I’ve been craving to share this post with you for almost a year where we happily decided to spend a few days in south of Italy and most specifically in the island of Favignana.

I’m still so excited looking back to these photos, remembering the vivid colors of the sea, our long drives on scooter from one side to another of the island trying to catch the magic of sunset, the most delicious pistacchio cornetto and coffee in the morning at the bar at our usual table which were luckily always empty for us .

I will explain you in this travel post how to plan the trip to this magical island of Sicily, where to eat and all the activities not to miss!

HOW TO GET TO FAVIGNANA?

Favignana is a little island next to Sicily. We arrived to Trapani by plane from Milano and then took a taxi to the post ( they are very close to each other to the price of the taxi wasn’t expensive ) there you can get the tickets to the next hydrofoil which connects Trapani to three isalnds; Favignana, Marettimo e Levanzo.

You can easily buy the tickets directly at the port or in advance online.

We arrived at the port in Favignana and took our luggage across the city. It wasn’t really far but the city was full of people at that time of the day, yet we easily managed to find our apartment in a quiet zone outside the center.

I recommend to stay in an apartment to enjoy at its best the relax and nature of that place, and to choose one slightly outside of the city center which gets really busy in the afternoon and late night. We found our apartment on Airbnb, we really wanted a little garden to enjoy some fish barbeque too.

HOW TO MOVE IN THE ISLAND?

In the city center the best is to move by foot since it’s small or on the bike, but in a rush hours when the center is full of people you can be stopped and asked to walk the bike.

While on the island is your choice, bike or scooter are the best options. With the bike you can do some sport but to arrive to the far beaches could be hard especially under the heat of the sun.

The scooter was our favorite, we had so much fun driving around and enjoy the wind, we made it perfectly on time everywhere without getting tired and drove from one side to another of the island to catch the latest rays of sunlight.  The first two days we’ve been moving exclusively with the bikes and then got the scooter at Isidoro bike & scooter rental, we chosen this one as apparently it was the most convenient ( there are many on the island, but there is a slight variation of the price ). Do a reservation for the scooter in advance, the request is high as its the best way of transportation on the island, so you maybe have to wait a couple of days to get it ( as it happened to us ) and only the most expensive rental places will have some choice.

WHICH ARE THE BEST BEACHES / CALA?

There are so many on this island and they are so beautiful! The first thing they said us is to check the wind in the morning as the beaches on the side of the wind may have seaweed and be colder.

The sea of Favignana is cold but too beautiful!

CALA DI BUE MARINO – it’s extremely small beach with insanely beautiful color variation between turquoise and deep blue. It’s surrounded by tuff quariers, you can even go in but not too far as it’s a little dangerous ( they’ve been closed years ago ).

CALA AZZURRA – Have more space and you can enter into the sea, while in Cala del Bue you jump immediately in the deep sea. Go there in the second part of the day and come back following Strada Punta Marsala in the direction of Lido Burrone, you will be following the sun.

CALA ROSSA – another favorite of mine. The view is just incredible, you will never forget those colors.

GROTTA PERCIATA – another incredible place with many little caves to swim into.

CALA ROTONDA – my favorite beach on the other side of the island.

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK IN THE CITY?

LIMONE BAR / CALA DI BUE MARINO – it was the best place to have a granita al limone. It was the only one we had on the island made with real lemons and not with a siroup, actually when you order it in any place ask if it’s made with a real lemon juice.

CAFFE MAZZINI – our first every morning stop for they incredibly delicious cornetto al pistacchio and coffee al pistacchio. Belive me guys, I almostr cried for how delicious were those!

TRATTORIA LA BETTOLA – was our favorite restaurant for the famous Busiate!

CAMARILLO BRILLO – for an evening drink and live music, the service is a little messy due to a huge number of clients but it worth it for the vibe of this place when the whole bar is singing loud the famous italian songs.

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK OUTSIDE THE CITY?

CIBO, CHICCHIERE E VINO – on the other side of the island, there is this magical place with delicious food and good wine and a heartbreaking view. Don’t miss it, and reserve in advance!

LA COSTA RISTO JAR BAR – a beautiful bar on the beach close to Cala Azzurra. They have amazing cocktails and great music, go there of an aperitivo at sunset!

EXPERIENCES NOT TO MISS!

RIDE ON THE BOAT – just ask to some guy at the port how you can organize a boat ride for the day. There is an option to go by yourself or in a group of 8-10 people, we choose the second one as that allowed us to go in a caves that only the professionals drivers know and can go, and then of course being in a good company was amazing! Our guy was Osvaldo, ask for him!

VISIT “LA TONNARA FLORIO” – the island for a long period was living on two activities, the fishing of tunas and tuff quarries, both of them were closed in these years. La tonnara was the place were they were working the fishes. It’s a very suggestive place and very beautiful, there is one room with a 3d interview of people who was used to work there ( if you pay attention you will meet them on the streets of Favignana, a big part is still living on the island ).

ENJOY THE SUNSET – Enjoy the sunset with a delicious drink at La Costa, it’s a moment you will never forget!

CREMA AL PISTACCHIO – eat it as much as you can. On the Island they use it for everything, to fill the morning cornetto, in a coffee or ice cream. It’s simply delicious! Yes, forget about the diet!

WAIT FOR SUNRISE AT CALA ROSSA – we woke up around 4am to ride to the beach to see the sun waking up and it was incredible beautiful!

DRIVE AROUND THE WHOLE ISLAND – rent the scooter for at least one day, you will never regret that! Both parts of the island are beautiful and have amazing spots, closer to la tonnara you can find cows walking on the street, you can pass the old caves of tuff and exotic gardens grow there protected by the wind, on the other side don’t miss a beautiful pine forest creating the only shade of the island.

BUY FRESH FISH AT PORTO – in the morning Porto is full of stands of fresh fish caught in the night, buy some and make a barbeque for lunch!