travel advice to sicily

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Top 10 Sicily Travel Tips

In the spring of 2018, I spent three busy weeks in Sicily, circling the island to put the finishing touches on our brand-new Rick Steves Sicily guidebook — which is available now. Throughout that trip, I collected 10 favorite practical tips for traveling in Sicily. Special thanks to the book’s co-author, Sarah Murdoch, and contributing author Alfio di Mauro for their hard work and abundant insights. Amuni!

Visit a mix of big cities, smaller towns, and countryside sights.

For a good sampling of Sicily, plan to visit a mix of big cities (Palermo, Siracusa); smaller towns (Ragusa, Trapani, Taormina, Cefalù); and striking sights in the countryside (Mount Etna, ancient temples and theaters, the glittering mosaics at Monreale Cathedral). On a quick visit of just a few days, home-base in Taormina or Catania and make strategic side-trips to Siracusa and Mount Etna, then spend a day or two in Palermo. With more time, consider adding your choice of other towns: Agrigento (with its remarkable ancient temples), additional time in Siracusa (for its ancient sites and delightful urban bustle), Ragusa (for its low-key hill town ambience), Trapani (a pleasant west coast town with an array of tempting side-trips, from salt flats to hill towns to offshore islets), and the beach town of Cefalù. For most travelers, the best plan is to rent a car — but be prepared for the often challenging Sicilian roads , especially in cities. (And spring for the full insurance.)

Pig out on street food.

The island’s cuisine — which is distinctly different from mainland Italy’s — is, like Sicily, a unique mix of cultural influences. Choosing between eggplant pasta and fish couscous on the same menu, it’s clear that you’re at a crossroads of Europe and Africa. And some of the best food is also the cheapest. Sicily is renowned for its street food . Try an arancina (deep-fried saffron rice ball), panelle (chickpea fritters), sfincione (rustic, Sicilian-style “pizza”), polpo bollito (a boiled mini-octopus), and — if you dare — pani ca’ meusa …the famed spleen sandwich. To sample several items in one go, just wander through one of the characteristic street markets in Palermo or Catania…or join a street food tour.

Party with the Sicilians.

On this island of very tight-knit communities and fierce local pride, there’s always some big festival going on. Most towns celebrate their patron saint’s day by processing through the streets with an elaborate float (or several). Other celebrations fill a more specific niche. I happened to be in the pristine town of Noto during their biggest party of the year, the Infiorata di Noto. An entire street — several blocks long — was filled with gigantic murals , delicately constructed of flower petals.  And when I was in nearby Ragusa, the townspeople were celebrating the native Ragusano cheese. The town square hosted cooking demonstrations, and every restaurant in town was highlighting a special cheese-forward dish. While I enjoy the serendipity of just stumbling onto Sicilian celebrations, it’s smart to do some homework, find out what local festivities might be going on nearby, and make a point to drop by.

Bone up on ancient history.

In antiquity, Sicily was called Magna Graecia — “Greater Greece” — for the many Hellenic city-states that colonized the island. Ancient Syracuse (today’s Siracusa) was one of the most powerful city-states on the Mediterranean. Sicily was also an outpost of the mysterious Carthaginians , who were almost entirely wiped out by the Romans. And all of these civilizations left behind world-class artifacts. Scattered across Sicily are some of the best ancient Greek temples and theaters anywhere outside of Greece: the Valley of the Temples at Agrigento ; Europe’s largest archaeological area at Selinunte ; and the theaters in Taormina, Siracusa, and Segesta. The cathedral in Ortigia (Siracusa’s old town) is actually built upon the still-visible columns of a fifth-century B.C. temple. And deep in the remote interior of Sicily is the Villa Romana del Casale, with some of the world’s best-preserved floor mosaics. If you love ancient sites, Sicily will blow your mind. If you don’t…there’s no better place to start.

Visit Mount Etna for its amazing volcanic sights — and its wine.

Mount Etna , which (literally) gave rise to Sicily, is one of Europe’s most accessible active volcanoes. A cable car whisks you halfway up the mountain, and from there, you can hop on a monster-truck bus nearly all the way to the smoldering summit. (It tends to be clear first thing in the morning, then clouds over just as it gets crowded a few hours later — it’s smart to be on the first cable car, at 9:00.) But Mount Etna is also home to one of Italy’s most pleasant wine-growing regions. My favorite stretch — picturesque and still relatively off the beaten path — is on the north side of Etna, between the towns of Linguaglossa and Randazzo. The Etna wine scene has exploded in recent years, garnering more and more international attention. And even if you’re not into wines, the scenery is magnificent: vineyards stretching up sun-baked slopes toward the steaming, snow-capped cone of Etna. Several picturesque wineries offer tours and tastings; it’s customary to call a day or so ahead to let them know you’re coming. (Some favorite finds for the upcoming guidebook include the swanky Tenuta di Fessina , the cheerful Fattoria Romeo del Castello , and the family-run, nicely low-key Filippo Grasso .) If you’re serious about wine, Etna Wine School   — operated by an American vintner expat who literally wrote the book on Etna wines — offers private tours.

Be prepared for heat and hills.

At the same latitude as Spain’s Adalucía and Greece’s Cycladic Islands , Sicily can be very hot for much of the year. (Most of Sicily sits on the African tectonic plate — and the geology and climate really do feel closer to Africa than to Europe.) Many of Sicily’s best sights are dusty ancient landmarks, requiring a hike to reach, with little shade. And virtually nothing in Sicily sits on flat ground — you’ll encounter hills, hills, and more hills. Come prepared with broken-in shoes, sunscreen, and a hat for shade — and take plenty of breaks. Or consider coming off-season, when it’s cooler and less exhausting. Sicily is one of Europe’s most appealing winter destinations. It may not be balmy enough to swim in the ocean, but even in winter, you can often enjoy warm, sunny days and cool, refreshing nights….and zero crowds.

Unwind in the hill towns of the southeast.

Sicily can be intense. But one of my favorite little corners of the island is in the southeast, around the dramatic hill town of Ragusa. With green, rolling hills and neatly stacked stone fences, this area feels almost Celtic. And it’s one part of Sicily where most tourists aren’t Americans, or even northern Europeans — but Italians. In a short drive from Ragusa, you can link up some lovely towns: Modica, famous for its chocolate industry and its dual cathedrals (one on a hilltop, the other in a valley); Scicli, where troglodyte caves carved into the cliffs overlook a fun-to-explore town filling a valley; and beautifully Baroque Noto, rebuilt in a short period after a 1693 earthquake, giving it an unusual architectural harmony (not to mention its world-famous gelato shop, Caffé Sicilia). About halfway through my three-week journey around Sicily, I found Ragusa and the surrounding countryside to be the perfect place to settle in and just relax.

Peel back the layers of history.

Strategically located in the middle of the Mediterranean — practically forming a bridge from Italy to North Africa — Sicily’s culture has been shaped by a staggering variety of overlords and occupiers. There’s so much history on this little island that it’s tempting to just let it wash over you. But this is a place where it’s really worth studying up and grappling with the epic story. From the ancient foundations of the Greeks, Carthaginians, and Romans, to the Arabs who controlled Sicily for more than two centuries (and, during that time, richly developed the island), to the Normans from France who “reclaimed” Sicily for the Christian world and slathered its churches with Byzantine-style mosaics, to the Spanish Bourbon kings who draped the island in a stately Baroque elegance, and even to the mafia who dominated much of Sicily’s 20th century (and whose influence is finally on the wane)…Sicily is a pastiche of history. Get to know and recognize the hallmarks of each period, and before you know it, you’ll be able to step into a church and say, “Wow, those Normans really did a number on this one.”

Go before it’s too late.

In just a few short years, Sicily has quickly become “ready for prime time.” Cities (like Siracusa or Palermo) that were rough, rugged, and a little dangerous have been prettied up and pedestrianized. I noticed lots of European travelers…but relatively few American ones. I was also struck by the relative lack of crowds — even in late May, when the weather’s perfect and mainland Italian cities like Venice and Florence are overrun. All of that is bound to change in the next few years, as more people find out what a great spot Sicily is. Go now, before the cat’s out of the bag.

Accept Sicily on Sicily’s terms.

Sicily is an ideal “deep cut” for Italy connoisseurs who’ve already seen Venice, Florence, and Rome, and want to experience a facet of Italy that’s more intense and challenging. But first-timers might find it a bit wild: buzzing motor scooters, potholed infrastructure, arm-waving people, and, yes, more graffiti and roadside garbage than you’re probably used to seeing. Sicily feels more like Mexico than like Milan. But that’s what I like about it. It’s rustic, rugged, close to the ground, and off the radar of most mainstream tourists. It takes a few days to adjust to the island’s unique rhythms, but once you do, it’s easy to get swept away by Sicily. Best of all, in all of Europe, Sicilians are some of the most enjoyable people to simply interact with. Walk through a bustling street market, strike up some conversations, and let a vendor talk you into buying a three-foot-long zucchini you don’t really need.

Our new Sicily guidebook — with all of the details about everything mentioned here — is available now.

In other blog posts, I wrote about Palermo’s amazing street food scene , the challenge of driving in Sicily , and a stop-by-stop rundown of the ultimate Sicilian road trip .

We also have a wealth of free Sicily content on our website, including a recommended itinerary, links to two new episodes of Rick’s public television series about Sicily, several interviews from Rick’s public radio show about Sicily, more gorgeous photographs, recommended books and movies about Sicily, and much more.

And if you’d like to visit Sicily — but would love it if someone else did all the driving, took care of the hotels and half of the meals, and explained it all to you — well, then, we have a great 11-day tour for you .

76 Replies to “Top 10 Sicily Travel Tips”

We went on a Sicily tour a few years ago and it was a great trip…a great place to visit. Fab sights, food, wine, and local people. Put it on your bucket list.

Lived and stationed there for 1 year. You did a great job capturing Sicily’s essence, but… the open air markets are a huge part of the culture. The beaches are not crowded until late June-July. I lived on the beach in off season. Sicilians think the Med which it is, is way too cold before. However March, April, May June the water temp can be high 60’s, which in the USA northeast is doable. Wind surfing is insane. The med is smooth. You need to experience the “real” Sicilian pizza. Not square, just be prepared for a 707… hot dog, peas, boiled egg. Fantastic! Marina Di Ragusa is one of the hottest beach towns going. It’s changed a lot since I was there in the 80’s and appears very vibrant and resort like from videos, blogs and emails I have received with an incredible boastful marina. Sicilia is amazing and unlike any place you will ever visit!

You can also ski My. Erna which I did after a major eruption in 88/89.

Mt. Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano.

We are headed to Sicily for 14 days on 10/3/19. Can’t wait!

Have family in Palazzo Adriano an Bivona and hope to steer clear of commercial areas!

Planning for fall 2019.

I am planning for fall 2019 as well. :)

And me, too! It’ll be my eighth RS tour. Really looking forward to it.

how was the tour? DH and I are considering it for 2021….Thanks!

We are off on a big 2.5 month trip to Europe May 2019. Spending most of it in Italy. Have relatives in Siracusa. Can’t wait. I will certainly be doing my research with all your info Thank you

We went on the Best of Sicily Tour in early November of 2015 and it was wonderful. The weather, food, scenery, people, the tour guide and whole experience was amazing. That’s why we keep coming back to Rick Steves. We are going on our 7th tour in October, The Best of Greece, Keep on Traveling!

Hi Paul! Going on the Sicily tour in fall 2019. Very excited! Hope you guys are well!

How was the tour? DH and I considering it for 2021.

Alfio showed us all these tips and more!! Go! Go! So much to love, learn and enjoy!

Reservations at agriturismos and B&B’s already set for September/October. Thanks for the travel tips!

Monreale is a 20m bus ride from Palermo. A beautiful beach one end with private swimming area and changing sheds chairs etc for minimal charge. At the other end explore the fishing boats. In between some good quality shops and plenty of cafes and food outlets.

Did you mean Mondello? Monreale is a hill town famous for the cattedrale, about 30 min bus ride from Piazza Indipendenza in Palermo

My wife, twins and I spent a few days in Palermo, and then two fabulous weeks in Cefalu, Sicily in February 2015. It was during nine months we spent traveling around the world, and to me, Cefalu was easily one of the highlights of that trip. I often say that if there is one place I would love to spend a year in, it would be Cefalu. Such warm people, great food and beautiful scenery. Sicily is such a great place to visit, and we really learned to love living at a more leisurely pace.

David, going to Cefalu in September, what should i see, and who do you recommend for restaurants, local tours etc…staying at artemis hotel

I agree! Cefalu was a highlight when I did RS Sicily tour in 2015.

Cameron, did you get to Caltegirone, the city of ceramics? We enjoyed it very much on an independent driving tour several years ago.

We look forward to these places every year & exactly how we plan both large & small and everything in between . A mix of our favourite places such as Marina di Ragusa , Modica. Scicli. Trapani , Marsala,Argrigento & Cefalu & so many more .This year adding visits to islands as well.

Good review. We wish there were more “deep cuts” in Europe like this. Usually Mafia or boat immigration fears scare many away. Fine with me. Too bad RS tours now leave off Cefalu. Was one of Rick’s early fav’s and part of why we went. The beautiful Aeolian Islands are the missing icing on this Sicilian cake description that are also must visits.

The view from the hwy as you approach cefalu is so spectacular. I agree, too bad its been dropped. The town itself is so interesting.

In future articles, would you please address what, if anything, comes out the volcano? I live in a place where I have to breath noxious gas, so have been apprehensive about visiting Sicily

I’ve spent 3 weeks in Siracusa on business and visited Mt. Etna and Taormina. Mt Etna has no impact on air quality which seems above average.

We took the 11 day tour of Sicily with Virginia as our guide…She was fabulous!!..very knowledgable with a great sense of humor!! Sicily is beautiful..it is a must see all on its own!

Coming into Palermo on a cruise ship in Oct. what would be the best day excursion?

In the city, walking through one of the markets is a must, and for three churches on Piazza Bellini are breathtaking. Outside of the city, my favorites are the glittering mosaic-slathered cathedral at Monreale, and the Ancient Greek theater and temple at Segesta. Happy travels!

Sicily is so wonderful and full of surpirises. By chance we found the small town outside of Siracusa. Plemmirio which is on the sea. The beauty here is amazing. Crystal clear waters where scuba or snorkeling is a dream. The lava rock on the shore aerea prevents erosion and there are a few sandy beaches scattered it. This is not a developed area, but some wonderful seaside rentals are available for about $100 a night. Google Plemirrio and check it out.

I went to Sicily a few years ago for a month,using Rick’s book as a guide.I absolutely love Sicily and the food!

It’s about time you were publishing a guide to Sicily!!!!

We plus family are going in late 2019 for our first trip to Sicily (been to Italy twice). Looking forward to purchasing the Rick Steves guide. Always use Rick’s guides.

I had the privilege of visiting Sicily in 1987! It seems like yesterday. Some highlights: –the golden glow of the sun on sandstone at Agrigento, definitely try to get there early –taking the first boat in the morning to Levanzo, one of the islands off Trapani. Being on the same boat as the newspapers and the live chickens for market was really unique –the cathedral in Cefalu built by Normans Roger II, but with Saracen arches Sicily is a fascinating mix. When I was in Trapani, I realized travel time to Africa (Tunis) was less than travel time to Rome.

Excellent article & tips, Cameron. Also, fantastic photos. We love Sicily and cannot wait to return after enjoying three lovely months renting apartments in a residential neighborhood in Siracusa & Catania. It was the perfect get-away from NYC’s cold winter months in mid December 2017 – January, February & March 2018. The weather was comfortable, the locals friendly & warm, bus & train transportation between nearby cities (Palermo, Noto, Modica, etc) were convenient, the outdoor markets in Siracusa, Catania & Palermo – were our highlights. Sicily’s culture and cuisine outstanding and the exciting site of Mt. Etna was breath-taking.

I haven’t made it to Ragusa, Scicli, or Modica yet, (or anywhere else in Sicily) but I’ve wanted to go ever since I saw the Italian television series Il Commissario Montalbano, which is shot in those towns. (It runs in the U.S., with subtitles, on a streaming service called Mhz Choice.) The opening sequence shows off the region: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lNsc0zqxC0

sorry you will be sending throngs to the italy the way it once was (don’t call sicilians italians or italians sicilians, however)! we spent 4 weeks this spring driving the coast and interior. just buzzing through on a tour is regrettable and some basic italian phrases are really helpful. the cities are the ugliest I have ever seen in europe with trash (not organic garbage) there and at every turn in the road in the west. but the people are the nicest in europe (which is why you want to know some Italian and chat), going out of their way to help and never wanting a tip for doing so (it’s insulting). the cuisine is not refined…heavy on starches and if you don’t like artichokes, you have few vegetables or fruits apart from excellent citrus. that was an unhappy surprise.

Spent 10 days on a self-drive independent tour last April, using Rick’s tour itinerary to form the basis of ours. Wonderful, fantastic, loved it – only wish we had added about 4 more days to see a few things we didn’t have time for. And, yes, the driving was a bit of a challenge, but so worth it.

We just came home from the Best of Sicily in 11 Days tour and it was one of our favorites! It’s a beautiful exotic island with friendly people. On our tour we were invited into two Sicilian homes, one a working farm and one a vineyard, plus the home of a Count in Palermo. We went to the hilltop town of Erice for a fabulous buffet of Sicilian specialties and a cooking lesson. Highlights include the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, the Villa Romano del Casale, and our favorite town Cefalu…. for which we took an easy train ride by train from Palermo. Sicily’s multicultural mix never disappoints.

I have long said that Sicily is a hidden wonder. My wife and I have spent a couple of trips to the island and have enjoyed it immensely! One additional highly recommended travel site is Sardinia. If Sicily is great, then Sardinia is even greater…..much greater! We have spent two to three weeks in Sardinia and could go back again (probably will). I can’t recommend it too highly!

We spent 9 days in Sicily in April 2018 and had a fabulous time. We flew into Catania and rented a car, no problem at all driving though we didn’t go to Palermo. Highlights for us were: Valley of the Temples in Agrigento; Ortygia, the island that is part of Siracusa; amazing mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale; the Baroque hilltowns of Noto and Ragusa (terrific foodie scene in Ragusa, several Michelin starred restaurants), Taormina (touristy but exquisite, the only place we ran into other Americans), hiking in the Vendicari Nature Reserve and low-key and lovely Sampieri Beach. Wish we could have stayed longer but we’ll be back!

Hi, Sarah Murdoch! Our tour with you in northern Italy a couple years ago was fantastic. At that time you convinced my wife Lorry to visit Sicily and we did take Rick Steves Sicily tour. One site not mentioned in the article and comment section is the WW II Museum in Catania. It is only a few years old and is different than any museum I have ever seen. I would need a long article to tell all the wonderful multi media and displays. The start of the museum tour is a real mover and shaker.

Headed to Sicily with another tour company next month (August); we live in the desert of Arizona, so expect the heat will be tolerable — but not the humidity. But, Cameron’s blog makes it sound so worthwhile to be going —- & since we love artichokes & pasta & fish, it sounds as if we’ll be happy with the food. I’m a historian/archeologist — so will be in love with Sicily I’m sure. Thanks for all the good comments & the info — just hope our 2 weeks from Palermo to Catania will be enough time & that we old farts (in our 70’s) will survive!

Louise and I were introduced to Italy in 2015 on a off season My Way Tour. That was followed in the fall by the Best of Sicily Tour – off season also. We have since returned for extended stays….Christmas 2016 in Taormina for 28 days and Christmas 2017 for two weeks in Siricusa and two weeks in Taormina. Since Rick did not have a guide, we searched the net for apartments and had great success. We now have friends in London who own an apartment in Taormina and rent it to tourists. Living the daily life in Sicily is a delight. Slow down, enjoy the slower pace, but watch out for the cars, Sicilians drive like the devil is after them. Marion and Jim mentioned that they are old farts – so are we, in our 70’s. Not to worry, you just slow down and enjoy life at a slower pace – “La Dolce Vita.” There were 75 stairs from the Corso Umberto to the living room level in our Taormina apartment, you get used to it. Enjoy Sicily for a slice of what Italy was like 25 years ago. “Andiamo”……Lets Go!

Hi we are thinking of going to Sicily long term in the winter. Can you give us the name of the person who rents a home out in Taorima. Thanks Jane

Just back from a week in Sorrento and a week in southeast Sicily. Use Rick’s book for our Sorrento trip with side trips to Naples, Capri, Pompeii, and Amalfi Coast. Took the train from Naples to Catania (about 5 hrs with the train an a boat across the Straits of Messina) where we did side trips to Mt. Etna, Taormina, and Valley of the Temples. On the way back go to the Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina for the most amazing 4th Century mosiacs in the world. Then trained to Siracusa with side trips to Noto, Ragusa, Modica, and Punta Secca. Pick a hotel in the Siracusa Ortigia for the great restaurants and night life. Go to Greek play if possible. Good connections out of Catania airport.

Good encyclopedic article. We went with RS to Sicily this February with the engaging, enthusiastic, funny Tomasso as our guide. We arrived in Palermo early and fit in a guided street food tour, which was great. Sicily is a wonderful land – spectacular views, a treasure trove of history – and the food is outstanding. I hope the coverage it is getting doesn’t make it get too crowded in the future. One turn-off for me was the litter and garbage, especially in Palermo. So, I was bemused when you commented Palermo has been prettied up – I can only imagine what it was like before!

We did the Sicily tour April 2018, great trip. If you need a bit of a nudge to make the decision to go there; check out my posted videos on YouTube of the trip to Sicily

Just type vito amorelli youtube Sicily..it’ll get ya there

We rented the apartment from Virginia Garufi who lives in London with her British born Italian husband John. Virginia is from the Taormina area and her Mom (Pina) will settle you into the apartment – she lives there. Virginia and John have a total of 5 apartments, our apartment is in the center of town and just 75 steps off the main street the Corso Umberto. The apartment is located on the Seleta Humboldt. If you look on Google maps, you can find it easily. Across the Seleta is Casa Niclode (great Eats!!!!!!) and about 5 steps up is the Internet Cafe (good pizza and wines, and my great pals). If you face the I Cafe, the apartment is immediately behind. You don’t need a car if you are going to stay in town, but if you are interested in one of the other apartments, you will need a vehicle. They are up the mountain about half way to Castlelmola. These apts have a great view of the Med and Etna, but so does the apt in town. Here is Virginias direct address so you don’t have to go through TripAdvisor. Don’t worry about doing a wire transfer with her, we have done two and they have gone flawlessly.

v dot garufi at hotmail dot it (the website is not allowing me to write addresses normally)

If you have further questions my address is mcgee dot mike at hotmail dot com

Please let Virginia know that Mike & Louise gave you the referral to her.

Happy Trails and Keep on Traveling Mike McGee

We spent almost a month in Ortigia. It was wonderful! We took side trips to Agrigento, Catania, Taormina, Ragusa, even the Lipari Islands for two days. It was beautiful! Loved it!

Loved the article. A friend and I are heading to Sicily & Malta late August. We’re renting a car in Catania & have planned a short loop through part of the country. I’m not looking forward to navigating the narrow streets, but time wise it should be more efficient to have our own wheels. We’ve booked 2 nights each in Agrigento, Chiaramonte Gulfi, Ortigia/Siracusa and Giarre. We’re hoping this will allow us enough time to visit a few of the small towns/sites surrounding each of our bases. We’re so looking forward to the delicious local cuisine, ancient ruins, stunning scenery, farms, vineyards, etc. I’ve explored quite a bit of Italy over the years, but never made it all the way down to Sicily. Can’t wait to fall in love with another incredible place. :-)

Just returned from three weeks in Malta and five in Sicily. You can get anywhere in Malta by local bus. Roads were not built for current volume of traffic. We too were based in Catania. Started off with a rental but gave it up after trying to contend with narrow streets, aggressive scooter drivers and difficulty finding places to park (double parking is a way of life for Sicilians). Travelled from place to place by train, then walked everywhere…better way to engage with locals.

Stationed for two years in Comiso with the Air Force. Great fun touring the island. Lots of ruins and great food. Sicily has a long history compared to the USA. Sometimes difficult to get it all in perspective. What am I looking at is it 200/400/600 years old. Could be all of that side by side.

Any way to get a copy of new Sicily book in January 2019 or sooner? Planning a visit there end of February and would really like to have Rick Steve’s recommendations before we leave. Thanks

Coincidentally, like the previous question, I am similarly asking if there is any way to get a copy of new Sicily book sooner than the scheduled release date which I believe is April 2019?

We are planning a trip there in early May and would love to be able to use Rick Steve’s recommendations since they’ve always proven to be so helpful with other travels we’ve made.

Thank you!!

Hi Robin (and Diane). Unfortunately, no advance copies will be available. Hopefully this post is a helpful starting point; you can also check out another post with more tips: https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2018/09/sicily-road-trip/ Happy travels!

Great post! I’ve been to Sicily once and it’s a fantastic place! I’d like to go again because, for example, I haven’t seen Palermo. Also, it seems I missed some wine tasting :) After our trip to Sicily with my husband, we thought about making our own travel blog and it has just gone live. We have already posted about Sicily and Catania and there will be even more posts soon. I will really appreciate if you could evaluate what we wrote about Sicily :)

Unfortunately we were unable to wait for the April publication of Rick’s Sicily guide to use for planning our May ’19 DIY driving tour. But using our experience from following his guide books on a number of previous trips, we’ve made our own careful selections of overnight stays from Trapani, Agrigento, Siracusa, Piazza Armerina, Cefalu & back to Palermo. It was Rick’s earlier coverage on Sicily that helped us with choosing Sicily. We have high expectations of another adventurous, picturesque, experience. (We’re a couple of 75 & 80 yrs and ‘tho that may slow us down a bit, it won’t stop us from making the most of another travel experience.)

Just returned after spending the month of March in Sicily. Home base was Catania, but explored Messina, Syracusa, Palermo, Etna, Taormina and others, often by train. Loved the landscape of the interior. Coastline speaks for itself. Living in an apartment for the entire time, we were welcomed into the neighbourhood by local merchants who went out of their way to assist us with purchases. Wonderful experience.

We have been to Sicily twice. We took the advice of one of your tour guides I heard on the radio and went to Scopello. A beautiful place near the sea. We also went to a town I read about where a famous actor was from called Polizzi Generosa. A very grey place high in the mountains where it seems time has stopped. We stayed in a nunnery in Cefalu and were there when one of the nuns passed away. As I have said before, it’s so much more interesting not to always stick to the popular places, but venture out to the more remote areas. What surprised me most about Sicily was how green it was , and how many crops they grew.

My advice regarding the heat is that Sicily is also very humid. I wasn’t prepared with sufficiently breathable-fabric tops and skirts…only the thinnest cotton was comfortable for me.

We went on the Sicily trip 2 tears ago and it was truly the best trip we have taken to Europe. You have captured it all in your blog. March was a wonderful time to visit and loved the weather and lack of crowds. The Rick Steve’s tour was fantastic. My only disappointment was that Taramina was not on the itinerary for pre season. Hope to take another trip and see it in the future.

Leaving later this week for Sicily. Taking our mom back to her home town for her 80th birthday! Visiting family for four days, then will take an Airbnb in Acireale, north of Catania, as a home base for some day trips. Can anyone comment on the need for “full insurance” for our rental car? Is it truly necessary? If so, any idea of the cost?

Can anyone tell me the best travel places for Sicily..?

I have remember my trip and beautiful places for Sicily i really enjoy it.

Thanks for the Informative Post about Sicily.I will definitely travel to Sicily in future

Amazing Sicily travel tips.

such great tips for traveling thanks.

useful Sicily travel tips.

Really great resource and love to share with friends thanks for share…

Nice. Very well illustrated. I am having a vacation now in Siciliy with the rest of the family members. Discovering Sicily is super worth it. I even created and published an article about my trip to the Vulcano- Mud Baths: https://www.lifetimetraveller.com/thermal-and-sulphur-mud-baths-in-vulcano-sicily-with-lifetime-traveller/.

I hope you find that interesting too.

Good post. Thanks for sharing these great tips.

Beautiful place, I can’t wait this lockdown is over and that 2021 will be the end of co-vid19, so I can go back to travel to these kind places again.

The place is so beautiful. No less than heaven!

Good post i like that

Thanks for sharing information.

I am looking for the Private tour of Sicily who is trustworthy and affordable.

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Best Time to Visit

Weather & Climate

Things to Do in Sicily

Things to Do in Palermo

Best Beaches

Things to Do Near Mt. Etna

Guide to Valley of the Temples

Food to Try

Best Wineries

Your Trip to Sicily: The Complete Guide

Trips to Sicily: The Complete Guide

The island of Sicily is best known as the home of Mount Etna, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. However, it's also famous for its well-preserved Greek and Roman archaeological sites, Baroque architecture, vibrant cities, wild Mediterranean beaches, fascinating mix of cultures, and diverse cuisine. While many visitors to Italy tack on a few days in Sicily as part of a larger vacation, there's more than enough to see on this 9,653-square-mile (25,000-square-kilometer) island to merit a longer visit. Or even making Sicily the main focus of your Italy vacation. Read on for your complete planning guide to the largest island in the Mediterranean.

Planning Your Trip to Sicily

Best Time to Visit:  When you decide to visit Sicily depends on what you want to do while you're there. If it's beaches you seek, July and August are peak season, though you can also sun and swim in June and into early September, when it's less hot and crowded. Otherwise, late spring and early autumn are the best times to visit Sicily for mild temperatures and thinner crowds.

Language:  Italian is the primary language spoken in Sicily, though it's heavily influenced by regional dialects. Italian spoken here incorporates words and pronunciations from Sicilian, the native language of the island. English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, and stores in touristy cities and towns, but is less common in rural and inland areas.

Currency:  As with the rest of Italy, Sicily uses the euro. Other currencies are not accepted. Credit cards are widely accepted, though some merchants may prefer cash for smaller purchases. American Express is not as widely accepted in Italy as it is in the U.S., so be sure to have a backup card or cash at the ready.

Getting Around in Sicily:  Sicily is covered by a network of train and bus lines that reach most parts of the island. Trenitalia , Italy's national rail company, offers service between Sicily's major cities, secondary cities, and some smaller towns. However, it's worth noting that connections to smaller destinations can be infrequent and involve long wait times.

Buses also connect smaller coastal and interior towns, but service is sporadic and schedules are often complicated to figure out. Ferries not only connect Sicily to the mainland but also to the Aeolian and Aegadian islands, as well as the Pelagic islands of Lampedusa, Pantelleria, and Linosa. Ferries run more frequently in the summer months.

Many travelers to Sicily opt to rent a car in order to visit the interior and move about more freely without worrying about train or bus schedules and wait times.

Travel Tip:  Unless you have a week or more to spend in Sicily, we recommend basing yourself in one section of the island and exploring just area. There are more than 621 miles (1,000 kilometers) of coastline in Sicily and there are only a few direct roads or train routes that cut through the island's center. This means that it can be very time-consuming to visit more than one region in a short trip. Save the rest of the island for when you have more time to enjoy it.

There are a lot of reasons to visit Sicily. Primary among them are historic cities, ancient archaeological sites, beaches, and nature—especially around Mount Etna. Here's a closer look at some of the highlights:

• Historic Cities: Palermo is Sicily's capital city , and offers Arab and Norman history alongside bustling markets overflowing with street food. The city Catania has Greek and Roman ruins and a Baroque center while the cities of the Val di Noto are known for their Sicilian Baroque architecture. Syracuse, Taormina, Trapani, and Cefalu are seaside cities and some beautiful beaches as well as notable ancient ruins.
• Ancient Archaeology: The Valley of the Temples at Agrigento is one of the world's best-preserved Greek archaeological sites. Other important sites are located in Selinunte, Segesta, Taormina, Syracuse/Ortigia, and Messina. The stunning Villa Romana del Casale at Piazza Armerina preserves the remains of a vast Roman villa decorated with spectacular mosaics.
• Beaches: The sand on Sicily's beaches ranges from black and volcanic to sugary and white, to no sand at all. (There are many beaches are formed of smooth pebbles that are hard on naked feet, so tread carefully!). While the sands vary widely, what all the beaches share is incredibly blue, clear seawater that's perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Look to Taormina, Trapani, San Vito Lo Capo and Cefalu, and the southeastern coast for . Sicily's islands offer dramatic, rocky coastlines interrupted by sandy coves or wide, crescent-shaped beaches.
• Nature: Mount Etna is the geological star of Sicily and for many visitors, a hike or jeep ride on the active volcano is a must-do experience. To the northwest, the Zingaro Nature Reserve offers unspoiled coastline and Mediterranean woods and scrubs, plus some of Sicily's best beaches. The Trapani and Paceco Salt Pans Nature Reserve is a World Wildlife Foundation reserve for migrating birds.

Get more ideas for your trip itinerary with our articles on the top things to do in Sicily , the best beaches in Sicily , and the top things to do around Mount Etna

What to Eat and Drink

Throughout the millennia, Sicily has been influenced by cultures from across the Mediterranean. Those influences are still felt today in its cuisine, which is a mix of Italian, North African, Arab, and Spanish cuisine—much of it based on the bounty of the sea. Fried street food is big in Sicilian cities and can be found at one of the many markets. In coastal restaurants, heaping mounds of couscous or pasta studded with seafood appear on menus. Meanwhile, eggplant-based caponata and eggplant parmesan are staples further inland. Desserts range from light, refreshing granitas to sweet, dense favorites like cannoli and cassata.

Sicilian wine, once dismissed as regional swill, enjoyed a rebirth starting several decades ago, and the island is now home to many noteworthy varietals. Many wineries are clustered in the mineral-rich soils on the slopes of Mount Etna, from where Etna Bianco and Etna Rosso wines originate. Red Nero d'Avola grapes produce hearty table wines, while Marsala, passito, and moscato are enduring dessert wines. Learn more about the best wineries in Sicily , the best foods to try in Sicily with our longer articles.

Where to Stay in Sicily

Across Sicily, accommodation options run the gamut, from luxurious five-star hotels to functional three-star beachfront properties that don't have to try very hard to sell out their rooms. There are campgrounds, glamping options, and cottage rentals near the shore. Inland, agriturismos offer farmstays that range from rustic to deluxe, and that usually feature food grown on-property. You'll also find "vacation villages" in Sicily, Usually near a popular beach, these are large compounds that offer accommodations, restaurants, pools, and activities. Many offer all-inclusive services but book early if you want to stay in one during the peak summer season.

Wherever you stay in Sicily, if you're there from May to October, take our advice and book a room with air-conditioning. Summer temperatures are sweltering, and air conditioning isn't always a given.

Read more about your lodging options with our guide to the best hotels in Sicily.

Getting There

Sicily can be reached via airplane or ferry. Its major airports are at Catania and Palermo, with smaller airports at Trapani and Comiso. Frequent ferries make the quick trip across the Strait of Messina from Villa San Giovanni on the mainland to Messina. Other mainland ports include Rome-Civitavecchia, Naples, Salerno, Reggio-Calabria and, more seasonally, Livorno and Genoa. Note that not all ferries accept vehicles, so check ahead if you plan to bring a rental car onto the island.

Trains from the mainland also arrive at Messina and continue on to Palermo, Catania, and Siracusa, with stops along the way. Note that if you book a through-train from the mainland, the train cars will be loaded onto a ferry at Messina for crossing the Strait of Messina.

Culture and Customs of Sicily 

Visitors to Sicily may find the population more reserved and conservative compared to mainland Italy, especially once you're out of large cities. Despite this, greeting Sicilians with a friendly "buongiorno" will go a long way toward breaking the ice.

Here are some other Sicilian cultural norms to keep in mind:

• Sicily is more religious than mainland Italy and religious holidays and festivals are piously observed.
• Dress modestly to enter churches anywhere in Sicily. This means that legs should be covered above the knee and shoulders should be covered either by a scarf or a sleeved shirt. Men are also advised to remove any hats.
• Don't be in a rush at lunchtime or dinner. Things move more slowly here, so just kick back and enjoy the languid pace. If you're in a hurry at mealtime, buy street food.
• The Sicilian Mafia is still very much a presence here, though tourists are not likely to notice or be affected by it. Still, it's better not to try to initiate a discussion with locals about the Mafia, even in jest.

Money Saving Tips

A lot of money-saving tips for Italy are also true for Sicily. These include:

• Travel in the off-season: The shoulder seasons of spring and fall are cheaper than the peak summer season. If you can forego warm weather and don't mind a little rain, winter is the cheapest time to visit Sicily.
• Eat street food: Not only is it authentic and delicious, but Sicily's street food, including pizza, arancini (stuffed, deep-fried rice balls), and all sorts of sandwiches are some of the best bargains in the land.
• Do the free stuff: Some of the best sightseeing in Sicily doesn't cost a thing. It's free to sit in a piazza and people watch, walk along seafront promenades, and poke around at colorful local markets. State museums are free to all on the first Sunday of each month.

Encyclopedia Britannica. " Sicily. "

Encyclopedia Britannica. " Palermo ."

BBC. " Viewpoint: Why Sicilians still turn to Mafia to settle scores. " June 6, 2021.

Top Italian Islands for Your Next Vacation

The Top 15 Things to Do in Sicily

Where to Go on Italy's Mediterranean Coast

How to Get to Sicily

12 Foods to Try in Sicily

The Best Time to Visit Sicily

The 15 Best Destinations in Italy

Taormina Sicily Travel Guide and Information

The Top 23 Things to Do in Italy

The Top 16 Things to Do in Palermo

The Top 10 Day Trips from Naples, Italy

Cagliari: Planning Your Trip

The 10 Best Wineries in Sicily

Your Trip to Malta: The Complete Guide

Sicily's Valley of the Temples: The Complete Guide

Top Tips for Planning a European Cruise Vacation

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13 best Sicily travel tips to know

Last updated on April 14th, 2024.

As a regular visitor — and part-time resident — in Sicily, I’ve built up quite an archive of Sicily bucket list material.

But, there’s one important topic I’ve not yet covered and that’s a general ‘what to know about Sicily’ guide. Et voilà, in this post, I’ll be listing 13 things to know before traveling to Sicily.

I’ll be listing some helpful insider — as well as general — tips on visiting Sicily for the first time.

Covering practical to local Sicily travel tips, you may find these helpful when planning a future trip to Italy.

13 best Sicily travel tips

How many days to spend in sicily.

If you’re wondering how many days you need in Sicily, it all depends on your travel itinerary.

Should your sole focus be on visiting, and spending 2 days in a city like Palermo , for example, then 3 days, 2 nights is enough. However, if you plan to do several Sicily day trips , I’d advise on staying for 1 week.

This will allow sufficient time to see other places in Sicily like Agrigento. We did exactly this on a road trip from Agrigento to Palermo , first stopping to tour the magnificent Valley of the Temples .

With a 2-week travel itinerary for Sicily, you’ve more time to play with. Consider adding Lipari and the other Aeolian Islands to your list, as well as southern cities like Ragusa and Noto .

The island is packed with plenty of beautiful places to visit and I promise that Sicily is worth seeing.

Car is the best mode of transportation in Sicily

Despite my own reservations about driving around the island, renting a car is really the best way to visit Sicily .

Though public transport is available in many cities and towns in Sicily, they don’t run as frequently outside the bigger cities.

August is NOT the month to visit Sicily

Probably the number one Sicily question I get asked is ‘what is the best month to visit Sicily ?’

And, my response is almost always the same: any month apart from August. It’s one of many mistakes that visitors make when planning a trip to Italy .

I’d also extend this to include July, but early July is nowhere near as busy as August.

The main reason I say to avoid August is because it’s also traditionally vacation time for Italians. Ironically, it’s also usually the month we tend to be back at home in Sicily .

Why? Because it’s when our friends, from Italy and abroad, come to vacation too. However, when we’re back in Sicily in August, we tend to stick to local places and beaches rather than planning day trips.

What is Sicily like in August?

Though many Italians do choose to holiday in July, August seems to be more popular.

What this means for visitors is that everywhere in Sicily is busy. I’m talking beaches, attractions, hotels, along with services like restaurants, shops and bars.

It can be more stressful if looking for places to stay in Sicily with kids .

Ultimately, it’s best to avoid visiting Sicily, and popular destinations in Italy, in August as much as possible.

School’s out for summer

One reason why August is the busiest month relates to the school holidays. Schools usually break for summer in the first or second week of June and they last for 2.5 to 3 months.

With such a long holiday period, many parents aren’t able to book off the entire duration. Instead, kids may stay with grandparents or other relatives in June and July. So, when August arrives, so too does vacation time for the parents.

August 15 is also when Italians celebrate Ferragosto . The Italian public holiday marks the middle of August and adds an extra day to people’s holiday allowance. It may be another factor as to why the month is much busier.

Burning hot in August

Unless you like your vacations with a side serving of sweaty sweltering temperatures, avoid visiting Sicily in August.

It’s not unusual to see daytime numbers reach 104°F (40°C) or higher in August. I don’t need to tell you how uncomfortable such temperatures would be, especially if visiting Sicily’s popular attractions.

Being by the sea helps, but not by much, something we discovered during our trip to Isola delle Correnti .

Of all my Sicily travel tips, avoiding visiting in August trumps them all.

Sicilians speak a different dialect

Even after years of traveling to and from Sicily, I still struggle to fully understand some Sicilian words and phrases .

But, it turns out I’m not alone. Many Italian friends tell me that they too can’t understand the strong Sicilian dialect and accent.

While this is unlikely to affect your travels around Sicily, I think it’s worth being aware of. For instance, you may notice signs written in Sicilian rather than standard Italian, like ‘ bedda ’ which means beautiful.

If you’re interested in learning Italian, my post lists helpful tips that’ll have you speaking in just a week.

Names can differ in Sicily (and the south of Italy)

The previous point leads nicely onto my next tip on things to know before traveling to Sicily.

Sicilians take their food culture very seriously, and it’s something that starts from the moment you wake up.

Many like to start their day with a traditional Sicilian breakfast of granita Siciliana and brioche . It also happens to be one of the best Sicilian desserts to try.

Up in the north of Italy, meanwhile, a standard Italian breakfast usually consists of a ‘brioche’ (croissant) and coffee.

If you ask for a ‘brioche’ in Sicily, you’ll be served the round bread roll that accompanies a granita. Instead, ask for a ‘ cornetto ’ and you’ll get a croissant with a filling of your choice.

Map of Sicily

Sicilians are more laid back

Being in Sicily can sometimes feel like you’re in a completely different country.

Not only is the island physically detached from the mainland but Sicilians also have their own dialect and cultural traditions.

And, what comes with this is a relaxed attitude, something usually associated with island living. This isn’t to say that services are slow or that people are inefficient (this can happen anywhere). But, when you come to Sicily, be sure to leave the big city mentality at home.

Sicilian story-time

I’ll never forget the time when we hired a car at Catania airport (in August) to drive back up north. Despite having ordered online in advance, we’d arrived to find that the car wasn’t there on our arrival.

This wasn’t the whole story however. We’d already waited in line for over 1 hour with many other clients as only two people were working.

After much back and forth, they finally sorted out a car for us. Was it an efficient service? Not at all. While my urban roots had expected better, I’d to accept that this was just how things operated in Sicily.

Mobile networks are weak in Sicily

A recurring issue we encounter on every visit to Sicily is the weak mobile network signals.

I don’t do a good job of explaining the technicalities behind it so I won’t even try. Speaking in layman’s terms, and from experience, the mobile networks in Sicily can be hit and miss.

I’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve been in Sicily without a signal — usually in the countryside. While it’s not the end of the world, it’s something to consider if you do need connectivity on your travels.

The obvious solution (indoors) is to connect to the WiFi, which brings us nicely onto the next point.

WiFi isn’t always reliable in Sicily

I apologize if these Sicily travel tips sound a little negative, but they’re based on lived experiences.

WiFi in Sicily, in general, does work. It’s normal to find reliable and secure connections in many hotels, holiday homes and services.

The only downside is that the WiFi isn’t always reliable, usually more so in smaller towns than in larger cities. If you know that you’ll 100% need internet access, inquire about the WiFi before booking your Sicily hotel or holiday home .

Sicilians dine late

I first covered this topic in ‘ 25 mistakes to avoid in Italy ’ but it bears repeating.

Dining late in Sicily — especially in summer — is completely normal. We usually have dinner around 9/9.30pm (earlier at home) and restaurants are typically packed by this time.

On one occasion in Forza d’Agro , our order arrived at 10:45pm, by which time, my hunger had long passed.

Part of the culture

Many Sicilians finish work late, and will go home first, rest up, shower and change before coming back out.

To stave off any hunger pangs, follow our lead and go for an aperitivo before going to the restaurant. Take note, however, as many bars in Sicily serve a generous number of snacks (and for free) with an aperitivo.

To give you an idea, this is what our local bar served with our aperitivo (2 spritz Aperol and 1 beer):

• a bowl of chips
• and a plate of focaccia (Sicilian pizza)

For the price, it’s really not bad if you’re traveling around Sicily on a budget. On the downside, the free food can quickly ruin your appetite for dinner.

Advantages of dining early

If dining too late doesn’t appeal, there’s no strict rule to say that you can’t eat earlier. Many restaurants open for dinner around 7/7.30pm (depending on the location) but check beforehand.

The main advantage of eating earlier is that you won’t have to contend with the masses dining after. You can enjoy your dinner, at a decent hour, and with fewer people around.

Traditional Sicilian food isn’t really served in Sicilian restaurants

If you’ve read my post on Sicilian food , you’ll already be aware of some of the tastiest dishes in Sicily.

But, after years of dining out here, I can tell you that many places don’t actually serve authentic Sicilian dishes. I’m talking about a rich caponata, a fragrant pasta alla norma or delicate rolled involtini di pesce spada .

Very few places

Again, I want to stress that it’s not all restaurants in Sicily. But, the majority of places we’ve eaten at rarely have traditional Sicilian dishes on the menu.

Aside from street food in Palermo, and the meaty falsomagro I ordered in the capital, traditional Sicilian dishes are rare.

It’s why there’s only one place where I enjoy eating Sicilian food in Sicily, and that’s at home.

If you’re really interested in learning and sampling authentic Sicilian food, these food and market tours are a good starting point.

• Palermo street food and history walking tour
• Palermo night street food tour
• Palermo local market tasting tour

You may also want to note some of these best restaurants in Sicily. The list is subjective, but we’ve eaten at them a few times and have never been disappointed.

• Ristorante Da Nino , Via Luigi Rizzo, 29, Letojanni
• Al Fogher, Viale Conte Ruggero (exSS 117 bis) – Contrada Bellia incrocio SS 288 per, Aidone Enna
• Ristorante la Madia , Corso Filippo Re Capriata, 22, Licata
• Ristorante Locanda Don Serafino – Relais & Chateaux , Via Avvocato Giovanni Ottaviano, 13, Ragusa
• Ristorante Don Camilo , Via della Maestranza, 96, Siracusa
• Accursio Ristorante , Via Clemente Grimaldi, 41, Modica
• Ristorante Al Duomo , Vico degli Ebrei, Taormina
• Ristorante da Filippino a Lipari , Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini, 98055 Lipari

Not all seafood is fresh (in August)

An island surrounded by the Mediterranean, Ionian and Tyrrhenian Sea, you’d be right to expect the freshest fish and seafood.

But when visiting Sicily in August, this isn’t always the case when eating out. The demand likely outweighs the order meaning that it’s not always possible to serve fresh produce.

What this means is that you may be eating frozen fish and seafood over fresh when visiting Sicily in August.

While this doesn’t mean that the dishes will be bad, you might be disappointed if you’re expecting to eat fresh.

The list of restaurants above are worth noting as many of them do serve fresh produce throughout August. You may have to pay a little extra but it’ll be worth it to eat well.

Another of my Sicily travel tips worth noting is having a good contact in Sicily. Someone that knows where to eat fresh fish and seafood will be more likely to guide you in the right direction. Without one, you may be taking a gamble.

No orange juice in bars

This is a very local Sicily travel tip and one you most likely won’t find published elsewhere.

Despite Sicily producing some of the sweetest, plumpest oranges, there are hardly any bars that serve fresh orange juice.

Honestly speaking, we’ve not seen one place that serves it. I should stress that these are standard bars and cafes, not restaurants. If you do order a juice, it will most likely be the bottled variety.

Beauty services are cheap in Sicily

How would you react if I told you that beauty services started from as little as €11 ($11.6/£9.4) in Sicily?

Now, this likely doesn’t apply to the top salons/places in larger Sicilian cities. But, in smaller towns and salons, it’s more than possible.

I once had a manicure, pedicure and wax for a total of €30 ($31.6/£25.6). Granted, it was a local town spa, but it was immaculately clean and the therapist/technician did a great job.

If you’re in need of a little personal grooming, and feeling brave enough to try, go for it.

What do you think of these Sicily travel tips? Do you feel more knowledgeable on things to know before traveling to Sicily? Let me know in the comments.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I’ve recommended. Thank you for your support.

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62 thoughts on “ 13 best Sicily travel tips to know ”

Hi Lisa thank you for these very helpful tips! We are planning a trip to Sicily in September, starting in Palermo, travelling along the coast to end up with the ferry taking us to Lipari. Will certainly take your advice to heart.

Hi Mariette, I’m so happy to read that! Have a wonderful time here 🙂

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Sicily   Travel Guide

Courtesy of Federico Scotto | Getty Images

Why Go To Sicily

Picture a tropical island – gentle waves spilling onto sandy shores, sunshine gleaming off a sparkling sea and volcanoes spurting steam in the distance. Add to that image: lush, rolling hills, topped by ruins from antiquity like those at the Valley of the Kings  near Luxor, Egypt . And then you need to imagine the rich tastes of fresh seafood, decadent pastas and desserts. This is Sicily – a balmy, laid-back refuge with an Italian mentality, especially seen in its cuisine and zeal for life. You'll find this large, triangular island, which happens to be the largest island in the Mediterranean, at the toe of Italy's boot, surrounded by the Tyrrhenian, Mediterranean and Ionian seas.

Find Flight and Hotel Deals

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• # 1 in Best Places to Visit in October 2024
• # 2 in Best Beaches in Italy
• # 12 in Best Places to Visit in Italy

Best of Sicily

Best hotels in sicily.

• # 1 in Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina
• # 2 in Villa Sant'Andrea, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina Mare
• # 3 in Mazzarò Sea Palace - VRetreats

Best Things to Do in Sicily

• # 1 in Aeolian Islands
• # 2 in Mount Etna
• # 3 in Greek Theatre of Taormina

Popular Tours

Taormina and Castelmola Tour from Messina

(243 reviews)

from $ 98.72

Godfather vs Mafia Tour & Sicilian Light Lunch (Small Group)

(159 reviews)

from $ 130.53

Cooking Class with Seaview & Taormina's Market with Chef Mimmo

(319 reviews)

from $ 104.20

Sicily Travel Tips

Best months to visit.

The best time to visit Sicily is from May to June or September to October. These late spring and early fall months offer hospitable temperatures in the 70s and low 80s, which are ideal for temple gazing, beach lazing or hiking. These are both considered shoulder seasons, and you may be able to score some discounts. If you plan a July or August vacation, you'll contend with lots of crowds, high prices and the hottest temperatures of the year. Winter sees temperatures in the 50s and low 60s; you can find greatly reduced hotel rates, but swimming in the ocean isn't an option.

Weather in Sicily

Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center

What You Need to Know

Avoid a summer trip While a summer visit is ideal for sunbathing, it can be less than ideal if you're hoping to explore ancient archaeological sites that offer little to no shade.

Eat your heart out Sicily is full of local specialties like arancini (stuffed rice balls) and fresh seafood. If you'd like a little guidance navigating Sicily's dining scene, consider signing up for a food tour. Sicily's top food tours are featured in our list of the best Italy tours .

Bring walking shoes Some of Sicily's top attractions, including the Valley of the Temples and Mount Etna , will require a lot of walking, and thus, a quality pair of shoes.

How to Save Money in Sicily

Ride a bus While traveling to Sicily's various cities by train may be quicker, taking a bus, especially round trip, may be the cheapest option.

Take advantage of free activities Sicily has lots of free things to do from its plentiful beaches to hiking to its many beautiful churches.

Visit during the low season Although you may face rain and cooler temperatures, you're also likely to score deals on hotels , restaurants and attractions from November to April.

Culture & Customs

Sicilians tend to be friendly and welcoming, though they may not speak English. In fact, many speak in a Sicilian dialect, which is a bit of a mix of words from various cultures that once conquered the island, including Spanish, French, Greek and Arabic. They are also known to be aggressive drivers, so watch out when crossing streets or driving.

Most Sicilians consider themselves to be Roman Catholic, so much of the island's culture centers around the holidays and festivities of the Catholic church. Holy days like the Feasts of the Assumption and the Immaculate Conception of Mary are national holidays, Sicily celebrates the feasts of St. Agatha, its patron saint, and Santa Rosalia.

Sicily's official currency is the euro, and you may want to check the exchange rate before you travel there. Plan to carry cash and coins with you, as many establishments may not take credit cards, especially in some of the island's smaller towns. When dining, tipping is common in Sicily and locals recommend leaving 3 or 4 euros for your server, or around 5% of your bill.

What to Eat

Sicily has been influenced by many cultures, including Greek, Roman, Norman, Arab and more, so its cuisine is a unique mixture of many traditions. Some classic dishes include arancini (a fried rice ball), cazzilli (pan-fried, potato croquettes), crispeddi (fried potato fritters) and the island's famous pastries like pignolata (a dessert of fried dough) typically enjoyed during Christmas. Sicily is known for the production of many foods and food products like extra virgin olive oil, capers, prickly pears, blood oranges and olives. Be sure to give their pecorino and Ragusano cheeses a taste and sample their sumptuous sausages.

The Principe Cerami at the San Domenico Palace Hotel, overlooking the Ionian Sea in Taormina, is a fine dining restaurant serving haute cuisine with a Sicilian touch. The menu features pastas with black truffle, smoked anchovies and stuffed guinea fowl, as well as a variety of Mediterranean fish entrees.

For a bistro setting, check out Antica Focacceria San Francesco in downtown Palermo, which dates back to 1834. Sample their brand of arancini, focaccia sandwiches and Sardinian meatballs. Palermo is also known for its street food with items like boiled octopus, fritters and rice croquettes cooked up roadside.

Seafood lovers won't want to miss L 'Oste e Il Sacristano in Licata where visitors recommend the pasta in fish broth with red prawns. Other options include barbecue octopus and pasta with clams.

Travel to Italy is generally safe, even though it's rife with rumors of a mafia presence. As with many European countries, simply be aware and on the lookout for pickpockets and petty thieves. In some cases, people on motorcycles may snatch a bag or purse as they drive by. Leave valuables and extra cash in a safe place at home or in the hotel room safe, and never leave your bags unattended.

The U.S. Department of State issued an advisory in December 2018 warning Americans to exercise increased caution in Italy overall due to terrorism. The Department of State also warns that some thieves may impersonate police officers and that you should always ask to see a uniformed officer or the officer's identification card.

Additionally, because Sicily is home to an active volcano, Mount Etna , there is the potential for it to erupt, which could cause airports to close and other disruptions.

Getting Around Sicily

The best way to get around Sicily is by train, as it allows you to quickly and affordably get from the island's various cities while still enjoying the scenery. Be sure to validate your ticket before boarding to avoid fines. Buses are another affordable transportation method and may be your next best option. They're less expensive than trains; however, they don't get you there as quickly. You can purchase bus tickets in many places, including newsstands, bars and tabacchi shops, but be sure to bring cash to pay for your ticket.

Cars can give you more freedom when traveling throughout Sicily, but you'll have to contend with traffic, confusing tolls, limited traffic zones (where you can be heavily fined if you're driving where you shouldn't be), parking and more. Since Sicily is surrounded by water, you can travel by ferry, as well, though service may be limited in the winter months.

You can fly into Sicily via three airports, including Palermo Falcone-Borsellino Airport (PMO), Trapani Vincenzo Florio Airport (TPS) and Catania Vincenzo Bellini Airport (CTA). There are shuttle services and taxis that will take you to town or you can ride the local bus from Catania airport. Additionally, you can reach Sicily by water from mainland Italy and France, as well as islands like Sardinia and Corsica using ferry services like Corsica Ferries-Sardinia Ferries . You can even reach Sicily by train from the Italian mainland with the entire train boarding a ferry for the water crossing.

Entry & Exit Requirements

U.S. citizens may enter Italy with a valid passport that does not expire for at least six months from the time you plan to leave the country and that has at least two blank pages for stamps. What's more, you can stay for up to 90 days without a visa. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of State website .

Mount Etna can be seen from many vantage points on Sicily.

Explore More of Sicily

Things To Do

Best hotels.

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Visit Sicily: Top 20 Things to Do and Must See Attractions

The 20 best things to do in sicily (bucket list).

You’re planning to visit Sicily for you next trip or holidays and you are looking for the best places to visit?

Great choice, there are many things to see on this beautiful Italian island!

With important historical sites such as Agrigento Valley of the Temples , the Roman theatre of Taormina or the Baroque cities of Noto, Ragusa and Modica .

Natural richness , with its volcanoes (Etna, Stromboli and Vulcano), its islands , its beaches and its magnificent nature reserves like the one in Zingaro .

And of course, the fabulous Italian Cuisine! (I am a big fan!), you will for sure enjoy your stay. Now the question is: Where to go in Sicily?

To help you plan your trip, here is the list of the best things to do in Sicily, as always accompanied by my best tips for a memorable stay!

So, what are the best points of interest in Sicily?

3. Taormina

6. syracuse and ortigia island, 7. visit noto, modica and ragusa, 8. the valley of the temples in agrigento, 9. scala dei turchi.

• 10. Selinunte Temples 

11. The temple of Segesta

12. torre salsa nature reserve, 13. marsala salt pans, 14. trapani and erice medieval village, 15. aegadian islands, 16. enna, the heart of sicily, 17. zingaro nature reserve,  18. monte cofano nature reserve, 19. aeolian islands, 20. sicily most beautiful beaches, the best activities in sicily, sicily tours, renting a boat in sicily, tourist map of sicily, you’re traveling in sicily these articles will help you, visit sicily: the 20 best places to visit and must-see attractions.

You’re planning to visit Sicily?

In order to help you plan your stay, I have prepared detailed itineraries depending on your trip duration . You should read them after reading this article.

You can find them here, simply click on the orange links to read the articles:

• Itinerary: 2, 3, 4, or 5 days in Sicily – With all my best tips + accommodation suggestions (East + West)
• Itinerary: 1 week in Sicily – The best itinerary to visit Sicily in 6, 7 or 8 days (East coast)
• Itinerary: 10 days in Sicily – Want to spend 10 days in Sicily? Then you should read this guide (West coast)
• Itinerary: 2 weeks in Sicily – How to plan your 14, 15 or 16 days trip to Sicily (Full Sicily tour)

They will allow you to plan your trip very easily!

And if you have any question, don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments section, at the end of the article. I would be glad to help you plan your stay.

I can only start this list of the top things to do in Sicily   with the capital, Palermo . It is a very rich city in terms of historical buildings and monuments and the ideal place to visit if you like churches and palaces.

In Palermo , you shouldn’t miss:

• The Norman Palace
• Palermo Cathedral
• The Massimo Theatre
• The Ballaro Market

Not far from Palermo, there is one of the most visited places in Sicily: Monreale Cathedral and its thousands of square meters of golden mosaics . To give you an idea, 2200 kg of pure gold was used to make them!

For more details about Palermo and the best accommodations in town, you should read my article: The 15 best things to do in Palermo

This is a very picturesque place and probably the first Sicily picture you saw!

This small fishing town with its colorful boats moored at the pier seems calm and peaceful.

Ok, I will tell you something, so you will not be disappointed when you will visit Sicily: the reality is nowadays a bit different because Cefalù has become a popular seaside resort. With its sandy beach and medieval alleys , the place is certainly pretty, but quite crowded, especially in high season. I don’t advise you to go there if you only want to enjoy the beach, you will find much better and quieter elsewhere!

However, Cefalù is worth a stop to admire the panorama from the old port and pier and stroll through its narrow streets full of shops and restaurants. If you have time, you should also visit the Cefalù Norman cathedral , the most important building of the city.

Finally, you should climb to the top of La rocca di Cefalù , the cliff that overlooks the town and offers spectacular views.

Let’s continue this bucket list of things to do in Sicily with Taormina , nicknamed “the Pearl of Sicily” . This town is world-famous for the magnificent view it offers on the plain of Catania , Etna and Isola Bella . It’s one of the most touristic cities in Sicily , so it’s best to go off-season to make the most out of your stay.

If you’ve decided to visit the east coas of Sicily , it’s a must-see destination. Here are the things you shouldn’t miss in Taormina :

• Go down to Isola Bella , the small island and its beach that contribute greatly to the fame of the city.
• Visit Taormina Greek Theatre
• The beautiful view on the Etna and the sea from Piazza IX Aprile
• Climb the 300 steps leading to the Madonna della Rocca Church to enjoy a Bird’s-eye view of the surroundings.

I give you all the best tips to visit Taormina during your trip to Sicily in my article: Visit Taormina: The 10 things to do and see.

The Etna volcano is impossible to miss if you are in Sicily . It is one of the island’s main attractions, and it should definitely be included in your tour in Sicily .

From Taormina and Catania , many viewpoints allow you to admire it from a distance. But as it’s so close, it would be sad to miss the opportunity to climb up and see its crater, right?

The best things to do is to choose a day or half-day excursion. From Catania or Taormina , many tour operators offer full package around 55€ with transport , equipment , guide and 4 Wheel drive vehicle to go up to the crater.

Of course you can also drive there , but you will not be supervised, so be careful to have the right shoes and equipment . Check the weather conditions beforehand as well, access is not always allowed. Please note that if you are not accompanied by a guide, you will have to stop at the first level , (after the cable car). To reach the crater, the climb to the second level must be done in a guided minibus .

Going on the volcano is an unforgettable experience!

To make the most out of your day trip to Etna, I highly suggest you to book your tour with Getyourguide. It’s simple, they have the best English speaking guides!

Click on the following button for more info about the trip to Etna volcano:

Catania , the 2 nd largest city in Sicily after Palermo , is located at the foot of the Etna . As I told you before, this is the ideal starting point to get to the volcano.

Nicknamed the black city because of its buildings built in lava stone, Catania has many things to offer.

During your trip to Sicily , I advise to spend between half a day and a full day visiting the city.

Here are some of the things to do in and around Catania , in addition to the Etna excursion:

• Take a walk around the Piazza del Duomo to see the emblem of Catania : The Fontana dell’ Elefante .
• Visit Duomo Di Catania , the Cathedral dedicated to the patron saint of the city, Saint Agatha .
• Visit the “Cyclops rocks” (Faraglioni in Italian) in the seaside resort of Aci Trezza , only 35 minutes from Catania .

Find all the best activities to do in Catania in my article: The 12 best things to do in Catania

On the east coast of Sicily lies the town of Syracuse and the charming Ortigia Island , its historical center. It’s simple: everything in Ortigia is pretty! Monuments, squares, fountains, palaces and churches. There’s also some really good ice cream. You will have guessed it, at Voyage Tips, we loved our stay on this island!

Ortigia Island must-sees attractions:

• The beautiful Piazza del Duomo
• The Castello Maniace
• Arethusa fountain at sunset

In the modern city of Syracuse , there is only one must-see attraction: Neapolis archaeological park with its Roman amphitheater, Greek theatre and the Ear of Dionysius.

Find everything you need to plan your stay in Syracuse in my article: Syracuse: the 15 best things to do

Another great place to visit in Sicily!

If you are looking for the best place to visit in Sicily to discover the amazing baroque architecture, then look no further!

The Baroque towns of Noto , Modica and Ragusa are all listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites . There are no specific monuments to visit here. All you have to do is stroll through the historic centers and enjoy it! (Tip: With an ice cream, it’s even better).

Palaces, churches and Baroque cathedrals , architecture lovers will really be happy!

The Valley of the Temples, next to the city of Agrigento, is Sicily best-known archaeological site. It’s the number 1 in terms of visit, before Selinunte Temples and Segesta (I will tell you more about them below).

8 temples are visible in the valley but the 2 best preserved are undoubtedly the temple of Concorde and the temple of Hera . The walk between the temples is very pleasant and easy to do on foot.

If you choose to go by yourself, you can find detailed information to plan your visit in my article: How to visit the Valley of the Temples?

About 20 minutes’ drive from the valley of the temples , the Scala dei Turchi is another must-see if your trip to Sicily takes you in this region!

This white limestone cliff is famous for its particular shape: it looks like erosion has carved steps! And if you add the turquoise color of the sea and the fine sand beaches that border it, you will understand why Scala dei Turchi is a very popular place.

Several dozen people gather here at the end of the day to watch the sunset , probably hundreds in high season. A show you shouldn’t miss!

Adresse de la Scala dei Turchi: Strada Provinciale 68

10. Selinunte Temples  

I will not hide it: Selinunte is my favorite archaeological site in Sicily! The temples with the sea view is simply a must-see during your trip to Sicily .

The archaeological park is split in 2 different sites , so I recommend you take your car to go from one to another. There are several temples to see . Some are very well preserved, others in less good condition.

Since the experts were not sure to which divinity the temples were dedicated, they preferred to name them according to the alphabetical letters. So don’t be surprised to visit temple A, B or C.

The site is really beautiful and will keep you busy for half a day. If you can, I really recommend you to stay there for the sunset .

Details for visiting Selinunte temples can be found in our article : How to Spend 10 Days in Sicily? The Best Itinerary!

Last temple and archaeological site of my Sicily bucket list, the temple of Segesta .

Perched in the middle of the green hills , Segesta Temple dominates the surrounding countryside. Extremely well preserved , it’s definitely worth a look if you are in the area.

Fun fact: if the temple doesn’t have a roof, it’s simply because it was never finished!

Another vestige you can see on the site is the theatre , which is perched at 400 meters above the temple. It’s still used in summer to host concerts and theatrical performances.

All the info to know how to visit the Temple of Segesta is in my article: The 10 things to see in and around Trapani

Torre Salsa nature reserve is located between Agrigento and Selinunte , which makes it a very nice stop during your road trip in Sicily.

Another good reason to go there: the sandy beach is huge and there are really not many people. This not very well-known point of interest is a real paradise for swimming or picnic!

To get there, you will have to go down a dirt road for about 20 minutes , then park your car in the parking lot.

Be careful though:

• It’s not well indicated, so you may be struggling a little to find the right entry (there are several)
• The path to go there is very rocky, so watch out for your rental car!
• Avoid leaving your car on the parking lot with your belongings inside. Don’t leave anything in the car .

When you get out of Marsala town , take the salt road that will take you directly to the salt pans . The road then continues to Trapani .

The salt pans and their mills are on many postcards, and you will quickly understand why when you will see them! Try to go there at sunset if you can, they are even more photogenic!

You can easily stop on the roadside, take a few pictures and maybe buy some of this renowned salt, used by the best Sicilian chefs.

Trapani city itself isn’t a major point of interest of Sicilian tourism, but it is an ideal starting point for at least 3 major attractions:

• The temple of Segesta I mentioned earlier
• Visit Erice medieval village
• Take a trip to the Aegadian Islands . I will tell you more about them in a minute!

Let’s talk a bit about Erice , this small medieval town built at an altitude of 750m, on top of the rocky cliff overlooking Trapani.

You can of course get there by road (good luck finding a parking space in summer!) or go for for something more original: the cable car !

From Trapani , a return trip by cable car costs 9 euros and the view is breathtaking .

Once at the top, here are some of the must-see places in Erice:

• Erice castle , from where you will have a beautiful view on Trapani
• The opposite view, on Monte Cofano reserve and San Vito Lo Capo
• The 14th century medieval church
• Discover the charm of small medieval lanes and shops (Even though touristic!)
• The Maria Grammatico pastry shop, an Erice institution!

For more information on Trapani region, I recommend that you read our article: Visit Trapani: The Ultimate guide.

From Trapani , you can leave for a day trip (or several days!) to one of the Aegadian Islands .

Boats connect Trapani to the islands several times a day.

The 3 Aegadian Islands are Favignana , Levanzo and Marettimo . They are all ideal for long walks, bycicle riding and swimming breaks in beautiful coves . And in addition the use of cars is very regulated, so there are almost none!

However, if you only have one day to devote to Aegadian Islands, I recommend you choose Favignana . Most people then opts for bicycles rental , to be able to see as much as possible in a day. Impossible to get lost, everything is well indicated. The paths have no particular difficulty, except for a few potholes.

Things to see in Favignana :

• Cala Azzura
• Cala Rotonda
• Lido Burrone

Everything you need to know about the Aegadian Islands is in our article : Visit Trapani: The Ultimate guide.

Located in the heart of Sicily, Enna is nicknamed “ the navel of Sicily “.

The region of Enna is the only one without access to the sea. However, it has the most lakes, including Lake Pergusa , the only natural lake of the island.

Perched on a promontory over 900 meters above sea level , Enna has retained its typical charm and offers several points of interest:

• Lombardy castle , which offers an unobstructed view of Etna from the top of its main tower.
• Enna’s Duomo
• Via Roma , the city’s historic center
• Archaeological Museum
• Lake Pergusa , with a racing circuit on its shore

It is undoubtedly the most famous nature reserve in Sicily. The Zingaro Nature Reserve is easily accessible from Scopello or Trapani .

During the easy 3h trail (back and forth), you will be delighted by the beautiful panoramas, with the path overlooking the sea.

And if you still need a reason to go there, this nature reserve offers access to several super beautiful coves. You can go for a swim before, during and after your hike! Isn’t life beautiful?

If you plan to visit the Zingaro during your trip to Sicily, you should read my detailed article: How to visit the Zingaro nature reserve?

Just as beautiful as the  Zingaro Nature Reserve , the Monte Cofano Nature Reserve is not as famous.

Other travel blogs may not tell you about it when you’re looking for points of interest in Sicily, and that’s a good thing! Like the Zingaro, it’s a path that runs along the seaside , however the vegetation and landscape is very different. personally, I loved it!

It’s also a lot quieter, very pleasant to walk around alone or almost.

For more experienced hikers , the reserve also offers another trail that allows you to climb to the top of Mount Cofano. But beware, with very steep passages where it’s necessary to use ropes and chains attached in the rocks, this trail requires good equipment and a good physical condition .

If you want to know more about Monte Cofano Nature reserve , you can read our article : Top 10 Things to see in Tripani.

The Aeolian Islands are located in Northern Sicily . This volcanic archipelago is made of 7 islands + a few islets and rocks. The best known and therefore the most visited are Lipari, Salina, Vulcano and Stromboli.

Each islands has its own charm and atmosphere :

• Lipari is the largest, best served by boats, and therefore it’s more animated than its sisters. It also has beautiful beaches .
• Vulcano is also easily accessible . It is famous for its beautiful volcanic landscapes and mud baths .
• Stromboli , well-known thanks to its continuously active volcano . An impressive night show you shouldn’t miss!
• Salina , has some beautiful hiking trails and good restaurants to eat after activities. It’s less touristy than the previous ones.

To get to Aeolian Islands , you will have to take a hydrofoil or a boat from Milazzo , Palermo or Messina . For example, the boat from Milazzo to Vulcano takes about 1h30. Once on the islands, cars are forbidden and reserved for residents exclusively.

If you only have a day to devote to the Aeolian Islands, I advise to choose only one, but if you want to see them all, you can choose a multi-day cruise .

My Sicily bucket list wouldn’t be complete without a list of the most beautiful beaches. Yep, if you’re going on a tour to Sicily , you will for sure want to enjoy the beach and crystal clear water! It’s one of the best things to do in Sicily after all.

Here are some of my favorite beaches and coves:

• San Vito Lo Capo Beach: Perfect for families with children, this large sandy beach is great for swimming or sunbathing! Public beach + private beach.
• Isola Bella: Small pebble beach with crystal clear water, at the foot of Taormina. Ideal for snorkeling with lots of small fish to observe. Public beach + private beach.
• Scala dei Turchi: This is the most romantic beach to enjoy the sunset in Sicily. Turquoise water + limestone cliffs getting orange and pink tone = the perfect combination! Public beach + private beach.
• Cala Rossa in Favignana: Surrounded by huge rocks, this cove offers crystal clear turquoise water. The view from above is breathtaking.
• Torre Salsa Nature Reserve Beach, a large, fine sandy beach, with very shallow water. Great place to spend a day with family, far from everything. Be careful for 2 things: the road to go there isn’t very good and it’s extremely important not to leave anything in your car.
• Parco Marino del Plemmirio : Close to Syracuse , you can find numerous beautiful small coves there.
• Calamosche Beach: One of the busiest beaches around Syracuse, well known for the beauty of its shallow and translucent water.

During your stay in Sicily, you might want to do something else than cultural tourism or going to the beach .

I have thus selected for you the best activities in Sicily. There is something for everyone ??

Simply click on the links below for more information and to book your activities:

• Paragliding: You can enjoy this activity in Palermo, Agrigento, Taormina , Trapani or Cefalu.
• 4-hour cruise from Catania to Cyclops Bay – And for the Small group version, on a sailboat, click here!
• Canyoning in the Alcantara Gorge – Five-hour trip ( Book here !) 3-hour excursion ( Book there. )
• A boat trip to Isola Bella, in Taormina
• A boat trip to the Aeolian Islands
• Mountain bike tour in Alcantara gorge
• Snorkeling tour (Aeolian islands – Vulkan and Lipari) or a Snorkeling tour in a marine reserve around Catania.
• Kayaking around the beautiful island of Isola Bella, in Taormina – You can also do a snorkeling tour there!
• A Segway tour of Catania
• Diving in Sicily, near Catania – First dive also possible on the Aeolian Islands
• An excursion to Etna from Catania or from Taormina
• Mountain bike on Etna / Also possible with a buggy!
• Parasailing , a great way to enjoy the view over the coast!
• A Kayak course along the coast of Syracuse, or in Catania
• Quad bike tour near Ragusa/Modica
• Quad bike tour in the archaeological park of Segeste
• Jet Ski Rental to discover a part of the south coast of Sicily.
• Jet boat tour (a very fast boat that takes very tight turns)
• Speleology in the lava caves of Etna
• Guided hike to the necropolis of Pantalica , near Syracuse.

And if you have the budget, you should opt for a unique and exceptional activity : A Private helicopter flight over Mount Etna!

Now, I would love to know what you have planned to do during your trip to Sicily!

On Voyagetips.com , I give you all my best tips and itineraries to plan your trip to Sicily by yourself. (All Sicily articles are here)

However, if you prefer to book a Sicily tour with a travel agency , I recommend you to check the 10 best Sicily tours by clicking the button below:

If you want to rent a boat for a nice day at sea during your trip to Sicily, you should book it with Samboat.

Motorboats, sailboats, yachts, small boats without a license, with or without a skipper: they simply have the most complete offer for boat rental.

So, what are you waiting for to book your boat trip in Sicily? 😊

To help you get a better overview of this big island, I have created a tourist map of Sicily , which lists all the best places to visit I mention in this article. You can view the map’s legend by clicking on the upper left button, the one with a small arrow.

Sicily travel Guides

• Buy the Lonely Planet Sicily guide on Amazon.com or on Amazon.co.uk
• Buy the DK Eyewitness Sicily guide on Amazon.com or on Amazon.co.uk

Discover all my articles about Sicily : All my articles to help you plan your trip to Sicily are listed there.

• Itinerary: 2, 3, 4, or 5 days in Sicily – with all my best tips + accommodation suggestions! (East + West)
• Itinerary: 1 week in Sicily – with all my best tips + accommodation suggestions! (East coast)
• Itinerary: 10 days in Sicily – with all my best tips + accommodation suggestions! (West coast)
• Itinerary: 2 weeks in Sicily – with all my best tips + accommodation suggestions! (Full Sicily tour)
• Agrigento: The 10 best things to do in and around the city
• Catania: The 12 must-see attractions
• Palermo: The 15 things to do in the capital
• Syracuse: The 15 best things to discover
• Taormina: Top 10 things to do and must-see!
• Trapani: The 10 best things to do
• Agrigento Valley of the Temples: visit the archaeological site with my detailed guide!
• Zingaro nature Reserve: All my best tips to enjoy this wonderful hike
• Where to stay in Sicily? My guide of the best hotels, sorted by cities and budget!

You’re using Pinterest? Here is the picture to pin!

Creator of the Voyage Tips blog, travel and photography lover. I give you all my best tips to plan your next trip.

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Discussion 63 comments.

Hi Vincent!

I’ve really been enjoying reading your information on Sicily. You have offered some great ideas and advice!

I do have a quick question for you. Next April my husband and I are going to Sicily for about 10 days. We’d like to settle in 2-3 areas for that time, as we all really like to linger in a place for a while.

Since this is our plan, I was curious what 2-3 towns would you might suggest for this kind of trip. I have a feeling we’ll be settling on only 2 locations, but we’re just in the beginning stages of our planning, so we may change it to 3 different spots.

Thanks so much!

Hi Allyson!

I am glad my articles are helping you to plan your trip!

If I had to choose 3 cities, I would go for Taormina, Syracuse and Palermo, these are the 3 most interesting cities to visit. But it really depends on what you want to see, if you like more cities, historical sites or nature for example. Tell me what you prefer.

If you are interested in visiting the temples (Agrigento, Selinunte) + Marsala Salt pans + Aegadian Island + Erice village (all 3 next to Trapani city), staying in Selinunte or Sciacca town can be a good idea.

It also depends if you plan to rent a car there? Let me know! Then you can pickup a few places you would like to see from this article: The 20 best things to do in Sicily . I will then tell you where to stay to optimize your trip in Sicily.

Hey Vincent!

Thanks for your response! My husband, David, and I will be traveling with another couple that has been to Italy many, many times. They are pros at traveling around the country! 🙂 We will definitely have a car, and will do a little bit of everything. I’m a big nerd, so I love the history. LOL We will also plan on some active type activities, as well as travel to big cities.

There has been a development in our planning, though. We had decided on Sicily, but in a conversation late last week, Greece was mentioned. Now we are trying to decide if we want to go to Sicily or Greece! It’s a rather difficult one to make, because we would all love to go to both places! The pros to going to Sicily are that my friend Lisa speaks the language, has driven there many times, and the FOOD!! Oh the food!! Pros for Greece include the history and architectural ruins, the many islands, and again, the FOOD!

I checked your website, and I noticed that you haven’t been to Greece. I’ll have to do some searching around on other sites to find information that will help our decision-making. We want to have it decided upon within the next two weeks, so we can book our flights.

Anyway, any advice, tips, or whatever you’d like to share will be most appreciated. Thanks so much!

Hey Allyson,

If you love history, you should really go to at least one of the temples archeological sites, it’s amazing!

I haven’t been to Greece, I am planning to go relatively soon (This year or next year, not sure if I will do Portugal first, or Greece, no idea for now!), but the country is big and attractions aren’t close to each others, so traveling 10 days in Greece seems a bit short in my opinion (15 should be a minimum I think, 20-25 would be best).

So my personnal advice for a relatively short trip would be Sicily, as traveling from place to place with a car is super easy there, you will lose a lot less time in transportation.

After, you decide!

Just one important thing: If you go to Sicily, you need to be very careful with the car rental scams, it’s unfortunatly very common there. I have written an article about it and how to avoid them, but it’s just in french for now. (if needed I can sum it up for you)

The article is here, just in case: Rent a car in Sicily – How to avoid scam (in French)

If you need anything else, don’t hesitate to let me know.

We will be on the Amalfi coast for three days and i plan to go to Sicily for a couple of days by car…the 7 hour drive is bad enough so i dont plan to go all the way to Palermo…for time sake. However I would appreciate you advice on things to do in eastern sicily… i have only two days to allow and then back to Rome for our flight back home…thanks

Hello Johnny,

If you don’t want to drive too much, the best is to spend your 2 days in Taormina, it’s a very beautiful town, and the closest to Messina (where the ferry boat to Sicily arrives). You can spend your 2 days like this: Day 1: Visit Taormina and go to Isola Bella beach Day 2: Go to Castelmola village (less than 10 minutes drive, very beautiful!) + enjoy the beach again, or go to Alcantara Gorges.

Another option for Day 2 is to go to Mount Etna.

You can read my article about Taormina: The 10 best things to do in Towwn

Enjoy your trip to Sicily!

Hello Vincent, I really enjoyed reading all the information in Sicily, my boyfriend & I we are (48 & 64 years old)are wanting to go in November, we enjoy history, beaches, and are big “Foodies” and love to explore new places, I have some Sicilian history (Great Grandfather from a small town that was destroyed by an earthquake in the 1970’s and most of the family moved to Polamero at that point. Anyways… We are thinking 8-10 days maybe ? in Sicily and then pop over to Barcelona for a week or so ?, I could really use some help planning some of the details can you recommend someone? We live in USA and also do not speak any Italian so I want to make sure we don’t get scammed.

I also read that Greece is on your list and I do have a great person for planning that, check out Fantasy Travel, they only plan Greece and Egypt however.

Hello Nicole,

For Sicily, i will be glad to answer your questions and help you plan your trip (for free of course) if you want to organise it yourself.

No need to worry, if you book everything in advance, you can’t really get scammed. The only scams that are problematic in Sicily are the car rental scams, but you can avoid them easily by taking an insurance, as i explain in my itineraries articles.

Unfortunately I don’t know anyone who can organise your trip for you, but, if you want, you can tell me what you would like to visit, and I can tell you how many days you will need.

By the way, have you read my 10 days and 2 weeks itineraries articles? They can give you a good idea about how long it takes to visit the various places!

I am currently in Greece, I have visited most of the country during the past month, so I will prepare some travel guides when i will be back.

I am sure you will love your trip to Sicily, Barcelona and Europe!

Good afternoon Vincent,

Thanks for your great tips for visitors to Sicily. My husband and I are planning a holiday for a month in Italy in May/June 2019 and have decided to include Sicily in our itinerary.

We will certainly be taking your advice and visiting many of the places you have mentioned but are a little undecided what to do about booking accommodation. Would you suggest pre booking from Australia or perhaps just ‘winging’ it when we arrive. We really are at a bit of a loss on this one so hope you may be able to help us out a little with you great knowledge of the country.

Many thanks, Kristine

Hello Kristine,

I would really suggest you to book your accommodations in advance, Sicily is quite touristic and the hotels offering the best value for money are full quite fast.

This is especially true in Taormina, Ortigia (Syracuse) and next to the Valley of the Temples for example.

If you haven’t already, I recommend you to have a look at the itineraries I have written: they give you a better idea of what you can visit in how much time. I also suggest the best hotels for every budget in each cities. Click here for the list of the best Itineraries in Sicily

And if you need help to plan your trip, don’t hesitate!

Thanks Vincent, will take your advice and book prior to going. Will also look at your recommended areas to visit. Nothing like having some local knowledge so will probably be back in touch.

Cheers Kristine😊

You’re very welcome, talk with you soon then 🙂

Hi again Vincent,

Quick question. If we decided to base ourselves in one hotel and then travel to different towns/cities in Sicily, where would you suggest we do that. We will have transport and as we live in Australia we are used to driving distances so that wouldn’t be an issue but just wonder if this idea is feasible.

Thanks again,

Hi Kristine,

I wouldn’t suggest to do this at all, as it is really a waste of time 😊

Even by staying in the most central location (in the middle of Sicily, where there is nothing very interesting to do), you will have around 4 or 5 hours of driving each day to reach the main attractions and come back.

Not to mention a few places deserves at least 2 days to visit, like Syracuse or Trapani if you also want to go to Aegadian islands.

In Sicily, doing an itinerary is really the only viable solution.

My family booked a house for a week in Trappeto. We are already planning to spend a couple days going to Palermo. On top of that what would you recommend? Should we stay on the west side of the island (Castellammare del Golfo/ Trapani)? Or does maybe an overnight, two-day trip to Mt. Etna and Taormina make sense during that week? Thank you so much and I have really enjoyed reading all of your articles!

If you are in Trappeto, it’s really better to stay on the west side of Sicily. There is enough to keep you busy, with attractions such as:

– Palermo of course and Monreale Cathedral – The Zingaro nature reserve – Erice village, near Trapani – or even Selinunte temples, as they are only 1 hour drive from Trappeto – Marsala Salt Pans – The Aegali islands (Favignana or Levanzo) – Cefalu is at around 1h30 if you want to go there too.

You can group some of them. For example, you can do, in 1 day:

Selinunte temples in the morning, then do a loop: Marsala Salt Pans and Erice village at the end of the day. That would be a pretty awesome day of visits!

To go to the east side (Catania), it’s a 3 hours drive. A bit far in my opinion for just a week. Going back and forth, you would be losing half a day in the car.

It’s really better to plan to come back to Sicily another time, and enjoy the east side, as there is enough places to visit to spend another great week there 😃

Have a nice trip, and if you have other questions, don’t hesitate!

I love your blog and will use your advice for our 2 weeks in Sicily and for a few days in Rome, thanks so much for your insights.

We are seniors and the idea of navigating ourselves is a bit intimidating, I was wondering if you could recommend a driver who could take us around on our 2 week sojourn in Sicily.

I suppose we can do it but it would be a real luxury to be able to look out the window and have someone else ( who knows the terrain) get us around.

Thank you in advance for any help and information, we loved your blog!

P.S. we will be traveling in February 😊

I am glad my articles about Sicily are helping you to plan your trip! Unfortunately, I don’t know any driver in Sicily. I think your best bet would be to contact one of your hotels in Sicily and ask them. They generally know a few local taxi drivers.

Have a great day and enjoy your trip to Sicily! And if you have any other question, don’t hesitate.

Hi, My husband and I are going to have just 3 days in Sicily but have yet to decide where to stay. He wants to rent a car but I would rather hire a guide to lead us around. Which would you suggest? Also, we speak no Italian and I am really concerned about the language barrier. Which area of Sicily would be best for English speaking Americans?

It really depends on what you want to visit. If you don’t mind driving a bit, the best place to visit in 3 days would be Catania/Taormina/the etna Volcano and castelmola village. If you do not have the time, you can do just half a day in catania, it is enough to visit the best attractions of the city.

You can read my 3 days in Sicily itineraries article here: the best things do to in 3 days in Sicily .

There are links to my city guides in the article too.

For the car rental/guide question, it depends: the guide would be useful if you want to have detailed historical information about the places you will visit and if you don’t mind being with someone else all day.

Else, it is pretty straightforward, you just have to drive from A to B with the car. The city historical centers are very small, so you cannot get lost.

And don’t worry about the language barrier, Sicily is a very touristic place and everyone speaks a bit of English there.

Great article. My daughter and I will be in Sicily for one week. She would like to do wine tasting. Can you recommend a specific region that would allow for both wine tasting and hitting the sites/cities you recommend.? Thank you!

Hello Elizabeth,

I’m glad my article is helping you to plan your trip to Sicily.

The 2 best regions for wine tasting in Sicily are around Marsala and Trapani on the west coast and around the Etna volcano on the east coast.

I have written 2 detailed itineraries that will help you to plan your stay.

You can read the one about the east coast of Sicily by clicking here And the one about the west coast there .

The west coast itinerary is for a 10 days trip, but it can be slightly modified to fit a 7 days holidays in Sicily. If you need any help for this, don’t hesitate to ask me.

If you choose to visit the east coast, I highly recommend you the following tour:

Mount Etna 5 hours wine tasting tour

Hello Vincent,

Love your website. Thank you so much. Problem is I want to see it ALL and I know that will never be possible. So I’m hoping you might have some ideas for us.

My husband and I will be going to a family wedding in Trapani. The wedding is on Aug. 4. I know, groan, August is not the best time to travel in Italy and especially not Sicily. We will be flying from NY. We were thinking of spending maybe 3 days in Rome and then flying to Sicily.

We would like to spend 2- 3 days in Trapani, perhaps Aug. 3, 4 & 5? And then tour a bit more of the island. We would want to spend no more than 14 days total (including the days devoted to transatlantic flights). If we take a 14 day total trip, subtract 2 days for transatlantic travel, 3 days for Rome, 3 days in Trapani, that would leave us 6 days to tour Sicily. Can you suggest an itinerary?

Would flying home to NY directly from Palermo be possible? Are there flights every day? Would it add a lot to the air fare to book flights NY → Rome, then Rome → Catania, (rental car from Catania ), then Palermo → NY? I am assuming the total trip time will be shorter if we fly directly home to NY from Palermo, but that it will be more expensive .

Thank you so very much for any ideas you have.

Hello Kisa,

Thanks a lot, I am glad my website is useful for you to plan your trip to Sicily.

For the 3 days you will spend in Trapani, you should have a look to my detailed article about the things to do in and around the city, if you haven’t cheked it yet. It also includes itineraries to visit the city in 1, 2 or 3 days. You can read it here: The 10 best things to do in Trapani

For the 6 other days in Sicily, the best would be to land in Catania and do the following itinerary:

– 1 day in Catania – 1 day in Syracuse and Ortigia Island – 1 days in Noto, Modica and Ragusa – 1 day in Agrigento and Scala dei Turchi – 1 day in Selinunte – 3 days in Trapani for the wedding – 1 day in Palermo and take your flight back

It’s a tight schedule, and you will have to change hotel each night, but that’s the best way to see many places in such a short amount of time.

You can read all my articles about Sicily by clicking here , you will find a list of the best things to do for each place + itineraries ideas to plan the visits.

For Palermo to New York flights, you should have a look on a flight comparator such as Skyscanner . I have checked, and it seems there are flights everyday (with 1 stop) for around 400€.

By the way, I have also written a detailed travel guide about Rome, with all the best things to do and itineraries to visit the city in 3 days, you can read it here: The 25 best things to do in Rome .

Don’t hesitate if you have any other questions.

I am planning for a three week trip to Sicily in Mid August. I plan to rent a car.

I am researching places now but was wondering what places you recommended. I am interested in nature, culture and history.

I know that it will require driving but is it possible to base myself in certain places (of an area) for a couple of days and then do day trips to surrounding areas?

Thanks in advance.

The thing is, in Sicily, all the 99% of the must-see attractions are located along the coast. So to visit, you really need to drive around the island.

It’s not really possible to do it with only 3-4 stops for example, you would end up driving 5 or 6 hours per day!

For a first long stay in Sicily, I recommend doing the itinerary I talk about in my “How to spend 2 weeks in Sicily” article. You can read it here: 2 weeks Itinerary in Sicily .

It’s a 9 stops itinerary, and the only ones you can group together are “2) Syracuse / Ortigia Island (2 days)” with “3) Noto / Ragusa / Modica (1 day)”. You can spend one more night in Syrcause and visit Noto/Ragusa and Modica as a day trip. You will waste a bit of time, but as you have 3 weeks, that’s alright in your case!

As you have 3 weeks in Sicily, in addition to the itinerary I linked above, you definitely should add a few days on the Aeolian Islands. 4 days would be a good start to explore them.

If you have any questions to plan your trip to Sicily (advices for your itinerary draft, best places to stay in a city or anything else), don’t hesitate to ask me 🙂

Hi, Thanks for this very informative site; it’s really helped me plan our trip to Sicily. Thought I’d leave you my itinerary to get your opinion on if we will manage with what we doing:

– Day 1: Arrive in Palermo pm – Day 2: Palermo – Day 3: (road trip begins) am Cefalù/ pm Taormina (sleep in T) – Day 4: Taormina/ Castelmola- drive to Syracuse (sleep in S) – Day 5: Syracuse – Day 6: Syracuse + Ortigia (drive to Catania/ sleep in C) – Day 7: Catania – Day 8: Catania…pm ferry to Amalfi

U think it’s all good ? Can you recommend any accommodation ?

Thanks, Dan

Your itinerary seems to be perfect!

About accommodations, I have written suggestions in the detailed articles about each city, in the “where to stay?” section

Here are the direct links, for the cities you will visit during your road trip in Sicily:

Where to stay in Palermo Where to stay in Taormina Where to stay in Syracuse Where to say in Catania

If you have specific questions about accommodations or anything else, don’t hesitate!

Hi Vincent There is so much to see and do I think I need a month! However, we are flying into Palermo late evening and have then 5 nights for a road trip. We want to see Palermo, Agrigento and Syracuse and whatever you suggest along the way. We are then heading for Taormina where we have a hotel booked for a week. We went there last year and loved it so decided to see a little more of the Island first. Would really appreciate your help.

If you want to visit Palermo, Agrigento and Syracuse during your road trip before going to Taormina, I suggest you the following itinerary:

– Day 1: arrive in Palermo – Night in Palermo

– Day 2: Visit Palermo. If you have time, you can also go to Monreale town to see the cathedral. Night in Palermo

– Day 3: Go to Agrigento (2 hours by car) and visit the Valley of Temples. At the end of the afternoon, you can head to the Scala dei Turchi beach to watch the sunset. Night in Agrigento.

– Day 4: Discover the 3 baroque cities: Ragusa, Modica, Noto and then head to Syracuse. Night in Syracuse.

– Day 5: Visit Syracuse and Ortigia. Night in Syracuse.

– Day 6: Visit Catania and night in Catania or Taormina (depends if you count the first night in Palermo in the 5 nights total or not).

If you have other questions to plan your trip to Sicily, don’t hesitate!

Thank you Vincent. The 5 nights includes the first night in Palermo but we can drive to Catania from Taormina for a day trip. Do you think we would have time to visit Trapani/Erice on our full day in Palermo?

From Palermo to Erice, it’s 2 hours by car, so it’s too short to do Palermo + Erice on the same day.

If you prefer, you can skip Palermo and do a day trip to Erice.

From Palermo, you can take the coastal road, go to the Zingaro Nature Reserve or see some nice beaches around San Vito Lo Capo and Monte Cofano (Bue Marino beach for example) for the first part of the day.

Then head to Erice, try to be there around 4-5pm.

Erice is very small, so 1h30-2 hours is really enough and Trapani city iself isn’t very interesting (not worth going).

Thank you for this great site. We are going to be hiring scooters to tour the Island in September, and have found you advise tremendous. What are the roads like in terms of safety?

Hello Jane,

To be honest, I wouldn’t hire scooters to tour the island, for a few reasons:

– Sicily is a very big island, a typical tour of Sicily takes about 2 weeks, if done by car. (You can have a look at my 2 weeks itinerary in Sicily ). With a scooter, unless it’s a 400cc or more, travel times would be very very long. – Sicilian driving is crazy: if you are not used to drive in the South of Italy, renting a scooter is quite dangerous. – You will need to be very careful of thieves. Even if you rent a car, it’s not recommend to leave it unattended with something inside. So you can’t really park the scooter near a wild beach and go swimmming, as you might have a bad surprise when coming back.

While renting a scooter is great for small islands (like the Aeolian islands, reachable from Sicily), it’s really not adapted to visit Sicily itself.

Enjoy your trip, and if you have other questions, don’t hesitate!

I would like to ask you for the best breathtaking panoramic/view points in Sicily. We will be driving a rent car for 4 days starting from Catania.

Hello Mariyana,

The best viewpoints of the east coast are located in Taormina and in castelmola, a small village located near by.

Hi Vincent,

My Boyfriend and I are planning to spend 4/6 weeks in Sicily and hope to see as much as possible during that time.

We are planning to fly to Palermo and spend at least 1 week there first. We were not intending on renting a car for our trip- do you think this is a bad idea? Are there any other modes of transport for getting around the island?

As we will be staying for quite a while we are not in a rush to see everything as quick as possible and can stay a few nights/ a week in each place. I would love to get your advice on the best way to get around the island and if a car is absolutely essential!

Hello Kate,

As you will spend 4/6 weeks in Sicily, it’s in my opinion even more important to rent a car.

Of course, it will be a lot easier to get around with a car, but that’s not all: during such a long trip on the island, you will probably want to explore remote “secret” places, villages, go hiking in the mountain, find secret beaches and so on. And all this can only be done with car, as public transportation in Sicily is rather limited.

Of course, if you want to stick to the main highlights of the island and you have the time, you can for example do something similar to my 2 weeks itinerary in Sicily , but by bus, on a slower pace. That works too!

So it really depends on what you plan to visit, what kind of things you enjoy doing while traveling. In my personal opinion, the complete freedom you get when doing a road trip is totally worth the amount spent on the rental car!

If you really don’t want to rent a car, here are the options you will have in terms of public transports:

– You can take the train. Here is the train schedules: Trenitalia . – You can also take the bus. There are 3 main bus companies: Interbus , SAIS and AST .

However, please note that public transport in Sicily is not very reliable. Most of the time, trains and buses will arrive or depart late.

If you need help to plan your stay in Sicily, don’t hesitate to ask me!

Enjoy your trip,

First of all, I would like to thank you for all the lovely guides you’ve put on this website. They are really useful and in-depth, so thank you for that! I was hoping to get your advice in certain aspects!

Around August 15, I’m flying to Palermo to start a 1-month trip in and around Sicily. I’m 21 years old and I’m going to travel by myself, hoping to meet a lot of new people and to have a wonderful time. I’m just going to travel with 1 large backpack. I’m not planning on renting a car, but I will just travel by train mostly (and sometimes take a bus or taxi). I should also note that I’m a real fan of nature, so I love hiking & visiting coastlines, coves, mountains, … and I’m not really into museum and churches.

I’m planning on visiting the following cities ( in this order):

Palermo (+ Mondello) – Cefalù – Milazzo & the Aeolian islands (Vulcano + Lipari + Salina + Stromboli) – Taormina – Etna visit – Catania – Siracusa & Ortigia island – Ragusa or Noto – Agrigento (Valley of Temples & Scala dei Turchi) – Castelvetrano (for Selinunte) – Trapani + Erice – the 3 Aegadian islands – Monte Cofano and ending in Palermo again.

Next up, I have a couple of questions:

– Should you advice me to visit Enna or Messina? I could integrate both of them in my tour, but I’m not sure if it is really worth the extra time? At first sight, it appeared to me that those cities were not as interesting as the rest of my planned tour.

– I saw you adviced both Noto, Modica or Ragusa, but I think I will only visit 1 of them ( or maybe 2). Currently, Noto & Ragusa seem the nicest to me. In case you would have to choose between them, which one do you believe is the nicest one to visit?

– Do you think it is feasible to book everything just day by day? That includes tickets for museums, ferry tickets, train tickets, hotels (or hostels,…)? Or do you really suggest me to book in advance? ( I would like to avoid this though as I want to have to freedom to stay as long as I want in the places I want to spend more time than anticipated.) This implies that I book my hotels like 24 or 12 hours in advance only.

– Do you have any advice in general before I head off? (Concerning travelling by train or items I should definitely take with me in back pack? Tips and tricks to survive Sicily in the summer?)

I’m really looking forward to your advice! Don’t hesitate to send me a private PM as well, I can show you a powerpoint I prepared with everything that I have planned in my trip. Please also let me know if I should skip some cities and focus more on others instead!

Thanks in advance!

Andreas Windels

Hello Andrea,

Thank you!I’m glad my blog is helping you plan your trip to Sicily.

Regarding your questions about your itinerary:

1) Messina is not worth it. Enna is charming and offers beautiful views over the whole of Sicily, but it’s really quite small. So as it takes quite much time to get there by train, you might want to skip it.

2) I recommend visiting Noto, Modica and Ragusa in 1 day because by car they are very close to one another. So it’s super easy! By train or bus, it’s definitely better to choose just one or two. For me, Noto was the more impressive as it has a few very beautiful monuments. It’s a very nice place, even if small (it will not take you a full day to visit for sure).

3) You can book day by day for the museums and the ferry. For the train, I’m not sure how it works in Sicily but booking your ticket 24 hours in advance should be enough. For hotels or hostels, it’s more complicated. There are already many hotels that are fully booked in August. With Covid, many Italians aren’t going abroad and prefer to spend their holidays in Sicily. So the destination is even more popular than usual! In some places like Cefalù, the Aeolian Islands and Taormina, it would be a lot better to book in advance. At the last minute, you will just end up with prices and “not that good” accomodations.

4) I haven’t travelled in Sicily by train, but I have seen several warnings that they are often late (same for buses).

I think your itinerary is great. You will enjoy your stay in Sicily for sure!

Hey Vincent, thanks for your previous reply!

I’m planning my visits on the northcoast of the Sicily right now. Regarding the Aeolian islands, I’ve noticed that booking hotels is quite expensive, so I’ve decided to stay in Lipari for 3 days (as it is the biggest island, it provides the most possible hotels and air bnb’s.)

I would then use my time there to visit the several islands by ferry. I would discover Lipari on the day of arrival (maybe with a scooter or bike) and we’ll do a boat excursion to Panarea & Stromboli on the 2nd day. My question now is, what to visit on the final day? Vulcano seems like a unique experience, while Salina seems very quiet and peaceful. And what about the remote islands of Alicudi & Filicudi? Would you advise me to visit only 2-3 islands and take my time in doing so or would you recommend to visit all of them in like half a day?

I’m looking forward to your feedback regarding these Aeolian islands.

Kind regards!

Hello Andreas,

You are welcome!

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to help you too much with the Aeolian Islands because I don’t know all of them very well (especially Salina, Alicudi and Filicudi, I can’t tell you if they are worth it or not).

But for sure you should at least plan 1 day per island. It will be impossible to visit them all by spending only half a day on each one.

For the last day, I think the best thing is to wait until you are there to decide. It will allow you to ask your hotel about the details + to decide depending on what you feel like doing that day!

Have a nice day,

Hello, Vincent and thank you for this wonderful resource. My wife and I are planning to spend one week in Sicily next July (2022.). Before I read your blog my plan was to rent an Airbnb in Cefalu because of the beach and then take day trips from there. Now that I have read your comments, I wonder if you would have a different suggestion. We would really like to be by a sandy beach but we are flexible as to where on the island. Do you have a better suggestion?

Hello Gerry,

Thank you very much! I’m glad that my article about the best things to do in Sicily is helping you to prepare your trip.

If you want to be close to a sandy beach and spend the week in one accommodation, you should in my opinion stay around San Vito lo Capo or Castellammare del Golfo.

From there you can visit: – The Zingaro nature reserve – The Monte Cofano nature reserve – Trapani and Erice medieval village – The Aegadian Islands (Favignana) – The temple of Segesta – Marsala

If you want to know more about these places, you can also read my articles: – Trapani: The 10 best things to do – Zingaro nature Reserve – Palermo: The 15 things to do in the capital

It’s better than Cefalu to organize day trips, there are a lot more places to visit in the area.

Enjoy your stay in Sicily!

First of all, Vincent, I can’t get over what a valuable and generous resource you provide. I will look into it right away and perhaps bother you again with a question or two. Thank you again.

Yes, please do not hesitate if you have any further questions about planning your trip to Sicily.

Hello Vincent, Love your help…… we land in Palermo on Wednesday night and we’re thinking of going to Siracusa the next day and visit Taormina and possibly Ragusa too before we head back to Palermo on Saturday. So we can see Palermo too… our flight leaves at 9.00pm on Sunday. My questions are as follows: 1. Should we go to Siracusa and what is the best way to go? We are not renting a car.

2. Should we base in Siracusa? How should we go to Taormina?

Kind regards, Manisha

Hello Manisha,

If you don’t plan to rent a car, you will have to take the train or bus to get around Sicily. You can check the timetables and fares on this website: OMIO

All the visits you want to do are quite far from Palermo. For example it takes more than 4 hours to go from Palermo to Syracuse by car (even more by bus/train). You will already lose a whole day to go there and back. And to go from Syracuse to Taormina by public transport, it takes about 2 hours. To do what you planned, it’s much better to land at Catania airport.

If you arrive in Palermo, I really advise you to visit the west of Sicily (San Vito, Trapani, Erice, Zingaro, temple of Segeste, Favignana).

I am already booked to fly into Palermo since that was the only airport with a direct flight. I was thinking of going to Siracusa and staying there for 2 nights and doing a day trip to Taormina. How do I get to Taormina from Siracusa and how long does it take for a day trip?

You can take the train or bus as I have mentioned in my previous comment, simply click on the Omio orange link above to check the timetables and book a ticket. For Syracuse Taormina, the train is a bit faster than the bus. (With the bus, you generally need to take 2 buses: 1 from Syracuse to Catania and then another one from Catania to Taormina. The train that goes to Taormina from Syracuse takes 2h45. Considering you need time to go to from your hotel to the train station, need to arrive a bit in advance etc… Round trip, that’s more than 6 hours of transport in 1 day. It’s a lot!

You have 4 full days in Sicily (roughly 40 hours of day time), and you plan to spend:

6 hours to go from Palermo to Syracuse 6 hours to go from Syracuse to Taormina and back 6 hours to get back to Palermo for your return flight

That’s 18 hours (and I am being very conservative, in real it can end up being quite more if you include train station to hotel transfert time, waiting time etc.), almost half your visit time in Sicily, in the public transports. That’s why I said I couldn’t recommend you this itinerary, it won’t even be enjoyable. After you do as you please, but really, it’s a question of ethics: I can’t recommend you do organize your stay like this (but after, you do as you please of course!)

Have a nice trip!

Hello Vincent I have just discovered your blog and it’s really helpful. My husband and I are flying into Palermo in April and have 9 nights in Sicily. We want to see as much of the island as possible and are contemplating multiple sites dotted around the coast to spend 1/2 nights at each. We are hiring a car. It all looks so beautiful but can you offer some advice. Thank you, Anna

Hello Anna,

To give you an idea of what you can do in 10 days with an arrival in Palermo, I recommend you to read my other article: 10 days itinerary in Sicily .

During this trip, you will discover all the must-see places in Western Sicily: Palermo, Agrigento, Selinunte, Trapani, Scopello, Castellammare. As Sicily is a really big island, in 10 days, it’s better to focus on the Western part of Sicily. And come back another time to visit the East!

My husband and I are planning to go to the Amalfi Coast and Sicily (east side) for 14 days at the end of August 2022. I am 70 years old and my husband is 73. WE are both in good shape. Can you please tell me, do you think this is too much. Also, we were not planning to rent a car. Could you please suggest an itinerary for us along with accomodations.

I read your blog and found it very interesting.

Much appreciated.

Neil Katz (Toronto, Ontario CANADA)

Hello Neil,

Unfortunately, I can’t help you for your trip to the Amalfi Coast as I didn’t have the chance to visit it yet.

About Sicily, if you only want to do the East Side, you can have a look at this itinerary: One week in Sicily detailed itinerary Here you can find all the things to do and my selection of accomodations.

For this itinerary I recommend to rent a car, but if you don’t want too, you can do it by bus and train. In that case, maybe you can spend 9-10 days there and do a similar itinerary at a slower pace.

Enjoy your trip in Sicily!

Hi Vincent, Thanks for the great info about 2 weeks in Sicily 🇮🇹 My husband and I are going to Sicily for 3 weeks in September 2022. We have rented a car for the whole period, and we are planning to drive around the island. We have a few questions, which we hope you will kindly answer 😊 1) Your trip goes clockwise, we are thinking about doing the opposite starting in Catania driving to Taormina, Palermo etc. Is there a good reason why you suggest to go clockwise around the island? 2) We would like to rent a bike 2 or 3 days during the vacation. Is there 2 or 3 areas on the island you can recommend for mountain and race bike? 3) We have seen photos on Instagram of a new hotel called Villa Saraceni at Scala Dei Turchi that should open in 2022, but we haven’t been able to find further information. Any chance you can help? We are looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you in advance. Kind regards Marc and Ulrikke 🕺🏻💃

Hi Ulrikke,

That sounds like a nice trip!

1) You can definitely do it in reverse, this is really up to your preferences.

2) For biking, the first place that comes to my mind is Favignana island, as it can only be visited by bike. Then, you can also probably rent bikes around the Parco delle Madonie (near Cefalu) and the Parco dei Nebrodi (north east of Sicily).

3) this hotel doesn’t exist, the picture you saw is a 3d render.

It’s not possible to build anything there, as it’s a protected area.

Enjoy your trip to Sicily, and if you have other questions, don’t hesitate!

Wow what a brilliant article. I am off to Sicily for five days late next week and this has been extremely helpful. Thanks so much!

Hello Vincent! Thanks a lot for your articles about Sicilly, I guess I’ve read all of them 🙂 Could you please help me and answer several specific questions? Small backround info: travel time – end of March-beginning of April, we are traveling with 2 kids (2 and 8 y.o.) by a rental car. We love more nature beauty than historical sights. So, back to the questions: 1) Alcantara gorges – is it possible to walk there to see te beauty of the place, since I am not sure that it is possible to do kayaking with a small child. 2) Zingaro natural reserve. Is it worth a visit in April when the water is to cold for swimming. I really want to go there, but if we do, we need to change the itinerary a lot, since we will have 8 full days on Sicilly arriving and departing from Catania. I am hesitating between 2 options now: – stay in the eastern part without rush -skip Syracuse and Taormina and try to make a bigger circle including Etna vulcano, Cefalu, Zingaro reserve, Marsala and Erice, Agrigento-Catania. Do you think second option is doable if we have 8 full days (+2 days for arrival and departure)

Hello Daria,

Thanks a lot! I’m glad that my articles on visiting Sicily are helping you prepare for your trip.

Regarding your questions: 1) Yes there is a small part of the Alcantara Gorges accessible on foot. 2) The Zingaro reserve is beautiful in all seasons. Even if you can’t go swimming, it’s worth taking a walk along the way to enjoy the scenery. But it’s a long way from Catania.

As for your hesitation, that’s really up to you. If you don’t mind doing a lot of driving every day, it might be possible to do a loop. You can look at the journey times on Google maps to give you an idea of the distances.

But of course it would be more relaxing to visit only the east of Sicily if you’re arriving and departing from Catania.

I’d recommend visiting the west by arriving and departing from Palermo, as it’s much more practical. I hope this helps.

Enjoy your family trip to Sicily!

Thanks a lot for your pompt answers, it helps a lot. One more question about Zingaro natural reserve. You wrote that it’s 7 km long and that you did a round trip in 4 hours? Looks like it is nor a round trip, judging by time. Is there some public transport that helps you get back to the southern entrance, if you started from the southern part and reached the northern part?

You’re welcome!

Yes, that’s right, it took us 4 hours to walk there and back (including the photo breaks). There’s no mistake. No, there’s no public transport, you have to do the round trip.

One more question from me:) It is very subjective, but still. If you had a choice between Taormina and Ortigio, which one would you choose, what impressed you more?

Taormina feels more special as the setting of the town is quite unique (the view, the roman theater). But keep in mind it’s also more turistic. Ortigia feels more like an italian old town where italian people actually still live.

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A Sicily bucket list: 20 of the best things to do

Updated On 1st February, 2024

If you’re looking for the best things to do on your next trip to Sicily, you’ve arrived at the right place. Sicily has got to be one of the best places to visit in Italy… even if it feels worlds away from the main cities to visit such as  Rome  or Milan. Beautiful cities, wonderful views, stunning beaches and an active volcano… Where do you start on your Sicilian adventure!?

In this blog post, I am going to share what, in my opinion, are the best things to do in Sicily, the best places to visit in Sicily and the best things to eat and drink when in Sicily. If this is your first adventure in  Italy , you’re in for a treat. Depending on if you’re planning to visit more than one region, you may like to read my  guide to Palermo, Sicily  or my  ultimate Rome travel guide.

I am lucky enough to be able to see Sicily from my bedroom window. Living in the South of  Italy  has its perks. Being right on my doorstep, I’ve taken many an opportunity to explore this hidden gem of an island – and I’ve barely scratched the surface so far. It’s one of  Europe’s most hidden gems ; tourists are very quick to flock to the capital of  Rome , to the romantic city of Florence, to go on a gondola in Venice or to the fashionable city of Milan… and stunning Sicily is often overlooked. But with fantastic local produce, a fascinating Greek history, as well as diverse landscapes such as beaches, mountains and active volcanoes (which you can ski on!), visiting Sicily is definitely one of the  best things to do in Europe .

There’s so much to see and do on this beautiful island, and so I’ve put together a bucket list of the best things to do in Sicily to inspire you to go on an adventure there…

Blog posts and travel guides you may find useful:

• Europe: The Ultimate Travel Guide
• The best things to do in Palermo, Sicily
• How to spend a weekend in Rome, Italy
• An 8-day itinerary through France & Switzerland
• A summer guide to Chamonix, France
• A 3-day road trip through Normandy, Northern France
• A weekend skiing in La Plagne, France
• A spring weekend in Annecy, France
• A guide to driving from England to Portugal

EXPLORE EUROPE ON THE BLOG HERE

Here’s the ultimate bucket list and the best things to do in Sicily, Italy…

1. explore the historical city of palermo..

The capital of the island is over 2,700 years old, and full of culture and architecture to show for it. Famous for its history and street food, it’s a stunning city to walk around and perfect for a weekend break. Some of the best things to do in Sicily are to try and catch a show at the Teatro Massimo while you’re exploring Palermo, and be sure to visit the markets for street food or a night out! Just outside the city lies the beautiful beach of Mondello, which is definitely worth a visit.

A complete guide to Palermo, Sicily

2. Hike Mount Etna.

The highest volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world… get your hiking boots out, this is absolutely one of the best things to do in Sicily!

Mount Etna National Park spans over 220 square miles and 20 towns, meaning you’ll see a variety of barren areas of lava, volcanic craters, woods and vineyards on your travels there. You can even ski down Mt Etna! To reach the summit you have to be on a guided tour (and you can’t always reach the summit if Etna’s feeling particularly active that day), but the views when you reach the top are extraordinary.

Check out my  beginner’s guide to hiking here .

EXPLORE ACTIVE TRAVEL ON THE BLOG HERE

3. Have dinner in a cave in Catania.

A Putia Dell’Ostello is a restaurant in a cave – and the experience is very cool! When I went we were lucky enough to get a table right in centre, right by the stream that runs through the cave. The food was good (but not the best I’ve had in Sicily), and if you don’t fancy dinner you can just go for drinks.

EXPLORE CITY BREAKS ON THE BLOG HERE

4. Go swimming in the Alcantara Gorge.

This spot is often overlooked by tourists but very popular with locals in the summer! You can hike up the gorge and then climb down to swim or paddle in the refreshingly cool water.

Canyoning is also an option if you fancy a bit more of an adrenaline rush!

Check out my  guide to planning your next adventure here .

5. Enjoy the amphitheatre in Taormina.

Taormina is absolutely stunning and one of the top places to visit in Sicily! Take the bus up from the train station and spend some time visiting the little independent boutique stores, as well as the world-famous ancient Greek amphitheatre. If you’re lucky and you time your visit right, you might be able to watch a show there!

Top tip:  Many museums and cultural sites in Italy have free entry on the first Sunday of the month. If you don’t time your visit for then, most also have reduced rates for EU citizens between the ages of 18-25!

While you’re in the Taormina area don’t miss…

• Isola Bella.  A tiny but beautiful island just off the coast! Great if you want to relax on the beach for a while.
• Castelmola.  A village above Taormina that is built into the ruins of a Norman castle. The views are incredible! There is also a very cheeky bar called ‘Bar Turrisi’ that has anything and everything shaped as a penis…! Good for a girly visit and a good giggle.

See my  hidden gems you must visit when planning European adventure here.

6. Join a street food tour.

Sicily is famous for its street food, and what better way to taste everything than with a local?! If food is your jam a street food tour is one of the best things to do in Sicily.

Street food tours definitely happen in Palermo and Catania, the two biggest cities on the island, but they might happen elsewhere too. Make sure you try panelle, arancine, cannoli, granita and more!

6. Wander around the ancient towns of Siracusa and Ortigia.

These world-famous ancient towns are some of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. Whether you’re into history, or just want somewhere pretty to visit – there’s something for everyone in this part of Sicily. The Ear of Dionysius was a highlight for me here. The giant, ear-shaped cave echoes marvellously when you’re inside. When I visited, a man was singing as I walked round, and it was magical.

See my  10 dreamy spring weekends in Europe here.

7. Go island hopping.

The Aeolian Islands are still on my bucket list and an adventure is one of the most beautiful and best things to do in Sicily! Island hopping across volcanic islands for a week or two sounds like the perfect adventure.

Alternatively, try the Aegadian Islands, five mountainous islands off the west coast, famous for the beautiful year-round weather (front is unknown here!) and wonderful, fresh, seafood (luckily, something that is wonderful across the South of Italy!).

Top tip: Get more  sustainability tips for travelling in Europe in this blog post !

8. Visit the Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi) in Agrigento.

Home to some of the largest and best-preserved Greek temples outside of Greece, this area of Sicily is well worth a visit if you’re into ancient history. If you’re not, the city of Agrigento itself is very modern and makes for a nice weekend break.

9. Marvel at the Scala dei Turchi.

Just outside of Agrigento, this beautiful ‘Turkish staircase’ made of marl, a white limestone rock, lies between two beaches. At the moment you cannot climb on the steps, as Sicily is trying its best to preserve this natural phenomenon, but it’s still one of the best places to visit in Sicily and makes for some epic photography!

10. Head on a yoga & kitesurfing retreat.

Floripa offer all-inclusive yoga and kitesurfing retreats in the south of Sicily.  Check out the website here.

Check out my  bucket list of wellness retreats here .

EXPLORE WELLBEING ON THE BLOG HERE

11. Enjoy traditional Sicilian puppet theatre (opera dei pupi).

Part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, you can choose to either watch a show or admire the collection of marionettes in a local museum.

Adding Rome to your Italian adventure?  Check out my complete guide to Rome here.

12. Visit the old towns of Noto, Modica and Ragusa.

These three villages are about an hour apart by car, but well worth a visit if you can as they are some of the best places to visit in Sicily! Ragusa was my personal favourite; the architecture here is absolutely stunning. Modica is famous for its raw chocolate, so make sure you give that a try! Noto is another charming town that is worth a visit, and all three are part of the Val di Noto, a group of 8 cities that are on the UNESCO world heritage list.

13. Take a day trip to Monreale.

Just outside of Palermo lies a little town with a beautiful cathedral. Make sure you pay to climb the tower and see the views across Sicily! I’d also highly recommend meandering the backstreets to visit the workshops with handmade jewellery… I wish I’d bought more!

14. Spend carnivale in Acireale.

Traditional masks and costumes, parades, lights and lots of hustle and bustle… it’s one of the best places to visit in Italy in February! Expect two weeks of family-friendly partying!

Top tip: Check out more ways to  keep fit when you’re travelling in this blog post!

15. Spend a day in the town of Cefalù.

As a popular holiday destination, this is definitely a town to enjoy off-season if you can. Enjoy walks along the coast and wandering through the old town. If you have the energy, hike up to the summit of La Rocca & Saline di Saraceni… the views are epic!

16. Say hello to the flamingos.

Yes, you read that correctly! In winter some greater flamingos migrate from Africa to Sicily. You can see them in the salt planes in Trapani and in Saline di Priolo (near Siracusa) from February through to August.

See my  22 top tips for travelling in Europe here.

17. Be at one with nature.

There are so many beautiful places to visit in Sicily if you want to get outdoors. Sicily is home to four national parks and seventy-six nature reserves… plenty of opportunity to breathe in the fresh air and go walking!

See my  21 cheap places to visit in Europe here

18. Go scuba-diving in the crystal clear waters.

The waters here are crystal blue, warm and perfectly clear… the perfect opportunity to dip your toes in the water and take a look at the fishies! The Aegadian Islands, Taormina, Naxos, the Aeolian Islands, Lampedusa and Capo Boeo are some of the best places to visit in Sicily if you love diving!

Check out my  guide to getting your PADI certificate here.

EXPLORE DIVING ON THE BLOG HERE

19. Go wine-tasting.

Sicily is known for some of the best wine in the world, and the island is home to many wineries and vineyards where you can taste the wines before you buy them to take back with you!

Top tip: Check out  how to pack a weekend away in a carry-on suitcase here!

20. Road trip around the whole island.

Something I would love to do, if I can find the time! Fly to Sicily, hire a car for 2-3 weeks and spend some time making your way around the whole island and ticking everything off this bucket list! If you don’t drive, the route can be done with some careful planning of buses and trains.

EXPLORE ROAD TRIPS ON THE BLOG HERE

See my  bucket list of van life road trips in Europe here.

EXPLORE ITALY ON MY BLOG HERE

Have you been to Sicily? What do you think are the best things to do in Sicily?

What were your favourite things to do in Sicily? I’d love to know!

Love as always and happy adventuring…

Did you find this post helpful? I’d love you to share it for me.

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ITALY , SICILY

Things to know before travelling in sicily.

“I am not Italian, I am Sicilian”. Words from the lips of my husband, whose family hails from the southeastern coast of Sicily. While Sicily is technically a region of Italy, it differs greatly and has a complete identity of its own. In fact, when travelling in Sicily, you’ll often question yourself, is it part of Italy at all?

Table of Contents

Getting to know Sicily

Having travelled through the country of Italy pretty extensively, Sicily is the region where I have spent the greatest amount of time, and have explored the greatest in-depth.

In the 10 years, I have been going to the island, I can tell you that it is nothing like any other region in the country. If you were blindfolded and dropped into the heart of Sicily, you may struggle to identify where you are, because everything from the culture, language, architecture and even the cuisine differs so much from the mainland.

In fact, I can’t tell you how many people have told me after returning from a holiday there how surprised they were to travel to Sicily and struggle to understand the locals because locals speak the Sicilian dialect, which is totally different from the Italian taught in lessons and in guidebooks.

Nonetheless, Sicily is a pleasant surprise for anyone wishing to travel there and while the island definitely has its challenges and differences, you won’t find many other places with a such a diversity in culture, mouth-watering food, stunning beaches and warm-hearted people.

So if you ask me is it worth visiting Sicily? Of course! But there are some things you should know before you travel to Sicily which you should take note of.

Planning a trip to Sicily

Sicily is a very diverse island and, there is so much to see and do that planning a trip to Sicily can take time. While it may look small and compact, Sicily’s top sights are pretty spread out and it would be impossible to see and do everything in one trip. To plan your trip to Sicily, you first want to decide how long you want to travel to Sicily for because this will greatly determine where you should go, how much you can see and your overall experience on the island.

The best time to visit Sicily

Sicily is one of only a few destinations in Europe that I would recommend visiting at any time of the year. If you want to avoid crowds and hot temperatures, you’ll want to travel in the Spring or Fall time, from March to June and October through to November.

Extreme temperatures, crowds and higher costs can be expected in July, August and September, so advanced planning in these months are especially important as hotels, resorts, ferries and beaches will be at their busiest. Sicily is one of the hottest regions in Italy with temperatures soaring well into the 90s (30 degree Celsius plus) in July and August. If you suffer from heat-related health issues avoid these two months.

The off-season (November to March) can be chilly, but you’ll at least have the sights and much of the island to yourself. Note that some services won’t be available in this period, particularly in the tourist towns because hotels will be closed for renovations and certain resorts, shops and restaurants only operate in peak season.

How to travel around Sicily

When planning a trip to Sicily, be sure to plan your cities in a logical route. You’ll want to avoid skipping from south to north, to west then east as you’ll waste a lot of time travelling in between.

Roads and infrastructure in Sicily are very different to the richer regions on the mainland of Italy, so travelling from point to point, especially if you plan on using public transport takes time.

Decide if you want to travel around Sicily by car (my recommended method), or be more adventurous and use public transport. Public transport in Sicily is sparse and unpredictable outside the main cities. Trains connect most of the large cities and buses fill the gaps, but slow services, reduced schedules on weekends and festivals make this quite challenging.

Do not underestimate distances in Sicily

Sicily is the biggest island in the Mediterranean and while it may look small, it actually takes over 3 hours to drive to Palermo to Siracusa. A lot of people underestimate the distances in Sicily, and some don’t even realise that there are some small mountains in Sicily (excluding Mount Etna) that makes driving distances even longer as most of the highways tend to be built around them rather than through them.

Don’t be fooled into thinking you can do Palermo, Siracusa and, Taormina ins a quick 3 or 4 days. These 3 cities alone need a minimum of 7 nights.

Renting a car in Sicily

Renting a car in Sicily is our preferred method of getting around the island and my biggest recommendation for anyone travelling to Sicily.

If you have limited time, renting a car will give you the maximum amount of freedom, flexibility and it will save you so much time. Always make sure you book your car well in advance if you are travelling in peak season as car availability is scarce in the months of July and August.

I also highly recommend renting a small car because parking is a big issue is the big cities and at popular beach sites. Sicily also has narrow streets and tight roads, so if you hire a big SUV don’t be surprised if you find yourself getting stuck with on-coming traffic.

Crazy Sicilian Drivers

Sicilians have a bit of a reputation for being some of the worst drivers in Italy. They will cut you up, pull out of streets in front of you, drive super fast (often very recklessly) and their parking abilities are abysmal.

So if you end up renting a car in Sicily, be super cautious, always check multiple times before pulling out of an intersection and be on the lookout for youngsters driving on scooters as they often speed along the streets during the summer without the required protective gear on to and from the beach and are often the casualties of road accidents in the summer.

Tips for Travelling in Sicily

Sicily can make even the most experienced traveller wrecked with nerves with its carefree attitude to timetables, lack of infrastructure and nonchalant approach to getting anything done on time. If you travel to Sicily with an open mind, positive attitude, a go with the flow approach and armed with the best information, you’ll have the most incredible experience and you’ll be wanting to go back to the island time and time again. My tips for travelling to Sicily are made up of first-hand experiences and advice that family members have given to me to pass on to friends and family who have travelled to Sicily. So I hope you find these useful in planning and navigating your away around this beautiful island.

Sicilian dialect is different from Italian

I thought I was going crazy. I had practised speaking Italian and I was even taking a course so I could speak to my then-boyfriend (now husband) in his native language, but I couldn’t for the life of me understand anyone in Sicily. That is because they speak in the Sicilian dialect which is totally different (almost a completely different language) to traditional Italian.

English is widely spoken and understood in many of the touristic areas in Sicily, but the moment you travel away and get into the more rural areas, you’ll find locals only speak the Sicilian dialect. I highly recommend learning some key phrases in Italian before you go to Sicily because at the very least if you speak some Italian, they will understand you and the communication won’t be completely broken down. If you get truly stuck, use a translation app or ask a younger local who may be able to understand broken English.

Money Issues

Cash is king in Sicily. You’ll need to have euros in cash to pay for multiple things in Sicily, from toll roads, shopping in markets, parking fees, some entry tickets and of course espressos and ice creams!

ATMs are widely available so you can easily withdraw cash as you need it but use only ATMs that are attached to banks as others are privately owned and can charge you a high fee for withdrawing.

Be careful if you carry large sums of money with you. I highly suggest only carrying enough cash on you that you need and hiding the rest of the cash out of sight or in a different wallet. Certainly don’t flash cash around in cafes, restaurants or supermarkets and do not carry your wallet in your back pockets.

Be also mindful of being short-changed. This happens fairly regularly, especially from market stallholders so always count your change.

Eat Granita for breakfast every day

You know the saying “When in Rome?”. Well, when in Sicily, do what the locals do and indulge in a granita for breakfast. This slushy like ice cream is made entirely from fruit and ice and it is often served in a glass with a warm brioche (like sweet soft bread). Typically flavours are strawberry (Fragola), lemon (Limone), Mandola (Almond), Coffee (Caffe) and Mixed Berries (Gelsi) although I have also seen Orange (Arancia), Pistachio (Pistachio) and Chocolate.

Prepare to slow down and adapt to the Sicilian time

Like many Mediterranean countries, many shops and businesses take a siesta or “ pausa pomeridiana”  and close between 1:00 pm and 4:30 pm (sometimes even later). So if you want to get your groceries, I highly recommend getting them in the morning. Afternoons, especially in the summer months, are for resting, as the heat of the midday is often very strong. You’ll even see most locals leave the beach around noon to go for lunch and stay out of the strong sun and return later around 4:00 pm.

If you use public transport in Sicily, prepare for trains and buses to arrive and depart late. As I said earlier, schedules are more like guidelines and you can never rely on arriving anywhere on time.

Visit markets in the morning

If you want to shop locally and enjoy some of the freshest and most delicious produce while in Sicily, you’ll want to head to the local outdoor markets for your groceries. Some of the most famous ones are in Ortigia (Siracusa), Catania’s fish market in Piazza Carlo Alberto and Palermo’s Ballaro.

But head there early morning. This is not only the coolest time of the day, but it is when the fresh fish is laid out. If you wait until the afternoon, you’ll often find no fish left. Bread (pane) is also best purchased either in the morning or late afternoon from a bakery ( panettiere ) when they reopen after the siesta.

Outdoor markets in Sicily are an incredible experience and it will heighten all your senses. The colours, smell and sounds of the market merchants shouting to sell their fresh fish is a fun experience!

Don’t mention the “M” word

While Hollywood may have glorified the mafia in films like The Godfather, Sicilian’s have actually had to deal with the consequences of the Mafia in real life for over a century and the fastest way to get a Sicilian on the defensive is to bring the Mafia up. While the Mafia’s firm grip on the island has loosened in recent decades, organised crime is still prevalent in Sicily, and many business owners still have to pay a second form of tax that goes to organised crime for so-called protection to be allowed to operate their businesses without problems.

Tourists are extremely unlikely to be directly affected by any mob violence or dealings with the Mafia, and in fact, if you do brush shoulders with a Mafia member you won’t even know it.

There are hundreds of establishments, hotels and restaurants in Sicily that have said no to organised crime. In Palermo, you can grab a “pizzo-free” map of places that have signed an anti-extortion charter.

Sicily is safe

It is a question that I get asked a lot from friends and family who think about travelling to Sicily for their holiday. Sicily is very safe and it is a wonderful destination for families as well as couples, so you should ignore anything negative that you read online. Solo travellers (especially females) may want to stick to the big cities and avoid taking public transport alone, as they may fall victim to pickpocketing. I also wouldn’t recommend driving around Sicily alone if you’re not familiar with driving in Italy.

The people of Sicily are very welcoming and kind, and as long as you stick to the main tourist sites, you’ll manage just fine without the need to speak Italian. Wander off the beaten path a little and you’ll still find the warm hospitality, just with a little less English.

There are plenty of family-friendly places in Sicily and some beautiful seaside resorts for those who want a typical beach holiday and some sightseeing, while others may want to be on the road exploring 24/7. Whichever option you choose, you’ll have a fantastic time in Sicily and will surely want to return again and again.

Sicilian Opening Hours & Planning Ahead

One of the biggest challenges we have found when travelling in Sicily is the sporadic opening and closing times of sights, restaurants, cafes and shops. As I mentioned above, most businesses, including sights and archaeological sites close during lunchtime, typically from 12:00 pm to around 4 or 5 pm in the afternoon. Some also do not allow admission from 1 hour before closing time.

On top of that, some sights and shops also close on Mondays. But then there are others that are open every day of the week in the peak season (April to mid-October). My biggest advice would be to always plan one or two days ahead and always check the opening and closing times of sights . We have arrived at a few places in the past and found them to be closed so always check before setting off for the day or plan ahead one or two days.

If you travel in low season this advice also applies as some sights will operate limited hours.

Avoid the weekends on the beach

During the summer months, the weekends (Sunday is the worst) are typically the busiest days on the beach as locals who work during the week also go there. This can mean crowded beaches, limited loungers and parking and in some lidos, higher fees. Whenever we go to Sicily in the summer, we always find alternative activities to do on the weekends, such as exploring on of Sicily’s cities or going only going to the beach very early morning before the crowds arrive. Leave it to 10 am and it is already too late.

Visiting churches

Religion is a big deal in Sicily and no doubt you’ll visit one or two churches during your explorations. If you plan on entering any church or Duomo, you must ensure your shoulders and knees are covered at all times as a sign of respect. You should also remove any hats, and respect the rules inside churches in regards to photography and noise.

Many (but not all) churches are open in the morning from 8 till 12, and some are open after 4 PM. Some churches may also charge an admission to enter certain areas of the premises including museums, domes or cloisters.

Eat as much local cuisine as you can

If you’re a big foodie, then travelling to Sicily will surely give you a mouthgasm. Sicilian cuisine isn’t too different from normal Italian cuisine, except Sicilian’s love to experiment with flavour. Sicily has a great variety of locally grown produce from lemons, to pistachios, oregano and tomatoes to name but a few, so you’re definitely in for a treat when it comes to mealtimes.

Since Sicily is an island, you can expect to find a lot of fresh fish in Sicilian diets including Bluefin Tuna, Swordfish, Octopus, Squid and a lot of shellfish.

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Read my tried and tested 7 day Sicily itinerary covering the east and southern coast!

Top day trips from catania

Staying in Catania? Find out what the top 16 day trips from Catania are, where to find them and how to get there!

Western sicily’s highlights

From the vibrant bazaar-like markets of Palermo to the white sandy beach of San Vito Lo Capo, we explore the wondrous wild west of Sicily.

6 thoughts on “ Things to know before travelling in Sicily ”

I lived & worked in Sicily in the spring of 2001 (b 4 the dreaded Euro!) Everything except famous brand name apparel was cheap. The Catania 6/7 days market was huge, awesome & CHEAP. Sicilians are very humble, gentle friendly folk. Respect them & you will be “rewarded” 10 fold. I fell in love with “the mountain”. I was in awe up & down. It almost appears “sacred” to Sicilians, who visit there a lot with the family. I fell in love with the granita & brioche sweet rolls. The best gelato on earth is in Via Etnea, near “Coin” super-store – “Scardachi”. The best pasta based meal was with grilled parmison/anchovy. I could go on for days “‘glorifying” Sicily. Just go there & enjoy it.

Excellent, comprehensive research that spares one’s time before travelling. Thanks for posting! Love Italy as a whole and miss every single place I’ve seen, including Sicilia and long to see the places I haven’t been to yet!

Ah thank you! There is more to see in Italy than anyone could do in a lifetime I think! 🙂

I have been to Sicily many times & love it. There is so much to see & do but just walking in the towns & soaking up the sights & sounds is fabulous. Everyone should put Sicily on their ” must see” lists.

Hi, Thanks!My grandfather was born in Ustica.In 2019.I went to Palermo to see where he lived.I so wanted to back this year to see more of Sicily.When I was there I felt like I was home.It was wonderful!I found my sir name everywhere.Had lunch in a restaurant Basile Foacacceria del Massimo with everyone speaking the native tongue except me.It was so much fun. e

Hi Thomas! Ah so great that you were able to visit Palermo where your Grandfather lived. It is a great city! We hope to return this summer as we missed our annual trip last year due to COVID. Hope you will get to re-visit again and you’ll have to explore more of the island! 🙂

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21 Best Places to Visit in Sicily for Nature and Culture

Are you planning to visit Sicily for the first time? Here I am sharing my curated list of the best must-visit places in Sicily for nature, history, and culture .

The number of interesting and beautiful places to visit in Sicily is countless. Deciding where to go in Sicily and which are the best places to see might be a tough task. At least it was a challenge for me when I was putting together my 2-week Sicily road trip itinerary . 

From azure beaches and atmospheric coastal towns like Cefalù , to the finest baroque architecture of Val di Noto towns, chaotic but charming streets of Palermo and Catania, mysterious medieval mountain villages like Gangi, to hiking spectacular natural reserves like Lo Zingaro, or even scaling the crater of the active volcano Etna , just to mention a few of the must-see attractions in Sicily . Add Aeolian and Egadian islands , and you immediately realize that even one month in Sicily may not be enough.

The question is which ones out of the many wonderful things to do and places to see in Sicily to include in your trip? Depending on how much time you have for visiting Sicily, where in Sicily you land, and also your area of interest, you can choose a few or even all of them.

• Make sure to also read: my 30 practical tips for visiting Sicily, Italy .
• Find The most beautiful small coastal towns and fishing villages in Sicily.

To help you make your pick, I have listed 21 top places to visit in Sicily. My ultimate Sicily bucket list covers a mix of cultural and natural sights- gorgeous Sicilian towns, beautiful beaches, historic sites, pretty islands, and mountain villages. I also share suggested interesting things to do and places to stay, as well as some logistic tips that are useful when planning your own itinerary.

In this the best places in Sicily guide, I included both- famous attractions for those of you who want to tick off some or all the most important sights in Sicily, and several less-visited places in Sicily that are perfect for those of you who are looking for going a little off the beaten path and getting acquainted with local Sicilian life.

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links, which means that I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). This helps to keep my blog running and growing by creating more awesome free content for you.

Top 21 must-visit places in Sicily: things to do and must-see attractions

Here is a list of the best places to see and things to do in Sicily for the first time.

1. Palermo- the charming capital of Sicily

Visit Palermo for an unfiltered street life experience, the best street food in the world, historical monuments, and culture.

No Sicily trip can be complete without getting to know its charismatic capital, Palermo- a must-visit place in Sicily. Recognized as the most conquered city in history, Palermo boasts an incredible wealth of historical sights, countless impressive churches, and monuments, many of which are UNESCO listed. Also known as the number one place for street food in the world, Palermo is gritty, rough around its edges, raw, and laud.

Within its textured walls you will encounter a mixture of people from different continents, colorful markets, gold-plated churches, and grand palaces, always bustling Quatri Canto, a lively Mondelo beach set against the Pellegrino mountain. In short, Palermo is a complete contrast to everything else you will see in Sicily.

I recommend spending at least 2 days in this fantastic city. But if you have only a day, some must-sees in Palermo are Palermo Cathedral, The Norman Palace, The Ballaro open-air market, Quattro Canti, Fontana Pretoria (known as a fountain of shame), and, of course, street food.

• Logistics: located Northwest of Sicily, Palermo airport is a popular entry point to Sicily. Capital Palermo is perfect for starting your west Sicily itinerary. Also, it is a great base for day trips to close-by attractions like Mondelo beach, Monreale Cathedral, or Cefalù seaside town.
• Where to stay in Palermo: STORIE DI PALERMO .

2. Etna- the highest and the most active volcano in Europe

Visit Etna for outdoor adventure, nature, hiking, and mountains.

Europe’s most active and one of the World’s most active volcanoes, Etna is a must-visit attraction in Sicily . The most prominent natural landmark rising at 3295 meters (10810 feet) height, Etna dominates the landscapes of Eastern Sicily. Its snow-capped peaks and on the active days-flowing lava accompanied by black fumes are visible from many surrounding towns, like Taormina, or Catania.

Regularly erupting every year, Etna is responsible for several fatal events in Sicily’s past.

However, on Etna’s quiet days, the best way to get acquainted with this mighty giant is to go on a hike through the lava fields and take a closer glimpse at its craters.

To do so, the best way is to join one of many one-day or half-day guided tours which usually depart from Catania or Taormina. Some of them provide pick-up from the hotel service in their 4×4 cars. Or if you have a car, it is possible to drive up to the base camp at Rifugio Sapienza , which is a usual meet-up point for the group tours.

It is also possible to visit Etna on a self-guided trek but you have to be experienced in similar hikes and have the right equipment. 

The best Etna guided tours: You can find great tour options starting from 55 USD per person on GetYourGuide. Note that most of the tours do not include an obligatory 30 EUR cable car fee (it is unavoidable unless you are doing a grueling 1400 meters self-guided climb).

• This 6-hour tour will guide you through lava fields at 3000 meters height and includes helmet and hiking shoes if you need them. Starts at the base camp of Etna. For more info and availability click HERE .
• This 6-hour customizable small group or private light trekking tour offers a pick-up service from any accommodation in Catania, and also includes a tasting of regional Sicilian specialties. For more details, availability and bookings click HERE.
• To pick the best option according to your needs (price, time, group size, pick-up service), check the full list of Etna tours HERE .

Logistics: Etna is located in East Sicily, and is a must-visit on any eastern Sicily itinerary. Catania is a convenient base for visiting Etna on a day tour. It takes 1 hour by car to reach Etna’s base camp from Catania.

Where to stay: beautiful Living Suite Catania Pacini  in Catania

Alternatively, choose fantastic Agriturismo accommodation at the foothills of Etna: Pietra dell’Etna in Raglana village, just half an hour away from the base camp of Etna.

3. Cefalù – the postcard child of Sicily

Visit Cefalù for beautiful seaside views, beach holidays, time in nature, and romantic old town walk.

Let’s continue this Sicily bucket list with Cefalù . Cefalù is one of the most beautiful seaside towns in North East Sicily and an absolute must-visit if you love idyllic harbor towns. Chances are you might have seen images of the postcard-perfect small sandy beach set against crumbling old town walls with an imposing rock in the background.

Yep, this is Cefal ù -the picturesque coastal town in Sicily. Just to keep your expectations leveled, once a sleepy fishing village, Cefal ù now is one of the most popular destinations in Sicily. It gets particularly busy in summer. Therefore, to enjoy it with relatively fewer tourists, the best time to come is in late spring or early autumn. Cefalù can be visited as a day trip from Palermo, or as a longer multiple-day stay. 

Things not to miss in Cefalù: old harbor with the best views of Cefalù waterfront, atmospheric streets of the old town with its many restaurants and shops, Cefalù Norman Cathedral, if you have time- climb to the top of La Rocca for more spectacular views of the town and the coast.

• Logistics: 1-hour drive east of Palermo. Perfect for northwest Sicily itinerary.
• Where to stay: Villa Margherita

4. Taormina-the Pearl of Sicily, the most famous hilltop town

Visit Taormina for beautiful coastal views, an antique amphitheater, a holiday in a historical resort, shopping, and people-watching.

Renowned for its Greek-Roman Amphitheatre overlooking the rolling hills dropping into vast waters of the Ionian Sea, Taormina is the most well-known and popular hilltop town located in East Sicily.

In terms of fame, it is equivalent to Positano on the Amalfi coast. 

As a must-visit in Sicily, perched on the slopes of the hill Taormina seduces its visitors with a pretty old town. Meanwhile, at the bottom of the town, a tiny island and mini-nature reserve Isola Bella also contributes greatly to Taormina’s fame.

Due to its beautiful setup and historical value, Taormina has been a popular Sicily resort since the 19th century. It naturally evolved into a destination that currently receives one of the largest amounts of tourists during the peak season. Throw in the crowds from cruise ships, and it can get overwhelming.

Still, if you are routing East Sicily, and can handle busy places, you should definitely pay a visit to Taormina. To explore Taormina with fewer tourists, come early or stay until late evening. However, the best time to visit this Sicilian highlight is off-season, which is late autumn and winter.

Things to see in Taormina: Teatro Antico di Taormina, Isola Bella, beautiful views of Etna from Piazza IX Aprile, stroll Corso Umberto, climb 300 steps to Madonna della Rocca Church for more elevated views.

• Logistics: located in East Sicily, 50 min drive from Catania. Suitable for East Sicily Itinerary.
• Guided option: Etna Volcano and Taormina tour from Palermo
• Where to stay in Taormina: B&B GRECO HOME

5. Catania- the lava city in East Sicily

Visit Catania for city life and historical monuments.

Catania is the second biggest city after Palermo and a popular entry point to East Sicily through its international airport. Catania also called the city of lava is set at the Ionian sea in close proximity to Etna volcano. As a city, it is less polished than other smaller towns and villages. Nonetheless, Catania has its own charms and a fair share of beautiful historical sights.

Catania being raw and bustling, will definitely offer an authentic Sicilian city life experience. If you are landing at Catania airport, make sure to spend at least a day exploring the best of Catania.

Main things to see in Catania: Piazza del Duomo with its Fontana dell’Elefante, Duomo di Catania, lively and smelly fish market, Via Etnea- street with Etna views, try street foods which are also known to be very good. Cyclops rocks (Faraglioni) in seaside resort Aci Trezza, located 35 minutes away from Catania.

• Logistics: Located in East Sicily, Catania airport is probably the most common entry point to Sicily. Thus, Catania is a perfect place to start your eastern Sicily itinerary. Also, Catania is a great base for day trips to nearby attractions such as Etna volcano, Taormina, Syracuse, and Ortigia Island. 
• Where to stay in Catania: Living Suite Catania Pacini  

7. Syracuse and Ortigia Island- a gem of Greek architecture in Sicily

Visit Syracuse and Ortigia Island for beautiful Greek-influenced architecture, archeological sites, and some of the best ice cream in Sicily

Syracuse with its charming historical center Ortigia Island located on the east coast of Sicily is a highlight not to be missed.

Known as a marvel of Greek architecture, UNESCO-listed Ortigia Island will awe you with its elegant piazzas, enchanting churches, and monuments, all scattered around and in between the maze of white-washed houses. Meanwhile, Ortigia’s waterfront promenade is dotted with romantic restaurants overlooking the crystalline sea. 1 kilometer long and 600 meters wide Ortigia (or Ortygia) Island is the best to be explored on foot.

Some of Ortigia’s main attractions include Piazza del Duomo, The Castello Maniace, the Arethusa fountain best enjoyed at sunset, and the waterfront.

Meanwhile, the modern part of Syracuse, the birthplace of Archimedes, is mainly known for the Neapolis archaeological park featuring a Roman amphitheater, Greek theatre, and the Ear of Dionysius.

• Logistics: located on the East coast of Sicily, Syracuse and Ortigia is a top place to add to your East Sicily itinerary. Can be visited as a day trip from Catania, or stay a night or two.
• Guided option: Full-day tour from Catania to Syracuse, Ortigia, and Noto.
• Where to stay in Ortigia: Il Duomo -it is better to stay in Ortigia island for a more atmospheric experience than in Syracuse.

8. Val di Noto towns Ragusa, Modica, Scicli, and Noto- Baroque architecture treasure in Sicily

Visit Val di Noto- Ragusa, Modica, Scicli, and Noto for fantastic baroque architecture, a slow small hilltop town lifestyle, and an authentic Sicilian experience.

The UNESCO-protected towns of Val di Noto are the best places in Sicily known for incredible Baroque architecture. The Baroque architecture masterpieces can be explored in several inland towns in southeast Sicily.

The sad historical fact uniting all of the towns is that they were completely destroyed by a disastrous earthquake in 1693. However, like a phoenix, all 8 towns that comprise today’s Val di Noto were rebuilt following the late Baroque architectural style which we can admire today.

The most well-known and must-visit baroque towns in Sicily are Ragusa Ibla, Modica, Scicli, and Noto. One or all of them should definitely be included in your itinerary.

If you had to only pick only one, then you must go visit Ragusa Ibla (the old part). Perched atop the lush green mountain, Ragusa boasts some awe-inspiring views points of its old town, many cobblestone streets to get lost in, majestic duomo di San George and much exquisite Baroque architecture detailing.

Read my full guide to Visiting Ragusa: Sicily’s town of two faces .

Modica, along with its architecture, is famous for its granulated chocolate. Head to the oldest chocolate factory – Dolceria Antica Bonajuto and try some of the internationally renowned finest local dark chocolate.

Scicli is the smallest of all but an equally atmospheric baroque town. It is internationally known for the Inspector Montalbano TV detective series where the show was filmed.

Noto is the biggest in the Val di Noto and is known for its grand buildings’ facades being “painted” in burning gold during the sunset hour- a magical time to visit the town.

• Logistics: Val di Noto is located in the southeast of Sicily, therefore perfect to include in the East Sicily itinerary. Can be easily reached by car from Catania (1.5-hour drive) or Syracuse (1 hour 20-minute drive). I recommend spending at least a couple of nights in Ragusa, from where you can also visit other Val di Noto towns (Modica, Scicli, and Noto).
• Guided tour: Full-day tour from Catania to Syracuse, Ortigia and Noto
• Where to stay in Ragusa: Amaca Iblea is a self-contained apartment in a historical building. Beautiful Ragusa Ibla views open up from the apartment’s balcony.

9. The Valley of Temples- the most important archeological site in Sicily

Visit the Valley of Temples for archeological wonders and history.

The Valley of Temples ( Valle dei Templi ) can be found in Agrigento city South of Sicily. A complex of Hellenic architectural monuments is the most important testimony to the ancient culture in Sicily.

Charmingly blending with the natural environment, the Valley of Temples is an exciting playground for history and ruin lovers. Apart from many remains which were heavily worn out by ruthless time, 2 out of 8 temples are still very well preserved. Those are the temple of Concorde and the temple of Hera.

Being the most important archeological site in Sicily, the valley of temples is a must-visit site if you are touring the southern part of the island.

Logistics: Valley of Temples is located in the South of Sicily and can be combined as part of the eastern Sicily, or western Sicily itinerary. Agrigento is roughly a 2-hour drive from all directions- Trapani town in the west, Palermo in the northwest, and Catania in the east.

Guided tours from other towns to the Valley of Temples :

• A full-day tour from Catania to the Valley of Temples with a stop at Roman Mosaics in Piazza Armerina .
• A full-day tour from Palermo to Valley of Temples and Roman Mosaics in Piazza Armerina .
• A fun, highly recommended by other travelers, tour visiting the Valley of Temples on electric scooters .

Where to stay in Agrigento: B&B Villa San Marco this rustic-style accommodation is just 500 meters away from the Valley of Temples and features one of the Greek temple views.

10. Madonie mountain villages- the medieval heritage of Sicily

Visit Madonie mountains for a nature escape in the mountains, agrotourism, authentic Sicilian life, scenic medieval towns, and hiking.

Madonie mountains dominate the northwestern side of Sicily and are home to dozen small medieval towns, many of which are UNESCO heritage listed and considered the most beautiful villages in Italy. Visiting mountain villages in the Madonie mountains offer an unconventional yet authentic Sicily experience where you can go back in time and enjoy slow-paced travel.

My favorite of all is the mysterious Gangi which fell under the international radar because of the abandoned 1 EUR houses sold by the Italian government in exchange for renovation. Meanwhile, Gangi got my attention when I saw some fantastic drone shots of bright-colored houses glued side to side and stacked in layers on top of each other like a Lego constructor game.

RELATED READS: Check my complete guide to Gangi mountain town in Sicily, Italy .

Other charming Madonie towns to pay a visit to are: Sperlinga, Petralia Soprana, Petralia Sotana, and Castelbuono . You can easily drive around them all in a couple of days. That being said, you must have a car to visit those remote places. Finally, Madonie mountains are a great nature escape with a number of hiking trails. 

• Logistics: Madonie mountains are located northwest of Sicily, therefore will fit into the West Sicily itinerary. You must have a car to easily reach mountain villages.
• Where to stay in Madonie mountains: RESIDENCE VENTIMIGLIA self-contained apartment and a great base for a couple of nights in Gangi.

11. Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve- a must-visit place in Sicily for untouched nature

Visit Lo Zingaro Reserve for nature, the best beaches in Sicily, trekking, and scenic coastal views.

Lo Zingaro Nature reserve is one of the most spectacular natural places in Sicily located on the northwest coast. A version of paradise on earth, Zingaro Nature Reserve nearly escaped a motorway being constructed over it. Since 1981 Zingaro gained the status of a protected natural area and offers a few well-marked hiking trails with access to impossibly beautiful wild pebble coves which are some of the best-unspoiled beaches in Sicily.

The most popular hiking trail in Lo Zingaro is an easy 7 km one-way (14km return) trek. Along the way, you will enjoy fantastic coastline views and swim in the crystal clear blue sea accessible through 6 secluded beaches. Lo Zingaro is simply a perfect day trip in nature.

Entrance to the Reserve costs 5 euros. Bring your own food supplies and enough water (3 liters) if you are planning to hike the full route. 

• Logistics: Perfect for the western Sicily road trip, Zingaro Reserve is located between Castellamare del Golfo and San Vito Lo Capo towns. It is around a 1 hour and 20-minute drive from Palermo and around a 55-minute drive from Trapani. The easiest way to get to the reserve is to drive your own car .
• Where to stay near Lo Zingaro Reserve. Atrium in Castellamare del Golfo seaside town is a perfect base for a night or two. You can find plenty of options for small hotels and self-contained apartments in the town.

RELATED READS: Make sure to check my complete guide to Hiking Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve in Sicily, Italy.

12. Erice- charming medieval hilltop town with fantastic coastal views

Visit Erice for an atmospheric old town with stunning views and history.

Perched atop the 750 meters height hill, rising above its personal cloud, Erice is a frozen-in-time medieval town. Erice is an absolute must-visit in western Sicily.  Located 30min away from Trapani, it is reachable either by a twisty mountain road or an equally scenic funicular ride.

In Erice, you will be spoiled by many fantastic viewpoints overlooking San Vito Lo Capo on one side, and Trapani on the other. Erice, as expected from an ages-old town, features many atmospheric narrow streets, a few castles, beautiful churches, and as a treat for a hilly walk-many typical pasticcerias, with Maria Grammatico being the most well-known amongst all.

In summer, make sure to arrive early before the tour buses flock to the town, or stay late for the unset after they all leave.

• Logistics: perfect for West Sicily itinerary, a 30-minute drive from Trapani town, also accessible by cable car which costs 9 EUR return per person.
• Where to stay in Erice: Appartamenti Liberty offers a cozy apartment in a historical house.

13. Trapani – the West port town in Sicily

Visit Trapani for a historical town and as a base to visit other surrounding attractions.

Trapani is a port town in western Sicily. It has a small beautiful old town and is a perfect base for exploring several attractions in the western part of Sicily. It also serves as a jump-off point to Egadi islands .

Trapani’s historic town can be visited in half a day. The most atmospheric part is its west-facing waterfront dotted with dated buildings.

As mentioned above, you can base yourself in Trapani for a few days and visit other surrounding places as one-day or half-day trips to Erice, San Vito Lo Capo, Favignana, and other Egadi islands , Marsala Salt Pans, and Temple of Segesta. 

• Logistics: Trapani has an international airport and serves as a great base to visit other important places on the west Sicily itinerary.
• Where to stay in Trapani: Le Cupole Suits & Apartments

14. Favignana and Egadi islands-the most beloved islands in Sicily

Visit Favignana and Egadi islands for nature, beach and swimming, easy cycling, chilling, and family vacation.

Only 30 minutes by hydrofoil off the West coast of Sicily the wild and rugged butterfly-shaped Favignana island is a beloved summer destination between foreign sunseekers and local holidaymakers.

Part of the Egadian archipelago, Favignana is the biggest out of the three main islands and is the most popular choice for a day trip from the coastal town of Trapani. The two smaller islands Levanzo and Marretimo are also equally stunning but a little bit more off-the-beaten path and are usually chosen either as part of a guided tour or included in several days’ stay on the route of the Egadi Islands.

If you only have one day to devote to the Egadian islands, I would recommend visiting Favignana.

In Favignana, many visitors opt to rent a bicycle. Peddling its dusty paths is the easiest way to see the island. The flat roads are easy to ride, except for a few potholes and bumps here and there. Therefore, in just over an hour you can circle half of the Favignana’s terrain at a relaxed pace. But account for much more time as the true delight is swimming in kaleidoscope blue waters sheltered by the beautiful rugged coves. There are at least 4 or 5 worthy swim stops on the route.

• Logistics: Favignana is 30 minutes by ferry from Trapani in West Sicily
• Guided tour: Favignana and Levanzo Cruise with lunch from Trapani
• Where to stay in Favignana: Cave Garden Rooms

RELATED READS: Make sure to also read my Guide to Visiting Favignana and Egadi Islands, Sicily for all the details.

15. San Vito Lo Capo- the white sand beach town

Visit San Vito Lo Capo for beach and swimming, family and friends’ vacation, and nature.

San Vito Lo Capo is known for its 1-kilometer-long stretch of white sands that slope into the turquoise waters of the Tyrrhenian sea. The idyllic coast sheltered by Monte Monaco and complete with palm trees reminds me of a mini version of the famous postcard beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  

San Vito Lo Capo is an ultimate vacation destination in Sicily loved by locals and visitors, both young and old, families and friends. Considered one of the best beaches in Sicily, Spiaggia San Vito Lo Capo is a must-visit for the lively beach scene in West Sicily.

There is a public free section and a private beach section which include umbrellas in your day access fee. That being said, during the peak summer months of July and August, the rainbow-colored blanket of sun umbrellas completely covers the white sands of San Vito beach. Yet the beach is huge enough to always find a sandy spot for your towel.

The town of San Vito Lo Capo doesn’t have historical interest but it serves as a great seaside vacation base with plenty of accommodation options, which by the way get booked out in summer.

As expected, there is no shortage of bars and restaurants just a step away from the beach. If you love a lively beach scene, which has plenty of amenities, and fun things to do like volleyball, then San Vito Lo Capo should definitely be on your Sicily itinerary. 

• Logistics: located at the westernmost tip of Sicily, San Vito Lo Capo is great for the west and northwest Sicily itinerary. Can be visited on a day trip from Trapani (a 45-minute drive).
• Where to stay in San Vito Lo Capo: Affittacamere a Tre Minuti in Spiaggia beautiful rooms 3 minutes from the beach.

16. Aeolian Islands- Sicilian Paradise

Visit the Aeolian Islands for wild nature, beaches, hiking, and boat trips.

A pristine archipelago of Aeolian islands is a UNESCO heritage site located on the Tyrrhenian Sea north coast of Sicily. Called Sicily Paradise, the Aeolian islands are an unconventional destination to visit in Sicily. Although to explore all of the islands you would need a separate at least one-week trip, visiting one or two of the archipelago islands as a day trip is pretty easy. You can reach Aeolian islands by Liberty lines hydrofoil either from Milazzo or Messina ports in northeast Sicily.

The Aeolian archipelago is also known as a fancier (and very different indeed) option compared to Egadi islands on the West coast of Sicily. 7 main islands and 5 smaller form the Aeolian archipelago.

Although each island has a distinct character, all of them share the same volcanic origin.

Lipari is the biggest historical island in the group, while Salina, Vulcano, Stromboli, and Panarea are other popular ones, with Alicudi and Filicudi being the most remote.

The most popular is a combined excursion to Stromboli and Panarea islands. In Stromboli, you can climb an active volcano in the morning, and then watch its lava flowing at night and spend a day in Panarea. You can join a guided tour to both islands from Milazzo port town in North Sicily, click HERE for more details and availability.

• Logistics: Off the north coast of Sicily, accessible via ferry from Messina and Milazzo, suitable for Northeast Sicily itinerary.
• Guided tour: From Milazzo: Panarea and Stromboli Boat Trip at Night

17. Monreale Cathedral and its incredible gold mosaics

Visit Monreale for history and culture, architectural treasures, and panoramic hilltop views.

Just 10 kilometers inland south of Palermo, you will find a pretty little hilltop town of Monreale famous for the tastiest bread in Sicily and for its architectural masterpiece- Monreale Cathedral dating back to the Middle Ages.

Granted UNESCO World Heritage status and considered the finest example of Norman architecture, Monreale Cathedral is a must-visit on any north Sicily itinerary. The Cathedral is adorned with worldwide renowned 130 shimmering Byzantine gold mosaics covering an area of over 6000 square meters. 10 years of scrupulous work of art finished in 1184 depicts the 42 episodes of biblical tales from the creation of man to the Assumption. The mosaics have to be seen to believe- it is incredibly beautiful and you can’t wrap your head around it how it is even humanly possible to create something extraordinary like it.

Although mosaics are the biggest draw of the Monreale Duomo, adjacent to the Cathedral there is an entrance to the no less impressive cloister which is built in Middle Eastern architectural style. The detailing of the slender 228 columns supporting 26 elegant arches is a fine example of Arab artistry. While a luxuriant garden blooms at the heart of the tranquil courtyard.

There is much more to be explored in Monreale Cathedral, therefore make sure not to miss it and dedicate at least half-da-day for your visit.

• The ticket price for visiting the whole complex was 13 EUR at the time of our visit.
• Opening hours: 9 AM-12:45 PM and 2 PM- 5 PM daily.

Logistics: 25-minute drive down south from Palermo in Monreale town. Public bus 389P runs daily from Palermo Indipendenza Palazzo Reale bus station.

Guided tour: 6-hour tour from Palermo to Monreale Cathedral and Cefalu

18. Monte Cofano Nature Reserve- a hidden natural hem of Sicily

Visit Monte Cofano for unspoiled nature, hiking, mountains, and beach.

Halfway between Trapani and San Vito Lo Capo, Monte Cofano Nature Reserve is a rival to the more popular Lo Zingaro. Monte Cofano’s limestone monolith soars to 659 meters above sea level and can be hiked to.

Rightfully considered one of the most beautiful corners of Sicily, Monte Cofano Reserve’s panoramic view can be seen from Erice hilltop town.

To explore the reserve up and close, there are a few trails that you can follow. One of them is a relatively easy 11-kilometer coast al circular route that runs around the mountain, while the other 7-kilometer trail leads to the summit and is considered difficult.

If you aren’t up for hiking, then you can visit a cave village called Grotta Mangiapane . Here you can discover a very unique tiny stone town made up of single-story orange and maroon-colored houses. Today this rural settlement is an open-air museum where you can glimpse inside the rooms of the old houses.  It is located on the west side of Monte Cofano Reserve towards the town of Custonaci. Entrance fee- donation of your choice, open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM.

Also, don’t miss a delightful Macari beach located on the east side of the reserve, just 4 kilometers before San Vito Lo Capo. Macari beach is a true hideaway compared to the more popular and always busy San Vito Lo Capo counterpart.

• Logistics: 30-minute drive from Trapani to the west side and 30-minute drive from San Vito Lo Capo on the east side. You need a car to reach the reserve. Perfect for the western Sicily itinerary.

19. Selinunte Temples – one of the largest archeological parks in Europe

Visit Selinunte for history, culture, archeology, day out in nature.

Located on the southwestern coast of Sicily on a high plain, Selinunte temples literally overlook the sea and are a must-see on your Sicily route. Founded by Doric Greek colonists from Sicily’s Megara Hyblea around 650 BC, Selinunte is one of the largest and most beautiful Greek sites in Europe. Isolated Selinunte ruins have stood abandoned for most of their history.

There are two entrances to Selinunte’s archaeological site: on the east side of Marinella di Selinunte and on the west side of Triscina.

Note that Selinunte park covers a large area and you may need 3 to 4 hours to explore. It can be a great excuse for a nice walk combining time spent in nature and exploring impressive historical sites. Make sure to wear comfy shoes. If you have time, staying overnight in the Marinella di Selinunte and catching a sunset at the archeological park can be a great idea too.

• Logistics : 1-hour drive from Trapani, perfect for the western Sicily itinerary.
• Guided tour: A day trip from Trapani visiting Selinunte and Segesta temples
• Places to stay in Selinunte: B&B Villa Patrizia Selinunte

20. Segesta Temple

Visit Segesta temple for history, culture, archeology, and day out in the countryside.

The last archeological site on the places to visit in Sicily list is the Temple of Segesta, located a 30-minute drive east of Trapani. A very well-preserved sand-color Doric Temple of Segesta pops out in the gorgeous lush green countryside surroundings. Segesta temple and the theatre are the remains of a former ancient city founded by Elymes around 400 years BC.

The visit to Segesta will cost you roughly 12 EUR. There is a separate fee for the shuttle bus taking visitors to the site. You must leave your car at a paid parking and also pay a 6 EUR entrance fee for visiting the temple and theater.  Note that the theater is located a little bit higher up on the northern slope of Mount Barbaro 400 meters above sea level and takes 20-25 minutes to walk. If you are not keen on walking, there is a separate shuttle bus for 1.5 EUR one way which can take you to the amphitheater.

• Logistics: 30-minute drive east from Trapani, 20-minute drive south from Castellamare del Golfo.

21. Salt Pans of Marsala and Trapani

Visit salt pans for culture, sunset, bird watching

Cultural heritage and a hugely important commodity in food preservation is salt which has been produced for centuries in Western Sicily with a production peak in the 1860s.

The postcards of windmills and white cones of salt depict Salinas- the oriented reserve of the Salt Pans located near Trapani and Marsala.

The hot windy climate and shallow sea coast created perfect conditions to produce the highest quality salt in the region. The artistry of salt making is present and follows ancient tradition till today but at a smaller scale catering only to the niche markets swearing by the salts’ unique qualities.

Today salt pans attract visitors and especially photographers due to their photogenic attributes- old crumbling windmills, cones of salt, and spectacular sunsets- a perfect combination for a postcard shot.

You can visit salt pans in two places: The salt pans of Nubia next to Trapani, and the Saline of the Lagune Marsala close to Marsala town. The second one is grander and more popular, but both have something unique about them. Guided informational tours are also available there but are overpriced and not well-rated by visitors.

Be aware though that salt extraction is seasonal and the salt cones you may have seen in pictures are not always present. On my visit to Salinas in mid-May, there were none, so it was a bit of a disappointment.

• Logistics: 10-minute drive from Trapani to Nubia salt pans, and a 20-minute drive from Marsala to Marsala Lagune.

And that’s a wrap of this must-see places to visit in Sicily list. I hope that you found some great places to add to your own Sicily itinerary. If you have any questions or even suggestions of something that deserves a place as a must-visit for first-timers in Sicily, please let me know in the comments below. 

Have an exciting journey in Sicily!

Sicily Travel Essentials

Here are links to essential travel resources and services I always use when organizing my trips.

• HIRE A CAR : The best way to explore Sicily is by self-driving. Rent a car at the best rates at Discover Cars .
• CHEAP FLIGHTS: Use Skyscanner to find the cheapest and fastest flights to Sicily from your location.
• ACCOMMODATION: find your perfect stay in Sicily on Booking.com .
• VISA: apply for a Schengen visa easily at iVisa . Use OneWayFly to reserve dummy flight tickets/hotels if required for your visa application.
• TRAVEL INSURANCE: get 5% off your insurance by using my link on Heymondo , a travel insurance provider. For the cheapest travel insurance on the market check SafetyWing .
• eSIM CARD: Stay connected before you land. Airlo offers an eSIM card with up to 20 GB (7 to 30 days) data packages for Italy and Europe.
• GUIDED TOURS:  Find the best day tours in Sicily on  GetYourGuide .
• AIRPORT TRANSFER: Book a private hotel transfer from Sicily Palermo, Catania, or Trapani Airports .
• FLIGHT GOT CANCELLED OR DELAYED? You may receive compensation of up to 600 EUR. Consult and get support from AirHelp or Skycop .
• Learn Italian: take a fun interactive online course Rocket Italian , which will help you quickly learn spoken and written Italian. Study at your own pace either on a desktop or using a mobile app, lifetime access, and a free trial available upon signing up.

MORE SICILY TRAVEL GUIDES

• Planning a trip to Sicily and looking for a great itinerary? Then check my  Epic Road Trip for 2-weeks in Sicily itinerary
• Thinking of hiring a car in Sicily, Italy? Here are my   21 tips for driving in Sicily stress-free  and advice for hiring a car in Sicily.
• How to visit Favignana island, Sicily:  a perfect day trip or longer to Egadi archipelago from Trapani.
• Read 30 useful tips before traveling to Sicily to be prepared for an amazing journey.
• For unique places to visit in Sicily check out my complete guide to Gangi mountain town in Sicily, Italy.
• Also, read a detailed  guide to hiking Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve in West Sicily.
• Visiting Ragusa: Sicily’s Town of Two Faces – my full guide to Ragusa in Sicily.

Hi! I am a freelance photographer & videographer as well the creator of www.theroadreel.com. Born in Lithuania, and currently residing in the UAE, I have been traveling around the globe independently for over a decade. I created The Road Reel to share my passion for travel and photography through detailed road trips and city itineraries, and hiking guides, along with regular and drone photogragraphy tips.

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How to get around Sicily: scenic train rides, ferries and countryside drives

Mar 14, 2024 • 6 min read

From scenic train journeys along the coast to navigating public transportation within cities, here are some top tips for how to travel around Sicily © Oscar Wong / Getty Images

The 19th-century chestnut ‘The journey is the destination: really doesn’t do justice to the epic-scaled scenery that accompanies every trip in Sicily , big or small. This Italian island straddling three seas might be modest in size, but its varied landscapes are larger than life. Bus, boat, car, train or two wheels: however you get around, Sicily throws up stupendous coastline, mountain and volcano scenery in spades. Going slow is key – but even then, you’ll struggle to ingest a fraction of the natural grandeur en route.

Palermo and Catania – Sicily’s largest cities – are petite. And bewitching. Join locals for a morning mooch around an open-air food market or ritual passeggiata (afternoon stroll), and you’ll instantly understand why exploring on foot is the only sensible way to get under the skin of these chaotic, soul-stirring urban beauties. Offshore, on the back-to-basics Aeolian islands, it’s three-wheeled Ape taxis ( Stromboli ), posh electric golf carts ( Panarea ) and donkeys (Alicudi) that fly.

Rent a car to reach the island’s most remote corners

With world-famous sites such as Selinunte ’s ancient Greek temples and Segesta ’s must-see archaeological ruins tucked well away from any urban center, renting a car is the most convenient option. To explore the Madonie and Nebrodi mountains in the island’s remote interior or modern art marvels like Cretto di Buri tumbling down a hillside in the off-track Valle dei Belice, a car is a necessity. Ditto for wilder beaches, old-timer fishing villages, nature reserves and wineries on Sicily’s south-eastern tip and Ionian Coast .

Reserve wheels well in advance. Major car-rental agencies have desks at Palermo, Catania and Trapani airports. To rent wheels, you must be over 21 and possess a credit card. Driving licenses from EU member states are recognized, but drivers with licenses from elsewhere need an International Driving Permit.

Once on the road (always on the right), you’ll require nerves of steel. Even among Italians, Sicilians have a reputation for being the most unpredictable drivers in the country. Motorways (autostrada) and bigger secondary roads (SS/SP) are generally in good condition, but smaller roads can be pot-holed and poorly maintained. Tolls are charged on the A18 (Messina–Catania) and A20 (Messina–Palermo); have cash at hand in case the machine doesn’t like your card.

Planning Tip: Hire the smallest rental car you can to reduce the stress of squeezing your vehicle through impossibly narrow streets and into tight parking spaces. 

Ride the rails for glorious views

Chugging along the Tyrrhenian Coast by train between Palermo, Cefalù , Messina and Milazzo , and south from Messina to Catania on the Ionian Coast is a breeze – with breathtaking sea views to boot.

Trains operated by Trenitalia are frequent, cheap and dependable. Advance reservations aren’t necessary on slower Regionale (RV) trains – seats aren’t numbered, and ticket prices don’t fluctuate on availability, unlike faster Intercity (IC) trains, which require a seat reservation. Buy tickets before your train departs via the Trenitalia website or app. Old-school paper tickets purchased at the ticket counters and machines in train stations still need to be validated at yellow machines on platforms before boarding.

Little beats the parallel Mt Etna, and big blue vistas aboard private Ferrovia Circumetnea trains that trundle in a 110km-long loop around the base of Sicily’s feisty volcano via a narrow-gauge track constructed in the 1890s. The twice-weekly service is hands down the best way to visit wineries on Etna’s fertile slopes. Buy tickets (well in advance in summer) via the FCE Catania or DropTicket apps. 

Town-hop by bus to cruise on a budget

Getting into town from the airport will most likely be your first encounter with Sicilian buses. Away from rail-serviced coastal areas, buses are generally the best way to get around; for most small inland towns, they’re the only form of public transport. In rural areas, bus services often correspond with school hours and market times – which can mean leaving incredibly early or finding yourself stranded after mid-afternoon. Check Sunday schedules extra carefully, when services are virtually nonexistent.

Buses are operated by a mind-boggling array of companies, including Flixbus for several intercity routes. Check schedules on the Moovit app or consult schedules displayed in situ at the bus station.

Planning tip: Faster, more direct buses trump trains on certain routes: Palermo–Trapani, Palermo–Syracuse and Catania to/from Ragusa, Noto, Syracuse and Agrigento.

Sail to paradise in Sicily’s twinset archipelagos

It’s worth slotting western Sicily’s Egadi Islands or dreamy, UNESCO-recognized  Aeolian Islands into your Sicilian itinerary, simply to sit back on a ferry or nippy hydrofoil in the Tyrrhenian Sea and admire tiny islands rising out of the cobalt-blue ocean.

Liberty Lines runs year-round hydrofoils to Favignana in the Egadi archipelago from the busy port of Trapani , and a handful to/from Marsala (better known for its honey-sweet dessert wine). Siremar operates slower car ferries.

Milazzo port is the launchpad for Liberty Lines hydrofoils to the largest Aeolian island Lipari , and beyond to its six smaller but equally charismatic sisters. Cheaper, slower ferries – limited space for cars so book well ahead – sail the same route. Inter-island sailings are most frequent from June to September; boats fill fast in July and August. Save queueing at Liberty Lines ticket offices by buying tickets online.

Once on your paradise island, private boat taxis are handy for accessing remote caves and hidden turquoise coves. Simply look for handwritten notes with mobile numbers pinned up by local fishermen and boatmen in island shops, bakeries and at ports. And remember: little beats the romance of a sunset aperitivo in barca (drinks afloat).

Zip around on two wheels 

In urban Palermo, public sharing bikes and e-bikes (both operated by RideMovi – download the app to locate, pay for and unlock wheels) and free-floating e-scooters run by a fleet of operators make light work of longer distances. In Catania, download the AmiGo app to access shared e-bikes.

Further afield, road cycling – traditional and electric-assisted – is an exhilarating means of the island’s twisting backcountry and coastal roads. Roads inland can be steep and precarious, meaning bike shops offering rental and guided bike tours are most rife on the coast: in Syracuse , rent all manner of bicycles and hook up with guides at Siracuse Tour Bike to explore sea caves, medieval villages and the prized amphitheater where Greek playwright  Aeschylus watched his tragedies unfold in the 5th century BC. The cinematic slopes of Mount Etna and nearby gorges of Alcantara are popular with mountain bikers ( Sicily Active arranges guided MTB tours), and on the Aeolian islands, Lipari is a mountain-biking hub.

Romantics aspiring to view Sicily from the back of a Vespa Audrey Hepburn-style can live the dream on Lipari and Salina – the two Aeolian islands with motorized traffic. Book 50cc and 125cc scooters ahead of arrival; scooters are snapped up fast in high season. Bring your driving license to rent wheels up to 125cc; anything over 125cc requires a motorcycle license. Helmets are provided and are required by law, despite the fact most Sicilians don’t wear them.

Accessible transportation in Sicily

Sicily is definitely not plain sailing for people with a disability. While some trains and buses are accessible to wheelchairs, cobbled streets in towns, narrow or crumbling pavements and hectic urban traffic are most definitely not. Some beaches are barrier-free. Sicilian airports, Liberty Lines boats and Trenitalia trains all provide assistance for passengers with reduced mobility, hearing or visual impairments.

For more information, consult online guides at Sicilia Accessibile and Lonely Planet’s accessible travel resources .

This article was first published Dec 9, 2021 and updated Mar 14, 2024.

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Sicily travel guide — the fullest sicily tourist guide for first-timers.

Referring to Italy, in addition to the powerful and mighty of Rome, the rich culture of Tuscany or the vibrant of Naples, surely the name Sicily or Sicilia will evoke lot of emotions to anyone. Sicily, not only has famous for the novel ‘The Godfather’, ‘specialty’ Mafia and Separatism but also owns a lot of great things that no other land in Italy can match, including the rich and diverse culture of the land with the oldest history in Italy after Rome. In terms of landscape, cultural identity and geographical location, Sicily is not inferior to any other place in Italy, but what has made this land stray from the image of a prosperous Europe that people often imagine? This Sicily blog not only shares with you Sicily travel experiences, but also provides a part of the social picture of the evil land in the pages of Mario Puzo’s books. So, what to do and how to plan a perfect budget trip to Sicily — The largest island of Italy for the first-time? Let’s check out our Sicily travel blog (Sicily blog) with the fullest Sicily travel guide (Sicily guide, Sicily tourist guide) from how to get there, best time to come, where to stay, best places to visit and top things to do to find out the answer!

• Trapani blog — The Trapani travel guide & what to do in Trapani, Sicily
• Sardinia travel blog — The fullest Sardinia travel guide for first-timers
• A quick guide to Positano — Positano tips & what to do in Positano
• Amalfi Coast travel blog — The fullest travel guide & what to do in Amalfi Coast
• Cinque Terre travel blog — The fullest Cinque Terre travel guide for a great trip on a budget for the first-timers

If you have read the world famous novel ‘The Godfather’ by Mario Puzo, you will surely know the legendary land of Sicily of Italy which is also the beautiful southernmost island with tradition of producing wine for more than a thousand years. Not only being the “land of Mafia”, this place also contains many interesting and strange things.

Unlike many other large cities and regions in Italy, Sicily is not dense with monumental or massive, majestic or high-rise buildings, but it has many palm trees and other rare trees and plants that evoke the feeling of being in a country of Middle East or North Africa. The streets of cities or towns in Sicily are also small, and there are many more flea markets, shops right on the streets, diverse markets from food markets selling meat, fish and vegetables, to clothing stalls, Chinese game electronics, to gas stoves and ovens.

Sicily travel guide: Overview of Sicily

Where is sicily.

Well, if you imagine Italy as a boot or a high-heeled shoe, Sicily is like a kicked ball. Indeed, this image ironically compares Sicily’s position in the heart of Italy: Backward and isolated. Despite the distance from the mainland (ie Italy) to the port of Messina of Sicily is only 6.6km, but Sicily is already considered a remote island of Italy.

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea with an area of up to 25,711 km² and a population of over 5 million (2022), it is separated from mainland Italy by the Strait of Messina, is one of five autonomous regions, officially known in Italian as Regione Siciliana. The most prominent landscape of the island is Mount Etna, the most famous volcano in Europe with the most frequent and powerful eruptions.

Sicily is 3km from Calabria (in mainland Italy), 160km from the coast of Africa, and to this day, it is still impossible to confirm whether Sicily was once attached to Africa or mainland Italy. Due to its geographical location, Sicily is the most important island in Mediterranean Sea.

A brief history of Sicily

Since the appearance of the first inhabitants, the ancient people of Sicanians, there have been many peoples to occupy, successively inhabiting this hilly and rich in flora and fauna island. After the primitive civilization of the Sicanians came the civilization of the people of Sicels (the origin of the name Sicily), then the people of Elymians originated from West Asia (now Turkey), and then continued to be assimilated by Greek army. For hundreds of years, people jostle against each other to occupy this vast and majestic island, Sicily was handed over from the Greeks to the Carthaginians, to the Roman Empire, to Arabia, to Norman, to France, to Spain, to Austria… until Giuseppe Garibaldi unified Italy and regained Sicily in 1860.

Due to its prime location with hundreds of years of changing thrones, Sicily is the cultural exchange of many different cultures, the Sicilian people are famous for their multi-racial diversity and colorful culture. Coming to Sicily, you can see a blending of ancient indigenous civilizations such as Sicanians, Sicels, Elymians, to the civilizations of invaders such as Roman, Greek, Arab, Norman, Albania, France, Spain. A lot of people in Sicily today are of Albanian origin because this people have occupied and settled here since the 16th century…

The Greeks also invaded the southern Italy and Sicily, so Sicily is so heavily influenced by Greek culture and its civilization, so there are a lot of Greeks here, more Greek-style temples than in Greece itself. The language of the Sicilian people therefore also has a lot of foreign elements mixed (there are even some Albanian-influenced communities who have occupied here since the sixteenth century and to day they still speak the ancient Albanian language). Even the eye color and hair color of a large number of people in Sicily (red hair and blue eyes) are also considered traits they inherited from the Normans. In addition, there also are many people with Arab surnames. So, many Italians sometimes joke that Sicily isn’t Italian, and many Sicilian themselves also don’t identify themselves as Italian.

Sicily travel guide: Is Sicily safe?

There is no country is absolutely safe but actually in Sicily you will be surprised because the security here is better than you think. I lived for a year in Sicily and have never been pickpocketed, stolen or cheated while in Rome I was scammed as soon as I arrived at the airport. The proud Sicilian are sincere, generous and respect to foreigners. What about the mafia? I didn’t see the influence of this criminal organization on the daily life here. However, you should not be too casual when talking about this topic or discuss it with natives because it is a rather complicated topic.

Generally, fewer pickpockets than other famous tourist cities such as: Rome, Barcelona, ​​Paris… also not as many robbers as Naples, Sicily is much safer. There is also absolutely no gunfight like in the movies, probably because civilians, tourists are not the object of interest of mafia gangs. However, you should also be careful when wandering around in slums or suburbs, which may not be as safe as in downtown areas.

What about poverty and backwardness? Indeed, Sicily has poorer infrastructure than northern regions and high rates of unemployment, ghost towns and abandoned cities when young people move to the North to finding jobs that makes the cities become deserted, full of elderly people but in general people still have a comfortable life.

Sicily travel blog: When to visit?

Sicily is endowed with a mild Mediterranean climate, warm winters, cool summers, and little rain. The average temperature in winter is about 6-7 degrees Celsius, 18-20 degrees Celsius in summer.

The golden rule when traveling to countries with sea and islands is to go in sunny summer, even if it’s the peak season with higher costs. Summer in Italy is similar to Vietnam, lasting from the end of May to the end of August. The Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers and due to its geographical location close to North Africa, summer in Sicily is hotter than other European regions. However, the European summer is very pleasant compared to the summer in the North or Central Vietnam.

You can also come to Sicily in spring with lush green trees, flowers blooming everywhere, it will be more beautiful but not as crowded as in summer, especially for ocean lovers. However, many hotels and restaurants only open in the summer when tourists flocking here.

Sicily travel guide: How to get to Sicily?

The simplest and most efficient way to get to Sicily is by plane. The island has two international airports: Palermo and Catania, connecting to many major cities in the world and the most famous airline is Alitalia – the national carrier of Italy.

There are no direct train routes from mainland cities to Sicily because there is no bridge connecting the island to the mainland. Due to the distance is too far from other regions of Italy, so taking a bus will takes a lot of time, so I do not recommend you to choose this option.

Traveling by boat also is a option to reach Sicily. There are many ferry companies such as Alicudi Palermo Ferry, Alicudi Milazzo Ferry, Civitavecchia Palermo Ferry, Civitavecchia Palermo Termini Imerese Ferry, Favignana Trapani Ferry… which are operating routes to Sicily, you can directly buy tickets at ticket counters at ferry piers or buy online in advance, refer to departture points, routes and timetables here .

Sicily guide: Getting around Sicily

Unlike other developed regions or cities in Italy, public transport in Sicily is even more backward. Usually, in order to save time and make the most comfortable, tourists often choose to travel by coach (passenger car) between tourist destinations on the island. You can refer to the website of the Etna Travel Service Company here or via Facebook , the web is not available in English, so please use Google Translate. According to my experience, you should look up the departure time on the website and then follow the address that listed on the website to buy tickets right on the spot, because online payment also is not available.

For trains you can book and pay online here . However, not every city in Sicily has a train station and the frequency of trains is not as much as that of passenger cars.

Self-driving

However, you should rent a private car if you want to freely explore the tourist attractions on the island. It is recommended to rent in advance online, especially to avoid the holidays or special occasions. The car rental price for a week ranges from €250 to €500. Large rental companies often offer better prices, should not be rented from small firms, they often offer cars with poor quality, prices are not fixed. All car rental companies have offices at the airports and in major cities in Sicily.

Sicily travel guide: What to do and where to go?

Trapani – marsala, salt flats and ancient windmills.

Since ancient times, salt has always played an extremely important role in human life. People get rich from salt, war for salt, even in Italy there are many roads named “Via Salaria” – Salt Route.

The hot winds from Africa, the long sunny summer days, the saltwater coastal lands are all the perfect conditions for the birth of immense salt fields. Here, natural sea salt is still crystallized from the evaporation of water, just as the ancient Phoenicians did 2,700 years ago. Salt was sold throughout the Mediterranean, as far away as the Nordic countries. Thanks to salt, in the mid-16th century it was one of the most important ports in Europe. Today, although there are many different substitutes, the salt here is still preferred by culinary experts because of its purity, no preservatives and the salty taste of natural sea salt.

Leaving the highway, driving along the highway from Trapani to Marsala you will encounter salt fields along both sides of the road. The scene of salt fields is adorned by scattered ancient windmills on the horizon. The first windmills were built in the Middle Ages, today most people use mechanical pumps, but sporadically, there are still 1-2 windmills that continue to lead into and drain water out of the salt fields.

Not available in Sicily tours, and if you want to go, you also have to rent a private car to get there, so not many tourists know this place. But if you have an opportunity to get here, remember to visit the Museum of Salt and the restaurant Trattoria del Sale. You can both visiting, admiring artifacts and documents regard the salt industry in Trapani, and you can also enjoy dishes using salt according to local recipes. And of course, you should also take advantage of buying a few bags of sea salt to use and give as gifts to friends.

Isola Di Vulcano – The Island of Volcanoes

The ancient Greeks named the island Thérmessa, meaning “Source of Heat”, and in Greek mythology it was known as the forge of God Hephaestus (Vulcano in Roman, the god of fire, blacksmiths, and craftsmen). The small island of only 21 square kilometers, 25 kilometers off the northern coast of Sicily, is the closest island to Sicily in the cluster of eight Aeolian Islands. From the main island of Sicily, there are many ports to catch a boat or ferry to the island, but you should go to the port of Messina, the port closest to the island cluster, from there, you can take ferries or boats to reach the island. Buying ticket is simple, just go to the port to see which boat preparing to depart, then go to its ticket counter right on the street and then get on the boat, it only takes 40 minutes to get to the island.

Currently there are 3 volcanoes on the island, of which the Gran volcano is still active. Rated as the most impressive attraction on the island, the scene of the crater is truly breathtaking. The smoldering columns of white smoke, the strong smell of sulfur. However, you should not reach too close, might will be suffocated.

Due to the volcanic terrain, an interesting place to visit is the natural hot mud bath area of ​​Fanghi. The mineral mud here contains very high sulfur content (the smell is quite concentrated), especially good for people with rheumatism and skin diseases (oily skin, acne, psoriasis).

In addition, due to the formation of lava flows, there are many volcanic black sand beaches on the island. The best way to go around the island, stopping at any beach you like is to rent a motorbike, or an ATV, the rental price for a day is not too expensive, about 15-25 Euros depending on the season.

Besides tourist services, people on Vulcano island mainly live by goat farming and hunting. So there are also great local cheeses like goat ricotta, and traditional dishes like fried ricotta, pasta with ricotta, seasoned with local specialties including herbs and spices.

The medieval fishing village of Cefalu

With narrow winding cobblestone streets, small beaches and a lovely harbor, Cefalu is one of Sicily’s most beautiful and most popular medieval fishing villages. The most impressive thing in Cefalu is the Lavatoio – a public laundry area that dates back to the 16th century in the Middle Ages. The laundry area was built where the Cefalino estuary empties into the sea. A special thing is that this river originates in the mountains next to Cefalu, flows underground, slips under the small houses in the village before emptying into the sea. Legend has it that this murmuring stream is the tears of the river goddess, who mourns her beloved husband day and night. From the main street, gracefully curving stairs lead down to the laundry area carved out of monolithic blocks with cool water designed to flow into 22 small faucets, of which 15 are designed in the shape of a dragon’s head which still well preserved to this day.

Until the 60s and 70s of the last century, Cefalu women loved to gather to do laundry here, especially in the hot summer days of the southern Mediterranean because they loved the cool water here due to underground flow through several kilometers before being exposed and flowing into the sea.

Located on the Mediterranean coast, Palermo – the capital of the island of Sicily, is famous for its fresh food and the enthusiasm, generosity, hospitality and kindness of the coastal people. Visitors can return to the past and riding around streets on unique horse-drawn carriages that will not be disappear even when the most modern vehicles appear. Most Palermo people are proud to talk about their homeland, a peaceful coastal city with bold classical European architecture.

And having come to Palermo, it is impossible to ignore its markets. All you need is to walk along the Vucciria market (Mercato della Vucciria) to experience local life. This is a place where locals and tourists come to buy fresh fruit, seafood and fresh cheeses with the enthusiastic, soulful sales style of the Mediterranean people.

Aeolian Islands

Aeonlian Islands is a must-go destination on the journey to Sicily, it is a volcanic archipelago of Sicily, Aeolian not only has pristine coastlines, volcanic black sand beaches, caves and cliffs, but also has a full range of amenities and tourist facilities such as mineral hotspring resorts, water sports, interesting relaxing fishing service.

Don’t miss the beautiful scenery in the town of Marzamemi which is one of the friendliest destinations for a summer vacation. If you want to relax, enjoy beautiful space, experience ancient Italian style, nice climate all year round and saving memories with your family, then Marzamemi is a good choice.

The town of Gangi was built on a small hill in central Sicily, about 80 kilometers to the southeast of Palermo, like a giant tortoise shell. About several years ago, very few people outside of Italy had heard of this village. Considered as one of Italy’s most beautiful villages, this 12th-century old town had a population of about 16,000 in the 1950s but today only 7,000 remain.

Sicily Valley

Located next to a mountainside outside the city of Agrigento, the valley of Sicily possesses seven Greek temples, so it is called the valley of the temples. The Temple of Concordia, built in the 5th century BC, is the best preserved in the valley and is one of the largest and best preserved Doric temples still standing. Doric columns with 7 m high, 1.3 m in diameter. Other temples include the Temple of Juno, used for wedding ceremonies, and the Temple of Heracles, the oldest temple in the area.

Town of Piazza Armerina

The people of Piazza Armerina speak a different language than in other parts of Sicily. Here, visitors have the opportunity to visit beautiful Gothic works and buildings, especially the Villa Romana del Casale, a palace built in ancient Roman times in the middle of the 4th Century AD with the extraordinary mosaics decoration.

This town located in the southeast of Sicily is known as the “town of Baroque culture”. The Baroque structures in Val di Noto were remodeled in 1693 after a terrible earthquake and were recognized by UNESCO in 2002. The best time to visit Val di Noto is spring, when there are many festivals are held.

In Greek mythology, Etna is the place where Zeus imprisoned the monster Typhon, ending the war that is considered the most terrible in the history of Greek mythology. Currently, Etna is one of the most active and powerful volcanoes in the world, each time the volcano erupts Italians often joke that it is the wrath of the monster Typhon to escape the captivity of Zeus. Etna is also considered a symbol of Sicily, if you are a person who likes challenges and adventure travel, you cannot miss the opportunity to witness firsthand this great volcano.

Taormina is an extremely famous mountain town in Sicily. From Taormina you can see ravishing pebble beaches below, the beautiful Isola Bella island as its name suggests, the old streets for walking and shopping.

You can get to Taormina by bus and if you want to go down to the pebble beaches at the foot of the mountain, you can choose the bus or cable car, in the peak seasons you can go early to get a seat or access to the private beaches of restaurants. Entrance fees will be charged per person.

In addition to beautiful beaches, Taormina is also famous for its Greek theater, this is a theater built by the Greeks in the 2nd century BC. You can also take a walk in the old town of Corso Umberto – a shopping and culinary paradise to explore every corner of Taormina.

The port city and economic center in Eastern Sicily. Although not as famous as the capital of Palermo, Catania is a city worth visiting due to its location right at the foot of Mount Etna – Europe’s largest active volcano. Due to its proximity to the volcano, the structures, buildings and houses here are built mainly of lava rock, creating a slightly sad gray color for the whole city.

Tourist activities of the city are concentrated along the Via Etnea avenue, where you can visit the Cathedral and Badia of Sant’Agata, the Central Square, the University of Catania – one of the oldest universities in the world, shopping street, fruit market, fish market and Ursino fortress. Just walk along the avenue and turn sideways and turn along the directions of the map. Catania is quite small, so it only takes one afternoon to visit its center. From afar, do not forget to watch the Etna volcano, which is still growling day and night to release smoke into the sky.

This is a small city on the Ionian coast, not as famous as Taormina but as beautiful as a gentle wave of the sea. Acireale has a very small and lovely Central square, not to mention the small and narrow alleys that go forever without seeing an end. Far away is the pale blue sea. We kept walking along small alleys to find that color of blue sea, but we forgot about our tired feet. In the past, Acireale used to be quite crowded with tourists, but due to the economic downturn, today the city is gradually deserted. I listened to uncle Grazia’s story and I saw that faint blue color become sadder.

The city is named for both its culture and architecture, so the beauty of Noto is truly overwhelming. The Baroque architectural style is famous for its sharp shapes, high contrast of colors and delicate curves of sculpture. In Noto, those elements are pushed to an astonishing level of sophistication and exquisition. I have visited many Baroque buildings in Vatican, Naples but Noto really is the most elegant. The cathedral here is not grandiose and the streets here are also small, but it is the honey yellow color of the stone that makes Noto really unique. We originally planned to go to Siracusa, the city where the famous Malena movie was set, but uncle Santi said Noto was equally beautiful without being touristized. Indeed, when traveling far, you have to ask the locals to know the real good places.

Ragusa Ibla

The last city before parting with Sicily and also the city with the most memories for me. Since I lived for 8 months in Ragusa Ibla, this is really my second home. Ragusa is also close to the southernmost point of the island, traveling so far away to meet my Italian friends when I was a student. I was really surrounded by the kind people of Sicily and taught me many things. Ragusa Ibla rose to prominence a few years back as the setting of an Italian TV series. From an average tourist city, it has become a trending destination for Italians. The city is located on a mountain, so just go from the lowest point to the highest peak to enjoy the beauty of the romantic mountain town.

Diving in Lampedusa

Lampedusa is voted by many travel sites as the most beautiful coast in Europe with a long coastline, many beautiful beaches with clear and blue sea water. This is also a very suitable spot for those who love diving and watching coral. In addition, you can also witness turtles come ashore to lay eggs in the evenings of early September, this must be an extremely interesting experience.

Whisper your secrets at the Ear of Dionysius cave

Even if you talk in a whisper in the Ear of Dionysius cave, be careful because any of your secrets can be exposed whether those around you are near or far away.

The Ear of Dionysius man-made rock cave located in the city of Syracuse (southern Sicily), has been designed so that even the slightest whisper is clearly amplified. Legend has it that this cave was created by Dionysius I – the famous abuser of Syracuse to eavesdrop on the whispers of prisoners locked inside.

Rafting and trekking in Gole Alcantara

Gole Alcantara is a botanical and geological park 40 minutes by car from the town of Taormina, Sicily. This park is an interesting destination for locals and tourists instead of crowded beaches, everyone enjoys spectacular gorges, towering cliffs with strange structures, even water can freeze even in summer time. In addition to activities such as rafting, group boating, water parks, etc. Adventurers can also try challenging adventure sports such as mountain climbing, canyoning, etc.

Tasting Sicilian fine wine

This beautiful island with a typical Mediterranean climate, fertile soil is very suitable for growing grapes, and this is the region with the oldest winemaking tradition in Italy with famous wines such as DOCG, DOC, white wine Moscato di Noto and other famous red wines.

Sicily travel guide: What to eat?

Sicily has many dishes using local products such as cheese, olive oil, tomatoes, especially the seafood here is very fresh and quite cheap. If you have time, you should visit the local markets as well as tasting specialties here with full of fresh vegetables and local produce such as Vucciria Market in Palermo or La Pescheria fish market in Catania.

Due to influenced by Arab cuisine, Sicily is flooding with pastries. First, you must try Arancina (Arancini), rice balls that are stuffed with, cheese and tomato sauce then coated with bread crumbs and deep fried. Next is Cannolo (Cannoli), an extremely seductive cream-filled pastry consisting fried pastry dough, stuffed with a sweet, creamy filling usually containing ricotta. It has crispy crust with sweet ricotta cream, soft at every bite. Don’t forget to try the almond milk from the province of Agrigento as well. In Catania, don’t forget to try grilled horse meat.

Smorgasbord is the popular type of serving here with many delightful mixing dishes which are influenced by Arabic, Greek, French, Spanish and North African with an Italian twist, giving it a speacial flavor and style that you should try!

Sarde a beccafico – The famous Sicilian stuffed sardines here.

The restaurant we dined in in Catania was Trattoria Da Zia Tanina (Address: Via Plebiscito, 428, 95122 Catania CT, Italy/Hours: 12–3:30PM, 7PM–12AM; Monday: 7PM–12AM) , which specializes in horse meat dishes. There is another restaurant specializing in Sicilian cuisine called Giaca Ristorante Pizzeria (Address: Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 245, 95029 Viagrande CT, Italy/Hours: 6PM–1AM; Wednesday:Closed) , in the town of Viagrande near Catania. Here we tried pizza and pasta for dinner. If you spend the night in Ragusa Ibla, you can dine at U Saracinu and Da Nito Titos , two popular restaurants in the region.

Sicily travel blog: What to buy?

Definitely the world famous Marsala red wine. In addition, Caltagirone ceramics is also the pride of this dangerous land.

Sicily travel guide: How should I combine my Sicily travel itinerary?

Normally, tourists after finish their journeys to exploring famous destinations in the North of Italy such as Rome, Venice, Florence and then they will going to the South or making another trip to return Italy for the second time and want to explore more deeply the beauty of the boot-shaped country.

Because the island of Sicily is quite large and possesses so many tourists attractions as introduced above, so it will take at least a week or two week to explore all famous places here. For those of you who just want to explore the most famous places, there are two itinerary you can refer to as follows:

Explore the western part of the island:

• Day 1: Arrive in Palermo – Visit the capital city of Palermo
• Day 2: Traveling to Cefalù, a beautiful seaside city near Palermo
• Day 3: Traveling to Erice, a lovely little city and then return to Palermo, ending the trip.

Explore the eastern part of the Island

• Day 1: Arrive in Catania – Visit the port city of Catania
• Day 2: Traveling to Taormina – the most beautiful tourist city in Sicily – Traveling to Acireale – a lovely small city and back to Catania.
• Day 3: Traveling to Noto – A city that representing a school of architecture – Traveling to Ragusa Ibla, the emerging tourist city in Siclia – Return to Catania.

The East and West of Sicily has significant differences in landscape, culture and architecture, so choosing only one of the two is definitely not enough to fully understand this beautiful island. However, due to limited time, I chose the Eastern itinerary, also known as the Val di Noto journey to explore Sicily.

Sicily travel guide: Where to stay?

Check out top ratings and best accommodation, hotels, apartments on Agoda , Booking or Airbnb.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Sicily you can refer to

• Catania: Mount Etna Day Trip with Tasting and Cave Trip
• Etna: Summit Craters Trekking
• Lipari and Vulcano: Day Trip from Milazzo
• Mount Etna Summit and Crater Trek
• From Tropea: Day Tour to the Aeolian Islands
• Palermo 3-Hour Street Food and History Walking Tour
• Catania: Mount Etna Sunset Jeep Tour
• Syracuse and Noto Day Tour from Taormina

Are you looking for more top things to do in Sicily: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here . And Italy travel guide here .

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The largest island in the Mediterranean, strategically positioned Sicily has a history and outlook derived from its erstwhile foreign rulers. From the Greeks who first settled the east coast in the eighth century BC, through a dazzling array of Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, French and Spanish, to the Bourbons seen off by Garibaldi in 1860. Substantial relics of these ages remain, with temples, theatres and churches scattered about the whole island.

The best travel tips for visiting Sicily

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Enchanting Italian Lakes

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From Venice to Florence: A Grand Tour of Northern Italy

From the atmospheric canals of Venice and the picturesque coastline of Cinque Terre, to the trendy designer boutiques of Milan and the Renaissance-infused streets of Florence, Northern Italy has plenty to offer. Experience it all with this comprehensive trip.

There are many more immediate hints of Sicily’s unique past beyond architectural heritage. Most Sicilians consider themselves, and their island, a separate entity, and a visit here still induces a real sense of arrival. Sicilian dialect, for example, is still widely spoken in cities and countryside, varying from place to place.

The food is noticeably different from elsewhere in Italy , spicier and with more emphasis on fish and vegetables; even the flora echoes the change of temperament – oranges, lemons (introduced by the Arabs), prickly pears and palms are ubiquitous.

How to plan a visit to Sicily?

The standard approach for those heading south from the mainland is to cross the Strait of Messina , from Villa San Giovanni or Reggio di Calabria: this way, the train-ferry pilots a course between Scylla and Charybdis, the twin hazards of rock and whirlpool that were a legendary threat to sailors.

Inevitably, most points of interest are on the coast: the interior of the island is mountainous, sparsely populated and relatively inaccessible, though in parts extremely beautiful.

The capital, Palermo , is a filthy, bustling, noisy city with an unrivalled display of Norman art and architecture and Baroque churches, combined with a warren of medieval streets.

To the east, there’s no better place in Sicily for a traditional family sea, sun and sand holiday than Cefalù, with a magnificent golden sandy beach and a mellow medieval core overlooked by a castle-topped crag.

One of Sicily's beautiful beaches © Shutterstock

From exploring the Aeolian Islands to witnessing Mount Etna up close, here are the best things to do in Sicily.

#1 Go island-hopping around the Aeolian Islands

Volcanic in origin, this archipelago of seven islands has active volcanoes, lava beaches, fractured coastlines and whitewashed villages. Named after Aeolus, the Greek god who kept the winds he controlled shut tight in one of the islands’ many caves, Homer said Odysseus put into the Aeolians and was given a bag of wind to help him home, but his sailors opened it too soon and the ship was blown straight back to port.

Their strategic importance attracted the Greeks, who settled on Lipari in 580 BC, but they later became a haven for pirates and a place of exile. The Fascists exiled their political opponents to Lipari too.

Every island is expensive, with prices in shops as well as restaurants reflecting the fact that most food is imported. But get out to the minor isles or a taste of what life was like on the islands a hundred years ago.

Aeolian Islands - Lipari Sicily, Italy © Shutterstock

#2 Climb Mount Etna

The bleak lava wilderness around the summit of Mount Etna is one of the most memorable landscapes Italy has to offer. The volcano’s height is constantly shifting, depending on whether eruptions are constructive or destructive, and over the last century it has ranged from 3263m to the present estimate of 3340m.

Whatever its exact height, Etna is a substantial mountain, one of the world’s biggest active volcanoes, and on a clear day it can be seen from well over half of Sicily. There are some fantastic trails on Etna, but bear in mind that the topography here changes rapidly, maps can be out of date, and conditions challenging even for experienced trekkers.

The volcano has been in an almost continual state of eruption since 1998, meaning that, at times, access is strictly limited. Trekking with an authorized guide is a good idea, especially on the upper slopes and craters.

Activity of Mount Etna © Shutterstock

#3 See a classical drama at Siracusa

Under ancient Greek rule, Siracusa was the most important city in the Western world. Today it is one of Sicily’s main draws.

The Ara di Ierone II, an enormous third-century-BC altar on a solid white plinth, is the first thing you see, across the way from which is the entrance to the theatre and quarries.

Catch a classical Greek drama at the Teatro Greco in the Parco Archeologico Di Neapolis, an extensive area that’s worth at least half a day's exploration.

The Teatro Greco is prettily sited, cut out of the rock and looking down into trees below. It’s much bigger than the one at Taormina, capable of holding around fifteen thousand people.

#4 Visit the splendid Baroque towns of Val di Noto

Noto, half an hour from Siracusa, is easily the most harmonious town of those rebuilt after the earthquake, and during the mid-nineteenth century, it replaced Siracusa as provincial capital.

Planned and laid out by Giovanni Battista Landolina and adorned by Gagliardi, there’s not a town to touch Noto for uniform excellence in design and execution. Each year more monuments are restored, regaining their original apricot- and honey-hued limestone facades, and each year more tour groups visit.

The pedestrianized main Corso is lined with some of Sicily’s most captivating buildings, from the flat-fronted church of San Francesco, on the right, along as far as Piazza XVI Maggio and the graceful, curving church of San Domenico.

Its Piazza Municipio is one of Sicily’s finest piazzas, with its perfectly proportioned, tree-planted expanses. The Duomo, a striking example of Baroque at its most muscular, reopened following the collapse of its dome in 1996.

Ragusa Ibla cityscape at sunset in Val di Noto. Sicily, Italy © Shutterstock

#5 Wander through the coastal nature reserves at Vendicari or Zingaro

A line of small-town resorts stretches south from Siracusa to Vittoria, with several sweeps of pristine sands in between – most notably at the Riserva Naturale di Vendicari, a lovely coastal nature reserve.

Paths lead to unspoilt beaches of white-gold sand and salt lakes that, between October and March, attract flamingoes, herons, cranes, black storks and pelicans. In the middle of the last century turtles disappeared from the area, but thanks to careful management, they have now been encouraged back to Vendicari: at times, the local beaches are closed to allow them to breed in peace.

Just 2km from Scopello is Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro, Sicily’s first nature reserve, comprising a completely unspoiled 7km stretch of coastline backed by steep mountains. It’s less than twenty minutes to the first beach, Punta della Capreria, and 3km to the successive coves of Disa, Berretta and Marinella, which are more secluded.

#6 See the towering Doric columns of the Valley of the Temples

A road winds down from the modern city to the Valle dei Templi, which is divided into two zones. The more spectacular remains are in the eastern zone – to avoid crowds come in the early morning or (in summer) for the night openings. The western zone may be less architecturally impressive, but gives more of a sense of discovery – and holds the lovely gardens of Kolymbetra.

A path climbs up to the oldest of Akragas’s temples, the Tempio di Ercole (Hercules). Probably begun in the last decades of the sixth century BC, nine of the original 38 columns have been re-erected, everything else is scattered around like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Retrace your steps back to the path that leads to the glorious Tempio della Concordia, dated to around 430 BC.

The path and trees below the Temple of Juno (Tempio di Giunone - Hera Lacinia) in Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi) in Sicily near Agrigento © Shutterstock

#7 Peak around Villa Romana del Casale, an extravagant Roman residence

The Villa Romana del Casale dates from the early fourth century BC and was used right up until the twelfth century when a mudslide left it largely covered until the 1950s. The mosaics themselves are identifiable as fourth-century Roman-African school, which explains many of the more exotic scenes and animals portrayed. They also point four co-emperors with Diocletian, who divided the Roman world up between them.

The main entrance leads into a wide courtyard with fountains, where the thermae (baths) group around an octagonal frigidarium and a central mosaic showing a lively marine scene.

A walkway leads out of the baths and into the villa proper, to the massive central court or peristyle, whose surrounding corridors are decorated with animal-head mosaics. From here, a balcony looks down on one of the villa’s most interesting pictures, a boisterous circus scene showing a chariot race.

On the whole, accommodation in Sicily is slightly cheaper than in the rest of Italy (though prices can double in summer). The only accommodation cheaper than this comes in the form of the very few youth hostels and the many campsites across the island.

Private holiday apartments and villas are available in places like Taormina, Cefalù, Siracusa and the Aeolians, and are generally rented for anything from a couple of nights to a month. Agriturismi is among the best places to stay in Sicily if you are looking for a traditional and authentic experience. Here are the best places to stay in Sicily.

Palermo, Sicily © Shutterstock

• Palermo and around

Most of Palermo’s traditional budget hotels lie on and around the southern ends of Via Maqueda and Via Roma, close to Stazione Centrale, but you’ll get far more for your money in the city’s B&Bs, many of which are charming and extremely well run.

Prices tend to stay the same year-round (except out on the nearby coast, where usual summer rates apply), but  advance reservations are recommended, particularly around the time of Palermo’s annual festival, July 11–15.

The two nearest campsites, as well as Palermo’s youth hostel, are all at the beachside town of Sferracavallo, 16km northwest of the city or a good half an hour on the bus – convenient for the beach or airport but not really for the city sightseeing.

Planning a visit to Palermo ? Read our complete travel guide for first-time visitors.

The Tyrrhenian coast

Most of the resort hotels are out of the town centre, by the beaches and bays to either side of Cefalù. There are, however, lots of central B&Bs, though vacancies are few in Aug (when prices everywhere double).

Self-catering apartments are widely available, though again summer is very busy and there’s often a minimum stay of three or even seven nights.

The Aeolian islands

In July and Aug it’s a good idea to listen to the offers of rooms as you step off the boat in Lipari. Salina and Panarea both have plenty of choice but you'll need to book ahead .

In summer, the quayside at Stromboli is thick with three-wheelers and touts offering rooms. If you have a booking and are arriving in the summer, ask your hotel to arrange a pick-up if you are far from the port or have baggage.

The Ionian coast

Perched high on Monte Tauro, with Mount Etna as a backdrop, Taormina looks down on two grand, sweeping bays and is Sicily’s best-known resort and has plenty of good quality guesthouses . Catania, Sicily’s second-largest city, is a major transport hub and has more of an international outlook than Palermo - and the good choice of accommodation reflects that.

Explore the variety of accommodation options to stay in Sicily.

Sicily coast, Zingaro Nature Reserve in San Vito Lo Capo, Italy © Shutterstock

There’s much to be said for coming to Sicily just for the eating and drinking. Often, even the most out-of-the-way village will boast somewhere you can get a good lunch, while places like Catania, Palermo, Ragusa, Trapani and Siracusa can keep a serious eater happy for days.

In bars, it’s cheapest to drink standing up at the counter (there’s often nowhere to sit anyway), in which case you pay first at the cash desk (la cassa), present your receipt (scontrino) to the bar person and give your order.

Although bars have no set licensing hours, outside the cities it’s often difficult to find a bar open much after 9pm. Here’s where to eat and drink in Sicily.

Catania’s streets teem until late, especially in summer. Restaurants are pretty good value, thanks to the presence of so many students. Catania’s student population makes sure there is some lively nightlife, too.

The whole ambience is helped by the fact that the comune closes old-town streets and squares to traffic (the so-called café concerto) and bars spill tables outside until the small hours.

Of the outdoor cafés, those in Piazza del Duomo and Piazza dell’Università have the best views, while the cooler studenty bars are found around Piazza Bellini (particularly down Via Teatro Massimo, in Via Rapisardi and in adjacent piazzas Ogninella and Scammacca).

In summer, there are open-air venues for dancing until the early hours along the coast on the outskirts of town – ask around and look for posters and flyers for the latest spots.

You can eat fairly cheaply in Palermo, either snacking in bars and at market stalls or sitting down in one of dozens of good-value restaurants throughout the old town which serve cucina casalinga (home cooking).

Pizzas and pastries, in particular, are among the best in Sicily, while fish is another local highlight – a typical Palermo speciality is pasta con le sarde, which combines macaroni, fresh sardines, fennel, raisins and pine kernels.

Traditional street food is enjoying something of a renaissance, and in hole-in-the-wall outlets and fancy bars alike you can try the sort of earthy snacks and fritters that the locals have eaten for decades. The other unmissable treat is ice cream – Palermo’s best gelaterie (ice-cream parlours) are famed all over Italy.

Good restaurants are easy to find in Ragusa Ibla, while a few cafés put out tables in Superiore’s Piazza del Duomo – as night falls, and the lights come on, it’s not too much of an exaggeration to suggest that this is the prettiest square in Sicily. I Banchi

Eating out in Trapani is a real treat – you can get fresh fish and couscous almost everywhere, while the local pasta speciality, alla Trapanese, is terrific – either spaghetti or home-made busiate (long, thick twists of pasta) served with a pesto of fresh tomato, basil, garlic and almonds.

There are quite a few lively bars around, good for breakfast and snacks, and bustling at night with people stopping off from the clamorous passeggiata that fills Via Torrearsa and the bottom end of Corso Vittorio Emanuele.

Ortigia holds the city’s best array of cafés and restaurants, most within a short walk of each other. Prices are on the high side for Sicily, though there are few nicer places in Sicily to sit outside in a medieval street or courtyard and while the evening away.

Cefalu, Sicily © Shutterstock

Sicily has two main airports, at Palermo in the west and Catania in the east, two smaller regional airports at Comiso and Trapani, and tiny domestic airports on the islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa.

The shortest crossing from the Italian mainland, over the Strait of Messina, is from Villa San Giovanni by ferry; or, fifteen minutes further south from Reggio di Calabria.

To cut the driving time in Italy, you could use one of the ferry crossings from the Italian mainland to Sicily, from Genoa (to Palermo; 20hr), Salerno (to Palermo; 12hr; or Messina; 8hr), Civitavecchia, near Rome (to Palermo; 12hr) or Naples (to Palermo; 11hr; or the Aeolian Islands; 10hr).

You'll need at least a week in Sicily. With a vast array of attractions, including landmarks like the Valley of the Temples and the Greek Theater, with scores of incredible beaches to pick from, any less and you're selling yourself short.

Additionally, if you wish to visit nearby islands for day trips - such as going island-hopping around the Aeolian Islands - it's essential to factor in extra days into your itinerary. Similarly, you'll need a day to climb Mount Etna as well.

Looking for inspiration for your trip? Talk to our Italy travel experts .

The Teatro Greco Taormina © Shutterstock

You don’t have to rent a car to see Sicily’s major towns and sights, but getting around by public transport is not always easy. The rail system is slow, few buses run on Sundays and route information can be frustratingly difficult to extract, even from the bus and train stations themselves. On the positive side, public transport prices are reasonable. Here is how to get around.

Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane operates the trains in Sicily under the brand name Trenitalia and the privately owned Ferrovia Circumetnea operates a route around the base of Mount Etna. Trains connect all the major Sicilian towns, but are more prevalent in the east of the island than the west.

On the whole they do leave on time, with the notable exception of those on the Messina– Palermo and Messina–Catania/Siracusa routes that have come from the mainland. These can be delayed by up to three hours, though around an hour late is more normal.

Almost anywhere you want to go will have some kind of regional bus (autobus or pullman) service, usually quicker than the train (especially between the major towns and cities), and generally about the same price.

Driving in Sicily is almost a competitive sport, and although the Sicilians aren’t the world’s worst drivers they don’t win any safety prizes either. However, with a car you’ll be able to see a lot of the island quickly, and reach the more isolated coastal and inland areas.

By scooter, quad and moke

Virtually everyone in Sicily – kids to grandmas – rides a moped or scooter, although the smaller models are not suitable for any kind of long-distance travel. They’re ideal for shooting around towns, and you can rent them in Taormina, Cefalù and other holiday centres. Crash helmets are compulsory.

By ferry and hydrofoil

There are ferries (traghetti) and hydrofoils (aliscafi) to the Aeolians, the Egadi and Pelagie islands, and Pantelleria and Ustica, and there’s also a summer hydrofoil service from Palermo to the Aeolians.

Roman Mosaics in Villa Romana del Casale, Piazza Armerina, Sicilia, Italy © Shutterstock

Sicily can be an extremely uncomfortable place to visit at the height of summer, when the dusty Scirocco winds blow in from North Africa. In July and August, you’ll roast – and you’ll be in the company of tens of thousands of other tourists all jostling for space on the beaches, in the restaurants and at the archaeological sites. Hotel availability is much reduced and prices will often be higher.

If you want the heat but not the crowds, go in May, June or September – swimming is possible right into November. Spring is really the optimum time to come to Sicily, and it arrives early: the almond blossom flowers at the start of February, and there are fresh strawberries in April. Easter is a major celebration and a good time to see traditional festivals like the events at Trapani, Erice, Scicli and Piana degli Albanesi, though again they’ll all be oversubscribed with visitors.

Winter is mild by northern European standards and is a nice time to be here, at least on the coast, where the skies stay clear and life continues to be lived largely outdoors. On the other hand, the interior – especially around Enna – is very liable to get snowed under, providing skiing opportunities in the Monti Madonie or on Mount Etna, while anywhere else in the interior can be subject to blasts of wind and torrential downpours of rain.

Find out more about the best time to visit Italy .

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written by Ties Lagraauw

updated 05.09.2023

Ties is a true world explorer - whether it be for work or leisure! As Content Manager at RoughGuides, and the owner of Dutch travel platform Reis-Expert.nl , Ties is constantly on the move, always looking for new destinations to discover.

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ITINERARIES

Travel tips and advice.

Abundance is the key word for understanding Sicily in its many facets: from one side of the island to the other, there are endless solutions for itineraries lasting a few hours, days or weeks.

In the western part, Palermo ‘s historical and architectural heritage is represented by the Cathedral and the Cappella Palatina, while archaeological triumph is celebrated in Agrigento ‘s Valley of the Temples and in Segesta. A treasure trove of antiquities that rank among the most beautiful in Italy can be found perched on Mount Erice , and the seaside villages such as Castellammare del Golfo and San Vito Lo Capo are home to an indescribable atmosphere. These places go straight to your heart at first glance.

In the eastern part, the lure of Etna is irresistible, between lava and snow. This leads you back to Catania , with a wealth of dynamic charm and a sparkling array of proposals for activities and nightlife.

The baroque of the southeast represents a great beauty among a thousand wonders and brings with it a nobility that starts from the soul.

Clear waters and pristine beaches are not far from urban jewels such as Syracuse , Taormina , Modica and Ragusa Ibla , home to a wealth of charm as well as ancient buildings and monuments.

And how could we not be seduced by literary Sicily , with the places dear to Camilleri and to the great Sicilian writers and poets that came before him? With Castles and sacred paths , food and wine tourism routes and those that lead to ancient rocky necropolises and naturalistic and cultural treasures enclosed and scattered within each of the nine provinces , ancient customs and new trends, Sicily is a single great itinerary, one that is extensive and engaging.

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Mount etna day trip from taormina, aeolian islands day trip from taormina: stromboli and panarea, half-day pizza making class in taormina, taormina food and wine walking tour (small group), taormina and isola bella day tour including a boat tour, the 9 prettiest paradise beaches in sicily, the 7 most instagrammable places in palermo, 6 most touristy places in sicily and where to go instead, best places to get your sicilian food fix in palermo, 7 big ideas for the best vacation in sicily, the best farm stays in sicily, join on social media, for even more exclusive content.

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Streaty – palermo street food walking tour, etna, wine and alcantara tour – small groups from taormina, one day boat tour in the egadi favignana and levanzo, top 9 must-do activities in syracuse, the best places to stay on the aeolian islands, private monreale, cefalù & castelbuono tour, from palermo area, cooking class with seaview & taormina’s market with chef mimmo, quad tour excursion from the castle to the sea, private 6-hour tour of three etna wineries with food and wine tasting, sicily on a budget: how to experience luxury without breaking the bank, our new digital guide ‘an insider’s guide to northwest sicily’ is here, where to stay and what to do in sicily with kids, mazara del vallo: 6 reasons why you should visit this hidden gem, the 8 best things to do in catania, 9 best date ideas in palermo, 6 amazing things to do in sicily when it rains, an insider’s pocket guide to sicily: islands edition, an insider’s guide to sicily: beaches edition, the best beaches in sicily that are suitable for kids: the “bandiere verdi 2022” awards, 7 underrated places to visit in sicily.

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Etna countryside food and wine lovers tour (small group), elevate your travel photos with our new lightroom presets ‘the colors of sicily’, faq – before you buy our presets, on march 8 women can visit museums for free, an important travel magazine chose sicily as the 11th best island in europe, strong explosion of the stromboli volcano: fear among the inhabitants, the 11 sicilian beaches awarded for the quality of the sea, fresh stories, browse our editor's hand picked articles, an insider’s pocket guide to sicily: spring edition.

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Sicily: Insider’s Guide to the Ultimate Experience of the Island

The insider advice on this page is from Wendy’s Trusted Travel Experts for Sicily: Marcello Baglioni and Matteo Rota of Agave Travel Creative.

While running a school for Americans studying in Sicily, Marcello found himself planning trips for the students’ visiting families—and thus his travel business was born. His fascination with Sicily derives from the island’s important historic location at the crossroads of numerous Mediterranean cultures (Roman, Arabic, Spanish, Norman, to name a few), all of which left their mark on the region’s unique food, wine, culture, and language. Matteo, meanwhile, has hospitality in his blood: Raised in his family’s restaurant in St. Moritz, today he is known to moonlight upon occasion—when restaurateur friends need a break—in the front-of-the-house and show off his food-and-wine cred. Matteo, who speaks four languages, has lived in Sicily since 2012; Marcello divides his time between the island and the U.S. Together they excel at forging deep personal connections and can arrange anything from a hike or donkey ride on Mt. Etna with a volcanologist to a market tour and cooking class with a chef, a visit to Greek ruins with an archaeologist, a private lunch at an herb farm, or a tour on a lovingly restored sailboat, all hosted by passionate locals whom they consider family. From five-star palaces to rustic farm stays, they are so plugged into the hotel scene that they know which rooms will accommodate a wheelchair or, in the small properties, a late sleeper.

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What to See and Do

The view from the Cala Rossa, a public swimming spot on the island of Ortigia, the historical center of Siracusa, Sicily. Photo: Agave Creative

Most underrated place The historic town of Ortigia in Siracusa (or Syracuse) makes for the ideal home base in the southeastern part of the island. The area features a compelling mix of 3,000-year-old monuments, wide-open piazzas where you can relax with a nice gelato, outdoor food markets, and an ancient, eminently walkable harbor. It’s also a convenient point of departure for day trips that explore ancient sites, Baroque towns, seaside villages, and hiking trails.

Most overrated place Many visitors include the famous hilltop town of Taormina on their Sicily bucket list, and for some compelling reasons: The town features amazing views of both Mt. Etna and the Mediterranean, elite dining spots, and some of the best accommodations on the island. However, its tiny streets are frequently clogged with large tour groups on shore excursions from their cruise ships, and its geographical position limits day-trip options. If you stay here, you’ll end up isolated from local life and culture.

Snow-capped Mt. Etna. Photo: Shutterstock

Hidden gem Mt. Etna is much more than just a volcano (though it is the tallest and most active in Europe). In addition to checking out the recent and ancient lava flows with a volcanologist, take some time to explore the charming local towns nearby and their wide array of culinary traditions, which include pistachio cultivation, the invention of granita, and wineries that are making the most of the volcanic terroir.

Where to Stay and Eat

Granita was invented in Sicily. Photo: Marcello Baglioni

Best bang-for-your-buck hotels When it comes to accommodations in Sicily, the sweet spot is a selection of boutique hotels and farmhouses. Many of these properties are family-run, serving locally grown organic meals and with a kind and helpful staff. Here are a few that provide the right blend of location, luxury, and a unique experience:

Fontes Episcopi , located near the Agrigento/Valley of the Temple ruins, is an organic farmhouse owned by a pharmacist who decided to create a country resort that would heal and nourish his guests. The property features a small spa that uses healing muds and lotions, and the meals all come from the on-site gardens. The friendly staff will make you feel like part of the family.

Musciara Resort , a short walk or boat ride from Siracusa’s historic center on Ortigia Island, has amazing sea views and a private beach area. From here, you can be part of local life while enjoying a peaceful perspective on the ancient city and sea. The rooms and public spaces have been lovingly designed by the owners and provide for a joyful stay.

While Taormina can get quite overrun with tour groups and leave you feeling at times as if you were in a Sicilian Disneyland, the Ashbee Hotel is a private oasis amid the hubbub, just outside the main area of town. The hotel was constructed in the early 20th century as an English-style villa, and while the rooms have been meticulously restored and updated, they still reveal details of the original architecture. The Deluxe Seaview rooms also have large private terraces.

The coastline of Cefalu, a village near Palermo. Photo: Shutterstock

Restaurants the locals love In Sicily, you can dine at a Michelin-starred restaurant one night, then possibly outdo the experience at a seaside osteria the next. The island’s complex history provides an almost endless choice of culinary traditions to explore, from ancient Greek and Roman to Arabic, Spanish, and French, all within the framework of Italian cuisine.

Bisso Bistrot. The setting couldn’t be better, in the Quattro Canti at the heart of Palermo’s city center, in what used to be an old family-owned bookstore. The menu features fresh takes on traditional Palermo street food, served with the bustling and frenetic energy (no reservations, shared tables) that best symbolizes the spirit of Sicily’s capital.

Ciacco Casa & Putia. Few travelers take the time to explore remote and rustic western Sicily, but those who do are well rewarded for their efforts. Located just outside Marsala’s historic center, Ciacco Casa & Putia is the invention of a husband-and-wife team with both Tuscan and Sicilian culinary roots. Their simple yet creative dishes of seasonal items pair amazingly well with the Marsala wines for which the area is known and named.

Cave Ox. This unassuming “hole in the wall” is a local favorite and for good reason. Based in the town of Solicchiata on Mt. Etna’s northern slopes, Cave Ox features a wonderful range of locally inspired dishes that feature Etna-sourced ingredients prepared in a simple, authentic style. They also have one of the most complete wine lists on the island, showcasing an impressive range of both Sicilian and Italian varietals.

Giardino SottoSale is located on the grounds of the Baglio sull’Acqua, a fully restored 19th-century farmhouse featuring lovely Mediterranean gardens and pools that express the deep North African influence on western Sicily. The seasonal restaurant picks up on this theme and explores these same influences on the culinary culture, surrounded by design elements that evoke the spirit of the Favignana Island.

The Vendicari Nature Reserve, located near the baroque town of Noto, is a spot for seeing birds—even flamingoes. Photo: Agave Creative

Dish to try Pasta con le Sarde , or pasta with anchovy filets. It is often made with wild fennel, fresh anchovies, raisins, pine nuts, and finished off with some toasted breadcrumbs, although each province in Sicily has a slight local variation. The dish features a contrast of seemingly conflicting flavors that somehow come together on the palate, giving you a strong sensorial sample of the culinary and cultural mosaic that is Sicily.

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Best Times to Go

Sicily is an island where each season presents a range of culinary, cultural, and local adventures to be savored:

Mid-March through April : The air is fresh and spring flowers abound. During Easter week, colorful processions take place, and the island comes alive after its winter hibernation.

May to mid-July : The weather and the sea get warmer by the week, while the heat, humidity, and crowds don’t usually arrive until late July—making this an ideal time to explore.

September and October : September features summer weather without the crowds. The end of the month and first couple weeks of October are typically the harvest period for olives, almonds, and wine.

November : Temperatures are still relatively warm, and there are few other travelers to be found. This means you won’t have trouble booking hotels and private guides, and it can feel as if you’ve got the whole place to yourself.

December to mid-January : Culture never gets cold, so the sites, ruins, and culinary traditions are always in season. During these weeks, various saints’ feast days, holiday celebrations, and food festivals enliven the towns. Sicilians are particularly festive, and the intimacy at this time of year helps you feel like a local.

Worst Times to Go

The weekend following January 6th (the Epiphany, when the holiday season in Italy traditionally ends), until March . The weather tends to be more unstable, most hotels are closed, and Sicilians go into hibernation mode.

August can get quite hot and humid, with large crowds of Italian tourists and expat Sicilians returning for a visit.

That said, these are great times to rent a private villa with a pool (or fireplace in the winter), staying more rooted and enjoying a select range of weather-friendly activities and culinary/cultural adventures.

Biggest Rookie Mistakes

Renting a car. In Marcello and Matteo’s experience, the downsides are: long wait times to pick up the vehicle (either in town or at the airport); getting lost with outdated GPS or dropped cell coverage in the countryside, and thus arriving late for tours; expensive fines while attempting to drive and park in complicated ZTLs (Limited Traffic Zones) in Sicily’s historical centers; and generally adding stress to a trip.

People think of Sicily as a small island that can be seen easily in just a few days . Don’t be fooled by Google Maps: It can take several hours to cross from one side of the island to the other, or even to get from town to town. For shorter holidays, base yourself in one spot and don’t try to see or do too much; seeing less and experiencing more is always a good rule of thumb. If you have a week to ten days, start in Palermo and make your way through the heart of Sicily to the southeastern part of the island, departing from Catania. If you have two to three weeks, add in the “Wild West” of Sicily (Trapani, Marsala, and Menfi), or a few days in the Aeolian Islands.

Scam to Avoid

Taxi drivers at both the Palermo and Catania airports tend to price their fares according to the weather, early or late hour of flight arrivals, or even their moods. If Mt. Etna is acting up or your flight gets delayed, their rates can soar. For peace of mind, Marcello and Matteo can arrange for one of their trusted private drivers to pick you up.

Tipping Tip

Tipping is not expected of locals, but it is somewhat expected of foreigners . At restaurants, Marcello and Matteo suggest leaving 10% (a bit more for fine dining). When grabbing an espresso or a gelato, simply round up the bill. Tips should always be left in euros.

Don’t Forget to Pack

A pair of trail or light hiking shoes will prove invaluable when you’re walking around all of the archaeological and outdoor sites, which usually have uneven and rocky terrain. Pack layers , as there can be drastic differences in temperatures and weather in town, by the water, on Mt. Etna, and at a fully exposed archaeological site.

Must-Have App

All of Marcello and Matteo’s drivers, guides, and office staff use WhatsApp to communicate, so it’s a great way for you to stay in touch with all of them en-route as well.

The Souvenirs

If you are in Sicily during the olive oil harvest , you can visit one of Marcello and Matteo’s friend’s local olive farms, pick some olives, and have them pressed into your very own oil to take back home. You can also pick up some aged salted ricotta cheese at an outdoor food market and have it vacuum packed for the voyage home, using it sparingly over the pasta alla norma (a local recipe made with fried eggplant, red onions, and tomato sauce) that you learned to make during a cooking class.

Bragging Rights

Marcello and Matteo can organize a variety of experiences that connect you to the spirit and people of Sicily: private visits to an artist’s home studio , giving a deeper appreciation of the area that can’t be understood by visiting a ruin or museum alone; a visit to a family-run almond farm where you can meet with the owner, touch and taste the fruit of a 300-year-old almond tree, and learn how to make fresh almond milk and ricotta cheese in a traditional style; and more, depending on your interests.

Can't-Miss Photo Op

Sicily is an island of contrasts. The best shots capture these opposing elements in one frame: the seemingly chaotic mix of families and friends reuniting in Ortigia’s Piazza Duomo on a Sunday, or a sunrise on Mt. Etna with smoky clouds above, Mediterranean Sea below, and the darkness of cooled lava surrounded by lush vineyards and olive groves.

Prime Picnic Spot

A scampagnata is more than a picnic in Sicily, rather a family outing into the countryside at the first sign of springtime weather, or for relief from the summer heat and seaside crowds. In the medieval town of Buccheri, Marcello and Matteo can arrange for you to collect seasonal wild herbs and vegetables with a local chef, then transform them into an “urban picnic” at his local osteria . On the island of Salina, hike up to a local vineyard , cultivated on the slopes of an ancient volcano covered by lush vegetation. Under the shade of an olive tree, enjoy a rustic lunch accompanied by some local capers while overlooking the Aeolian Sea. Or cycle to the Vendicari Nature Reserve and set up a picnic under the cover of a bird-watching viewpoint , to breathe in the fresh Mediterranean air while you enjoy some local wine and cheese.

Getting to know Sicilians...

It is spectacular..., finding time for memorable meals....

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I had originally decided to write off Trapani due to flight times and head straight to Palermo , stay there for 5 - 7 days to allow time for day trips, then visit the Aeolian islands for a week (this would be my R&R portion of the trip), then travel from Messina to Castelmolla (to avoid the cost of Taormina ) and fly out of Catania .

I have however, recently been looking further into Noto / Ragusa and would love to see them too. Given this, a couple of people have suggested travelling around the island in the opposite direction and swapping the Aeolian islands for Favignana etc.

I am aware that whatever I do I am barely going to scratch the surface, and so what I'm looking for is:-

1. Nature (sea and countryside) - I love photography therefore love anywhere that is visually beautiful. I love visiting cities of course, but I am equally as happy to get out of them.

2. Wine & wine tasting

3. Authenticity - I can appreciate touristy areas but I'd rather see authentic Sicilian life.

Any advice would be unbelievably appreciated! :)

5 replies to this topic

Perhaps think about three different regions that appeal to you and build your itinerary around "what is most important to experience"....in the east/southeast region, you have the beautiful Val di Noto area with well-known towns such as Siracuse, Ortigia , Noto, Modica, Ragusa / Ragusa Ibla ...and smaller towns such as Scicli.

Trapani is a working town and good hub for day trips, including the Favignana island. Palermo , of course, is the capital and a busy authentic city with great neighborhoods and markets. It's also a good transportation hub.

I think a guidebook, if you don't have one already, will be very beneficial during planning, as well as when exploring. You will want to build in travel time with each change in destination...i would plan 1/2 day for every "travel day" and especially if traveling via bus and/or train. Are you flying in Palermo and out Catania ? Hopefully destination expert Vagabonda will be able to reply with her excellent guidance.

We went to Sicily on a 15-day adventure and rented a car for 9 days - flew in Catania/out Palermo. Sicily was one of my more exciting travels...and I would go back in a heart-beat if I could. I'm happy you have three weeks.

Edit-- if you're talking about this June, I would get working on your itinerary and lodging reservations. June is high season and popular.

I wrote a blog about our 2022 trip and here's the link to our arrival in Ortigia by train from Rome , if you'd like to read about it.

https://italyjune2022.blogspot.com/2022/07/the-night-of-june-1-we-boarded.html

I would recommend Ragusa as a top destination on the island.

Which island are you planning to visit?

We spent about a week on Salina and will return, ojala, in September for about two weeks.

Thank you so much everyone!

My poor guidebook is covered in scribbles and I've had reservations and cancelled and started again! I am very fortunate to have this time and can't wait but am conscious that I'm running out of time to book.

My original plan was

- 5 days on the Aeolian Islands - Salina or splitting time between Salina and Panarea.

- Travel to Castelmolla which I fell in love with and use this as a base...it is at that point I discovered Ragusa and Noto ...however it seemed a long way to go for 5 nights to have to come back up to Catania .

I am now considering starting in Trapani for 3 nights to visit Erice, the Salt Planes and hopefully a winery, then perhaps a few nights on Favignana instead of the Aeolian islands - if anyone can offer advice on whether I'd be truly missing out by substituting Favignana for the Aeolians then please do let me know - I love island life and being by the sea just as much as I love being in the countryside.

I'd then head to Palermo for 4 or 5 nights and then, if the Aeolian islands aren't a huge loss (otherwise I might try and squeeze even just a couple of nights on Lipari), I'd then take the train to Catania and perhaps consider hiring a car and exploring Val di Noto before returning to Catania to fly on to Bari.

My worries are - will I be missing out by not going to the Aeolians and Castelmolla, how confident a driver do I need to be, and does the Val di Noto offer the type of countryside natural beauty and authenticity I'd be looking for?

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Sicily Hotels and Places to Stay

More From Forbes

Travel to italy like an insider with the best local experts.

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A trip to Italy is too special to get wrong. Here's how to do it right. (San Gimignano, Tuscany)

I absolutely love Italy, for many different reasons. But I hate the way in which many Americans go about planning trips there. Survey after survey shows it is the number one dream destination for U.S. leisure travelers, but the way those travelers get their information and advice gives me nightmares.

Throughout the years I’ve heard people say over and over that “I was told to do this in Italy,” or “I was told not to do this in Italy.” By who? “A friend.” I have close friends who recently planned their entire 12-day trip on the basis of another couple they knew who gave them advice—after their first visit. I’ve heard of many people who skipped Rome because “we heard it was too busy, just another big city.” Or passed on Venice, one of the world’s most magical destinations, because, “I heard it was touristy.”

There are American tourists who say you should skip Venice. They are wrong.

It goes on and on, but suffice to say, I have been to Italy in the neighborhood of two dozen times, summer and winter, for food, wine, skiing, golf, hiking, cycling and more food, from north to south and east to west and islands too, and I know a lot about Italian cuisine, but I still ask real experts for advice every time I go. I specifically ask for advice on where to eat, what to see, and who to choose as guides. And by experts, I mean people how live in Italy, specialize in particular areas of travel, and know their subject matter.

“We get multiple guests a year who want to wing it,” says Cherrye Moore, owner of My Bella Vita travel. Moore moved to Calabria two decades ago after falling in love with the region on a visit, and opened a bed and breakfast, learning about what her visitors were looking for. Her company now specializes in planning trips—especially foodie and ancestry trips—to the area in Southern Italy where many Italian Americans trace their heritage. “They say, ‘My neighbor just showed up in their family’s hometown and it went great for them,’ or, ‘Our friends went to Italy last year and said we don't need a driver.’ It’s true that you can rent a car and drive to your family’s hometown, but that experience is vastly different from having a dedicated driver and a heritage specialist who has done research on your family’s history, who has already identified the home your grandfather was born in, and who has arranged meetings with locals upon your arrival.”

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Anyone can tour the Vatican, but only the right guides can get you a private visit.

I just got back from an exploration of Turin followed by a weeklong hiking trip in surrounding Piemonte, Italy’s most prestigious wine region, which included multiple winery visits. For restaurants and guides and sightseeing in Turin I used an Italian-based travel specialist that is the choice of many of the best luxury travel agents/advisors in this country (the best travel agents are savvy enough to know what they do not know and regularly rely on local experts). For the hiking trip, I used an Italy-based active travel specialist that does nothing else, and does it with a food-centric spin. It was another fantastic Italy trip, one amazing day after another, featuring many meals, wineries and experiences I never would have found by myself, especially by asking random friends or watching You Tube influencer videos by people with far less Italy experience than myself.

“We don’t focus on stars or diamonds, we focus on really special one-of-a-kind experiences and lodging that lets you discover our Italy,” said Heather Dowd, who lives in Turin and along with her Italian husband Beppe Salerno. They run Tourissimo , the active travel company we used. We had several friends hiking with us who were on either their very first or second trip to Italy, and when we reviewed our experiences at the end for the trip, one place we stayed, an 18 th century castle turned boutique hotel, was the overwhelming favorite. It did not have whirlpool tubs or Frette linens, it did not have a concierge or room service, but it had excellent food and beautiful gardens in which we had an epic dinner. It had cooking classes, a great location, a fun aperitivo evening cocktail session, and most of all, incredible charm..

Everyone wants the perfect meal in Italy, but not everyone knows where the locals go to find it.

It was exactly what my first timers dreamed Italy would be like, and it was a place we never would have found online. It was perfect, and even in Italy not every place is, but the reality is that Heather and Beppe and their guides spend a lot of time behind the scenes visiting small hotels and vetting them, way more time than the people who rate their stays on booking websites. One of my friends was so impressed he is already planning an extended family hiking trip to Sicily with Tourissimo next year.

If you want to have an insider experience in Italy, and see the places locals go, you need a local insider to help you out.

“Our goal is for guests to experience Calabria like we do, so we’ve built experiences that aren’t available online,” said My Bella Vita’s Moore. “Nowhere else can you find a multi-course lunch hosted at Zia Pina’s or a picnic prepared and delivered by Signora Francesca. Lunch in the home of our friend, Chef Massimo, isn’t available on Google. When creating or reviewing experiences I always think of my sister in Texas. If she were visiting, would I take her here? If that answer is yes, I know we have a winner.” That is exactly the standard by which I’d like my Italy travels to be judged.

A trip to Italy is a beautiful, special, and almost sacred experience, so don’t screw it up by taking bad advice. I do not know every local specialist—and I hope to keep finding more—but I know several experts I would recommend for different kinds of travel. Or use a good travel advisor, something I recommend for all travel (Read my article Why You Need A Travel Agent More Than Ever here at Forbes ), and communicate with them to ensure they are on the same page in terms of sourcing these kinds of local experts. If they are good, they will already be familiar with several of these companies.

Active Travel

All of Tourissimo's cycling and hiking trips in Italy emphasize food and wine, which is how it ... [+] should be.

Italy has long been the dream destination of cyclists, with Tuscany atop the Bucket List for global road riding destinations. But for the past few years the fastest growing sector of cycling has been “gravel grinding,” and with hundreds of miles of its stunning unpaved “white roads,” Tuscany has also emerged as the world’s top travel spot for gravel lovers. There are also plenty of other amazing places to ride in Italy, including Piemonte, Sardinia, Puglia, the Lakes region, and many other areas. World class hiking abounds, especially the stunning Dolomites—a UNESCO World Heritage Site of beauty unmatched by most other mountain regions on earth. Beyond this there are the Alps in the east, the Cinque Terre, Sardinia, and many other great options.

Italy is so well known for cycling and hiking that every major active travel company in the world runs trips there. But for my last two active trips, one hiking and one biking, I chose a tour operator that is actually based there, founded by an Italian with a passion for cycling and food. Tourissimo may be Italian, but they cater to the American market, and founder Beppe Salerno worked for am American cycling company as a guide before realizing he could do the real Italy better himself—to me, the perfect startup rationale. Over the years since, Tourissimo has grown its library of offerings, with both with an array of scheduled group trips and private custom options. While they do mostly road riding, they are notably one of the only tour operators scheduling gravel trips, and can also arrange custom mountain biking itineraries, with years of expertise in cycling and hiking.

Superstar Chef Mary Sue Milliken has led about galf a dozen Chef's Cycling Tours in Italy for ... [+] Tourissimo.

In addition, Tourissimo has also been a pioneer in “Active Culinary Travel,” a hot new category I have written about here at Forbes (and for other magazines and newspapers). They offer an annual series of six group rides (and a hike) each hosted by an acclaimed chef like Mary Sue Milliken, an award-winning chef, restaurateur, cookbook author (five!) and co-host of the popular PBS cooking show Two Hot Tamales . She is also an avid cyclist and has led the Tourissimo Chef Bike Tours for several years, along with other big names. These trips are a unique option for serious foodies who also ride, while the other trips cater to just about anyone. Otherwise they offer several styles of trips, from Bici Basics for new riders to Ambitious Tours for the more hard core.

Tourissimo puts a focus on local, choosing small and often historic hotels that they have curated and vetted (like the castle I just stayed at in Piemonte), places that you would never be able to distinguish from hundreds of other non-chain options online. Same for restaurants, wineries, and all the other ways they take you behind the scenes and into their real Italy. Their Mission Statement? “We don't want to be the biggest adventure travel company. We want to design and run the best tours in Italy. We strive to be the most authentic and the most beneficial to local communities.” Fantastico!

Bellagio on Lake Como is one of the most famous destinations in Italy — and the perfect place for a ... [+] food-centric bike tour!

Bike It! Bellagio offers another insider biking experience on a much different scale, providing a great one-day experience for visitors to Italy’s most famous lake town. This bike shop on Lake Como is run by a former pro racer and his wife. They rent bikes (road, mountain and e-bikes) out, but also offer one-day guided tours with multiple food and drink stops. Given that the owner grew up here and knows everyone, it’s not surprising that the food and drink spots are insider picks. The shop sits near the iconic Madonna del Ghisallo climb, the most famous in the Giro di Lombardia, a race more than a century old, and several days a week the shop offers guided group rides with a climb of the pass, on road or e-bikes—Bianchi bikes of course!

There are scheduled tours Monday through Saturday, as well as wide range of customizable private tours. These are often taken by families with mixed ages, but for more aggressive riders they offer longer road tours, mountain biking and gravel riding, along with a wide range of less demanding e-bike tours, including some even more focused on food and wine. They also offer a handful of multi-day tours and can put these together as custom on demand, usually for groups, including an iconic coast to coast traverse of Italy. If you are a guest of one of the many stunning (and pricey) ultra-luxury hotels around Bellagio, and ask the concierge to arrange a bike tour, they are likely going to call this shop anyway (and mark it up) so just do it yourself.

Luxury Travel in Italy

From planning your entire itinerary with flights, hotels, and transfers to just booking the best tours, guides and VIP access (often to non-public highlights), it pays to use a top local specialist.

Last year I attended the annual Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, which has been called “the Oscars of the travel industry.” Virtuoso is the leading global luxury travel consortium, and many of the best travel advisors on earth belong, So does just about every top hotel, resort, safari lodge, cruise line, and luxury tour operator. Virtuoso CEO Matthew Upchurch was explaining the many advantages of using a travel advisor (I wholeheartedly agree) and something he said really stuck with me. He explained that with all of the new online tour booking companies, it was easier than ever to book a tour or guide in just about any destination on earth, but harder than ever to judge the quality. The caveat was that, “you can book a guide, but you can’t book my guide.”

One of Italy's greatest hidden gems, Turin was the nation's first capital and a Winter Olympic host. ... [+] It's worth getting a good guide if you visit.

The Vatican is the Vatican and the Colosseum is the Colosseum, so when you opt for a guided tour, what really matters and makes it a good, bad or great experience is the guide—and their special access, like a tour of the Vatican when no one else is there.

For my recent trip to Turin, I called Imago Artis Travel , an Italy-based luxury travel specialist. They are what is known in the travel industry as a destination management company or DMC, the same companies luxury travel agents call to arrange local details for their clients. There are great DMCs all over the world, and local knowledge is valuable everywhere, but many of them do not deal directly with travelers, while in Italy the best ones do.

I wanted a private day tour of Turin and its surrounding attractions for my wife and I, most importantly the Reggia di Venaria Reale, aka the “Italian Versailles” (one of two places in Italy with this lofty but accurate nickname). The guide they got for me was a licensed guide, and lifelong resident of Turin, and spoke excellent English, which was all good, but she was also an architect, which was great in a city where so much is driven by architecture. That’s not so easy to find on global tour aggregator website. Imago Artis also gave me a list of their favorite restaurant recommendations, which were spot on, then made my reservations for me. At a minimum this eliminates the language barrier of calling or the technology barrier of booking through often tricky (or non-functional) Italian restaurant reservation websites, but in many cases it also gets you a better table and instant VIP treatment—which definitely does not happen when I book myself.

Italy is rich in world-class crafts, and companies like Imago Artis can take you behind the scenes ... [+] to meet the makers.

Imago Artis Travel is a Virtuoso member, which means when you book through them, if you book your luxury hotel, you get extras like room upgrades, late checkout, spa credits etc., one of the big advantages of working with Virtuoso travel advisors. If you have a bigger budget than I do, they can handle all sorts of luxury transport, private jets, helicopters, boat charters, and also offer VIP Meet and Greet services at just about every airport in Italy. They can even arrange private security details. On a more accessible luxury level, they specialize in exclusive experiences, unlocking historic buildings and art collections not open to the public, and taking you behind the scenes with many artisans of Italy, from custom shoemakers to sculptors to jewelry designers. They know food, they know the guides, and I especially like their mission statement, “Our mission is simple: Getting You to the Heart of Italy.” That’s what it is all about.

Another top luxury DMC that is also a member of Virtuoso that I have used in the past with great success is IC Bellagio . They offer a similar array of luxury services and are very well connected, but they also specialize in Villa rentals as well as 5-Star hotels. Differentiating villas in Italy may be the single biggest challenge, more so than restaurants, with so many options and so few valid reviews. IC Bellagio has also boldly acknowledged the overtourism problems some of the most popular parts of Italy face, and are pushing “Slow Season Travel,” which varies in each of the country’s 20 regions but is something they are expert in. Last winter I went to Venice in the off-season, and it was spectacular, and I just traveled in a slow season to Piemonte. It was much, much better than fighting the crowds.

Skiing in Italy is awesome, and it's the best place in the world to stay in mountain rifugios — but ... [+] you need help for the perfect trip.

Skiing in Italy remains a bit under the radar for Europe, especially compared to France and Switzerland. Well, let the crowds go to other countries, because Italy has two different major ski regions, both of which have hosted the Winter Olympics, and the Games are returning to Milan and Cortina in 2026. The interconnected Dolomiti SuperSki lift and trail network in the Dolomites is arguably the largest “ski resort” in the world, and inarguably one of the most beautiful mountain landscapes on the planet. The towns are charming, the food is great, there are spectacular hotels from non-chain independent hidden gems to world-class luxury (Aman, Mandarin Oriental, Relais & Chateaux, etc.) and it’s cheaper than much of the rest of Europe. Did I mention the food?

I first went to the Dolomites to go hiking, and was so wowed I thought, “I have to come back and ski here.” I came back the next winter and skied, and the following year I got a group of friends together and went back. I have skied all over the U.S., and all over the world and never had the same compulsion to return to the same place immediately. That’s how good skiing in Italy is ( read much more in my Italy skiing piece here at Forbes ).

I’ve only used one company for ski travel in Italy and see no reason to switch gears, especially since the local logistics (a great guide/instructor, transfers, the best on-mountain meals and staying a couple of nights in the region’s unique on-mountain rifugios) is very hard to organize on your own. The company is Dolomite Mountains , a specialist in both resort ski vacations and backcountry touring trips (using skins and alpine touring or AT gear). They too are a U.S. facing company with mainly American clientele.

Like many active travel companies, they offer both group trip scheduled departure options and private custom trips to fit whatever you want. The group option is called the Dolomites Ski Safari and is a 7-day trip mixing stays in amazing rifugios with in-town hotels (4 and 5-stars on the Italian system) and includes all breakfasts and dinners, a full-time guide, ski pass, luggage transfers and more. Custom options include the same kind of trip for your own group, or anything you want, and while its name suggests local expertise—quite true—Dolomite Mountains also handles ski trips in the rest of Italy, like Courmayeur, and connected border regions of France, Switzerland and Austria, as many lift systems here know no national boundaries (ski with your passport!). They are also a Virtuoso member.

Calabria & Southern Italy

Many Italian Americans trace their ancestry to Southern Italy's Calabria, and if you want to visit, ... [+] make sure you do it right.

My Bella Vita travel focuses on this area, including both small group trips and custom privates. Their specialties include “Heritage Tours” for those interested in their ancestry, and a food focus for the rest of us. For instance, Taste of the South is a 12-day gastronomic journey through Calabria, Basilicata and Naples—the birthplace of pizza! Food & Wine of Calabria is an 11-daty trip and just what it sounds like.

These are some of the scheduled small group tours offered, but the rest of their business is private trip planning and custom options.

“Italy is deceivingly large, and travelers think two weeks is enough time to see everything. It isn’t,” insists Moore. “You can’t even experience all of Calabria in two weeks. Our team collectively spends about six months a year scouting new hotels, restaurants, and experiences in Calabria and we are constantly re-evaluating and tweaking our recommendations.”

There are some other Italy specialists I have not personally experienced, but that come highly recommended by some of my other experts:

My Bella Vita’s Cherrye Moore says, “ In Sicily, I recommend Lucia Davies of Sicily Tour , one of a trio of British expats who have lived in Siracusa, Sicily for decades.” A family-owned tour-guiding company based in Siracusa, they have nearly 40 years of experience on the island and create trips fostering cultural exchange between Italy and English-speaking visitors, specializing in small group and custom tours.

Food & Wine

Life is too short to go to Italy and not eat well.

Beppe and Heather Dowd of Tourissimo recommend Lazy Italian Culinary Adventures , a company that has also earned kudos from other travel industry folks I know. Owner Francesca Montillo grew up in Southern Italy where her father was greengrocer. An Italian-American cookbook author, she launched the company a decade ago, and she personally leads the tours. She does numerous scheduled tours to different regions each year, and also offers custom private itineraries.

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‘If I could be teleported to any beach, this would be it’: readers choose their favourite European beaches

Seaside idylls from Île de Ré to eastern Crete feature as our tipsters report that even popular destinations such as Menorca and Sicily have their quieter spots

On the trail of the lonesome pines in Menorca

Cala Galdana beach – and its neighbours – are spectacular. Turn off at Ferreries and take the attractive Me-22 road that brings you to a breathtaking horseshoe bay shrouded by pine trees. The golden sandy beach is peaceful, even on a busy day. There are beach toilets and a cafe. There are also water sports facilities if you want a bit more activity. Neighbouring Cala Mitjana , a beautiful beach a short walk to the east, is wilder, as is Cala Macarella , two miles by footpath to the west. If I could be teleported to any beach on my day off here’s where I’d go to. Bethan Patfield

A landlocked beauty in North Macedonia

With my partner, I was road-tripping the route of the Roman Via Egnatia from Durres to Istanbul when we stumbled across Trpejca . It’s on the huge Lake Ohrid, not the sea, but it’s certainly a beach, pebbly and small and, most vitally, quiet, even in peak season when we visited. The water is clear and the painted plank jetty on the charming side of rickety. We spent a day lounging, gazing at the mountains a few miles across the water, kayaking, and smiling about our luck in finding a beautiful beach in landlocked North Macedonia. Anja Steel

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Guardian Travel readers' tips

Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition visit the readers' tips homepage

Drifts of seashells, Lagos, Portugal

Lagos is known for its lovely coves but my favourite beach is Meia Praia , miles of beautiful sand to the east of the town. Walk along past the beach bars and restaurants to find emptier spaces, with drifts of seashells among the stretches of golden sand. Eventually you reach the mouth of the River Odiáxere – you can’t cross but it makes a satisfying turning point. If you don’t want to walk the full length of the beach, you can get the train from Lagos to Meia Praia station on the Algarve line (which runs for 90 miles between Vila Real de Santo António, Faro and Lagos) and start exploring from there. Carolyn

Lazing under Lefkada’s limestone cliffs, Greece

The winding drive to Porto Katsiki on Lefkada island allows for intermittent views down to the beautiful clear waters. After parking, a hundred or so steps will take you down to the pebble beach. A stroll to the opposite side can provide some shade under the huge limestone cliff. The clear and calm turquoise water is brilliant for snorkelling and swimming in. Above the beach is a viewpoint with sweeping sunset views and draws a small crowd most evenings. Behind is Taverna Oasis, serving Greek classics and amazing seafood with stunning views over the Ionian Sea. Charlotte Jose

Edge of the world on Île de Ré, France

We cycled to the white sand Plage Campiotel and gazed out at the blue expanse of the Atlantic on Île de Ré’s west-facing coast. The lack of road infrastructure and abundant cycle paths all add to the joyous feeling that you’re perched on the edge of the world. There are no cafes or crowds. All you have are the wild sand dunes and occasional leathery nudist couple walking past. Sid

Minoan marvels in eastern Crete

Travelling to Kouremenos , one of Crete’s easternmost beaches, offers glimpses of the most rustic parts of the island. Nestled between ancient Minoan temples (above and below water), this beach offers a combination of tranquil waters for families and a windsurfing spot for those after thrills. A few tavernas close to the beach offer delicious, authentic cuisine. Georgios

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What’s not to lichen, Poland

The beach at Jastrzębia Góra in Poland has silky sand like the Maldives. Fragrant pine trees line the beach along the whole of this beautiful coastline and the air is so pure that lichen grows along the paths. I have been lucky enough to find amber stones after storms. Beautiful. Rita

Beach train from Barcelona

Take the R1 train from Barcelona station up the coast; at every stop – from Montgat Nord to Malgrat de Mar – is a beautiful beach away from the hustle of Barça. Tickets can cost less than €10 for a return. I used to live in Barça and swear by it, the stations are directly on the beaches and you can travel to five or six within an hour of the city. Adam Baines

Rice pudding ice-cream by the shore in Portugal

The beautiful sandy beach in the traditional Algarve town of Carvoeiro lies sandwiched between rugged golden cliffs while providing all the amenities of a seaside town with the bonus of the ice-cream shop selling the most delicious rice pudding ice-cream. I’m not sure if this is traditional Portuguese fare, but if it isn’t it should be! Helen

Winning tip: Sicilian hotspot

Last summer, on a trip to south-eastern Sicily, I discovered my new favourite beach, Santa Maria del F ocallo , just over an hour’s drive from Catania. Staying with friends, I crept out of the house early each day to swim with the whole beautiful beach to myself. The one little beach hut, Paz Maya , became my local for a quiet coffee in the morning, later transformed by a DJ into the hot place to be at sunset for a cocktail, dancing or just soaking up the scene. Paula

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