The 7 Best Beach Towns In Sicily

Discover the seven best beach towns in Sicily that offer the best beach vacations!

Many travelers understand that there are some pretty spectacular beaches in Sicily.  However, many are somewhat remote with few services or amenities.

With this in mind, we thought it would be a good idea to identify towns that not only offer a nice beach, but plenty of other activities to enjoy.

Criteria for the best beach towns in Sicily

To select the best beach towns in Sicily, we had a few criteria.

The most important criteria involves the town itself.  Are there other activities in the town to keep us entertained after a day on the beach?

Are there facilities, restaurants and bars at the beach itself?  Is there any historic significance to the town?  Does the town have aesthetic appeal?

Next is the quality of the beach itself.  Does the beach have clean and clear water?  Is the beach sandy or rocky?  Is the beach wide or narrow? Does the beach have good views?  Is the beach good for swimming?  Is the beach good for surfing/body surfing?

Based upon this criteria we arrived at the seven best beach towns in Sicily.  Keep in mind, these may not necessarily have the best beaches in Sicily, but they offer the best overall experience.

With the exception of a couple of these beach towns, the best way to get to any of these towns is by renting a car.  To find the best deals for renting a car in Sicily, check out Discover Cars.

Don’t forget to check out our Sicily Travel Guide!

#7 Castellamare del Golfo

Castellamare del Golfo is a small historic town located about an hour west of Palermo along the northwest coast of Sicily.

The name can be translated into Sea Fortress of the Gulf, which is related to the medieval fortress in the town’s harbor.

In more recent times, the primary source of income for the town has been fishing, while in recent years the town has also begun to attract tourists.

Rather notoriously, Castellamare del Golfo is the birthplace of such mafia figures as Salvatore Maranzano and Joseph Bonnano, among others.  Maranzano and Bonnano became powerful figures in New York’s underworld in the early part of the 20th century.

Similar to most of other towns on this list, the town has a small population of around 15,000 year-round.

Most of the action away from the beach is focused in the harbor area, where you will find some shops and restaurants.

During the day, this area is quite busy and noisy, as vehicles are allowed to pass through.  Later on, an area is blocked off to cars to allow only pedestrians.

The oldest part of the town is at the tip of the promontory where a citadel is situated.  From there you can head to the castle and then toward the more modern part of town, or cross over to a promenade that sits above the sea, providing spectacular views of the coast.

The main stretch of beach to visit is located to the east of town where there is a long sandy beach that stretches along the Golfo di Castellamare.  This area is lined with beach clubs and amenities so you can easily spend the day here.

The main appeal of the town is that it is halfway between Palermo to the east and the busy seaport of Trapani to the west.

Unfortunately, public transportation is not too effective in getting you to this small town very easily, so the best way to get here is by car.

If you are visiting Castellamare del Golfo, then you will also want to venture up to Scopello to the west.

#6 – Mondello

There can be no discussion of the best beach towns in Sicily without including Mondello.  Mondello is the small beach town located closest to Palermo, the largest city in Sicily.  It is the most popular escape to the sea among residents of Palermo.

Given the stunning water and wide, sandy beach, it is no wonder that it is popular.

If you intend to visit Mondello Beach, be prepared for heavy crowds and a good bit of noise!

Mondello itself is a borough within the city of Palermo and is about ten miles from the city center.

The primary attraction to this beach town is the beach itself, which is framed at both ends by two small rocky mountains, Mount Gallo and Mount Pellegrino.

The beach is one of the few white sandy beaches in Sicily and one of the largest by length and width.

On calm days the water can be quite clear, and in the summers it is very warm.

Activities are abundant, as you can rent boats and paddleboards.  Further out, the water is a popular spot for gatherings of small sail boats.

Because of the proximity to the city, Mondello is more of a day trip type of beach town, and therefore there is a bit less entertainment.

However, there is plenty of food and drink to be found once you get hungry or thirsty.

#5 – Capo D’Orlando

Capo D’Orlando is a small beach town located at the northeast corner of Sicily, just over fifty miles west of the port city of Messina.

Capo D’Orlando is what we consider to be fairly similar to the classic beach towns in the U.S., with the exception of the beach itself.

This is because, by Sicilian standards, the town is quite new, as much of the construction has occurred in the last 100 years.

The town stretches west from a promontory from which you can get fabulous views of the town below, Cefalu further west and the Aeolian islands to the north.  To the east of the promontory are there is far less development and more quiet beaches.

At the top of the promontory sit the ruins of a medieval castle and a 17th century castle.  It’s a bit of a hike, but it is accessible by foot.

At the bottom of the promontory sits the Faro di Capo D’Orlando, or the Capo D’Orlando lighthouse.  The lighthouse opened in 1904 and stands 33 feet high.

There is a promenade for walking along the beach that stretches for much of the length of the town, and around the promontory as well.  This is perfect for evening walks along the beach.

The town itself offers plenty of small shops, restaurants and bars for entertainment away from the beach.  At the heart of this entertainment is the marina, which was completed in 2017 in an effort to draw in more tourists.

In regard to the beach itself, we rate it as average, since it is covered with the gray pebble and sand mix found along many of the beaches along the north and east coast of Sicily.  However, the water is definitely clear and great for swimming.

#4 – San Vito Lo Capo

San Vito Lo Capo is, like Capo D’Orlando, a quintessential beach town.

Located on a small peninsula that juts out into the Mediterranean at the northwest corner of Sicily, this is another one of the few wide, sandy beaches to be found in Sicily.

The best way to get there from Palermo is by car, and it is about a 90 minute drive.

San Vito Lo Capo is located within the province of Trapani and it has a year round population less than 5,000 people.

Similar to Mondello, the beach is overlooked by another rocky mountain, Mount Monaco.

A feature it shares with Capo D’Orlando is a lighthouse constructed in 1859.  This one is a bit taller, standing 125 feet high.

San Vito Lo Capo is also known for its festivals.  Probably its most famous is the Cous Cous festival, held in September every year since 1998.

Other festivals include a kite festival in May, the feast of the patron St Vito Martyr in June, a festival of books and authors throughout the summer and the San Vito climbing festival in October.

The most attractive feature of the town is its beach, often considered to be among the nicest beaches in Sicily and Italy overall.

The water is notably clean and has the beautiful turquoise color we seek in the Mediterranean.  It is often awarded the Blue Flag for its clean water.

The beach stretches for nearly two miles and does have some public areas.  The beach is also quite wide and while it can get crowded in the summer, still offers space.

The beach alone is why San Vito Lo Capo made this list of the best beach towns in Sicily.

There are some other nearby beaches that can be less crowded, including Baia Santa Margherita beach, and Macari Beach.

At the heart of the town of San Vito Lo Capo is the San Vito Sanctuary, constructed in the 15th Century.

The town itself offers plenty of small shopping and restaurants and bars when you are ready to head back from the beach!

Due to the small size of the town, there are only a handful of hotels, and most vacationers will rent a home or apartment during their stay.

#3 – Syracuse

Syracuse is located at the southeast corner of Sicily.  This is one of the most historically significant cities in all of the Mediterranean, due to its prominent position between Europe and Africa.

As a result, the entire city was named a Unesco Heritage site in 2005 due to the presence of significant ancient Greek and Roman ruins.  This designation has helped to build up the tourism industry in Syracuse.

Some of the more significant sites of historical significance in and around Syracuse include the Temple of Apollo; the Greek Amphitheater; the Roman Amphitheater; the tomb of Archimede; and the Temple of Zeus.

There are numerous historical churches located throughout the city as well, including the Cathedral of Syracuse, originally constructed in the 7th century over top of a temple to the goddess Athena.

In the present day, it has a population of a bit over 120,000 people.

In regard to the beaches, there is no one single beach near Syracuse that stands out.  There is a mix of beach clubs, sandy beaches and rocky beaches near the city.

The most popular beaches are located about a 20 minute drive to the south of the city.  These beaches are more noted for having facilities, bars and cafes nearby.

The main draw to many of these beaches is the very appealing, clear turquoise and emerald water in the area.

Outside the city walls, as seen in the photo above, some residents will head down to rocky stretches to gain access to the water.

You can get to Syracuse by train in a few hours from the port city of Messina, but given that the main beaches are further to the south, you will probably want to rent a car.  Keep in mind, cars are prohibited in some areas of town, particularly in the Ortigia section where many of the monuments are located.

In regard to the city itself, it is spectacular and well worth a visit just to explore.  The beaches are effectively an added benefit!

#2 – Taormina

Taormina is simply one of the most beautiful towns in Sicily, and in all of Italy you can ever visit.  Given all that it has to offer, it is clear why this is one of the best beach towns in Sicily.

Located on the east coast of Sicily, this resort town is perched on a hillside high above the Ionian Sea.   It is similar to the small towns you will find along the Amalfi Coast on the mainland, but with more historical significance.

The town is contained within about five square miles and has a year round population of about 11,000 people.  Due to its spectacular scenery, its economy is heavily reliant upon tourism.

At the center of the town is the Teatro di Antico, an ancient Greek amphitheater that dates back about 2,500 years.  The views from the theater up and down the coast are truly spectacular.

The main pedestrian street in the town is Corso Umberto, which is lined with shops, cafes and restaurants.  This ends at the Piazza Aprile, where offers more spectacular views of the sea and coast.

You can also wander along some of the side streets to find more colorful buildings, shops and restaurants.  A tour through the public garden, which sits below the ancient Greek theater, is also recommended.

Taormina is also known for its beach, Isola Bella beach.  The beach is named for a small island that sits below town, and houses a nature reserve that was once a private residence.

The beach is accessed by taking a cable tram down to the beach below, or a bus if the tram is not running.

There are actually two beaches available from taking this tram… Spiaggia di Isola Bella and Spiaggia Mazzaro.

Both beaches are comprised of a gray pebbly mix and out into the water, it is a bit rocky.  Water shoes are highly recommended.

These beaches are small, and in the summer, quite crowded.  You’ll need to rent a chair and umbrella for comfort.

The water itself is clear and makes for great snorkeling, and sitting on the beach, you have some pretty cool views.

Isola Bella beach is always ranked among the best beaches in Sicily.  For my money, I would not rank it so highly.

If I had a longer stay in Taormina, I would head to the beaches further to the north of Isola Bella or the south toward Naxos.  These areas have much longer stretches of beach, and thus more room.  They are a bit more sandy as well.

The best way to head to Taormina is by train, as parking in town is very difficult.  If you are staying in Taormina, you will also want to stay as close to Corso Umberto as possible, as everything you want to see and do, except the beaches, is within walking distance.

Another great way to view the coastline here is by boat and there are several tours to choose from.

If you are ever to visit Sicily, Taormina has to be on the list of towns to visit!

#1 – The best of the best beach towns in Sicily – Cefalu

Among these seven best beach towns of Sicily, Cefalu stands tall as the best.

Cefalu offers everything you want in a beach town… a great beach, plenty of shops and restaurants, and then a historic town center that is breathtakingly beautiful.

Add to that the setting of the Cefalu Rock behind and above the town, and you simply have an incredible setting for a beach town.

It is no wonder that the town literally receives millions of visitors every year.

The main section of the beach stretches for nearly a mile starting just outside of the historic area.  It is not particularly wide, but due to its length, you can find some room even on a crowded day.

There is a small beach that can be accessed from the historic area, and it is a perfect place to relax, enjoy the views and watch people swim.

Normally, the water is calm and quite clear.  During our visit, there were storms to the north of Sicily making the water a bit rough.  This made the surf decent enough for some locals to go surfing.

Outside of the historic center is the more modern section of town that contains the larger hotels along with local shopping and restaurants.

Connecting this section of town along the beach is a wonderful promenade that takes you all the way to the historic area, where you can then wander through the old cobblestone streets.

The main piazza is located up hill from the beach and small harbor area, and it ends at the Duomo di Cefalu, a Norman cathedral constructed in the 12th century.

Behind the duomo is a trail that takes you to the top of the Rocca di Cefalu, where you will find the ancient ruins of a Greek temple to the goddess Diana and the Castello di Cefalu.

From the top of the Rock you have spectacular views of the town below and the coastline in either direction.

Cefalu is easily accessed by train at less than an hour ride from Palermo.  The station is also just a few blocks from the beach, so it is perfectly located for a day trip.

Put all this together, and you have the best beach town in Sicily!