Castellammare Del Golfo is the perfect base for exploring a range of different beaches in the local area. There is something to suit everyone’s tastes, from quiet pebble beaches with crystal clear water to long stretches of golden sand. All set against the back drop of the dramatic coastline of North West Sicily.
Spiaggia Castellammare del Golfo – La Plaia
This huge expanse of golden sand stretches for 5km and is the longest of the Castellammare del Golfo beaches. The sea is shallow and usually calm in the summer, however when we visited in November there were some big waves which our girls loved. Jumping and riding the waves is one of their favourite activities. In the summer there are many cafes and restaurants dotted along the beach, as well as private lidos or beach clubs where you can rent sun loungers and parasols.
As we were staying in Castellammare del Golfo we walked about 25minutes along the coast to get there, but there is lots of parking and also a regular shuttle bus in the summer months from the centre of Castellammare del Golfo to the beach.
The beautiful soft sand is definitely one of Spiaggia Castellammare del Golfo’s main attractions as lots of beaches in this area are formed from pebbles. It also has amazing views in all directions, to the left you can see Castellammare’s harbour jutting out into the sea, with Monte Inici rising up behind it and to the right there is the long expanse of beach towards Terasini, with the impressive backdrop of mountains.
Cala Mazzo di Sciacca
When we stumbled on this beach, during a day trip exploring the coast to the north of Castellammare del Golfo, it took our breath away. We followed a sign to Cala Mazzo di Sciacca after being disappointed that Scopello now has a costly entrance fee (€15 per person). We followed windy and narrow roads until we reached the azure sea.
We were lucky to find a spot in the small car park right next to the beach and after only a few steps we were at a little cove with a pebble beach that is truly gorgeous. The turquoise water is scattered with huge boulders, perfect for climbing and perching on to enjoy the view. The crystal clear water makes it the perfect spot to enjoy a bit of snorkelling and we saw an array of interesting and unusual fish.
This peaceful little spot was the ideal place for a picnic before carrying on exploring this stretch of simply stunning Sicilian coast.
Spiaggia Guidaloca
On our return from Cala Mazzo di Sciacca we spotted another much bigger beach Spiagga Guidaloca. This beach is a favourite with locals and has more amenities. In the summer you can rent sun loungers and parasols to make your stay more comfortable, as again this is a pebble beach. Also, you can hire pedal boats, kayaks and enjoy other water sports so there’s plenty to keep the kids entertained.
The water is crystal clear and perfect for snorkelling or simply enjoying a refreshing dip. When you’re hungry there are a few cafes, but beware they can take a while to serve you so don’t wait until you are starving as we did!
There is parking right next to the beach which costs €3 – 5 and this beach is a lot easier to get to as it is off the main road from Castellammare del Golfo so no hair raising journey down narrow country roads.
Cala Petrolo
This beach is the closest to Castellammare del Golfo and from where we were staying in the castle’s square, Piazza Castello, we could actually walk down a small set of steps and were right on this beach. From the town centre it is about a 5 minute walk to Piazza Petrolo, a beautiful square with stunning views out across the bay. You then descend two sets of stairs to a small sandy beach (with some stones) which is sheltered by the tall sea walls. From here, you can see the ancient Castello Arabo Normanno looking resplendent in the sunshine and beyond that boats bobbing up and down in the harbour.
In the summer season, Cala Petrolo has sun beds and parasols to rent and the lido offers food and drink. However, if you go back up the two flights of stairs to Piazza Petrolo there are lots of restaurants offering great food in the surrounding streets.
The water does get deep quite quickly at this beach so be careful to keep a close eye on young children. This beach isn’t the prettiest or cleanest we visited but was a great option due to its central location.
Cala Berretta
Cala Berretta is a gorgeous little cove in the Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve and one of the hardest of the beaches to get to so hopefully the quietest. We parked at the Scopello entrance to the Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve, which is about a 25 minute drive from Castellammare del Golfo. We looked into whether you can get there on public transport and the simple answer is no, so you really need a car to access it.
From the car park the beach is about 3km but its not an easy walk as the path follows the coastline of craggy rocks and therefore there are a lot of steep ascents and descents to get there. However, it is totally worth it as the views along the way are breathtaking and the Cala is gorgeous with turquoise water, of all shades, glistening in the sunshine.
When we arrived only one other family was there and after a few minutes we had the place to ourselves. It’s the perfect halfway point on the coastal path for a lunch stop and a dip in the sea to cool down. The crystal clear water makes it the ideal place to snorkel and there are plenty of fish to discover along the rocky coastline.
If you like walking and are looking for a quieter spot then this is the beach for you, but beware, as it is in a nature reserve there are no amenities so take plenty of food and water. There is also a fee to enter the nature reserve of €5 per adult, €3 for 11 to 14 year olds and under 11 year olds are free.
Laura loves travelling across the UK and abroad. She has two children and a husband who are often her travel companions. Beach holidays, cosy cottages, treehouse adventures and brunching are just a few of her favourite ways to spend her travel time.