A Guide to Visiting Scala dei Turchi, Sicily
One of Sicily’s most beguiling tourist attractions, the Scala dei Turchi is a feast for the eyes. And, after having been shut for several years due to conservation concerns, for summer 2025 it’s now open again!
Located along the stretch of sea between Realmonte and Porto Empedocle is one of nature’s great masterpieces - the Scala dei Turchi.
Roughly translated as the ‘Turkish Stairs’ after the Arab pirates that sought safety beneath its chalky limestone cliffs, it is the passing of time, the sea and the salty breeze which has transformed this rocky outcrop into southern Italy’s most spectacular sight; a staircase of blinding white made even brighter by the indigo waters that surround it.
Submitted to UNESCO by the local authorities in 2007, the Scala have become an increasingly popular sunbathing spot for locals and tourists alike in Sicily, often enjoyed on a day trip in combination with the famous Valley of the Temples just down the road.
This is our personal guide to help you plan your own visit.
Scala dei Turchi Tickets
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the Turkish Stairs have been shut for a substantial amount of the last five years due to conservation concerns. Simply put, their popularity was leading to constant erosion and some visitors were even detaching pieces of marl to take back as souveniers.
Far from ideal when awaiting a decision from UNESCO.
Things got so bad that back in 2020, Italian prosecutors seized the site and closed it indefinitely.
Fast forward to 2025, and we are delighted to announce that Scala dei Turchi is now open to the general public again - just with a lot more controls.
Whereas in the past it was a bit of a free for all, to visit the Stairs now requires a ticket.
These cost €5 per person for a visitor and must be bought online via this link (you’ll need to create an account first) and allow you 60 minutes access for a specific time slot: the first is at 10am, the last at 7pm. We do not know if you can access the stairs prior to 10am free of charge - if you know either way, please do let us know in the comments.
Note that there are several types of tickets available - tourists need to buy the ‘Blue Pass’. The ‘White Pass’ is for residents and students, and the ‘Green Pass’ is required by those filming or photographing for advertising or brand promotion.
If you’re in the process of planning your Sicily trip and will be there during the peak summer season, you will likely need to buy your ticket in advance; there are only 35 tickets available for each time slot and given the popularity of the site, these do sell out.
How to Get to Scala dei Turchi
Located in the south of Sicily, the Scala dei Turchi are about 14 kilometres outside of Agrigento. On the SP68 road. You can find the exact location here, on Google Maps.
As we discovered when we visited for the afternoon in mid-summer, finding a legal roadside parking space can be next to impossible unless you arrive super early in the morning. It’s also not possible to park everywhere along this part of the road as some areas are reserved for taxis or access; whereas in the past infringing vehicles were tolerated, you now the run the risk of your car getting fined or even towed for parking in the wrong spot.
So instead, we’d recommend that you make your way to one of several large parking lots all along the right hand side of the road, stretching for quite a bit, where all day parking will cost around €6 for the first four hours, or €10 for the whole day. It costs, but it’s convenient and ideally located to access the stairway to the beach and the white cliffs.
You’ll soon spot them on driving past, but feel free to put these in you map so you’ve got something to drive towards: Parking Scala dei Turchi and Parcheggio Turco.
For those without their own vehicle, the good news is that there is now a seasonal bus that runs from Agrigento during the summer months with five departures per day. You can find further details and the full timetable on the Temple Tour Bus website.
Scale de Turchi by Public Transport | It’s possible to reach the Scala by bus from Porto Empedocle, but the service only runs during summer.
Read Later | 15 Essential Things To Know Before Driving in Sicily
The Practicalities of Visiting the Scala dei Turchi
When we visited there were several access points and signs pointing down to the beach, but there now appears to be just one - located here, that will require you to pass through Lido Scala dei Turchi. The path has been provided by the owners of the lido so whilst it may feel odd passing through a business, it’s all above board.
Once you’ve made it down onto the main beach, the Scala will be clearly visible on the right hand side, about 5-10 minutes walk away. The first section of the cliffs is the busiest by far, and we recommend that you continue to walk along it for more space and better views - you’ll eventually be able to descend into a lovely cove sandy beach, but the only exit point is back from whence you came!
Depending upon when your timeslot for accessing Scala is, you may wish to hang out on the popular main beach where you’ll find a couple of private beach clubs selling food and drinks and plenty of space to throw down your towel. It’s a pleasant enough stretch with shallow, calm waters, but nowhere near the best part of beach in the south.
Although it’s certainly possible to spend the entire day on and around the Scala, we’d recommend combining your trip here with a morning at the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. That way you can avoid the worst of the summer heat whilst exploring the ruins, stop for a tasty lunch along the coast (we can highly recommend Mediterraneo, about 5 minutes from the Scala on a quite stretch of local beach) and have the rest of the day to relax in the sun and enjoy the most spectacular sunset from the white cliffs.
We visited from Sciacca and whilst our Airbnb was delightful - and the town incredibly pretty - it would make much more sense to base yourself in Agrigento in order to enjoy these two big tourist destinations without having to endure long drives there and back.
How to Visit Scala dei Turchi Responsibly
As we mentioned above, the Scala were submitted for consideration to UNESCO way back in 2007, yet it is thought that the inability of local authorities to manage visits here in a sustainable manner has contributed to its failure to so far be given heritage status.
It is desperately important for visitors to this spectacular natural site to treat it with the upmost respect, to ensure that others are able to enjoy it for years to come.
If you’re including a visit as part of your Sicily road trip, there are some simple rules to follow:
| Climb barefoot. Pretty much every article out there about the Scala mentions how difficult it is to climb barefoot, and that you absolutely have to wear a pair of shoes. Whilst shoes would definitely make it a little easier (especially if it’s wet), the tourism authorities have said that they’d much rather you didn’t as it is far more damaging to the soft rock. We went barefoot and had zero issues whatsoever.
| Never take a souvenir. Apparently theft has been one of the biggest issues. These ‘stairs’ are incredibly beautiful, but it does not mean that you need to take a part of it home.
| Don’t be a vandal. We were shocked by the number of people that had clearly thought it was appropriate to mark their visit with a badly drawn scrape or attempt at signatures into the rock. It’s not. Don’t be a dick.
| Take your rubbish with you. And this includes cigarette butts.
| Do not climb the cliff face. We saw several guys attempt this, clearly pulling small bits of the super soft rock away with each grab. Seriously, do we even need to explain why this is stupid?!
In short, as we with any visit to any natural site, the responsibility is on all of us to leave no trace and to call out those we see causing damage.
Lastly, it’s a really good idea to shower off or change your outfit before you get back in the rental car - expect chalky feet and a chalky bottom after an afternoon exploring the Scala dei Turchi! Many of the carparks actually have a shower onsite for this very purpose.
