09.01.2016 by Viktor Komlev

Resorts of Sicily: Best Places for relax

Sicily and Sardinia - the best islands in Italy

Many are often interested in where is it better to relax, in Sicily or Sardinia. It seems to us that the question is not entirely correct, since comparing these two Italian islands is a stupid idea. They are different and each one is unique in its own way. And on Sicily, and on Sardinia you can get a great beach holiday, forgetting about city problems for a while. Two islands will please with their historical and architectural monuments. Among other things, lovers of excursions and various tours deep into wildlife can also have a good time both there and there.

True, Sicily is much more "Italian". This place is noisy, chaotic and unpredictable. At least that's how it seems to you when you first meet. But, very soon you will realize how serenely life flows there. This is an island saturated with Italian and Greek flavor to the very roots. Do you want to plunge into the world Ancient Greece with its majestic temples and ports - please. You like medieval castles - easily. Your soul lies to delicious food“Sicily is perfect again. Beautiful nature, love for wine and seafood, a real cult of relaxation - all this is about Sicily - one of the best places mediterranean sea for a trip for sunbathing, sea, fun and incredible sunsets on the coast!

Get to Sicily

After you read about the abundance of resorts and interesting places, you might have a reasonable question: how to get to Sicily inexpensively and where to find inexpensive accommodation. We want to help you decide on a trip to this wonderful region, so we publish a table of inexpensive air tickets to Catania and Palermo.

Cheap flights

Cheap flights to Catania

Housing in Sicily

After you have arrived, you need to find accommodation. We offer a convenient map of Sicily with all the hotels on the island.

Accommodation from locals

In addition to hotels, you can try to find accommodation from local residents using a convenient search form. You can find housing in the most secluded corner of Sicily

Excursions in Sicily

Sicily is an Italian region, which is the largest of the Mediterranean islands. Here everything is built on contrasts, in which the colorful nature, rich story and culture of several nations. There are always a lot of tourists on the island who want to plunge into its atmosphere, having studied natural and architectural monuments, getting to know the locals and having plenty of rest. Our topic is whether they are all good, can they have such a status or are there exceptions?

Brief description of famous coasts

Sicily is a region in Italy, whose capital is the city of Palermo. Most often, locals and tourists visit the southern beaches of the region or those located in the southeast. It is believed that they the best way suitable for recreation.

Almost the entire coastline has free access for travelers. The only service that may require an additional fee is the rental of sun loungers and umbrellas. There are a lot of beaches in Sicily, and each of them deserves attention due to its individual characteristics.

• Fontane Bianche - White sand and a bewitching landscape, perhaps, the only, but significant pluses. The resort is quite small in size, and in the season it is occupied by nearby hotels with their sunbeds, so not everyone is destined to admire the local beauties.
• The beaches of Syracuse are not the best option for tourists, as there is simply nowhere to swim here.
• Lido di Noto - well deserves inclusion in the list called "good beaches of Sicily": long, with developed infrastructure, the possibility of a promenade and places Catering. Ideal for families with children.
• Martsamemi is a small village that trades fishing and very beloved by the locals, because there is almost everything for have a nice rest. In particular, a comfortable, equipped beach and bewitching landscapes. One minus - in the season a lot of people.
• San Lorenzo- clean sand, clear emerald-colored water and a protected area nearby make the beach quite worthy of attention.
• Santa Maria del Focallo - it should be considered by parents with children, as there is a smooth and convenient entrance to the sea, naturally formed dunes, fine clean sand and warm water.
• Cala Mosque is a beautiful bay for a great holiday.
• Carratois is considered a prestigious beach, so most often you can meet the Italian elite here. It is famous for its white healing clay, for which many people come here.
• Portopalo di Capopassero is a small beach where divers most often visit: clear water offers a view of beautiful corals and small fish.
• Isola delle Correnti - this beach is suitable for windsurfing thanks to the large waves.
• Pozzallo - in this town, the beaches can also boast of golden sand, developed infrastructure and picturesque rocks. And this place is often chosen for photo shoots.
• Marina di Modica - the city is characterized by the presence of sandy and rocky beaches, in connection with which you can choose the desired type of holiday: diving or swimming.
• Sampieri - its length is about 3 km. Overall a small but nice beach.
• Marina di Ragusa is a clean, well-maintained coastline with the ability to rent almost any beach equipment.
• Punta Secca is today a small but cozy resort.
• Kazucea - wild sandy beaches where you can relax in seclusion.
• Giardini Naxos - the coastline is quite large, there are both paid and free sections strewn with sand or pebbles.
• Taormina is a pebbly and small beach, but very beautiful - a paradise for an aesthete.
• La Playa is a large port city (Catania), where it is simply impossible to find a clean beach with clear water. But there is La Playa, located outside, which is well suited for relaxation.
• San Vito - it is also not in vain included in the list of "good beaches in Sicily", as it is one of the most beautiful.
• Castellammare del Golfo is a long coastline with a developed infrastructure, which, among other things, has a convenient location.
• Mondello is a beautiful but always crowded beach.
• Cefalu is a colorful city with interesting sights that offers tourists good and uncrowded beaches located on the outskirts.
• Trapani is not the best option as the coast is dirty and littered with rocks.

Nice beaches of Sicily that deserve the love of tourists

If you believe the reviews of Russian tourists, then the best options for relaxation are the beaches of San Vito, Cefalu, Giardini Naxos, Fontane Bianche and Marina di Ragusa. They will give a real pleasure, because they are comfortable and beautiful, and they also offer many options for fun pastime, delicious food and just relaxing.

To Italy with a child

The best beaches in Sicily for families with children are easy to find. It's believed that perfect option for kids - it's San Vito. It is quite beautiful here, and this beach will definitely be remembered by the child for many years, especially if this is the first "sea" trip. A clean sandy coast and a convenient entrance to the water can be considered a nice bonus. Also worth considering are Lido di Noto and Santa Maria del Focallo.

If you want to stay in a hotel that has its own section of the coastline, you should pay attention to the following options:

• Arenella Resort 4* (Syracuse).
• Atahotel Capotaormina 4* (Messina).
• Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa 5 * (Ragusa).
• Domina Home Zagarella 4* (Palermo).

Deserted beaches for romantics

There are people who enjoy solitude or prefer to spend time exclusively in their company. there aren't any here (at least not officially recognized), but that doesn't mean you can't find a nook. The best beaches in Sicily, which are ideally suited to such parameters, are those located on There are few people here, or rather, almost none, beautiful nature, water azure and small bays hidden from prying eyes.

Sicily has an incredibly beautiful and fascinating nature. It is here that the famous and dormant volcano Etna is located, which is one of the largest in Europe and regularly attracts tourists. It is this island that is washed by three seas at once: the Mediterranean, Ionian and Tyrrhenian.

There are many famous resorts on the Italian island where you can always find a large number of vacationers. Therefore, tourists are often interested in the question of where to relax in Sicily and which resort is the best? The most unforgettable and interesting vacation, of course, can be given by the major cities of the island, which we will get to know below.

Sicily: where to relax

Already throughout years Catania, Syracuse, Trapani and Palermo remain favorite tourist destinations.

Catania

One of the largest and most popular cities in Sicily is Catania. This is where most of the attractions are concentrated. This city is also famous for the fact that it practically lies at the foot of the Etna volcano, which is also called the “fiery mountain”. The repeatedly active volcano almost completely destroyed the city, but it was restored again and again. Since Catania has not once been buried in lava flows, fragments of frozen "rivers" can be observed here.

One of the main reasons why tourists come here is the conquest of the "fiery mountain".

What can you see in Catania? Fans of history and architectural buildings should definitely see the following sights of the Sicilian city with their own eyes:

• Central Cathedral Square;
• Cathedral of Catania;
• Theaters of Ancient Rome;
• Ursino Castle;
• Church of St. Nicholas
• Fountain "Black Elephant"

The central Cathedral Square is considered a symbol of the city. This is where it goes fast paced life Catania. It is an architectural masterpiece that belongs to the unrivaled, legendary architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini. Worthy of attention here are such historical buildings as the city gate of the end of the 17th century called "County Port", the Cathedral of the 18th century, as well as the famous fountain "Black Elephant".

Cathedral was erected in honor of the patroness of the city of St. Agatha. It is the main decoration of the square. The facade of the building has a magnificent decor and is decorated with statues. The cathedral has a sad fate: in the 16th century, during the eruption of Etna, it buried several hundred people under its rubble. After that, the building was restored again.

Not far from the temple is the Black Elephant Fountain, which was built from solidified lava. The back of the sculpture is decorated with an Egyptian obelisk with a cross, a palm branch and a flower - they are considered symbols of Saint Agatha.

The sights of Catania do not end there. Here you can visit many exciting excursions that will introduce you to the historical past of the city.

Catania is located just a few hours drive from Syracuse, not inferior in beauty and unique sights to its neighbor.

syracuse

The homeland of the ancient Greek scientist Archimedes is worth visiting, if only because one of the greatest people in history lived and worked there.
This city is able to give a lot of pleasant impressions and bewitching landscapes. If you chose Syracuse as your holiday destination, be sure to visit the following attractions:

• Roman amphitheater;
• Greek theater;
• Ear of Dionysius;
• Quarries of the Capuchins;
• Catacombs of Saint John.

The Roman amphitheater is the third largest, after the Colosseum and the amphitheater in Verona.

The Greek theater was built in the distant fifth century BC, but despite this, it has been well preserved. It is located on a high hill, offering amazing panoramic views of the city.

The cave, resembling an auditory organ, is called the Ear of Dionysius. But this mountain gorge began to be called this way not only because of its unusual shape. The acoustics here are simply incredible - a word spoken in a whisper at the end of the cave will surely reach its entrance. Around this place there are a considerable number of legends that you can get acquainted with during the tour.

No less interesting to visit are the Capuchin Quarries, which are a joint creation of man and nature. For many centuries, people have mined stone blocks for construction here. Then the quarry was abandoned, and it was subjected to natural disasters. A few centuries later, the monks of the Capuchin order looked after the area and decided to plant trees and shrubs in the area. As a result, the quarry acquired the appearance of a cave with bizarre halls, around which a chic, dense garden spread.

Mandatory to visit and the Catacombs of St. John, preserved almost from the time of antiquity. The gloomy dungeon is especially popular with tourists, but you can’t do without a guide, as you can easily get lost.

There are no organized beaches within the city. But just a few kilometers from Syracuse, vacationers have a large number of places to relax by the sea.

Trapani

The next popular resort town in Sicily is Traponi. Travelers tend to get here not only for a beach holiday. Here is an architectural complex, which used to be a Roman city.

Arriving in the "pearl of Sicily", be sure to visit the Cathedral of the Annunciation, which is the main attraction of the city. Behind its altar is the Chapel of Our Lady, which is considered one of the most beautiful in the world.

Worthy of attention is the tower of Ligny - a kind of symbol of Traponi. At one time, it performed a protective function for the city, preventing pirates from constantly attacking this area from getting inside. It is located on a cliff, so it offers a charming view from its terrace.

Trapani is also home to one of the best beaches Sicily - San Vito Lo Capo. It stretches for three kilometers along the coast, has soft golden sand and crystal clean water. There are no undercurrents here, and the depth is smooth everywhere. This is one of the most beautiful beaches Sicily.

Palermo

The capital of Sicily, Palermo is one big attraction. A large number of architectural monuments are concentrated here.

Noteworthy are Pretoria Square and Sea Square, the Cathedral of the Assumption Holy Mother of God, Massimo Theatre, Botanical Garden, Archaeological Museum, etc. Interesting places in Palermo are literally at every turn. Exploring the sights in the city can be combined with relaxing by the sea on the popular Mondello beach.

Beach resorts in Sicily

Tourists who want to spend an unforgettable beach holiday should choose Taormina. This city is considered the most prestigious on the Italian island. It is here that the largest number of large and popular beaches are concentrated. It is worth noting that in the high season the prices here are not the cheapest.

Fans of a good beach holiday and vibrant nightlife should choose Giardini Naxos beach. Here flows bright night life, and during the day they open incredibly beautiful landscapes by the sea. It is located near Taormina. On its coast there are a large number of the best hotels in Sicily.

Also the most famous resort areas of the island are:

• San Lorenzo;
• Marzamedi;
• Lido di Noto;
• Arenella;
• Fountain Beachy.

All these resorts are truly a paradise for all vacationers. They are located in the southern part.

Among the northern resorts, Mondello Beach, located near the capital of the island, Castellammare del Golfo and Alcamo Marina, should be noted. Lovers of secluded relaxation can opt for Scopello Bay.

In addition, in the northern part there is the Arab village of San Vito lo Capo, which was built specifically for visiting guests.

Where to stay in Sicily

An important issue for tourists when visiting Sicily is housing. A large number of hotels are concentrated here, which can be seen on the map of the island. The cost of living will depend on the location, stars and services provided.

But a more economical option is to rent rooms from local residents. In remote places from the beaches, housing will be much cheaper.
In fact, it is not so important where you settle in Sicily, because most time you will spend on the beaches or take in the sightseeing of local attractions.

Calamosque beach

Where is the best place to relax in Sicily: when going to Sicily, many people ask themselves the question of choosing a place. Friends went somewhere, heard about something, read about something. But they continue to remain in doubt, because they do not know exactly what they want from holidays in Sicily .

It seems that you can swim in the sea and see more, you want to have time for everything. Is it real? In a week it is almost unrealistic, or rather at a gallop (either the sea or watching), but in a couple of weeks you can already do a lot. But still, it’s better for yourself to prioritize - rest is more vegetable-relaxed-beach or more educational.

1. If more informative, then you should stay in or near large cities - Syracuse, Catania, Palermo, Trapani. In addition to the fact that they themselves have a lot to see, they are also conveniently located in relation to the main highways of the island - freeways. Those. 15-30 minutes, you drove onto the highway and went to look further. It is clear that having settled in some cozy San Vito Lo Capo, for an hour you will only go to the freeway, but you still need to get further along it. Nothing can be done, this is a fee for the resort, you will not find good beaches in big cities. I do not include Messina in the list, because from the point of view of the distance to the main attractions, it is not very convenient.

Therefore, in this case, you choose - north or south. Palermo, as the capital of the island, is very rich historically and architecturally. Many do not like it for its dirt and a certain “clunkiness”, not without this, alas, but the city is very colorful. In addition to Palermo itself, you can go to the suburbs - Monreale, Monte Pellegrino, as well as drive to Bagheria and Corleone. And even swim on the beach in Mondello - popular with residents of the city. In addition, from Palermo you can go to see Trapani and Erice. You can choose a day and go to admire the panoramas in Castellammare del Golfo and Scopello or take a walk in Riserva dello Zingaro. Also take a trip to Trapani and Erice, a small medieval town on a mountain. A fabulous panorama unfolds before you.

Choosing Catania, you can see Taormina, Messina and of course, the pearl of Sicily - Etna. Etna is not just a mountain with a crater on top, it is a whole separate world. The area of ​​the volcano is huge, landscapes and towns are diverse and unique. From Catania, you can also go to Syracuse - about an hour's drive, and even to Ragusa, along the Catania-Ragusa road, which goes through picturesque hills and orange groves - about an hour and a half drive. It is also convenient to go to the center of the island - see Enna, Caltanisetta, Piazza Armerina and do some shopping in Sicilia outlet village. For many, shopping is an important part of a holiday in Sicily :) If you are a lover of natural beauties, you should definitely go to the Alcantara Gorge.

Many choose Syracuse, and rightly so. Within a radius of 5-15 km from the city you can already find excellent sandy beaches. The city itself is small, there is no such crazy traffic as in Palermo or Catania, but surprisingly good. Especially the old center - the heart of the city, Ortigia. From Syracuse you can easily reach Catania, Etna and Taormina, and in the other direction you will find yourself in the magical valley of Val di Noto. See for yourself the handsome Noto, you will reach Modica, Scicli and Ragusa. This is the region of the Sicilian Baroque. And it's worth seeing. From Syracuse it is also about an hour's drive to Pozzallo, the southern gate of Sicily. From this town you can take a ferry to Malta in just 90 minutes.

2. Now, if you have chosen a relaxing beach holiday in Sicily with diluted sightseeing. Where to put your feet.

Let's start from the north. Palermo and the surrounding area I would recommend avoiding for obvious reasons. The proximity of a major port city, traffic on the highway at the entrance. Mondello beach in the vicinity of Palermo is beautiful, but it is better to come there in the low season. Otherwise, you will share your 2 sq.m of beach with neighbors, and even pay for it. The proximity of the beach to the city is always more of a minus than a plus. Good beaches in the north of the island start at Castellammare del Golfo. The resort itself has a sandy beach, as well as nearby you can relax in Alcamo Marina; lovers of secluded bays can find suitable accommodation in Scopello. Further, behind the Riserva dello Zingaro National Park you will find the famous resort of San Vito lo Capo. A small village built in the Arabic style, linear structure, nice beach. The place is quite touristy and promoted, the restaurants are not the cheapest. It is also crowded in the season, especially in August, when all Italians have a rest. This resort is good for a relaxing holiday. If you wish, you can go to Trapani or Erice, they are within an hour by car. In the other direction from Palermo in half an hour or forty minutes you will reach Cefalu – pearls Tyrrhenian coast. The most beautiful medieval town on the rocks, but there is also a sandy beach. The beach is small, during the season, of course, it is crowded with both residents of the town and tourists. If you rent a car, there will be problems with parking - only Cefalu residents can drive into the center, the rest have to look for a parking place, which is very difficult and expensive. If you are with a car, it is better to rent an apartment or a villa in the vicinity of Cefalu, and not in the city itself, I also recommend this to families with children. For singles and couples without a car, Cefalu is very pleasant and comfortable.

Now to the south. Very often they look for accommodation in the vicinity of Catania - because of the proximity to the airport. In Catania itself, I would not recommend staying for the same reasons as in Palermo. Big city, bustle, traffic, stress. There is a city sandy beach, but this is a solution for a very budget holiday. The beach is not very clean, a large number of Arab merchants and a very different, not always prosperous public. By the way, the color of Catania - doctors, lawyers, professors - do not rest in their city, but everyone goes south - beyond Syracuse - to San Lorenzo or Marzamemi. From Catania towards Taormina, almost the entire coast is rocky. Black volcanic rocks. Very picturesque and good for diving, so many people like to stay in Acitrezza or Achikastello. Nice sandy beach in Mascali, large sandy beach in Giardini Naxos, pebbly beach in Letojanni. Taormina, despite its fame, is not famous for its beaches. The tiny beach of Isola Bella, which can only be reached by cable car or stairs, is inconvenient and usually crowded. Taormina is a town for a 1-day trip, but definitely not for beach relaxation.

We are heading south from Catania. Up to Syracuse, the entire coast is rocky, with rare exceptions. But south of Syracuse, relaxation zones begin. The beaches of Fontane Bianche, Arenella, Lido di Noto, San Lorenzo and Marzamemi are magnificent. This is still the Ionian coast of Sicily with the most transparent azure water and a gently sloping bottom, and as a result, a smooth entry into the water. There are many who want to relax on them, but there are also a lot of beaches, so the people disperse smoothly and you don’t have the feeling of “herring in a barrel”. If we want even more free space, we go south, we reach Portopalo di Capopassero. I advise you to visit this place, if only to mark in your personal map that you have visited the southernmost point of Europe. Well, besides this - swimming in the waters of 2 seas, in the same place, by the way, in addition to sand, there are high shores, which means excellent diving, and the Spanish fortress of Philip III.

Then the spacious beaches of the Mediterranean begin, just perfect for a relaxing holiday in Sicily. 7 km Santa Maria del Focallo, then the beaches of Pozzallo, Sampieri, Marina di Modica and Marina di Ragusa. The beaches beyond Syracuse are a 40-50 minute drive from Catania. The beaches behind Portopalo di Capo Passero are an hour and a half from Catania. Not so much if you know that you are going to relax on the spacious sandy beaches marked blue flag EU for clean water. There is an option to fly to Malta - then everything is close, at the same time see Malta, and after 90 minutes (a pleasant boat trip), land on Sicilian soil in Pozzallo. You can also fly to the new Comiso airport, which is near Ragusa, from there to the Ragusan beaches a maximum of half an hour's drive. Good beaches in Punta Secca - the place is adored by Italians, because. the famous series "Commissioner Montalbano" is filmed there, and a little further - in Scoglitti. Well, here I would recommend you to stop, in terms of the south and arrival at the airports of Catania or Comiso.

Avoid the Gela zone - an oil refinery with all the consequences. The province of Agrigento also has very good beaches, including the famous Scala dei Turchi (Turkish stairs) - a chalk rock made of white limestone. But if you want to relax on the beaches of Agrigento or in the vicinity of Sciacca, you already need to fly to Palermo. From Catania you will drive 4-5 hours, which is no way. From Palermo or Trapani - an hour and a half or two, depending on the place that you choose. Good beaches are San Leone, Eraclea minoa, Capo Bianco, Siculiana Marina, Marinella di Selinunte. The beaches are long and large, so even during the August peak there is a place for everyone. A great place is the thermal spa Sciacca | Sciacca. There are no standing beaches in the city itself, but you can rent a villa nearby, where there are many small cozy beaches with golden and even red coral sand.

If you are confused about the number of beaches, hotels, apartments or houses in Sicily, you don’t know what to choose, you have already climbed the entire Internet and are still indecisive - and the problem of your holiday in Sicily will be quickly resolved :)

Calamosque beach

Where is the best place to relax in Sicily: when going to Sicily, many people ask themselves the question of choosing a place. Friends went somewhere, heard about something, read about something. But they continue to remain in doubt, because they do not know exactly what they want from holidays in Sicily .

It seems that you can swim in the sea and see more, you want to have time for everything. Is it real? In a week it is almost unrealistic, or rather at a gallop (either the sea or watching), but in a couple of weeks you can already do a lot. But still, it’s better for yourself to prioritize - rest is more vegetable-relaxed-beach or more educational.

1. If more informative, then you should stay in or near large cities - Syracuse, Catania, Palermo, Trapani. In addition to the fact that they themselves have a lot to see, they are also conveniently located in relation to the main highways of the island - freeways. Those. 15-30 minutes, you drove onto the highway and went to look further. It is clear that having settled in some cozy San Vito Lo Capo, for an hour you will only go to the freeway, but you still need to get further along it. Nothing can be done, this is a fee for the resort, you will not find good beaches in big cities. I do not include Messina in the list, because from the point of view of the distance to the main attractions, it is not very convenient.

Therefore, in this case, you choose - north or south. Palermo, as the capital of the island, is very rich historically and architecturally. Many do not like it for its dirt and a certain “clunkiness”, not without this, alas, but the city is very colorful. In addition to Palermo itself, you can go to the suburbs - Monreale, Monte Pellegrino, as well as drive to Bagheria and Corleone. And even swim on the beach in Mondello - popular with residents of the city. In addition, from Palermo you can go to see Trapani and Erice. You can choose a day and go to admire the panoramas in Castellammare del Golfo and Scopello or take a walk in Riserva dello Zingaro. Also take a trip to Trapani and Erice, a small medieval town on a mountain. A fabulous panorama unfolds before you.

Choosing Catania, you can see Taormina, Messina and of course, the pearl of Sicily - Etna. Etna is not just a mountain with a crater on top, it is a whole separate world. The area of ​​the volcano is huge, landscapes and towns are diverse and unique. From Catania, you can also go to Syracuse - about an hour's drive, and even to Ragusa, along the Catania-Ragusa road, which goes through picturesque hills and orange groves - about an hour and a half drive. It is also convenient to go to the center of the island - see Enna, Caltanisetta, Piazza Armerina and do some shopping in Sicilia outlet village. For many, shopping is an important part of a holiday in Sicily :) If you are a lover of natural beauties, you should definitely go to the Alcantara Gorge.

Many choose Syracuse, and rightly so. Within a radius of 5-15 km from the city you can already find excellent sandy beaches. The city itself is small, there is no such crazy traffic as in Palermo or Catania, but surprisingly good. Especially the old center - the heart of the city, Ortigia. From Syracuse you can easily reach Catania, Etna and Taormina, and in the other direction you will find yourself in the magical valley of Val di Noto. See for yourself the handsome Noto, you will reach Modica, Scicli and Ragusa. This is the region of the Sicilian Baroque. And it's worth seeing. From Syracuse it is also about an hour's drive to Pozzallo, the southern gate of Sicily. From this town you can take a ferry to Malta in just 90 minutes.

2. Now, if you have chosen a relaxing beach holiday in Sicily with diluted sightseeing. Where to put your feet.

Let's start from the north. Palermo and the surrounding area I would recommend avoiding for obvious reasons. The proximity of a major port city, traffic on the highway at the entrance. Mondello beach in the vicinity of Palermo is beautiful, but it is better to come there in the low season. Otherwise, you will share your 2 sq.m of beach with neighbors, and even pay for it. The proximity of the beach to the city is always more of a minus than a plus. Good beaches in the north of the island start at Castellammare del Golfo. The resort itself has a sandy beach, as well as nearby you can relax in Alcamo Marina; lovers of secluded bays can find suitable accommodation in Scopello. Further, behind the Riserva dello Zingaro National Park you will find the famous resort of San Vito lo Capo. Small village built in Arabic style, linear structure, good beach. The place is quite touristy and promoted, the restaurants are not the cheapest. It is also crowded in the season, especially in August, when all Italians have a rest. This resort is good for a relaxing holiday. If you wish, you can go to Trapani or Erice, they are within an hour by car. In the other direction from Palermo in half an hour or forty minutes you will reach Cefalu - pearls of the Tyrrhenian coast. The most beautiful medieval town on the rocks, but there is also a sandy beach. The beach is small, during the season, of course, it is crowded with both residents of the town and tourists. If you rent a car, there will be problems with parking - only Cefalu residents can drive into the center, the rest have to look for a parking place, which is very difficult and expensive. If you are with a car, it is better to rent an apartment or a villa in the vicinity of Cefalu, and not in the city itself, I also recommend this to families with children. For singles and couples without a car, Cefalu is very pleasant and comfortable.

Now to the south. Very often they look for accommodation in the vicinity of Catania - because of the proximity to the airport. In Catania itself, I would not recommend staying for the same reasons as in Palermo. Big city, bustle, traffic, stress. There is a city sandy beach, but this is a solution for a very budget holiday. The beach is not very clean, a large number of Arab merchants and a very different, not always prosperous public. By the way, the color of Catania - doctors, lawyers, professors - do not rest in their city, but everyone goes south - beyond Syracuse - to San Lorenzo or Marzamemi. From Catania towards Taormina, almost the entire coast is rocky. Black volcanic rocks. Very picturesque and good for diving, so many people like to stay in Acitrezza or Achikastello. Nice sandy beach in Mascali, large sandy beach in Giardini Naxos, pebbly beach in Letojanni. Taormina, despite its fame, is not famous for its beaches. The tiny beach of Isola Bella, which can only be reached by cable car or stairs, is inconvenient and usually crowded. Taormina is a town for a 1-day trip, but definitely not for beach relaxation.

We are heading south from Catania. Up to Syracuse, the entire coast is rocky, with rare exceptions. But south of Syracuse, relaxation zones begin. The beaches of Fontane Bianche, Arenella, Lido di Noto, San Lorenzo and Marzamemi are magnificent. This is still the Ionian coast of Sicily with the most transparent azure water and a gently sloping bottom, and as a result, a smooth entry into the water. There are many who want to relax on them, but there are also a lot of beaches, so the people disperse smoothly and you don’t have the feeling of “herring in a barrel”. If we want even more free space, we go south, we reach Portopalo di Capopassero. I advise you to visit this place, if only to mark in your personal map that you have visited the southernmost point of Europe. Well, besides this - swimming in the waters of 2 seas, in the same place, by the way, in addition to sand, there are high shores, which means excellent diving, and the Spanish fortress of Philip III.

Then the spacious beaches of the Mediterranean begin, just perfect for a relaxing holiday in Sicily. 7 km Santa Maria del Focallo, then the beaches of Pozzallo, Sampieri, Marina di Modica and Marina di Ragusa. The beaches beyond Syracuse are a 40-50 minute drive from Catania. The beaches behind Portopalo di Capo Passero are an hour and a half from Catania. Not so much if you know that you are going to relax on the spacious sandy beaches, marked with the EU blue flag for the purity of the water. There is an option to fly to Malta - then everything is close, at the same time see Malta, and after 90 minutes (a pleasant boat trip), land on Sicilian soil in Pozzallo. You can also fly to the new Comiso airport, which is near Ragusa, from there to the Ragusan beaches a maximum of half an hour's drive. Good beaches in Punta Secca - the place is adored by Italians, because. the famous series "Commissioner Montalbano" is filmed there, and a little further - in Scoglitti. Well, here I would recommend you to stop, in terms of the south and arrival at the airports of Catania or Comiso.

Avoid the Gela zone - an oil refinery with all the consequences. The province of Agrigento also has very good beaches, including the famous Scala dei Turchi (Turkish stairs) - a chalk rock made of white limestone. But if you want to relax on the beaches of Agrigento or in the vicinity of Sciacca, you already need to fly to Palermo. From Catania you will drive 4-5 hours, which is no way. From Palermo or Trapani - an hour and a half or two, depending on the place that you choose. Good beaches are San Leone, Eraclea minoa, Capo Bianco, Siculiana Marina, Marinella di Selinunte. The beaches are long and large, so even during the August peak there is a place for everyone. A great place is the thermal spa Sciacca | Sciacca. There are no standing beaches in the city itself, but you can rent a villa nearby, where there are many small cozy beaches with golden and even red coral sand.

If you are confused about the number of beaches, hotels, apartments or houses in Sicily, you don’t know what to choose, you have already climbed the entire Internet and are still indecisive - and the problem of your holiday in Sicily will be quickly resolved :)