Vincenzo Florio Airport (also known as Trapani-Birgi Airport) is located 9 miles from the center of Trapani on the west side of the island. If you have not booked a private transfer with us, you have a few options.

By bus: The local bus of AST (www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it) runs between the airport and Trapani, also passing through the town of Paceco. The bus departs approximately every hour from Trapani Airport between 8:30 am and 8:30 pm. It takes 40 minutes to reach the city center, the final stop at the port of Trapani can be reached in 45 minutes. Here you can take the boat to the beautiful islands of Levanzo, Marettimo, Favignana and Pantelleria. Bus tickets cost about €2.70 one way and are available on board the bus.

By Car: There are various rental car companies that can be found in the arrivals hall of the airport. The center of Trapani is easily accessible via the SP21. The distance is 11 miles from the airport to the city center of Trapani and will take you about 30 minutes.

By Taxi: A taxi from Trapani airport to the city center will cost around €30 (it is typically a flat-rate fare).

The train station is on Piazza Umberto I on the edge of the city center which is only about a 5 to 10 minute walk. Also, there is a taxi stand on Piazza Umberto I, just outside the train station that can take you on to your final destination, as well as buses that pass through the railway station.

Two free city buses (numbers 1 and 2) operated by ATM (Azienda Trasporti e Mobilità) make circular trips through Trapani, connecting the bus station, the train station and the port. Tickets for ATM`s (www.atmtrapani.it) other local buses, valid for 90 minutes and costs about €1.20 at tabacchi (tobacco shops) or about €1.40 if purchased on board the bus.

Yes, Trapani is small enough to walk around.

The blue lines represent the fee parking; it is active from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm and from 3:30 pm to 8:00 pm, on the weekdays. Only from June 1st to September 30th, the parking fee also applies on Sundays and holidays, in Viale Regina Elena and Via Ammiraglio Staiti. You can pay the ticket at the slot meter you find along the streets.

There are three free parking lots in the city: Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, Piazzale Ilio, via Poma. From piazza Vittorio Emanuele, it`s possible to get the city center and Via Fardella by walking or public transportation.

From the parking lot of via Poma, you can get to via Virgilio, the docks, via Fardella and its neighboring streets.

What is the weather like in Trapani? When is the best time to go? We recommend traveling to Trapani during the early fall when temperatures are still hot and weather is still dry but hotels are a lot cheaper (about half the normal price than August). Average temperatures hover in the low 80s, just a bit colder than the average 85°F you would get during high season.

Most tourists come to Trapani in the late summer, so expect higher hotel and rental prices. Try avoiding the Ferragosto week (August 12th - 21st) and the Cous Cous Fest week (September 16th - 25th) if you`re on a budget; accommodation rates skyrocket during these event weeks.

When visiting Trapani in the winter, make sure to pack an umbrella since it rains on average 16 days each month. August is the most crowded month of the year, but it is also the best for swimming. The best months for good weather in Trapani are April thru November, while March is the coldest. The parking lot in Piazzale Ilio has buses which offer a free and constant service to get the city center. Every morning, this service starts at 7:15 am and finishes in the evening. To get the hydrofoil embarkation, you can take the bus number 2.

The parking is free also in all the areas with white lines. In the city center, there are about 300 residents` parking only. You will also find attended parking lots available around the city as well.

Taxi stands can be found at the train station (on Piazza Umberto I) and at the port; to call one, dial tel. 0923-22808 or tel. 0923-23233.

Biking is a great way to explore the Saline di Trapani, the flat landscape of salt pools and windmills just south of town. Bike Shop, is a convenient bike rental company located near Trapani`s port offering reasonable rates.

Trapani (and Sicily in general) is a safe place to visit. Nevertheless, you should always take precautions when traveling, ie., keep your passport in your hotel safe if you can, don`t carry a great deal of cash, be vigilant about your own safety and beware of pickpockets. It is always recommended to avoid walking alone at night and in remote areas. Use the same street smarts that you would use in any large city worldwide.

The currency used in Trapani (and the rest of Italy) is the euro (€), US dollars are not accepted. We suggest to exchange some money before the trip and have some euros on you since the rate will be a lot higher on the spot and no currency other than euro is accepted.

It is also useful to remind your bank and credit card company that you will be travelling to make sure your cards will work while in Italy. We recommend you record all your credit card numbers, as well as the phone numbers to call if your cards are lost or stolen.

Under the euro system, there are seven notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros. Notes are the same for all countries. There are eight coins: 1 and 2 euros, plus 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents.

Rates fluctuate, so before departing consult a currency exchange website such as www.xe.com to check up-to-the-minute rates.

For more information about tipping visit: Tipping in Italy

We recommend traveling to Trapani during the early fall when temperatures are still hot and weather is still dry but hotels are a lot cheaper (about half the normal price than August). Average temperatures hover in the low 80s, just a bit colder than the average 85°F you would get during high season.

Most tourists come to Trapani in the late summer, so expect higher hotel and rental prices. Try avoiding the Ferragosto week (August 12th - 21st) and the Cous Cous Fest week (September 16th - 25th) if you`re on a budget; accommodation rates skyrocket during these event weeks.

When visiting Trapani in the winter, make sure to pack an umbrella since it rains on average 16 days each month. August is the most crowded month of the year, but it is also the best for swimming. The best months for good weather in Trapani are April thru November, while March is the coldest.

The official language spoken in Trapani is Italian. If you don`t speak Italian we suggest learning at least a few Italian words and phrases before you arrive. This will come in handy in more remote parts of Sicily. In Trapani, there aren`t many people who speak English, but enough of the folks in airports, hotels and restaurants understand it well enough to make basic transactions go smoothly. Even if you do speak Italian, you might not understand everything the Sicilians are saying to each other, since they may be speaking the local dialect (actually a distinct language), but they all speak Italian. We suggest you get a good English-Italian and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

Trapanese cuisine reflects the melting-pot of populations and cultures that live here and stongly mirrors the Italian and Arabic culture. The most popular dish in Trapanese cuisine is in fact one of Arabic origin, the widely-known couscous. The entire area is well-known for the delicious and abundant fresh local fish, as well as pizza and pasta delicacies. The tuna, which is caught just off the coast between the city itself and one of its islands - Favignana - is superb, especially when served with local couscous.

Restaurants open most lunchtimes and evenings, although the smaller ones usually are closed on Sunday and Monday. Note: most restaurants ask for a cover charge (coperto) of around 1€ per person, as you will also see in other restaurants in Italy.

One of the pleasures of exploring Trapani and its surroundings is to discover the little shops that specialize in local crafts, such as ceramics or leather goods. These shops are by far the best places where to buy souvenirs, since they are actually made on the premises.

Trapani is a small city, also for this it doesn`t have a proper shopping center, but you can easily find whatever you need in the supermarkets scattered all over the town or at the outdoor markets, where some of the best shopping can be done. At the vibrant markets in the Old town, you can buy local merchandise at really low prices, perfect when looking for souvenirs or gifts to bring back home. For clothing apparel, head over to Via Torrearsa, Via Garibaldi and Old Town, where plenty of trendy fashion boutiques can be found.

Erice is particularly known for traditional souvenirs and antiques, whereas on island Favignana you can find a wide variety of products associated with its tuna catches. Lastly, if you are looking for chic boutiques where to buy a piece of Italian design Pantelleria Island is the best place.

The weekly market in Trapani takes place on Thursday in Via Colombo. Here you will find most everything, from food to clothes, as well as numerous souvenirs. As in any other city of Italy, markets are the best places to find seasonal fruits and vegetables. The market is open on Thursdays from 5 am to 2 pm.

Corso Vittorio Emanuele is one of the main pedestrian road in Trapani, here you can find plenty of small shops specialized in local crafts. If you are looking for a ceramic or leather souvenir to remember your holiday in Trapani, here you will certainly find it.

In this central street of Trapani, Via Fardella, you can find all the most famous Italian and international brands such as Calzedonia, Desigual, Elena Mirò, and many more.

Some popular items to buy while in the area: the local pasta which can be bought in several variations and brands; Salter capers; Sea Salt from Trapani; and Wine from the region.

Note: Value-added tax (VAT) rate is currently 22% in Italy for standard goods. Travelers outside the EU can claim back sales tax on purchases over €155 if they have bought from shops displaying the `tax free` shopping sign.

Police, dial 112

Ambulance, dial 113

Hospital -Ospedale Sant'Antonio Abate, Via Cosenza, in the northeast of the city (tel. 0923-809111).

Many doctors in Sicily understand English to some degree. If you get sick, your hotel concierge will call or recommend a doctor. Another option is to go to the guardia medica (doctor on duty) or the guardia medica turistica at vacation resorts.