The Scala dei Turchi on the coast of Agrigento: tips and secrets to visit it
Dear friends, lovers of the sun and the beach. If you are reading this article, you are probably planning your next vacation to Sicily, or you are already on vacation in the province of Agrigento and would like to visit the Scala dei Turchi! Good! If you are looking for tips to discover the Scala dei Turchi in the best way and without making a mistake, you are in the right place.
- The Scala dei Turchi: what is it and where is it exactly?
- Is it better to visit the Scala dei Turchi by land or by sea?
- At what time is it better to visit the Scala dei Turchi?
- How can I reach the Scala dei Turchi by land?
- How do I arrive at the Scala dei Turchi by car and where do I park?
- Taking a tourist bus from Agrigento to the Scala dei Turchi?
- By foot from the nearby beaches of Lido Rossello and Punta Grande
- How can I access the Scala dei Turchi? Is it possible to climb on the white marl? Is there a pay entrance?
- Where can I swim in the Scala dei Turchi?
- Excursions by sailboat, rafts and motorboats to the Scala dei Turchi
- Where to eat or have an aperitif near the Scala dei Turchi
- Curiosity: how was the Scala dei Turchi formed and why is it called that?
The Scala dei Turchi: what is it and where is it exactly?
The Scala dei Turchi is a marvelous white calcareous marl staircase which immerses in the crystalline blue sea of Sicily. It is probably the most famous beach of the province of Agrigento and one of the most beautiful sites in Sicily, for its majestic calcareous marl structure which seems like a staircase on a lunar landscape.
The Scala dei Turchi is located near Agrigento, in the coastal area between Porto Empedocle and Realmonte.
Click here to open the exact position on Maps.
Is it better to visit the Scala dei Turchi by land or by sea?
Is it better to reach the Scala dei Turchi by beach or to go there by sea on a boat excursion? This is a question in which I have been asked many times and it does not have a clear answer. An answer does not exclude the other! Seeing it both by land and on a boat is the answer that I prefer, because from both perspectives you are able to grasp its uniqueness, appeal and grandness. If you have the time to visit it by land and sea, do it! Otherwise, if your time is limited, my advice is to visit it by sea with a boat excursion, that will permit you, in a short time and comfortably, to see it from different perspectives, taking extraordinary pictures on an unique backdrop and swimming a couple of meters from the white marl.
At what time is it better to visit the Scala dei Turchi?
Even this question does not have a clear answer. I personally prefer at sunset, when the reflection of the setting sun and the soft light create an extremely breathtaking view of the majestic white staircase.
Visiting it by day is also an extraordinary sight: the reflection of the Sicilian sun on the whiteness of the natural staircase gives off a magical light that will leave you speechless.
How can I reach the Scala dei Turchi by land?
The best way to reach the Scala dei Turchi is certainly by car, but if you don’t have a car and do not wish to take a taxi, at certain times of the year it is possible to use a tourist bus.
The Scala dei Turchi is reachable by foot from the nearby beaches, with a charming walk besides the Mediterranean shrub of the Sicilian coast.
How do I arrive at the Scala dei Turchi by car and where do I park?
If you decide to go by car, especially on summer weekends, you must pay attention to arrive early in the morning, otherwise the traffic and the lack of parking spaces will render your trip unpleasant and fruitless!
From Agrigento go in the direction of Porto Empedocle and then Realmonte, travelling on the SS 115. The travel time is around 20 minutes.
From Realmonte, travel on the SP 68, and the travel time is around 8-10 minutes.
You can park freely on the sides of the street, paying attention to the eventual “No Parking” signs. There are also 2 pay parking lots, convenient but expensive. One on the right side and the other one on the coast side, towards Punta Grande, which belongs to Lido Majata Beach. This latter one has a restaurant, shower and shuttle bus service.
Taking a tourist bus from Agrigento to the Scala dei Turchi?
From Piazzale Aldo Moro in Agrigento, it is possible to take the Temple Tour Bus. They are opened tour buses that cover the city, the Valle dei Templi until reaching the Scala dei Turchi. You can hop off at every stop to later go back on to continue the tour or to return back. The travel time to the Scala dei Turchi is around 45 minutes.
The service is active from June 20. The Temple Bus Tour begins at 930am and its last trip from the Scala to Agrigento is at 630pm. The service is not active on Mondays. The timetable is at the end of the paragraph. The fare goes from 8 to 15 Euros, depending if you want a one way or both way trip.
Being seasonals services managed by private companies, I strongly advise you to verify the information on the company website and if necessary to contact them to ask for confirmation.
https://www.templetourbusagrigento.com
By foot from the nearby beaches of Lido Rossello and Punta Grande
For the more adventurous types and for those who love taking walks, the Scala is reachable by foot by the nearby Lido Rossello of Realmonte from the west and by Punta Grande from the east. The Lido Capo Rossello is in front of a gracious small village, partially furnished and easy to reach by car.
From Lido Rossello, the path is around 2km and is a bit difficult. The difficulty is because you have to pass through a rocky area, possibly during high tide.
From here, you reach a beautiful long and sandy beach, from the cliffs of the white marl, and is ideal to admire the Scala and take a swim, since it is not that crowded.
Even though you can better appreciate the magnificence and the beauty of the Scala from the east, especially on board of a boat.
The alternative is to arrive on the beach of the Lido Rossello and admire from afar the beautiful white promontory that is immersed in the sea.
From the beach of Punta Grande, immediately after Porto Empedocle, it is possible to reach the Scala by foot, having a nice 25-minute walk besides the Mediterranean shrub.
How can I access the Scala dei Turchi? Is it possible to climb on the white marl? Is there a pay entrance?
Once you parked, it is possible to go down to the beach on the eastern side, going down a stepladder and a rather arduous slope, which is not advisable for the elderly and children. If you should park in the Majata Beach lot, you can use the shuttle bus service, even though it is expensive.
For a few years now, the direct access on the white marl cliff has been prohibited, to protect it from vandalistic acts such as graffiti, incisions and trash. For this reason, it is no longer possible neither to lie on it nor cross it to reach the more comfortable and enjoyable sandy beach on the western side of the Scala.
Where can I swim in the Scala dei Turchi?
On the beach next to the Scala dei Turchi, reachable by land from the eastern side, you can freely stop and take a swim. Nevertheless, it is a clayish coast, with low emerging rocks, which impede or make swimming difficult. To enjoy a refreshing swim while admiring the Scala dei Turchi, you have to pass this clayish barrier (not an easy task!).
On its right, the western side of the Scala dei Turchi, there is a beautiful long and sandy beach, with white cliffs, that is reachable by foot from Lido Rossello. It is a sparsely crowded and desolate beach because to reach it you must walk around 2.5km from Lido Rossello.
The boat ride is the best solution to take a swim near the Scala dei Turchi a few meters from the spot where the white marl staircase touches the sea, creating an extraordinary natural scenery reachable only by boat. A dive in the crystalline water, with the possibility of snorkeling and discovering the ocean fauna, is a must.
If you should decide to go on a sailboat or a motorboat to the Scala dei Turchi, you can swim offshore at a distance of 100m and thus can swim until reaching the cliff.
Excursions by sailboat, rafts and motorboats to the Scala dei Turchi
If you are on vacation in Agrigento, you cannot miss on the opportunity to take a boat ride on the coast of the Scala dei Turchi! The best experience is to admire the Scala dei Turchi from the sea, above all, because you can see its magnificence from different angles, from nearby and far away.
Here are the different boat excursions that you could choose from:
- Excursion on an historic sailing vessel to the Scala dei Turchi (length 6 hours);
- Group excursion on a raft to the Scala dei Turchi with an aperitif on board (length 3.5 hours);
- Excursion on a private open 5.7m boat with a skipper and aperitif on board (length 1.5, 2.5 or 3.5 hours);
- Party on board and/or bachelor/bachelorette party to the Scala dei Turchi
- Luxury private motorboat ride with a skipper and aperitif on board
Party on boat
During the boat excursion to discover the Scala dei Turchi, you can admire the Agrigento coastline and the Mediterranean shrub, with its numerous coves. This is a list of the beaches and coves that you will discover:
- Capo Rossello beach
- Madonnina bay
- Pergole bay
- Lido La Spiaggetta
- Giallonardo beach
- Siculiana Marina beach
Where to eat or have an aperitif near the Scala dei Turchi
On the beach next to the Scala dei Turchi, there are many bars, kiosks and restaurants, from which you can admire the Scala, drinking a fresh drink or enjoying a nice fish-based lunch. Some restaurants have white cots on which you can admire, in a lounge setting, the beautiful sunsets.
Here are some (the closest ones):
- Lounge Beach Scala dei Turchi: located on the beach at the eastern side of the Scala dei Turchi. It is a modern locale, equipped with comfortable beach chairs and cots to admire the view in a lounge setting. It has bar and restaurant service. You can go to the Lounge Beach to have lunch or dinner and the shuttle bus on a characteristic lambretta scooter will save you the arduous slope.
- Lido Scala dei Turchi: Sicilian fish-based cuisine, on the right side of the slope which leads to the beach.
- Chiosco Belvedere: on the street, it serves hot and cold drinks and is a cafeteria (check opening hours)
- Majata Beach: it is located on the Punta Grande beach, Mediterranean fish-based cuisine.
- Kiross Street Food: always on the road, it is a food truck that serves typical Sicilian dishes.
- Madison: for romantic dinners and events. This historic local is on the mountaintop on the road that leads to Realmonte and has a breathtaking view.
- Terrazza Bistro Patio Bra: on the right side of the street coming from Porto Empedocle, this restaurant serves typical Sicilian fish-based dishes.
- Acantus Risto Bar: Restaurant which specializes in fish. It is near the road which leads to the Scala.
If you decide to have a sailboat or raft excursion, lunch or an aperitif is offered, depending on the time and on request. The boats can land on the beautiful sandy beach next to the Scala to make you enjoy an unforgettable experience immersed in a dreamlike landscape.
Curiosity: how was the Scala dei Turchi formed and why is it called that?
Its name is derived from the frequent incursions by the Arabs and Saracens which repeatedly occurred on the Sicilian coasts from the 16th to the beginning of the 19th century. The pirates, originating from the East, took refuge there, thanks to the cove which formed a natural and protected port.
The white aspect of these calcareous formations, called trubi and have a wavy, staircase form in this site, is caused by two factors. The millennial accumulation of micro-organic marine sediments, minute mollusks called globigerina, whose shells are deposited on the deep-sea bed. From the emergence of these deposits and from the exposition to atmospheric agents, the cliff is shaped, making it a natural monument among the wonders of the world.
