Sun, Sea & Sicilian Hospitality
Castellammare del Golfo & Palermo 🇮🇹 | Welcoming Vibes in Sicily
Castellammare del Golfo: Beach Days & Boat Tours
As you might already figured out from my previous posts about my Girls Trip to Malta or Madeira, I loooove the appeal of an island. Especially when it has beautiful sandy beaches and breath-taking ocean views. As long as I have the time, money and freedom to travel, I plan on visiting every beautiful island I can find on the world map. So when I got the opportunity to travel to Sicily with an old friend and her 4-year-old son, I thought, why not? I was craving some sun, sea, and a little adventure, and that’s exactly what this trip gave me.
We started our trip with a night at a hotel near Brussels Airport before catching our flight to Trapani, Sicily. From there, we took an airport transfer straight to Castellammare del Golfo, a charming coastal town in the Trapani province. We stayed in a boutique hotel on Piazza Europa square, which had everything within walking distance local markets, restaurants, and a stunning sandy beach just five minutes away.
Getting to the beach required walking down a long staircase, but the reward? A white and golden sandy beach with the clearest, most beautiful azure blue ocean. I still think about that view often. Most of our time here was spent relaxing on the beach, drinking cocktails, and building sandcastles with my friend’s son.
We also took two boat tours:
San Vito Lo Capo & Zingaro Reserve (with lunch included)
Favignana & Levanzo (with lunch included)
Were the boat tours spectacular? Not necessarily. But I’d still recommend them because they gave us the chance to meet other travelers and locals. One thing I absolutely loved about Sicilians is their love for children and their hospitality. Some locals even helped entertain my friend’s son, making sure he had a good time.
At Favignana, we visited Spiaggia Praia, a beach
packed with locals. While it wasn’t as peaceful as
our favorite beach in Castellammare, the
atmosphere was lively, and my friend’s son got to
play with other kids.
Evenings were spent exploring the seafront promenade, trying different Sicilian restaurants. My favorite? Ristorante Salvinius. Sicilian cuisine is seafood-heavy, but the dish that stood out to me was Busiate al Pesto Trapanese– pasta made with basil, garlic, tomatoes, olive oil, and ricotta. And I can’t forget the pistachio gelato from Gelateria Ventimiglia or the brioche with pistachio ice cream in San Vito Lo Capo– both absolutely delicious.
The only downside? My waterproof iPhone case wasn’t so waterproof, and my phone suffered water damage. Since there were no repair shops in Castellammare, I had to wait until we got to Palermo to get it fixed.
Palermo: A Fast-Paced Cultural & Shopping Spree
On day five, one of our new Sicilian friends drove us from Castellammare to Palermo– a ride that came with a free history lesson on the Sicilian Mafia. He explained how the glamorization of the Mafia in pop culture is frustrating for Sicilians, especially those who lived through its darker times. He also told us about Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, two anti-Mafia judges who were assassinated for their work. Hearing these real-life stories gave me a new perspective on Sicily’s history.
We stayed in a hotel about 10-15 minutes from the city center and spent the next few days walking– a lot. Palermo is a big city with stunning architecture and endless shopping options. From Zara and Sephora to high-end designer stores like Prada and authentic Italian boutiques, there was no shortage of places to shop. I treated myself to some makeup, bags, and gold earrings I’d been wanting for a while.
We also visited the Cathedral of Palermo– a beautiful landmark worth seeing, though if you’ve been to Vatican City, you might not be as easily impressed by other churches in Italy.
Walking around with a stroller and a 4-year-old wasn’t always easy, but we managed. Thankfully, the locals were incredibly accommodating, especially in restaurants where they made sure we had everything we needed.
Final Thoughts: Would I Do It Again?
Sicily was a mix of relaxation, culture, and some unexpected challenges. If I had to rate the trip, I’d give it a 7.5/10. The beaches were stunning, the Sicilian people were some of the kindest and most welcoming I’ve ever met, and I really enjoyed the welcoming and positive vibes.
Would I travel with a 4-year-old again without a babysitter? Absolutely not. Unless you’re already a parent, taking care of a child while trying to enjoy a trip can be challenging and sometimes very stressful. But if you’re traveling solo, with friends, or even with kids but with extra help, Sicily is definitely worth visiting.
Would I go back? Yes but next time, I’m bringing a fully waterproof phone case that actually works.
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Bella Sicilia through my eyes.
