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Home to Blanche ‘choras’ that cling vertiginously to cliff-sides, and picture-ready blue dome churches, it’s not surprising that Santorini is one of the most popular European summer getaways.
If only Greece’s the majority of picturesque island weren’t so extremely crowded, and overnights in those iconic cavern hotels with swim-up suites would not cost countless euros a night …
But hey, who said Santorini keeps a monopoly on the whitewashed-island aesthetic?
Over in Italy, in the Tyrrhenian Sea, there’s a tiny island most travelers are yet to discover, and Instagrammers have not ruined, offering quaint seaside towns, gorgeous sea coves, and a taste of that slow Mediterranean life:
Ever Become aware of Italy’s Hidden Santorini? Lying off the coast of Sicily, a brief 30-minute hydrofoil trip from the busy port city of Trapani, Favignana is the biggest island in the Egadi island chain, and the up-and-coming summertime hotspot you’ve been waiting to find out about. I imply, it’s even been handpicked by Christopher Nolan as the setting for his next big Hollywood smash hit, The Odyssey, which is, you know, a traditional Greek tale.
A tiny landmass covering an area of only 14.2 square miles yet loaded with ancient sights and natural marvels, Favignana is one of those places you can quickly see completely over a couple of days or a vacation, but you won’t be in a rush to leave once you’re there.
Image a flat shoreline interspersed with seaside settlements and shallow bays bathed by turquoise waters, and a lush countryside criss-crossed by biking paths, passing picturesque farms and rolling vineyards: la dolce vita at its prime.
Oh, and did we discuss the picture-perfect capital?
A Captivating Harbor Town & Delicious Food
The main town on the island, Favignana (very same name as the island) is dotted with family-owned trattorias, cozy cafe balconies and gelato stores, and it’s popular for its low-rise cubic buildings colored light sand or off-white:
Not striking white, like Santorini, but the parallels exist to be found, particularly along the waterfront, where there’s a variety of shop hotels and renovated villas that have been offered a chalk-white makeover.
One of the very best beaches on the island, Cala Rossa is a serene sand-and-gravel strip backed by a limestone cliff, a beautiful 20-minute bike ride away, and if you happen to be craving some pasta and local red wine, Trattoria da Papù has a long list of Sicilian specials at budget friendly costs.
Have You Seen All Those Blue-green Calas?
Beyond the charming harborside capital, Favignana is home to a storied tuna cannery. Once the residential or commercial property of the Florio household, it is now a museum chronicling the island’s abundant tuna fishing history– needless to state, there
‘s no much better place to get souvenirs. A fairy tale castle on top of a hill overlooking the teal-colored Mediterranean and a rocky shoreline, Castello di Santa Caterina is a must-do walking for culture enthusiasts and nature lovers alike, and for the water children out there, alternatives are unlimited:
< img width="800" height="800" src=" https://www.traveloffpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Biking-Path-In-Favignana-Italy.jpg "alt="Cycling Course In Favignana, Italy "/ > There’s Bue Marino, a stretch of coast incorporating stone quarries and secret coves; Grotta Perciata, a sea cavern framed by lovely arches and providing photo ops and snorkeling chances; and do not forget the aptly called Cala Azzura, with a few of the bluest seas you’ve ever seen.
Favignana Is Relatively Budget Friendly– And Better Even, Uncrowded!
Santorini-esque as it might be, Favignana is nowhere as crowded, or costly as the renowned Greek island: specific visitation figures are uncertain, but it appears to typical under a million annually, and we believe it’s primarily Sicily-originated.
As for all that scrumptious pistachio pasta, made-on-the-spot sourdough pizzas, and nonna-baked mandorle sugary foods, you’ll barely blow the spending plan by treating yourself a little in Favignana:
Expect to pay roughly $10–$15 for a main course in a regional dining establishment, or$
30–$40 for a 3-course supper by the harbor. Accommodation-wise, a one-bedroom house in the center of Favignana Town will set you back $ 82 a night (check out La casetta in Centro), or if you’re more of a hotel person, a single room at the 3-star Favignana Hotel costs from $123 to book.
This summertime, Americans can fly nonstop from New york city (JFK) to Catania (CTA), in southeastern Sicily.
Though it is 145 miles from Trapani, the gateway to the Egadi Islands, Catania has train and bus services going practically everywhere in Sicily: as soon as there, you’ll have no issue finding a land-side connection to Trapani.
One-way hydrofoil or ferry tickets from Trapani to Favignana start from an affordable $7.
Vinicius Costa Vini, our senior lead author at Travel Off Path, has more than 60 + countries under his belt (and presently weaving tales from Paris!), and a propensity for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into useful stories that will have you loading your bags.
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