Making the most of Trapani Sicily
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Cruise ships berth on the quay beside the ferry terminal, behind the busy port and directly in front of the old town.
Large ships with over draft 8 m anchor one mile offshore, then tender passengers for 10 min to a floating pier in the town center.
The small cruise/ferry terminal has toilets, a bus-park area, self service and newspapers.
Bring a printable map along.
Trapani’s history is told through monuments, churches and buildings from diverse eras, with every corner characterizing the town across its various centuries. Its historical-center port remains the pulsing heart and has undergone several modifications over time, including ongoing quay repaving and overall adjustments up to the present day. At the town’s end stands Torre di Ligny, where the Prehistoric Museum is now located.
Getting around
Erice, the hilltop town, is Trapani’s major attraction, reached by ship excursion or by bus or taxi and cable car.
During summer, a cable car runs from Trapani; winter brings an enjoyable local-bus journey.
Ship excursion option:
A bus-only ship option drops passengers at Erice’s top and collects them at the bottom of the little town before returning to the ship. Cost around 55 Euro pp.
Independent bus option:
Outside the terminal, take 2A or 2B, running every few minutes towards the mountain. Buy and validate a 1.40 Euro driver ticket in the yellow machine; it is valid for 90 minutes on all bus lines. Tell the driver you are going to Erice, or use 21 or 23, every half an hour or less, to the intersection. On 21 or 23, tell the driver again for Erice; the stop is only meters from the cable car. A return is 9 euro, cheaper and more fun than a ship excursion.
Wet conditions can make Erice’s streets very slippery.
Nearby places
The medieval hill town of Erice sits on Mount Eryx, the Elimi religious center. Its temple was used by Phoenicians for Astarte, Greeks for Aphrodite and Romans for Venus; Syracusans and Carthaginians contested Erice until Roman conquest in 244 B.C..
Segesta is an abandoned ancient Greek town.
Food and shopping
The historic Trapani district stands before the dock, with beautiful churches, other buildings, upscale shops, restaurants and outdoor cafes. Via Torrearsa is the main pedestrian avenue from the port across the little peninsula.
Money
Currency: Euro.
Staying connected
Italian is the local language.
Free WiFi is available in many historical-district cafes.
Opening Hours and
Historical-district stores often follow siesta hours, although more and more stores now keep their doors open all day.
Sunday opening is increasingly common.
During Easter week, Trapani hosts the very special Misteri, a daylong procession of life-like floats representing different crucifixion scenes. The floats were created during the 17th and 18th centuries and can be viewed at other times of year in Chiesa del Purgatorio.