Lampedusa Island Sicily

It is one of the most beautiful islands  in the Pelagie archipelago, and the biggest. The Pelagie islands are some of the most stunning islands in Italy, and have some of the best beaches in Italy as well. Located off Sicily, Lampedusa has beautiful scenery, beaches, and multicultural heritage.

Lampedusa Island is definitely for beach and water-sports lovers. Island life and clear blue water is what Lampedusa is all about. And, thanks to the islands’ distance from major cities, the beaches here are much more secluded—and quiet—than other beaches in Italy.

If you are a foodie, then you this is an added bonus. Lampedusa serves up super-fresh fish dishes, and the islands’ North African influence means you’ll see dishes hard to find elsewhere in Italy, like spiced couscous. Find all of your beach essentials here for your Lampedusa Island Sicily vacation.

Lampedusa Island Weather – When to Visit

The best time is from May to September. During this time you’ll see average temperatures from the high 70s to the low 80s. The weather is generally warm year-round, but Lampedusa doesn’t offer much to do in the off-season, and the number of permanent inhabitants is quite low. Most flights are cancelled during the winter, and ferry service runs less often as well.

Best Lampedusa Island Beaches

Spiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa Island Sicily, Top 20 Beach destinations, World's best beaches
Spiaggia dei Conigli

Spiaggia dei Conigli is an unspoiled nature reserve that is only accessible by boat and one of few places in the Mediterranean where loggerhead sea turtles go to lay their eggs. Enjoy Caribbean colors, a white sand beach, with a unique setting. The crystal clear sea makes it difficult to leave.

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Sciatu Persu, Lampedusa Island Sicily, Top 20 Beach destinations, World's best beaches
Sciatu Persu

Relax on the sandy shores of Sciatu Persu, where crystal blue waters lap over porous rock formations, inviting sunbathers in for a quenching dip. In the distance, sailboats cruise against a backdrop of cerulean sky. Lay out your towel and soak up the Mediterranean sun before heading over to a nearby seafood stand for fresh fish. 

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Cala Pulcino, Lampedusa Island Sicily, Top 20 Beach destinations, World's best beaches
Cala Pulcino

Lampedusa’s prettiest hiking trail leads to this magnificent pebble-strewn cove sandwiched between two rocky headlands along the island’s southwest shore. The signposted trail slowly opens into a lovely mini-canyon, with rock walls on either side pointing the route towards the sea.

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Cala Croce Beach, Lampedusa Island Sicily, Top 20 Beach destinations, World's best beaches
Cala Croce Beach

Tucked away along a rocky shoreline lies the sandy stretch of Cala Croce Beach. Shallow, crystal-clear water leads to the turquoise sea, making this spot a swimming oasis. You can rent beach umbrellas and chaises here. Nearby bars let visitors enjoy a refreshing beverage while overlooking the beach, and restaurants with shaded patios dish up light meals. The beach is comfortable and easily accessible, but note that it tends to get busy and the prime spots may be claimed early.

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Cala Creta Beach, Lampedusa Island Sicily, Top 20 Beach destinations, World's best beaches
Cala Creta Beach

Beautiful little hidden rocky area great for snorkeling. It’s of the beaten track so is considerably less busy than the main beaches. It’s a rocky area but the water is crystal clear. People just sit or jump off the rocks. Great to snorkel, some amazing sea life.

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Best Lampedusa Island Tours & Activities by Viator

Diving Museo Atlantico

Diving fans—this one’s for you. Experience the thrill of admiring an underwater sculpture museum in Lanzarote. Enjoy the convenience of having equipment rental included, so you don’t have to worry about bringing heavy gear with you. After a short boat transfer, a diving instructor accompanies you to a maximum depth of roughly 14-meters. See 10 different groups of sculptures that depict life and residents of Lanzarote, as well as wider cultural themes. Learn more about the Museo Atlantico Dive.

Private Agrigento & Scale of the Turks Tour

Discover ancient ruins left over from the Greeks on this private excursion. Enjoy pickup from the Palermo area and head to Agrigento where you can find the UNESCO-listed Temple Valley. Learn about its ancient history and explore its many sites before heading to the seaside to see the white cliffs dubbed as the ‘Turkish Stairway.” Learn more about the Agrigento & Scale of the Turks Tour.

Full Day Excursion in Sicily to Cefalù and Castelbuono

See two of northern Sicily’s most characterful destinations when you embark on this full-day trip from Palermo. In the morning, your guide picks you up from your accommodation; board an air-conditioned minivan and head to the medieval village of Castelbuono, located in the Madonie Mountains. See the Castle of Ventimiglia and visit a local pastry shop before continuing to Cefalù, home to a UNESCO-listed cathedral and impeccable seaside views. Learn more about the Full Day Excursion in Sicily.

Full Day City Tour in Palermo , Monreale and Mondello

Maximize your time in Palermo with this sightseeing tour, which showcases the best of the city and the surrounding region. Visit the hillside town of Monreale, known for its Norman cathedral and 12th-century mosaics, and explore Palermo’s historic center. Enjoy beach time at the seaside resort of Mondello and venture up Monte Pellegrino to view the 17th-century Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia cave shrine. Learn more about the Full-Day City Tour in Palermo.

Private Segesta, Erice & Selinunte Tour

Discover the ancient origins of Sicily during this private sightseeing tour from the Palermo region. Visit the town of Erice, famous for its sweet confections and for being associated with the goddess of fertility. Then, see ancient Greek ruins in the towns of Segesta and Selinunte and learn about the indigenous people of Sicily. This is not a guided tour but a private, English-speaking driver is included. Learn more about the Private Segesta, Erice & Selinunte Tour.

Best Lampedusa Island Restaurants

La Quarta Isola $31 – 60

A unique experience dining on a luxury pontoon type boat. Serving up seafood, Italian and Mediterranean food. Telephone: 39 320 887 3177 Web: La Quarta Isola

Sciuri e Fava Winebar e Cucina $11 – 30

Nice interior. Great menu/good quality. Many homemade products. Nice service. Good wine. Telephone: 39 340 955 0108 Web: Sciuri e Fava Winebar e Cocina

Ristorante Cavalluccio Marino $31 – 60

In their menu, you will find refined dishes and local ingredients enhanced with products from distant lands. They have a wide selection of wines (over 700 labels) to choose from.  Telephone: 39 0922 970053 Web: Ristorante Cavalluccio Marino

Ristorante La Calandra $11 – 30

Great service with very friendly and approachable staff. They serve excellent Italian, Mediterranean and Seafood dishes. Telephone: 39 331 703 6414 Web: Ristorante La Calandra

Il Balenottero $11 – 30

Delicious fishes and seafood! From the sea to your plate. No comparison, the best seafood restaurant in Lampedusa. A must try! Gluten-Free dishes and bread also available. Telephone: 39 338 454 7165 Web: Il Balenottero

Best Lampedusa Island Hotels

28 Comments

  1. Vincent

    Lampedusa Island sounds like an awesome place to vacation and de-stress. Of particular interest to me is the clear blue water and the peace and quiet. Visiting several beaches is a vacation waiting to happen in my future as soon as our world has healed. I would definitely take advantage of the tour options because I like to learn about an area and then go off on my own after the informational tour has ended. This is a very informative article because you also cover dining options and hotels. Thank you for an awesome article, very enticing. 

    Reply
    1. Leahrae (Post author)

      You are welcome Vincent.  I am glad you enjoyed my Lampedusa Island Sicily guide.  Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  2. Teboho Lekhanya

    Hi,

    Thanks so very much for yet another thrilling article! ☺️

    First time I hear of the island of Lampedusa, but I have absolutely fallen in love with it; you have done it much justice!

    It really should be a top destination for people who like undisturbed Nature. But you have also assisted us by giving us information on when is the best time to go, because except in exceptional circumstances, Travellers don’t like to visit places that are dead quiet.

    Thanks again for the zoomable maps – they make it very easy to orientate ourselves! When you talked about the influence of North African food, I became quite curious, but the map quickly put me in the picture. 

    Reply
    1. Leahrae (Post author)

      I am glad you learned a bit about Lampedusa Island Sicily 🙂  and glad you enjoyed!  I appreciate you taking the time to leave me comments, and thank you for visiting beach travel destinations.

      Reply
  3. DerrAd

    Wow! a nice place to be during this pandemic.  I do have a question though, are any of the beaches handicapped accessible?  This would be my main concern.  All the places do look awesome and more secured as compared to other islands.  I have been looking forward to visiting Sicily.  If they do have beaches accessible, that would be great!

    Reply
    1. Leahrae (Post author)

      Hi there,  I am happy to say that there are quite a few beaches in Sicily that are handicapped accessible.  You can visit the Sicily Home page and which will outline each accessible beach.  Please let me know if you have any further questions.  Thanks for visiting beach travel destinations.

      Reply
  4. Rob Keller

    Who doesn’t love the beach and Italy is amazing in itself. I had the opportunity to travel the world with the U.S. Navy and spent a lot of time in the Mediterranean Sea. I feel lucky that I got to visit so many places including some of the Italian Islands.  Lampedusa Island looks wonderful and definitely a place going on my bucket list if I ever make it back to Italy. Thanks for the great article it really makes my imagination wander to this amazing place. 

    Reply
    1. Leahrae (Post author)

      I agree Rob!  I am glad you enjoyed and sounds like you have had a great opportunity to visit amazing places around the world.  I appreciate your service and for taking the time to leave me comments.

      Reply
  5. Christopher

    I really like the idea of a more secluded beach. When I go on vacation I often enjoy getting away from the major crowds and get in touch with nature. This sounds and looks like an amazing place to do just that. It’s not a beach that I’ve ever hear of either. It strikes me an a lesser known about gem. Everything from suggested vacation times to possibly hotel rentals all on one page. Nicely done. Thanks for taking the time to write this.

    Christopher

    Reply
    1. Leahrae (Post author)

      I agree.  I love being at a secluded beach.  Makes it more peaceful for me and I don’t have to fight the crowds like I do here in Clearwater Beach.  Lampedusa Island is perfect!  

      Reply
  6. LineCowley

    Hi Leahrae, 

    Lampedusa looks absolutely amazing! I live in Rome, Italy, and invariably what we hear on the news about Lampedusa is when the refugee boats from North Africa arrive there. There is not that much publicity for Lampedusa as a holiday destination, so this is great to see.

    This post has put the island in a completely different light for me and a definite “must visit” place. The prices for the hotels seem quite reasonable, but I guess it will depend on the time of year. 

    All the beaches look awesome and it makes me want to travel there right now! 

    Liné

    Reply
    1. Leahrae (Post author)

      You are lucky to live in Italy!  I would love to live in such a beautiful country.  I have a cousin in Italy.  I need to visit her but she is not on the coast which is where I prefer to be.  I appreciate you taking the time to leave me comments.

      Reply
  7. Puneet

    Oh man! That review has just made me want to pull my suitcase out, pack it, and jet off to Lampedusa! I have been to Italy a couple of times and absolutely love the place. However, I haven’t seen beaches like this. Once the pandemic has settled down and things have fully evolved into our “new normal”, I will definitely refer back to your site to book a holiday. Thank you for the detailed review.

    Reply
    1. Leahrae (Post author)

      You are very welcome Puneet!  I agree that once this is all over, we will all be taking vacations 🙂  I can’t wait really!  Thanks for visiting beach travel destinations.

      Reply
  8. Roy

    Now you have made me want to go on vacation!  Southern Italy and its Islands have been on top of my list for several years. I have been traveling to Italy for years, but for business purposes, and have not taken the opportunity to see the rest of the country. Maybe now its the time to go to Lampedusa when everything is opening up.

    Your article of traveling to Lampedusa is already bookmarked and will be used as a reference when traveling there. Spiaggia dei Conigli will be one of the first places to go to for some nice sun and beach activities. After a few days of acclimatization, I would take the full day tour to Palermo as I love ancient stuff!

    The rocky beach of Cala Creta Beach will certainly be one of my favourites. I love rocky beaches like that as the water normally will be crystal clear.

    Reply
    1. Leahrae (Post author)

      Sounds like the perfect vacation destination for you Roy.  How nice to have been there so many times on business.  Time to take time for yourself and enjoy all that Lampedusa Island Sicily has to offer!

      Reply
  9. Dave

    Great post on visiting Sicily. I like the various places you listed and the beaches look like something out of a dream. Off question if you know. Can you surf there and is a mostly just a tourist spot? Hotel descriptions are good and nice to see there are no low star hotels. Prices for food look to be reasonable and choices I have probably never experienced in my life. Your blog here alone makes me want to go. I’ll check out the prices for hotels you have on here. The only places I have travelled are in Asia but would love to go to a place like Lampedusa Island. You outdid yourself on this blog with a wealth of information and some awesome spots to see. Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Leahrae (Post author)

      You can surf here.  The best period to surf in Sicily is: March to May and September to December. From January to early March the sea gets often too choppy and it’s not always that enjoyable.  From June to August gets easier to kitesurf or windsurf than surfing because the sea is mostly flat and the beaches get crowded, dangerous for “civilians”! You can easily surf without wetsuit from late May to early November.  Places to surf would include: Palermo, Agrigento, Siracusa, and Catania City.  Close to these areas is going to be where you will want to surf.  Thanks for stopping by Dave and taking the time to leave me comments.

      Reply
  10. Dale

    My wife and I are always looking for new and unique vacation destinations.  So far you have done a great job of selling these beaches.

    I do have a question.  Are there any fishing charters because my biggest passion in life is fishing and every holiday we take has to have fishing involved at least in a little way,

    Thank you for sharing what looks like a great destination

    Reply
    1. Leahrae (Post author)

      Lampedusa Island Sicily is definitely unique.  And there are plenty of fishing charters you can go on.  TripAdvisor has some great recommendations for you 🙂  Please let me know if you need any additional information.

      Reply
  11. Caroline Mcintyre

    Hi Leahrae, This article here is outstanding to me. Your picture and layout awesome. My opinion about this topic really speak a lot of value, I would book a trip with you. The beautiful island in Italy (PELAGIE ARCHIPELAGO). I myself always wanted to go to Italy. Lampedusa, just beautiful blue water, I like the fact that it is multicultural heritage and the water – sports lovers. the hotel and resort amazing with great price and yes others will love the package deals this article is 

    Reply
    1. Leahrae (Post author)

      Great Caroline,  I am glad you enjoyed your visit to my Lampedusa Island Sicily guide.  Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave me comments as well.

      Reply
  12. Lindsey

    Wow, the Pelagie islands are absolutely stunning!  What a gem of a location.  I have never heard of Pelagie until coming across your post.  I am a huge fan of vacationing anywhere near an ocean.  I have to say, I’m definitely adding this as one of my top bucket list destinations.  Thank you for sharing different activities (the luxury pontoon boat peaked my interest) and restaurant suggestions too.  The information you have provided makes me feel relaxed to travel to this destination as I’ll know what to expect.  For instance, going during their peak season when the weather is nice May to September.  I have bookmarked your site to refer back to when the time comes to travel. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Leahrae (Post author)

      Great Lindsey!  I am glad you enjoyed and found a new bucket list vacation spot.  I do believe you would enjoy the Pelagie Islands in Sicily!  Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  13. Kevin

    First off beautiful page it makes we want to travel right now and be sitting on a beach with drink in hand.  Sicily is on my places I must go list and now I have places to see when I get there.  The break down on the excursions and restaurants is very informative one question are the prices in US dollars?  I would love to see some insight on places maybe to not go to also as this would help make the most of my vacation.  All in all very well done. 

    Reply
    1. Leahrae (Post author)

      Yes, the prices are in US dollars.  I have not considered where “not to go” lol.  I prefer to just let you know what is good.  And you will enjoy Lampedusa for sure.  Thanks for visiting my Lampedusa Island Sicily guide.

      Reply
  14. Kit

    Reading this today in an era of COVID, really makes me feel stuck at home! I would do anything to be able to be on those beaches right now. Lampedusa looks truly unbelievable. When would you say is the best time to go to Sicily? I heard that it’s a beautiful destination for scuba diving too and I’d love to try it.

    Reply
    1. Leahrae (Post author)

      It is a great destinations for Scuba Diving.  May thru September is the best time to visit. The temperatures will be just perfect in the upper 70s to lower 80s.  And yes, I know the feeling of being stuck at home.  I can’t wait till we have a vaccine and our lives can return to normalcy.

      Reply

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