The Egadi Islands aren’t as well-known as some of Italy’s island groups (such as their Sicilian neighbours, the Aeolian Islands), but this tiny archipelago is increasingly easy to reach and well worth a visit.
Here’s a quick guide to how to get to (and around) the Egadi Islands.
Where are they?
The Egadi Islands (also known as the Egadian or Aegadian Islands) are located off the tip of Sicily’s northwest coast. The closest port is Trapani, and there are also ferries from Marsala in the summer (though they aren’t as frequent).
Why visit the Egadi Islands?
Because they are stunningly beautiful!
And it’s so easy to island-hop in the Egadi Islands. The ferries run up to every half hour in the summer and can take as little as 25 minutes. Meaning it’s easy to pop over for half a day or to visit more than one island in a day. The perfect mini island-hopping break.
There are only three inhabited islands in the group – Favignana, Levanzo, and Marettimo. Marettimo is the furthest away, the other two are both a similar distance from Trapani.
Favignana is the most popular island. People come here for a laid-back beach break. The coastline is full of gorgeous spots (mostly rocky platforms, though there are a few sandy beaches) and cycling around on a rental bike is a popular pastime.
Levanzo (pictured below) and Marettimo both have tiny but beautiful whitewashed port villages and turquoise seas.
How to Reach Trapani
Trapani itself has a small international airport (Trapani-Birgi TPS) served by budget European carriers. There are buses from the airport into the city, and also a bus that connects the airport with Marsala, Palermo, and Palermo airport – see timetables for more information.
Alternatively, it’s around €35 in a taxi which will take about 25 minutes (depending on the traffic).
If your starting destination doesn’t have flights to Trapani then the next nearest airport is Palermo (Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport PMO), which is 1 hour away. There are buses from Palermo airport direct to Trapani centre. See the airport website for more information.
Read more:
7 Great Reasons to Fly to Trapani
Egadi Islands Ferry Port
The Egadi Islands ferry port in Trapani is thankfully very easy to find. It’s just south of the old town area in the city, a mere 5-minute walk from Corso Vittorio Emmanuele which is the main tourist drag (yes, central Trapani is small).
The south side of Trapani is one big long harbour and it’s divided into 3 areas. On the west side is the big ferry port with larger boats going further afield to destinations such as Lampedusa, Pantelleria, and mainland Italy. You can’t miss it as there’s a gated entrance for traffic. This is not the port you want.
On the east side, you’ll find the small day boats offering boat trips and rentals along the waterfront.
In between the two, you’ll find the Fast Ferry Terminal – open Porto di Trapani in Google Maps. This is where the ferries to the Egadi Islands leave from.
It’s a small modern single-story terminal (pictured below) right next to the road. Here you’ll find a cafe, toilets, and the ticket office.
This is also where you’ll find the main bus stop that you’re likely to use for trips in and out of Trapani. You can buy tickets for the airport bus and intercity routes from the travel agency across the road (there’s a big sign outside for bus tickets, you can’t miss it). For local routes, you pay the driver as you board.
There are a couple of travel agencies on this stretch of road – they’re a good source of information and offer luggage storage, bike rental, boat trips and excursions, and tickets. There are also a few cafes here if you have time to kill. Some of them are pretty bad though, to be honest. If you need to eat I can recommend Angelino’s which is a short walk up the road.
What are the ferries like?
Most of the ferries on the Egadi Islands routes are run by a company called Liberty Lines and are similar-sized small fast passenger ferries. There are two levels of seating inside, and no deck access.
There is also a larger Siremar car ferry on the route but there’s little advantage to taking this (unless you have a car) as it takes twice as long and isn’t much cheaper.
How much are the tickets?
Rates are set by the government and aren’t demand-based. Prices vary a tiny bit but overall reflect the type of ferry, the season, and the length of the journey.
Yes, you can pay by card at the ticket office and the staff speak good English.
At busy times of year and day, I recommend buying your ticket online in advance, particularly if you want to take a morning ferry out and return at the end of the day. You can easily end up stranded if the last ferries are booked up!
I recommend using Ferryhopper for checking times and purchasing tickets in advance (the app is really easy to use and it’s what I personally use for my ferry journeys).
Example one-way ticket prices for summer 2023:
- Trapani – Levanzo €13.02
- Favignana – Trapani €9.52
- Trapani – Marettimo €22.66
- Levanzo – Favignana €5.48
- Marettimo – Favignana €9.82
How frequently do the ferries run?
During the summer the boats run to Favignana and Levanzo every half an hour. Not all ferries continue to Marettimo though.
From October onwards the ferries run on a reduced timetable. It’s still pretty decent though, as distances are too short for all but the worst weather.
The first ferry out from Trapani to Favignana is roughly around 7 am and the last one back in the evening between 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm.
You’ll notice that some of the ferries to Favignana are 25 minutes and some are 50 minutes – this isn’t because it’s a slower boat, but because some ferries call at Levanzo first (and vice versa for Levanzo). It’s slightly cheaper to take the faster route too.
Boat trips to the Egadi Islands
The ferries are perfect if you want to visit the main harbours on the islands and are happy to use your feet or a bike for further exploring.
But if you’re more interested in swimming or snorkelling in the incredible blue waters then you might be better off on an organised boat trip. There’s a huge number of options (but only a few that you can book online – here’s an example). Trips are either half-day or full-day and sometimes include lunch. If you’re with a group of friends or family then private rental is also an option.
Trapani has the greatest choice of boats but you can also find excursions from Marsala and San Vito Lo Capo. There are street stalls as well as travel agencies where you can pick up flyers and information on your options.
How long do I need for the Egadi Islands?
Favignana is a popular day trip for both locals and international visitors, many never make it to the other 2 islands. Although it’s possible to visit all three islands in one day if you’re organised, I would allow at least 1 full day in Favignana and 1 full day in Levanzo and Marettimo. And, if you’ve got the time, 1 extra day for a boat cruise.
If you enjoy leisurely beach breaks then you might want to spend more time on Favignana though. It’s an addictive kind of place. Levanzo is very quiet and natural, I wouldn’t recommend staying overnight unless that’s precisely what you’re after.
Read more about Sicily:
Where to Stay in Sicily: Ultimate Beach Resort Guide
10 Most Beautiful Beaches in Sicily
Image credits: All photos © The Mediterranean Traveller