The Best things to do in Agrigento
When it comes to the best things to do in Agrigento, there is quite a lot to keep you busy. It is a very historical town in Sicily, sitting on the south coast of the island on a hilltop. Its history dates back to about 582 BC, founded by Greek colonists.
I went to Agrigento initially because of that deep history, as it is home to the Valley of the Temples, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. I was driving around Sicily and simply could not miss it. However, when I was visiting Agrigento, I could not just go to the Valley of the Temples. I had to explore other things to do, as I was there for three days. So I hope this gives you a good basis of some of the best things to do in Agrigento when you are on holiday.
What to do in Agrigento?
Check out the Scala dei Turchi.
I will start off with the famous Scala dei Turchi, as I love visiting all the beaches when I am on holiday. Scala dei Turchi is a famous rocky white cliff that you do not want to miss. It is so Instagrammable. Check out the image below.
The name actually means the stairs of the Turks. It is not a real staircase but actually a really, really nice white cliff going into the ocean. The rock formation looks like stairs, and that is where the Scala came from. The last part of the name actually comes from when there were Turkish pirates in the past. What they did was they found shelter in that area because it was more protected from the winds.
Whatever you do, you have to go here and bring your swimmers because there is beautiful turquoise water. It can get a little bit busier in the summer, like July and August, and you will get a lot of locals there.
Also, the price to go down is free, but there are some scammers who will try to charge you 5 euros.
San Leone beach
My next area, if you are looking to hang out by the ocean, is San Leone Beach. This is a huge sandy beach. Because it is a little bit larger than the Scala dei Turchi area, you can relax and not be bothered by all the crowds.
If you want to get close to this beach and you are driving, there are parking metres, so you will have to pay, but it is fairly inexpensive. If you go a little bit earlier, you might be able to find free parking. Just remember the parking rules within Italy, so make sure to read my Agrigento travel guide to learn about parking in the area.
On top of that, they have a really nice promenade, and you will be close to some of the best restaurants in Agrigento. So if you are there until the evening at the beach, you can have an Aperitivo and watch the sunset, which is a really nice thing to do. A really unique thing to do in Agrigento.
Visit the archaeological site of the Valley of the Temples.
If you are into history, this is the main thing to do in Agrigento, and that is to visit the archaeological sites of the Valley of the Temples. The Valley of the Temples is a UNESCO site and the main reason people come to Agrigento. The valley itself has 7 temples, which have all been built between 480 and 5 BC. I would recommend going to all of them.
Temple of Concordia
The first one is the Temple of Concordia. This is probably the best-preserved one. It was actually turned into a church. The name itself, Concordia, was the Roman goddess of harmony. The temple was turned into a basilica in the 6th century and looks awesome at night. If you are staying in a hotel in Agrigento with a view of the Valley of the Temples, this one is incredible after dark.
Temple of Hera or Juno
A few metres away is the Temple of Juno, which was built around 450 BC, making it one of the oldest ones. The Temple of Hera or Juno is a Doric temple, however not much is remaining from that one as you can see in this picture.
Temple of Hercules
If you like heroes, you have got the Temple of Hercules. However, this only has about eight columns left. There was an earthquake that almost destroyed it completely. So unfortunately not much to see, but if you are in the area you might as well snap some photos.
Temple of Olympian Zeus
If you want to see something really impressive, there is the Temple of Olympian Zeus. This was the largest Doric temple that was ever built. However, it was never actually completed. Now it has just a few ruins inside. So unfortunately you will not really see much of this one, but it is good to be part of the history.
Temple of Castor and Pollux
Next up is the Temple of Castor and Pollux. This one only has a few columns left, but they are very, very high and look like they are actually going to fall off. What is special about this temple is that Castor and Pollux were the twin sons of Zeus and the Queen of Sparta.
Temple of Hephaestus
Very close to the Temple of Zeus also lies the Temple of Hephaestus. What was special about this one is that it was named after the Greek god of blacksmiths, artisans, and sculptors. However, this is again pretty much all in rubble, so not much to see, just a few bits of foundation.
Temple of Asclepius
Lastly, there is the Temple of Asclepius. What was special about this one is that it attracted a lot of people searching for remedies for their diseases and ailments. It was dedicated to the god of medicine. There are still a few remains to be seen there, but not too much.
So if you are looking at what to do in Agrigento, this is probably the number one thing that should be on your itinerary. To get access to the Valley of the Temples, you need to buy a ticket, so it does cost.
I would probably recommend booking in advance because during the summer it does get pretty busy and you will get a queue. If you are into history, they do have details there, but I would probably recommend booking a guided tour. You can get those in multiple languages. Whenever I am looking at what to see in Agrigento, I like to have someone actually tell me the history more in depth.
Valley of the Temples opening hours
If you are wondering what the Valley of the Temples opening hours are, it is actually pretty good. It is open every day, Monday to Sunday, from 8:30 AM to 8 PM. If you go a little bit late, the last admission to get inside is 7 PM. I think the opening hours are quite good for such a popular place to visit.
Explore the old town in Agrigento
My next thing on the best things to do in Agrigento is exploring the old town. Agrigento is a very walkable town. It is quite small, and you can see the map in my Agrigento travel guide if you are walking or would like to bring a car and check out the ZTL area. There are a lot of very old Baroque buildings in the town.
Cattedrale di San Gerlando
Some things I visited were the Cattedrale di San Gerlando. This was a Roman Catholic church that was built in the 11th century.
Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Greci
You have also got the Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Greci. It was named that because it was occupied by Greek monks who chose it as their cathedral for the Greek Orthodox rite. Inside you can actually see a few of the surviving columns of the Greek temple beneath glass panels. Pretty cool to see. It is pretty small inside, but it is very pretty. That is definitely something to check out when you are thinking about what to see in Agrigento.
There are many old baroque buildings in the old town. There is the Cattedrale di San Gerlando, a roman catholic church built in the 11th century dedicated to the bishop of the Agrigento St Gerland. Nearby is Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Greci which was built in 1200 and named because it was occupied by Greek monks who chose it as the cathedral of the greek orthodox rite. You can see the surviving columns of the Greek temple in the walls beneath glass panels.
Enjoy the nature at the local gardens
Il Giardino Bonamorone
If you like walking around and like nature, there is an ancient garden called Il Giardino Bonamorone. This is a 40,000 square metre area filled with oak trees and olive trees. This garden is about a 10 to 15 minute walk away from the city centre and has really nice views of both the ocean and the Valley of the Temples.
If you are into olives, they have a few different types of olive trees, such as the olive tree of lovers, the wild boar olive, and a huge olive tree of Bonamorone.
Giardino Botanico Agrigento
Keeping on the theme of gardens, you have the Giardino Botanico Agrigento. This is actually on the way to the Valley of the Temples and they have about 20,000 different plants, flowers, and trees. A little bit more to see than the last garden.
Last time I checked, entry is also free, so a great free thing to do in Agrigento. It also has a museum of herbs and seeds from the 19th century. If you bring your lunch with you, they have natural caves and terraces with a really nice view of the Valley of the Temples. It is actually a really nice thing to do with the family.
I would note that they are only open Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 13:30. Some days they open a little bit later, like Tuesday and Thursday, but always double-check.
Giardino della Kolymbetra
Next up is the Giardino della Kolymbetra. This is actually right next to the Valley of the Temples. This place has been around for a very long time, however the gardens fell into ruin in the 20th century until it was restored.
You can find citrus fruits, old olive trees, almonds, and orange blossom. They also have new routes to see the underground chambers.
The opening hours change every month but tend to be from 10 AM to 4 PM. Sometimes they also have weddings there, so just double-check on the website before you go. Agrigento has a lot of green space, which I really love.
Go to the Museo Archeologico Regionale di Agrigento
If you are looking for more things to do in Agrigento and are into history, you have the Museo Archeologico Regionale di Agrigento. This is where you will see a lot of things that have been dug up from the Valley of the Temples and also from the surrounding areas. You will not see much of that at the actual valley because it has been put in the museum.
They have about 15 rooms to explore, and you will see items from the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. What I like about it is that a lot of the details are in English. I have been to other places where I have had to translate everything, but they have done the translation for you. It will explain where the artefacts come from in detail. The museum is very well-maintained.
With this one, I would probably advise going to the temples first in the morning before it gets too hot, and then finishing up in the museum. It is closer to the town, and then you can pop over for lunch at one of the restaurants in Agrigento town centre on the way back.
Go shopping at the Agrigento Markets
Shopping is also one of my top things to do in Agrigento and in Italy. They have a few boutique shops but also a market in the city centre.
The market in Agrigento, last time I checked, is only open on Friday, so make sure to double check. It is open from 7 AM but only for a few hours. You can find fresh fruit and vegetables, but also you will find the farmers where you can get artisan and local cheeses, for instance.
It is open from 7 AM to 1 PM. To find it, it is at Piazzale Ugo La Malfa.
The Almond Blossom Festival
Next is a seasonal thing to do in Agrigento, and that is the Almond Blossom Festival. This only happens once a year in March. It was started to celebrate the blooming of the almond flower. During March you will see a lot of folklore performances, ceremonies in the Valley of the Temples, dance shows in the Pirandello Theatre, and also street festivals.
So if you are here in Agrigento in March, you do not want to miss it. The only thing I will note is that it is going to be hard to find parking because a lot of people come to see this. If you can get in, you usually have to stand by the side, but there is some incredible music and dancing to watch. It is something you will remember hopefully, for the rest of your life.
I hope you like my guide. If you have been to Agrigento and have any other tips, please leave a comment in the box below so we can add to our guide and give our readers more value.
FAQs about things to do in Agrigento
Is the town of Agrigento worth visiting?
Yes. If you are into history, the Valley of the Temples is definitely worth visiting, along with all the gardens. But if you have got a few days there, Agrigento has some really nice beaches, and I talked about this a little bit earlier with Scala dei Turchi.
Is Agrigento walkable?
Agrigento is definitely walkable in the city, however it does take a bit of time to get to the Valley of the Temples. So you can either drive there or, if you have lots of time, you can walk there.
What are some unique things to do in Agrigento?
It has got to be seeing the Valley of the Temples, but also visiting the Giardino Botanico Agrigento or the Giardino Bonamorone. But the ultimate unique thing to do in Agrigento, which only happens in March, is going to the Almond Blossom Festival. If you are visiting in March, I hope this guide has given you all the details you need.
Extra trips for what to see in Agrigento?
Just some extra tips when planning your trip to Agrigento. The Valley of the Temples temples are pretty far apart, so make sure to bring some solid walking shoes with you. Also, like I said a little bit earlier, try to visit the temples early, especially during the summer, because it gets very hot in Agrigento.
On top of that, bring a hat, some sunnies, and some sunscreen. There are also a few restaurants in Agrigento by the Valley of the Temples, but the main bulk of them sit within the city.