8 Best Beaches in Sicily You Have to Visit

Sicily in southern Italy is a perfect summer destination. It is not as crowded as the Amalfi Coast or Capri, and it has the most beautiful beaches you can imagine. At times I felt like I was in the Maldives or Thailand, not in Italy. However, as Sicily is the largest Mediterranean island, surrounded by 3 seas, it can be difficult to decide which beach to check. Which is why I decided to write this blog to share with you 8 best beaches in Sicily you have to visit.

The beaches in this blog post are spread around the island and they include all 3 seas. Depending on how many days you have in Sicily, you may or may not visit all. Generally, if your trip is about 5 days, then it’s better to focus on one side of Sicily only. If you have 10 days, then you can easily do a road trip around Sicily.

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📖 Read my Sicily 10 Days Road Trip: Ultimate Sicily Itinerary blog post.

San Vito Lo Capo

San Vito Lo Capo is my favourite beach in Sicily. If you only have time for one, then choose this one!

It is actually not surprising at all that San Vito Lo Capo Beach was proclaimed the most beautiful beach in Sicily because it truly is.

I already mentioned how beaches in Sicily often feel like you’re somewhere tropical. Well, San Vito Lo Capo definitely has the Maldives and Thailand vibe. It has the crystal-clear sea, turquoise water and white sand.

When you get there, you’d be able to find sunbeds and beach umbrellas to rent, so there’s no need to bring your own stuff, especially because it was quite inexpensive to rent!

Because San Vito Lo Capo is not that close to any major city in Sicily, it is not overcrowded with tourists yet. Mostly locals go there and while it will be busy, you’d still be able to enjoy the beach.

P. S. San Vito Lo Capo is famous for cous-cous, so definitely try it at the restaurant. We went to Le Terrazze Bistrot-Ristorante. Definitely recommending it.

How to Get to San Vito Lo Capo

San Vito Lo Capo is in the North-Western Sicily on the Tyrrhenian Sea (my favourite sea in Sicily) in the province of Trapani.

Given its location, it only makes sense to go there when you’re in Palermo because it’s about a 1h30min drive from there. You can also easily visit from Trapani because it’s less than 1h drive from there.

If you’re on the other side of the island (like Catania or Taormina), don’t even think of doing a day trip because it is not realistic.

So, the best way to get to San Vito Lo Capo is to rent a car. Personally, Sicily is the best explored with the car, so I highly recommend renting it.

If renting a car is not doable for you, then you can do a boat day trip from Palermo, which is actually a great summer activity.

Where to Stay near San Vito Lo Capo

San Lorenzo Beach

My 2nd favourite beach in Sicily was San Lorenzo Beach near Syracuse.

One thing I wish I knew before is that during the peak season all the sunbeds in beach clubs get rented in advance! We came thinking how we will rent something on the spot (like we always do!), but all the sunbeds were already rented.

And since most of the beach is owned by the clubs, there’s a very limited space to place your beach towel.

✅ The best beach club is Agua Beach. You can book your spot here.

If the sunbeds are all rented on your chosen day, or you don’t want to book a beach club, then definitely bring your own sun umbrella because there’s almost no shade at all at the beach!

Speaking of the beach – you can also expect the crystal clear water and turquoise sea. The beach is sandy, but unlike San Lorenzo, the colour of the sand is golden here.

Despite us failing to reserve a spot at the beach club and getting sunburnt (lol), we still very much enjoyed our time here, so if you’re on the southeastern side of Sicily, don’t miss this beautiful beach!

P. S. There’s a restaurant & bar at Agua Beach Club, definitely recommending it. You don’t need to rent sunbeds in order to have food/drinks there.

📖 Read my Best Farm Stays in Sicily Perfect for Agritourism blog post.

How to Get to San Lorenzo

As mentioned, San Lorenzo is on the southeastern side of Sicily at the Ionian Sea, very close to Syracuse. It’s also about 2h drive from Taormina/Catania, so it’s easily reachable if you’re on the east or south side of the island.

The only way to get to San Lorenzo Beach is to rent a car. Sadly, there are no guided tours at this point that will take you there.

Where to Stay near San Lorenzo

Mondello Beach

Mondello Beach is the most popular and best beach in the Palermo area.

If you’re here in the peak summer season, especially over the weekend, then it’s better to rent sunbeds and sun umbrellas, which are affordable.

There’s also a free public beach side, but it can get quite busy during the summer season. Definitely for a little more privacy it is better to just rent sunbeds at the beach club.

Mondello Beach is more similar to San Vito Lo Capo – white sand and turquoise Tyrrhenian sea, which is to no surprise that it was also voted to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Italy (and Sicily).

You can eat and have drinks at the beach clubs, but the main square is just across the street with better food options.

How to Get to Mondello Beach

Mondello Beach is just about a 30 min drive from Palermo city centre, so it makes sense to visit only if you’re on the western side of the island. Doing a day trip from Catania or Taormina in the east is not recommended because it’s about a 3h drive.

As always, the best is to rent a car and visit on your own.

But, if you’re up for a boat tour, then this one from Palermo is the best because it includes about 2h free time at Mondello Beach.

📖 Read my 12 Best Things to do in Palermo, Sicily: From History to Food blog post.

Where to Stay near Mondello Beach

San Leone

San Leone Beach is on the Mediterranean sea, which was my least favourite of all 3 seas.

It is not as clear nor turquoise as the Ionian or Tyrrhenian seas are, but it is still good enough to refresh, and it has the golden sand.

It was, however, the least expensive to rent sunbeds and umbrellas at San Leone Beach, probably because the beach is not the most popular one. It’s also the least busy one.

San Leone Beach is definitely a great place to come after sightseeing Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples – trust me, you’d need it!

How to Get to San Leone

San Leone Beach is in Agrigento, on the southwestern side of Sicily, therefore it only makes sense to visit if you’re in the area because it’s at least 2h drive from any other major city, such as Palermo, Catania, Syracuse or Trapani.

The only way to get to San Leone Beach is to rent a car. It’s about 10 min drive from the Valley of the Temples.

Where to Stay near San Leone

Scala dei Turchi

Scala dei Turchi is one of the most famous and unique beaches in Sicily.

Also known as the Stair of the Turks, the beach got its name after the Turkish and Saracen pirates who used the staircase for shelter.

Scala dei Turchi is significant for its white marble cliffs that resemble staircase, a very unique geological formation (it reminds me of the Seven Sisters in the UK). Which is why it was put under the nomination list for UNESCO, but it hasn’t been enlisted yet.

Because of its geological and cultural importance, Scala dei Turchi is not the easiest beach to visit. Firstly, you need to buy an entrance ticket which will grant you a 1h time slot.

In terms of accessibility, you would need to climb down the cliff stairs to reach the beach. There are beach clubs there where you can get refreshments. You need to bring your towel and there is unlikely to be any shade.

While the beach is beautiful, it is definitely not the most convenient one to visit, so think about if it’s worthwhile visiting for you.

How to Get to Scala dei Turchi

Scala dei Turchi is close to Agrigento at the Mediterranean sea, so same as with San Leone Beach, it only makes sense to visit if you’re in the area.

Luckily, there are multiple ways how to visit Scala dei Turchi.

Where to Stay near Scala dei Turchi

Mamma Mia Beach

Mamma Mia Beach is the black beach in Sicily, formed by the lava flow from the nearby Mount Etna.

I always wanted to visit a volcanic beach and this was the first one that I’ve been to! I was happy when I realised I would be able to cross this off my travel bucket list.

The beach is amazing and is not crowded at all, just bear in mind that beside the black sand, there are also bigger rocks, so it is not that easy to enter the sea.

How to Get to Mamma Mia Beach

Mamma Mia Beach on the Ionian Sea, close to Taormina and Savoca in east Sicily. Even if you’re based in Catania, you’d still be able to visit because the distance is not that big.

Because the beach is not popular yet, the only way to get there is if you rent a car.

Where to Stay near Mamma Mia Beach

📖 Check my Mount Etna Summit Tour Review – Best Experience in Sicily blog post.

Isola Bella

Isola Bella Beach is the most famous beach in Taormina (and Sicily). It is a nature reserve, administered by the Italian branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature.

In 1806 Ferdinand I of Bourbon, King of Sicily, gifted the island to the town of Taormina. The island was later acquired in 1890 by a rich English noblewoman, Florence Trevelyan, who was exiled from England by Queen Victoria on the grounds for having an affair with her firstborn son, for an amount of 14,000 Lire.

Lady Trevelyan planted tropical plants and built a summer house on the island. After a few decades of being sold from one wealthy-man to another and being neglected, in 1984 Isola Bella was declared an asset of historical and artistic heritage.

In 1990 it was then purchased by the Department of Cultural Heritage for an amount of around ten billion lire. In 2011 the site became Museo Naturalistico regionale di Isolabella, and it is open to the public every day from 9am until one hour before sunset.

📖 Read my One Day in Taormina Itinerary: How to Spend 24h in Taormina blog post.

How to Get to Isola Bella

It’s very easy to reach Isola Bella.

There’s a cable car in Taormina city centre which connects the beach with the town.

Additionally, you can also join a boat tour to Isola Bella.

Where to Stay near Isola Bella

📖 For more details, check these Taormina hotels blog posts:

– 11 Best 5 Star Hotels in Taormina You’ll Love
– Top 9 Taormina Hotels on the Beach for Every Budget
– Top 12 Most Instagrammable Hotels in Taormina for Your Feed

Cefalu

Cefalu Beach is one of the best beaches in Sicily, and Cefalu.

It’s a sandy beach with beautiful views of the Cefalu Old Town. You can bring your own beach towel or rent sunbeds and umbrellas.

In the high season it’s definitely better to rent the sunbeds (even in advance) because the free public space can get too crowded and you may not have a place for your towel if you don’t arrive at the beach in the morning.

How to Get to Cefalu

Cefalu is a coastal city in northern Sicily on the Tyrrhenian sea, very close to Palermo. Therefore, it is best to visit if you’re in the Palermo area.

Where to Stay near Cefalu

Google Maps of Best Beaches in Sicily

✅ If you’re looking for a custom travel plan, find out more about my personalised itinerary service here.

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