The Trapani Travel Guide
Welcome to my Trapani travel guide. Trapani was one of my last stops on my trip around Sicily, and honestly, it blew me away. It is a pretty large city with a population of around 67,000.
It has a lot of history, having been ruled by multiple rulers such as the Normans and the Romans. So there is a lot of historic architecture here. Trapani is also very close to the Egadi Islands and the famous town of Erice. I hope you enjoy this Trapani travel guide.
What Trapani is known for
History and architecture
First of all, Trapani has a lot of history and baroque architecture. You have the 14th century Cattedrale di San Lorenzo, Palazzo della Giudecca, which sits in the Jewish part of town, and the Chiesa delle Anime Sante del Purgatorio, which has been around since 1688. I have a whole blog on the best things to do in Trapani if you want to start there.
Salt production
Trapani is very well known for its salt production. It has a lot of salt pans that have been in operation for centuries, producing high-quality salt. It also attracts a lot of bird life, such as pink flamingos, so you can see those out in the salt pans.
Fishing and seafood
Because Trapani sits right on the edge of Sicily, right next to the ocean, it has a really great fishing industry. Restaurants in Trapani serve some of the freshest seafood you are ever going to get. So you will find a lot of fish and shellfish on the menus here.
The Egadi Islands
You are just a short ferry trip from the Egadi Islands, such as Favignana, Levanzo, and Marettimo. These islands have crystal clear waters and beautiful beaches. There are also lots of things to do in Trapani with the Egadi Islands, such as swimming, snorkelling, and exploring caves.
Languages spoken in Trapani
Trapani has its own Italian dialect called Trapanese. So you have Italian, but in Sicily they have a dialect, and this is a slight variation of that. Trapani is quite a popular town, so a lot of people will speak Italian.
But when you are out sightseeing or going a little further out, I would recommend brushing up on a few Italian words. Something like Duolingo is a good app to learn on.
Best time to Visit Trapani
I visited in September, which was beautiful, around 28 degrees. Temperatures range from about 8 degrees up to about 30 degrees, and you do get those ocean gust making it a little bit chillier.
The rain starts to come in around September and October, all the way through to December, and then it starts easing off around March. For this Trapani travel guide, I would say late spring or early summer is probably the sweet spot.
How to get around Trapani
Getting to Trapani is pretty easy, thanks to its small size and convenient access to major airports. Here are some helpful tips for getting around:
The plane to Trapani
Trapani has its own international airport called Trapani Birgi Vincenzo Florio. Some routes are a little limited, though. If you are flying from New York, it is about 10.5 hours with a layover in Rome. Things change, but that was the situation last time I checked.
Buses in Trapani
Trapani is quite a compact town, and the buses are pretty good. However, Sicily is known for cancellations. The main bus service is the ATM Line. To get from the Trapani airport into town, you take the AST bus line, though that does take about 50 minutes.
The car
A car is probably the easiest way to get around Trapani and from the airport. From the airport, it takes about 20 minutes, though you do have to factor in picking up your rental car.
If you are coming from mainland Italy, you will need to take a ferry from the mainland to Messina Port, and from there it takes about 3.5 hours to reach Trapani. It is a beautiful drive along the north coastline of Sicily. When I was travelling around, I took a little longer because I was just enjoying myself.
Ferry to Trapani
The ferry is really for getting to or from the Egadi Islands. It takes about 25 minutes to reach most of the islands. Ferries are limited though, so double check before you go.
Trains in Trapani
Getting the train from Trapani Airport into town takes about an hour. There is no train station at the airport, so you have to walk about 30 minutes to the nearest one, which is called Mozia Birgi. Once you are on the train it only takes 20 minutes, but getting to the station from the airport does take a bit of time.
The train is more useful if you are traveling around sicily then using it to get to the airport in my opinion.
Taxi's in Trapani
I would actually say taxis are a very convenient way to get around, especially from the airport to the city centre, which takes about 20 minutes. Last time I checked there was a fixed rate of €30, so it is not too bad. The taxi company I used was Taxi Trapani. It is handy if you are going out and want to have a few drinks without worrying about driving. Just call up Taxi Trapani.
Parking in Trapani & Zona Traffico Limitato (ZTL) areas in Trapani
This is something I researched a lot before my first trip to Italy. You do not want to park in the wrong place, and it can be confusing knowing who you even pay fines to.
When it comes to parking in Trapani, white lines usually mean free parking. However, if there is a sign above saying resident parking, you cannot park there. Blue lines mean you can park there if there is no resident sign, but you do have to pay.
You can either find a parking meter or buy a ticket from a local tobacco shop. A lot of tobacco shop owners do not speak much English, so what I recommend is the EasyPark app. It lets you pay for parking in the language of your choice; you just put in your number plate, and you are sorted.
ZTL In Trapani
Now, the thing I really want to highlight in this Trapani travel guide is the ZTL zones. ZTL stands for Zona Traffico Limitato. These areas are restricted to reduce traffic and preserve historical areas. Only authorised vehicles are allowed in, and in some cases, local residents are also restricted at certain times.
The ZTL in Trapani is quite tight. If you drive into a ZTL zone, you will get a fine. In some areas, if you leave your car there after a certain time, you could find yourself trapped or in your rental car getting towed. So please be aware of the Trapani ZTL zones before you drive.
Trapani ztl zone
If you are looking at Trapani on the map, in the north, on the top left, it starts at the corner of Corso Vittorio Emanuele & Via Duca D'Aosta, running into Via Libertà and then into Lungomare Dante Alighieri. It then finished at the corner of Via Passo Mura di Tramontana.
On the east, you have a road running south from Via XXX Gennaio into Via Porta Galli, stopping at the corner of Via Ammiraglio Staiti & Via Porta Galli
Then, on the south, it runs from the corner of Via Duca D'Aosta & Viale Regina Elena to the corner of Via Ammiraglio Staiti & Via Porta Galli.
So you can drive on those roads around the Trapani ZTL; however, you cannot go inside.
ZTL Trapani map
I have made a Trapani ZTL map to make sure you do not go inside aswell. Do not go inside the shaded areas I have made within the Trapani ZTL zone.
If you have a car and are staying in the centre, check with the hotel or the closest parcheggio you can get is at Via XXX Gennaio, 51, 91100 Trapani TP, Italy. Keep to the left when driving down, and don't turn right into Via Porta Galli.
Also, if you cannot find parking there, paid parking is available at Via dei Grandi Eventi and Via Ilio. Last time I checked, they were only charging 10 cents an hour there. however to get into the town, they have a free shuttle. During the night, and if it's a slow night, they may cancel it.
Tip: Parking garages are often the easiest option, searchable as "Parcheggio" on Google Maps. For security, I try and find a hotel with parking included or for a small fee, around 5 - 10 euros for the day.
Some places to stay in Trapani
I have a full blog on the best hotels in Trapani if you want the deep dive, but here is a quick rundown of properties I liked.
- The Room of Andrea Hotel is a 4-star palace that was renovated into a luxury hotel in 2017. It is great for families. It has a rooftop swimming pool, a bar and a restaurant, and it is close to a lot of historical sites.
- The 4* Hotel Vittoria is very close to the beach and the old town centre. It has been owned by the Moncada family for five generations, so it has a lot of history, but also very good service. They also have their own arrangement with a private beach if you want to go swimming.
- Palazzo Gatto Art Hotel. If you are looking for something more modern, this is a very sleek property in the historical centre of Trapani. It used to be an 18th-century building and is now one of the best in the area. It has a beautiful rooftop bar and a spa.
- Hotel Tiziano. This is another 4-star hotel, and it is very quiet inside. I have had friends stay here. It has free parking, which is a major plus, and it sits just outside the ZTL area near Via Ilio, so you can get a shuttle into town if you want.
- Just outside town, near the salt farms, is the Relais Antiche Saline. This is a great place for families. It only has 18 rooms but has a really nice pool, free parking, and spa services.
How much should you budget for a trip to Trapani?
In terms of budget, Trapani is quite a cost-effective town to visit. Here is a rough daily breakdown per person:
Breakfast (if not included): around €20 Lunch: around €30 Dinner: around €50 Getting around and seeing the things to do in Trapani: around €30 An aperitivo out: around €30 Accommodation: around €70 on average, though this depends on the season
All in all, I would say around €230 per person per day.
| Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Breakfast (sometimes included in accommodation) | €20 |
| Lunch | €30 |
| Dinner | €50 |
| Tourist Activities | €30 |
| Going out | €30 |
| Accommodation | €70 |
| Total cost per day | €230 |
Top Travel Card to use in Trapani Sicily
Trapani is still quite cash-heavy, though a lot of places are now accepting cards. Rather than using your bank card, which can be expensive due to conversion fees, I found a card called Wise card. I have been using it for years and have saved a lot of money. It has a very low conversion fee.
You can use it to book properties in advance, too. If you do not have time to get a physical card, you can download it straight to your smartphone. It is one of those travel essentials for Europe I always recommend now.
How long should you stay in Trapani
I stayed in Trapani for 3 days myself, and it allowed me to visit most of the noteworthy places, such as the Duomo di San Lorenzo and the Ligny Tower. There are also a lot of great restaurants in Trapani to enjoy.
You can also take a day trip over to San Vito lo Capo, or add a couple of extra days to explore it properly. San Vito lo Capo is a small beach town and home to one of the best beaches in Sicily. It is very doable as a day trip from Trapani.
I hope you liked my Trapani travel guide. If you have any questions or have been there before and want to add something to this guide, please let us know in the comments below so we can give more value to our readers.
Trapani travel guide FAQs
Where is Trapani, Sicily?
Trapani sits on the far west side of Sicily. It is between San Vito lo Capo to the north and Marsala to the west. If you are travelling from Marsala it takes about 40 minutes by car, and from San Vito lo Capo it is about 50 minutes driving.
Trapani travel guide itinerary: how long do you need?
I would say 3 days gives you enough time to see the main sights, enjoy the food, and maybe fit in a day trip. If you want to explore San Vito lo Capo or head to the Egadi Islands, add a couple of extra days. Trapani also makes a great base for exploring the west of Sicily.
Is Trapani safe?
Yes. We travelled there as a couple, and it felt very safe. The people were very friendly. Just avoid dark alleyways at night as you would anywhere, but the centre is well-lit, and I felt comfortable the whole time.
Is Trapani worth visiting?
Absolutely. I have done a couple of road trips around Sicily, and Trapani is one of those places you just have to go to. It has a lot of history, some fantastic food, and you can take day trips from there to San Vito lo Capo or down to Marsala. It is a really good base. Plus, it has its own airport, so it is easy to get to.
Tip: As a helpful tip, I suggest considering booking your luxury Italian holiday before the year's end to secure the best options available.