Trapani. How Beautiful It Is and How Wrong We Were About It

Why We Avoided Trapani At First

I will be honest, friends, because that is the kind of relationship we want to build here. We kept delaying Trapani. We expected not to like it. We imagined something similar to Cefalù which is beautiful, of course... But at that moment we were not in the mood for big tourist crowds. And based on what we had read about Trapani, that is exactly what we expected.

It is also one of the more popular towns for expats, so we pictured a place that feels more international than local. With an international brunch menu at every corner (Sicilians DO NOT do brunch :D ). We thought we would not connect with it at all.

A Completely Unexpected First Impression

My oh my how wrong we were. We ended up visiting Trapani twice within one week. We pretended it was because we needed more daylight for filming... But the truth is that we just wanted to go back.

Trapani felt alive in a very grounded way. Not loud, not chaotic, just full of small signs that people love their own city. The little ceramic hearts appearing across the streets were such a sweet discovery. Once you notice one you start spotting them everywhere.

A Bigger City With a Local Heart

Trapani definitely feels more like a proper city. And even though we consider ourselves small town people for everyday life, I can already imagine us coming back many more times. And I mean it when I say many. Even in low season, with almost no tourists around, it had that feeling of a place with character.

There are beautiful restaurants, bars with personality and a general sense that people here enjoy being out. Many coastal places were closed for winter, but Trapani still felt welcoming. Like a city quietly asking you to come in and stay for a bit.

A Tiny Museum and the Sacred Hour of Lunch

We visited a tiny museum by the sea. It was one of those small, slightly random places that ends up being charming for exactly that reason. Lukas decided to read absolutely everything. Every label, every paragraph, every description.

We stayed so long that the one museum employee, or possibly the owner, came over with the facial expression of someone who is very polite, but absolutely ready for lunch. As you saw in our Enna experience, the midday rest is not a suggestion in Sicily. It is a natural law.

So our visit was cut short. Which in our case means we only spent one and a half hour in a museum the size of a living room. We took the hint and let the man have his well deserved lunch.

The Port and the Raw Beauty of the Fish Market

The port was one of our favourite parts in Trapani. On our second visit we arrived early enough to catch the last moments of the fish market. The main market was already finished, but several fishermen were still by their boats working with the morning catch.

There was something so real about it. Nothing staged. Nothing polished for tourists. Just everyday life happening in the simplest and most honest way. People talking to each other, cleaning fish, sorting things and getting ready for the rest of their day. It made both of us think about how much of our old life was non stop rushing. Here everything felt slower and more grounded.

If you want fresh fish for dinner, this is the place. And if you want to feel the real Sicily for a moment, this is where you stop and watch.

The Salt Pans and the Flamingos

We also visited the salt pans near (or still in?) Trapani. They are such a unique landscape and we were really looking forward to walking around, but they were closed when we arrived. We are still not sure if it was because of the season or if the site was closed for good.

This is one of those things in Sicily that you eventually accept. Google might say something is open, but that does not mean it actually is. This applies to everything. Museums, restaurants, bars... Even the salt pans.

Despite the closure, I saw wild flamingos for the first time in my life and it genuinely made my day. Watching them standing in the shallow water felt a little unreal. A small unexpected moment that somehow becomes one of your favourite memories from a trip.

The Arab Layout and the Hidden Details

The historical centre of Trapani follows the classic Arab layout. Narrow streets designed to create shade and let the sea breeze travel through the city. Sicily was under Arab rule for more than two centuries and it changed the island in many ways. Fun fact, the Arabs introduced citrus cultivation and irrigation systems that made Sicily one of the agricultural powers of the Mediterranean.

A small, but honest tip from us while visiting Trapani, and Sicily in general. Look up... So much beauty is hidden above your eye level. Sculpted faces, elegant balconies and even tiny plants growing from the walls. These little details tell you how rich Sicily’s history really is, and you start noticing them everywhere once you remember to look up.

Cocktails That Surprised Us

A small fact about us. We really enjoy cocktails. Lukas likes trying different recipes at home even making his own syrups and infusions. So we tend to notice when a cocktail is made with a little more care.

Trapani did very well in that area. The place we visited (Bar Brigantes) made genuinely good drinks and it was such a nice surprise at the end of the day.

Final Thoughts

Trapani was not what we expected. It was better. There is a calm confidence to the city. It does not try to impress you. It simply exists in its own rhythm and invites you to slow down with it. Even in low season, even with closed coastal cafes, Trapani felt whole and warm and somehow very real.

I already know we will return. Not because we need content. Not for filming. Just because it is the kind of place that stays with you and makes you want to come back for no reason other than it feels good to be there.

If you would like to experience Trapani with us, we filmed our walks and moments from the trip. You can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/3GTEFwUTcWI?si=2vkAG1FqiP-zo9_E

Otherwise, thank you for reading! See you in the next one. :)