11 best things to do in Trapani
What I love about Trapani is the history. It is actually a very large city, but you would not think it. It also has a fishing port, and it is a gateway to the Egadi Islands. When I was looking for what to see in Trapani, I spoke to our Italian family first, especially the ones from the south. There are so many things to do in Trapani that I want to share with you, so hopefully you will get some value from this guide.
There is no shortage of things to see and do in Trapani, here are the top ones:
1. Visit the Salt Pans of Trapani
Something I really liked first of all was checking out the salt pans of Trapani. You will need a car or a bus to get here. These are the salt flats called Saline di Trapani e Paceco. Salt is actually one of the major exports of the city. These areas are protected by the WWF.
What is interesting is that over the years production has increased, and because of that they get pink flamingoes. It is very hard to see this anywhere else in the world. It is an amazing thing to do, to get a shot of the pans and all of these birds. You will also be able to take pictures by the old windmill or buy the salt itself.
If you go there at sunset, head over to the Trattoria del Sale and sit outside. Because you will never be able to get that view again.
2. The salt museum
Also very close is the museum. You could just walk over there. It is located in an old mill from the 1400s. From here you can take a guided tour and learn all about the salt production activities and all the tools they use. It is a really cool thing to do with the kids. You will learn so much about the salt pans of Trapani.
3. Explore the Sanctuary of Maria Santissima Annunziata
I headed back to the city after the salt pans, and just after lunchtime I visited the Madonna of Trapani. This is a really nice cathedral just outside of the ZTL area, so not in the old town, just outside. There are a lot of beautiful paintings and statues, and it is a really nice place to visit.
It is open every single day from 7am to lunchtime and then in the afternoon. So make sure to plan your Trapani itinerary around those times. Last time I checked, entry was free.
4. Museo Regionale Conte Agostino Pepoli
Next door, literally about a 60-second walk, is a really important museum called the Museo Regionale Agostino Pepoli. Here you will be able to see a lot of the architecture and a lot of religious items. The museum was actually built between 1906 and 1908 and was originally based on Neapolitan paintings and a private collection from Count Sieri Pepoli. Then later in 1921 they started including archaeological items.
Something I did not expect was there was an actual guillotine with a basket to catch the head. And that was a real one, not a fake one. In terms of the price, last time I checked it was €8. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, however on Sunday it shuts at 1pm.
5. Cattedrale di San Lorenzo
A must-see on the list of what to do in Trapani is the Trapani Cathedral. If you are in the old town this will be very close by. This is a Baroque cathedral that was built in 1421 by the king of Aragon and the king of Sicily. Inside I love the ceilings. The walls also have these amazing paintings.
When I visited there was actually someone playing the organ, and you can really feel the music fill the whole cathedral. Entry was free when I went. Very similar to the other one, it is open Monday to Sunday in the morning and then in the afternoon. I visited in the morning and that is when I could hear the organs being played. It is also good to tick off before dinner.
6. Try some Kitesurfing in Trapani
Next up, and something I really loved, was kite surfing. It was probably one of the best things to do in Trapani if you are into sports. About 30 minutes away is the town of Marsala, and it is always very windy there. So you get a lot of wind coming in and kite surfing is really popular there.
I booked a one-on-one kite surfing session because I had never kite surfed before. It was probably one of the coolest things I have ever done. It was absolutely fantastic. It took me a few attempts, and that is why I definitely recommend booking personalized 1-on-1 kitesurfing session. But this was such a fun thing to do in Trapani.
7. Eat at the Annual Cous Cous Festival (September only)
Trapani is also a very good base. Another thing you could do is visit the town of San Vito lo Capo, which is just up to the north. It has one of the best beaches in Sicily, but I actually went there for the Cous Cous Festival.
You can only do this in September, as they have an annual couscous festival every September. Here you can try all the different couscous dishes from all over the world, and if you want to be part of the festival, you can book some tickets. There is also live music, and the atmosphere was great. They had an announcer, so this is a real top thing to do.
Hopefully, you will be there in September. The only thing I would say is that to get to San Vito lo Capo you will need a car or a taxi.
8. Indulge in Trapanese Cuisine
Similar to the couscous festival is the food. Trapani has some of the best food in Sicily and it is very well known for its couscous, hence the couscous festival up in San Vito lo Capo. If you are into trying new foods, there is seafood couscous, some really nice lobster, and there is also a local pasta that has Trapani pesto. It was incredible.
Trapanese cuisine is slightly different from other parts of Sicily. I would actually recommend reading my best restaurants in Trapani guide for the full picture on what to see in Trapani when it comes to food.
9. Stroll down Corso Vittorio Emanuele di Trapani
Next up on my things to do in Trapani Italy is walking in the old town. The main strip, which is an old pedestrian street, is called Corso Vittorio Emanuele. You will see some of the most incredible buildings and you can really soak in the vibe of Trapani. It is also very close to all the cafes and restaurants.
What I loved was all these little boutique shops scattered everywhere that you can go window shopping or check out. There are a lot of really nice shops to check out on the Corso.
10. Take a day trip to the famous Egadi Islands
Going back to my adventurous side, visiting the Egadi Islands was a highlight. I had no idea about the Egadi Islands before I went to Trapani, but I spoke to my family before the trip. About a 20-minute ferry ride from Trapani, there are these beautiful little islands called Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo. They have crystal-clear waters and amazing beaches.
I did not have time to go to all of them, but I went over to Favignana and spent the day there. You can rent a local scooter or rent a bicycle. We got the scooter because it is a little bit faster. Favignana had all these little spots and ocean views. I wish I could have spent more time, but only had the day. They also have restaurants on there and old castles you could visit.
If Levanzo and Marettimo were as good as Favignana, let me know in the comments below so I can write about it in the blog.
Other things you can do on the Egadi Islands are swimming and snorkelling. Because the ocean is so blue and light, especially in summer, you will be able to see some incredible sea life.
I would recommend booking a private tour. My friends did that. We went without a tour, but it sounded like the tour guides know exactly where everything is, so if you're short of time perfect.
11. Visit the town of Erice
My last awesome thing to do in Trapani, if you have an extra day, is visiting the town of Erice. Erice is a hilltop town about 20 minutes drive away from Trapani. It is a Phoenician and Greek settlement that overlooks the whole town of Trapani, San Vito lo Capo and also the Egadi Islands. It sits about 700 metres above sea level.
It is a very quiet historic old town. The streets are narrow and cobbled. It is just one of those old Italian towns with not many people in it. It also has a lot of medieval architecture such as the Venus Castle and the gardens of Balio. The town is actually known for its almond pastries.
Transport to Erice
I would go early in the morning. You can take a car, or they actually have a cable car that goes all the way up, which was absolutely fantastic. You can take in the views while going along in the cable car, and it is not that expensive. Very good if you do not have a car.
Food in Erice
Back to the almonds. There are actually a few pastry shops. The one I went to was Pasticceria Maria Grammatica. I will put the address in below. It does not look like much at all and there is not much that you can buy, but what I had was a crostata with custard and almond and it was so light and delicious.
Address: Via Vittorio Emanuele, 14, 91016 Erice TP, Italy
View points in Erice
It is quite a small town so you probably do not have to spend the whole day there, but I would definitely go over to the castles. There are viewpoints pretty much everywhere. If you want a really nice viewpoint looking east instead of towards the ocean, I will put the address below. It is a very nice day trip.
Viewpoint in the east to visit: Piazza S. Giovanni, 45, 91016 Erice TP, Italy
I hope you enjoyed my best things to do in Trapani guide. If you have any other highlights, please drop them in the comments below so I can share them with my readers.
Things to do in Trapani FAQ's
What are the top attractions and things to do in Trapani?
Some of best things to do in Trapani are going to the historic city centre, visiting the salt pans and taking a boat trip to the Egadi Islands.
What to see in Trapani old town
If you are right in the middle of Trapani city centre and thinking about what to see in Trapani old town, you have got to check out the Cathedral di San Lorenzo, which is the Baroque church I was talking about earlier. There is also a really nice beach called Spiaggia delle Mura di Tramontana.
If you want a beach day, that is a great option. There are also some really nice restaurants on that north side of Trapani that are great during sunset. I would also recommend, if you like shopping or just want to take in the vibe of the old town, walking up and down Corso Vittorio Emanuele. And if you have time, check out the Fontana di Saturno. It is a small historic fountain that is a little bit of a hidden secret in Trapani.
Things to do in Trapani with kids
If you have kids and you are thinking about what to do in Trapani with kids, I would definitely recommend visiting the salt pans of Trapani. They will love the pink flamingoes and also some of the history if they are old enough. Again, if they are old enough, kite surfing is a great one. I think the couscous festival in San Vito lo Capo will be a popular one too. And I reckon they will have a great time in Erice, especially in the cable car.
If they are a little bit older, I would also consider taking them to the Egadi Islands, but you might want to rent a car instead of a scooter. For a full list of accommodation in Trapani suitable for families, check out my guide.
What to see in Trapani in one day
If you are only in Trapani for one day it is going to be pretty limited, but here is my suggested itinerary of what to see in Trapani in one day.
In the morning, check out the Cathedral di Santa Lorenzo and make sure you walk along Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Then by about mid-morning, I would actually head up to Erice. I think it is a beautiful town and a great place to enjoy and have lunch.
Then in the afternoon, check out the salt pans of Trapani as they are probably one of the most visited things to do. In the evening, go back to the centre, check out the Fontana di Saturno and go somewhere nice to eat. I would recommend getting a seafood or fish couscous dish.