Trapani Travelers Recommend

With three days in Trapani, you’ll have plenty of time to soak in the atmosphere of this port town’s historic center and take day trips to admire Sicily’s ancient temples, hilltowns, and wine country. End your stay with a jaunt to the nearby Aegadian Islands. Here are the best options to fill three days in Trapani.

Day 1: Trapani

The maze of lanes in Trapani’s compact historic center still shows signs of the area’s long Spanish occupation, including Catalan-Gothic and baroque churches and palaces. Admire this unique architecture on a morning walking or biking tour, stopping by the cathedral, the church of Santa Maria del Gesù, the Senatorio and Riccio di Morana palaces, and Villa Margherita park. Foodies can opt for a tour that pairs sightseeing with tastings of street food and Sicilian wines. In the afternoon, tour the Trapani and Paceco Salt Pans Natural Reserve, the historic salt flats that were once the center of the city’s sea salt industry. Learn how sea salt was harvested, visit the historic windmills and a salt mill-turned-museum, and admire the dozens of species of waterfowl that nest here. End your day with a stroll along Via Garibaldi in central Trapani and a Sicilian granita or a local glass of wine.

Day 2: The Highlights of Western Sicily

Trapani is the perfect launching pad for exploring some of the top attractions of western Sicily. Begin by taking in the spectacular ancient Greek temple and other ruins from the island’s Hellenic occupation with a tour of the Segesta Archaeological Park just east of the city. On your way back, stop by the delightful hilltown of Erice, considered one of the most scenic in Sicily. Take in the views of the coastline and of the Aegadian Islands, and pause at one of the restaurants or cafés to sample authentic Sicilian cuisine. End the day with a wine tour through Marsala, situated just down the coastline. Sample the area’s famous fortified wine and other Sicilian wines, such as Nero d'Avola, Cataratto, and Grillo.

Day 3: A Jaunt to the Aegadian Islands

The port of Trapani is a bustling hub for boats and ferries heading to and from the Aegadian Islands just off the coast of Sicily. Spend your third day island-hopping with a mini cruise or a boat excursion to Favignana, famous for its beaches and waterfalls, and Levanzo, known for its striking blue water. Learn about the historic battle between the Romans and Carthaginians that took place around these islands, and enjoy free time to explore on land independently, breaks to swim and snorkel in the crystalline waves, and lunch on board. Most full-day excursions return to shore in the late afternoon, leaving you plenty of time on your last evening for a final evening stroll and dinner in Trapani.

The port city of Trapani has a picturesque old town thick with the remnants of centuries of Spanish rule. It also provides a convenient jumping off point to visit the top attractions in western Sicily, including the Segesta Archaeological Park, the medieval town of Erice, and the wineries in Marsala. Here are suggestions for two days in Trapani.

Day 1: Trapani and the Salt Pans

Morning: Take advantage of the cool morning hours to tour the town’s historic center on foot or by bike. Admire the Catalan-Gothic and baroque architecture of its churches and palaces, which date from the Spanish occupation, and stroll through the Villa Margherita park. Alternatively, learn about the unique local cuisine on a food tour that combines sightseeing with stops for street food and wine.

Afternoon: Trapani was once an important producer of sea salt, and the historic salt flats are now the Trapani and Paceco Salt Pans Natural Reserve. Join a guided tour to learn about traditional sea salt harvesting, and visit the historic windmills and salt mill-turned-museum. The lowlands are rich in birdlife, and you can spot flamingos, cranes, storks, and osprey nesting and migrating.

Night: Relax and do as the locals do, setting out for an evening passeggiata (stroll) along lively Via Garibaldi, which closes to traffic in the evening. Enjoy a traditional Sicilian granita or a glass of wine from nearby Marsala, and settle in for a meal of classic local dishes like couscous, caponata, or pasta tossed with pesto trapanese at one of the many restaurants in the old town.

Day 2: Culture and Cuisine Day Tripping

Morning: Sicily once was part of the vast Greek empire, and a number of Greek temples still stand on the island. See one of the most striking by joining a tour of the Segesta Archaeological Park, which is located east of Trapani and is a popular day trip for archaeology buffs.

Afternoon: Wine enthusiasts can spend the afternoon touring the traditional wineries of Marsala, which is situated south of Trapani and known for its fortified wine of the same name. You can also taste other local wines, like Nero d'Avola, Cataratto, and Grillo.

Night: Lovers of beautiful views and authentic food will find both in the hilltop town of Erice, just outside Trapani. One of the most scenic towns in Sicily, Erice overlooks the coastline and offers views of the Mediterranean Sea. Explore the historic center and the medieval castle, stopping for dinner along the narrow pedestrian lanes.

The crescent-shaped old town of Trapani, on the coast of Sicily, was once a powerful Mediterranean trading port. Today, it is busy with ferries heading to and from the Aegadian Islands. Before striking out to sea or heading inland, explore the historic city center and the nearby salt pans. Here’s how to spend one day in Trapani.

Morning: The Historic Center

The Spanish occupation of Sicily began with Peter III of Aragon landing in Trapani in 1282, and the town’s historic center is a delightful time capsule of Catalan-Gothic and baroque churches and palaces dating from the harbour’s heyday. Join a walking or biking tour through the warren of small lanes to admire the cathedral and the church of Santa Maria del Gesù, the Senatorio and Riccio di Morana palaces, and the lovely Villa Margherita park. Gourmands can join a food tour that combines sightseeing with stops for street food and wine tastings.

Afternoon: The Trapani Salt Pans

In addition to being a trading port, Trapani was once also an important producer of tuna, coral, and sea salt. Today, the Trapani and Paceco Salt Pans Natural Reserve is one of the most unique destinations on Sicily’s western coast. Take a guided tour to learn about the fascinating history of traditional sea salt harvesting, snap photos of the historic windmills and a former salt mill that has been turned into a museum, and admire the dozens of waterfowl species, like flamingos, cranes, storks, and osprey, that use this 2,500-acre stretch of lowlands as a haven for nesting and migration.

Night: Dinner and A Passeggiata

As the sun sets, the daytime ferry traffic slows, and the evening foot traffic picks up. Join the residents who head to the pedestrian-only Via Garibaldi for the traditional passeggiata (evening stroll), stopping for a Sicilian granita or a glass of wine from nearby Marsala. Choose an old-school trattoria for a leisurely dinner of fresh tuna and seafood as well as other local specialties like couscous, caponata, and pasta tossed with pesto trapanese.