Agrigento

Day 1: The Valley of the Temples end-to-end Begin with the city’s showpiece in the coolest, quietest hours and walk the sacred ridge the way most travellers don’t: downhill, from east to west. You’ll see the most intact temples first, pause in a lush ancient reservoir for shade, then finish among the giant ruins and evening light.

• Morning: Be at the upper entrance by the Temple of Juno for opening (about 08:30). Use the two-entrance strategy: park at Porta V (lower car park), taxi up, then walk back downhill. Take in the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Concordia (look for early Christian rock-cut tombs nearby), and the Temple of Heracles; carry water, wear sturdy shoes, and mind the sun and uneven stone.
• Midday: Drop into the Kolymbethra Garden for cool shade among ancient citrus and olive trees in the old city reservoir. Book the combined ticket in advance; this is also the best spot in the park to linger over a light snack when temperatures peak.
• Afternoon: Continue into the Western Zone: the sprawling Temple of Olympian Zeus with its prone Telamon replica, the photogenic but partly reconstructed Temple of the Dioscuri, and the Sanctuary of the Chthonic Deities. This area is quieter and wide open—ideal for unhurried exploring; an electric shuttle operates along the main spine if you need a break.
• Evening: Time your walk to hit golden hour; in summer, consider the special night openings to see the temples illuminated. Head up to the historic centre (Girgenti) for dinner, or enjoy free panoramic views from Via Panoramica dei Templi if you prefer a low-key evening stroll.

Day 2: Daily life, artefacts, and the wider city Today shifts from monuments to the people who lived here, pairing streets and houses with the artefacts that once filled them. You’ll also get the best midday escape from the heat inside the archaeology museum before circling back to quiet sanctuaries on the plain.

• Morning: Explore the Hellenistic–Roman Quarter to walk real cardines and decumani and peek at mosaic-floored domus. Go early for soft light and fewer visitors; a local guide adds context on Greek-to-Roman transitions you might otherwise miss.
• Midday: Cross to the Pietro Griffo Regional Archaeological Museum for 1.5–2 hours. Don’t miss the original eight‑metre Telamon from the Temple of Zeus, the Ephebe of Agrigento, and the vase galleries; the museum pairs perfectly with what you saw outdoors and is pleasantly cool at the hottest time.
• Afternoon: Drive or bus to the Temple of Asclepius on the plain, a calm sanctuary for healing pilgrims in antiquity. On your way back, stop by the so‑called Tomb of Theron near the entrance area for a quick look at this striking Roman‑era monument.
• Evening: Watch sunset from the Passeggiata Archeologica (Via Panoramica dei Templi), where locals admire the illuminated ridge. If you’re here in Feb–Mar, check Almond Blossom Festival events that often use the temples as a backdrop.

Day 3: New research, thematic routes, and slow discoveries Use your final day to go beyond the headline sights: follow a themed route the park now promotes, and, if available, peek at ongoing digs changing what we know about Akragas. Keep plans flexible—some areas open only on certain days or for guided visits.

• Morning: Choose a themed itinerary: Water and Gardens (focus on ancient water management and the Kolymbethra landscape) or Daily Life (domestic spaces and workshops around the Hellenistic–Roman Quarter). Start early again in summer; these routes help spread crowds and show how the city functioned beyond its temples.
• Midday: Check the park app or info boards for any scheduled access/viewpoints near active excavations, such as the Hellenistic theatre area; viewing is often from the perimeter only. If closed, revisit a favourite temple at leisure or take a shaded café break inside the park to avoid midday heat.
• Afternoon: Seek out lesser‑visited corners: the Temple of Hephaestus ruins and stretches of city walls and gates around Porta V. Pay attention underfoot for ancient cart ruts and note techniques used in ongoing conservation on the calcarenite stone.
• Evening: If you missed it earlier, book an evening visit (summer) for a last, dramatic view of Concordia and Heracles in lights. Otherwise, enjoy one final panoramic drive or bus ride (TUA lines 1, 2, 3 connect town and park), and toast the valley from the hilltop historic centre.

Practical notes woven into the days:

• Buy tickets online (combined options for park, museum, and Kolymbethra); first Sundays often have free entry but can be busy.
• Summer is very hot; prioritise early mornings and evenings, bring ample water, sun protection, and proper footwear.
• Respect the site: don’t climb on ruins or touch mosaics; drones require prior authorisation.
• For mobility needs, use the internal shuttle along the main path and plan downhill walking where possible.

By Air

• Palermo (Falcone Borsellino, PMO): about 2–2.5 hours’ drive (c. 150–160 km). Usually transfer to Palermo city by airport bus, then train or intercity bus to Agrigento.
• Catania (Fontanarossa, CTA): about 2–2.5 hours’ drive (c. 165 km). Direct intercity buses run from the airport to Agrigento (around 2.5 hours).
• Comiso (CIY): about 2 hours’ drive (c. 130 km); limited flights. Public transport typically via Gela or Caltanissetta.
• Trapani (Vincenzo Florio, TPS): about 2.5–3 hours’ drive (c. 180–200 km); public transport usually via Palermo.

By Train

• Main station: Agrigento Centrale (short walk to the city centre; close to the main bus terminal, Piazzale Rosselli).
• Palermo Centrale → Agrigento Centrale: direct regional trains roughly every 1–2 hours; about 2–2h15.
• Catania Centrale → Agrigento Centrale: 1–2 changes (typically at Caltanissetta Xirbi and/or Canicattì); about 2h45–3h30.
• Siracusa → Agrigento Centrale: multiple changes; about 4–5 hours.
• Operated by Trenitalia; no high-speed services. Check schedules and buy tickets via Trenitalia; validation not required for e-tickets.

By Bus

• Palermo (Stazione Centrale/Piazza Cairoli) → Agrigento (Piazzale Rosselli): frequent daily services; about 2h15–2h30.
• Catania Airport/Catania city → Agrigento (Piazzale Rosselli): direct services around every 60–120 minutes; about 2.5 hours.
• Trapani → Agrigento: usually via Palermo; about 3.5–4.5 hours depending on connection.
• Siracusa → Agrigento: usually via Catania or Gela; about 3.5–5 hours.
• Piazzale Rosselli is the main bus terminal in Agrigento, a few minutes’ walk from Agrigento Centrale.

By Car

• From Palermo: SS121/SS189 (Palermo–Agrigento), about 2 hours.
• From Catania: A19 to Caltanissetta, then SS640 (Strada degli Scrittori), about 2–2.5 hours.
• From Trapani: A29 then SS115, about 2.5–3 hours.
• From Siracusa: via Catania (A18/A19 + SS640) about 3 hours, or coastal SS115 (slower, more scenic).
• Note: roads are mostly dual carriageway; allow extra time in summer. Fuel stations are frequent on main routes.