Segesta definitely was one of our favorite ancient Greek archaeological sites to visit in Sicily. The site’s majestic Doric Temple is among the best-preserved in the world, a stunning masterpiece that was yet surprisingly never fully completed. The hilltop Greek Theater, which is also immaculately preserved, offers stunning views of the surrounding region and hosts live performances during the summer months. Segesta’s somewhat remote location among beautiful rolling hills, far from any other tourist attraction, can provide a serene and peaceful visiting experience. To help you plan your visit and get the most out of your time here, we put together this Sicily Travel Guide for visiting Segesta Archaeological Park.
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Segesta Archaeological Park: Location & Map
Segesta Archaeological Park is located in Northwest Sicily (link to Google Maps), a short distance south of Castellammare del Golfo and Scopello, just off the main freeway between Palermo and Trapani.
How to get to Segesta Archaeological Park
By Car: By far the easiest way to reach the archaeological park is by driving there.
From Castellammare del Golfo: 20 km (25 minutes)
From Trapani: 35 km (25 minutes)
From Scopello: 30 km (35 minutes)
From Palermo: 80 km (1h15)
Parking: There’s a large free cark (link to Google Maps) right next to the archaeological park entrance.
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.
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By Public Transit: There is a direct bus route (Autoservizi Tarantola e Cuffaro) servicing Segesta from Palermo, with 2-3 runs per day. To the best of our knowledge, routes from other towns will require one or more transfers to reach Segesta, making it a less than ideal transport option to visit the archeological park
By Organized Group Tour: You can also visit Segesta Archeological Park from Palermo with a group tour. This full-day tour, in particular, is well-rated and includes visits to Erice and the Trapani salt flats:
Alternatively, you can book this tour that only stops at Segesta and allows you more free time to spend there:
Segesta Archaeological Park – Ticket Prices and Operating Hours
Entrance Fee
Entrance to the Segesta Archaeological Park costs €16.00 for adults (2025). Reduced fares are available for children. There’s no need to by tickets in advance.
Operating Hours
The archaeological park is open all year (2025 schedule). Last entry is 90 min before closing time.
From January 1 to February 28: 9 am to 5 pm
From March 1 to March 29: 9 am to 6:30 pm
From March 30th to September 30th: 9 am to 7:30 pm
From October 1 to October 25: 9 am to 6:30 pm
From October 26 to December 31: 9 am to 5 pm
For up to date schedules, see the official Segesta website.
Facilities
There are washrooms, and a small cafe with a shop by the ticket office where you can buy various snacks and beverages. There are a few additional outdoor toilets scattered throughout the park.
What to Bring and What to Where
Note that there is very little shade to be found, so applying sunscreen and/or wearing a hat is a good idea.
There’s also a fair bit of walking to do around the site, and some steps to climb, so proper footwear is recommended.
The Segesta Shuttle Bus
Although the Doric Temple is near he visitor center and car park, the Segesta Greek Theater is located atop a hill, well above the visitor center, 1.5 km away. To reach the theater, you can either:
1) Walk: It’s about a 25-30 minute walk from the visitor center along the walking path, which roughly runs parallel to a road that leads up to the Theater (the road is closed off to visitor vehicles). Although it’s only 1.5 km away, it’s slow going as you will need to ascend about 150 m during that time.
2) Take the park’s shuttle bus: The road leading up to the Theater is primarily used by a shuttle service, which is a great option for those with mobility issues or for anyone who doesn’t want to make that climb in the mid-summer heat. The shuttle bus costs an extra €2.50 and it runs about every 15 minutes or until it’s full.
We personally very much enjoyed the walk up to the Theater, as it is very scenic (see pictures further below), though we visited during the early morning before the midday heat really kicked in.
About Segesta Archaeological Park and its History
The ruins of Segesta are located around Monte Bàrbaro, between 250 at 400 m above sea level. The city was protected by steep slopes on several sides and by walls on the more gentle slope towards the temple. The hilltop position offered a strategic vantage point over the valley towards the Gulf of Castellamare, and allowed the city to control several major roads between the coast to the north and the island’s interior.
Segesta was one of the major cities of the Elymians, who primarily occupied areas in Sicily’s northwest and were one of three Bronze Age cultures that flourished in Sicily before the arrival of overseas powers. The other two cities were Entella and Eryx, the latter of the two eventually became Erice, Sicily’s stunning medieval hilltop town.
The precise origin and foundation of Segesta are somewhat obscure. Historians believe that the Elymians who built and lived in Segesta were originally Trojian refugees who escaped their destroyed city. The Elymians came into frequent conflict with the expansionist Greek colonies of western Sicily, especially Selinus (known as Selinunte today), during the 6th century BC. Boundary disputes with Selinus escalated into open warfare multiple times between 580 BC and 409 BC. After seeking an initial alliance with the Athenians against Selinus, this ultimately led to the Sicilian Expedition of 415–413 BC, a disastrous military campaign by Athens against Syracuse in eastern Sicily. Athens, initially hopeful of gaining control of Sicily and its resources, suffered a crushing defeat. Following this setback, they encouraged Carthaginian intervention in their war with Selinunte, which ultimately led to the downfall of their rivals in 409 BC.
Segesta and the Elymians shifted allegiance during the first Punic War in the 3rd century BC, siding with the Romans instead of the Carthaginians. With time under Roman dominance, however, the Elymians seemingly faded from prominence, likely assimilating into the broader Sicilian population.
Recent archaeological work indicates that the Segesta site was reoccupied by a Muslim community in the late Middle Ages. Excavations have unearthed a Muslim necropolis and a mosque from the 12th century, next to the ruins of a Norman castle. Evidence suggests that the mosque was likely destroyed by Christians at the beginning of the 13th century. The city appears to have been finally abandoned by the second half of the 13th century, as there is little evidence of any settlement thereafter.
The first recent account of the city (in ruins) was produced by the German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in 1787, when he visited the Segesta site and documented his impressions in his diary.
Visiting Segesta Archaeological Park – What to Expect
The two main attractions when visiting Segesta are the beautifully preserved Doric Temple and the hilltop Greek Theater. If you walk between the two, you will also get to enjoy beautiful views of the valley below and the surrounding mountains. There are ruins of a Norman castle near the top of Mount Bàrbaro, which you will cross just before reaching the Greek Theater.
The Doric Temple
The Doric Temple of Segesta is one of the best-preserved Greek temples in the entire world, let alone Sicily. The temple has 6 x 14 columns set upon a three-step base measuring 21 by 56 meters. Each column has survived the passage of time and remains upright and attached to the roof support structures (more on the roof below). The temple is so well-preserved you would think it is only a hundred years old and not nearly 2500 years old.
This temple is a beautiful example of Doric architecture, the oldest of the three Greek architectural styles. However, it’s unclear why this is the case since the area was inhabited by Elymians, and not Greeks.
It’s currently unknown who actually built the temple, but there is some evidence that suggests that an Athenian architect may have been behind the construction, which took place around 420 BC. However, there is also some evidence suggesting that it may have been, in fact, built by the Elymians themselves. So the true identity of the builders of this stunning temple remains a mystery to this day.
Further attesting to how fantastic state of preservation the temple is in is the evidence suggesting that the temple was actually never fully completed. For instance, there is no evidence that the temple was ever roofed over, as opposed to the roof having fallen into ruin. Also, the columns have not been fluted (insertion of vertical grooves along the full length of the column) as they normally would have been in a Doric temple, and there are still bosses present in the blocks of the base (used for lifting the blocks into place but then normally removed). Finally, the temple lacks any ornamentation, altar or deity dedication. It is believed that the temple was never completed as a result of the conflict with Selinunte.
To reach the Doric Temple from the visitor center, you can either use the shuttle bus or walk along a short (and slightly uphill) path for about 5 minutes.
The Walk Up to the The Theater
If you elect to walk up to the Doric Theatre, you will be rewarded with beautiful vantage points above the Temple, beautifully framed by the surrounding rolling hills. Although you will enjoy the same views from the shuttle bus, you’ll have less time to admire them and less time to grab pictures.
If you are unsure about being able to make the climb and it’s too hot out, one option might be to ride the shuttle up to the Theater, and then walk back down, which shouldn’t be too demanding as it’s mostly downhill.
A path leads from the visitor center up to the Greek Theater. The walking path at times follows along the roadside and other times crosses it before rejoining it further along the path. It’s about a 1.5 km uphill walk, which will take most people 25-30 minutes to complete. It’s a slightly quicker return as you’ll be walking downhill.
The Castle
Just prior to reaching the Theater, you’ll come across an old Norman Castle (Castello di Calatabarbaro or Calatabarbaro Castle), which was built on the ruins of an old Arab village from a few decades before. Organized around a central courtyard with paved bricks, today, only portions of the original structure’s ground floor remain. It is believed the castle was built during the early 12th century, only to be abandoned about 150 years later. The ruins were completely covered under soil and vegetation until recent excavations conducted between 1989 and 1995 revealed what we see today.
The Greek Theater
The Greek Theater was originally built in the late 4th century BC, though most of what you see today dates from the 2nd century BC (though several renovations were conducted afterwards during the Roman period). Originally, it had 29 rows of seats (only the lower 21 survive today) divided into seven sections separated by staircases, suggesting a full capacity of about 4000 people. Today, the temple also represents one of the best-preserved examples of ancient theatrical architecture in Italy.
If seeing the Theater wasn’t enough for you, perhaps the sweeping views that it commands will appease you. You can see north to the Gulf of Castellammare.
The ancient Greek Theater is still in use today, hosting shows during the summer months. The Segesta Teatro Festival organizes live performances during the summer evenings (which typically run from late June to late August). You can find more information on the Festival website.
How Long Do You Need in Segesta Archaeological Park
You should plan to spend about 2-3 hours in the archaeological park, especially if you plan on walking to both main attractions (temple and theatre) — though using the bus shuttle isn’t necessarily a great time saver since you often have to wait for it.
Best Time to Visit Segesta Archaeological Park
Best Time of the Year
Segesta can be visited year-round, although the summer months can get quite hot, and there is little opportunity to find shade. We generally recommend visiting in late spring (May, June) or early autumn (September, October), as these shoulder season months offer milder yet still pleasant temperatures and a more relaxed visiting atmosphere.
The summer is also the busier period at Segesta, though it doesn’t get as crowded as other Greek Archaeological Parks in Sicily, such as the Valley of Temples.
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. Though Segesta rarely gets very crowded, it’s definitely more fun to visit we fewer people around. If possible, we suggest trying to arrive early before the tour buses arrive, which is generally around mid-morning.
Alternatively, the late afternoon (just before the last entry) is a fairly quiet time to visit Segesta. However, it’s still likely to be very hot during the summer.
Is Segesta Archeological Park Worth it?
We definitely think so! It was probably our favorite archaeological park to visit in Sicily. The unique completeness of the Doric Temple makes it worth seeing even if you’ve already seen other Greek temples before. Although the Theater isn’t the largest you’ll find in Sicily, it’s probably the most scenic, given the sweeping views it provides of the surrounding mountainous landscape.
Although there’s probably more to see and do in the Valley of Temples near Agrigento, where there are several temple remnants and a great museum, we found Segesta to be more special due to the stunning mountain surroundings and the smaller number of other tourists around.
Things to See and Do Near Segesta
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 Erice
Erice is a hilltop medieval town, a charming place where time seems to have stood still. 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.
For more information, check out our guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Erice.
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.
Where to Stay Near Segesta
In our opinion, the best places to stay are either in Trapani, Castellammare del Golfo, or Scopello, all of which can make excellent bases from which to explore several attractions in northwestern Sicily. All of the following are some of the best mid-range hotel accommodations in the three towns:
Trapani (Near the town center):
Central Gallery Rooms- Palazzo D’Ali’ Staiti XIX
Trapani (further from the town center but located right on the beach)
Scopello:
Castellammare del Golfo:
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
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e-Sim cards
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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.
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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Segesta Archaeological Park Travel Guide and that it will prove useful for planning your trip.
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