Beaches in Sicily

If you have come to enjoy the Sicilian beaches you will be pleased to learn that there is a lot of accommodation available almost right on the sand itself with campgrounds, b&bs and other resorts in proliferation throughout these areas. Many of these tend to be seasonal only and a lot start closing after the main holiday of Ferragosto, August 15, so if you plan to visit after this period you should ensure services are still available and accommodation is still open.

Here are some of the key places to visit around the island. Enjoy. Oh and one final thing, lido is Italian for beach.

Beaches in the east coast of Sicily

The illustrious resort town of Taormina is probably most renowned on this coastal stretch for its beaches. Lido Mazzaro is possibly the most popular of these. The crowds tend to gather just past Capo Sant'Andrea where the tiny Isola Bella lies. Join them to sunbathe on the beach or don a mask and snorkel to explore underwater or jump in a pedal boat to cruise around.

The waters around Siracusa are also very nice and there are a few nice stretches on the island of Ortigia. South of Siracusa there are a number of campgrounds along the coast such as at Lido Arenella, Ognina and Fontane Bianche. There is also a splendid wetlands reserve on the coast south of Noto with marshes and a superb beach. A walking track runs the whole length of the reserve and worth the effort if you have time and can wrench yourself off the sands.

Beaches in the west coast of Sicily

This region for this purpose includes the area from Trapani to Agrigento.

The best beaches near Trapani lie just to the east (see the section above). To the south of Trapani are the uninhabited Stagnone islands, however while these are picturesque, tourists usually come to see the process of salt extraction rather than lie on the beach. Still it’s a nice place to visit and there are some good eating places nearby.

One of Sicily's most pristine beaches is located further south on this coast at Eraclea Minoa about 30km from Agrigento.

Beaches in the north coast of Sicily

The northern Sicilian coast is particularly superb and as a result can be very busy in summer. But that is for good reason as the beaches are probably the best on the island. Highlights along this coast include the pretty town of Cefalu renowned for its mosaics in the duomo and also the colourful fishing boats on its shores. It has a nice beach set below a rocky outcrop. East of here the coast stretches towards Milazzo, but just before this are a gorgeous set of coastal lakes at Oliveri. These are part of the Riserva Naturale Orientata Laghetti di Marinello and well worth stopping off at for a few days of seaside enjoyment.

If you headed west from Cefalu instead, one of the seaside stops you should make is San Vito Lo Capo. This is possibly Sicily's best beach with a gorgeous stretch of white sand below an enormous promontory. It's also located very close to the Parco dello Zingaro, a marine reserve with superb walking, bird watching and swimming. From here there are two superb coastal stretches right around to Trapani including the Golfo di Cofano and Golfo di Bonagia. We must not forget to mention town Scopello and it's splendid beach.

Beaches in the south coast of Sicily

This region for this purpose includes the area from Agrigento to Portopalo di Capo Passero.

Probably the best beaches on this stretch are those in the very far south particularly at Portopalo. This small town has an active fishing and boating life and two islands just off the coast which locals say you can swim to in summer. There are some splendid camping grounds on this southern tip with fantastic views across to the islands.

Beaches on the Sicilian Islands

Sicily has a number of fantastic island groupings. These include the Aeolian Islands north of Messina, Ustica north off the coast from Palermo and the Egadi islands west of Trapani. You can arrive on these islands by hydrofoil and ferry from port cities nearby. Schedules are far more frequent in the summer months. The Aeolian Islands are particularly renowned for their volcanic origins and the island of Vulcano has some splendid mud baths to enjoy and a trek to a crater. The Egadi Islands and Ustica are very good for snorkeling and diving.