July 2023
Perfect One Week Itinerary for Summer in the East and West Coast of Sicily, Italy
After our amazing trip to Sardinia last year, we were hooked on Eurosummer. We had wanted to visit Sicily for a while and this solidified it for this year. I did not realize how enormous this tiny island is – there is so much to see and do. We had a week for this vacation so we did not have time to do a romantic road trip around the island. We had to make giant cuts from typical Sicily itineraries – including the major cities of Palermo and Catania. I considered planning the entire trip in one area and seeing as much as possible but I was ultimately swayed by the beaches in the west and the beauty in the east to spend four days in each area – 4 days in Trapani and 4 days in Taormina. This itinerary was perfect for summer travel focusing on the coasts, beach destinations, and relaxation.
Know before you go
- Getting to Sicily is very easy. Flight routes exist into the major cities of Sicily – Palermo and Catania – but there are also smaller airports as well like Trapani.
- Unlike mainland Italy and the rest of Europe, the public transit in Sicily is not great so make sure you have a car. We opted to rent a Vespa and it was honestly the perfect destination to scooter around.
- Make sure if you have a credit card with no foreign transaction fee – highly recommend getting one if not – that will be fine for your trip. You can also take out euros to use as you will find some places that are cash only, but almost everywhere accepts credit cards.
- Learn basic Italian phrases as a respect to the country you are visiting but you will not have an issue with finding English in the larger towns.
- Keep an eye out for festivals throughout the year in this reason – many food and wine festivals occur and festivals are a great way to experience a town.
- Sicily is a popular travel destination so start planning in advance. Booking the accommodations, transportation, and dining should be secured ahead of your trip.
- Starting in 2025, if you are traveling international to any country in the Schengan Zone, you will have to complete a form prior to arrival, including a 7 euro application fee, for the ETIAS – European Travel Information and Authorization System.
Where to stay?
This itinerary splits Sicily in half by spending some time on both the east and west coast so there are two destinations to stay. For the west coast, Trapani is the perfect spot for exploring destinations north and south along the coast and we love how alive Trapani is at night. For the east coast, while it certainly felt cliche post White Lotus season 2, we had the best time in Taormina and it is a must do, especially for a summer trip to Sicily. You can make your stay as luxurious as you desire but for us, we went with Airbnbs that were perfect for our trip.
How to Get Around
There are multiple airports that you can utilize when traveling to Sicily by plane. We had a layover from the USA regardless and it actually opened up more options for our arrival in Sicily. From our layover in Rome, we flew into Trapani directly – this saved a ton of time on our itinerary since getting from Palermo to Trapani is not straightforward. Then we flew out of Catania which is easily accessible from Taormina.
Sicily is not the easiest to navigate without a car and if you plan on exploring on your visit, the sites along the coast will require some assistance. Public transit in general is not the best in terms of getting across the island, especially to destinations that are not the major cities of Palermo or Catania. There are times when planning this coast to coast trip where you will need to rent a vehicle. We rented scooters when we were in Trapani and Taormina to explore a bit of the coast and I think renting a car, even for a day, is valuable to see more.
Getting across the island is a bit tricky and we did not have time to scooter across it. Driving takes about 3 hours from Trapani to Catania. Even with a rental, we found it difficult to find places that would allow for a one day rental. Ideally, we would have spent the entire day scootering across Sicily making stops every 1-2 hours for a full day adventure but I could not find a company that allowed for it to pick up and drop off in different locations. Similar to cars, it was not easy finding a company that allowed for one way drop offs. And car rentals were expensive and hiring a driver was even more insane being quoted over 500 euro. Flights were also not as common as I would have expected – in fact to get from Trapani to Catania we would have had to stop in Rome first which made no sense. Then I found a bus that actually goes from Trapani to Catania – and for 15 euro a person! Flixbus seems to exist all over the world but this was the first time we came in contact with it as a mode of transit. Buses include assigned seats, a toilet, Wi-Fi, and power outlets. It ended up being the most cost efficient and comfortable way to get from one side of the island to the other and I would recommend looking into it as well.
What is there to do?
This trip is what you want to make it. Want to sit on the beach all day? Want to charter a boat and stay on the water? Want to explore the nearby islands? Want to learn more through the numerous historical sites? Want to see an active volcano? It is up to you! Mix and match to make your perfect trip.
West Coast
With Trapani as the home base, you are centrally located on the west coast. Known as the City of Salt and Sail, the salt pans and wind are a staple of the long and narrow city of Trapani. Food and culture here has both African and Arab influences that make Trapani unique in Sicily.
- Trapani itself is absolutely worth exploring – the town is full of gems throughout the streets and has an epic sunset every evening.
- A visit to the neighboring historic and preserved hillside town of Erice is essential when staying in Trapani.
- Take a boat tour of Egadi Islands right off the coast of Trapani – there is excellent snorkeling!
- You can tour the salt pans that make this area so unique.
- North of Trapani
- Visit San Vito Lo Capo for postcard views, crystal clear water, and beautiful beaches. Book a day at a beach club and relax in this stunning location.
- Cliffs and beaches of Scopello and Zingaro Nature Reserve feature more gorgeous coastline that offer hiking trails and relaxation at the same time.
East Coast
Taormina is one of the most popular spots to visit in Sicily and has recently been on the global stage for the location of White Lotus Season 2. This town sits atop the mountains overseeing the beautiful ocean below and Mt Etna in the distance. It is a stunning destination and definitely worth the hype.
- Taormina has so much to offer so make sure to dedicate enough time to see it all. There are sites to see at the top and at the bottom of this cliff side town.
- Teatro Antico di Taormina not only has centuries of history but is also an active location to see a show. If you are lucky to be visiting when there is one, consider an evening at the theater. There are also absolutely epic views from the top – we went right at sunset and wow, we were simply amazed.
- Isola Bella is located at the bottom of the cliff and depending on the tide, can appear as an isolated and separate island. It was once a private garden and is now open for all for a small fee.
- Do not miss the opportunity to relax beach side at one of the many beach clubs at Taormina. We spent an entire day at one and it was incredible! These range in price and amenities to do a little research before booking on in advance.
- Day trips outside of Taormina
- Wine tasting in the Mt Etna Wine Region is world renowned with spectacular wines and views. Either arrange a do-it-yourself itinerary or book with a tour group to take care of everything for you. We rented a Vespa for the day and we had the most amazing time driving through the vineyards.
- How often do you get to explore an active volcano? Climbing Mt Etna was a must-do for us. Since we were packing light, we did not have the proper gear and in order to summit Mt Etna, you have to go with a guide so we booked with a tour company. It felt like we were on another planet! Happy to have checked this off of the bucket list.
- Have more time?
- Head north to Messina and hop on a boat to explore the Aeolian Islands. I really wanted to incorporate this into our trip but we simply ran out of time.
Where to eat?
While there are some differences between Sicilian and mainland Italy, the food is just as amazing. Here along the coast, there is focus on seafood and different spices from the African and Arab influences. Street food culture is also prominent and oh-so-delicious.
Trapani
- If I had to recommend one restaurant for dinner, it would be ‘A NASSA. This is definitely the place to be and they serve up some fantastic seafood dishes, including an enormous board of fried seafood and the best seafood pasta we had on the trip.
- Looking for drinks? Enoteca Versi a Rossa is the perfect spot and they have fantastic beverages.
- Gelato at Gelateria Meno Tredici was the only one we tried because it was that amazing.
- It is essential that you try the cannolo at Antica Pasticceria Tavola Calda Michele Bellezza – it was life changing!
- When visiting Erice – get drinks at Domus Blanca’s secret garden, visit La Pasticceria di Grammatico Maria for their famous baked goods, and have dinner at Ristorante Monte San Giuliano and ask for a balcony view to watch the sunset as you dine.
Taormina
- There are so many restaurants in Taormina and since it is a popular tourist destination, do a bit of research ahead of time to dodge tourist traps. And definitely have reservations ahead of your trip to ensure you do not get stuck. I recommend Liola Osteria and Bar, Trattoria Tiramisu Mimmo and Son, and Teatro 44.
- If you do not go Bam Bar at least once a day, you are doing it wrong! Grantia is a Sicilian specialty and Bam Bar is one of the best spots on the island to get it. Want to stick to gelato? Head to Gelatomaina.
- Head to Re di Bastoni Pub for aperitivo of drinks and bruschetta – grab a sit on the street to enjoy the pulse of the town.
Itinerary
This itinerary works very well as a stand alone trip or as part of a loner trip exploring Sicily. There is so much to see in Sicily so if you have more time to explore, I highly recommend it! You can mix and match days or double up in activities you really want to do.
| Day 0 | Arrive in Trapani |
| Day 1 | Visit San Vito Lo Capo |
| Day 2 | Drive to Scopello and Zingaro Nature Reserve |
| Spend the evening in Erice | |
| Day 3 | Boat tour of Egadi Islands |
| Day 4 | Bus from Trapani to Catania airport Bus from Catania airport to Taormina |
| Day 5 | Isola Bella Beach Club at Taormina |
| Day 6 | Wine tasting in the Mt Etna Wine Region |
| Day 7 | Tour climbing Mt Etna |
| Day 8 | Departure |