Pantelleria itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days on Pantelleria, day by day: the Bronze Age Sese Grande, the town and its castle, the Lake of Venus, the Donnafugata garden at Khamma, the hot pools of Gadir and the Arco dell'Elefante first, then the Balata dei Turchi, Montagna Grande, the Benikulà sauna cave, the San Marco acropolis and the sunset at Punta Fram, and on a second day the Ondine rock pool, Cala Tramontana and an evening on the town seafront. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Pantelleria in 1 day
Day 1
Sese Grande (Bronze Age tombs of the Sesi)
The largest of the dome-shaped Bronze Age tombs of black lava stone near the prehistoric village of Mursia, on the west coast.
Pantelleria town and Castle
The island's harbour town, rebuilt after wartime bombing, with the old castle of dark volcanic stone standing by the port.
Lake of Venus (Specchio di Venere)
Turquoise crater lake fed by warm springs, with white mud along the shore where people bathe and wade.
Giardino Pantesco Donnafugata (FAI), Khamma
A single orange tree inside a round dry-stone wall that shelters it from the wind, the island's typical garden, cared for by FAI.
Gadir hot springs
Tiny fishing harbour on the east coast with hot-spring pools in the rocks, best for a soak on a calm day.
Arco dell'Elefante and Cala Levante
A lava headland shaped like an elephant dipping its trunk in the sea, above the rocky cove of Cala Levante, good for a swim.
Pantelleria in 2 days
Day 1
Balata dei Turchi
Remote rocky inlet below the south-coast cliffs, reached by a dirt road, with clear water for swimming off flat lava rocks.
Montagna Grande nature reserve
The island's highest peak, covered in pine and holm oak, with paths and wide views over the vineyards and the sea.
Benikulà natural sauna cave (Bagno Asciutto)
A natural steam sauna in a cave on the slopes of Montagna Grande, reached on foot by a short path from Sibà.
Acropolis of San Marco
Hilltop remains of the Punic and Roman town above Pantelleria town, where marble portrait heads of the Roman era were found.
Pantelleria town and Castle
The island's harbour town, rebuilt after wartime bombing, with the old castle of dark volcanic stone standing by the port.
Sese Grande (Bronze Age tombs of the Sesi)
The largest of the dome-shaped Bronze Age tombs of black lava stone near the prehistoric village of Mursia, on the west coast.
Punta Fram
Lava headland on the west coast just south of the town, with rocks to swim from and a wide view of the sunset over the sea.
Day 2
Lake of Venus (Specchio di Venere)
Turquoise crater lake fed by warm springs, with white mud along the shore where people bathe and wade.
Laghetto delle Ondine
A natural rock pool on the north-east coast, filled by waves breaking over the lava, for a swim sheltered from the open sea.
Gadir hot springs
Tiny fishing harbour on the east coast with hot-spring pools in the rocks, best for a soak on a calm day.
Giardino Pantesco Donnafugata (FAI), Khamma
A single orange tree inside a round dry-stone wall that shelters it from the wind, the island's typical garden, cared for by FAI.
Cala Tramontana
Rocky cove next to Cala Levante with ladders and flat rocks into deep, clear water, one of the island's favourite swimming spots.
Arco dell'Elefante and Cala Levante
A lava headland shaped like an elephant dipping its trunk in the sea, above the rocky cove of Cala Levante, good for a swim.
Lungomare Borgo Italia
The seafront promenade of Pantelleria town along the harbour, where the island comes out for the evening walk and an aperitivo.
Watch: Pantelleria
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Pantelleria
June and September are the best months: warm sea, open gardens and wineries, and fewer people than in August, when the island is busiest. The island is windy all year, which keeps summer heat bearable but can make the sea rough on one side. The grape harvest for the passito comes in late summer; winter is quiet, with fewer flights and many places closed.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Pantelleria on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Pantelleria on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Pantelleria on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
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Tips for Pantelleria
- Hire a car or scooter: buses are few, and the coves, the lake and the mountain are spread round the island.
- The coast is volcanic rock with almost no sandy beaches; bring water shoes and swim from the rock platforms and coves.
- Book the Donnafugata garden at Khamma ahead; visits follow the winery's opening, mostly in season.
- At the Lake of Venus bathe in the warm mud and springs, but use no soap or sunscreen: the lake is protected.
- Try the island's capers and the sweet Passito di Pantelleria from Zibibbo grapes, grown as low bush vines in hollows against the wind.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Arco dell'Elefante and Cala Levante: Nathill2512, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Giardino Pantesco Donnafugata (FAI), Khamma: fab., CC BY 2.0
- Lake of Venus (Specchio di Venere): mauro from PAVIA, ITALIA, CC BY 2.0
- Montagna Grande nature reserve: La mia avventura, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pantelleria town and Castle: Goldmund100, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
