Marsala
A port town in western Sicily known for Marsala wine, the Stagnone lagoon's salt pans and Garibaldi's 1860 landing.
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Marsala is a city in the Province of Trapani, at the far west of Sicily. Survivors of Motya founded it in 397 BC as Lilybaeum. On 11 May 1860, Giuseppe Garibaldi landed here with his volunteers, starting the Expedition of the Thousand that led to Italian unification. The town gives its name to Marsala wine, a fortified wine, and several cellars open to visitors, including Florio and Donnafugata. The modern town sits on a low promontory between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Sea of Sicily.
The Stagnone lagoon lies just north of town, with salt pans, small islands and a place where flamingos often rest. Boats cross from the lagoon area to Mozia, an island with a Phoenician-Punic settlement, and ferries from the port go to the Egadi Islands. The coast has about 14 km of sandy beaches. Summers can reach around 40 degrees Celsius, so plan outdoor sightseeing for the morning or evening, while winters are mild and rainy.
Marsala in five
- Visit a cellar and ask which style you are tastingMarsala comes in dry, semi-sweet and sweet styles with different aging. Book cellar visits ahead and ask for a dry aged bottle if you want to sip it neat.
- See the salt pans at sunsetThe salt pans and windmills lie on the coast between Marsala and Trapani. Check the salt museum's opening hours and choose a clear evening for the light.
- Cross to Mozia by short boatThe island of Mozia, a former Phoenician town, is reached by a brief boat crossing from the lagoon shore. Check the operator's timetable and the museum's opening hours.
- Rent a car for west SicilyTrains are slow and buses sparse. A car links Marsala with Erice, Trapani and Selinunte, and Trapani-Birgi airport is the closest.Sicily
- Walk Via XI Maggio in the old townThe main street recalls Garibaldi's landing in 1860 and runs through the old center. Evening is the best time, when the cafés and wine bars open.
Things to do in Marsala
See all attractions in Marsala
Need to know
- Airport
- Trapani-Birgi (TPS), about 20–25 min by car; Palermo (PMO) about 1.5 hours
- Getting there
- Train from Trapani 30–45 min or Palermo about 3 hours
- Getting around
- A car; local buses and slow trains
- Best base
- Marsala old town or the salt-pan coast
- Time needed
- 1–2 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh14°Low11°Mild, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Mild, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low12°Spring startsMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring starts
- AprilClear7 rainy daysHigh18°Low13°WildflowersAprilClear
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 35 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wildflowers
- MayClear7 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Warm, goodMayClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 50 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, good
- JuneClear2 rainy daysHigh26°Low21°Beach seasonJuneClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 17 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach season
- JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh29°Low24°Hot, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 3 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear2 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Ferragosto, hotAugustClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 9 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Ferragosto, hot
- SeptemberClear7 rainy daysHigh27°Low22°Harvest, warmSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Harvest, warm
- OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh23°Low19°Mild, quieterOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low16°Rain, quietNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, quiet
- DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh16°Low13°Mild, quietDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
Average daily high and low in Marsala, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Marsala
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 13°
- Humidity
- 86%
- Wind
- 30 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Marsala
10:15 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today17°14°100%Monday: Rain. High 17°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue18°14°93%Tuesday: Rain. High 18°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 93%.
- Wed21°14°18%Wednesday: Rain. High 21°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Thu18°17°43%Thursday: Rain. High 18°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 43%.
- Fri20°18°36%Friday: Rain. High 20°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 36%.
- Sat21°18°23%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 21°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 23%.
- Sun21°18°13%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 21°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 13%.
Updated 09:11 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Ericeabout 45 min by carA medieval hilltop town above Trapani.Read the guide
- Trapani and the salt pansabout 30 min by carWindmills and a lagoon coast.
- Agrigentoabout 2 hours by carThe Valley of the Temples and an old town.Read the guide
Before you go to Marsala
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Rules for Marsala, 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
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
- Marsala Cathedral is an active place of worship, so keep your visit quiet and respectful.
- Antiques and archaeological finds need an export licence to leave Italy. Check with the Ministry of Culture before you buy.
Plan around Marsala
West Sicily in a wider Italy route
Read the guideSicilyPalermo, Etna, the south-east and the islands
Read the guideEriceA hilltop medieval town above Trapani
Read the guideAgrigentoThe Valley of the Temples on the south coast
Read the guidePalermoSicily's capital, 3 hours by train
Read the guideGiardini-NaxosThe east coast beach town below Taormina
Read the guideMarsala FAQ
Is Marsala worth visiting?
Yes, for wine, salt pans and the lagoon, especially if you drive through west Sicily. It is a working town, not a showpiece, so most visitors stay one or two nights.
What is Marsala wine?
A fortified wine from around Marsala, made in dry, semi-sweet and sweet styles and aged for different periods. Dry aged bottles are for sipping, while cheaper cooking versions are widely sold.
How many days do you need in Marsala?
One day covers a cellar visit, the old town and the salt pans. Two days add Mozia and a trip to Erice or Selinunte.
Do you need a car around Marsala?
Yes for the salt pans, Mozia and nearby towns. Trains and buses serve the coast but are slow, so a rental car is the easiest way to link the sights.
How do you get to Mozia from Marsala?
By a short boat crossing from the lagoon shore, a few kilometers north of town. Check the operator's timetable and the museum hours before you go.