23 Best Beaches in Sicily
Sicily has one of the most beautiful seas in Italy and is also one of the Italian summer destinations. Sicily is the island with the largest number of beaches in the entire Mediterranean Sea, spread over more than 1,000 kilometers of coastline. Here are the beaches where you can find the most beautiful sea on this sun-kissed island.
Cala dell’Uzzo (San Vito Lo Capo)
It is located in the Zingaro Nature Reserve, easily reachable from Palermo or San Vito Lo Capo. This beach is a real paradise for Mediterranean plants and where nature is still untouched.
You will meet seven coves along the path to be covered on foot: you will be enveloped by the scents of the Mediterranean along the entire walk and then dive into a crystalline sea between white sand and extraordinary depths.
Spiaggia dei Conigli (Lampedusa)
The beach is located on the island of Lampedusa, opposite the Isola dei Conigli. Here the water temperature in the summer months is never below 21 degrees.
From time to time, the islet rejoins the larger island through a strip of sand created by the waves and tides. Spiaggia dei Conigli is also the favorite beach for turtles, who return here yearly to lay their eggs.
You can get to know these animals up close by visiting the “Turtles and Wildlife” recovery center, run by the WWF.
Scala dei Turchi (Realmonte)
The white sandstone rock, carved out over the centuries by water and wind, contrasts with the sea’s intense blue.
The Scala dei Turchi (scale of the Turks) is located not far from the Valley of the Temples, near Agrigento, more precisely, in the small town of Realmonte. It is a magical place where time seems to have stopped.
A walk along the coast gives the perfect tan, thanks to the perfectly white surface’s reflective power.
Mondello beach (Palermo)
The beach of Palermo extends between Monte Pellegrino and Capo Gallo. The many lidos along the beach are equipped with every comfort. In July and August, however, the beach is quite crowded.
The sea is blue and clear, and there are many Art Nouveau villas and numerous archaeological sites around the beach.
Cala Rossa (Favignana)
Old tuff caves surround the turquoise waters of Cala Rossa (Red Cove), the most famous beach in Favignana and one of the most beautiful in the world.
Following a path on foot is necessary to reach it, even if the most evocative spectacle can be enjoyed from the boat. It owes its name to the bloody battle of the First Punic War.
Calamosche Beach (Noto)
Inside the Vendicari Nature Reserve is the small bay of Calamosche, consisting of a sandy bay bordered by high cliffs.
The shallow waters, and the landscape makes this beach particularly attractive for nature lovers.
To reach it, you need to take a path of about 1 km inside the reserve, starting from the parking lot. There are no equipped areas, but the parking area offers showers and a refreshment area.
Punta Ciriga (Ispica)
The cliffs of Punta Ciriga are located in the southeast of Sicily, in the territory of Ispica, about 50 km from Ragusa.
Here the coast forms small coves and creates a sandy coastline, with inlets with shallow waters and high cliffs overlooking the sea, characterized by turquoise waters that break on the sand.
In front of the beach of Punta Ciriga stands the islet of Iannuzzo, a triangular-shaped stack detached from the Ragusa coast and not covered by any vegetation.
These small coves and the imposing cliffs are the ideal places for those who want to rediscover the beauty of a “wild” and unspoiled coast, away from the confusion of the most crowded beaches.
Pozzallo beach (Pozzallo)
Pozzallo beach extends for about 800 m. The town is bordered by an elegant promenade. The town is located in the province of Ragusa.
The golden and magnificent sand, the cobalt blue sea, the shallow waters, and the wide beach surrounded by palm trees make it an enchanting place to spend a relaxing holiday. It is the ideal beach for those who love the comforts guaranteed by bathing establishments (equipment rental, bar, restaurant, etc.) or those who want to practice beach sports.
Although the beach is bustling in high season, the beach’s large extension allows you to find a place and enjoy the sea in complete tranquility.
Pollara Beach (Salina)
On the northwestern end of Salina’s island, the beach, characterized by a coastline of dark pebbles and gravel, extends under a cliff in the shape of an amphitheater. The inlet is accessed via a steep staircase.
The sea is clear and crystalline: you will find yourself bathing in a prehistoric submerged crater, of which the remains shaped by fire, wind, and water are still visible.
Isola Bella Beach (Taormina)
Symbol of the city of Taormina, Isola Bella has a pebble and gravel beach. If you want to reach the islet, it is possible with a simple walk between the stones and the water, but those who want to enjoy the blue of the coast fully can take advantage of the many boat trips that depart from the eastern side of the beach.
Aci Castello Beach (Aci Castello)
The black lava cliffs of Aci Castello are a real spectacle for all those who want to dive and explore seabeds of great beauty. The rocks are accessible through walkways on which you can lie down freely to sunbathe and rise near the town, where it is easy to park your car and have bars and restaurants nearby. The depths are immediately high, so bathing is recommended for experienced swimmers.
Capo Passero Island Beach (Portopalo di Capo Passero)
The island of Capo Passero is located right in front of the town of Portopalo, one of the southernmost municipalities in Italy.
The islet is separated from the mainland by a strip of the sea. And it can be reached by canoe, pedal boat, or a small fishing boat that connects to the island in the summer.
Once you arrive, you will find a beach of fine sand and a crystal-clear sea. An exotic scenario radically transformed in the north, where the coastline becomes jagged and rocky.
Cefalù Beach (Cefalù)
A swim in Cefalù is an opportunity to immerse yourself in Sicily’s millennial art and culture, in this seaside town at the foot of a rocky promontory. The beach can be a very crowded tourist destination in the summer months.
Punta Secca (Santa Croce Camerina)
Punta Secca is a seaside resort far from other beaches’ worldliness in the province of Ragusa. Its enchanting sandy and golden beaches are interspersed with stretches of rocks with shallow waters.
During the summer season by tourists, this resort offers several chalets, bars, and restaurants within easy reach and is suitable for everyone.
Cala bue marino (San Vito Lo Capo)
The beach is located 4 kilometers from the town of San Vito Lo Capo. Sandstone rocks and white pebbles grant access to the sea immersed in the beauty of the nature of Sicily.
The colors of the water are reminiscent of Sardinia, for the emerald green that becomes turquoise.
The beach, not being equipped, is recommended for those who love to lie down in the sun.
Giache Bianche Beach (Menfi)
It is A small beach in Menfi, a small town in Agrigento’s province, for its great wine-growing activity. Giaghe Bianche is a natural inlet surrounded by vineyards covered with round and white stones, clear waters, and all the tranquility of an uncrowded beach.
Lake Mirror of Venus (Pantelleria)
Pantelleria is the most inaccessible island in Sicily. Here you will not find real beaches but only sharp rocks. Yet the charm of this island is unique, so it is considered the Black Pearl of the Mediterranean. The hinterland hides a surprise: a lake beach, warm almost all year round.
A body of saltwater complete with volcanic mud and natural thermal waters that flow spontaneously on the shore for an experience in nature.
Cala Sidoti (Ustica)
Here nature is the protagonist: the island is in a large marine protected area, and Cala Sidoti is located in an area where only bathing and snorkeling are allowed. For this reason, the seabed is very populated by fishes, and it is enough to dive to easily observe an entire marine world of spectacular colors and variety.
Faraglioni beach (Linosa)
Those who prefer rocks and nature will love the stacks of Linosa. A place where sharp and black volcanic boulders meet the water’s blue, which sometimes becomes green and turquoise. The rocks form small natural pools and tiny coves, all to be explored. The island of Linosa is a true paradise for diving enthusiasts.
Capo Bianco (Eraclea Minoa)
Here the beach of fine sand is surrounded by white cliffs. To reach it is necessary to take a short path on foot in a grove, surrounded by the Mediterranean scrub’s scents.
The rocks of Capo Bianco overlooking the sea between Agrigento and Sciacca form an enchanting cliff lapped by a turquoise sea.
At the top of the promontory are the Greek ruins of Eraclea Minoa and an ancient theater’s remains.
The Platani River Nature Reserve area rises along the western side of Capo Bianco.
Donnalucata Beach (Scicli)
A long beach of golden sand between Ragusa and Scicli developed next to a marina equipped with showers and lidos with bars and a rental of umbrellas and deck chairs.
After the coast that bathes the inhabited center, there is a coastline of about 3 km wide, uncrowded beaches, including those of Micenci, Palo Bianco, Palo Rosso, and Spinasanta.
The rough waters and waves that characterize this part of the coast make the area ideal for surfing and windsurfing.
Fontane Bianche Beach (Syracuse)
Not far from Syracuse, on Sicily’s east coast, it is a real tropical corner in the Mediterranean.
The beach takes its name from the natural freshwater fountains in this area and the beach’s white sand, which stretches for about 3 km.
It boasts a crystal clear sea and rocky bottoms: a paradise for divers and fishing lovers, where you can surf or explore the coast by boat.
Isola Lunga (Marsala)
The beach of Isola Lunga is located within the Laguna dello Stagnone Nature Reserve. In this magical place, the ancient salt marshes have coexisted with the surrounding marine habitat for centuries. It is precisely the activity of salt drying that gives the waters of the sea a pink color.
The salt flats and the Stagnone are a paradise for birdwatchers; there is also a large pink flamingos colony among the most famous guests of the brackish waters.
Spiaggia dei Francesi (Bagheria)
The small cove takes its name from the first French tourists who frequented it and discovered it as a seaside destination. It is located on the seafront of the town of Bagheria.
If you like wild beaches and have no problem settling on the rocks, this small bay is the one for you. However, the spaces are tiny, and the turnout is high; better to go early in the morning or at sunset.
Torre Conca beach (Pollina)
Torre Conca Beach is the most popular and well-known beach in Pollina, a medieval town in the Madonie not far from Cefalù.
Located in an inlet under a promontory, it is characterized by sand mixed with gravel and crystal-clear waters.
The seabed becomes deep, already a short distance from the shoreline. Access is a path that can be followed on foot after leaving the car in a large parking lot that meets along the road in the area overlooking the beach.
Playa Beach (Catania)
This beach boasts 18 kilometers of sand, equipped beaches, sports facilities, bars, kiosks, and the inevitable beach umbrellas and bathing services.
Here you can spend a holiday amidst the baroque beauty of the historic center of Catania, its long tradition of street food, and take a bath while looking at the largest snow-capped volcano in Europe.
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