Erice
Erice is a hilltop town about 750 meters above western Sicily. Visitors come for Venus Castle, the Cyclopean walls and views over Trapani.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Erice is a historic hilltop town in the province of Trapani, in western Sicily, southern Italy. The old town stands about 750 meters above sea level on Mount Erice, with views over Trapani, the west coast toward Marsala and the Aegadian Islands. Its past reaches back to the Elymian, Phoenician and Punic periods, when the Cyclopean walls in the northeast were built around the 8th and 7th centuries BC. Venus Castle, a Norman-era castle, sits on top of the ancient temple of Venus Ericina, and Pepoli Castle dates from the Saracen period.
Most residents live at Casa Santa, at the foot of the mountain beside Trapani. A cable car links it with the upper town in about 10 minutes, and roads climb to Erice from Trapani and Valderice. Allow half a day for the castles, walls and churches. A full day leaves time for a walk in the Monte Erice woods and the old palaces. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for walking.
Erice in five
- Ride the cable car from Casa SantaThe cable car links Casa Santa, at the foot of the mountain, with the upper town in about 10 minutes. It closed after a forest fire in 2017 and reopened in June 2018, so confirm it is running before you plan the day.Getting around
- Fly into Trapani-Milo airportTrapani-Milo Airport lies near the town, but the cable car starts at Casa Santa, not at the airport. Roads reach Erice from Trapani by the state road and from Valderice by a provincial road.Getting around
- Check fire risk before a hill walkRepeated arson fires have damaged Monte Erice and its surroundings, so fire risk in the hills is real. Ask locally about conditions before you walk in the Martogna or Sant'Anna woods.
- Time a visit for Holy WeekThe Good Friday Procession of the Mysteries carries 19th-century statues on men's shoulders. Mystery plays have been staged at Easter since the 16th century, so book rooms early for those dates.Festivals
- Buy almond sweets from a bakeryBocconcini are almond-paste sweets filled with citron jam flavored with liqueur. Genovese alla crema is a shortcrust pastry with cream, and mustaccioli are old biscuits first made in a former enclosed convent.
Things to do in Erice
See all attractions in Erice
Need to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry
- Visa-free short stays for many passports; check the Italian visa site Read more
- Emergency
- 112 for police, fire or ambulance
- Tipping
- Not expected
- Time
- UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer (daylight saving)
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh14°Low11°Cool, wetJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Cool, showersFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, showers
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh16°Low11°Spring, mildMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, mild
- AprilClear8 rainy daysHigh18°Low13°Easter, mildAprilClear
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Easter, mild
- MayClear7 rainy daysHigh22°Low16°Mild, long daysMayClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, long days
- JuneClear3 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Warm, busyJuneClear
Good
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 16 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh30°Low24°Hot, dryJulyClear
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 4 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- AugustClear3 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Hot, busyAugustClear
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 14 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- SeptemberClear7 rainy daysHigh27°Low22°Warm, mildSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, mild
- OctoberClear10 rainy daysHigh23°Low19°Mild, quieterOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low15°Cooler, rainNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 129 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cooler, rain
- DecemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low12°Cool, wetDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
Average daily high and low in Erice, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Erice
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
18
- Feels like
- 9°
- Humidity
- 73%
- Wind
- 49 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Erice
10:14 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today16°13°100%Monday: Rain. High 16°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue18°13°95%Tuesday: Rain. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 95%.
- Wed22°12°18%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Thu19°17°45%Thursday: Rain. High 19°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 45%.
- Fri21°17°31%Friday: Rain. High 21°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 31%.
- Sat21°16°20%Saturday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Sun22°17°13%Sunday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 13%.
Updated 09:11 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Trapaniby road from EriceThe port city below Erice, with shops, restaurants and the airport close by.
- Marsalaby road from EriceA west coast town known for its wine, reached by road toward the sea.
- Aegadian Islandsby ferry from TrapaniIslands you can see from the summit, reached by boat from Trapani.
Before you go to Erice
Rules for Erice, checked
- Most non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check entry rules on the Italian visa site before you book.Source
- Dress with covered shoulders and knees before entering churches, including the Chiesa Madre in Erice, which is still open for worship.
- Check with the Italian Ministry of Culture before you buy antiques, since some cultural objects need an export licence to leave the EU.
Plan around Erice
The island trip that Erice fits into, with routes from Trapani
Read the guideAll of ItalyEntry rules, regions and trains for a longer Italian route
Read the guideGetting aroundTrains, buses and car hire for trips from Trapani
Read the guideWhere to stayPlaces to sleep in the old town and at the base
Read the guideVisas and entryWhat Italy asks of visitors before you book
Read the guideMoney and costsCards, cash and typical prices on a trip in Sicily
Read the guideErice FAQ
Is Erice worth visiting?
Yes, if you want a historic hilltop town with views over Trapani, the western coast and the Aegadian Islands. The historic centre is compact, so a few hours on foot covers the main sights.
Can you get to Erice without a car?
Yes. The cable car from Casa Santa reaches the upper town in about 10 minutes, so a car is not essential if you start from Trapani. Check current cable car times with the operator before you go.
What is Erice known for?
Its churches, Cyclopean walls and castles, and the Ettore Majorana Scientific Culture Centre, founded in 1963, which gives the town its name as a city of science. It is also known for almond sweets such as bocconcini.
How many days do you need in Erice?
One day covers the castles, walls, churches and a stop for sweets. Add a night if you want the town after day visitors leave, or time for a walk in the Monte Erice woods.
When is the best time to visit Erice?
Spring and autumn suit walking best, and Easter brings the procession and mystery plays. Summer is hot in Sicily, so plan outdoor walks for the morning.