Does visiting an Italian paradise island seems like the perfect summer vacation for you? Well, you’ve come to the right place as we have the best Trappeto Sicily guide for you!
If you enjoy sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, exploring charming coastal towns and discovering historical sites, you will love this Italian town!
They say Italian vacations are always unforgettable. The same applies when visiting Sicily too. So, keep reading and prepare for your next travel adventure!
Picking dates for your trip and choosing which airport to arrive at is the easy part. Now, where to book your accommodation in Sicily is a more challenging matter. Top tourist spots like Cefalu and San Vito Lo Capo are very expensive if you are traveling on a budget.
After lengthy research, we concluded that it is the best option to stick with a small and inexpensive town, which is near the places you want to visit the most. Consequently, we advise you to book an apartment at Residenza Biondo in Trappeto, Sicily.
What you will learn in this travel destination review of Trappeto:
- About the coast Sicilian town
- Find out if it’s the right vacation spot for you
- Beaches and local activities
- Things to do and what to see
- Parking, taxi, and public transportation
- Accommodations
- Restaurants and shopping
- Final Verdict
Our First Impressions of Trappeto
Do you wonder what makes Trappeto your perfect summer vacationing destination?
Well, when people think of Sicily they think of the island’s wonderful nature and rich history. With its location, Trappeto is excellent for exploring the western part of the island. It’s close to Palermo airport and much cheaper than other popular options like Cefalu.
We will go in more detail regarding the pros and cons of this destination later.
Trappeto is a small coastal fishing town on the Golfo di Castellammare in northern Sicily, and it offers stunning views of the sea and nearby beaches. It will welcome you with its typical rural Sicilian architecture on its buildings, and narrow streets.
It’s a generally clean town, and the people – who seemed to emerge from their houses after the sun goes down – are very pleasant. Many of them, keep in mind, speak only Italian.
Our trip started from the airport of Palermo to Trappeto with one-hour car ride on the E-90 highway. This is a wonderful road trip ride along the northern Sicilian coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea that I would recommend to anyone.
It was a hot and sunny day, but the streets in Trappeto were empty and all the shops were closed. We found our accommodation Residenza Biondo very easily and soon the wonderful host arrived to welcome us. She explained to us that from noon until 4 PM the Italians practice “riposo – meaning nap time.” You might know this as “siesta” from Spain.
As we were settling in our apartment and getting ready for our first Sicilian adventure, one thing that we immediately noticed was that all the buildings had ropes with hooks on them hanging from the balconies. Later we learned the ropes are used for lowering garbage bags from the top floors to the street.
But is this town for you? Find out below if this fishing village is the right place for your Sicilian vacation.
Is Trappeto Your Ideal Vacation Destination in Sicily?
All Sicily holidays are associated with swimming, exploring and sightseeing. The island offers both calm spots like Trappeto and luxurious alternatives too.
In this small coastal town, you won’t be able to find a famous seaside resort. However, you will experience the everyday lives of locals. Put differently, Trappeto is for those who want an authentic Sicilian vacation.
Below, we have listed the main advantages and drawbacks of a Trappeto holiday. Later in the text, you will also find the top things you can do in and/or nearby this charming town.
It is for those that
- Want to experience a small coastal authentic Sicilian town
- Be near nice beaches – San Vito Lo Capo
- Are traveling on a budget or want inexpensive accommodation
- Want a quiet and relaxing vacation
It is not for those that
- Want a variety of options and to try many things
- Want a nightlife or shopping
- Want to be near top Sicilian destination spots like Cefalu, Catania, or Mount Etna
- Can’t or won’t want to drive a car to get around Sicily
Trappeto Beaches and Activities
Trappeto itself doesn’t have too much to offer in terms of parks and greenery.
After all, it is a coastal town close to the Golfo di Castellammare and offers unforgettable sea views and dramatic sunsets. There is a boardwalk with lots of benches along the seacoast where you can just sit and enjoy life.
Since the town is on a hill, Trappeto doesn’t have a good spiaggia, Italian for the beach. You’ll need to go to nearby spiagge/beaches on foot, by car, or via public transportation.
Personally, we enjoyed the beautiful sandy beach Spiaggia Libera di Balestrate – in the town Balestrate next to Trappeto.
11 Things to see and do in Trappeto
Do you worry that Trappeto doesn’t have a lot to offer in comparison to other towns in Sicily?
Well, the fear is both justified and unrealistic. On the one hand, many of the best places to visit in Sicily are far away and you’ll have to drive to get there.
On the other hand, the place itself is suitable for having a relaxing and full vacation even without constant driving to other Sicilian destinations.
Here are the top things to experience in and around Trappeto:
1. Taste local cuisine
Sicilian pizza. No trip to Sicily is complete without trying the famous Italian pizza.
While on our trip, we had a Capricciosa pizza, which in most European countries comes with mushrooms, ham, and cheese. To our surprise, the pizza in Trappeto came with a hot-dog in the middle of it.
Is this the regular Italian, Sicilian, or even Trappeto way to make a Capricciosa? – I have no idea. But it was a fun food adventure.
2. Check out the local bakery
Do a morning walk to the local bakery in Trappeto and get some fresh Italian bread. You won’t be sorry – it’s delicious.
3. Dip in the Small Sea Pools
These sea pools are west of Trappeto, down the hill of the village. The pools are made from stone walls that prevent waves to get to the beach.
They’re interesting to see and the water there is generally warmer than the sea.
4. Sunbathe at local beaches
West of the village is Balestrate, where its long sandy Balestrate Beach is quite famous. We preferred swimming here because the beach was huge, sandy and well-organized.
On the eastside of Trappeto, you can check out Lido Pam Pam. It’s very popular with locals and tourists, so it may be crowded during high season.
5. Visit the neighboring towns
As mentioned before, Balestrate is Trappeto’s neighboring town. It’s a 10-minute drive, but more populated and touristy. It’s another authentic coastal town with interesting architecture and a wonderful long sandy beach.
Castellammare Del Golfo is another Sicilian town located along the sea. It has striking architecture, it’s tourist-friendly and offers lots of spots for perfect summer shots.
6. Take a stroll on the boardwalk in Trappeto
Enjoy the summer nights with a stroll along Trappeto’s coastline.
7. Take a riposo
No Sicilian vacation can be truly experienced without taking a midday nap as the locals do.
8. Visit the Natural Reserve Capo Rama
This natural reserve is located a few kilometers north of Trappeto, giving you amazing views of the sea.
9. Torre di Capo Rama
If you are visiting Capo Rama, the natural reserve, be sure to check out this museum within its vicinity.
10. Calatubo Castle
In the town of Alcamo, you will find this castle that holds remains of an Elymians settlement and a necropolis.
11. Other options
Plan some day-trips and visit some of the more famous towns in Sicily. Some of our favorites include Erice (64 km), San Vito lo Capo (71.5 km), Cefalu (114 km), and Palermo (46.5 km).
Parking, Rentals, Public Transportation, and Taxi Services
Car Rentals
While planning our vacation in Sicily, we ended up going with AtlasChoice.com to rent our car at the Palermo Airport. We rented an automatic car for 9 days, plus an additional driver daily fee, for a total of $389 from their partner Italy Car Rental.
Our horror story about renting a car in Italy!
We made the mistake not to pay an additional €10 per day for insurance. On our last day in Sicily, there was a mysterious dent on the front-driver door of the rental. Because we had an early plane to catch and no time to do anything about it, we had to acknowledge the damage and sign off on the receipt that we were responsible for it.
A week later we got a €500 bill for repair costs. The moral of the story – always purchase car insurance!
I’ve heard that this is a huge business in Italy. Supposedly, they damage rental cars on the last day when customers can’t fix the car. Then the rental companies send large repair bills because you don’t have a way to validate the invoice.
Parking and Fees
There were several semi-large parking lots around the town, which were free of charge. People were also leaving their cars on the streets. When parking in front of a building use caution, most places on the street were marker by locals as reserved. As a tourist, you should be careful and not park in front of gates, doors, or reserved spots.
Public Transportation
The island of Sicily is connected by the coastal railway system (REG). Each coastal town in Sicily has a train station to help residents and tourists travel throughout the island via public transport.
I would not recommend traveling in Sicily via train. It’s a slow and painful process that if you can avoid by renting a car or traveling by bus, I would recommend you do that. From Palermo to Trappeto, it’s a two-and-a-half-hour train journey, not including the walking distance to and from each train station.
Traveling by bus connects all the remaining larger towns outside of the train route scope. The intercity buses offer a more direct and faster service compared to the trains in Sicily.
Taxi
If you do not use a rental car or public transportation, you can use the services of these taxi companies located in the Trappeto area:
- TAXI BALESTRATE NR.01 – +39 338 159 0704 [https://taxibalestrate.business.site/]
- TAXI TRAPPETO BALESTRATE – +39 389 552 0074 [https://travelinsicilyexcursions.business.site/]
Accommodation
In terms of Sicily vacation rentals and where to stay in Trappeto, the situation has improved since my visit.
For example, with the rise of raw beauty far from the crowds, this spot has become popular among budget travelers. You can find gorgeous villas for rent in Trappeto. Also, there are countless apartments, which seem to be the first choice for most tourists.
Those who want something more luxurious have fewer options. Most hotels in Trappeto Sicily are near the town rather than in the center. For example, Hotel Perla Del Golfo in Terrasini, Italy has strong reviews and it’s located around 5 kilometers from the center. This accommodation is among the best hotels in Sicily for that matter.
Trappeto Restaurants and Shopping
Shopaholics should look for a large city like Catania or Palermo to stay in. There are only local supermarket stops and shops in Trappeto where you can buy groceries or beach supplies.
The town also has a limited number of bars and restaurants.
Final Verdict
Trappeto is a place where you can experience authentic Sicilian life and atmosphere.
People here are relaxed, nobody seems to be in a rush ever. Most locals are nice and even though they might not speak English, they’re open to communication even if it’s a pantomime.
Regarding Trappeto, I think this is a great option for those that want to explore the island and find a budget-friendly town to stay in.
I would, however, recommend to trendsetters and those seeking luxurious Sicily adventure to avoid Trappeto and go for a more popular option like Palermo, Cefalu, or Catania.
Did you like my Trappeto Sicily guide? If yes, don’t forget to share it with your friends!
Who knows, maybe one of them is planning their next Sicily vacation right now.
