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This is your essential Trapani Travel Guide for the best things to do, places to see, eat and drink in this lovely city in Western Sicily.
Trapani is a small coastal city in the West of Sicily and the launch pad for getting over to the stunning Egadi islands. Trapani serves very well as a base to explore this lesser visited area of the island, with San Vito Lo Capo, Erice, Zingaro Nature Reserve and Segesta all being no more than an hour away by car.
Trapani Travel Guide Contents:
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WHERE TO EAT IN TRAPANI
Trapani is a fisherman town, so expect plenty of seafood in the restaurants here. Be sure to try the local Trapanese couscous served with seafood; the Trapanese pesto it’s made with includes almonds and tomatoes – it’s delicious!
Osteria Ossuna
Via Libertà, 78, 91100
Osteria Ossuna boasts a picturesque setting with softly lit tables outside along the old sea wall of the city, serving the fresh seafood Sicily is so famous for. The outdoor bar area is open in the day too, making it the perfect pitstop for an afternoon Aperol. Osteria Ossuna is also perfectly situated for sunset if you’re lucky to secure a table at the right time.
Temptation of Taste
Via Badia Nuova, 27, 91100
Upmarket restaurant in the centre of town with an outdoor terrace on the street outside serving traditional Sicilian cuisine made with local ingredients. Fresh fish is on the menu according to the day’s catch, and all dishes can be made gluten free.
Trattoria del Corso
Corso Italia, 51, 91100
A family run trattoria is my favourite. It doesn’t get more Italian – truly, don’t expect them to speak English! The perfect chance to practice some of your Duolingo, Trattoria del Corso serves proper Italian home cooking, and prices are very reasonable – this is very much a local’s place.
Gelateria Liparoti
Viale delle Sirene, 21, 91100
No time spent in Italy is well spent until you’ve had some amazing gelato. Gelateria Liparoti is tucked away in the old town of Trapani, serving amazing gelato and granita. If you want to be properly Sicilian, get your gelato served in a brioche bun.
Pasticceria La Rinascente
Via Gatti, 3, 91100
A must for pastries, the queue for Pasticceria La Rinasecente regularly snakes around the corner. As you walk in yo can see the chefs at work in the kitchen, so even if sweet things aren’t your thing, it’s well worth a visit.
BARS IN TRAPANI
Bar Nettuno
Piazza Scalo d’Alaggio, 8-10, 91100
Great for fantastic coffee and fresh pistachio croissants in the morning, and a top spot for an early evening aperitivo as the sun goes down. Come afternoon Bar Nettuno serves snacks and charcuterie boards.
Badia Nuova Apart Hotel Rooftop
Via Badia Nuova, 33, 91100
If, like me, you’re a sucker for a rooftop, head to the terrace on the fourth floor of the Badia Nuova Apart Hotel for a drink at sunset. Bookings are appreciated if you aren’t staying at the Apart Hotel, but all are welcome.
Il Bar della Piazzetta
Via S. Francesco di Paola, 11, 91100
Il Bar della Piazzetta is a great spot to try granita, grab a pastry in the morning or an Aperol Spritz come golden hour. The setting is pretty, with tables covered in brightly coloured Sicilian tiles and comfortable seats, situated in a quiet piazza.
Prosit
Via della Cuba, 34, 91100
Excellent aperitivo spot with tiered charcuterie boards in the middle of the historical centre of Trapani. Popular with locals and tourists alike, the atmosphere at Prosit pulls people in whilst the friendly service and reasonable prices keeps people coming back.
THINGS TO DO IN TRAPANI
IN TRAPANI
Whilst I think that Trapani is best utilised as a base to explore the West of Sicily, there are a few things to do in the small town.
Salt Flats of Trapani
You may not have heard of the salt flats of Trapani, but they are very important to a wide range of migratory birds that flock to these coastal wetlands. The salt flats are surrounded by Dutch style windmills, which are silhouetted beautifully at sunset, with the reflections of the salt flats turning the landscape golden.
Agostino Pepoli Regional Museum
One of the most important museums in Sicily, the Agostino Pepoli Regional Museum covers art, archaeology and local history. It’s set in a beautiful building and costs just €7 entry.
Bastione Conca
A walk along the walls of Trapani to Bastione Conca is a must in Trapani, and is particularly beautiful as the sun sets. Stop at one of the bars along the walls and enjoy a spritz sat at the old walls, overlooking the sea.
The Museum of Illusions Trapani
Another museum in Trapani but very different from the Agostino Pepoli museum is the Museum of Illusions. With fun and immersive optical illusion experiences, this is a particularly good place to visit if you have children to entertain. Or if you’re a big kid yourself!
AROUND TRAPANI
Some of the most impressive natural beauties of Sicily are situated in the North West of the island, making Trapani the perfect base to explore slightly further afield.
The Egadi Islands
The biggest pull to Trapani in my eyes is the stunning Egadi islands. I did a day trip over to Levanzo and Favignana, though I would highly recommend a few nights on the latter if you have the time.
Regular ferries leave Trapani to go over to the Egadi islands, and I highly recommend booking online in advance at Direct Ferries because they do get booked up in advance and you don’t want to get stranded (or you might, they are beautiful!)
Zingaro Nature Reserve
Around 1 hour 10 minutes drive from Trapani lies Zingaro Nature Reserve – Sicily’s first nature reserve and 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 definitely worth exploring and committing a day to Zingaro if you’re staying in Trapani.
San Vito Lo Capo
An hour’s drive from Trapani and 25 minutes from the north entrance of Zingaro Nature Reserve is one of Sicily’s most popular holiday destinations for locals: San Vito Lo Capo. The beach sits in the shadow of Mount Monaco and is wide and sandy, the water is an absolutely beautiful shade of turquoise. The beach and shallow waters make it a great place for a day trip, especially for families.
Segesta
Under 30 minutes drive from Trapani you’ll find Segesta, an ancient city dating back to the 5th century BC. Segesta is home to an amazingly preserved temple, Greek amphitheatre and thermal springs.
Erice
Erice is a walled town steeped in ancient history, just a 25 minute drive into the hills from Trapani. 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.
Marsala
Marsala is the next town over from Trapani, and you may recognise the name as it’s the home of Marsala wine! 40 minutes drive from Trapani, Marsala is on the other side of Trapani airport, so could serve well as somewhere to spend a few hours if you have time to kill before your flight out.
The city centre is small enough to explore in a few hours on foot, and has some beautiful baroque architecture. Explore the fish market, try some Marsala wine and pick up some last minute souvenirs.
WHERE TO STAY IN TRAPANI
Beautiful yet simply designed, Hotel San Michele is superbly located in Trapani old town, close to the Cathedral and a quick 5 minutes walk to the harbour for a quick ferry connection to the Egadi Islands.
Buffet breakfast can be taken on the outside terrace in the sunshine – the perfect way to start the day in Sicily. Book here.
Well located in the old town of Trapani, the major pull of Room of Andrea hotel is the sun trap roof terrace and rooftop pool – a rarity in Trapani!
Some of the rooms are very grand, with marble fireplaces and patterned tiled floors, whilst others are more modern but still classically stylish. The buffet breakfast is excellent, and the bar on the roof is perfect for sunset drinks. Book here.
Modern hotel with incredible sea views, Central Gallery Rooms is set in a restored building dating back to the 1800s in the historic centre.
The location is superb and the service from the knowledgeable staff is excellent. Book here.
San Domenico Residence by BADIA NUOVA
If you like the idea of a self contained apartment with a kitchen and work space whilst travelling, look no further than San Domenico Residence by BADIA NUOVA in the historical centre.
It’s super close to the best bakery in Trapani and there’s a rooftop bar to utilise. Prices are incredibly reasonable from £75 per night. Book here.
GETTING TO TRAPANI
Trapani has an international airport, though only Ryanair fly there a couple of times a week during the peak summer months. You may opt to fly into Palermo instead, which will give you more options of regularity and airlines.
Trapani is a 1.5 hour drive from Palermo airport, and if you decide to use your Avios points to fly to Sicily, a return reward flight will cost you 23500 Avios + £1 or 14500 Avios + £35.
It’s a great excuse to explore a bit more of Sicily too, for Palermo is a wonderful place to spend a few days.
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Updated July 2025.
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