When planning a vacation in Agrigento, it’s important to know what to see, where to stay, and also where the best places to eat are. So, to help you plan your stay, we’ve put together a guide with everything you need to know.
Let’s start with the things to see in this beautiful city of Agrigento. The first must-see is the Valley of the Temples, an attraction not to be missed as it’s one of the most famous historical sites in all of Sicily. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this archaeological site is located towards the south of the city, and in the park, you can find 8 temples, all built between 510 and 430 BC.
The two most famous temples are the Temple of Concordia and the Temple of Hera, also known as the Temple of Juno. To visit this place, you can park in one of the 2 parking lots: either at the V gate or Fifth gate, or the one closer to the Temple of Juno. These are paid parking lots, but the maximum fee is only €5.
The walking tour takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes, including the journey from one end of the valley to the other. For those who don’t want to walk, there is a shuttle service available that offers round-trip travel for only €3 per person.
But when you go to Agrigento, you certainly can’t miss the Regional Archaeological Museum, which houses a collection of artifacts found right in the city area, the most famous of which are the Telamone and the Ephebe of Agrigento.
What to see in downtown Agrigento?
When you’re at the Valley of the Temples, you can also choose to stop at the Agrigento market, held every Friday. Certainly, don’t expect the typical Sicilian market full of fruit and vegetable stalls, as here you’ll mostly find stalls selling clothes and kitchen accessories. However, there are still some stalls selling cold cuts and cheeses at really affordable prices, making it the perfect place to shop for tasty and high-quality products.
As for where to eat in downtown Agrigento, Siculò is certainly the ideal place for Sicilian street food and traditional dishes, and the nice thing is that you can sit at tables or order food and eat it on the street.
Another great place is La Posata di Federico II, which creates an intimate atmosphere characterized by typical Sicilian cuisine with elegant and rather original presentations. A must-try here are the red prawns with lard from Colonnata. But if you feel like dining with a view of the Valley of the Temples, you can opt for Akropolis, which offers excellent original Sicilian specialties in a spectacular location.
Finally, speaking of where to stay in Agrigento, the modern part of the city is not very interesting, so it’s better to look for a hotel in the charming historic center, an area rich in charm and exquisite restaurants and bars to spend the evening. Certainly, B&Bs are the most popular choice because they are more characteristic, ranging from economical guesthouses to charmingly furnished B&Bs.
