Cycling around the island of Favignana

Discover the most beautiful coves in Favignana, the largest of the Aegadian Islands, with this easy bike route for the whole family.

• Picture yourself wearing comfortable, light clothes.
• A salty breeze ruffles your hair and cools your face.
• You hop on a bike and start pedaling effortlessly along a flat dirt road.
• No cars, no traffic.
• A vivid blue sea to your left, impossibly shaped rocks and blooming fields to your right.
• And the warm Sicilian sun lighting up your way.

Some experiences only happen once, but you remember them for a lifetime. Want to come along for the ride? 😉

Technical details

East side of the island

• Difficulty: Easy.
• Length: 17 km (approx).
• Elevation gain: 30 m.
• Riding time: 1 hr 45 min (at 10 km/h with no stops).
• Start: Favignana (bike rental).
• Finish: Favignana (bike rental).
• Date completed (photos): April, 2014.

This is the bike itinerary we followed during our visit.

West side of Favignana

• Difficulty: Easy/Moderate.
• Length: 22 km (approx).
• Elevation gain: 187 m.
• Riding time: 2 hrs 15 min (at 10 km/h with no stops).
• Start: Favignana (bike rental).
• Finish: Favignana (bike rental).

We skipped this stretch due to lack of time (and because I'm all about slow travel and soaking in the journey).

Bike route through eastern Favignana

The route is super easy to follow and well signposted. Either way, if you make a wrong turn, it's really quick and simple to head back.

After all, this side of the island is 99.9% flat. Even if your legs are tired, pedaling here is pure joy.

1. Punta San Nicola

As soon as you leave the town behind, you take a turn that gets you away from traffic. And just like that, taking it easy and enjoying the scenery, you'll reach the first viewpoint of the trip: Punta San Nicola.

From here, you'll spot strange geometric formations along the coast, as if an 80s Pac-Man had taken giant bites out of the island's edge.

In reality, these are the remains left by hundreds of calcarenite tuff quarries (used in construction) that dotted the island centuries ago, shaping the quirky landscape you'll see throughout your trip.

2. Cala Rossa

Shortly after, you'll reach the highlight of the trip: the rocky beach of Cala Rossa.

I have never seen such an intense blue sea as the one I witnessed here.

It's not turquoise. It's not sky blue. It's that shade that pops into your mind when you close your eyes and dream of a deep, sparkling, irresistible ocean.

You can park your bikes here for a good while to enjoy the views of Levanzo in the background, head down to the rocks, wander along the coast, and take in this cove from every angle. It's totally worth it.

Even though some folks were sunbathing, it didn't seem great for a swim, especially if you're traveling with young kids.

3. Bue Marino Beach

After seeing Cala Rossa, anything else might pale in comparison, but the little quarry turned into a dock at Bue Marino has its own special charm.

The water around here is usually calmer than at the northern tip of the island, and the colors are just as mesmerizing.

Oh! And the dirt track hugging the coast that connects it to the Marsala lighthouse is definitely worth it too.

4. Cala Azzurra and Punta Marsala Lighthouse

Cala Azzurra is another highlight of this bike route around Favignana.

Although it's not as visually breathtaking as Cala Rossa, it does have an easily accessible sandy swimming area with views of the Punta Marsala lighthouse.

5. Punta Burrone

If you keep going along the coastal path, you'll reach Punta Burrone, with a beach, a lido, and a beach bar in true Italian style.

We stopped here to soak up some sun for a bit, but we weren't brave enough to jump into the water. The chilly wind whipping across the island was hardly inviting for a swim in the middle of April… 🙂

6. Punta Lunga

Before heading back to Favignana, we reached Punta Lunga, a curious peninsula overlooking the south of the island.

7. Favignana

And finally, we took advantage of the bikes to go for a spin through the center of Favignana and its main square: Piazza Matrice.

How to get to Favignana

To get to the island, you need to catch one of the boats leaving from the port of Trapani, the largest city on the west coast of Sicily.

You can buy your tickets at the ticket office marked on the map or online (€12 each way per person).

If you're visiting during high season, I definitely recommend buying them in advance, whichever way you choose.

We had to take a ferry 1 hour later than we wanted and come back a bit earlier because the other time slots were fully booked. And that was just during mid-season (late April, Easter week).

About 1 boat leaves every hour during daylight hours, depending on the time of year, and the crossing takes 30 to 40 minutes.

Where to rent a bike

As soon as you arrive at the port of Favignana, you'll see several bike rental shops to choose from.

Prices range between €3 and €8 per day depending on the season at almost every shop.

In our case, we went with Noleggio Campo just because it was the first one we spotted getting off the ferry. But I'm sure any of the shops would have provided a similar service.

The cheapest ones are simple road bikes. Though they also offer mountain bikes, e-bikes, and even small mopeds and cars (these last ones, in my opinion, take all the fun and sustainability out of the ride).

When to go

The best time to visit Favignana is in early June:

• It's already warm enough to enjoy swimming in the sea.
• High season hasn't kicked off yet, so prices are lower.
• The water is clearer since there are fewer crowds.

Either way, the island of Favignana is always stunning. And if you don't believe me, just take a look at the photos Nahuai took back in April 2014.

Where to Eat

By the time we started feeling hungry, we were already by Cala Azzurra, so we grabbed a tomato and buffalo mozzarella sandwich at the bar with the same name.

They have a tempting pistachio cream coffee. However, what I really craved for dessert right then was some gelato. 😉

Where to sleep

There's a wide variety of hotel deals on the island.

Although I can't speak from personal experience since we spent a week staying on the outskirts of Trapani, I'd suggest checking out the B&B Al Gattopardo guesthouse.

It's an adorable spot in the heart of Favignana with a flower-filled courtyard.

It's run by friendly hosts who truly care about the environment and their local community. They use renewable energy, solar panels, eco-friendly products… They even rent out bikes on site.

And every morning they serve a delicious breakfast made with local products.

No doubt about it: if I went back to Favignana, I'd choose Al Gattopardo.

Useful links

• Trapani-Favignana ferry schedule.
• Hotel deals on the island.
• 5% discount when booking your adventure travel insurance with IATI.
• Flights to Italy: Trabber, eDreams, Momondo, and Vueling. 

And if you're road-tripping through western Sicily, don't miss:

• Complete 7-day road trip through Sicily.
• Discover the Segesta temple and a Greek theater with sea views in Sicily.
• Hiking through the Zingaro Nature Reserve.
• Discover Erice: a medieval village high up in Sicily.
• Hiking in Sicily: circling Mount Cofano.

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