In Sicily there are countless coastal villages and seaside towns to explore, yet the real question in summer is how to select the best ones in order to make the most of your holidays; this guide takes you through eight seaside villages to experience in the warmer months, places where the relationship with the harbour, with fishing, with the main square and with the beach is the common thread that shapes an experience oscillating between the calm of the sea and a lively cultural atmosphere. We have chosen to focus on eight coastal villages in Sicily that stand out for their history and natural beauty, from the Ionian coast to the Tyrrhenian Sea, down to the Strait of Sicily and out to the islands, so that you can easily understand which area of the island you prefer to discover during your trip.

Aci Trezza, near Catania

Aci Trezza, a hamlet of Aci Castello about ten kilometres from Catania, lies at the heart of the Riviera dei Ciclopi on the Ionian coast; it is a genuinely working fishing village, with boats pulled up on the slipway, nets drying in the sun and a small harbour that is still active, watched over by its most recognisable landmark: the Faraglioni dei Ciclopi, eight black basalt stacks that legend says were hurled by Polyphemus at Ulysses. The village is also a place of literature, since Verga set I Malavoglia here and Visconti shot La Terra Trema in the same streets and on the same quay.

Beyond the faraglioni, it is worth taking time for Isola Lachea, about 400 metres off the coast, a strict nature reserve reached by boat or canoe and a small paradise for snorkelling; in the village you find the Casa del Nespolo, a tiny museum dedicated to I Malavoglia and to the life of the fishermen (ticket around 1.50 euro), and the Church of San Giovanni Battista. The one experience not to miss is a boat trip: from the harbour there are inexpensive outings with the local “trezzoti” fishermen, skirting the faraglioni, caves and Isola Lachea, and within a few minutes’ drive stands the Norman Castle of Aci Castello.

One point is worth clarifying straight away: there is no sand in Aci Trezza. The coastline is made of black lava rocks and pebbles, with walkways and platforms where you can sunbathe and dive into exceptionally clear water, ideal for mask and fins thanks to the Isole Ciclopi Marine Protected Area. For something more comfortable it makes sense to head towards Aci Castello, where there are shingle beaches with lidos, or to Capo Mulini, the only stretch with a small section of mixed sand and pebbles.

Cefalù, medieval village and golden beach

Cefalù, in the province of Palermo at the foot of the Madonie mountains and facing the Tyrrhenian Sea, is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy and one of the island’s most recognisable postcards; its charm lies in the contrast between the medieval historic centre, with cobbled alleyways and houses almost touching the water, and the long golden sandy beach. Above everything rises La Rocca, the massive rocky outcrop that dominates the town, and the compact size of Cefalù makes it easy to reach by train from Palermo in about an hour.

The emblematic monument is the Norman Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its Byzantine mosaics and the golden Christ Pantocrator in the apse; climbing the towers and panoramic rooftops is well worth the effort. The ascent of La Rocca, a 268 metre-high cliff reached via the Salita Saraceni, takes you past the remains of the Temple of Diana and the medieval castle, with a view that rewards the climb. In the centre, highlights include the evocative Medieval Wash House fed by the Cefalino river, the Mandralisca Museum with Antonello da Messina’s famous “Portrait of an Unknown Man”, the Old Harbour with its much-photographed pier, Corso Ruggero and Porta Pescara framing a perfect glimpse of sea.

The most popular stretch of sand is the Lungomare di Cefalù, a crescent of fine sand about one and a half kilometres long right next to the centre, with shallow seabed and a mix of free sections and equipped lidos; for a quieter setting, options include La Caldura, a cove of pebbles and rocks that is excellent for snorkelling, Mazzaforno about three kilometres away with a sequence of sandy and rocky coves, Settefrati where the Cefalù sea stacks rise from the water, and the small Kalura, a pebble cove reached by a stairway path. Sant’Ambrogio offers a calmer atmosphere for those seeking peace, while the breezy Capo Playa is a favourite with surfers and kite surfers.

Looking for a special perspective on the coastline? Have a look at our boat tour and snorkelling experience in Cefalù.

Marzamemi, the tonnara village

In south-eastern Sicily, in the province of Siracusa between Noto and Pachino, Marzamemi is one of the most scenic fishing villages on the island; at its heart lies Piazza Regina Margherita, opening onto the sea between the low fishermen’s houses and the old tuna fishery, and at sunset the scene is remarkable, which is why in summer the square fills with people and outdoor tables. The village is entirely pedestrian and has served as a set for several films, from Salvatores’ Sud to various episodes of Montalbano. The Tonnara di Marzamemi, one of the most important in eastern Sicily, is the structural and symbolic core of the village, with the Loggia degli Scieri and its elegant arches and the Palazzo del Principe di Villadorata, built in the mid-18th century together with the fishermen’s houses.

The two small churches, including the church of the tonnara, face onto the square; worth exploring on foot are the two tiny harbours, La Fossa and La Balata, the Casa del Forno and the narrow lanes of the centre. In the evening the village comes alive with fish restaurants, wine events and summer festivals. The best beaches are slightly to the north, towards Noto; the closest is San Lorenzo, on the edge of the Vendicari Nature Reserve, with fine sand and shallow water suitable for children. A couple of kilometres away lies the Cavettone bay, a golden sandy cove framed by rocks, and Spinazza, which can be reached on foot from the village. The Vendicari Reserve itself is easily worth a full day, one of the most beautiful protected areas on the island, with the beaches of Calamosche, Marianelli, Eloro and Vendicari and the pink flamingos resting in the salt marshes.

To explore this stretch of coast from the water, you can consider the boat excursion from Marzamemi to Vendicari.

Portopalo di Capo Passero, where Sicily ends

Still in the province of Siracusa, Portopalo is the southernmost village in Sicily, lying below the latitude of Tunis at the point where the Ionian Sea meets the Mediterranean; it is a fishing village with an active harbour and a landscape marked by two seas, small islands and lighthouses that give it a clear frontier character. The local economy combines fishing, agriculture – this is the area of Pachino IGP tomatoes – and a growing summer tourism. In front of the village stretches the Island of Capo Passero, reached by canoe, boat or even on foot at low tide, where you find the Fortress of Charles V, the warehouses of the old tuna fishery and the statue of Maria SS. Scala del Paradiso; further south, the Isola delle Correnti marks the exact point where the two seas meet, with a decommissioned lighthouse and often choppy waters that make it a small paradise for surfing and windsurfing.

Within the village, the Tonnara di Portopalo and Castello Tafuri deserve at least a look; the latter is an elegant early 20th century neo-Gothic residence frequently used as a film and photo set. The town beach is Scalo Mandrie, a shoreline mixing sand and rock with shallow water and a wide view of the tonnara and the Island of Capo Passero. Moving westwards you reach the beach facing the Isola delle Correnti, with the statue of Christ the Redeemer, then Carratois, a broad stretch of golden sand and turquoise water that is ideal for sunsets and windsurfing sessions. For those who prefer rocks and mask-and-fins, Punta delle Formiche offers clear water and rocky ledges, while on the Island of Capo Passero itself there is a strip of very fine amber sand.

Scopello, tuna fishery and sea stacks

In the province of Trapani, a hamlet of Castellammare del Golfo, Scopello is a tiny 17th century village perched on a rocky spur, made up of a handful of houses, a small square and the scent of pane cunzato; it serves as the main access point to the Zingaro Nature Reserve and takes its name from its rocky outcrops (from the Greek scopelos), the famous sea stacks standing in front of the tuna fishery.

The symbolic place is the Tonnara di Scopello, one of the oldest and best preserved tuna fisheries in Sicily, now open to visitors with an entrance ticket; inside you can see anchors, old boats, nets and the watchtowers, including the one designed by Camillo Camilliani in the 16th century. In front of it rise the three sea stacks clad in vegetation, a backdrop used in films such as Ocean’s Twelve, Inspector Montalbano and Màkari. In the village, the 18th century baglio with its courtyard, the Church of Maria SS. delle Grazie and the old watering trough are worth a short stroll.

The Spiaggia dei Faraglioni is accessed through the tonnara: it is not a sandy beach but a combination of concrete platforms and pebbles with an easy entrance to the sea suitable even for children, and unforgettable snorkelling. More unspoilt is Cala Mazzo di Sciacca, a small cove of pebbles and sand immersed in nature and reached on foot from the car park; nearby, Guidaloca offers a long arc of light shingle with both free and equipped sections, and Cala Bianca provides a more secluded setting. From Scopello start the coastal paths of the Zingaro Reserve, seven kilometres of coastline with coves such as Cala Capreria and Cala dell’Uzzo.

San Vito Lo Capo, Caribbean-like beach and couscous

At the north-western tip of Sicily, in the province of Trapani, San Vito Lo Capo lies between Monte Monaco and the Zingaro Reserve; it is famous for its long white sandy beach with almost Caribbean hues, for the low whitewashed houses of its centre and for a strong culinary identity built around fish couscous. In the heart of the village stands the Sanctuary of San Vito Martire, a 15th century church-fortress with thick walls, originally conceived to protect the faithful from pirate raids; also noteworthy are the small Moorish-style Chapel of Santa Crescenzia and Via Venza, decorated with murals and old watering troughs turned into flowerbeds. A pleasant walk leads to the lighthouse, in operation since 1859, while about three kilometres away rises the atmospheric Tonnara del Secco, now abandoned and under the care of FAI. For those who enjoy hiking, Monte Monaco and Monte Cofano offer panoramic trails.

The main beach stretches for almost three kilometres of fine white sand at the foot of Monte Monaco, with shallow, transparent water and extensive facilities, including a section equipped for people with disabilities (Spiaggia Zero Barriere); to escape the peak crowds, Baia di Santa Margherita towards Macari offers a quieter and wilder scenario, while the small cove of Bue Marino, often listed among the most beautiful beaches in Italy, rewards early arrivals. The coves of the Zingaro Reserve, such as Tonnarella dell’Uzzo and Cala Capreria, remain highlights, reached on foot along one of the most scenic coastal paths in the country.

Lipari, capital of the Aeolian Islands

The largest of the Aeolian Islands, in the province of Messina, Lipari has the feel of a small town and serves as the main hub for all the other islands in the archipelago; its character combines the lively centre, with bars, workshops and restaurants, with quiet plateaus, jagged coastlines and a volcanic landscape that makes its beaches distinctive. Lipari is an ideal base for those who wish to explore the Aeolian Islands at a measured pace, staying several days.

The heart of the settlement is the Castle, the fortified citadel (the “Civita”) enclosed within the massive 16th century walls ordered by Charles V and inhabited since the Neolithic period; within the walls stand the “Luigi Bernabò Brea” Aeolian Archaeological Museum, one of the most important in the Mediterranean, the Cathedral of San Bartolomeo with its Norman cloister and the Archaeological Park with Greek sarcophagi. In town, Marina Corta, the small harbour that concentrates much of the evening life, and Corso Vittorio Emanuele invite slow walks. A few kilometres away the Belvedere di Quattrocchi offers the island’s most spectacular viewpoint, with the sea stacks of Pietra Lunga and Pietra Menalda and the island of Vulcano in the background; further sights include the former pumice quarries towards Acquacalda and a full circuit of the island by boat.

The best-known and most equipped beach is Canneto on the eastern coast, a long strip of dark sand and pebbles with all services and a family-friendly atmosphere; Spiaggia Bianca owes its turquoise shades to the pumice dust in the seabed and is easily reached by boat, as is the small Praia di Vinci at the southern tip, accessible only from the sea from Marina Corta. Dramatic and volcanic, Valle Muria lies beneath the Belvedere di Quattrocchi with its black and reddish sand, while Acquacalda has a wilder feel. For moving between coves, renting a scooter or relying on boats remains the most practical option.

To experience the Aeolian Islands from the sea, there are day mini-cruises and weekly cruises around the islands.

Favignana, the island of tufa quarries

The largest of the Egadi Islands, off the coast of Trapani, Favignana is almost entirely flat and ideal to explore by bicycle; it lies within the largest marine protected area in Europe, has waters of remarkable clarity and colours, and an identity shaped by tuna fishing and the traditional mattanza. The centre is a small, lively village of shops and restaurants, with the harbour where fishing boats return in the morning. A key stop is the Ex Stabilimento Florio, the imposing former tuna plant now converted into an industrial archaeology museum that tells the story of the Florio family and tuna processing and preserves finds from the 241 BC Battle of the Egadi; inside there is also a recovery centre for Caretta caretta sea turtles. On the highest point of the island stands the Castello di Santa Caterina, a Norman fortress now semi-abandoned but offering a superb panorama over the Egadi and the Sicilian coast. The best way to explore Favignana remains the bicycle, following lanes bordered by dry stone walls and old tufa quarries.

The most famous cove is Cala Rossa, an amphitheatre of cliffs and former tufa quarries with intensely turquoise water, often ranked among the most beautiful in Italy; there is no sand here, access is from the rocks, and it is ideal for dives and snorkelling. Families generally prefer Cala Azzurra, with its shallow sandy seabed, while Lido Burrone is the only fully equipped beach, broad and lined with white sand. Among the most evocative spots are Bue Marino, shaped by the tufa quarries and loved by those who enjoy jumping from the rocks, and Cala Rotonda, known for the Arco di Ulisse, a natural arch carved into the rock. All coves are easily reached by bicycle or scooter.

For a broader view of Sicily’s coastal villages and to plan stays and activities tailored to your interests, you can explore our section on tailor-made trips in Sicily, designed around specific preferences and travel needs.

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