Erice was one of our favorite small towns to discover during our time in Sicily. We had read about it beforehand, but the printed words didn’t fully do it justice. We were definitely charmed by the beauty and atmosphere of this town where time seems to have stood still since its medieval heyday. Here, an interesting array of cobblestone streets, a stone cathedral, and not one but two stunning cliffside castles await your discovery. Due to its altitude and proximity to the sea, Erice is often shrouded by clouds, providing a unique and foggy atmosphere while you discover this town full of history. On clear days, you’ll have breathtaking views of Sicily’s western coastline and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Though some choose to overnight here, most will visit Erice as a day trip from Trapani via the cable car that connects both towns. To help you plan your visit and get the most out of your time here, we put together this Erice Travel Guide. We believe that this stunning medieval hilltop town should definitely be included in your Sicily itinerary.
Disclosure: This page (Erice – A Travel Guide to Sicily’s Stunning Medieval Hilltop Town) may contain product affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, we may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. More details can be found on our disclosure and policies page.
Erice: Location & Map
Erice is located in Northwest Sicily (link to Google Maps), immediately northeast of the coastal town of Trapani.
How to get to Erice
By Cable Car: If you are staying in Trapani, the simplest way to reach Erice is via cable car, which will whisk you up nearly 700 m during a 10-minute scenic ride.
The Trapani Cable Car Station (link to Google Maps) is located on the eastern end of town. To reach the station from the historic center, you can either walk (3-4km), take a taxi (10-15€), or take line 21 or 23 of the Trapani ATM bus service, both of which pass directly in front of the cable car station.
The Erice Cable Car Station (link to Google Maps) is located just at the foot of the historic town center, less than a 2-minute walk away.
Cable Car Ticket Price: € 6.50 one-way, € 11.00 round trip (2025). Weekly and monthly passes are available, as are reduced rates for children. Though not necessary, tickets can be purchased online here ahead of time and are valid for one year after the date of purchase.
Cable Car Schedule: The schedule changes regularly throughout the year. During the summer months, the cable runs at least from 9 am to midnight, with additional hours on weekends, during peak weeks and on holidays.
You can find the full detailed schedule here.
Note that the cable car doesn’t run if there is bad weather or high winds.
By Car: Alternatively, you can also reach Erice by car from several nearby towns.
From Trapani: 15 km (25 minutes)
From Castellammare del Golfo: 40 km (50 minutes)
From Marsala: 50 km (1h)
From Palermo: 115 km (1h40)
Parking: Like many old towns in Sicily, Erice has a ZTL zone (the historic center is closed to car traffic during certain times of the day without a permit), so you will have to park your car in one of several car parks outside the town walls. You can expect to pay around € 1.50 per hour via parking ticket machines that use coins.
Car park option 1 (link to Google Maps)
Car park option 2 (link to Google Maps)
If you need to book a rental vehicle for your travels, we highly recommend using Discover Cars to get the best rates on your rental in Sicily.
We also highly recommend Airalo (eSIM card) for your connectivity needs when travelling abroad. Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide.
By Public Transit: The AST bus service connects Erice to and from Trapani (one way and return €2.90/4.80, 40 min – 1 h one-way, 4-6 trips per day). The Trapani bus stop is by the port, in front of the hydrofoil dock, while the Erice bus stop is near the funicular exit. It’s simplest to have cash and pay aboard the bus.
To get to Trapani by bus from Palermo, you can buy tickets online via Flixbus.
By Organized Group Tour: You can also visit Erice from Palermo with a group tour. This full-day tour, in particular, is well-rated and includes visits to Segesta Archeological Park and the Trapani salt flats:
Hiking: You can also hike up to (or down from) Erice along a series of trails that roughly follow the cable car path up the mountain. It’s a very challenging and steep trail, where you will need to ascend 700m in just over 5 km (if starting near the cable car station). The trail itself isn’t very well-maintained or indicated, and is quite rocky in several places.
About Erice and its History
The town’s hilltop historic core, which sits atop the summit of Mount Erice at 750m above sea level, occupies the site of the ancient Greek city of Eryx, one of the most significant archaeological and religious centres in pre-Roman western Sicily. It was developed around a site that eventually became a prominent religious and military stronghold for the Carthaginians and Romans due to the hilltop’s unique vantage point that it provided control over the Strait of Sicily and most of the western coastline.
The hilltop is first believed to have been settled by the Elymians around 1200 BC. The Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans, in turn, conquered the city. Later, during the early Middle Ages, Erice was an important foothold known as Gebel Hamed to the Arabs who had conquered Sicily at that time. Most of what you see today in Erice, including the town layout and architecture, stems from later medieval times, primarily from the Norman period (though there are still noticeable traces of Arab and Byzantine influences as well). The Normans (descendants of Vikings who had settled in Normandy, France) christened the town as Monte San Giuliano, a name by which it was known until 1934, when it was finally given its original Latin name back, Erice.
Today, Erice has a current population of about 25,000, though this number includes both the hilltop medieval town and several modern lower districts, as well as some small agricultural hamlets on the surrounding foothills. It is also a member of “I Borghi più belli d’Italia” (“the most beautiful villages of Italy), an association that recognizes towns of notable historical and architectural interest. Though not yet listed, it has often been mentioned as a potential candidate for UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
Best Things to See and Do in Erice
Stroll and Wander Through the Medieval Streets
Erice isn’t particularly large; you can walk around the town’s perimeter (it has a triangular shape) in about 30-40 minutes, so you can’t really get lost. But in Erice, part of the fun is trying to get lost in its small maze of cobbled medieval streets and alleyways. The town is mostly pedestrianized, so you can enjoy walking around the town without worrying about traffic.
If you arrive early in the day (and we recommend that you do), wandering around town might feel like you’ve entered a fairytale town. This is especially true when the town is wrapped by low-hanging clouds and fog. You’ll definitely feel like you have taken a step back in time.
Take in the Panoramic Views
On clear days, Erice’s elevated vantage point high above the surrounding area provides visitors with stunning vistas of Western Sicily. The best place to enjoy these stunning aerial views is from the panoramic walkway (link to Google Maps) that leads to the Castello del Bálio (see further below for more details on the castle).
On a clear day, you can see Trapani below, the coastline, the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Egadi Islands, and the Trapani Salt Flats.
Visit Chiesa Madre di Erice (Real Duomo)
Among its dozen churches, the Chiesa Madrice di Erice (also known as the Real Duomo or the Royal Cathedral of Erice) is the most important place of worship in Erice. It was built in the early 14th century in the Gothic style atop a pre-existing chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was constructed from material taken from the temple of Venus, which used to lie where the Castle of Venus is located today (more on the castle further below).
The adjacent bell tower was built in the 12th century, on the site of a previous town watch tower. You can climb to the top of the tower for fantastic aerial views of Erice. The entry fee for visiting the church and the bell tower is €2.50 each, and tickets can be purchased at the bell tower. You can also purchase a “church pass” for €6 per person, which will grant you access to the town’s other churches.
The Chiesa Madre di Erice is located near the Porta Trapani, the main gain into town from the western side, where all those coming via cable car enter.
Castle of Venus (Castello di Venere) vs Castello del Bálio
The Castello di Venere, sometimes referred to as the Castello di Erice, is a Norman castle dating from the 12th century that stands on an isolated cliff near the south-eastern corner of the hilltop. It was built on top of the ruins of the Temple of Venus, an important religious site during Elymian, Phoenician, and Roman times.
The castle was originally connected to the rest of the summit and the Balio Towers by a drawbridge, which was later replaced by the current set of steps you see today.
The castle is typically open between 10 am and 6 pm, with longer hours during the peak summer months. An entrance fee of €4 is charged to visit the castle.
Just in front of the castle lies the beautiful Garden of Balio (Giardino del Balio), an English-style public garden. This elegant green space was born thanks to Count Agostino Pepoli, who oversaw the transformation of the area around the Balio Towers to create a place of peace and reflection. Though the picture below doesn’t convey this, there are lots of trees providing shade, fountains, and several benches from which to enjoy the atmosphere. You can also enjoy a nice coffee from Caffè del Balio, an espresso bar located within the park.
Visit Torretta Pepoli (Pepoli Tower)
Torretta Pepoli is a late 19th-century castle built by Count Agostino Pepoli, characterized by a mix of Moorish and medieval traits. It is located just behind and a bit below Castello di Venere (although no path directly connects the two castles). Initially, it served as a haven and meeting place for various distinguished guests, scholars, artists, and musicians, but today, following a careful restoration, it now houses the headquarters for the Observatory of Peace and Lighthouse of the Mediterranean. To reach the castle, you’ll need to walk down a steep but well-maintained path that hugs the mountainside.
The castle is typically open between 10 am and 6 pm, with longer hours during the peak summer months. An entrance fee of €5 is charged to visit the castle.
Sample Some of Pasticceria Maria Grammatico’s Iconic Sweets
Maria Grammatico is not only the best Pasticceria in Erice, one of the most famous pasticcerias in Sicily. Here you’ll find delicious traditional sweets, including the famous Genovese almond pastries, marzipan fruits, and so many more delicious confectioneries.
The Spanish Quarter
On the northern side of town, you’ll find the Spanish Quarter of Erice, an unfinished fortress dating back to the 17th century, originally designed as a barracks to provide accommodation to the Spanish troops. However, construction work was interrupted and the Quarter remained abandoned for many years. Today, thanks to important restoration work it houses a historical museum.
How Long Do You Need in Erice
You should plan to spend at least 2-3 hours in Erice, but ideally around 4 hours if you can manage it in your schedule. You can easily spend up to 90 minutes just wandering all the side streets and alleyways and enjoying the breathtaking vistas from the panoramic walkways. Then you will need some time to visit the Real Duomo and the town’s two castles. A visit to Pasticceria Maria Grammatico and a coffee break in the Garden of Balio are also a must.
Best Time to Visit Erice
Best Time of the Year
Overall, the best time to visit is anywhere between March through October, though we would specifically recommend spring or autumn as Erice can get quite hot and crowded during the summer months. These shoulder season months offer milder yet still pleasant temperatures and a more relaxed visiting atmosphere. You can definitely visit Erice outside these months, but the weather is much more unpredictable, and it can get quite cold, especially at that altitude. Several attractions, shops and restaurants also regularly close for the winter.
Best Time of Day
The best time to visit is definitely in the early morning when it’s cooler and when there a far fewer other visitors – we find that the atmosphere is more magical at that time of day as well, especially if there is still a bit of fog weaving through the town. We would try to get up on the first funicular, as Erice starts to get quite busy around 10 am, when most of the day trippers from Palermo and tour buses arrive. Erice will start to calm down around 4 pm, so late afternoon can be an alternative time to visit if you can make it early in the morning for a more peaceful visiting experience.
Erice tends to get busier again during the evening when many come for dinner from Trapani.
Is Erice Worth it?
We definitely think so! It was one of the most unique towns we visited in Sicily, with the best preserved medieval old town. The cobblestone streets are a joy to wander, its beautifully preserved architecture makes it feel like the town is frozen in time, and the spectacular views of the coast below are hard to beat due to Erice’s unique elevation and vantage point.
Things to See and Do Near Erice
Visit Trapani
Trapani is one of the largest towns on Sicily’s western coast, and is particularly known as the gateway to the Egadi islands and lies just below the mountain-top medieval village of Erice. It is also home to several scenic beaches and a nature reserve that includes a salt museum in an old salt mill. Although it doesn’t have many “must-see” attractions of its own, it has a beautiful and lively historic center with many restaurants.
For more information, check out our guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Trapani.
Visit the Egadi Islands
For more information, check out our guide on Sicily’s Stunning Egadi Islands.
Visit the Zingaro Nature Reserve
Zingaro was one of our favorite hiking destinations on the island, where a beautiful coastal trail swerves along the reserve’s stunning mountainous coastline that offers hikers and beach-goers multiple opportunities for swimming in warm, crystal-clear turquoise waters set within idyllic, secluded coves. We had a blast here and highly recommend spending at least half a day here.
For more information, check out our guide on Sicily’s Zingaro Nature Reserve.
Visit Segesta Archaeological Park
A short 30-minute drive from Scopello lies one of Sicily’s most stunning Archaeological Parks, where you’ll find a superb Doric temple dated back to the fifth century BC, which is surrounded by beautiful rolling hills, and a hilltop amphitheatre providing visitors with fantastic views of the surrounding countryside scenery.
For more information on visiting this fascinating place, check out our Segesta Archaeological Park Guide.
Where to Stay Near Erice
In our opinion, the best place to stay is in Trapani, whose location makes it a great base from which to explore several other attractions in western Sicily including Erice. All of the following are some of the best mid-range hotel accommodations in Trapani:
Near the town center:
Central Gallery Rooms- Palazzo D’Ali’ Staiti XIX
These next two options are bit further from the town center but are located right on the beach.
Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
Other Travel Essentials
Travel Insurance
SafetyWing is a travel insurance company that offers comprehensive coverage for travellers. Includes Medical Insurance and Travel Insurance. Primarily geared towards long-term travellers, digital nomads, and expats.
e-Sim cards
Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide. With Airalo eSIMs, travellers can get connected the moment they land at their destination and avoid nasty data roaming charges
eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.
Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
—–
Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Erice Travel Guide and that it will prove useful for planning your trip.
—–
You might also be interested in these related pages:
