National park · Italy
MoziaIsola di Mozia
Visit Mozia for a 1.5‑2 h walk and museum: take the 10‑minute boat from Punta San Teodoro (≈€5 adult) in the morning, avoid July‑August heat, and stay overnight in Marsala or Trapani.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
0 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (0 km²)
approximate
Established
2020
Best months
Mar–May, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Italy and Malta ↗The region's headline sights run on timed tickets that sell out: book the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum, the Uffizi, the Last Supper and Malta's Hypogeum before you fix train and hotel dates.
- Italy and Malta ↗Budget for per-night city taxes in Italy (up to about €10 a person in Rome), Malta's per-night environmental contribution, and Venice's day-visitor fee on peak days; none are included in most online room prices.
- Italy ↗Italy is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- Italy ↗Historic centres are ZTL limited-traffic zones: cameras fine any unauthorised car that enters, often months later through the hire company. Park outside and walk in.
- Italy ↗Regional train tickets bought on paper must be validated in the machine on the platform before boarding; digital tickets carry a time and need no stamping.
- Italy ↗Venice charges day-visitors an access fee on selected peak days; check the city's official site if you are not sleeping there.
At a glance
- Country
- Italy
- Area
- 0 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (0 km²)
- Approximate; the island is about 0.2 km² (check).
- Established
- 2020
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Trapani
Mozia is a small island in the Stagnone Lagoon off western Sicily, preserving the ruins of a Phoenician city founded in the 8th century BC. The entire island is an archaeological park with a museum, a vineyard and a 1.6 km walking circuit. It is reached by a 10‑minute boat from the mainland and can be visited in half a day from Trapani or Marsala.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2020.
Size and age
0 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (0 km²) · national park since 2020
Approximate; the island is about 0.2 km² (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Trapani.
Why go
- Walk the compact archaeological island and see Phoenician walls, temples and the famous Motya Charioteer.
- Visit the Whitaker Museum with artefacts from the excavations.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunGo
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanMild, fewer tourists
- FebCool, good for walking
- MarSpring birds, pleasant temps
- AprDry, warm but not hot
- MayIdeal weather for the walk
- JunWarm, start of summer crowds
- JulHot, little shade
- AugPeak heat, occasional storms
- SepWarm, fewer tourists
- OctMild, good birdwatching
- NovCool, shorter daylight
- DecMild, occasional rain
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flamingos, herons, black‑winged stiltsMar–May, Sep–Nov | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Trapani
Take a boat from Punta San Teodoro (SP21 road). Boats run every ~30 min, 10–15 min crossing.
30 min total (bus + boat)
Open the page →
From Marsala
Boat from the port of Marsala, similar schedule to Trapani.
≈30 min total
From Palermo
Train or bus to Trapani, then boat as above.
2–2.5 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Island entrance / museum area | Ticket office, Whitaker Museum, café, main paths. | Open with ticket during opening hours. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates from Wikidata; island centre approximated.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Island entry ticket | EUR 5 (≈ US$6) | person | Adults €5, students €2.5, children under 5 free |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Island entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Camping
- Overnight stays are not permitted on the island.
- Fires
- Open fires are prohibited; use the café facilities for food.
- Stay on paths
- Leave archaeological areas and vegetation undisturbed.
Where to stay
Near the park
Marsala
Hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses 15 km (9.3 mi) north of the island.Hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses 9.3 mi (15 km) north of the island.
Near the park
Trapani
Wide range of accommodation, 9 km (5.6 mi) south of the island.Wide range of accommodation, 5.6 mi (9 km) south of the island.
Safety
Heat and sun exposure medium
Uneven stone steps low
Boat service cancellation in bad weather low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Main paths and museum entrance are partially wheelchair‑accessible; some uneven sections may be challenging.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on marked trails to protect archaeological remains and vegetation.
- Do not feed wildlife; carry out all litter.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Mozia?
Adult entry is €5, students €2.5, children under 5 free; the ticket includes the museum and boat ride.
What are the best hikes in Mozia?
The full island circuit (1.6 km, 1.5–2 h) is the main trail; it is easy and covers all major ruins.
When is the best time to visit Mozia?
April to October offers dry, warm weather; March–May and September–October are especially pleasant for walking and birdwatching.
Can I stay overnight on the island?
No. Overnight camping is prohibited; stay in nearby Marsala or Trapani.
Is the island wheelchair‑accessible?
Main paths and the museum are partially accessible, but some stone steps may be difficult.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
- secondaryWikidata – Mozia
- officialOfficial website – Fondazione Whitaker
- secondaryWikivoyage: Mozia, revision 5314616 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Ask about Mozia
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