Page 467 - The Rough Guide of Sicily

road past Isola dei Conigli, or you can turn inland opposite the Conigli parking area

and loop back towards town high above the north coast. However, you can only swim
on the north side of the island from a boat – it’s mostly sheer cliffs, tiered like a
wedding cake, and pierced by deep gorges and grottoes.

Cala Creta

Buses for Cala Creta depart from Lampedusa town bus station, off Via Roma; ask to get off at Cala Creta, and
follow the signpost down a dusty track

Some 3km to the east of Lampedusa town, Cala Creta is a magnificent swimming
cove, where steps lead from a tiny rock apron directly into stunning waters. It gets
busy in summer, but it’s a pretty spot with a sophisticated beach bar on the rocks –
Cala Creta is a cut above the other island beaches, overlooked by pristine dammusi
houses and a holiday village.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: LAMPEDUSA

By plane Lampedusa’s airport ( 0922 970 006) is on the edge of town, a 10min walk
to Via Roma and the centre – most hotels have courtesy buses for guests. Taxis charge
€10; Salvatore ( 333 345 6062) is a recommended driver.

Destinations Catania (1 daily, 1hr); Palermo (2–4 daily; 1hr).

By ferry and hydrofoil Ferries and hydrofoils dock at Porto Vecchio; a bus meets
arrivals in summer, or you can jump in a taxi. The Siremar ferry ( siremar.it) to
Linosa/Porto Empedocle departs daily (not Sat) at 10.15am, with one-way tickets
from around €50. The Ustica Lines hydrofoil ( usticalines.it) departs May–Oct daily
except Tues at 7.30am (one-way tickets around €60). There’s also an extra morning
and afternoon hydrofoil to Linosa (6 weekly between April and Oct, and at least 4
weekly throughout the year; one-way ticket around €20). Full timetables available on

the websites.

Ferry Destinations Linosa (6 weekly; 1hr 45min); Porto Empedocle (6 weekly; 7hr
45min).

Hydrifoil destinations Linosa (2–3 daily, 4 to 6 days a week; 1hr); Porto Empedocle
(May–Oct 6 weekly; 4hr 15min).

GETTING AROUND

By bus The bus station is on Piazza Brignone in the centre of the town, off Via Roma.
Timetables are posted, but basically there are buses every hour (roughly 8am–8pm) to
Isola dei Conigli and the south coast, and to Cala Creta and the east coast.

By bike, scooter or quad It’s much easier to see the whole island by renting some