Part of our Italy guide.
This page gathers two itineraries from our Italy coverage: seven day trips from Trapani and a three-day Dolomites getaway in South Tyrol.
Related travel guides: Things To Do In Italy, Where To Stay In The Dolomites, Italy, and Beaches In Italy.
Seven Fantastic Day Trips From Trapani
Trapani, a coastal city in Sicily, works as a base for exploring ancient ruins and islands. Each trip offers a different experience of the region’s culture and landscape.
First, the Egadi Islands — Favignana, Levanzo, and Marettimo — are a short hydrofoil ride from Trapani’s port. Favignana is known for its turquoise coves and former tuna fisheries; you can rent a bike to circle the island. Levanzo is quieter, with prehistoric cave paintings at Grotta del Genovese. Marettimo, the farthest, has rugged hiking trails and few roads.
Second, the ancient city of Segesta, about 40 minutes by car or bus, features a well-preserved Doric temple and a hilltop theatre with views of the surrounding countryside. Third, Erice, a medieval hilltop town reachable by cable car from Trapani, offers cobbled streets, a castle, and pastries at Maria Grammatico’s shop. Fourth, the salt pans of Trapani and Paceco, just south of the city, are a nature reserve where you can see windmills, flamingos, and salt mounds; guided tours explain the traditional salt-harvesting process.
Fifth, the Zingaro Nature Reserve, about 45 minutes north, is a protected coastal area with hiking trails that lead to hidden pebble beaches and coves. Sixth, the archaeological site of Selinunte, an hour’s drive south, contains some of the largest Greek temples in Sicily, set among dunes and olive groves. Seventh, the island of Pantelleria, though a longer trip (about an hour by plane or three hours by ferry), offers volcanic landscapes, hot springs, and the distinctive dammusi stone houses.
Three Days In The Dolomites: A South Tyrol Getaway
The Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage site in northern Italy’s South Tyrol region, combine jagged rock formations, alpine meadows, and villages. A three-day itinerary allows you to see the highlights without rushing.
Day one: arrive in the Val Gardena valley. Base yourself in Ortisei, a town with lifts to the Alpe di Siusi, Europe’s largest high-altitude alpine meadow. In summer, you can hike among wildflowers and panoramic views of the Sassolungo massif. In winter, the area connects to the Sellaronda ski circuit. Day two: drive or take a bus to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, the iconic three peaks. A circular trail around the base takes about three to four hours, with refuges serving local speck and dumplings along the way. Day three: explore the town of Bolzano, about an hour south, to see Ötzi the Iceman at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, then walk through the medieval arcades and sample South Tyrolean wine.
For a month-by-month guide to the weather in Italy, check the relevant page on this site. The region also offers options for those wondering how much to tip a tour guide in — local practice is to round up or leave 5–10% for a private guide.
