Sirenetta Lido

Sirenetta sits on Viale dei Saraceni at Isola delle Femmine, on the bay west of Palermo and close enough to the airport to work as a first or last day of a trip. The beach is golden sand with a sandy seabed that stays shallow for roughly the first hundred metres offshore, which is the single most useful fact about the place: small children can wade a long way out without ever being out of their depth, and the water reads pale turquoise as a result. The lido is built around that family use. There is a fenced play area with equipment aimed at two to ten year olds, a supervised kids club running organised activities, swimming lessons and water sports coaching, and lifeguard and first aid cover through the day. Adults get water aerobics and fitness sessions, beach volleyball, and canoes and SUP boards for hire. Changing rooms, showers and toilets are on site, along with reserved parking and adapted facilities for guests with disabilities, and the beach is cleaned daily. Eating is split between a restaurant working with Sicilian specialities and short-supply-chain produce, served in a shaded area with a sea view, and a gazebo bar doing granita, gelato and cocktails.