast to San Vito lo Capo. To the south, the view opens up towards Marsala.

The Egadi Islands and the salt flats are also visible. The salt is filtered from the seawater using traditional methods. Trapani salt is famous for its texture and taste.

In addition to the views, Erice is known for its Norman castle perched on the edge of a cliff. Behind it are the ruins of the temple of Aphrodite.

The site was honored by the Carthaginians, Greeks, and Romans alike.

Or at least the sailors and soldiers from these countries respected the 'priestesses' who practiced prostitution in the temple.

Norman Castle in Erice. The Temple of Aphrodite is behind it.

You can find something to eat and drink in the piazzas of Erice. There is also a short shopping street.

The best way to get between Trapani and Erice is by cable car.

When the weather gets bad, you have to use the local bus. That's when the cable car is closed.

You should check the situation before you go.

4. San Vito lo Capo - The Best Beach in Sicily?

Some say that San Vito lo Capo is the best beach in Sicily. Maybe so, although the contest is rough. The sand is fine, the beach is long, and the views are good.

You can take a local bus from Trapani to San Vito lo Capo. The views from the bus window alone were worth the effort. And, of course, the beach is very fine looking too!

The bus ride cost next to nothing.

It was the beginning of October, so the season was already over. Still, the temperature was closer to 30°C (86°F), and the water was warm.

The place reminded me of some beach resorts in Thailand.

A shopping street in San Vito lo Capo.

The houses are low, and every one of them seems to be in the service of the tourist industry. There were lots of stalls selling beach supplies and such.

There were also vendors walking the beach, selling beach-related stuff.

Not surprisingly, the restaurants seemed touristy and quite pricy - at least compared to many other places in Sicily.

The beach and houses in San Vito lo Capo

San Vito lo Capo, beach and town.

When the evening came, I was happy to go back to Trapani. San Vito lo Capo may be the best beach in Sicily - who knows? I doubt I'd stay very long in the place, though.

Not that I didn't like the sun, the beach, and the sea. But the commercial atmosphere and lack of culture wouldn't suit me for a long time.

Still, I could go there for a few days and wander around, checking out the scenery and exploring nature. That's something we didn't get to do on this trip.

5. Think About Garibaldi and Sip Wine in Marsala

Marsala is known above all for one thing. It's where Garibaldi and his troops landed in 1860 and began the conquest of the then Kingdom of Two Sicilies. The expedition ended with the unification of Italy.

Oh, and then there is the wine.

Indeed, it may be the wine for which Marsala is best known, after all. Marsala is a fortified wine that has been known the world over since the late 1700s.

Drinking Marsala in Marsala.

But there is more to Marsala than just wine. Or Garibaldi.

Although Marsala doesn't have many attractions, it is still worth a visit. The old town is pleasant, and the shopping street is a popular place to stroll in the evenings.

The atmosphere is relaxed and informal.

For the sights, there is that place where Garibaldi and his men landed on Sicily. Just walk along Via Giuseppe Garibaldi and go through the city's gate.

Although Garibaldi has given his name to the gate, it was made hundreds of years before him.

From the city gate, walk towards the ocean, and there it is. At the seashore, there is a monument with the names of Garibaldi's men engraved on it.

Some of the names in the monument of Garibaldi in Marsala. It is called "The Monument of the Thousand." I didn't count them, but they were plenty enough.

After marveling at the monument and the sea, you can walk back along Via Giuseppe Garibaldi until you come to the town square. There is Marsala Cathedral.

You can sit on the side of the piazza and sip some coffee. Maybe eat something. I found it a great place to hang out and watch people.

Our trip to Marsala lasted only a day. I certainly would've liked to stay a bit longer. That way, I could have visited the nearby island of Mozia too.

Marsala could also make a good base for exploring areas further south.

Piazza Duomo in Marsala.

The Weather in Trapani

The weather in Trapani is cooler than in the southern or eastern parts of Sicily. This goes especially in winter.

Still, the sun also shines. About a hundred and ten days a year. But the weather is a bit more volatile here than in the rest of Sicily.

Trapani coast in autumn.

The mistral wind blowing from the north makes the air cool and damp and causes rain and fog.

The weather changes in Trapani can happen quite quickly - from sun to rain and back.

How Many Days Should You Spend in Trapani?

Is There an Airport in Trapani?

Trapani has an airport. It is called Trapani-Birgi Airport. One million passengers pass through it every year. It is the third busiest airport in Sicily.

Trapani Airport is 18 kilometers (9 miles) south of the city. So it's about halfway between Trapani and Marsala.

Many low-cost airlines use Trapani airport. They fly to it from small European countries such as the Netherlands, Czech, and Belgium.

There is also a military airport adjacent to the airport.

The airport is well-connected to both Trapani and Marsala. Buses leave right in front of the airport building.

At least, this is what I have read. I would suggest flying to Palermo, though. It's easy to get from there to Trapani - or straight to Marsala. Or anywhere, for that matter.

Where to Eat in Trapani?

A restaurant in the old town of Trapani.

It is easy to find good places to eat in the historic center of Trapani. Seafood is plentiful here and in western Sicily in general.

When looking for places to eat, head for the tip of the Trapani peninsula. In particular, the area around Corso Vittoria Emanuele.

This promenade has plenty of restaurants and bars. And there are more on the side streets.

In many of the better restaurants, you need to book in advance. Prices are not unreasonable, but they are not too cheap either.

If you're looking for cheap food, head outside the tourist areas. The old tip of looking where the regulars eat will probably work well there too.

Conclusion

Even though we spent this time almost a week in western Sicily, we were nowhere near enough to see everything. For example, we missed the historical parks of Segesta and Selinunte and the island of Mozia.

Maybe next time.

There is a lot to see in western Sicily. Because of the distances between sights, getting around requires public transport or own car.

Western Sicily doesn't have as many attractions as the eastern part of the island. The friendly and peaceful atmosphere more than makes up for this.

Walking street in Marsala.

Western Sicily does not impose itself like the east coast. Exploring and enjoying it takes time. Patience will pay off.

If time is short, you can concentrate on the attractions around Trapani, such as Erice, the Egadi Islands, Segesta, and San Vito lo Capo.

If you have more time, you can continue towards Marsala and further south towards Sciacca and Agrigento.

Or head inland to places like Castelvetrano and Corleone.

From my experience, I'd say that wherever you go, there's always something worth seeing.

An old couple in balcony in Trapani, Sicily