Trapani is a beautiful seaside city on the western coast of Sicily, known for its stunning beaches, historic old town, and relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere. With crystal clear waters, charming streets, and spectacular sunsets, it is the perfect destination for anyone looking to combine sightseeing with time by the sea.
Trapani is also an excellent base for exploring western Sicily. Nearby, you can visit the medieval hilltop town of Erice, famous for its breathtaking views and historic streets, or discover the coastal charm and renowned wineries of Marsala. Just offshore, the Egadi Islands offer some of the clearest waters in Italy and are ideal for boat trips and snorkelling adventures.
In this guide, you will find some tips to make the most of Trapani, recommendations for the city’s best beaches, day trips to both Erice and Marsala, and a selection of highly rated guided tours to help you explore the beautiful Egadi Islands.
Trapani
We will begin by exploring Trapani itself, a charming coastal city that perfectly blends history, culture, and seaside relaxation. Whether you’re interested in wandering through the historic centre, spending the day on one of the city’s beautiful beaches, or enjoying authentic Sicilian cuisine, Trapani has something to offer every type of traveller.
This section covers everything you need to know to make the most of your stay, including the city’s main attractions, the best beaches, recommended restaurants, and a selection of highly rated guided tours and experiences.
Hotels
There are plenty of excellent accommodation options in Trapani, but the best area to stay is around the city’s main train station. Staying here provides easy access to Trapani’s main attractions, beautiful beaches, the historic centre, and excellent transport links.
Some highly recommended hotels in this area include B&B MaryJosè and B&B Hotel Trapani Crystal. From here, you can easily catch a train to Marsala, walk to the port for boat trips to the stunning Egadi Islands, or reach the Erice Cable Car in around 30 minutes on foot. Alternatively, local buses also connect the train station area with the cable car, making it convenient to visit the picturesque hilltop town of Erice.
Choosing accommodation near the train station offers the perfect balance of convenience, accessibility, and proximity to everything Trapani has to offer.
Another great location for the hotel would be in the Old Town next to the Port. There are two great hotels hotels in this neighbourhood, which are Granveliero Trapani, which has a beautiful rooftop terrace with sea views, and B&B Belveliero Trapani, which has private parking and also rooms with a sea view. For the best prices, click on the respective link and contact directly the owner, and inform him that you found the hotel using our guide. The owner has also informed us that they offer tours and excursions for larger groups.
Main Sights
The centre of Trapani is filled with picturesque streets, historic buildings, and stunning architecture, making it the perfect place to explore at a relaxed pace. The historic centre is best enjoyed during the afternoon and evening, especially after returning from day trips to Marsala, Erice, or the Egadi Islands.
As the sun begins to set, the city’s charming streets become even more atmospheric, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy a leisurely walk, discover local shops, and experience Trapani’s authentic Sicilian atmosphere. Below are some of the main sights and landmarks to visit while exploring the city centre.
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- Torre dell’Orologio – This medieval clock tower, located in the heart of Trapani’s old town, is one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. Surrounded by the charming streets of the historic centre, it is a great spot to visit while exploring Trapani on foot and discovering the city’s rich history and architecture.
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- Cattedrale di San Lorenzo – This stunning cathedral is a great stop whilst exploring the centre of Trapani, featuring beautiful architecture and an impressive interior. It is located in the heart of the historic centre, making it an easy addition to your walking route around the city.
- Cattedrale di San Lorenzo – This stunning cathedral is a great stop whilst exploring the centre of Trapani, featuring beautiful architecture and an impressive interior. It is located in the heart of the historic centre, making it an easy addition to your walking route around the city.
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- Chiesa delle Anime del Purgatorio – Another beautiful church in the heart of Trapani that is well worth visiting while exploring the historic centre. Its impressive Baroque architecture and peaceful interior make it one of the city’s most notable religious landmarks.
- Chiesa delle Anime del Purgatorio – Another beautiful church in the heart of Trapani that is well worth visiting while exploring the historic centre. Its impressive Baroque architecture and peaceful interior make it one of the city’s most notable religious landmarks.
Trapani Beaches
The main beach in Trapani is Spiaggia di San Giuliano. This beautiful beach is the perfect place to spend a relaxing beach day, with its golden sand and crystal-clear waters. For the best experience, it is highly recommended to visit Solea Beach Bar, where you can rent sunbeds and umbrellas while enjoying delicious, reasonably priced food and drinks.
If you’re staying close to the city centre and fancy a quick trip to the beach, Spiaggia Piazza Vittorio Emanuele is a great option. Located just a short walk from the historic centre, it’s the perfect spot for a refreshing swim after returning from your day trips to Marsala or Erice.
Egadi Islands
Another great day trip option from Trapani is a boat tour to some of the nearby Egadi Islands. If you’re interested in visiting Favignana and Levanzo, you can check out this highly rated guided boat trip, which also includes lunch.
Salt Pans
Trapani is also well known for its historic Salt Pans, which have played an important role in the city’s history for centuries. If this is something that interests you, you can check out this highly rated guided tour, which includes transport from Trapani train station to the Salt Pans, as well as a guided visit.
Restaurants
Trapani has some excellent restaurant options. An excellent pizza in Trapani is Pizza Gourmet Trapani. For seafood, Trattoria al Solito Posto is highly rated. Another great restaurantt that is close to the port is Trattoria Cacio e Pepe. This offers some great pasta and meat dishes.
Marsala
Marsala is a beautiful coastal town located just 35 minutes away from Trapani by train. Tickets can be purchased directly at the train station, with a journey costing around €3.40. To check the latest train times and schedules, you can use the TrainItalia website.
It is recommended to take the 10:22 train to make the most of your day trip to Marsala. Once you arrive, make your way through Via Roma, the town’s main shopping street, before heading towards Porta Garibaldi, the historic gateway into the old town.
From here, stroll towards Piazza della Repubblica, home to the beautiful Palazzo VII Aprile and Marsala Cathedral. Continue along Via XI Maggio, where you can admire sights such as Chiesa di San Pietro e Paolo and Palazzo Fici, before reaching Porta Nuova, located at the end of the historic centre. Along your trip, make sure to head to Chiesa del Purgatorio and also the adjacent archaeological site.
After exploring the town, stop for lunch at one of the nearby restaurants. A local speciality worth trying is an Arancina, a popular Sicilian street food that makes for a perfect quick bite during your visit.
Marsala is highly known for its wineries, making it a great destination for wine lovers. If this is of interest to you, you can check out this highly rated Floro-winery tour with Food paired Wine Tasting. The winery is located only 15 minutes away on foot from Marsala train station, and the tour takes place daily at 4pm except on Sundays. This makes it a great activity to enjoy after exploring the main sights of Marsala in the morning.
Erice
Erice is a beautiful medieval village located on top of a mountain, around 750 metres above sea level. It is known for its stunning architecture, historic sights, charming streets, and incredible views overlooking the surrounding coastline and countryside.
The best way to reach Erice is by using the cable car, which offers beautiful views during the journey up the mountain. From Trapani, the cable car station is around a 40-minute walk from the hotels near the train station, or you can also reach it by bus or taxi. Tickets can be purchased online from the official website and include a return journey. Prices are €15 for adults and €4 for reduced tickets.
After arriving in Erice, head through Porta Trapani to enter the old town. From here, you can purchase the Erice day pass, which provides access to several of the main sights in the village. However, purchasing this pass depends on personal preference, as there is no need to visit every attraction included. A full list of the sights included in the pass can be found at the local tourist office.
From there, make your way to Torre di Re Federico and the Real Duomo before continuing towards Castello di Venere. The walk along Viale Conte Pepoli offers breathtaking views over Trapani and the surrounding areas of Sicily. After visiting the castle, continue to another excellent viewpoint, Belvedere del Castello del Balio, which provides some of the best panoramic views in Erice.
Afterwards, take some time to stroll through the narrow streets that make Erice so special. Walk along Via Gian Filippo Guarnotti, where you can discover several small churches, including Chiesa di San Giuliano, Chiesa di San Carlo, and Chiesa di San Pietro. Continue your visit with a stop at Antica Pasticceria del Convento to try some traditional Sicilian sweet treats. The cannoli are definitely a must-buy and make for a great snack while exploring the rest of Erice. A final stop to enjoy some local pastries such as an amazing arancina is Massimo di Cavissimo, located by Porta Trapani.
An additional optional stop which you can head to is the Spanish Quarters. This is a great sight to visit, and also includes an anthropological museum.
Interactive guided map
Explore Trapani, Erice and Marsala with ease whilst using our interactive map. In the interactive map, you have all the attractions found on this website, as well as the walking paths mentioned in the itinerary section, for your ease. It is designed to help you navigate these cities effortlessly, following our suggested routes and highlights.
