Top 5 of the best beaches in Sicily
Organising a holiday in Sicily is no easy task: volcanoes, art, gastronomy, beaches? Where to start? In this article you will find the beaches you can't miss during your holiday in Sicily, the main attraction of the island.
Italy is always a top choice when it comes to idyllic scenery, art and gastronomy. But if you're in the mood for a seaside holiday with year-round temperatures, then Sicily in the south of the country is a must.
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean with a rich cultural and scenic heritage. On the one hand, this volcanic island offers a chance to reconnect with nature thanks to the spectacular landscapes offered by the natural parks of Nebrodi and Madonie in the Apennine Mountains, its three active volcanoes (Etna, Stromboli and Vulcano) and its 1,500 kilometres of coastline. In addition, between volcanoes, beaches and mountains, charming villages emerge with a rich archaeological heritage in the form of impressive temples, the result of the passage of Greek, Roman, Arab, Spanish and French civilisations.
As it is very difficult to cover all the splendour of this island in a single article, here you will find a guide to the best beaches in Sicily to start getting to know the island in the most beautiful way.
Spiaggia di Mondello, Palermo
We start our tour of the best beaches in Sicily in the capital city of Palermo. Just 30 minutes by bus from Palermo is one of the most beautiful beaches in Sicily: Spiaggia di Mondello. It is a crescent-shaped island of 1.5 kilometres of white sand and crystal clear waters protected by the hills of Capo Gallo and Monte Pellegrino, which offer a rugged landscape.
A perfect beach both for families to enjoy Sicilian gastronomy in one of its beach bars and for those more sporty people who want to go windsurfing or surfing. Moreover, a peculiarity that makes the Spiaggia di Mondello worth a visit is the villas with an Art Nouveau façade that stretch out in front of the sea. And if you like hiking, the excursion to the Natural Reserve and the lighthouse of Capo Gallo, where the hermit artist Isravele lives, will leave you speechless.
Spiaggia Riserva Naturale Orientata dello Zingaro, Trapani
We leave Palermo behind and head east to continue our hunt for Sicily's best beaches. Between San Vito Lo Capo and Scopello lies the Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro, Sicily's first nature reserve, home to some of the best beaches on the Italian island. In total there are 7 kilometres of coastline with 7 coves, only accessible by foot or by boat, so swimming or hiking is one of the best ways to discover the reserve.
To enter the reserve you have to buy an entrance ticket which costs between 3 and 5 euros and there are two entrances. One of them is from the south, on the Scopello side, where after a 20-minute walk from the car park we find the first cove: Cala Capreria, with views that will not leave you indifferent.
Otherwise, if you come from the north via San Vito Lo Capo, after a 20-minute walk from the entrance you will reach the Tonnarella dell'Uzzo cove. As these are the closest coves to the entrance, they are also the most frequented, so if you are looking for quieter and less crowded coves, the small Cala dell'Uzzo, famous for the prehistoric cave of Uzzo, is always a good choice.
Caletta del Bue Marino, Trapani
A 20-minute drive from the Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro, along the coast from San Vito lo Capo, is another of the best beaches in Sicily: the Caletta del Bue Marino, in Trapani, one of the favourites of the Italians. The Cala del Bue Marino, in the Gulf of Macari, is a beach unknown to many and whose access goes unnoticed by those who do not know its location.
The Tyrrhenian Sea laps the Caletta del Bue Marino which is perfect for snorkelling and discovering the underwater caves as well as swimming in the crystal clear waters and enjoying a quiet swim. Access to the beach is easy but it is advisable to wear trainers for access and booties to move around the cove as it is rocky terrain.
Scala dei Turchi Beach, Agrigento
It is time to head towards the south of Sicily, specifically to the region of Agrigento, where following the coast of Porto Empedocle or going down to Realmonte along Strada Statale 115 you will reach the Scala dei Turchi beach. It is an impressive cliff of white limestone rock in the form of steps resulting from the erosion of the wind and the sea.
The Scala dei Turchi or Stairs of the Turks is a beach of fine sand and crystalline waters, perfect for watching one of the most spectacular sunsets in Sicily and which in the past was one of the most common landing points for Saracen pirates. Access from the car park is via a 5-minute zigzag of ramps and steps leading down to the beach. Another way to get there is by a boat trip to the Scala dei Turchi. There are also viewpoints along the road, such as the Belvedere sulla Scala dei Turchi with breathtaking views.
Isola Bella, Taormina
The tour of the best beaches of Sicily ends in Taormina, one of the most important cities of the island especially for its historical centre rich in monuments and its spectacular Hellenistic theatre overlooking the sea.
Just 17 minutes drive from Taormina is Isola Bella, in the coastal area of Mazzaro, which is undoubtedly one of the jewels of the island and could even lead the ranking of the best beaches in Sicily. This island is only accessible at low tide and can be reached either on foot by stairs from Via Luigi Pirandello or by a funicular located a few steps from Porta Messina.
In 1890 Isola Bella was sold to the gardener and botanist Florence Trevelyan and since then it has been declared a protected nature reserve. Nowadays, the island offers a large number of spots where you can swim in the crystal clear waters, lay down your towel, sunbathe or have a drink at one of the beach bars.
As we mentioned at the beginning, among the island's 1500 kilometres of coastline it is very difficult to make a short selection of the best beaches in Sicily. However, we have no doubt that this list is a great way to get started on Sicilian beaches and you'll love it.
If you are planning your trip to Sicily and need more information, don't hesitate to check out this other article on how to get to Sicily or this one on the best diving spots in Sicily.