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Latest update: 28 March 2025
Trapani is a port city in western Sicily. Almost every travel guide sends you to Trapani to make day trips to other places from there. But Trapani itself is also really fun! So discover what there is to experience and see in Trapani.
Trapani, Italian style
But first: you’re pronouncing Trapani wrong. Or at least, you probably are. Until I arrived in Sicily, my pronunciation was typically Dutch: tra-paa-nie. But Sicilians say Trap-pa-nie. Add an Italian accent, and you’re good to go.
Attractions in Trapani
You don’t really visit Trapani for the attractions. Of course, you can visit churches and a handful of museums, but Trapani is mainly meant for strolling. Enjoy the warmth, the Italian mansions, the small balconies, the narrow streets, and so on. The advantage of having few attractions is that it’s not highly touristy. Many tourists travel to Erice or the Egadi Islands during the day anyway. In the evening, the city comes alive, and it’s wonderful to people-watch on the main street Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
Strolling in Trapani
Strolling through the streets is one of the most enjoyable things to do in Trapani. Soon, you’ll smell clean laundry hanging on a balcony or catch a whiff of garlic from a kitchen window. Admire the stately, pastel-colored houses characteristic of Sicily in various states of maintenance – and perhaps the peeling examples are the most characteristic.
You can easily explore the center of Trapani on foot. And if you prefer, you can do it with a guide. For example, there’s a fun walking tour with snacks and drinks. Check out the food tour
You might also notice the small shops with coral. That’s typical for Trapani, but you see it in more places in Sicily. Jewelry is made from red coral, usually with gold. And the prices can be quite high.
Visit churches
There are at least ten churches in Trapani, and probably even more. At several, you have to pay a small amount to enter. I’ll stick to one church because I’m sure I’ll see many more churches during this trip through Sicily. It’s almost a shame that the cathedral Cattedrale di San Lorenzo is built among the mansions on the main street. It makes it difficult to take it in properly. Inside, the cathedral is beautifully decorated with many light blue details. This church visit is free.
Walk on the old defensive wall
The Mura di Tramontana is Trapani’s old defensive wall. Part of it is still standing, and you can walk on top of it. This is especially a good idea around sunset. The wall extends all the way from the fish market to the city beach.
To the beach
Honestly, you’d better take the car to drive to a beautiful beach, but if you just want to go for a couple of hours, you can also stay in Trapani. A popular strip of beach is located right by the defensive wall: Spiaggia delle Mura di Tramontana (Google Maps location). It’s not idyllic, far from it, but perfect for a quick dip. A nicer beach is a ten-minute drive away: Spiaggia di San Giuliano (Google Maps location).
Watch the sunset in Trapani
Check what time the sun sets and make sure you’ve secured a spot on a terrace half an hour before. Preferably arrange a seat at MOAI Sunset Restaurant (Google Maps location) on the old city wall or at Piazzetta del tramonto (Google Maps location).
Torre di Ligny
The Torre di Ligny is an observation tower that you reach via a wide promenade. It’s an impressive arrival at a defensive tower. Inside is an archaeological museum, but you definitely can’t rely on Google’s opening hours. Now, I have to say that I don’t feel like I’m missing out on much, but you never know. In the summer months, a classical concert is occasionally organized around sunset. Just ask at your hotel or another Sicilian if that is the case during your stay in Trapani.
The fish market of Trapani
I walk past the fish market of Trapani only at the end of the day, and that’s actually way too late. You should visit the fish market early in the morning when the fishermen dock their boats and offer their fresh catch for sale. Right from their boat. There’s also an indoor market hall, but that’s a lot less charming. So make sure you get to the Mercato del Pesce on time. It starts as early as 6 in the morning, but around 9 is when it’s busiest.
Remote Lazaretto and Torre Peliade
The Lazzaretto is located past the fishing boats, across the remote parking lot, near the sea. It was once used to quarantine people with infectious diseases, far away from the people in the city. It was in use from 1831 to 1885. Now, it houses an organization dedicated to spreading knowledge and information about navigation. You can walk onto the grounds, but there wasn’t much to see when I did. It seemed mainly like an office.
From this point, you also have a view of the small island across the way with the sea castle Torre Peliade. It can only be admired from a distance.
Couscous!
When I think of Italy, I think of food. Pizzas, pastas, and… couscous? Yes, really, the specialty of Trapani is couscous alla Trapanese, which is couscous with fish and seafood. Definitely try it once while you’re in Trapani. If necessary, share one. Be sure to read my blog with tips for restaurants and bars in Trapani.
Salt pans near Trapani and the Via del Sale
Salt is harvested on this side of Sicily. If you’ve never seen how that works, you kind of have to visit the salt pans. The closest from Trapani is Saline di Trapani e Paceco. There’s a museum here, and you can see the salt production with your own eyes. This is also where the Via del Sale begins: the salt route between Trapani and Marsala.
Taking the cable car to Erice
Once you’ve checked off the center of Trapani, it’s time to head to the cable car to Erice. That’s a small mountain village. It really exudes a completely different atmosphere than Trapani. Much more laid-back and almost as if I’m going back in time. The cable car is a little nerve-wracking, but you’ll soon feel calm again walking through Erice. Quickly read my blog about Erice to discover if you think it’s worth the effort.
Visit the Egadi Islands
The Egadi Islands are a small group of islands off the coast of Trapani. They are perfect to visit for a day with a boat tour or ferry, although I can also imagine you might want to stay a bit longer. I visited the main island Favignana by ferry and explored the island with an electric bicycle. Read more about my visit to Favignana.
If you enjoy snorkeling, a boat tour with snorkeling stops might be a good option for you. You can book that, for example, via GetYourGuide.
Other helpful tips
In addition to these tips for attractions and activities, I also want to share some other tips with you, such as how to get from the airport to Trapani and a tip on accommodation. It’s also good to know that shops are closed in the afternoon all over Sicily, with some exceptions, of course.
You probably already know that you shouldn’t order a cappuccino in Italy after eleven o’clock. That’s not how it’s done, according to Italians. They often have breakfast with a cappuccino and a cornetto (croissant) and then switch to espressos. You can usually have lunch in Trapani between 12 and 3 PM. After that, the restaurants close, only to open again around 7 PM. At such an “early” hour, there are usually only tourists in the restaurant; Sicilians don’t come until around 8:30 PM. That’s because they first have an aperitivo around sunset. And I would definitely join in on that! Sometimes, I get so many snacks during aperitivo that I can actually skip dinner.
From the airport to Trapani
If you fly to Vincenzo Florio Civil Airport, you can either pick up your rental car there or go directly to the city. A bus takes you there, but it only runs once an hour and takes about 45 minutes.
That’s why I chose a taxi and discovered that booking a taxi in advance via Booking is cheaper than a regular airport taxi or an Uber. The latter two cost around €35 – €40 ($38 – $45) (in 2024), and via Booking, it costs only €30 ($33). And secretly, it’s also nice that someone is waiting with a sign who immediately drops me off at the right place. So check the current prices for you.
If necessary, there is also the possibility to store your luggage in Trapani. Handy if you can’t check in at your accommodation yet, for example. I do that at TrapaniBags by the ferry port. It costs €2 ($2.20) per hour or €6 ($6.60) daily. This is the Google Maps location.
Accommodation tip in Trapani
I’m staying in Chiara’s apartment in the center of Trapani by the harbor. I haven’t met Chiara, but based on the app contact, I think she’s a nice person—cheerful and helpful.
Mini Appartamento Trapani Porto is a small apartment with a balcony where I can have a little coffee in the morning before it gets too hot. The apartment smells fresh and clean, and there is air conditioning and a washing machine. It’s in a small side street off the main road next to the boarding point for the ferries to Favignana. It’s also close to the luggage storage I mentioned above, so you can just walk onto the boat or into the city.
More Sicily travel inspiration
Useful links for your Sicily trip
- Accommodation. Always handy is Booking.com. Rather stay in a hostel? Try HostelWorld.
- Activities. Book the best tours and activities at GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator. Book “free” walking tours at Freetour or GuruWalk , and for bike tours, Baja Bikes.
- Attractions and museums. For 5% off museums and attractions, use discount code KIMOPREIS22 at Tiqets.
- Car rental. Compare prices and insurance coverage at DiscoverCars and Rentalcars.com.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Definitely Skyscanner, and Kiwi.
- Guide books. I love the practical guides by Lonely Planet, for sale at Bol.com and Amazon.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? Start your search at Expedia or CheapOair.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high phone and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Yoga retreat. Or join a yoga retreat in Sicily.
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