Marina di Ragusa – beach life in southern Sicily

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | Marina di Ragusa is a seaside resort in southern Sicily, with long sandy beaches, a promenade, restaurants and a lively holiday life during the summer. We arrived here by camper van in the middle of the Sicilian summer heat and received a warm welcome at the campsite. Then beach life, ice cream parlors and a lunch awaited us that still belongs to our stranger food experiences in Italy.

Marina di Ragusa in Sicily

Marina di Ragusa is located on the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of Sicily, just over twenty kilometers from the city of Ragusa. Today, the resort is one of the most important seaside resorts along the Ragusa coast and is filled with holidaymakers during the summer months.

Originally this was a small fishing village called Mazzarelli. The name is of Arabic origin and is usually associated with the meaning of a small port or landing place. During the 20th century, the town developed increasingly into a seaside and holiday resort and was eventually named Marina di Ragusa.

When we arrived here in the summer of 2015, the difference between the seaside resort and the historic towns we had seen in Sicily was clear. Here, it was all about vacation.

Beach and swimming in Marina di Ragusa

The main reason to go to Marina di Ragusa is the beach. The resort is surrounded by wide sandy beaches with shallow water, and there are both open areas of the beach and areas with sun loungers and other services.

Marina di Ragusa has also received the award Blue Flag, Blue Flag, which assesses bathing water, environmental work and service, among other things. The resort has also received the Italian award Green Flag, which points out beaches that are particularly suitable for families with children.

When we were here it was the height of summer and the beaches were full of holidaymakers. At the same time, the temperature meant that we weren't particularly keen on any advanced activities. A few hours in the shade at a beach bar worked just fine.

Stroll along the boardwalk

Marina di Ragusa is a place where holiday life itself is a big part of the experience. Along the promenade there are cafes, restaurants and bars, and the central Piazza Duca degli Abruzzi serves as a natural gathering place.

During the day, much of the action revolves around the beach. As the temperature drops in the evening, more people come out to walk, eat ice cream, browse the shops, and settle down in restaurants and bars.

In other words, this is not the place we would choose for an intensive day of sightseeing. Marina di Ragusa is better suited to doing less.

See the port of Marina di Ragusa

In the western part of the resort is the modern marina Porto Turistico di Marina di Ragusa. There is room for hundreds of boats here and the area around the harbor is great for a walk.

The harbor also reminds us of the town's long connection to the sea. Today's modern marina is of course far from the old fishing village that once existed here, but the sea has always been an important part of the town's identity.

For those arriving by their own boat, Marina di Ragusa is also strategically located along the south coast of Sicily and relatively close to Malta.

Eating in Marina di Ragusa

As in many other places along the Sicilian coast, seafood is abundant on the restaurant menus. Here you can also try Sicilian classics such as arancini, pasta with local ingredients and of course granita and ice cream when the temperature calls for it. However, we managed to find something completely different…

We were sitting at a beach bar and got hungry. At the next table, a group of people had each ordered a baked sandwich that looked interesting. We'll take one of those! We didn't know what it contained. Maybe ham? Mushrooms? Tomato and cheese? Imagine our surprise when we started eating and discovered that the bread was filled with lasagna sheets.

We've eaten a lot of Italian food over the years, but that particular lunch has managed to stay in our memory.

Summer holidays in Marina di Ragusa

When we visited Marina di Ragusa, our campsite host Tony told us that the town changes a lot with the seasons. During the winter it is much quieter, while in the summer it attracts holidaymakers from Ragusa and other parts of Sicily.

The beaches were full, the ice cream parlors were full, and in the evenings there were plenty of people out. During our visit there was also a beer festival going on, which Tony of course immediately thought we should visit.

Marina di Ragusa is not a sleepy little fishing village during the height of summer. If you want swimming, restaurants and people watching, summer is the right time. If you prefer lower temperatures and a calmer pace, spring or autumn may be better.

Marina di Ragusa with a campervan

We arrived in Marina di Ragusa with a camper van and spent the night on a simple pitch on asphalt. The pitch itself was not particularly impressive and in the middle of the Sicilian summer heat the asphalt got really hot. The welcome was all the better.

When we pulled in late at night, we were met by Tony, who immediately started telling us about Marina di Ragusa, the beer festival and how to get to the center. He also told us that Swedish campervan travelers used to winter there and stay for several months.

We don't know how that particular parking lot works today, and old information about prices and service from 2015 is hardly particularly useful anymore. If you are traveling by motorhome to Marina di Ragusa, it is therefore better to check the current parking lots and parking rules before your visit.

Is Marina di Ragusa worth a visit?

Marina di Ragusa is not the place we would choose for ancient temples, baroque churches or a packed day of sightseeing. That's not why you go here, either.

This is a place for sand between your toes, swimming in the Mediterranean, ice cream, evening strolls and a few lazy days between the major sights of Sicily.

For us, Marina di Ragusa also became one of those stops that you remember through small details: Tony at the parking lot, the scorching heat, the beach bar and the most unexpected lasagna sandwich. Sometimes a trip doesn't actually need to be more complicated than that.

More to see near Marina di Ragusa

Marina di Ragusa can also serve as a starting point for discovering southeastern Sicily. Inland, several of the beautiful baroque towns that were rebuilt after the great earthquake of 1693 and are now included in UNESCO's World Heritage List await you. Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto.

Ragusa is just over twenty kilometers away and is primarily known for the historic district of Ragusa Ibla. Scicli is another beautiful baroque town in the area, while Modica is known for both its dramatic cityscape and its chocolate tradition.

Along the coast there are also more seaside resorts and beaches for those who prefer to continue their journey with the sea as their companion. In addition, there are many other interesting places to visit around Sicily:

• Things to do in Trapani
• Things to do in Noto
• Things to do in Syracuse