After our February Sicily tour, we plan to stay in the area for four days. We're thinking of taking a bus from Palermo to Erice for two nights, then Trapani for one night, and back to Palermo for a night before we fly home. How does this sound?
We've been told Hotel Moderna in Erice is nice; does anyone know of a hotel near the bus station in Trapani? Thanks for advice!
Posted by
phoenix
52 posts
Of the two..Erice, just don't go go for the Granita in the cafe at the top of town (Six euros!!). Sorry I can't remember the name of the place. However, if you have four days to spend in Sicily at the end of your tour....I would choose neither. You could visit any part of the island in that amount of time. Why not find out which part interests you most during your tour, perhaps the temples of the west coast, the vineyards in the south etc ...then return for a few days exploration on your own. Sicily is fascinating. It needs time to appreciate the layers of culture which have left their mark on such a charming land.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Erice and Trapani are very close to each other, It makes more sense to stay in one and visit the other as a daytrip. Erice (on top of a hill) in the winter is cold and foggy, Trapani is at sea level on the coast. Some daytrips from Palermo by bus or train are Erice, Trapani, Monreale and Cefalu.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11346 posts
I have to echo Zoe: Erice is not a good schoice off-season. We were in Trapani in March and could barely see Erice. The one day it cleared and we hightailed it up there it was 40 degrees with a 40 mph wind! Stay in Trapani, go to Erice if you can, and also to Segesta, Mozia, Palermo, Monreale. Great food in Trapani!
Posted by
OP
Lewisburg
13 posts
That brings me to my next questions: Where might one stay/eat in Trapani? We'd like to be near the historic center, I think, since it will be too cold to enjoy the ocean.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15214 posts
Without a car, in winter, I would stay in Palermo. Palermo is the best base without your own wheels. It's the transportation hub for that area of Sicily. You can visit Trapani and Erice by bus from Palermo (see below for bus options): http://www.segesta.it/ Also there are tour companies organizing day trips from Palermo to Erice and Segesta and probably Trapani on the same day.
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2186 posts
In Trapani, we liked staying and eating and Ai Lumi.
Posted by
OP
Lewisburg
13 posts
Just one more question: Can anyone suggest a hotel or B&B in Trapani? We'd like to stay near the center of town near the bus station if possible. thank you.
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2186 posts
I see I had a typo in my previous response. The B&B and restaurant is called Ai Lumi.