Selinunte Archaeological Park, a place of curious and captivating ruins, is nestled on the sun-kissed shores of Sicily. Once a bustling hub of commerce and ancient Greek culture, it now exists as a captivating example of crumbling grandeur. Visitors to this curious site can wander among the remnants of towering temples, piles of rubble, and open spaces. While the passage of time has weathered these structures, their grandeur and purpose remains undeniably fascinating.
Read on to learn about Selinunte (map) – how to visit, what to take with you, what to expect, where to stay, where to eat, and what else to do in the area.
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How to Visit
Full price admission is €10. And unless the weather is particularly pleasant, I recommend purchasing a shuttle ticket as well for an additional €8. If the ticket line is long, you can skip it and buy tickets on the website but no need to buy ahead of time. There’s also a free audioguide available – inquire at the entrance.
There is free parking onsite and the archeological park is open everyday at 9 a.m. to at least 5 p.m., depending on the time of year.
I recommend exploring Selinunte as a day trip from Trapani (60-90 minutes by car), or Agrigento (80-100 minutes by car). I’d also recommend going early or late in the day when the sun is less intense. That said, we chose to stay the night, and although there are a few food and accommodations options, the chance to get to see the ruins lit up at night, or be the first to arrive when they open in the morning might be worth the trade-off.
Here are some tours you can book if you’d rather just let someone else drive and handle the logistics. Make sure to confirm whether the price of your tour covers the admission and shuttle fees.
- Full-day Excursion to Selinunte and Castelvetrano – from Agrigento or Sciacca
- Private Guided Tour of the Selinunte Ruins
What to Take With You
- Water.
- Sunscreen and anything else you might need to be comfortable and safe in the sun.
- Good walking shoes.
- Your phone or camera.
There are a bunch of gift shops surrounding the parking lot so this is also a place to pick up a few souvenirs.
What to Expect
After parking, make your way to the entrance. You’ll buy your ticket inside if you didn’t buy one online. You’ll have the option of just an admission ticket, or admission plus shuttle. You can also ask about the free audioguide if that’s something you’d be interested in. Take a look at the map to get an idea of how the archaeological park is laid out.
When you enter the park, you’ll see Temple E in all its glory. Head that direction and you’ll find yourself in the Eastern Agora aka Collina Orientale. Temple E is also known as the Temple of Hera and was erected in the 5th century BC and reconstructed in the 1950s.
Beside Temple E, you’ll find Temple F, the smallest temple, and Temple G, the largest temple in this area. These are both 6th century temples that are now massive piles of rubble.
As you head further away from the park entrance, you’ll come across a couple of modern buildings where you’ll find bathrooms, a cafe, and a museum. Once you finished in this area, you can catch a shuttle here or walk another 1.5 kilometers to get to the Acropolis.
At the Acropolis, you’ll find temples A, B, C, D, and O. Temple C still has 14 of its original 17 columns intact. The other temples here are a pile of rubble that is fun to explore.
And another kilometer further west lies the shrine Malaphoros and Sanctuary of Hera. If you are using the shuttle, definitely visit this area, but I would suggest skipping it if you’re walking unless you just really want a walk.
What Else to Do around Selinunte
Depending on how much you use the shuttles, a visit to Selinunte will take anywhere from a couple hours to most of the day. Here are a few ideas on where to head for the rest of the day or for the night.
Trapani
In Trapani, a Sicilian seaside town, sun-drenched streets twist and turn like a whispered promise, each corner a potential portal to a piazza bathed in golden light. Let yourself get lost in Trapani’s charm or follow my self-guided walking tour.
Erice
Nestled precariously on a mountaintop above Trapani, Erice isn’t for the faint of heart (or those without sensible shoes. Cobbled streets wind more like a tipsy donkey path than a sidewalk, but the destination is delightful. Weave between fragrant pastry shops, castles, churches, ancient stone walls, and stunning views using my self-guided walking tour.
Salt Pans
Visit the Saline di Trapani, a 60 minute drive from Selinunte. Go to the website to book a guided tour of the salt pans of Trapani and salt museum to learn all about salt production. Tours cost €16 per person and last approximately 75 minutes.
Marsala
The village of Marsala is known for its namesake fortified wine and is a 50 minute drive from Selinunte. Head to Cantine Florio for a Marsala wine tour and tasting. Make a reservation here. Tours start at €25 and last a little over an hour.
Segesta
Segesta is home to a magnificently well-preserved Doric temple and an ancient theater perched on top of a steep hill. It is located in the middle of nowhere so along with its ruins, Segesta offers a serene escape away from the crowds. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Segesta.
Where to Stay in Selinunte
We stayed at the Bed & Breakfast The Temple of Hera which is within walking distance of the archeological park and was extremely fine.
If you decide to do it as a day trip, here are some places to stay in Agrigento, and places to stay in Trapani.
Where to Eat in Selinunte
There are a couple places in the park and surrounding the parking lot where you can grab a quick snack.
In town, head to Trattoria Casa Mia for a traditional Sicilian dinner. The menu heavily features seafood as should be expected in a fishing village. We ordered way too much but everything was fantastic. Just don’t get the red table wine (but if you follow rules, you shouldn’t drink red wine with fish anyway).
I hope you’ve enjoyed this Selinunte guide. If you’re looking for more, here’s everything I’ve written about Italy including how to spend 14 days in Sicily.
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