Difficulty level
0 of 5

Min. age – 2 years old 

8 hours

Morning at 9,00

Leaving Palermo, you can also discover western Sicily and some of its hidden gems that will stay with you long after the trip: Erice, Segesta and Trapani.

From intact Greek temples to a medieval city suspended between mountain and sea, all the way to the famous salt pans of Trapani, the tour by car or minivan from Palermo covers all three stops in a single day. Visits are free and independent, while a guide is not included but can be requested separately if you wish.

From Palermo to Erice: Alleyways, Sweets and Panoramic Views

The first stop is Erice, a medieval city at almost 750 metres above sea level on Monte San Giuliano. You reach the top and the view opens up over Trapani, the Egadi Islands and, when the sky is clear, the coast beyond.

The historic centre is best explored on foot through narrow alleyways, churches and artisan workshops. Erice is known for its handwoven carpets and the typical sweets of the local pastry tradition, found at various points around the village.

Second Stop: Segesta and the Archaeological Park

The second stop is Segesta, where you can visit the archaeological park that is home to one of the best-preserved Doric temples in the ancient world: thirty-six columns still standing, the perimeter colonnade almost entirely intact, built in the 5th century BC and never completed.

The very fact that it was never finished is what saved it: no cladding, no interior decorations to strip away, just the raw structure that has withstood the centuries.

The temple is visible from the park entrance, isolated on a hilltop among green valleys and Mediterranean scrubland. It is one of those sights that never fails to surprise.

Higher up, reachable by shuttle, you can also visit the Greek theatre carved into the rock: the cavea looks out over the valley and, on clear days, you can even glimpse the sea.

The Trapani Salt Pans and the Salt Museum

The last stop is the salt pans of Trapani and Paceco. The windmills are still there, among the basins where salt is still harvested using traditional methods, and in the afternoon the low light creates a remarkable spectacle: the white of the salt and the pink of the water framed by the silhouettes of the windmills.

If you wish, you can visit the Salt Museum, which tells the story of how salt is harvested, with the original tools still on display. Afterwards you have time to walk along the basins and get close to the windmills at your own pace.

Tour Information: from Palermo to Erice, Segesta and Trapani

The tour lasts eight hours by air-conditioned car or minivan, departing from Palermo, with no transfers to organise. In a single day you walk through the alleyways of Erice, visit the temple of Segesta and reach the salt pans of Trapani.

Fill out the form or book your tour by private or shared minivan or car from Palermo to Erice, Segesta and Trapani.