Aug 15, 2024

The 10 Best Beach Towns in Sicily

Think of Sicily and it’s likely that your first thoughts might conjure up images of the coast. After all, this iconic region of Italy is an island and therefore surrounded by the ocean on every side, creating plenty of beaches and seafront scenery for visitors to explore.

Sicily is a wonderful place for an Italian beach holiday, with many options to choose from when it comes to deciding where to stay to be close to the sea. In this guide, we share our recommendations for the ten best beach towns in Sicily, along with suggestions for the best beaches near each of them.

Cefalù

Top of the list of recognitions every time for the best beach towns in Sicily is Cefalù. Located an hour away from the capital Palermo, it’s one of the most popular places in the region to come for a seaside holiday thanks to its beautiful selection of beaches.

Cefalù used to be a fishing village and is best known for the huge, imposing rock that overlooks the town and is known as La Rocca, creating a dramatic backdrop. There are several beaches to choose from around the town depending on how far you’re happy to walk, many of which have Cefalù’s signature golden sand.

Once you’ve had your fill of the coast, the town itself is great for historical sightseeing and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site because of the preserved architecture here. Highlights include the Old Town 12th-century cathedral and the ruins of the Temple of Diana which are perched on a hill above the town.

Sciacca

Sciacca is another old fishing town in Sicily located on the southern coast of the island, offering impressive views of the nearby scenery thanks to its hilltop position. It’s not a particularly touristy seaside town, but this doesn’t detract from the fact that you can find some of the best beaches in Sicily nearby.

Stazzone is the closest beach to Sciacca which is great for swimming, whilst Tonnara and Foggia require a little more time to get to but are soft sandy beaches with lovely clear water. You’ll find as many locals here as you will holidaymakers, so it’s a lovely part of the region to enjoy an authentic atmosphere.

There’s a long history of ceramic making in Sciacca and you can still find shops selling local crafts around the town, along with several lovely 16th-century churches and some great restaurants. The Terme di Sciacca is one of the main draws for tourists alongside the beach, offering the chance to enjoy natural hot springs and other spa treatments.

Castellammare del Golfo

One of the best beach towns in Sicily on the Tyrrhenian Coast is Castellammare del Golfo. With scenery blending the coast with the mountains, it’s a picturesque place to stay with a gorgeous harbour and promenade which is perfect for evening dining and sunset strolls.

If you’re after a beach with plenty of space on the sand, Spiaggia Plaja is one of the best Sicily beaches just to the east of the town and encompasses 3 miles of coastline with numerous bars and restaurants available for visitors to refuel and relax. If you don’t mind a beach with more rugged scenery then Cala Campana is a small cove with lovely views, whilst Cala Petròlo is much more well-maintained but tends to get busy quite quickly, so is worth arriving early for!

A nearby attraction to Castellammare del Golfo is the Zingaro Nature Reserve which offers brilliant hiking trails as well as several smaller beaches further along the coast. If you like to sightsee when you’re travelling then the town is home to a 9th-century Arab castle that gives Castellammare del Golfo its name ‘Sea Fortress on the Gulf’, perched on the headland and home to a small museum.

Favignana

Favignana is a fishing town located a couple of miles off the coast of the region on a smaller island of the same name. If you’re looking for beautiful and uncrowded Sicilian beaches then this is a fantastic recommendation, as its location and small size mean that this part of Italy rarely gets too busy.

Cala Azzurra and Cala Rossa in Favignana are not only considered to be some of the most beautiful beaches in Sicily, but also in the whole Mediterranean. Famed for its incredibly clear water, Favignana offers plenty of wonderful swimming spots, with the natural lido Bue Marino being another highlight.

You can reach Favignana on a day trip from Trapani or stay on the island, depending on the rest of your Sicilian holiday plans. It’s not a particularly large town, but the scenery is lovely, you can easily cycle around the whole island, and the town is full of charming places to eat and drink.

Levanzo

If you’re searching for a beach town in Sicily that feels off the beaten track, Levanzo is the answer to your search. Another of the islands in the Egadi archipelago off the coast of Sicily, it’s only 5km² in size and vehicles are forbidden, creating a wonderful, peaceful atmosphere.

You’ll have to walk to all of the beaches and coves in Levanzo, but you’ll be rewarded for your journey with a range of picturesque swimming spots. On the north of the island is Spiaggia del Faraglione, which has been named one of the best beaches in the whole region, whilst on the southeast coast Cala Fredda and Cala Minnola are lovely places to spread out your towel and relax by the water for a day.

Levanzo’s small size means that there’s not much else to do other than enjoy the scenery. The island’s biggest attraction is the Cave of Genoese which has ancient paintings all over the walls thought to trace back all the way to Neolithic and Palaeolithic times.

Santa Flavia

Santa Flavia is another wonderful place for beach holidays in Sicily if you want to stay somewhere that is relatively undiscovered. Located on the coast less than 20km from Palermo, it’s a large town split into several districts with charming pastel-coloured houses lining the seafront.

If you’re willing to make the journey to it then Spiaggia Aciddara, situated between Porticello and Solanto, is one of the best Sicily beaches to enjoy totally unspoiled scenery and a quiet atmosphere. Another popular spot is Spiaggia di Sant’Elia, found a little further down the coast, which has soft golden sand and is small but very scenic, so it’s a good one to arrive at early!

Elsewhere in Santa Flavia, a historic attraction is the Archaeological Site of Solunto which has a range of ruins for visitors to explore. The Basilica Soluntina di Sant’Anna is another good site to admire ancient architecture, as is Villa Filangeri.

San Vito Lo Capo

One of the best towns in Sicily for beaches is San Vito Lo Capo, a popular seaside travel destination on the northwestern coast of the island. It’s famed for its variety of beaches and is a busy spot throughout the summer, but if you’re seeking gorgeous coastlines and a vibrant place to stay then this is undoubtedly the destination for you!

Many people recommend San Vito Lo Capo when you ask where to go in Sicily for beaches because the coastline around here has a feel of the Caribbean with its white sand and turquoise water. San Vito beach is the nearest and largest option, with several private beach clubs dotted along the coast where you can pay for a sun lounger and facilities, along with space to lounge on the sand for free.

One of the best times to visit San Vito Lo Capo is September, as not only will you enjoy warm weather without the summer crowds, but you can also enjoy the town’s annual cous cous festival which celebrates the ingredient grown around the area. San Vito Lo Capo is also a famous destination for climbing, but even if you don’t fancy trying to scale the rocks and cliffs around the town, it can still be very entertaining to watch.

Scopello

Don’t be led astray by its small size; Scopello is definitely one of the best places to stay in Sicily for beaches. Another beach town on the northwest coast of the island, it’s a settlement perched on top of a hill offering very scenic surroundings and a small selection of shops, restaurants and other attractions.

Undoubtedly one of the best beaches in Scopello is found by La Tonnara di Scopello, which is also the town’s biggest tourist attraction. Once the site of an old tuna fishery, it’s now been transformed into a hotel and a private beach, which is definitely worth paying entry to enjoy the facilities and brilliant swimming spot.

Mondello

With an impressive backdrop of the towering Montepellegrino mountain, Modello is a Sicilian seaside town just along the coast from Palermo. What was once a swampy marshland has now been transformed into a popular destination for beach holidays in Sicily, complete with luxurious hotels, restaurants and a charming piazza.

The beach at Modello stretches for over 1.5 km in a pale, sandy arc that provides plenty of space for visitors to relax beside the sea. Several lidos offer a more private experience of the beach, and the whole area is popular with families thanks to the shallow water.

Modello became a well-loved seaside resort when it was transformed in the 1900s by Palermo’s aristocratic families, who left their Art Nouveau mark on the architecture of the beachfront. A highlight is the Stabilimento Balneare; an impressive building sitting on top of stilts overlooking the water.

Mazara del Vallo 

Our final recommendation for the best beach towns in Sicily is Mazara del Vallo, found in the Trapani province. This destination has a fascinating and rich culture which has left it a top historical spot on the coast as well as a beautiful one, so you’ll find plenty to see and do here both beside the sea and within the town itself.

One of the best Sicily beaches which you’ll find close to Mazara del Vallo is Tonnarella, home to soft sand, gradually deepening water and a couple of luxury lidos, if you’re looking for a more exclusive experience. For more rugged scenery, and great opportunities for kitesurfing, Spiaggia di Capo Feto is part of a protected area further down the coast and offers a natural, less touristy setting for time at the beach.

When it comes to other things to do in Mazara del Vallo, visiting the ancient Arab Quarter, or the Kasbah, is a wonderful opportunity to admire North African architecture and design. The Cattedrale del Santissimo Salvatore is another architectural marvel, but as the nickname ‘City of 100 Churches’ might suggest, you’ve got plenty of religious buildings to choose from if you’re looking for sightseeing opportunities in the town.

Summary

Palermo often gets all of the attention when it comes to talking about where to stay in Sicily, but as this article has shown, there are plenty of other beach towns around the region that are certainly worthy of a visit. Whether you’re after a glamorous resort town with pristine beach clubs or an authentic fishing village with unspoiled beaches, there’s something for everyone along the coast of Sicily.

If you’re planning a trip to Sicily and are looking for somewhere to stay by the beach, The Villa Collection has a hand-picked portfolio of villas around the island that are ideal for family and group holidays. Take a look at our luxury villas in Sicily or get in touch to speak to the team about what you’re looking for.