Planning a trip to Trapani
Getting to the Islands
A time-tested travel agency is Panfalone, Via Ammiraglio Staiti 91 (tel. 0923-542470), across the street from Trapani's harbor. The agency knows all the boat schedules and can sell tickets from Trapani to any of Sicily's offshore islands. A selling agency for most fleets, it also sells tickets for departures from other ports, for example from Palermo or Genoa.
Visitor Information
Trapani Infopoint, Via Torrearsa 69 (www.trapanistruzioniperluso.com; tel. 0923-23190) provides maps and info about exploring Trapani and other places on the west coast and is open daily 8am to 7pm.
Getting There
By Plane
The Vincenzo Florio Airport at Birgi, 15km (9 miles) from the center of Trapani (tel. 0923-842502; www.airgest.it), has rapidly become the third major airport on the island and the main Ryanair hub for Sicily from the U.K. An excellent alternative to landing at Palermo, it is served by daily flights from the mainland, from the island of Pantelleria, and from abroad. From here, take any one of the buses that connect you to the city or to Palermo. AST (tel. 840-000323; www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it) has an hourly service from the airport to Trapani at a cost of 4.50€; Salemi (tel. 0923-981120; www.autoservizisalemi.it) runs a service to Marsala for 4€ and to Palermo for 9€. Lumia (tel. 0922-20414; www.autolineelumia.it) runs to Agrigento at a cost of 11€, while Terravision (tel. 0923-981120; www.terravision.eu) operates to Trapani for 8€ and to Palermo for 12€. Alternatively, you can book a taxi (tel. 329-9128821; www.trapanitaxidriver.it) for 25€ to 30€.
By Train
Frequent trains from Palermo make the 2 1/2-hour run to Trapani; there are also about a dozen per day from Marsala, taking 30 minutes. Trains pull in at the Piazza Stazione, where luggage storage is available. For general information and ticket prices, call tel. 892021, or see www.trenitalia.it.
By Bus
AST (tel. 840-000323; www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it) runs seven buses per day to Erice, departing from Piazza Montalto in Trapani. The one-way ride takes 50 minutes. From Palermo, Salemi (tel. 0923-981120; www.autoservizisalemi.it) and Segesta (tel. 091-6167919; www.etnatrasporti.it) make several daily runs to Trapani. Note: Both lines require reservations for passage; tickets are non-refundable.
By Ferry
Trapani is a major embarkation point for ferries and hydrofoils. Most departures are for the Egadi Islands of Marettimo, Levanzo, and Favignana. Service is also available to Ustica, Pantelleria, Civitavecchia near Rome, and even Tunisia in North Africa. Ferries depart from the docks near Piazza Garibaldi. Service is offered by Ustica (tel. 0923-22200; www.usticalines.it) or Grimaldi (tel. 0923-593673; www.grimaldi-lines.com).
By Car
From Palermo, follow the A29 autostrada all the way southwest into Trapani. From Marsala, head north along Route 115 to Trapani.
Getting Around
By Bus
The limited municipal bus service ATM (tel. 0923-559575; www.atmtrapani.it) gets you to where you need to go at the cost of 1€; tickets are valid for 90 minutes. If bought on board, expect to pay an extra 20 cents.
By Taxi
Taxi ranks are found at the train station and at the port; to call one, dial tel. 0923-22808 or tel. 0923-23233.
Fast Facts
Pharmacies -- There are two in the city center at Piazza Ciaccio Montalto 15 and Viale Regina Margherita 9. Pharmacies operate on a rotational system for night hours and weekends, with at least one open every night of the week and weekends and holidays.
Hospital -- Serious medical needs are attended to at Ospedale Sant'Antonio Abate, Via Cosenza, in the northeast of the city (tel. 0923-809111).
Internet -- For Internet access, head to Phone Center GGE, Stazione Marittima (tel. 0923-549840), where the rate is 4€ per hour.
Post Office -- The post office, Piazza Vittorio Veneto (tel. 0923-28914), is open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6:30pm and on Saturday from 8:30am to 12:30pm.
