Astoria Palace Hotel
Seven days is enough time to experience the very best of Sicily – dream beaches, ancient temples, picturesque villages, unspoilt nature and culinary delights? Absolutely. Western Sicily offers all of this and can be explored in a week without rushing.
We’ve devised a seven-day Sicily itinerary starting and finishing in Palermo that covers all the major attractions in the western part of the region.
Why start and finish in Palermo? Because of the numerous budget flights available from its airport and the competitive car hire rates, but also because the city itself deserves proper attention – it’s a stunning place where opulent Baroque art sits alongside the vibrant energy of working-class neighbourhoods. It’s also the perfect place to begin exploring Sicily’s incredibly rich gastronomic tradition: Palermo street food is legendary!
From the captivating chaos of the capital, you’ll venture into the peace of one of Italy’s most beautiful nature reserves and visit one of Italy’s most charming villages. You’ll continue at a leisurely pace with a stop on an island that’s a magnificent relaxation oasis, followed by a day devoted to the pleasures of wine. The grand finale is a journey back more than a thousand years!
Our self-drive itinerary through western Sicily has been carefully planned to help you make the most of the sights, with stops spaced out thoughtfully and a varied mix of attractions to suit all tastes. It includes all the must-see attractions, but also leaves time for some well-deserved holiday laziness.
On the first day you’ll only use the car to get from Palermo-Punta Raisi airport to the centre of Palermo1. Once you’ve dropped off your luggage at your hotel, head straight out to explore Sicily’s capital – it’s a large city with plenty to see.
The Palazzo dei Normanni, the Cathedral and the Church of the Martorana are precious testaments to the different peoples and cultures that have shaped Palermo’s character; the Four Corners and the Teatro Massimo are celebrations of Baroque art.
Spend at least half a day admiring the city’s architectural masterpieces, but don’t wear yourself out – save your energy for Palermo’s lively nightlife. The best areas to spend the evening are Borgo Vecchio, Candelai and Kalsa (ideal for younger visitors), Vucciria (suitable for all), and Champagneria and Quartiere Libertà (the upmarket areas).
Spend the morning of the second day visiting Palermo attractions you didn’t get to on day one.
Don’t miss Ballarò and the other historic markets, whether exploring them alone or taking a street food tour; for those who enjoy unusual attractions, we recommend the Catacombs of the Capuchin Convent, where the mummified remains of over 2,000 people are preserved.
If you’re eager to get to the sea, an alternative is to spend the morning at the nearby Mondello Beach2.
Have an early lunch and head to Monreale3. Try to arrive in time to admire an architectural marvel that draws visitors from all over the world: the Monreale Cathedral is a Baroque jewel with Arabic influences that absolutely shouldn’t be missed.
Spend the rest of the day relaxing as you stroll through the town centre, enjoying the cool of the Belvedere Park or climbing to the top of the San Martino le Scale hill for lovely views.
The third stop on your western Sicily itinerary is dedicated entirely to nature. You decide whether to focus on beach life or hiking: the Zingaro Reserve4 is one of Sicily’s most beautiful natural areas, with breathtakingly beautiful beaches and fascinating woodland trails. It’s equally perfect for lazy holidaymakers dreaming of carefree days lounging in the sun and active hikers who love exploring mountains and forests on foot.
There are two entrances: the southern entrance at Scopello5 (closest to Palermo, about 12 km from Castellamare del Golfo) and the northern entrance at San Vito lo Capo. Unfortunately there’s no shuttle service connecting the two entrances, so you’ll need to plan your day based on walking distances from where you leave your car.
If you want to spend the day on the beach, we recommend leaving your car in San Vito lo Capo (where you’ll stay overnight) and walking to Tonnarella dell’Uzzo: considered one of Sicily’s most beautiful beaches, it also has the advantage of being closest to the entrance and therefore easily accessible.
If you prefer to walk further, leave your car at Scopello, take the 7 km coastal path and return along the same route to pick up your car. In this case too, we recommend staying overnight in San Vito Lo Capo6: this charming fishing village nestled between Monte Monaco and the Piana dell’Egitarso plain is an essential stop on any western Sicily itinerary.
The longer trails are recommended only for experienced hikers able to cover more than 15 km on foot in a day.
For dinner, don’t miss a dish of fish couscous, a delicious local specialty that the town has even dedicated an important gastronomic festival to.
The fourth stop brings you back to city life, but only briefly. Once you arrive in Trapani7, drop your luggage at your hotel and take the historic cable car up to Erice8: this charming village perched on top of a 750-metre mountain is considered one of Italy’s most beautiful hilltop towns.
Wander aimlessly through its labyrinthine medieval centre, full of towers, artisan shops, historic buildings and picturesque corners. Take time to stop at the viewpoints and enjoy splendid views over the sea. If you’re lucky enough to visit on a clear day, you might even see the coast of Tunisia!
Back in Trapani, visit the Church of the Purgatorio to admire the famous Mysteries: wooden effigies depicting scenes from the Passion of Jesus that are only brought out of the church during the procession at Easter.
Other noteworthy Trapani attractions include the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, the Tower of Ligny and the lively Fish Market.
It’s time to dedicate an entire day to the magnificent sea that has made Sicily famous worldwide. Easily reached from Trapani, the Island of Favignana9 is the ideal destination for swimming in crystal-clear waters and admiring enchanting landscapes. Plus, there are no cars on the island – a fantastic opportunity to unwind!
If you love the sea, we recommend taking a boat trip: this way you can discover caves and inlets unreachable by land and swim in particularly scenic spots that your guides will show you.
Alternatively, explore the island on your own. Take the ferry or better yet the hydrofoil (slightly more expensive but faster); once you arrive in Favignana, hire a bicycle and set off around the island. Cala Rossa, Favignana’s most famous beach, is a must-visit; choose your other stops from Cala Azzurra, Lido Burrone, Cala Monaci, Marasolo or other smaller, lesser-known coves.
For a more romantic option, instead of doing a day trip you could stay overnight on the island and return to Trapani the next morning just to collect your car. If you wake up early, you’ll still have time for one last swim before saying goodbye to this enchanting island!
Given that the final stage involves quite a bit of driving, day six requires just one journey of 25 km from Trapani to Marsala10, one of the culinary capitals of a region as renowned for food and wine as Sicily.
This charming town is universally famous for its eponymous wine: your itinerary must include a visit to the historic Florio Cellars.
If you’re an enthusiast, you can have a wine-themed day by continuing with a visit to the Pellegrino Cellars and the wine museum at Montalto Cellars.
If one visit and tasting is enough for you, you can choose to visit one or more of the many museums in the town, including the interesting Garibaldi Museum and the Salt Museum. Nature lovers can spend the rest of the day in the nearby Stagnone Reserve11, which also includes the small island of Mozia.
The general advice is to take your time: leave without rushing and spread out your various cultural visits throughout the day, without having to dash about.
For your final day we’ve scheduled an unmissable attraction to dispel any holiday blues: the Temples of Selinunte12. This is one of the most evocative archaeological sites not just in Sicily but throughout the Mediterranean, and one of the largest in Europe.
A visit to the park takes between 2 and 6 hours, so you can plan your day based on when you want to leave for Palermo.
If you have a strong interest in ancient history, you can spend the entire day in Selinunte visiting the park at leisure and then moving on to the Selinunte Civic Museum, which displays numerous artefacts from the archaeological park.
If you’d prefer one last swim in the sea before leaving Sicily, the beaches at Marinella and Triscina are within easy reach, but with 40 minutes’ drive you can reach the charming seaside town of Sciacca13, full of beautiful beaches and splendid buildings.
It will take you about an hour and a half to drive back to Palermo (whether from Selinunte or Sciacca), so if you have an evening flight you can leave in the afternoon; if your flight is the next morning, you can depart at a more leisurely pace in the evening.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
The itinerary we’ve presented is just one of many seven-day travel plans you can do in western Sicily. You can easily tailor it to your preferences and interests, as this part of Sicily has so much to offer in terms of both natural beauty and cultural attractions.
One possible variation, which will certainly appeal to many travellers, is to swap Selinunte for Agrigento to see the legendary Valley of the Temples and, weather permitting, take a relaxing break at Scala dei Turchi, a beach with a rather distinctive character. The distance to Palermo is slightly longer than the original itinerary (two hours rather than one and a half), but the journey from Marsala becomes considerably longer: you could break up the journey by leaving the evening before and staying in Sciacca, which is roughly halfway.
Archaeology enthusiasts can cut back on time in some towns or skip certain stops to add the aforementioned Valley of the Temples and other historically fascinating attractions such as Menfi (just 20 km from Selinunte) and Segesta (80 km from Palermo).
Beach lovers, on the other hand, can skip some cultural stops and include the charming fishing village of Isola delle Femmine or combine a visit to Favignana with Marettimo, another of the Egadi islands.
To add a touch of romance to your trip, set aside a day for Cefalù: it’s further east than the other locations on this itinerary, but it only takes an hour from Palermo, so you can easily slot it in at the beginning or end of your holiday.
Finally, if you have more time available, discover our suggestions for a two-week tour of Sicily.
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