The island of Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located on the southwest coast of mainland Italy and is known for having beautiful beaches lining up its coastline. With a big island such as Sicily, it can be very hard to choose which city to stay in, especially if you are a beach lover. If you are visiting Sicily for only a couple of days, you definitely want to stay in cities where the best beaches are.
There are a lot of seaside towns in Sicily and all of them offer stunning beaches with golden sands and crystal clear waters. If you want to soak up the sun on Sicily’s beautiful beaches, some of the places that you can stay in are Cefalù, San Vito Lo Capo, Taormina, and Palermo.
There are other cities in Sicily with beautiful beaches and we will talk about them in this article. If you are wondering which cities are closest to the nicest beaches in Sicily, make sure to read until the end!
Best Cities To Stay In Sicily For Beaches
Palermo
Starting off our list of the best cities you can stay in Sicily if you are a beach lover is Palermo. The city of Palermo, located on the northwest coast of the island, is mostly known for its historical sites, rich culture, architecture, and cuisine. But, the largest and capital city of Sicily is also home to some of the beautiful beaches on the island.
A 20-minute drive away from the city center will bring you to one of the most famous beaches in Palermo. Mondello Beach offers a sandy beach with crystal clear waters. The beach also has free and paid areas that you can get into. Some of the other beaches near Palermo are Capo Gallo and Addaura.
Catania
Like Palermo, Catania is also known for its rich cultural heritage and historical sites. But, this city located on the east coast of Sicily also has a few beaches to show off. The city has Mount Etna looming in the background and it faces the Ionian Sea so you definitely find beaches around Catania.
The beaches around the city either have fine sans, pebbled shores, or a mix of both. Some of the nicest beaches in Catania are La Playa, Fondachello Beach, and Spiaggia San Giovanni Licut.
San Vito Lo Capo
About 2 hours away from Palermo is San Vito Lo Capo which is located on the northwest side of Sicily. San Vito Lo Capo is one of the towns known for its beaches.
San Vito Beach is situated on the foot of Monte Monaco and it has crystal clear waters and white sands that stretch up to 2 miles long. Like other beaches in Sicily, San Vito Beach has free areas and lidos. The beach does get crowded, especially during the summer months.
San Vito Lo Capo is also home to Baia Santa Margherita which has stunning landscapes and an impressive coastline. If you want a less crowded beach, Macari Beach is about 12 minutes away from San Vito Beach. It is also about 4 km away from the town making it a more secluded and wild beach. You can definitely find some of the best hotels that offer spacious rooms with views of the beachfront. San Vito Lo Capo is definitely a place for beach lovers.
Taormina
Taormina is one of the most luxurious tourist destinations in Sicily. It is a hilltop town known for its historical sites and luxurious shopping experience. Most tourists go to Taormina to dine, shop, explore its historical center, and spend the day at the beach.
One of the most famous beaches that you can find in Taormina is Isola Bella. It is actually a small island that is separated from Taormina by a tongue of sand and is one of the most beautiful beaches in Sicily. Isola Bella also offers a pebbled beach with turquoise waters and stunning views of the sea.
Another wonderful beach that you can go to that is near Taormina is Mazzaro Beach. It is just a short distance away from Isola Bella and it has pebbled shores with lidos and free areas for beachgoers. If you are looking for luxury beach resorts, you can definitely find one in Taormina. As a luxurious destination, you will also find luxury hotels by the ocean in Taormina.
Cefalù
If you are planning to visit Sicily and want to explore its wonderful beaches, you should definitely visit Cefalù. It is a small charming town on the northern coast of Sicily and is one of the most famous towns when it comes to beaches. Cefalù is about an hour away from Palermo via car and is definitely a perfect opportunity for a day trip.
One of the most famous beaches in Cefalù is Spiaggia di Cefalù. This crescent-shaped beach is about 1.6 km long of pebbled shores and golden fine sandy beaches. It also has crystal clear waters perfect for swimming. The beach is near the city center and is very packed during the summer months.
Some of the other nice beaches in Cefalù are Kalura Beach, Sant’Ambrogio Beach, Mazzaforno Beach, and Caldera Beach.
Trapani
If you are looking for beaches with golden fine sands and crystal clear waters, Trapani is the town for you. Trapani is located on the west coast of Sicily and is about an hour away from San Vito Lo Capo. Spiaggia di San Giuliano, one of the most famous beaches in Trapani, has turquoise waters and golden sands stretching over 3 kilometers. Another beach in Trapani that you can go to is Spiaggia di Macar. This beach has warm, shallow waters which is perfect if you are traveling with family and small children.
Marina di Ragusa
Some of the best beaches in Sicily can be found in the southeastern part of the island and Ragusa has several beaches lining up its 50-kilometer coastlines.
The beaches in Ragusa have golden sands but there are also a couple of pebbled beaches around the area. One of the famous beaches in Ragusa is Scoglitti and it is a 4-kilometer long of very fine sand and shallow waters.
Kamarina and Randello are unspoiled beaches with golden sands and are also perfect for families. If you want a breathtaking view of the sunset, make sure to head on to Punta Secca which is about 5 km away from Marina di Ragusa. If you are looking for a seaside resort, Marina di Ragusa is perfect for you. It is near the city center and since it is a famous seaside resort, it does get super crowded.
Syracuse
One of the historical cities in Sicily is home to some of the stunning beaches on the island. Syracuse is located on the southeast side of Sicily and is next to the Gulf of Syracuse.
One of the nicest beaches in Syracuse is located about 12 km away from its city center. Fontane Bianche is a stretch of white sandy beach with crystal clear waters. This beach is ideal for families because of its warm, shallow waters. It also does not have jellyfish so you don’t have to worry about getting stung.
The Maddalena Peninsula near Syracuse has unspoiled beaches with rocky coastlines and beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea. There are also hiking trails along this peninsula where you can take in the natural beauty of the area. Other beaches near Syracuse are Lido Arenella, Beach of Avola, and Calarossa Beach.
Wrap up
You have a lot of options to choose from if you are looking for a city with beautiful beaches in Sicily. From the north coast to the south coast part of the island, you will find a town with stunning beaches. You can also find some of the best beach resorts and best beach hotels in these towns. Some of these hotels even have a private beach for hotel guests to enjoy.
We hope this article helps you decide which city you will stay in to explore the wonderful beaches of Sicily. Don’t forget to pack your sunscreen and enjoy swimming in the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea! If you have any other questions, let us know via the contact form on our website.
