Years ago, I visited Sicily for the first time. One of my friends who lived in Italy texted me, “If you can, you must go to Favignana.”

As much as I pride myself on knowing a great deal about Italian geography, I had never heard of Favignana before. A quick search on Google Maps showed me Favignana, a small island off of Sicily’s western coast. There was no way it would happen for me that trip, as I was in Catania, all the way over on the east. But Favignana stayed on my mind.

Years later, I would find myself in Trapani, a coastal western Sicilian town. To my surprise, the ferry terminal had a large sign that said, “Day trips to Favignana here.”

Wait, what? How did I accidentally come to the best transit hub to get to my dream Italian vacation without even realizing it?

So, in a moment of spontaneity, I booked a ferry ticket, and 30 minutes later, I arrived in Favignana.

How to get to Favignana

Getting to Favignana is the hardest part, but it’s a trek well worth the journey. The closest international airport to Favignana is Palermo, however, if you’re already in Italy and can find a direct flight to Trapani, that is an equally fine option.

From Palermo, the drive to Trapani is a little shy of two hours. There’s an 8 euro bus that leaves from Palermo Centrale several times a day if you’re not comfortable driving in Sicily (which would be completely understandable).

If you fly into Trapani airport, you will either need to hire a driver or rent a car to get to the town of Trapani itself, which is about 30 minutes driving from the airport.

Once in Trapani, you’ll head to the ferry terminal and look for Liberty Lines. Though there are other companies, Liberty Lines gets you to Favignana in about 30 minutes, often with one stop in Levanzo first. The cost of the ferry greatly depends on season and time of day, but I went in mid-March and paid 25 euros for a roundtrip ticket.

That being said, you will definitely want to plan in advance, because even in low season, most ferries were sold out or selling out quickly. In the summertime, it’s wise to book your ferry tickets several days prior to departure.

What is Favignana?

Favignana is one of the three Egadi islands (also known as the Aegadian Islands), with the other two being Levanzo and Marettimo. It’s located off of Sicily’s western coast and is well regarded as having the clearest water in the entire country. If you tell any Italian you’re headed to Favignana, they will all be enamored and excited that you’re going, because it’s even a dream destination for many of them.

What to do in Favignana

The biggest draw of Favignana are its beaches, which are known as some of the best in all of Italy. Cala Rossa is the most famous on the island, thanks to its pink-hued sand and incredibly crystal clear water. There are also plenty of forts, castles, and hikes around Favignana, and caves such as Scalo Cavallo.

Many people choose to rely on bicycle rentals to get around the island which is a perfectly easy option thanks to how small Favignana is. Alternatively, you can rent a car, but note that public transportation is nonexistent, and if you plan to do any type of exploring, you’ll want to do one or the other.

Then there’s the food of Favignana. Favignana is known for its tuna production, and the tonno here can give Japan a run for its money. You must try kebab di tonno, a typical sandwich of Favignana made with agrodolce onions and pistachio pesto. It sounds strange, but it’s wonderfully delicious.

How much time should I spend in Favignana?

Where I went horribly wrong was limiting Favignana to a short day trip. While I’m a firm believer that you don’t need tons of time and money to see anywhere in the world, I badly wish I had spent more time in Favignana, especially because of what a journey it is to get there.

I would not limit Favignana to a day trip, and instead, I would spend at least two nights here. The overall vibe of Favignana is slow and tranquil, a typical feeling throughout all of southern Italy, but amplified even more so since you’re on an island. That being said, Favignana is on the pricier side, so budget accordingly.