Castellammare del Golfo Travel Guide: Best of Sicily

Castellammare 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. It’s very much a destination for Italians on holiday, and it’s unlikely you’ll come across many foreign tourists in town.

I stayed in Castellammare del Golfo for a couple of nights as part of my two weeks in Sicily in which I solo travelled in the less travelled West of Sicily before stopping in the North and travelling all the way across to Naples in mainland Italy on the overnight train. I used the town as a base from which to hike the stunning Zingaro Nature Reserve and ended up eating the best gelato of my life during my stay.

Read on for your Castellammare del Golfo Travel Guide, including where to find the best I’ve ever had – I swear it’s worth the trip alone!

Where To Eat In Castellammare Del Golfo

Castellammare Del Golfo Restaurants

L’Antico Granaio

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

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 – it’s that popular.

Booga Wooga

Lovely spot for fresh seafood pasta with al fresco seating by the harbour. I had a great tuna tartare spaghetti with burrata on top here on my first night. Lovely evening vibes!

La Varcuzza

Excellent restaurant serving seafood, pasta and Sicilian street food. Set by the harbour, with both indoor and outdoor seating.

H80 Fame

Rustic restaurant serving Sicilian favourites and particularly beautiful desserts. Around the corner from Gusto if you miss out on a booking for pizza!

The Best Gelato In Sicily

Gelateria Vernaci

I have established somewhat of a reputation as a pistachio lover, and I always have the pistachio gelato when on offer. I have tried as much pistachio gelato as possible during my three trips to Sicily and let me tell you: Vernaci is the best.

Let me elaborate. This isn’t just pistachio gelato: it’s pistachio cream 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. Actually, some friends of mine did drive out of the way to get it on my recommendation, and reported back it was 100% worth the journey!

Bars In Castellammare Del Golfo

Boh Il Pub Nelle Scale

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

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 to base yourself and use as a launchpad for the highlights of the surrounding area – from the nearby beaches, medieval towns and to hiking in the stunning Zingaro Nature Reserve.

Hike 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, and was my reason for staying in Castellemmare del Golfo. You can read about my experience hiking Zingaro Nature Reserve here.

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.

Visit Scopello

The pretty little 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 (Charli xcx got married here!) 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.

Relax at the Beach

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.

Visit The Ancient Ruins of Segesta

Just a short 20 minute drive from Castellemmare del Golfo is Segesta, an ancient city and home to an amazingly preserved temple, Greek amphitheatre and thermal springs. If you have a car, this historical site is a great half day trip from town.

Visit Erice

Walled medieval town Erice is steeped in ancient history, built high on a hilltop and is just under an hour’s drive from Castellammare del Golfo. Erice is known as one of Sicily’s prettiest villages and it well worth a visit if you’ve hired a car for your time in Sicily. Erice is also a good place for shopping, with rugs and pottery being sold at little shops in the town’s charming cobbled streets.

Worth bearing in mind that Erice is very close to Trapani, so if you are planning to head further West during your time in Sicily it would make more sense to visit Erice from your Trapani base instead.

Where To Stay: Castellammare Del Golfo Hotels

Atrium

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.

B&B Nencioli

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

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.

Hotel Al Madarig

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.

How To Get To Castellammare Del Golfo (And Get Around Once You’re There)

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 26000 Avios + £5 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 from Palermo but the West is not connected by train, so hiring a car is the best way of getting around.

However, 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.

Best Time To Visit Castellammare Del Golfo

Castellammare del Golfo is a popular summer destination for Italians, so whilst it will be busiest in the summer months, that’s due to it also being the best time of year to visit.

August will be particularly busy, so if you’re keen to catch great weather for the beach and warm waters, September is a great time to visit.

Castellammare Del Golfo FAQs

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