Agrigento is one of Sicily’s most significant historical sites. The main reason to visit is the Valley of the Temples, a vast archaeological park containing the remains of the ancient city of Akragas.

In my view, the Valley of the Temples is one of those places that’s well worth changing your itinerary for. Agrigento itself is a pleasant bonus, but the main attraction remains the Greek temples beneath the town.

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Is Agrigento worth a visit?

Yes, especially if you’re interested in ancient history. The Temple of Concordia is one of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world, and the entire site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Things to know before you visit:

• Allow 3 to 4 hours for the Valley of the Temples.
• Allow 5 to 6 hours for the Archaeological Museum and the Kolymbethra Gardens.
• The best times to visit are in the morning or during the last few hours before closing.
• It is not necessary to book tickets in advance, but during peak season and at weekends, it is advisable to buy them beforehand.
• A guide isn’t essential. For a basic visit, the information panels or an audio guide will suffice.
• A day trip is easy from Palermo. From Catania, however, you’ll spend a large part of the day travelling.
• If you want to combine your visit with a trip to Scala dei Turchi beach, the most practical option is to go by car.

Valley of the Temples

The Valley of the Temples, or Valle dei Templi, covers an area of around 1,300 hectares. Despite its name, the most significant temples do not stand at the bottom of the valley, but along a long rocky ridge.

They form part of the ancient city of Akragas, founded by Greek settlers in the 6th century BC. Today’s Agrigento was built higher up the slope.

Best route and entrances

The archaeological park has two main entrances:

• Tempio di Giunone to the east, on Via Panoramica dei Templi
• Porta V to the west, near the Sant’Anna car park

For a first visit, I recommend entering at the Temple of Juno and continuing in one direction towards Porta V. The route is mostly a gentle downhill walk, and you’ll gradually pass by all the main temples.

The order of the main sites is as follows:

1. the Temple of Juno
2. Temple of Concordia
3. Temple of Heracles
4. Temple of Zeus Olympus
5. Temple of the Dioscuri
6. Kolymbethra Garden

Allow 3 to 4 hours for the entire route. If you have less time, walk only the section from the Temple of Juno to the Temple of Concordia and return the same way. Such a visit will take about 1½ to 2 hours.

The most significant temples

• Tempio della Concordia – the best-preserved temple in the entire complex and one of the best-preserved Doric temples in the world.
• Tempio di Giunone – this temple, dedicated to the goddess Hera, stands at the highest point of the route and offers beautiful views.
• Tempio di Eracle – the oldest temple in the complex. Eight standing columns remain from the original structure.
• Tempio di Giove Olimpico – this unfinished temple of Zeus was intended to be one of the largest Doric temples of antiquity. What remains are mainly extensive ruins and statues of the Atlanteans.
• Tempio dei Dioscuri – the four columns form one of the symbols of Agrigento. However, its current appearance is the result of a 19th-century reconstruction.

In the western part of the site lies the Kolymbethra Garden, featuring citrus and olive trees and irrigation channels. The Pietro Griffo Archaeological Museum, which exhibits finds from across the entire Akragas region, is well worth a visit in its own right.

Admission and opening hours

The Valley of the Temples is open daily from 8.30 am to 8.00 pm. Last admission is at 7.00 pm. In summer, opening hours are sometimes extended into the evening on certain days.

Current admission fees:

• Valley of the Temples: 14 eur
• Valley of the Temples + Archaeological Museum: 19,20 eur
• Valley of the Temples + Kolymbethra Gardens: 20 eur
• EU citizens aged 18 to 25: 7 eur
• children and young people under 18: free

With a combined ticket to the Kolymbethra Gardens, children aged 6 and over are charged for entry to the gardens 2 eur.

During temporary exhibitions, a surcharge may be added to the price. This is usually 3 eur and will be displayed before you complete your purchase. On the first Sunday of every month, entry to the archaeological park is free.

Tickets can be purchased on site or via the official booking website. An online ticket is valid at any time during the selected day.

With or without a guide?

You can easily manage a standard visit on your own. The official audio guide costs 5 eur and is available in English, German, French and Spanish, amongst other languages.

The official two-hour guided tour costs 15 eur in addition to the admission fee. It usually includes access to the early Christian underground chambers, which you cannot reach on your own. These tours are primarily offered in Italian.

An organised trip is particularly worthwhile if you’re travelling from Catania or Taormina, or if you’re combining a visit to the Valley of the Temples with a trip to the Scala dei Turchi.

• Tours and excursions to the Valley of the Temples

Practical tips for your visit

There is very little shade along the main route. In summer, make sure you bring plenty of water, a hat and sun cream. The surface consists of tarmac, gravel and stone paths, so we recommend sturdy, closed-toe shoes.

The main path is partially wheelchair-accessible, but the site is long and uneven in places. The park lends out two electric trolleys free of charge; these must be booked at least one day in advance.

The historic centre of Agrigento

The historic centre lies high above the archaeological park. It is not as grand as the towns of Noto or Ragusa, but it is well worth a short stroll.

The main pedestrian street is Via Atenea, from which steep alleyways and stairways branch off. Places of particular interest include:

• San Gerlando Cathedral
• the Church of Santa Maria dei Greci, built on the foundations of an ancient temple
• several viewpoints overlooking the sea and the Valley of the Temples

Allow 1 to 2 hours for the town centre. In my opinion, there’s no point in planning a whole day just for the town itself, but an evening stroll is a good reason to stay overnight in Agrigento.

Beaches and swimming

Although Agrigento itself isn’t situated right by the sea, you can swim in the Mediterranean just about 6 km from the city centre.

Beautiful, long beaches with fine sand stretch around the resorts of San Leone (you can get there by public transport on bus routes 1, 2 and 3) and Porto Empedocle (served by SAL buses).

About 15 km west of Agrigento lies the famous white cliff, Scala dei Turchi. The Valley of the Temples and Scala dei Turchi can easily be visited in a single day by car.

Accommodation in Agrigento

It makes sense to stay in Agrigento for at least one night. This way, you won’t have to plan your visit to the temples around long-distance transport timetables and can arrive in the morning or before sunset.

Choose your accommodation based on your mode of transport:

• Agrigento city centre – best without a car. You’ll be close to both the train and bus stations, and can walk to restaurants in the evening.
• The Valley of the Temples area – best for visiting the site early in the morning. Some hotels offer direct views of the temples.
• San Leone – ideal for a summer seaside holiday and if you’re travelling by car.

Guesthouses in the centre cost around 60 to 100 eur per night for two people during cheaper periods. Hotels near the temples usually cost 100 to 180 eur.

Hotels and accommodation in Agrigento

Specific recommendations:

• Le Terrazze di Pirandello – a well-reviewed guesthouse in the historic centre
• Colleverde Park Hotel 4* – conveniently located between the city and the archaeological park
• Villa Athena 5* – a luxury hotel with views of the temples

When planning a longer trip, also check out the section on where to stay in Sicily.

How to get from the centre to the Valley of the Temples

By city bus

If you don’t have a car, the city bus is your best option. From Agrigento Centrale railway station and the Piazzale Rosselli coach terminal , routes 1, 2, 2/ and 3/ run to various entrances .

For the entire one-way route, it’s best to get off at the Tempio di Giunone entrance and return via the Porta V entrance.

Fare:

• 90-minute ticket purchased in advance: 1,20 eur
• ticket purchased from the driver: 1,70 eur
• all-day ticket: 3,40 eur

Timetables can be found on the Agrigento public transport website. You can also enter ‘Agrigento Valle dei Templi’ as your destination in the Trenitalia search engine and buy a combined ticket for the train and connecting bus.

By car

Paid car parks are located at both main entrances, namely at the Tempio di Giunone and Porta V/Sant’Anna. Parking is not included in the admission ticket and costs 3 eur.

As the site is laid out in a linear fashion, you will end up at a different entrance by the end of your tour. If you’re travelling by car, the easiest route is to walk from the Temple of Juno to the Temple of Concordia and return the same way. Alternatively, you can take a taxi between the entrances.

On foot

From the city centre, it takes about 35 to 45 minutes to walk to the nearest part of the site. The return journey is uphill, and walking isn’t particularly pleasant during the summer heat.

How to get to Agrigento

Agrigento Centrale railway station and the Piazzale Rosselli bus terminal are located in the city centre, just a few minutes’ walk from each other.

From Palermo

Under normal circumstances, the most convenient option is a direct Trenitalia train. The journey takes about 2 hours and a ticket costs 11,40 eur.

In the event of rail disruptions, take the direct Cuffaro coach. The journey also takes about 2 hours, and a one-way ticket costs 8,60 eur and a return ticket 13,70 eur. Buses depart from Palermo Centrale main station and terminate at Piazzale Rosselli.

Before travelling, therefore, check the latest timetables on the Trenitalia and Cuffaro websites.

From Palermo Airport

The easiest option is the direct SAL bus. The journey takes about 3 hoursand a ticket costs 12,30 eur.

There is no need to go into the centre of Palermo.

From Catania and Catania Airport

The best option is the direct SAIS Trasporti buses. They run from both the centre of Catania and the airport.

The journey takes approximately 2.5 hours from the airport and just under 3 hours from the centre of Catania. A one-way ticket costs 13,10 eur. The train is slower and requires a change.

From Trapani

The fastest option is the direct Lumia buses, which you can also search for and book via FlixBus.

The journey takes about 2 hours and 55 minutes, and prices start at 12,89 eur. The train involves several changes and isn’t a practical option for this route.

From Syracuse

In my opinion, the best option is to drive. The journey takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes.

By public transport, the most practical option is to take a bus to Catania and then change there to a SAIS Trasporti bus to Agrigento. Allow 4½ to 5 hours in total.

The train requires at least two changes, the journey takes over 5 hours and fares start at 14,30 eur.

From Taormina

The journey by car takes about 3 hours. Travelling by public transport requires a change in Catania and is unnecessarily time-consuming for a day trip.

You can find details on travelling around the island in the sections ‘Transport in Sicily ’ and ‘Car hire in Sicily’.

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