Caletta Sant'Elia: How to Visit This Hidden Gem in Sicily

Caletta Sant’Elia is a breathtaking narrow cove with colourful cliffside houses impressively overlooking the turquoise coloured water. Featuring Cinque Terre vibes but without the crowds, Caletta Sant’Elia is a well-concealed attraction worth seeing during a trip to Sicily.

In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about visiting Caletta Sant’Elia in Sicily.

What Is Caletta Sant’Elia?

In English, Caletta Sant’Elia translates to Cove of Saint Elia. It’s a slender cove featuring impressive seaside dwellings built into its rocky shores.

Given its immense beauty, you’d expect this cove to be a popular and well-known attraction in Sicily. Yet, Caletta Sant’Elia is mostly unknown to tourists. Indeed, when Beck and I visited, we didn’t see any other tourists. Sure, we visited during the week, and outside of peak season (in April). But still, at the time of writing, the elegant cove hasn’t fallen victim to mass tourism.

Where Is Caletta Sant’Elia?

Caletta Sant’Elia is located in a small seaside village called Sant’Elia (Saint Elia) in northwest Sicily, Italy. The village is found in the municipality of Santa Flavia, near Palermo.

Location: Google Maps

Daniel walks upstairs in a small seaside village called Sant'Elia. — Sant’Elia

How to Get to Caletta Sant’Elia

There are several ways to get to Caletta Sant’Elia. The easiest way to reach the cove is by driving there yourself or getting a taxi there. Otherwise, it’s possible to use public transport to get there, but this is a more time consuming option.

Getting There By Car

Driving to the town of Sant’Elia is the quickest and most convenient way to visit the cove. Parking is located here. From the car park, it’s around a five minute walk to reach the cove.

FYI – it’s a blue line car park area in Sant’Elia, which means you’ll usually have to pay a small parking fee. There are no machines to pay for parking. Personally, Beck and I asked the cafe owner next to the car park, and he assured us that we didn’t have to pay. This is probably because we visited during the low season. However, during the high season, we recommend enquiring about paying for parking as it is more likely that inspectors will check the area. You don’t want to receive a parking fine during your trip to Sicily!

Car Hire

If you don’t have your own car, you should hire one using Discover Cars. Personally, we use Discover Cars and highly recommend them for finding your ideal car hire at an affordable price. Booking online is super easy and the free cancellation policy is great.

Book Now

To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.

Of course, it’s also possible to get a taxi to Caletta Sant’Elia. But, this option is quite expensive, especially if you’re travelling from Palermo. If you don’t have a car, we recommend using public transport.

Getting There By Public Transport

The best public transport option is a 20 minute train from Palermo Centrale to Santa Flavia. From the Santa Flavia train station, it’s around a 2km walk to Caletta Sant’Elia.

Why Visit Caletta Sant’Elia?

Caletta Sant’Elia is one of the most beautiful yet hidden coastal attractions in Sicily. If you want to explore one of the most stunning places in Sicily that is also off the beaten track, you’ll want to add this destination to your itinerary.

Things to Do During a Visit

Here are some of the best things to do during a visit to Caletta Sant’Elia.

Swimming

If you’re visiting during the warmer months, you’ll surely be tempted to go for a swim. Unfortunately, when we visited, there was loads of seaweed in the cove, which wouldn’t have made for the most pleasant of swims. Hopefully, when you visit, you’ll experience crystal clear waters, perfect for a dip. You can also expect to see locals cliff jumping into the sea.

FYI – if you want to visit a larger beach near Palermo, consider visiting Mondello Beach, Cefalu Beach or Spiaggia San Vito lo Capo.

Dan stands near the water at Caletta Sant'Elia

Walk to Punta Sant’Elia

For some of the best views of Caletta Sant’Elia, you’ll want to complete the short walk to Punta Sant’Elia. From this rocky prominence, you’ll enjoy views facing back towards the town of Sant’Elia as well as the shore of the cove. At Punta Sant’Elia, you’ll also find a small religious monument.

Beck stands on a rocky prominence overlooking a cove called Caletta Sant'Elia

Explore the Colourful Streets of Sant’Elia

Other than exploring Caletta Sant’Elia itself, make sure to get lost in the vibrant streets of Sant’Elia. Leading away from the car park is a colourful staircase, that takes you deeper into the seaside village. While roaming the streets of the sleepy town, you’ll feel well immersed in a rustic and traditional seaside Sicilian village.

Where to Stay

Do you want to stay in one of the amazing coloured houses overlooking Caletta Sant’Elia? By far, the most popular accommodation overlooking the cove is La Caletta.

Stay at La Caletta

Exceptional views overlooking Caletta Sant’Elia
Most highly-rated option in the area
Airport shuttle service available

Search Now

Caletta Sant’Elia FAQs

Below, you’ll find some useful frequently asked questions about Caletta Sant’Elia.

When Is the Best Time to Visit?

If you have swimming in mind, you’ll probably want to visit during the warmer months. Otherwise, if you want to visit at a time with fewer crowds, then it’s better to visit outside of peak season. As mentioned, Beck and I visited outside of peak season in April. During our visit, we only saw locals. We also visited during the week, which meant the cove itself was very quiet too. During the weekend, you can expect more locals visiting the area.

How Much Time to Spend There?

To be honest, you probably only need 2–3 hours to visit the cove and the village. Certainly, half a day would be plenty of time to spend in the area.

Is it Worth Visiting Caletta Sant’Elia?

Yes, absolutely – the cove and the village are definitely hidden gems in the north of Sicily. By visiting, you’ll feel like you’re exploring a truly authentic area of Sicily, which is genuinely stunning. So, if you’re based in Palermo, consider taking a half day trip to Caletta Sant’Elia.

Dan and Beck take a selfie at a cove called Caletta Sant'Elia

Things to Do Nearby

If you’re looking for other things to do nearby, we recommend visiting Capo Zafferano and doing the Monte Catalfano Walk. Otherwise, read our guides below to inspire your other day trips from Palermo.