Discover Sicily

WESTERN SICILY IN SEVEN DAYS: THE PERFECT ROAD TRIP ITINERARY

Western Sicily is where the island's soul comes into focus. Norman cathedrals, Greek temples, Arab-influenced markets, salt flats that turn pink at dusk, and some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean, all within reach of each other, all worth slowing down for. A week is barely enough, but it's a good start. Here's the itinerary we'd follow.

READING TIME:5 MINUTES

A FEW TIPS BEFORE YOU GO

Book round-trip flights to Palermo so you can explore the city right away, get into the right mood, and have access to more amenities. For this itinerary, we recommend renting a car to give you more freedom of movement and access to spots that are hard to reach by public transportation. 

DAY 1: PALERMO

On the first day, you’ll land in Palermo, a vibrant and captivating city, where you’ll spend the day simply strolling through the city. Few cities contain so many traces of different civilizations in so few streets, and walking around and looking at your surroundings is the best way to discover them. From the airport, head into the city (about a 30-minute drive) and look for parking near the Politeama Theater. From there, start your walking tour at the Teatro Massimo, passing by the Cathedral and the Norman Palace, where you’ll find the Palatine Chapel, which we highly recommend visiting. For lunch, head to the Ballarò Market and enjoy the spectacle of Palermo’s street food and its passionate vendors. After lunch, walk to the Quattro Canti, visit Piazza Pretoria, and wrap up the day with an aperitif at Vucciria or along the waterfront.

DAY 2: CASTELLAMMARE DEL GOLFO AND SCOPELLO

Continue by car for an hour westward along the coast to Castellammare del Golfo, an ancient fishing village built around a small Norman-Aragonese castle, with pastel-colored houses overlooking a harbor still filled with working boats. Lose yourself in the narrow streets of this charming village, enjoy an excellent seafood lunch, then drive 20 minutes to Scopello. After visiting the small village, head to the Tonnara di Scopello, a former tuna fishery set against a spectacular backdrop of turquoise waters and towering sea stacks. Here you can take a dip while soaking in the evocative atmosphere of this place, and then enjoy an aperitif or dinner at sunset in Scopello to take in a higher vantage point of the sea.

DAY 3: SAN VITO LO CAPO AND RISERVA DELLO ZINGARO

Set out early in the morning to avoid the scorching heat and crowds along the trail when visiting the Zingaro Nature Reserve, a wild coastal park where the mountains meet the sea, perfect for hiking and swimming in unspoiled nature. The reserve has two entrances: the southern entrance from Scopello and the northern entrance from San Vito lo Capo. The trails are the same, so you can choose which entrance to use depending on where you stayed the night before. Here you can choose between the coastal trail, the mid-elevation trail, or the high-elevation trail; we recommend the 7-km coastal trail, which is suitable for everyone and takes you to the reserve’s magnificent coves. Be sure to bring food, water (there are no facilities inside the reserve), and closed-toe shoes (required). An alternative, if you’d prefer a more relaxed experience, is to book a boat tour to enjoy both Scopello and the reserve directly from the water. After your half-day excursion in the reserve, head to San Vito Lo Capo, where you can enjoy the beach with its crystal-clear waters and, in the evening, a dinner of traditional couscous in town.

DAY 4: TRAPANI AND ERICE

Start your day in Trapani with a stroll through the elegant streets of the historic center, walking along Corso Vittorio Emanuele to the harbor area and the Torre di Ligny, where you can enjoy a splendid view of the sea. Stop for lunch at a traditional trattoria and try busiate with Trapani-style pesto. In the early afternoon, take the cable car (a more picturesque option than driving) up to Erice, admiring Trapani, the salt flats, and the Egadi Islands from above. Spend a few hours wandering through the medieval alleys of the village, visiting the Castello di Venere, the Giardino del Balio, and the charming little stone squares. Before heading back, stop by Maria Grammatico’s pastry shop to sample Erice’s famous desserts. At sunset, take the cable car back to Trapani: the golden light over the sea makes the descent particularly picturesque. End the day with a stroll along the Dante Alighieri promenade and a seafood dinner in the historic center, enjoying the city’s relaxed atmosphere.

DAY 5: THE EGADI ISLANDS

Trapani’s port puts the Egadi Islands within easy reach, and Favignana is the ideal destination for a day trip. The island is small, so you can rent a bike and cycle around it, passing by ancient tuff quarries, hidden coves, and waters that, depending on the light, take on shades ranging from turquoise to deep blue. Cala Rossa and Cala Azzurra are the most picturesque spots for swimming, and the pace of life here is so peaceful that it makes for one of the most relaxing days of the week. Alternatively, you can opt for a boat tour of all three Egadi Islands, Favignana, Levanzo, and Marettimo, or just around Favignana.

DAY 6: MARSALA AND SELINUNTE

From Trapani, drive 40 minutes south to Marsala, where you can explore the historic center and visit a historic winery for a tasting of the fortified wine that has made the city famous. Then head to Selinunte, where you can explore one of the largest archaeological parks in the Mediterranean and its temples, which overlook the sea. The site is enormous, so set aside a few hours to explore it at your own pace. If you have time to spare, look for an extra virgin olive oil tasting, since you’ll be in the Belice Valley, a region renowned for its excellent olive production centered on the Nocellara del Belice cultivar. Spend the evening in Marinella di Selinunte, a quiet seaside village with a long sandy beach and a number of excellent places to eat. This stretch of coastline moves at a different pace than the more crowded resorts further north, and it’s a place where it’s easy to simply slow down.

EXTRA TIP: On your way from Trapani to Marsala, stop at the Saline dello Stagnone, where a short boat ride will take you to the tiny island of Mozia, home to ancient Phoenician ruins. The visit to the island lasts an average of 2 hours, including the boat ride, a tour of the small museum, and a walk around the island’s perimeter.

DAY 6: SCIACCA OR AGRIGENTO THAN BACK TO PALERMO

On the last day, depending on your flight schedule, you can choose between two options. Visit Porto Palo di Menfi, a town renowned for its crystal-clear sea and award-winning Blue Flag beach, and Sciacca, a still-active fishing port with thermal baths and a laid-back charm, ideal for a pleasant visit before your return trip to Palermo Airport. Alternatively, if you leave early, you can reach the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, a must-see destination: a vast park of Greek temples silhouetted against the sky, best visited in the morning light before the heat sets in and the crowds arrive. If you’d like, you can also add a quick stop at the Scala dei Turchi, even if just to admire it from the lookouts along the way. From the first destination, the return trip to Palermo takes about an hour and a half, while from Agrigento it takes about two hours.

EXTRA TIP: If on day 6 evening you’re staying in Marinella di Selinunte, on day 7 morning head over to the small marina at 8:30 a.m. to witness the “incanto,” the traditional fish auction, and get a fascinating and authentic glimpse of local life that visitors rarely get to see. The ritual takes place every morning, provided the weather conditions from the previous day allow it.

Practical Notes

Plan your visit between April and June or between September and October, when temperatures are more pleasant and the archaeological sites are less crowded than during the height of summer. Book your accommodations in advance during peak season, as rooms in smaller towns fill up quickly. Try to make restaurant reservations in advance.

This itinerary was created by locals who have included in it all the essential stops to experience Western Sicily, especially if it will be the first time you visit it, but nothing prevents you from modifying it as you like or according to your needs, moving the stops, adding or removing them, the important thing is that you can enjoy your stay to the fullest! 

FINAL THOUGHT

Leave some flexibility in your itinerary: the best moments in western Sicily often arise from a chat with locals, who are always ready to help and show you their homeland, or from an unplanned stop, an unmarked beach, or a trattoria without a sign.

share this article

Did you like this content? Share it with whoever you want.

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER FOR MORE

Stay up to date on new recipes, articles, discounts, new product
releases, and much more.