{"id":55387,"date":"2025-12-04T21:13:34","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T18:13:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.journeys6senses.com\/?p=55387"},"modified":"2025-12-04T21:13:36","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T18:13:36","slug":"sicily-the-best-beaches-in-the-east-and-west-of-the-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.journeys6senses.com\/en\/sicily-the-best-beaches-in-the-east-and-west-of-the-island\/","title":{"rendered":"Sicily – the best beaches in the east and west of the island"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sicily is the largest island in Italy and the Mediterranean, and the sea is almost everywhere here. But not all beaches (locals even call the rocks by the water spiaggia<\/strong>, meaning “beach”) may appeal to tourists. This is especially true if you are traveling as a family with children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So here\u2019s my list of local and slightly more remote sandy beaches, where there is infrastructure and they’re close to cities and towns where you can stay for your holiday. But keep in mind that the island is large and without a car it can be quite difficult, especially if you want to go somewhere outside your beach resort area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, plan your trip to Sicily, choose the beaches you like, rent a car, and set off on a warm journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why go to Sicily<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Having long dreamed of seeing Sicily, I made my dream come true: we traveled the island by car, ate delicious seafood<\/strong> and desserts, washed down with local wine<\/strong>, basked in the warm sun on<\/strong> the beach<\/strong>, wandered among ancient Greek and Roman ruins. And we listened to the breath of Etna<\/strong>\u2014the highest volcano in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sicily is located right in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, about 160 km northeast of Africa and about 420 km south of Rome (as the crow flies). About 60 kilometers south of Sicily lies the island nation of Malta<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among travelers, Sicily is best known for Etna<\/strong> mountain, sandy beaches<\/strong>, Greek archaeological ruins, and the fading splendor and urban chaos of Palermo<\/strong>. And no less important\u2014it\u2019s Sicilian food and wine<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, of course, you can\u2019t forget about the sea<\/strong>. No matter where you are in Sicily, you\u2019ll always be close to the coast\u2014because it\u2019s an island! But not everywhere along the coast has sand and beautiful beaches for relaxation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, let\u2019s figure out\u2014where are the best beaches in Sicily, which places to choose for a beach holiday, their features, and what you can see nearby so you can arrange an interesting cultural program in addition to sunbathing and swimming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to get to Sicily<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The easiest way to get to Sicily is by plane<\/strong>. The island has four international airports, two<\/strong> of which are main hubs: Catania Fontanarossa airport<\/strong> – in the east<\/strong>, and Palermo Falcone-Borsellino airport – in the west.<\/strong> So, when choosing a seaside resort, take a look at which airport is closer. This simplifies logistics and you won’t have to cross the whole island just because you found a slightly cheaper plane ticket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also reach Sicily by ferry<\/strong>. Palermo has ferry connections with Genoa, Livorno, the port of Civitavecchia in Rome, Naples, Malta, and Tunisia<\/strong>. Each of these ferries carries both passengers and cars<\/strong>. Depending on the departure city, the trip lasts from 10 to 14 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Villa San Giovanni<\/strong> in Calabria, the nearest mainland port to Sicily, several ferries depart daily to the Sicilian city of Messina, which is across the Strait of Messina from Calabria. The trip takes 20 minutes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beach season in Sicily<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The tourist season in Sicily lasts all year. When to go to Sicily depends on what your plans are for the southern Italian island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The beach holiday season begins at the start of May<\/strong>\u2014brisk water and warm sun attract the first beachgoers. By June, the beach rush is in full swing, but accommodation prices are still low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In summer<\/strong> Sicily is crowded and hot\u2014but the sea is warm. And autumn<\/strong> is the perfect season for a calm, not-too-hot vacation by the sea. Sicilian beaches are empty, hotels and apartments cost less, and the food in the restaurants is just as delicious as in summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best time to travel to Sicily is from May to early June<\/strong>, when the average air temperature<\/strong> is about 22\u00b0C, and the average water temperature is about 20\u00b0C. There\u2019s no hurricane season in Sicily, but there is a low wet season that lasts from late October to February<\/strong>, when there\u2019s less sun and the sea water isn\u2019t suitable for swimming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sicilian beaches\u2014what you need to know<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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If you are visiting Sicily for the first time, it\u2019s important to know a few differences between the island\u2019s coast and places like Portugal or Spain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First of all<\/strong>, long stretches of soft golden sand are rather rare here. They definitely exist and the best of them are in this post. But Italians have an innate ability to call any place where you can put a chair and an umbrella a \u201cbeach\u201d (spiaggia).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, if you see \u201cspiaggia\u201d on Google Maps, don\u2019t assume it will be an ideal long sandy beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secondly<\/strong>, there is the purely Italian phenomenon of the \u201clido\u201d\u2014these are rows of tightly placed sunbeds with colorful umbrellas on the beach. These are in fact paid beaches and they are not very cheap. Lidos are quite common in Sicily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Useful tip: <\/strong>Although some of these beaches can be reached by public transport, most of the remote ones are much easier to get to by rental car. We look for the best options on DiscoverCars<\/a><\/strong>, which offers both international and local rental companies.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Eastern Sicily beaches<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The beaches of eastern Sicily, which consists of the provinces of Messina<\/strong>, Catania<\/strong>, Syracuse<\/strong>, Ragusa<\/strong> and Caltanissetta<\/strong>, are characterized by both fine golden sand and rocky\/pebble shores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note that to the south of Catania are mostly sandy beaches, while to the north there are more rocky and pebbly shores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rocky coastline starts in the fishing village of Giovanni li Cuti and covers the entire northeast coast up to and around Messina. Heading north and west from Messina<\/strong>, along the Tyrrhenian Sea<\/strong>, the beaches begin to change: some are rocky, others sandy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if you\u2019re looking for sandy beaches, check these towns for your holiday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tip:<\/strong> for relaxing on the eastern beaches of Sicily, select Catania airport<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Marina di Ragusa<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Spiaggia di Marina di Ragusa Beach<\/strong> is a large sandy beach in the town of Marina di Ragusa. Located not far from the larger Randello beach between Punta Braccetto and Scoglitti. Randello is part of the integral natural reserve Cava Randello. So you can choose the city beach, or you can rent a car and go to wild dunes, where there are far fewer people per square meter and it’s a great alternative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sand on the city beach is yellow, and the entrance to the water is gentle\u2014a great place for a family holiday with children. On the remote Randello beach, the sand stretches for many miles, giving everyone plenty of space to spread out and relax without bumping into each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other popular nearby beaches:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n