Sicily: selected activities and experiences!

Sicily Beaches

Discover Sicily and its best beaches

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and is also the most densely populated. Located at the southernmost point of Italy, the region is famous for its history and culture, as well as for its traditional cuisine and spectacular natural landscapes.

Within Sicily, there are hills and mountains covered in lush vegetation and a great variety of wildlife, while its boundaries are marked by the waters of three different seas. Bathed by the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north, the Ionian Sea to the east, and the Mediterranean Sea in the southern and western parts, the region boasts several archipelagos: the Aeolian Islands, the Egadi Islands, and the Pelagie Islands are the main ones, and they are joined by the islands of Lo Stagnone and the Cyclops. Ustica and Pantelleria, located respectively in the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Sicilian Channel, are two separate municipalities of the metropolitan city of Palermo and the Free Municipal Consortium of Trapani.

The region is also famous for its rural landscapes, with fields of wheat and citrus extending for kilometers. Archaeological sites such as the Archaeological Park of Agrigento and the Archaeological Park of Selinunte are also renowned, where visitors can admire the remains of ancient Greek cities.

As for beaches, those of Sicily are among the most popular for Italian beach tourism. They vary greatly, with fine or coarse sand, crystal clear or murky waters, cliffs or dunes, and are often surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, thanks to the presence of mountains, volcanoes, and forests.

As evidence of this, the region boasts two nature reserves. One is the Zingaro Nature Reserve, with its footpaths that lead to numerous quiet coves, such as Cala Tonnarella dell'Uzzo, Cala Marinella, Cala Beretta, and Cala Capreria, which are accessible only on foot. The Vendicari Nature Reserve is the other: a protected natural area located within the Free Municipal Consortium of Syracuse, precisely between Noto and Marzamemi. It is particularly important for the presence of marshes that serve as resting places for migrating birds.

On the Tyrrhenian coast, there are sandy beaches such as Mondello Beach, located near Palermo and surrounded by a beautiful pine forest that connects the beach resorts with nature. Thanks to the many services on offer, Mondello is perfect for families with children, but it is also very popular for its nightlife, which attracts diverse groups looking for entertainment thanks to the numerous bars and restaurants that remain open until late.
Other famous beaches include San Vito lo Capo Beach, located in the province of Trapani, and those of the Capo d'Orlando resort, about 90 km from Messina, which offer breathtaking views.

In this northern part, among the most sought-after beach destinations for international tourism, stands Cefalù, a village at the foot of a rocky promontory that overlooks the endless sea. Cefalù boasts a wide variety of beaches, from the finest to the most rocky and rugged, including pebble beaches.

Black sand is also one of Sicily's main attractions, and Ficogrande and Lunga beaches are an example of this. Located on the island of Stromboli, they are among the beaches in the area characterized by volcanic black pebbles and sand, which, combined with crystal clear waters, offer visitors a truly unique and suggestive panorama.

A particular excellence, demonstrated by the numerous awarded Blue Flags, characterizes the Ionian coast of Sicily: here, the coastal cities of Messina (specifically the eastern area), Taormina, Catania, and Siracusa are home to paradisiacal oases, villages, and towns straight out of a fairy tale. To name a few, traveling from north to south along the eastern coast, you will encounter Giardini Naxos, Isola Bella, Playa Catania, Riviera dei Ciclopi, Val di Noto, and the sailor's village of Marzamemi. These are enchanted and simply unforgettable places.

The view offered by the Island of Currents, the southernmost point of Sicily where the Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea meet, is also unforgettable, providing a unique spectacle. The pristine and wild place is particularly loved by surfers.

For those who love beaches where nature still reigns uncontaminated and desire to relax in isolated places, far from the frenzy of beach tourism and immersed in greenery, some must-see examples are Cala Rossa, located on the island of Favignana and set in beautiful and picturesque tufo quarries or the area of the Marinello Lakes in Tindari, a brackish lagoon that changes its sinuous shape based on the flow of wind and tides, where a white strip of gravel and sand marks the boundary between the lake and the sea.

In Southern Sicily, between the provinces of Ragusa and Modica, there are equipped stretches of coast, perfect for family vacations, but also untouched corners of paradise. The Blue Flag-awarded beaches of Marina di Ragusa, Pozzallo, Donnalucata, Marina di Modica, and Gallina, which is located within the Natural Reserve of the mouth of the Cassibile River, are some of the highlights.

Finally, one of the most famous coasts is undoubtedly the Scala dei Turchi: the beach takes its name from a white marl cliff that emerges steeply from the sea along the coast of Realmonte, located in the province of Agrigento. This beach is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations by both Italian and foreign visitors who come to see the Valley of the Temples and Mount Kronio, known for its pure white beauty forged by waves and wind over millions of years and for being the setting for many famous films.

The only problem is the embarrassment of choice!

10 activities found

Palermo

Market Tour, Traditional Cooking and Limoncello class

During the class you will prepare the authentic sicilian Limoncello with the lemons that the chef grows in her land nearby the Nebrodi park, and a full course sicilian menu based on fish, meat or vegetarian on request, totally three dishes.

Culinary Food Tasting Classes and Workshops

€ 173

4 hours

Palermo

Handmade Sicilian Pasta Cooking Class

Learn how to make three different types of Sicilian pasta and a sweet serving of Sicilian dessert with the help of an expert instructor.

Culinary Food Tasting Classes and Workshops

€ 180

4 hours

Marsala | Trapani

Full-day excursion by dinghy to Favignana and Levanzo

Live an unforgettable experience aboard our Joker Boat Clubman 26, at the most beautiful archipelago in Sicily Spend a day with us on our dynghy at the Egadi Islands during your summer vacation. Shades of color, wild landscapes and hidden corners visible only from the sea will frame this unforgettable experience. See Favignana, the largest among the Egadi Islands, called the "butterfly on the sea" for the very particular shape it takes and Levanzo, the smaller, yet wonderful island with its crystal clear waters. A day that will allow you to discover the island from a different perspective. Unique sceneries, hidden corners and crystal clear water will be the backdrop of this tour. Departure is set at 09:30 from the port of Marsala and after 30 minutes of sailing we will have reached Favignana at which our experienced skipper will give you some information about the location and safety rules on board this fast and comfortable craft. The first stop will be at Cala Azzurra, one of the most beautiful and evocative places on the island where the water is tinged with a thousand shades reminiscent of an exotic place. This will be the right time to put on your fins and mask and explore the marine world! At 11:00. we will reach Cala Rossa, recognized among the most beautiful coves in Italy, located in the northeastern part of Favignana. Cala Rossa has an intense contrast of colors between the turquoise blue waters and the acrid-colored rocks that surround it giving it a unique, almost dreamlike appearance. At 12:00 we will reach the pier to disembark on the island where you can spend about 1 hour and explore the alleys dotted with ancient stores. At 13:00 we will sail to Levanzo divided from Favignana by 3 nautical miles, approximately 20 minutes of navigation. Here the stop will be at the Faraglioni where it will be time for a break for light lunch accompanied by good Sicilian wine. We will then sail to reach Cala Fridda in the south of the island. Here the clear waters are characterized by a cooler temperature given the presence of springs. At 16:30 we will then arrive at Cala Minnola, which is so named because of the small fish that inhabit it, clearly visible by snorkeling. Here we will have a small aperitif accompanied by prosecco before taking the road to Marsala where we will arrive around 18:00.

Boat tour Food Tasting

€ 132

8 hours

Palermo

Sicilian Cooking Class in Palermo

This Palermo cooking class is not only a fun and valuable cooking experience but also a fascinating journey through Sicilian food and culture.

Culinary Food Tasting Classes and Workshops

5.00

( 214 Reviews )

€ 170

4 hours and 30 minutes

Trapani

Sicilian Salt Tour from Trapani

A walk to discover this enchanted and timeless place, where the history of this land is intertwined with the tradition of cultivation and harvesting of salt.

Bus or minivan tour Sightseeing Walking Tour

€ 56

2 hours

Trapani

Day trip to the acropolis of Selinunte from Trapani

A journey into the nature of a sun-scorched earth, with the colors of gold and sand that will make this day unforgettable.

Bus or minivan tour Arts and culture Sightseeing

4.00

( 2 Reviews )

€ 204

9 hours

Palermo

Sicilian Wines and cheeses Tasting in Palermo

Accompanied by fantastic cheeses and local products, relax and learn more about the beautiful Isle of Sicily and its typical grapes.

Wine Tasting Food Tasting

€ 145

2 hours

Cooking Class in a Sicilian countryhouse

Reitano | Messina

Private tour

Cooking Class in a Sicilian countryhouse

Prepare a menu, surrounded by nature and an incredible landscape and sea view, and finally have lunch looking out over the Mediterranean and the Aeolian Islands.

Culinary Food Tasting Classes and Workshops

€ 230

4 hours