Valley of the Temples

I was really excited to visit the Valley of the Temples while in Agrigento, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. The site hosts some of the most well-preserved Greek ruins in the world, and seeing them up close was mind-blowing — the history and architecture are just incredible. We spent about two hours exploring and the Temple of Concordia was the standout for me, with endless photo opportunities. A smart move was taking a quick €3 taxi one way to the upper entrance, which made the visit easier. Entry was affordable, access was simple, and the whole experience felt special. A must-see and easily one of the highlights of the trip. Saluti.

We visited Valle dei Templi in Agrigento with a group of students, arriving shortly after breakfast. The weather looked uncertain — dark clouds rolling in and a bit of wind — but that didn’t dampen our spirits. A resourceful vendor near the entrance was selling umbrellas for 10 €, which turned out to be a good investment! Despite the stormy skies, the site was absolutely spectacular. Walking among the ancient Greek temples — especially the Tempio della Concordia — gives you a real sense of timelessness. In front of the temple lies the striking fallen statue of Icarus, a modern bronze sculpture that contrasts beautifully with the ancient ruins and seems to capture the fragility of human ambition. It’s one of those sights that makes you stop and reflect before moving on. The paths are fairly easy to walk, though good shoes are essential. The site is large, so plan at least a couple of hours to explore it properly. There are rest areas, cafés, and a small bookshop near the entrance. This was one of the cultural highlights of our trip through Sicily — impressive, educational, and deeply moving. Tip: Go early in the day or later in the afternoon to avoid the heat and crowds. And if the forecast looks iffy… buy the umbrella!

Visit in the afternoon for less crowds and less heat - the shadows also make for much more cinematic photos! The bookstore has very cute souvenirs, most reasonably priced. Bring water as the water from most fountains on site is drinkable.

The site is interesting but the visit could be better organized. Parking is paid separately, and you only learn ticket prices (€17 for entry) after passing a security check, and then for the lower garden (€7 more) only after you've descended about 10 meters down the path... Clearer pricing at the entrance would help. The electric cart costs €4, but the area is small enough to walk comfortably. The temple looks impressive from afar, though up close much of it seems reconstructed. The market-style entrance with many souvenir stalls feels a bit commercial. Overall, worth seeing, but the experience would be smoother and fairer with better signage and simpler ticket options.

Surely one of the most significant and popular archaelogical sights in Sicily. A very unique experience that you need more than a day to fully discover. So many interesting features along this walk, not a difficult trek, easier if you start at the upper temple by taking the taxi from the parking area and work your way back down to it.

The best preserved Greek Ruins we have seen. The site is very easy to walk through without too many steps (Children & Senior Friendly). Keep in mind the only public restrooms are before you go through the ticket entrances and one in the middle by the cafe. There are plenty of shaded areas to walk through and rest in. Plenty of parking at entrances and lots of photo opportunities. I highly recommend a visit.

One of the best preserved and most impressive ruins to visit, it is intense walking in the heat from one temple to the next. At least 3 hours to see them all properly. One star deducted as we were charged €17 entry (€3 for the gardens) and the gardens were closer anyway.

Majestic historic site. Audio guide is on the dull side, sometimes hard to understand but better than nothing. Recommend to start early before 10am as it gets huge crowds later in the morning once the tour busses arrive. There's plenty of space but you can enjoy the place to yourself. The distance from one end to another is pretty long so be prepared to walk.