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Catsellammare del Golfo is a seaside town in North Western Sicily that serves as gateway to the stunning Zingaro Nature Reserve and pretty village of Scopello.
Read on for your Castellammare del Golfo Travel Guide, including where to find the best pistachio cream gelato you’ll ever have the luck to eat – I swear!
Castellammare del Golfo Travel Guide Contents:
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WHERE TO EAT IN CASTELLAMMARE DEL GOLFO
RESTAURANTS
L’Antico Granaio
Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi, 20, 91014
Lovely restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating on the main street in Castellammare. A little more expensive than other places in town but the food is well revered and the service excellent.
Gusto
Piazza Europa, 7, 91014
Epic Napoli pizzas to write home about; very much the place to get pizza in Castellammare del Golfo. Gusto has a huge outdoor area for seating and even so you will need to book to avoid disappointment to eat here.
Booga Wooga
Via Don Leonardo Zangara, 91014
Lovely spot for fresh seafood pasta with al fresco seating by the harbour. I ate a great tuna tartare spaghetti with burrata on top.
La Varcuzza
Via Don Leonardo Zangara, 39, 91014
Excellent restaurant serving seafood, pasta and Sicilian street food. Set by the harbour, with both indoor and outdoor seating.
H80 Fame
Via Marina di Petrolo, Largo Petrolo, 27, 91014
Rustic restaurant serving Sicilian favourites and particularly beautiful desserts. Around the corner from Gusto if you miss out on a booking for pizza!
Ristorante Posidonia
Via Don Leonardo Zangara, 13, 91014
Al fresco dining by the port. Serves an excellent value set menu for as little as €20 for 4 courses including antipasti, starter, main and dessert.
GELATO
Gelateria Vernaci
Corso Bernardo Mattarella, 40, 91014 Castellammare del Golfo
I have established somewhat of a reputation as a pistachio crème lover, and if you know this about me, it goes without saying that you know I always have the pistachio gelato when on offer. I have tried as much pistachio gelato as possible during my time in Sicily and let me tell you: Vernaci is the best.
Let me elaborate. This isn’t just pistachio gelato: it’s pistachio crème gelato. And it is the best thing I have ever eaten. I dream of returning to Castellammare del Golfo simply for this gelato and would genuinely drive out of the way for it. It’s that incredible.
BARS IN CASTELLAMMARE DEL GOLFO
Boh Il Pub Nelle Scale
Via Malta, 46, 91014
I really love a bar that sits on steps, with tables and cushions cascading down them; it feels romantic! Boh Il Pub Nelle Scale is just that, a lovely spot for a pre or post dinner drink towards the harbour in Castellammare del Golfo.
Malandrino Cucina & Bar
Corso Bernardo Mattarella, 32, 91014
Al fresco bar with a great atmosphere into the night, serving excellent cocktails and small aperitivo plates.
THINGS TO DO IN CASTELLAMMARE DEL GOLFO
Castellammare del Golfo is a fantastic place launchpad for the highlights of the surrounding area – from the nearby beaches to hiking in the stunning Zingaro Nature Reserve.
Sicily’s first nature reserve is one of the most beautiful places I have been on the island. The hiking trail is 7km each way, with paths that lead down to stunning rocky coves and beaches that are only accessible on foot or by boat. The hike itself is moderate, and the views are something else. It’s a brilliant way to spend a day.
If you fancy seeing Zingaro’s beautiful beaches and coves without doing the hike, this half day boat trip out of Castellammare del Golfo will take you to some of the most photogenic spots for swimming and snorkelling along the coastline of Scopello and Zingaro. Book here.
Scopello
The pretty village of Scopello is most well known for the Tonnara di Scopello; an old tuna factory at the edge of the water. The Tonnara has been converted into an idyllic hotel, but you can pay to spend time at the beach there as a day guest, with access to sunbeds and the cafe. It’s a popular wedding venue, so may not be available to the public when you visit – best to call in advance to ask!
The village itself is worth a visit, and can be combined with a hike in Zingaro.
Beaches
There are plenty of beaches in the area to make a real beach holiday of your time in Castellammare del Golfo.
Spiaggia Plaja is a wide sandy beach with restaurants and several Lidos along the stretch of beach where you can hire sunbeds and parasols for the day. Guidaloca is a pebbly beach that’s famous for its crystal clear waters and great snorkelling.
Segesta
Segesta is an ancient city dating back to the 5th century BC, and home to an amazingly preserved temple, Greek amphitheatre and thermal springs. Just 25 mins from Castellammare del Golfo, Segesta is a must visit if you have access to a car during your time in this part of Sicily.
Erice
Erice is a walled town steeped in ancient history, built high on Mount Erice. It’s known as one of Sicily’s prettiest villages and it well worth a visit whether you’re interested in the extensive history of the place or not. It’s also a good place for shopping, with Erice rugs and pottery being sold at little shops in the town’s charming cobbled streets.
Erice is a bit further afield but under an hour away from Castellammare del Golfo. It’s right by Trapani, so if you are planning to head further West it would make more sense to visit Erice from your Trapani base instead.
WHERE TO STAY IN CASTELLAMMARE DEL GOLFO
Atrium is a fantastic B&B in the centre of town, with modern, light and airy rooms with the option of a balcony. Breakfast comes with a la carte options as well as continental and the owners will even arrange a packed lunch for you if desired – perfect for your hike in Zingaro.
You can hire bikes at the property and if you’ve hired a car for your trip there is free private parking. Book here.
The lovely terrace with sweeping views of Castellammare del Golfo harbour and the sea beyond is a real selling point of this friendly B&B. The nearest beach is just 500m away and all rooms are equipped with excellent air con – which you will certainly need during a Sicilian summer! Book here.
Hotel Punta Nord Est is set up on a high hill that looks down onto the town of Castellammare del Golfo, but don’t let that put you off, for there is a free shuttle service down to the beach and as you can imagine, the views are ridiculous.
There’s a gorgeous pool at the hotel, a jacuzzi, sun terrace for sunbathing and plenty of the modern rooms have balconies with sea views. The hotel has free parking (including charging for electronic vehicles) and is family friendly with play areas and specialised kids menus. Book here.
Situated on a piazza at the edge of the sea in the town, Hotel Al Madarig is a great option if you prefer a larger hotel whilst remaining in the centre of Castellammare del Golfo.
The hotel offers a free shuttle to the beach, free parking and there is also a spa on site with a sauna, hydromassage pool and treatments to book. Book here.
GETTING TO AND AROUND CASTELLAMMARE DEL GOLFO
Castellammare del Golfo is just an hour by car from Palermo, which is an approximately 3 hour flight from London. If you’re keen to use your Avios points to bring the cost of your holiday down, a BA reward flight will set you back 23500 Avios + £1 or 14500 Avios + £35 to the Sicilian capital.
Once there, I’d highly recommend hiring a car for the duration of your time in Sicily. The island isn’t well serviced by public transport; there is a decent train network that runs East of Palermo and down towards Catania, but there is nothing in the way of trains if you choose to go West, and having a car will give you much more freedom.
That said, I did actually manage two weeks in North and Western Sicily without a car! In the summer there are coaches between lots of the main stops, which does require some research and planning, but is possible. Schedules aren’t overly reliable and coaches are often late, but Busbud is a great site to check what is available and you can purchase tickets through them, too.
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Updated July 2025.
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