travel guide sicily

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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!

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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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General information about sicily, travel to and around sicily, food and wine in sicily, towns and cities in sicily, areas of sicily.

Discover the beauty of Sicily

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When it comes to Sicily, we know our land as no one else. Let us advise you with the best experiences, tested by locals and beloved by demanding travelers.

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All the time, research, and stress that come with it. Let Time for Sicily make a great plan for you, featuring exclusive travel ideas from true locals.

A WEEKEND IN PALERMO TRAVEL EBOOK

This is our actionable three-day plan for experiencing Palermo , Sicily’s vibrant capital. It is ideal for romantic getaways or family vacations, cutting down hours of tedious research and planning. The guide includes an itinerary covering Palermo historical sites, street markets, and Mondello beach , offering insights into the city’s Arab-Norman heritage , Baroque architecture, and outdoor experiences. This comprehensive guide, complete with user-friendly itineraries and Google Maps , is perfect for those looking to experience Palermo culture, food, and scenic beauty in a short time. The perfect guide for a couple escape holiday to Sicily!

NINE DAYS IN EASTERN SICILY

This is our expertly crafted travel guide for an immersive nine-day tour in Eastern Sicily . It offers a curated itinerary that includes visits to captivating destinations like Catania , Taormina , and Siracusa , as well as adventures to Mount Etna and scenic spots like Marzamem i and the Vendicari Nature Reserve . The guide promises a blend of historical exploration, culinary experiences, and natural beauty, ideal for travelers seeking a comprehensive and enriching Sicilian adventure . It’s designed to provide a balance of guided activities and personal exploration time , making it a perfect purchase for those wanting to deeply experience Eastern Sicily culture, history, and landscapes.

EXPERIENCE THE DIVERSE LANDSCAPES OF SICILY

Marvel at Sicily’s natural beauty, from rugged mountains to crystal-clear water beaches. Each landscape tells a unique story of the island’s geology in the heart of the Mediterranean.

EXPLORE THE SICILIAN CITIES

Wander through the streets of Sicilian cities where history meets modernity. Each city offers its unique charm, culture, and architectural wonders.

DISCOVER SICILY RICH HISTORY

Step back in time and explore Sicily glorious past. From ancient Greek temples to Arab-Norman cathedrals, uncover the layers of history that made the island a crossroads of civilizations.

UNCOVER SICILY ARCHAEOLOGICAL WONDERS

Dive into the archaeological richness of Sicily, home to some of the most significant ancient sites in the Mediterranean, telling tales of the most important civilizations in history.

SICILY AND ITS MOVIES

Follow in the footsteps of filmmakers who have captured Sicily’s beauty on screen. Explore the iconic locations that have graced the silver screen.

SICILY EBOOK GUIDES: YOUR DIGITAL TRAVEL COMPANION

Equip yourself with our comprehensive digital guides for an in-depth understanding of Sicily history, culture, and hidden gems.

TAILOR-MADE TRAVEL PLANS: PERSONALIZED SICILIAN ADVENTURE

Customize your Sicilian journey with our expert local advice. Whether it’s a leisurely beach holiday or an archaeological exploration, create your perfect itinerary with us.

THE WHITE LOTUS SEASON 2 AND THE FOUR SEASONS SICILY RESORT

Discover the allure of Taormina and Sicily through “The White Lotus Season 2”, delving into the most exclusive Sicilian hospitality.

TRAINS IN SICILY: A SUSTAINABLE HOLIDAY

Discover sustainable travel in Sicily through train journeys, uncovering hidden gems next to train stations and the region panoramic landscapes.

ETNA, THE HOUSE OF GODS: A DAY ON THE VOLCANO

Experience the majesty of Mount Etna with suggestions for a day of exploration on this iconic active volcano, a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

SICILY IN WINTER, WINTER HOLIDAYS IN Italy

Explore the unique appeal of visiting Sicily in winter, a distinctive Mediterranean experience with the unique contrast of the mild weather at the beach and the snowy Etna top craters.

THE LIONS OF SICILY, A FAMILY SAGA IN THE HEART OF PALERMO

Explore the enchanting Western Sicily, inspired by the Disney+ series “The Lions of Sicily”. Dive into the region history, culture, and beauty.

THE SICILY BAROQUE TOWNS OF THE SOUTH EAST COAST

Learn about the beautiful Baroque towns of Val di Noto in South East Sicily, showcasing this unique Mediterranean culture and heritage.

TRAVELLING BY TRAIN IN SICILY: A TRAIN MAP OF THE ISLAND

Get our insights into sustainable travel around Sicily by train, including a helpful train map for planning your journey in Sicily.

SPRING IN SICILY: THE BEST THINGS TO DO

Experience the beauty and culture of Sicily in spring, from stunning landscapes to rich history, art and unique local experiences.

SICILIAN AMERICANS DISCOVERING THEIR ROOTS IN ITALY

Explore the growing trend of Sicilian Americans returning to Italy to rediscover their heritage and cultural roots.

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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

Best things to do in sicily, where to stay in sicily, best restaurants and bars in sicily, how to get to sicily, how many days do you need in sicily, tips for getting around sicily, best time to visit sicily, travel ideas for italy, created by local experts.

Experience the hit TV show 'The White Lotus' in Sicily

Stay in beautiful Taormina with gorgeous views of Mount Etna and discover Sicily, including famous filming locations. Go on exclusive wine tastings, discover the Greek theater in Taormina with a private guide, visit other Sicilian towns and enjoy the crystal clear water on this week-long trip.

Enchanting Italian Lakes

Experience the picturesque lakes of Northern Italy, including Lake Garda, Como, Lugano and Maggiore; explore the charming Borromean Islands – former favourites of Ernest Hemingway – and stroll the romantic streets of Verona and Milan. All of this, and much more, with this self-drive trip!

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.

Florence: A Trip Back In Time

Florence. A mere mention of the name conjures up grand images of Renaissance romance, awe-inspiring art and astonishing architecture. Come and see for yourself.

Eternal Rome for the Weekend

Welcome to this whirlwind tour of Rome, also known as the Eternal City. Rome is one of the most photogenic cities on earth, so make sure you pack your camera.

Wine and food in Tuscany

Stay at a beautiful hotel in San Gimignano, a medieval hill town half way between Florence and Siena. Tuscany is known for its wines and food and that's what you'll be exploring on this itinerary - several wine and food pairings await. All hand-picked by your local travel specialist.

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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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.

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• # 1 in Best Places to Visit in October 2024
• # 2 in Best Beaches in Italy
• # 6 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

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Private tour of Etna and Winery Visit with Food and Wine Tasting from Taormina

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

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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

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SICILY TRAVEL GUIDE

An explosion of color, aromas, smatterings of dialect, and the constant presence of a smouldering Mt Etna – Sicily is a serious sensory overload in the best possible way as you’ll discover in our travel guide to Sicily.

This beautiful Italian island has multiple faces waiting to be discovered. With not one but two active volcanoes, striking rocky and sandy beaches, expansive national parks, cosmopolitan cities, peaceful mountain towns, sun-drenched islands off the coast, and a food culture perhaps stronger than anywhere else in Italy, travel in Sicily is like nowhere else.

Whilst unfortunately guides sometimes focus on the region’s largely historic and infamous organized crime, today Sicily is a very safe and exciting place to travel. The island’s culture, food and architecture are fascinating thanks to the influence of Greek, Roman, Arabic, Norman, and Spanish invaders and settlers throughout the region’s history who all left their mark. And this is what makes Sicily one of our favorite places to visit in Italy.

Read on to learn what to expect when you visit Sicily.

Article contents

Where is Sicily

Sicily is one of two main Italian island regions in the very south tip of Italy’s boot. Located in the Mediterranean Sea, the region is closest to Calabria and in fact is connected via a train that is transported via a ferry across the Strait of Messina .

Sicily is south from Rome and Naples and easily reached from these cities in just over an hour by plane.If you’re flying from Milan, Florence, and Venice the region is reached within around 90 minutes.

Map of Sicily

Main cities and towns in sicily.

Whilst Sicily might appear small on the map, it’s actually the largest island in the Mediterranean and biggest region of Italy by area. There are so many diverse cities and towns to discover which means you probably need to stay longer than you think here or else it’s best to stick to a specific area of the island to explore. Here are some of our favourite towns to explore when visiting Sicily.

Western Sicily

• Palermo: The capital of Sicily (pictured above) is loud, vibrant, gritty, and full of energy. Visitors to the city should not miss the Norman Palace and Byzantine golden mosaics in the chapel, St. John of the Hermits for a mix of Arabic-Norman style, Palermo Cathedral, the Quattro Canti crossroad and fabulous Ballaro food market.
• Monreale : Just 40 minutes from Palermo is the UNESCO heritage listed Monreale Cathedral . This incredible structure is Norman-Byzantine in style and full of shimmering gold mosaics that will take your breath away.
• Trapani : Known as the city of salt, this pretty coastal town lies at the foot of Monte Erice. Walk through the old town where you’ll find gorgeous fountains, historical city gates, the fish market and marvellous churches. 
• Egadi Islands : Get onto serious island time over at this archipelago of mountainous islands including Favignana, Levanzo, and Marettimo. Easy to reach from Trapani and well off the beaten track, you’ll have the chance to swim in crystal waters and enjoy the freshest of seafood.

Central Sicily

• Agrigento : Famous for the Valley of the Temples , a trip to Agrigento is truly breathtaking. Wander through some of the best-preserved Ancient Greek ruins in the world that stand on top of a ridge (ironically not a valley) overlooking the surrounding countryside.
• Piazza Armerina : History buffs will delight in an adventure to the Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina. It is an exquisite Ancient Roman villa with beautifully preserved mosaics.
• Cefalù : While away a few relaxing days at this tiny sandy beachside town in the north – one of the locations for The White Lotus 2 series. Wander the Medieval streets, explore the Norman cathedral, and indulge at one of the many great fish restaurants.

Eastern Sicily

• Catania : The main city on the Eastern side of Sicily, Catania is a port city that’s a little bit gritty but a whole lot of fun. It is full of vibrant culture and recognized as such by its status as a UNESCO heritage site. Mt Etna looms omnipresent over the town and all the buildings are uniquely black thanks to the volcanic ash used in their construction. Don’t miss the famous fish market, Ancient Roman theater, and of course a trip up the volcano!
• Messina : This interesting port city is on the northern-most point of Sicily. A trip to Messina might include exploring Ancient Greek ruins, the famous cathedral, and eating your weight in their specialty – swordfish. The city’s annual Easter procession is an amazing spectacle full of tradition.
• Taormina : One of the most popular places to visit in Sicily, exquisite Taormina is best known for its well preserved Ancient Greek theater with Mount Etna smouldering in the background. Soak up the views (the town rests high above a hill) before taking the cable car down to the beach at Isola Bella which quite literally means ‘beautiful island’.
• Ortigia (old town of Siracusa) : The Baroque beauty of Sicily is surely Ortigia, an island connected to the mainland and Siracusa by a small bridge. This UNESCO landmark is also famous for its Greek heritage and has plenty of elegant piazze, grand churches, swimming spots, and delicious restaurants to visit.
• Aeolian Islands: Go island hopping off Sicily’s north coast and explore Lipari, Salina, Panarea, Stromboli, Filicudi, Vulcano, and Alicudi. Each island has its own personality with Lipari offering the most services. Don’t miss the magical eruption of the volcano on Stromboli every evening!
• Val di Noto : The region in the south-east of Sicily includes gorgeous Noto, Modica, and Ragusa. Known as the Baroque cities of Sicily, each are worth visiting in their own right. Modica is famous for its chocolate, and you can’t miss trying the granita at Caffe Sicilia in Noto.

Sicily Travel Guide: Top Things to Do

Sicily offers visitors of all ages and interests many great things to do . Whether you like exploring nature, relaxing at the beach, indulging your taste buds, or unleashing your inner historian, here are some of our favourite activities when traveling in Sicily:

Go island hopping in the Aeolian or Egadi islands

The perfect Mediterranean escape is to take a boat or ferry ride to the islands off Sicily. In the Aeolian, besides swimming and boat cruising, it’s possible to go scuba diving in Panarea, watch the volcano erupt nightly on Stromboli, hike in wild on Alicudi or Filicudi, or go wine tasting and caper picking in Salina. Listen to our podcast on the Aeolian Islands for more ideas. On the Egadi, the Italian way of piano piano (slowly, slowly) is an institution. Well off the beaten path, visit these isles for the ultimate escape

Visit the Baroque towns of the Val di Noto

Explore Catania, Ortigia, Noto, Ragusa, or Scicli to fulfil your wildest Baroque dreams. The towns were rebuilt in resplendent style after the devastating earthquake of 1693. Which Each of the town is full of its own personality but with distinct Baroque style.

Explore the Valley of the Temples

Step into the shoes of an archaeologist for a day at the site of  the best preserved Ancient Greek ruins outside of Greece – Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples . Here you have the opportunity to see seven temples over 2000 years old surrounded by olive, almond and carob trees, ongoing digs, and a few goats. If archaeology interests you, make sure to visit the nearby Archeological Museum.

Sample local street food

Food is a religion in Sicily and some of the best is found at the markets or from street vendors. You do not want to miss trying delicious morsels like panelle, arancini, cannoli, sfincione, pane ca meusa (a roll filled with offal), pane cunzato, and so much more. Open your mind and your tastebuds will thank you. And never say no to freshly piped cannoli!

Go ceramic shopping in Caltagirone

Pick up your very own Moor’s head or beautiful ceramic tableware made from Maiolica. Caltagrione is the best place in Sicily to learn more about this ancient tin-glazed pottery art from. Here you can climb the town’s steps adorned in the art.

Visit a local winery

Sicilian wineries produce some knockout wines heroing indigenous Nero d’Avola, Nerello Mascalese, and Catarratto amongst other grape varieties. Consider making a unique winery visit on Mt Etna – there are over 250 wineries on this volcano to choose from.

• Wine tour from Taormina
• Etna wine tour from Catania

Climb Mount Etna

You’ll always remember climbing the volcano known as the ‘mother’ of Sicily. The active volcano nourishes the land and is perhaps the reason why everything tastes so much better there. Opt for a self-guided tour from the Rifugio Sapienza, a 10 minute ride on a cable car for amazing vies, or book an experience with a private guide who can take you on off the beaten path hikes and to experience this UNESCO recognized volcano .

What to eat and drink in Sicily

The real question is what not to eat and drink as there is just so much to try when you travel to Sicily. From the abundant seafood and dishes influences by North African cuisine and of course the island’s celebrated sweet dishes , Sicily is truly a a foodie paradise. 

Some of our favourite tastes of Sicily include: 

• Ricotta: you haven’t tried real ricotta until you’ve eaten it in Sicily. Tanslated as ‘cooked twice’ this light fresh cheese is made from whey, left over from the first step in cheesemaking. Seek out sheep’s milk ricotta which is rich and creamy. 
• Pasta alla Norma : Rigatoni pasta served with fried eggplant, fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, and ricotta salata (a salted, hard-aged ricotta). Although it originated in Catania, you will find this all over the island.
• Pasta with Pesto Trapanese: Unlike normal green pesto you might be thinking of, the Sicilian version is made with almonds and tomatoes, basil, and cheese and is paired with busiate – long tightly curled pasta.
• Pasta con le sarde : A delicious dish with Arabic origins – the sauce is made with sardines, wild fennel, and pine nuts.
• Caponata : This sweet and sour side dish is made with fried eggplant and then depending on where you are – celery, capers, carrots, tomato, pine nuts, sometimes raisins, olives, almonds, even pear.
• Arancini : Sicilian stuffed rice balls traditionally filled with a meat ragu. They are sealed and then coated with a batter before being deep fried and are a delicious street food snack
• Nero d’Avola wine: Try the most classic Sicilian red wine – Nero d’Avola. It’s full-bodied with notes of black cherry, prune, black plum, and licorice. You’ll notice the flavor and character of the wine changes depending on the region it is produced.
• Cannoli: Sicily is world famous for its desserts and cannoli is the most famous of all of all! They are fried pastry shells filled with creamy fresh ricotta and sugar and traditionally a piece of candied orange or lemon peel at the edges or sometimes pistachios. 
• Granita with brioche: When in Sicily, breakfast as the Sicilians do! Granita is the traditional semi-frozen dessert made with sugar, water, and flavourings. The most classic flavour is creamy almond. Try it stuffed in a brioche bun for the ultimate Siciliano breakfast.

Where to stay in Sicily

When it comes to accommodation in Sicily, there are a great range of classic hotels and apartments, as well as farmhouse agriturismi stays or the more traditional baglio (walled country estate) available.

For a trip that focuses on seeing central and northern Sicily, Palermo makes for the most logical base thanks to its international airport and well-connect railway station. There are diverse accommodation options, including five star Grand Hotel Et Des Palmes which boasts a wonderful rooftop bar to charming boutique properties like B&B Sant’Agostino .

For a Western itinerary, we suggest Trapani as a great base to explore Marsala, and day trip to the Egadi Islands. Whilst there are certainly not as many accommodation options as Palermo, there are still a good range available. Try Residence La Gancia by the sea.

If your trip to Sicily includes perusing the East Coast, Noto is a great base. It’s well positioned to reach Ortigia, Ragusa, and Modica in under an hour and has a good mix of accommodation choices based in town or in the pretty countryside. There are also some fantastic restaurants and bars in town. Gagliardi Boutique Hotel is right in the heart of town.

Catania, at the foot of Mount Etna, also makes for an ideal base. This ancient port city has something for everyone, whether a relaxing beach stay in the nearby seaside village of Aci Castello or within walking distance of the city’s Centro Storico.

Of course, Taormina is the most popular resort town on the island. Here you’ll find luxurious five-star hotels like San Domenico Palace  and charming boutique properties like Villa Fiorita Boutique Hotel .

When to go to Sicily

The best time to visit Sicily is in the shoulder months of Fall or Spring. The weather is pleasant and there are genuinely fewer crowds from March to June. Easter in particular is a fabulous time to visit for unique festivals and great food. There is the Almond Blossom Festival in March, Byzantine Easter festivals in Palermo, the  Procession of the Mysteries in Trapani on Good Friday, and the flower festival in Noto in May.

The Fall is another wonderful time for a trip to Sicily as the wine and oil harvest is in full swing and temperatures reach a pleasant 56-69˚F (14-21˚C). The best festivals during this time include the Salina Film festival, Pistacchio festival in Bronte, and Zafferana festival on Mt Etna. 

Unless you like extreme heat, the summertime is best avoided. August especially is sweltering hot and very busy as this is traditionally when Italians and Europeans go on vacation. Temperatures frequently get to 104°F (40°C) which can make sightseeing a little unpleasant. There are however fabulous festivals held during this time like the film festival in Taormina, the feast of Santa Rosalia in Palermo, a street food festival in Trapani, the Norman Palio in Enna, and many more.

The off-season runs from November until February, however, winter temperatures in Sicily are quite mild – around 50˚F (10˚C). If you’re traveling to the region during the wintertime, look out for the chocolate festival in Modica, and the incredible Festival of Sant’Agata in Catania in February.

How to get to Sicily

The easiest way to get to Sicily is to fly into one of the two main international airports: Palermo Airport or Catania Airport . From the airport at Catania there is an organized bus shuttle that goes into the city center or main train station, whilst there are two direct trains every hour from Palermo airport into the city center where you can then continue your journey into the region.

If you prefer to arrive on your own wheels, it’s possible to arrive via the car ferry from Reggio Calabria to Messina in just 25 minutes. If traveling from Rome, the drive to Reggio Calabria is around seven hours via the A1/E45 and A2. From Milan it’s about 13 hours drive to Reggio Calabria along the A1/A2, just under 12 hours from Venice, just over nine hours from Florence; or five hours from Naples on the A2 Alternatively, you can take the ferry train from Villa San Giovanni in Calabria to Messina in under half an hour too.  

How to get around Sicily

Whilst there are trains and buses on the island, public transport in Sicily tends to be very slow due to old tracks and infrastructure. There is a direct train from Palermo to Catania and another to Cefalu as well as a direct train from Catania to Taormina. Monreale is also reachable from Palermo with bus number #389.

For most other travel between towns in Sicily there are no direct routes and you may need to take a mix of different public transport options to get you to your destination – all eating away your precious vacation time. For the sake of speed and convenience, it is best to rent a car in Sicily. Make sure you read our guide to renting a car in Italy first. It’s full of useful tips for getting the best deals and understanding the local road rules. We recommend picking up a hire car from the Palermo or Catania airports through AutoEurope .

Let’s go to Sicily!

If you liked our travel guide Sicily and are looking for more information, listen to our podcast on Palermo excursions and why Palermo is worth visiting , as well as read our blog on getting off the beaten track in Sicily and delicious Sicilian desserts .

Want a deep local immersion into Sicilian culture, history and cuisine? Join one of our small group tours departing from Catania or Palermo in the Spring or Fall.

Ebooks about Sicily by our history editors. Start reading in just a few minutes! (Links are to Amazon.Com but these books are also available from Kobo and other vendors, and at some libraries with OverDrive and Hoopla.) • Sicily: The Time Traveler's Guide The island in your pocket in this destination guide. • The Peoples of Sicily: A Multicultural Legacy The story of the world's most conquered island. • Time Traveler's Guide to Norman-Arab-Byzantine Palermo, Monreale and Cefalù Details. • Sicily's Queens 1061-1266 The first collection of biographies of these medieval women. • The Kingdom of Sicily 1130-1860 Seven centuries of Sicilian history. • Queen Margaret of Sicily The life of Sicily's greatest queen. • Sicilian Food and Wine: The Cognoscente's Guide Discover Sicilian cuisine. • Women of Sicily: Saints, Queens and Rebels Meet the historical women of Sicily. • Sicilian Genealogy and Heraldry Finding ancestral roots in Sicily. • Sicilian Court Culture 1061-1266: The Time Traveler's Guide Visit the Middle Ages! --> Wel­come to the world's fa­vorite Si­cilian web­site, with over two mil­lion read­ers each year, around 200 at this very mo­ment. Each of the fol­low­ing topics is a gate­way to many (print­able) pages. Come vis­it our sun­ny is­land. We've been ex­pect­ing you for three thou­sand years!

» Why Si­cily? 12 cul­tures in 1. » Top 12 destina­tions in Si­cily. » Sights to see, things to do. » Scenic Places & ge­og­ra­phy. » Tours of Si­cily & more. » Hotels and other lodg­ing. » Cooking Classes at a winery. » Cooking Classes with Vince Clemente. » Restaurants reviewed. » Travel Faqs with real in­fo. » Sicily Air­ports - get­ting there. » Airlines servicing Si­cily. » Travel Ideas for your visit. » Sicily Maps - roads & cities. » Sicily Weather fore­casts, temps. » Beaches in Sicily - a selection. » Travel Services . Some­thing dif­ferent. » Student Tours of Sicily - discovery. » Palermo - guide to the city. » Villas in Sicily & how to find one. » Golf courses & resorts. » Sightseeing and touring. » Tour Guides listed by locality. » Transportation - trains, buses... » Sicily for Children . For families! » Young Students . Study resources. » Travel Guide Books reviewed. » Sicilian Genealogy . Family history. » Travel Agent Resources and ad­vice. » Sicily Facts and figures. » Sicilian Culture - all things Si­cilian. » Sicilian Literature - then and now. » Arts and Artists . Creativity. » Sicilian Identity - ethnic legacy. » Religions of Sicily . Faiths. » Peoples of Sicily . Meet the peoples! » Invisible Sicily - the unseen. » Kingdom of Sicily - the book. » Sicilian - language of a people.

From our resi­dent his­to­ri­ans, a new wave of books about Si­ci­ly, each a first! The Peoples of Si­cily : The first over­view of all the civ­iliza­tions that pop­ulat­ed our is­land. Women of Sicily : The first book on the his­tor­ical women of Si­cily writ­ten in En­glish by a Si­cilian wom­an in Si­cily. The King­dom of Sicily 1130-1266 : A landmark work. Sicilian Food & Wine : The first guide of its kind pub­lished in En­glish. Sicilian Genealogy : The first guide to Si­cilian fam­ily his­tory re­search. Margaret, Queen of Si­cily : The first biog­raphy of this me­dieval queen. Sicilian Studies : The first En­glish guide to the study of Sicily's his­to­ry and cul­ture. The Vine Whisperer : Mak­ing wine and doing busi­ness in Si­cily.

8 things to know before going to Sicily

Mar 1, 2024 • 5 min read

Sicily has a ton of personality and a few unique quirks – here's what you need to know © Jimena Roquero / Stocksy

Sicily is an island of mythic proportions, highly regarded for its natural beauty and the deep well of history it embodies in its ancient archaeological sites and luxe palazzos. A proud triangle, the island has three coastlines and two island chains and is home to the most active volcano in Europe, the indomitable Mount Etna .

In pursuit of claiming my Italian citizenship, I spent five summery months living in the Sicilian heartland, exploring the coast and ruins and immersing myself in the daily life of small-town Sicily. Preceded by its mafia history (both the fictional and the real), it is often misunderstood by visitors coming to the island with Godfather-inspired expectations, but there is a lot more to discover in Sicily beyond the stereotypes.

Here’s what you need to know before visiting.

1. Fly in and out of two different airports

The most efficient way to plan a tour through Sicily is to fly into Palermo and leave from Catania , or vice versa. Palermo and Catania are the island’s two largest cities and are located at opposite ends of the island. Each has its own airport with direct flights to the mainland and other European cities. There is also a small airport in Trapani, on the west coast – ideal if you want to visit the Egadi Islands – but here you’ll only find flights to and from mainland Italian airports.

2. Public transport in Sicily is not for the weak

Traveling by train through Sicily is convenient if you stick to the coasts and plan to travel out of main hubs like Palermo, Messina or Catania. However, the schedules are not always reliable, so you should plan plenty of buffer time into your itinerary if you choose to do Sicily without a car. Many of Sicily’s major destinations, like beachy San Vito Lo Capo and the historical hilltop town of Erice , are inaccessible by train, but you can get there by bus. Forgoing a car rental in Sicily is doable, but your trip will be much easier with a set of wheels.

3. Plan to move around

Sicily’s major attractions are dispersed throughout the island, so you will feel limited if you choose one city as your base for the whole trip. There are so many wonderful towns and islands, beautiful hotels, charming bed-and-breakfasts and a vast array of sights – from the ruins of Agrigento to the volcanoes of the Aeolian Islands , and all the historical villages and sunny vineyards in between. 

4. Understand the real history of the mafia

Sure, you can buy plenty of Godfather merchandise when you get to Sicily, but you will have a deeper appreciation of the reality of the island’s mafia history if you take the time to understand it as a tragic story, not one to be idealized. 

In Palermo, there is a free museum at the No Mafia Memorial , which details the history of organized crime in Sicily and tells the story of Falcone and Borsellino, two heroic judges who were assassinated during the mafia wars of the 1990s. In Corleone – not actually where the movie was filmed – you can also visit CIDMA , a documentation and education center that dives deeper into the saga of the Maxi Trial, a three-year criminal trial that convicted over 300 people involved in organized crime.

5. Italy’s dining dogmas still apply, but one popular breakfast will surprise you

If this isn’t your first time in Italy, you probably already know where Italians stand when it comes to pineapple on pizza, cappuccinos after lunch and chicken in pasta – they will not hear of it. Sicily follows these same rules, but one tradition is likely to delight your inner child: ice cream for breakfast. Italian breakfasts are always sweet, but Sicilians take it to the next level by enjoying either gelato or granita, a type of shaved ice, sandwiched between a fluffy brioche bun first thing in the morning.

6. Sicily’s multicultural history makes it a unique destination

Separated from the mainland by the Strait of Messina, this region of southern Italy has its own cultural identity thanks to its long history of being conquered and influenced by rulers from all over the world. Each culture, from the Greeks and Romans to the Arabs and Crown of Aragon, left its mark in some way. These influences can be found in food – like Sicily's love of couscous – and urban planning and architecture. Whether you’re walking in a city with ancient Greek foundations like Ortigia or delighting in the Baroque streets of Noto , you’ll feel the difference in style but an overall ambiance that is still distinctly Sicilian.

7. You can drink the tap water

Like the rest of Italy, you’ll find many public fountains with free water that is safe to drink unless otherwise marked as “non-potable.” Unless you're advised otherwise, tap water in Sicily is good to drink, but you will find many locals prefer the taste of bottled water. Like elsewhere in Italy and Europe, if you ask for water at a restaurant, they will bring you a bottle and charge you for it. However, if you order an espresso at a cafe bar, it usually comes with a small cup of water on the side to cleanse your palette before you sip.

8. Sicily is the frontier of Europe’s migrant crisis

Ever the crossroads of the Mediterranean, Sicily is one of the main arrival points for refugees seeking asylum in Europe. This is a particularly large issue for the distant Italian island of Lampedusa , which is closer to the coast of Africa than it is to Sicily. The high number of arrivals has at times overwhelmed select areas of Sicily, but in my experience, the effect on the tourism industry has been minimal. Still, it’s wise to educate yourself about these current events before you arrive.

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30 Super Useful Sicily Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors

Visiting Sicily for the first time? You will love it! To make your trip absolutely amazing, here are my 30+ super handy Sicily travel tips you need to know before embarking on the Sicilian adventure. 

I traveled around Sicily twice so far (and I am pretty sure I will be coming back). During my two road trips (one and two weeks respectively), I got familiar with local culture, the best ways to get around, what to see, and also how to plan a great Sicily road trip .

Whether you are going for a day, a week, or a month, let me guide you through some practical traveling in Sicily tips, as well as share some inspiration on why you should visit Sicily.

In this Sicily guide, you will find the most important topics and questions answered about Sicily travel: when is the best time to go to Sicily , how to get to Sicily and the best way to travel around Sicily (public transport or driving), how many days in Sicily and which part of Sicily (east or west) to choose for nature, history and architecture, as well as insights into culture, food, and Sicilian lifestyle . 

• Related reads: 21 practical tips for driving in Sicily stress-free .

Disclosure :  This Sicily Travel Guide contains affiliate links to our trusted partners. It means that we may make a small commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase by clicking a link. It helps us grow the blog and create more of free useful travel advice for you. 

30+ essential Sicily travel tips: plan your perfect visit

Sicily travel essentials.

• Rent a car : The best way to explore Sicily is self-driving. Rent a car at the best rates at Discover Cars . I use this website to book my rental cars.
• Stay: find your perfect accommodation in Sicily on Booking.com .
• Best flight deals: Use Skyscanner to find the cheapest and fastest flights to Sicily from your location.
• Peace of mind: always remember to get travel insurance to be on the safe side. Get a quote at SafetyWing .
• eSIM Card: Stay connected as soon as you land.   Airalo   offers an eSIM card with up to 20 GB (7 to 30 days) data packages for Italy and Europe.

GETTING TO KNOW SICILY

1. there is italy and then there is charismatic sicily.

Kicked by the toe of mainland Italy, the volcanic island of Sicily developed its own identity with a distinct character. Sicily has delightful mischief that you won’t find anywhere else in Italy. 

Sicily, although part of Italy, could easily be a country on its own (historically it used to be the Kingdom of Sicily before it became an autonomous region of Italy). Locals proudly call themselves Sicilians and even get offended if you refer to them as Italians.

Indeed, everywhere you go you will see Sicilian flags stretched between the balconies. Meanwhile, colorful Sicilian ceramics are a statement of Sicilian house decor. However, the most obvious way to understand Sicilian identity and witness the pride of being Sicilian is while interacting with locals.

We stayed in different parts of Sicily during our road trip. Every host we met was raving not only about how wonderful Sicily is but also pointing out that the area they are from is the best on the island.

And trust me, the way Sicilians describe their hometown will make you excited to explore it. We got particularly lucky in Palermo with our host Mario whose passion for the town and food made us fall in love with the underrated capital of Sicily.

In short, when the place has a distinct character and identity of its own ready to be explored, it makes traveling way more fulfilling than just scratching the surface of main tourist sights. And Sicily definitely has the charisma!

2. Sicily has some of the most diverse histories in Europe

Sicily has been invaded dozens of times by Arabs, Spaniards, Normans, Greeks, and Romans, to name a few major ones. Therefore, if you have an interest in history, discovering Sicily’s layered and diverse past through many remaining historical sites will definitely keep you busy.

Today’s Sicily is like a living museum, a historical artwork celebrating and commemorating some of the most powerful cultures and civilizations. 

With a history that stretches over thousands of years, you will find out about the ancient Greek settlements in Agrigento and Syracuse, learn about Baroque architecture in Val di Noto, Roman cultural influence in Villa Romana del Casale mosaics, Arab and Norman impact in Palermo, as well as discover frozen in time medieval villages of Madonie mountains. 

To sum up, Sicily is a perfect place to travel back in time and get acquainted with its turbulent history. 

3. Is Sicily worth visiting? 

Sicily is a must-visit place in Italy. You can expect to have a very different travel experience even if you have already been to other parts of the country.

You may already know that Italy is very diverse, with different regions having distinct landscapes, architecture, and even cultural nuances. But even if you have been all around Italy, and think that there is just so much more you can expect from yet another region, you will be pleasantly surprised how different from other parts of the country Sicily is.

Sicily can satisfy any kind of traveler as it has everything- fantastic beaches, nature reserves , mountains with hiking trails, some of the most impressive architecture (Syracusa, Val di Noto, Palermo), important historical sights like the valley of temples in Agrigento, frozen in time mountain villages of Madonie , and even wonderful low-key Egadi and high-end Aeolian islands you can easily catch a ferry to. 

But above the scenery and cultural sights, Sicily’s highlight is the locals. To me, Sicilians appeared to be some of the friendliest people compared to other parts of Italy. Locals in Sicily are genuinely happy to see you and are very welcoming, curious, and outgoing.

• Make sure to also check my post about 21 must-visit places in Sicily .
• Find The most beautiful small coastal towns and fishing villages in Sicily.

4. Is it safe to travel to Sicily – the birthplace of the Mafia?

Travelling in Sicily is very safe . From my personal experience everywhere we went felt extremely safe in Sicily. People are very welcoming, kind, and genuinely curious about travelers. 

Leaving the luggage in the car was probably my biggest safety concern while road tripping in Sicily . Leaving bags in the car was heavily advised against on other travel blogs, but in reality, it wasn’t an issue at all. Of course, there is no need to irresponsibly display your digital camera, laptop, or wallet on the seat which could seduce some robbers. But even if you left some of your belongings in the back seat, it doesn’t mean someone will definitely break into your car. 

The only place I was looking over my shoulder was when we walked in the Ballaro neighborhood in Palermo. Later on, however, our local host explained that there was nothing to be worried about. Apparently, Mafia owns many hotels and restaurants in the capital of Sicily. That means tourism is one of their main businesses and travelers are sort of looked after. Thus, small criminals don’t dare to touch a tourist. 

Regardless, I would still suggest keeping your guard up in busy areas of Palermo as pickpocketing certainly happens. Just make sure to keep your wallet and phone somewhere safer than the back pocket of your jeans when walking in crowded areas of Palermo, or Catania. 

• Related article: Is Sicily safe? Areas to avid and safety tips.

WHEN TO TRAVEL TO SICILY

5. the best time to visit sicily-when should you go.

The best time to visit Sicily is from May to the beginning of June, and from September to the beginning of October. These are shoulder seasons when the weather is great both on the coast, in the towns, and in the mountains. Also, around these months tourists either haven’t arrived yet or already departed.

If you love beaches, September will be better than May as the water in the sea is still warm as opposed to slightly chilly late spring temperatures.

If you don’t care much about the beaches and swimming, and prefer cultural activities, like wandering UNESCO-listed towns and small villages, then any time of the year is a good time as Sicily has a pleasant island climate all year round. You might encounter some fogs and rain if you visit during autumn/winter. On the bright side, it may add to the mysterious atmosphere and interesting photography scenarios.

I would suggest avoiding July and especially August when the majority of Italians are on vacation. Prices of accommodation and car rental shoot up, while beaches and towns are packed with people- not the greatest time to travel to Sicily.

Nonetheless, if you only have summer months, you can still have a great time and pick some less visited places around the Island. Sicily has plenty of hidden gems waiting to be explored. 

• READ MORE: Planning on hiring a car in Sicily? Here are my 21 Useful Tips for Driving in Sicily, Italy.

6. Go before it is too late! 

Is Sicily very touristy? Yes and no, depending on which place and when you choose to go.

In recent years Sicily has definitely seen a quick increase not only in local but also in foreign tourism. The rough towns like Palermo which used to be considered a bit dangerous, are now completely tourist-friendly and adapted to serve the foreign visitor.

Meanwhile, even remote villages are slowly but steadily opening up cozy B&Bs and getting completely booked out during the peak season.

While many popular beach towns are packed with sun-seekers and local holidaymakers during summer, still there are enough places on the island where you can have an authentic Sicilian experience without crowds. But don’t wait too long, as with social media being so proactive, Sicily is getting on tourist radar pretty fast. Some of the seemingly remote places I have discovered on Instagram!

GETTING TO AND AROUND SICILY

Getting to sicily: airplane, ferry, or train.

Sicily is an island separated from the mainland of Italy by the narrow strait of Messina. The good news is that Sicily is very well connected not only to mainland Italy but also to the rest of Europe and even other parts of the world.

Getting to Sicily by air

As expected, most travelers come to Sicily by air. There are 4 airports in Sicily -one in the capital Palermo in the West North, one in Catania in the East, one in Trapani in the West of the island and one near Ragusa Ibla in southeast of Sicily.

If you are flying from Europe, sometimes you can get insanely cheap deals to land in Sicily.  Search for the best flight deals using KIWI flight search aggregator .

Getting to Sicily by ferry

Another also quite popular option to reach Sicily is taking a ferry, both nationally and internationally. 

Nationally, the main places from where you can reach Sicily are Rome, Naples, Salerno, Genoa, and San Giovani in Calabria (southern Italy-the toe of the boot).

The overnight ferries from Naples, Salerno, Genoa, and Rome arrive in Palermo. Meanwhile, if you are traveling by land from Southern Italy, you can take a 30 min ferry from Villa San Giovani to the port town of Messina, Sicily. This is precisely what we did on our combined Sicily and Calabria road trip. 

Internationally, you can reach Sicily from Malta and Tunisia. 

Top tip: Ferries to Sicily also accommodate various vehicles. Therefore, if you travel by car, instead of driving long distances, you can “jump” onto the ferry.

• You can easily search for the ferry schedules from your selected departure place using the Directferries website.

Popular ferry routes to Sicily

• Palermo-Naples: 10.5- 11.5 hours; from 50 EUR one way (foot passenger); book tickets here
• Palermo-Rome (Civitavecchia): 14.5 hours; from 60 EUR one way (foot passenger); book tickets here
• Palermo-Genoa: 19.5-20.5 hours; from 45 or 75 EUR one way (foot passenger); book tickets here
• Messina- Salerno: 9-10.5 hours; from 52 EUR one way (foot passenger); book tickets here
• Messina- Reggio Calabria (South Italy) : 30 minutes; from 10 EUR one way (foot passenger); book tickets here
• Catania- Valletta (Malta): 4 hours 45 minutes; from 80 EUR one way (foot passenger); book tickets here
• Palermo-Tunis (Tunisia): 10.5 hours; from 85 EUR one way (foot passenger); book tickets here

Getting to Sicily by train

The third way is taking a train from the mainland of Sicily. There are train departures from Rome (12 hours) and Naples (9 hours) to Palermo. The train also has routes heading to East Sicily and stops in Taormina, Catania, and Syracuse.

Question- how on Earth does this train get through the water? Apparently, there is a special ferry which transports, yes, the train! This could be an interesting and fun travel experience.

• You can find a train route and book tickets from Italy to Sicily using Omio train search aggregator.

8. Driving is by far the best way to explore Sicily

I am a huge fan of road trips, and Sicily is a perfect place to go on one (check out my 2-week in Sicily Itinerary ).

I am sure you have heard that driving in Sicily might be challenging, which is partially true (if you don’t know what to expect).

However, driving is by far the most convenient way to get around Sicily as you don’t have to rely on irregular and not frequent public transport schedules. Also, hidden gems are only accessible by car (well, in some cases by boat-like Favignana island ). Finally, you will be able to travel at your own pace and get from place to place much faster than with a train or a bus. 

Therefore, I strongly recommend renting a car if you are planning to see more than just bigger towns like Catania or Palermo (those places don’t require a car). 

Important: book your car well in advance to get the best deal! We booked 3 months ahead to secure a good deal (20 EUR per day). If you leave it to the last minute, chances are, the car rental rates will be much higher.

I found the best car rental prices for my road trip in Sicily with DiscoverCars.

• Car rental tip:  if you are looking for  an affordable rental car, check  Discovercars .  This is a car search website that I use for all my trips to Italy. Just by comparing rates between different rental companies,  Discovercars can help you save up to 70% on your rental rate .  It also gives an option to add a reasonably priced full coverage (insurance).

9. Getting around Sicily with public transport

Public transport in Sicily connects main destinations and more popular tourist towns like Palermo, Catania, Agrigento, Taormina, Messina, and Trapani. If you are not willing to drive you might be able to find your way around using only busses, or trains. Also, you can join organized day trips to places like Taormina, Etna Volcano, and Agrigento.

When it comes to using public transport in Sicily, buses are known to be the most complicated to deal with. I have read stories of buses having completely unreliable schedules, lack of accurate timetables online, needless to say not the most frequent service.

All this makes travelling and planning your time quite tricky. Although, larger companies like Interbus are pretty good. However, regional buses, unless you have unlimited time in Sicily, you can forget about. More often than not, you will have to rely on asking around for accurate information when travelling between smaller towns.

I personally would avoid using buses, except if you are planning to get between main towns and are not going to explore beyond the main tourist destinations. Even some of those places do not always have a guaranteed regular connection.

Trains mainly connect the coastal part of Sicily but are not available for the inland due to its mountainous terrain. Trains as far as I have researched are quite efficient and run according to schedule.

HOW TO PLAN YOUR SICILY ROUTE

10. how many days do you need in sicily .

You need at least 2 weeks and at least 5 different overnight bases to explore the whole perimeter of the island at a medium pace .

To see all the highlights plus some hidden gems of Sicily you will need at least 3 weeks, ideally a month. Having this amount of time, you can slowly drive all around the island discovering different parts of Sicily. Those would include beaches, mountains, archeological sites, baroque towns, fishing villages, Etna volcano and you can even squeeze in a trip to Egadi or Aeolian islands.

Do not try to see the whole island of Sicily in one week. Sicily is bigger than it looks at a first glance. Driving time from West to East of the island is around 4.5 hours.

Understandably, not everyone has a month worth of time to allocate for their vacation. Still,  as a bare minimum, I would recommend 10 to 14 days in Sicily . However, you will have to be strategic about how and where you spend your time. You will definitely have to trim down the long list of places of interest in Sicily leaving only what excites you the most. 

If you have only around one week in Sicily, the best is to focus on one side of the island. For example, highlights of the west and northwest part, or highlights of the east and southeast part of Sicily, depending on which airport you land at. Definitely don’t try to move all the way from west to east as you will end up spending most of the time in a car. 

• Check my two-week road trip itinerary for inspiration and help to you plan your own vacation in Sicily.

11. Visit West Sicily and the hinterlands for a more authentic experience and wild nature

If you are landing in Palermo or Trapani, you are for a treat of wild beaches and nature, the unfiltered lifestyle of Palermo, sleepy Madonie mountain villages, and a slow-paced Favignana island. Western and Norther parts of Sicily are less touristy than the Eastern part. This means you will have a very authentic travel experience wherever you choose to go.

12. Visit East Sicily for Baroque and Greek architecture, Etna volcano, and famous archeological sites

If you are landing in Catania on the Eastern part of Sicily, then you are getting a treat of unparalleled architectural gems-Val di Noto baroque towns like Ragusa, the Greek amphitheater of Taormina, the valley of temples in Agrigento, spectacular Syracuse with Ortigia at its heart, and mighty Etna volcano which you can explore up close by hiking .

Note, that the Eastern part of Sicily is more touristy (due to its cultural wanders and a large number of UNESCO heritage sights which indeed made Sicily famous).

13. The best beaches in Sicily are on the northwestern side of the island. 

If you are seeking the sun and going to Sicily mainly for the beaches, then head to the North West. Here, you can find crystal clear waters and some of the most spectacular beaches in Sicily.

The mountainous backdrop characterizes the northwest of the coast. There you will find a perfect natural combination of mountains and the sea offering an array of hiking and swimming activities in one place.

You can find exactly that in Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve . To me, it was the best nature spot with the most incredible beaches in the whole of Sicily.

If you love sandy beaches, then San Vito Lo Capo at the northwestern tip of the island is a place to be. If you are looking for great city vibes with a close-by beach escape then Mondelo beach is just 30min drive from Palermo.

Finally, Favignana islands on the West side of Sicily will surprise you will azure waters and wild beaches to lay your towel at. Read my post about visiting Favignana island for more details.

14. Mix up big cities, small towns, and the seaside for a diverse experience in Sicily

To get a real taste of Sicily, plan on visiting a mix of different parts of the island. To understand daily hustle and bustle as well as admire impressive historical buildings, aim for a few days in the biggest towns (Palermo, Catania, Ortigia Island in Syracuse), for the beach scene, go to smaller seaside towns (Cefalu, Castellammare del Golfo), you will find UNESCO listed Baroque architecture in Ragusa, Modica or Noto, for the important archeological treasures head to Agrigento, while for chilled island life- to Egadian islands, for raw nature – to Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve, and to get the sense of the frozen time drive up to medieval villages in Madonie mountains. 

15. Get used to sweating up the hill-mountainous terrain of Sicily

Sicily’s climate and terrain can be very unforgiving in summer. It might become overwhelming if you are not used to almost African heat and hiking. Many Sicilian towns are located in mountainous areas. Getting from landmark to landmark on foot will require broken-in shoes, a hat for shade, lots of sunscreen, and good stamina. Indeed if you are planning to visit some of the small mountain tows, be ready to burn a few calories (which is great considering the carbs intake you will have while in Sicily).

ACCOMMODATION – WHERE TO STAY IN SICILY

There is no shortage of accommodation in Sicily. Depending on your budget, you can pick a room in a boutique hotel, stay in a dorm or in a fancy timeless hotel, rent a cozy apartment, or opt for a homestay. Bigger towns like Palermo and Catania or Trapani will have all these options. Meanwhile, smaller villages may only offer homestays and boutique hotels. In remote locations, you may not always find dorms in Sicily.

The only type of accommodation I have not seen (gladly) was monstrous seaside hotels. Okay maybe a couple of ugly ones in Cefalu were ruining the scenery, but they weren’t nearly as massive as the ones you can find in the UAE or Turkey, for example. And I hope it will stay this way.

16. Stay in homestays for the best local experience in Sicily

I always aim to support local small businesses when travelling, and one of the best ways to do so is to stay in a family-run B&B. Not only do you bring business to a local family but in return, you get more personal and warm treatment as opposed to the very formal approach in regular hotels.

Finally, Sicilians are very knowledgeable about their local area and they are more than happy to share some tips for sightseeing, the best places to eat, and sometimes they even cook for you!

For example, we were very lucky with our host in Palermo who was extremely passionate about his town and Sicily overall. He shared some insider tips, and fantastic stories about Palermo, and gave some great insights about Sicily. It enriched our travel experience and helped us understand the local culture much better. 

17. Book your stays in popular destinations in Sicily early in advance

Some of the towns in Sicily receive way more visitors than others during the high season (July/August). Therefore, booking early is strongly recommended.

The most popular places that get booked out are Cefalu, Taormina, Syracuse and Ortigia, Favignana (Egadi islands), and Trapani.

For example, even at the beginning of May, accommodation in Cefalu seemed to be 70 percent occupied when I looked it up on the booking site. So I can imagine it can be pretty tough finding a place to stay in summer, let alone getting a reasonable deal.

Alternatively, if you are driving, there are countryside guesthouses called Agriturismo- those are usually fantastic family-run getaways not too far from the main towns.

• Accommodation: I always book my stays through Booking.com . This accommodation search site provides a variety of places to stay for any budget. Also, as a returning customer of Booking.com, you get some great Genius discounts (10-30%), and special mobile-only prices when booking through their app. Tip: always check the booking cancelation policy, and if possible, choose accommodation with the most flexible cancelation terms. I usually book places that I can cancel as close to the trip as possible to be on the safe side in case my plans change.

18. Make sure to check if the parking is available and is not in the ZTL zone

If you are driving, parking is one f the factors you will be making your decision about whether or not you should book a place. Often in towns like Cefalu, there won’t be any parking included in accommodations located in the historic center. Thus, you might have to look for a place to stay outside but close enough to the historic center.

Also, in case you manage to find a place to stay that offers parking in the historic center, double-check with your host if it doesn’t fall under ZTL (Zona Trafico Limitato) , which only permits registered vehicles. You can read more about sneaky ZTL zones in my post about driving in Sicily .

GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH SICILIAN CULTURE

19. travel to sicily just for food.

You could travel to Sicily just for the food.  From the famous Pasta alla Norma , tuna burgers, couscous with fish, all sorts of arancini , pizzas to ricotta-filled pastries with cannoli being the king of all, brioche with ice cream, and many more- eating Sicilian specialties can keep you busy all day long. Just looking at the menu in trattoria you can quickly realize that Sicilian cuisine adopted the crossroads of civilizations. There are flavors from Europe and Africa on one plate.

Moreover, Sicily’s capital Palermo is worldwide famous for the best street food. Therefore, forget about fancy restaurants, and go try the fast food- it is fresh and delicious.

20. Breakfast is not the main meal of the day, but in Sicily, you can fuel up with ice cream in a bun

Sicilian breakfast (as common everywhere in Italy) is always sweet. But having ice cream in brioche is something unheard of and probably only to be found in Sicily.

I know that eating an omelet in the morning sounds bizarre to Italians, but come on, ice cream with bread?! This is whole another level of weird…

Nonetheless, this combination is a guaranteed energy boost and is extremely filling. I have tried brioche with ice cream but decided to stick to the regular pastry and coffee.

Note: when you see breakfast included in your accommodation booking, do not expect English breakfast with sausages and beans. Usually, you will only get coffee and pastries. On a rare occasion, you may find B&Bs offering some panini (sandwiches with ham and cheese). Continental breakfast is only common in bigger hotels.

21. Catch up on your sleep during riposo – understanding Sicilian time (aka siesta) 

You probably have heard of siesta in south European countries. Unlike any other timing-related matters, Sicily is taking the midday nap very seriously.

Shops, museums, and restaurants close for so-called riposo or siesta at around 12-1 pm and re-open at around 3-4 pm or even later. Siesta’s starting time is always on the dot while the finishing time is sort of flexible.

Longer siestas are very common in smaller towns. We have struggled to find a place to eat lunch in Madonie mountain villages-everything was closed, and there was no live soul to be seen in the afternoon. Taking into account Sicilian summer heat, having a power nap in the middle of the day is probably the best thing you can do. 

Sundays are usually days off and shops and museums, and even some restaurants are also shut for the whole day.

However, in bigger towns like Palermo and Catania, as well as touristy places like Cefalu, Taormina, or Syracuse you can find quite a lot of cafes and gelaterias, and casual eateries which are open during siesta hours and even on Sundays.

22. There is time for aperitivo and then there is time for dinner

Restaurants and trattorias usually open at around 6-7 pm, however actual dinner time is around 8-9 pm in Sicily and Italy. Therefore, it is recommended to reserve a table to avoid the disappointment of having to wait for an even later meal.

However, before heading out for dinner, you should not miss aperitivo which is a time between late afternoon and dinner when people head out for a drink and a small snack before they actually go to have a proper meal.

23. What is coperto – tipping culture and service fee in Sicily, Italy

Coperto (or servizio ) in Italy and also Sicily is a fixed service fee that you pay per person for being served at a restaurant. The amount you must pay varies from place to place but usually it ranges between 1-2 euros. Some more expensive restaurants may charge 2.5-5 euros for coperto per person.

The amount of coperto is usually indicated on the menu. It is a fixed charge and doesn’t depend on how much or little you eat or how long you spend at a table. 

If I pay coperto , do I have to leave a tip? 

If you love the service and food, the tip will be highly appreciated but it is not a must in Sicily, Italy. 

24. Coffee price at a bar vs at a table

Note that you may have to pay coperto in some coffee shops/bars if you choose to have your cappuccino at a table rather than at a bar, as most Sicilians do. Most likely the cost of being served coffee at a table will range from 20 euro cents to one euro.

This doesn’t apply to all coffee shops though. Charging extra for a coffee at a table is more common in touristy and popular areas or famous fancy coffee places. For example, I have been to places in Venice, Rome, Amalfi Coast , and Naples where we had to pay extra for having our cappuccini at a table. Smaller and more casual bars and coffee shops do not collect this fee.

LANGUAGE AND INTERACTION WITH LOCALS

25. a few italian phrases will go a long way but be ready for the sicilian language.

Sicilians barely speak English. Most of the locals don’t speak a word, especially in smaller towns and villages. I can count on my one hand fingers how many fluent English speakers we met on our road trip (when I think of it, probably only 3 or 4 people were very well versed in English and those guys were our hosts at the B&B). Nonetheless, you can still meet younger generation people working at bars and restaurants who can speak some basic English, but not as much as you may expect.

Moreover, even information in museums, churches, and even parking signs are in Italian! Therefore, learning some basic survival phrases in the local language will go a long way.

After many years of thinking about it, I finally signed up for an online Italian course just 3 months before my Sicily road trip. I could not be happier about dedicating some time to learning Italian. It really came in handy in Sicily and South Italy.

It seemed that Sicilians really appreciated my effort to speak in Italian, even if it was a very basic conversation. It also helped me to understand simple daily things related to accommodation questions and directions. And don’t worry if you don’t know how to say something properly, Sicilians will always try to help you out when you are lost in translation.

Nonetheless, there was a bit of a catch. Sicilians apparently often speak the Sicilian language (it is a language, not even a dialect). Although they do speak official Italian, there were times when they spoke in Sicilian and it sounded like a totally different language- I couldn’t catch a single familiar word!

However, this didn’t happen often. Most of the time people spoke regular Italian and if you are lucky- even a few English words.

If you are thinking of learning some Italian basics, the best interactive course that I found online is Rocket Languages. Rocket Italian course is a set of audio conversations, grammar, and written and oral practice. You can have it on an app on your phone or your laptop, and learn at your own pace, come back to it whenever you want to repeat something or skip ahead.

Subscribing to the course gives you a 2-week free trial, lifetime access, and also 60-day money-back guarantee if you don’t find it useful (I definitely find it super useful and I still continue to study after my trip).

26. Meet the locals

Interact with locals. Sightseeing is amazing, but the true joy is in those short (or long) conversations and cheerful interactions with the local people. Sicilians are very outgoing and friendly (I think I already mentioned that before).

Even if you don’t speak Italian, don’t shy away from the hand language. I am sure the minimum you can learn is a friendly ‘ciao’ when you meet a person on the street. Trust me, they will happily respond. Sicilians are often curious to know where you are coming from-‘ di dove sei? ‘.

Usually, their guesses revolve around the most well-known destinations such as UK, Germany, France, or America (apparently people from these countries are frequent visitors). Sicilians were extremely delighted to find out that we came all the way from the UAE to their beautiful island. In fact, many of them confessed that Dubai is their dream destination to travel to. To this, I always joyfully replied, that yes indeed it is a beautiful place to see and live, but there is no place as wonderful as Sicily (I do have a very soft spot for Italy- a perfect place to move to one day). 

27. Do not joke about Mafia

Sicily is often associated with the birthplace of the Mafia. Thanks to Hollywood films that have glorified organized criminal groups in movies such as Godfather, there are a lot of misconceptions about past events. In reality, Sicilians had to deal with horror created by the local mafia and face consequences until today.

Therefore, this is a sensitive subject to bring up when talking to locals. It is not advisable to joke about it as you never know whose family member has actually been a victim of organized crime in Sicily.

Although the local mafia in Sicily still exists and operates today. In some places, business owners still pay a second tax that goes to organized crime and so-called protection. 

However, as a tourist, you are not likely to come across any of these mafia-related aspects. Let alone experience any violence or dealings with the Mafia. Interestingly, in Palermo some hotels are owned by Mafia, while some actually set themselves free and signed anti-extortion charters – there is even a “pizzo-free” map with the list of these accommodations, in case you want to avoid supporting the bloody businesses. 

MONEY, INTERNET, SIM CARD, GROCERIES

28. is sicily expensive to travel to .

Sicily is still less expensive to travel around than, for example, northern and central Italy. Especially if you go to smaller and less known towns like Castellammare del Golfo, you can find great accommodation deals. When it comes to food, you can get some bargain deals for street food in Palermo, amazing pizzas, and an unlimited supply of pastries everywhere.

You can check the budget breakdown on my Sicily Road Trip Itinerary post HERE to get an idea of what it costs to travel in Sicily.

29. Debit and credit cards are widely accepted in Sicily but always have some small change

Contrary to what I had read online before traveling to Sicily, debit and credit cards were widely accepted across the island. Even in smaller restaurants and shops. We paid for all our accommodation by card and very rarely needed to use cash (usually the possibility to pay by card is indicated on booking, or it is an automated advance charge prior to arrival).

Nonetheless, I still advise having some emergency cash for small spending. Not all the shops will have card machines, and even if they do, sometimes they may say it is not working so they can collect cash (as we learned from a local).

Some self-service petrol stations might also have card issues- which happened to us- and in this case, you definitely want to have cash.

Also buying small things like souvenirs or paying for toll gates is usually more convenient in cash.

30. Get a local sim card for cheaper data

If you are travelling for a couple of weeks in Sicily, it is well worth getting a local sim card with data and calls. It would usually be much cheaper than roaming. Tourist packs are available to purchase from TIM or Vodafone providers are offering pay-as-you-go tourist packages with the best coverage.

31. Be ready to allocate a couple of hours to sort out the SIM card

Okay, there is a catch when it comes to sorting out the local SIM card in Italy, and also Sicily. It is probably one of the most complicated places when it comes to getting a data plan. The tricky part is that you may not be able to get SIM card at the airport which is the most convenient way when starting your journey in a foreign country.

Instead, you may have to look for a local TIM or Vodafone store in the town. If you are renting a car at the airport, the best way is to look up the nearest store and pre-download its location on Google Maps.

Be aware of your arrival time- if it is during working hours or not. Also, take siesta time into consideration (stores close from around 1-2 PM till 4-5 PM). Luckily, this might not be applicable if the store is located in a bigger shopping center. However, malls are not that common in Italy.

Once you are at the store, expect around 30 minutes to sort out payment, and installation, and then add another hour for activation of the SIM.

I am sharing my personal experience here. When landed at Naples airport, there was no SIM card shop available (2022). Therefore, we pre-downloaded Google maps with the nearest mall that had TIM shop (it was open during siesta time- made sure to check it). It took around 2 hours to sort out the internet but it was totally worth it to get this out of the way for our 3 -week-long journey in South Italy and Sicily. We purchased a generous 70GB plan for around 20 EUR, which was valid for 30 days, local calls included.

32. Big supermarkets are less popular than local specialty shops and markets

When travelling to Sicily, and also Italy, you may notice that big supermarkets are not that common. Thus, whenever you want to do grocery shopping, it might not be as per your usual habit of buying everything in one spot.

In Sicily, people still love using markets and specialty shops where they buy a specific product. There are separate pescaterias (fish shop), paneterias (bakeries), cheese, meat, fresh pasta, and vegetable shops. Those are the best places to get fresh produce.

Certainly, you can find mini-markets in every town where they sell the basics- milk, eggs, canned stuff, a small selection of cheese and sausages as well as some cleaning and shower products, detergents, and whatnot.

Talking about mini markets, we had a fun experience in Castellamare del Golfo. We were looking for a small bottle of olive oil to use for breakfast, but all shops had only 1-liter bottles which we couldn’t carry around and it would have been a waste of buying one. A lady working at one of the mini-markets in town understood our situation, and literally pulled out a bottle of olive oil and poured some of it into a small plastic cup for us to take away (at no extra cost). It was very kind of her and something you are not likely to experience in big shopping centers.

33. Covid – 19 in Sicily requirements

UPDATE: this is not applicable, Corona is gone!

Today you can travel to Sicily and Italy by air for tourism purposes. All Covid-19 regulations have been lifted for travel to Italy. For more information about the requirements related to covid- 19 refer to this page .

Masks are still being worn inside supermarkets, churches, and museums. It was a strict requirement to wear a special medical mask (sold at the coffee shop at the port in case you don’t have one) on the Trapani-Favignana ferry. I have noticed that many elderly people still wore masks outside, and even in small towns. Knowing that Italy was one of the countries hardest hit by pandemics, it comes as no surprise.

Have you ever been to a destination where traveling felt challenging, or on the contrary- a complete breeze? Share your experience in the comments below. Also, if you have more questions about traveling to Sicily, please feel free to get in touch.

More Italy travel guides

Sicily travel guides.

• Useful Tips for Renting a Car in Sicily and Driving Stress-Free
• Renting a car in Catania, Sicily
• Renting a car in Palermo: what you need to know
• Epic Road Trip for 2-weeks in Sicily itinerary
• Essential Sicily Travel Tips .
• 21 spectacular places to visit in Sicily 
• How to visit Favignana island, Sicily
• Guide to hiking Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve
• Visit Gangi mountain town in Sicily
• The most beautiful small coastal towns and fishing villages in Sicily.
• The most charming mountain towns in Sicily .
• Which is better: Amalfi Coast or Sicily?
• Is Sicily safe? Areas to avoid and safety tips by a regular visitor.
• Airports in Sicily Italy : which one you should fly to?

Italy Itineraries

• 15 Most Beautiful Road Trips in Italy: great ideas for your Italy itinerary
• 10-Day South Italy Itinerary: Naples to Calabria road trip
• 14-Day Sicily Itinerary: a 2-week Sicily road trip
• 2 Days in Amalfi Coast Itinerary: how to spend 48 hours on Amalfi Coast, Italy
• 2 weeks Puglia itinerary – Italy’s heel in 14 days

General Italy travel guides

• Browse all my  blog posts about Italy   HERE .
• Looking for romantic road trip ideas in Italy? Check my list of  15 Best Road Trips in Italy.
• The ultimate guide to renting a car in Italy
• Tips for driving in Italy for the first time .
• Best coastal towns in southern Italy.
• Explore Calabria- the least visited region in Italy.
• Visit Sicily- the biggest island in Italy.

Italy travel resources

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

• HIRE A CAR : Rent a car at the best rates at Discover Cars .
• CHEAP FLIGHTS: find the cheapest and the best flight combinations with Skyscanner .
• ACCOMMODATION: find your perfect stay 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 for reasonable rates.
• GUIDED TOURS:  Find the best day tours in Italy on  GetYourGuide , outdoor tours and activities with Manawa .
• PRIVATE TRANSFER: Book a private transfer to any location in Italy with GetTransfer .
• FLIGHT GOT CANCELLED OR DELAYED? You may receive compensation of up to 600 EUR. Consult and get support from AirHelp or Skycop .

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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Sicily Map & Travel Guide

How to enjoy italy's largest island.

Italy's largest island is surrounded by the sea; three of them actually, the Ionian, Tyrrhenian and Mediterranean engulf Sicily and its smaller offspring, the little islands: The Aeolians, Egadi and Pelagie Islands, Pantelleria and Ustica.

Its rocky crust is peppered with archaeological sites and volcanoes, its streets lined with good things to eat. (For the frugal, the good things to eat aren't generally offered by celebrity chefs; the best of Sicilian cuisine is found in street food and in markets.)

And though you might not have thought about it, Wine travel is also very good in Sicily, especially in the west.

Sicilians build things like they will live forever and eat like they will die tomorrow. - Plato

Map of Sicily Showing Cities to Visit

Getting Your Bearings

Sicily is separated by the Straits of Messina; if you arrive by car you'll cross from mainland Italy to Sicily via a short ferry ride. On our map the red boxes indicate recommended beaches. There are many more, but you have to start to narrow down your choices, don't you?

The lines connecting the cities represent the rail lines of Sicily. Trains in Sicily are slow, but the distances short. You can get around Mount Etna on the Circumetnea , a narrow gauge regional line that circles the volcano for 110 kilometers starting from the station of Giarre - Risposto, marked on the map. For a description of the ride with some great pictures, see: The Circumetnea Railway - A Ride Around Etna .

Sicily's best beaches are marked by red boxes on the map. A very interesting corner of Sicily is the Val di Noto , marked on the southeastern section of the map.

Founded in 733BC, Siracusa was a mighty Greek colony about three times the size of today’s city. Siracusa has a castle, churches, a great fish market, catacombs, and several Greek and Roman sites, including a famous Greek theater and Roman arena. The Neapolis Archaeological park contains the Greek Theater of Syracuse and the cave called the Ear of Dionysus and we really enjoyed our visit. [ tickets ]

Palermo is the capital and most important city in Sicily. Once one of the top luxury destinations in Italy before falling out of favor with tourists, it is now crawling its way back into traveler's hearts through their stomachs as they rediscover the fine traditional gastronomy of this sunny destination. After a knockout lunch, you'll want to stroll the city from the Cathedral to the 12th century Capella Palatina and the Norman Palace to nearby San Giovanni degli Eremiti . Then it's on to those fabulous Palermo gardens or a walk along the beach. If you crave more beach, the charming resort town of Cefalu is less than an hour away by train; a ticket will cost you about $10.

While Palermo has its fine seafood, it has built a reputation on street food--and the king of that street food is Pani ca' Meusa .

Palermo has many hotels, so it doesn't have to cost a lot to stay a while. Visitors like the Bed and Breakfast Alba Camere for its location, comfort, wifi, and free bike rentals.

We spent a very fine week at Downtown House , a well-located, well-managed apartment in the heart of Palermo.

Palermo Travel Guide

Palermo Lodging Map

Sicilian icons.

One of the most representative examples of the Sicilian Baroque style are the balconies, supported by console brackets adorned with apotropaic masks (to ward off the evil eye).

Modica Chocolate

Don't worry, your trip to Sicily will offer you some great opportunities to taste some artisan chocolate, trust me and go to Modica. There's a museum of Chocolate there.

Sicilian Carts

The horse and cart form part of the folklore of Sicilian culture, and some of the best modern examples are found in Agrigento.

The Carts of Raffaele La Scala

Where to Go in Sicily

Taormina is an all time favorite city in Sicily Here's a bit of what's there:

• Greek Theater: Taormina's 3rd century BC Greek theater was renovated by the Romans, and is now used for summer performances. Like may Greek and Roman Theaters, it , offers spectacular views of the sea and Mt. Etna. [ tickets ]
• Medieval Quarter: A clock-tower gate serves as the starting point for Taormina's picturesque medieval section with its narrow streets and old shops now selling modern clothing, crafts, and souvenirs.
• Corso Umberto: The lively main street through town, Corso Umberto , is lined with shops and bars.
• Piazza Vittorio Emanuele: Taormina's tourist office is in the unique Palazzo Corvaja , a mix of Arab, Norman, and Catalan-Gothic architecture. The palazzo also houses the Museum of Sicilian Arts and Traditions (closed Mondays). Also found in the square are Santa Caterina Church and remains of a small Roman theater.
• Piazza del Duomo: A Baroque fountain with a centaur, the symbol of Taormina, is at the center of Piazza del Duomo . The Church of San Nicola , also called the fortress cathedral , was built in 1400 over an older church.
• Regional Archaeological Museum : Inside Palazzo Badia Vecchia on a Roman bath site, the museum has finds from Greek and Roman sites.
• Medieval Castle and Madonna della Rocca: The ruins of a medieval castle are in a picturesque position at the top of Monte Tauro where you'll find outstanding views. There's also a sanctuary from 1640, Madonna della Rocca .
• Public Gardens: Another good view spot is the public gardens, Via Bagnoli Croce , with flowers and exotic plants.

It would be a shame to spend time in Taormina while lodging in a crumbling hovel. This is the place for a splurge and the five star Hotel El Jebel is the place to do it. Less expensive but still highly rated is the three star La Pensione Svizzera . If your pocketbook is not ready for a splurge, there are Taormina Hostels available, many with private rooms, that are quite nice.

Other Compelling Places to See in Sicily

In the south of Sicily you'll find Agrigento and the spectacular Valley of the Temples , Greek temples dating from about 510 BC to 430 BC. There's a wonderful archaeological museum and a Museum of expertly-crafted Sicilian carts to visit.

Agrigento in Springtime Guide Agrigento Hotels Agrigento Hostels

The Picture shows Ragusa Ibla, the old town. Ragusa's baroque architecture has earned it UNESCO World Heritage status. The spectacular Baroque Duomo di San Giorgio sits in the center of Ibla, and its piazza is home to much of what a good Sicilian vacation needs, including, of course, gelato!

Ragusa Travel Guide Ragusa Hotels

Like Ragusa, Scicli is another town in the Val di Noto in the southeastern quadrant of Sicily worth a bit of your time.

Pier Paolo Pasolini said of Scicli, "Seen therefore, from far away, and from so high, Scicli was what is said La Sicilia".

Scicli Hotels

Archaeological Sites Not to be Missed

Popular to visit are the Greek archaeological sites at Selinunte, Segesta, and the site of Erice , near Trapani:

Standing atop a mountain (around 750 metres above sea level) overlooking nearby Trapani and the beaches of San Vito Lo Capo, delightful Erice is almost something of a western Sicilian Taormina. There are some ancient Elymian and Phoenician walls surrounding the northeastern side of the city, and two castles, Pepoli Castle, with foundations dating from Arab times, and nearby Venus Castle, dating from the Norman period but built on ruins of the ancient Temple of Venus (or Astarte) where it is believed that ritual prostitution was practiced. Surrounded by a lush park, the hilltop castles alone are worth a stop in Erice, which offers charming old stone streets and several medieval churches. Pepoli Castle was at first a feudal stronghold, though Erice was eventually ceded to the Crown as a demesnial city. The view from the castle towers is stupendous. Though both castles have been modified somewhat over the centuries, they still have that distinctively medieval character one expects of such fortresses. (Pepoli Castle is now a hotel.) ~ The Best of Sicily

Pepoli Castle hosts the Torri Popoli Resort. Lodging tends to be inexpensive on this end of Sicily, so you'll find many options using the buttons below.

Torri Pepoli Resort Other Erice Lodging

Villa Romana del Casale

One of the most spectacular Roman sites outside of Rome is the Villa Romana del Casale just outside the town of Piazza Armerina. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for its mosaics. The sprawling villa--there are over 50 rooms--is one of the most luxurious of its kind; the bathrooms had underfloor heating. You can see the villa in the following video.

Sicily Tours

Sicily is a big destination for food and wine enthusiasts. Judy Witts-Francini, Divina Cucina, provides lively food and wine tours of the island. Highly recommended.

Street food in Sicily is considered some of the best in Europe, and Palermo is tops in the category. You can take a very reasonably priced Palermo Street Food Tour and eat the best.

If you have come to Sicily by Train or by air, you can still get around with one of the many Viator tours of Sicily . You can, for example, take a Mount Etna Day Trip from Taormina, or see the Valley of the Temples and Villa Romana del Casale on a Day Trip from Taormina from this list of the best of Sicily tours.

Ever think of spending the winter in Sicily? Prices are cheaper, and this Road Scholar tour might fit the bill if  you're looking for a pre-planned experience in Sicily. Winter in Sicily: Culture & Cuisine in the Mediterranean

Airports and Transportation

Sicily has three airports. The smallest is Trapani Airport . Larger are Palermo and Catania ; you will probably be coming into Sicily via one of these. Viator offers a very popular private arrival transfer from Palermo Airport direct to your hotel.

Weather and Climate

Palermo's proximity to the sea gives it a very moderate climate with an extremely narrow range between the expected high and low temperatures. See the charts at Palermo Historic climate and Current Weather .

More on Sicily

For more on the culture and attractions of Sicily, see our Sicily Category on the Blog.

• Places and cities
• Attractions
• Map of museums and parks
• LIVING SICILY
• Itineraries
• Travel proposals
• How to reach Sicily
• Tourist information

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.

HIGH LIGHTS

Archaeological Sicily Outdoors Trekking and Outdoor UNESCO

LANDSCAPE AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK OF THE VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES

Have you ever dreamed about taking a walk back in time, among massive columns, perfectly preserved temples, flowering almond trees [...]

Outdoors Sea in Sicily Sicily and Cinema

Discovering the places of Montalbano TV series

Have you ever imagined walking side by side with Inspector Montalbano? In this route, we will stroll through the places [...]

Archaeological Sicily Art and Culture Handicraft Outdoors

ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARKS BETWEEN CATANIA AND TAORMINA

Not all the archaeological parks are surrounded by unspoilt nature and set kilometres away from the city centres. Some cities [...]

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Guide to the Best Things to Do In Palermo Italy

W ith so much to do in the regional capital of Sicily, this guide to the best things to do in Palermo Italy will help you see the most important spots.

A busy port city on the northwest coast of Sicily, you'll need a few days to explore the beautiful architecture, museums, and churches.

The city was bombed very heavily during WWII. Some of the raids caused a lot of damage to the city. Many historic palaces and churches were destroyed, but thankfully, many of the historic structures were rehabilitated.

Palermo offers a blend of old and new, with plenty to experience in a beautiful Mediterranean setting. I explored Palermo for a week with a local guide from Exodus Travels and it was one of my favorite trips of all time.

I've been to Italy quite a bit spending 3 days in Rome following a cruise a couple of years ago when I first visited Taormina and Messina.

So though this wasn't my first time in Sicily, I had not been to Palermo. Visiting the capital of Sicily is a must!

Where Is Palermo?

Palermo is located on the northwest coast of Sicily. If you look at Italy as a boot, Sicily would be the large island at the tip of the boot.

It is approximately a 10-hour drive from Rome, part of which includes the Messina Ferry from mainland Italy to Sicily. The route from the ferry terminal to Palermo hugs the northern coast of Sicily and offers some amazing views.

Palermo also offers an expansive airport to fly directly to Sicily and then drive about 20 miles into the city.

As the largest city in Sicily, Palermo is an incredible blend of modern city life and historic sites dating back to 1072. 

Why We Love This City

The Sicilian capital city of Palermo is a feast for all the senses. The stunning architectural style is a unique Arab-Norman blend, with a bit of baroque and Art Nouveau influences mixed in.

Because of Sicily’s strategic location, it has frequently changed hands over the years, being under the control of Greek, Arab, Norman, Roman, Phoenician, Ostrogoth, British, and more over the years. 

As each group took hold on the island, they left their mark on architecture and culture, as well as providing a unique and rich history.

A great way to learn about the history and culture of Palermo is to take the Hop On Hop Off bus tour . This is the best way to see a lot in a short time.

And, of course, you can’t talk about areas around the Mediterranean without mentioning the incredible food. In fact, my tour with Exodus Adventure Travels was culinary-focused , making it easy to learn about the best local spots without having to do the research.

Like everything else in Sicily, the local food in Palermo is a blend of flavors. The food was definitely a big draw for me!

Top Things to Do in Palermo

Explore quattro canti square.

Also known as Four Corners Square, this is one of the most iconic locations in Palermo. Located at the intersection of the Via Maqueda and Via Vittorio Emanuele at the city center, this main intersection is filled with façades with a variety of statues.

There are statues for the four seasons on one level, four Spanish kings on the next, and then four patron saints above that.

This area was always bustling with people and was fun to just explore the nearby shops and restaurants.

Just down the street from Quattro Canti Square, you find Biga , the perfect place for a slice of pizza.

Visit Piazza Bellini

At the Piazza Bellini, you can find a couple of buildings on the UNESCO World Heritage list: the church of San Cataldo and the church of La Martorana. These historic buildings were built during the Norman era of Sicily. 

See Santa Caterina Church

This Roman Catholic church is also in Piazza Bellini. Dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, it was first constructed in 1310 as a convent for Dominican nuns.

The church has had a long history of expansion and damage due to political instability. It features several stunning chapels and sculptures of many venerated Dominican nuns. 

This was one of the most beautiful churches I've ever seen.

Take the steps to the rooftop. The way up is uneven, and there’s scaffolding that you have to walk across from one side to the other if you want to see both views. However, the view is gorgeous and worth the climb.

When I was there, the roof terrace closed at 5 p.m., so keep that in mind when planning your day. 

Walk around Piazza Pretoria

This location is a short walk from Quattro Canti and has a gorgeous fountain, Fontana Pretoria, that is great for photos with marble statues of mermaids, nymphs, satyrs, and more.

As this was right across the street from my hotel, I visited a few times, and there were always people taking selfies with the fountain and statues.

This location is also known as Piazza della Vergogna (the Square of Shame), but is it because of the nude statues that offended the sensibilities of centuries gone by or because of the corrupt government of the time that was nearby? You’ll have to decide! 

Explore Palermo Cathedral

The Palermo Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains several locations worth exploring including Chapel of the Relics, Royal Tombs, the Crypts, and the Treasury.

One of the most special relics here to the people of Palermo is a silver urn with the ashes of Saint Rosalie. It is said that she saved Sicily from the Black Plague in 1624.

A huge celebration takes place in July every year in Palermo to mark the anniversary of the discovery of the relics of Saint Rosalie.

2024 will mark the 400th anniversary of this event, and a celebration of celebrations is being planned.

Not only will there be a feast ending with a procession of Santa Rosalia's remains being brought through the streets as they do in Palermo every year, but the entire year leading up to this anniversary has been proclaimed the Rosalian Jubilee Year, from July 10, 2023, through September 4, 2024.

We saw a festival honoring Saint Rosalie taking place when we were there in September, and if it is any indication of what the 2024 festival will be like, it will be one to remember!

The Palermo Cathedral is also the final resting place for many other notable figures in the history of Sicily, but it's clear that Santa Rosalia is very special to the people who live here.

Visit the Puppet Shop and Take in a Show

For something more lighthearted, you’ll love seeing one of the puppet shows and exploring the puppets for sale from puppet master Vincenzo Argento.

He’s one of only two puppet masters left in all of Sicily and from a family line in puppetry dating back to the late 1890s! This is one of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage traditions. 

Taste Authentic Gelato

One of the best things to try, especially on a hot day, is authentic gelato.  A great place to sample this delicious dessert is the Gelateria La Kala.

Made with high-quality materials and fresh fruit, a dish of gelato is a great treat to savor. 

Visit Open Air Capo Mercado

The Capo Mercado is such a fabulous al fresco market full of stalls with fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood, and Sicilian street cuisine.

We wandered through the carts and kiosks of street vendors with our guide filling us in on what we should try and why.

The colorful street markets and local bakeries were my favorite stops to try some of the best local specialties.

This is one of the best places to get a literal taste of local flavor. 

Note: This type of spice and beans would not have made it through customs. Remember to only buy items that are properly sealed for traveling to another country.

Eat Traditional Sicilian foods, Palermo-style!

We tried arancini (fried rice balls stuffed with meat sauce and cheese), panelle (fried chickpea pancake), and sfincione (the traditional pizza of Palermo). They all were absolutely delicious.

You can make your own amazing food tour by walking around and seeing what strikes your fancy or take a local tour.

Eat a Spleen Sandwich

Speaking of food, you can’t talk about food in Palermo without mentioning this one.

The “Pani ca Meusa” (or Sicilian Spleen Sandwich) is a Palermo street food delicacy made with fried cow organs (like the heart, lung, and of course spleen) on a soft bun with cheese and sometimes a squeeze of lemon.

I didn’t love it, though a couple of people in our group ate the whole sandwich! I did try it, and you must, too!

Another great foodie city is Venice! If you're planning to go, save this list of things to do in Venice Italy in one day !

Take a tour of The Steri of Palermo

The Inquisition was a troubling time in the history of Palermo, where no one was safe from being labeled a heretic or accused of committing some sort of crime against the church.

The 14th century wood ceiling has been in the restoration process since 2017. It's pretty spectacular.

The Palazzo Steri was used as a prison during the Spanish Inquisition and was a place of imprisonment and atrocious torture.

Many of the Jewish population of Palermo were arrested, tortured, and burned at the stake.

While held in confined cramped cells, inmates from all walks of life used whatever they could find – coal, terracotta, even urine and spit – to create drawings on the walls of the prison cells, and the artwork is surprisingly well preserved even today. 

The artwork is a beautiful, yet haunting, reminder of a dark time in the history of Europe. Guided tours are available.

Go Shopping

There are many little shops with housewares, stationery, foods, beautiful clothing, and more! There’s something for everyone in the little boutiques throughout the city. 

Wine prices are very affordable, so bring a large tote bag to carry on with your worn clothes and pack your suitcase with local wines and foods.

Make sure whatever you buy is sealed airtight. Some local foods, such as herbs in a bag just stapled shut, won't make it through customs.

See a show at Teatro Massimo

The Teatro Massimo is the third largest opera house in Europe and offers perfect acoustics for listening to a performance.

The interior has 1381 seats in a horseshoe layout around an inclined stage, so you can always find a good seat in the house!

Taste Sangue Sicilian Vino Liquoroso

This local drink is delicious but potent! 

It is a fruity wine, similar to port wine, with flavors of cherries, blood orange, and cranberries, giving it a rich “blood wine” color.

We had such a good time at Taverna Azzurra . Can you tell?

Spend Some Time at the No Mafia Memorial

For most people, thoughts of the Mafia bring up images of The Godfather movies. (Fun fact, parts of The Godfather III were filmed in the Massimo Theatre!)

While the movie version of the Mafia is Hollywood’s take on this, the No Mafia Memorial tells the real story of the Mafia and the many deaths that it has caused over the years through a series of educational exhibits.

Take a Horse and Carriage Ride

You’ll usually see them in the Quattro Canti area. This is a great way to get a unique view of the area at a relaxed pace.

Drink Local Wine and Beer

From someone who pores over wine lists before ordering, this was such a nice break. I tend to get headaches from some red wines, so I usually stick to Pinot Noir or a Red Blend.

I don't think I ordered a specific brand of wine the entire time I was in Sicily. Simply ordering a glass of red wine was all I needed to do, and each glass was excellent.

I also enjoyed a local beer now and then, perfect on a warm day.

Explore Palazzo Normanni

Palazzo Normanni is also known as Norman Palace or The Royal Palace. This is where the seat of the Kings of Sicily was located during the House of Hauteville, Norman Dynasty, in the 11th and 12th centuries. The history is fascinating.

The building is now the seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly. The first-floor Palatine Chapel is worth the visit in itself.

Where to Stay in Palermo

I stayed at B & B Hotel Palermo Quattro Canti , right in the heart of Palermo. It was so convenient to everything and they had an amazing breakfast on the rooftop.

Frequently Asked Questions

The rainiest months are January through April and November through December. Temperatures are fairly mild during the winter, but in higher altitudes on the island, there is often some snowfall in the winter. July and August are the warmest, with temperatures up near the 90s. If you want the most comfortable weather with dry conditions, June, September, or October is the best time to visit.

Yes. The hop on hop off bus gives you a nice tour. Our guide with Exodus Adventure Travels was local and gave us included tours throughout our trip. Tourism is a major draw for Palermo, with around 750,000 visitors each year. That means there are a lot of resources available to help you get around.

As a large city and tourist hub, you will readily find English spoken within the hospitality industry, as well as by many of the younger residents. (English is taught in schools.) Still, it is always helpful to brush up on a few polite phrases before you go. 

Top Tips for Visiting

Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be walking along cobbled streets, so this is not the place for fashionable high heels!

Leather sneakers were all I wore the whole time I was in Sicily. They’re comfortable and they go with just about anything. I have a pair of white and a pair of black. 

Bring a power converter. Palermo, like most of Europe, has 220-volt electrical outlets instead of the standard 110 in the U.S. Having a power converter is a must! 

This converter is the one I use everywhere. A nice feature is that it also has two USB ports, which is very convenient for charging multiple electronics at the same time.

Expect to eat on Palermo time. Lunch times at restaurants usually run from around noon to 3:30.

After that, restaurants are closed for most of the afternoon and early evening, reopening for dinner from around 7:30 PM to 11:00 PM.

You will still be able to find some places to eat, but if you’re looking for an early dinner, you likely will be out of luck. Go with the flow and enjoy Sicily time like a local when it comes to meals!

Your phone can be a great resource at historic sites. At many churches and monuments, there will be QR codes. Use your phone camera to access the QR code, click the link, and get more information about the location.

Make sure to respect local customs when visiting churches. Bring a scarf or sarong to cover bare shoulders and thighs when you visit churches.

If a church service is already in progress, enter quietly or avoid intruding altogether. 

Pack wisely! Grab a free printable packing list to help you plan your wardrobe and make sure you don’t forget essentials.

My trip to Sicily was with Exodus Adventure Travels and I loved leaving all the planning to them. Palermo was our first stop.

Next was Erice for a day trip before heading to Marsala. Interested in seeing the whole trip? That's coming soon!

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Italy food tours: the best regions for gourmands to visit in 2024

Eat your way around Italy one region at a time

As much as Italian restaurants and cook books might have us thinking otherwise, it's important to note that there is no one unified national cuisine. Italy is in fact divided into 20 regions, each boasting its own signature dishes that are closely tied to the unique terroir, traditions and history of the area.

That’s why in Sicily you'll find so many recipes featuring aubergine, for example, that was first introduced to the island with the Arab domination of the 9th century and now grows on the land in abundance – while somewhere further north and generally cooler will hardly use it at all. It’s also why you’d never find Venice ’s famous sarde in saor or Trentino’s Germanic canederli dumplings anywhere beyond their borders… And why 'real' pizza can only come from Naples , where the sea and volcanic soil of Campania produce the plump tomatoes and creamy mozzarella needed for that perfect balance of flavours (just don't bring it up with the Romans).

From much-loved classics to little-known regional recipes, there are so many delicious dishes to discover in Italy – making it the perfect place to visit for a food tour . We'd recommend eating your way around the country one region at a time, taking the time to visit local producers and farms to see what goes on behind-the-scenes, before enjoying all the delicacies in an authentic trattoria , osteria or family-run eatery nearby.

So, if you're looking to plan an Italian food tour in 2024, make sure you check out our list of the best regions for gourmands to visit in Italy – complete with tried-and-tested tips for making the most of your trip, as well as must-try dishes to tick off when you're there.

What is the foodie region of Italy?

We'd argue that every region is Italy is a certified foodie region, but if we had to just choose one to shout about, it would have to be Emilia-Romagna . Located in the north of the country, it's widely regarded as the food capital of Italy thanks to its rich gastronomic tradition and abundance of world-famous produce, including Parma ham, balsamic vinegar , Parmesan cheese, salami, tagliatelle pasta and piadina bread.

What are the must-try foods of Italy?

Each region has its own must-try foods that are specific to the location, which we've listed in our Italy food tour guide below. That said, there are some classics that you can't leave the country without sampling – and we've specified where you'll find each at its most authentic, too:

• Pizza - Naples
• Ice cream / gelato - Florence
• Spaghetti alla Carbonara - Rome
• Tiramisù - Treviso
• Tagliatelle al ragù - Bologna
• Arancini - Sicily
• Risotto alla Milanese - Milan
• Burrata - Puglia
• Fiorentina steak - Tuscany
• Cannoli - Sicily
• Porcini and truffles - Umbria

Emilia-Romagna

Emilia-Romagna should be your first port of call if you're planning an Italian food tour. Located between Florence and Milan in the north of the country, the region is widely considered to be the food capital of Italy thanks to its rich gastronomic tradition.

Indeed, many of Italy's most important – and delicious – food products originate from here: namely, Parmigiano Reggiano (Parmesan cheese), Prosciutto di Parma (Parma ham) and Aceto Balsamico di Modena (balsamic vinegar), among others. Many of the historic dairies, farms, vineyards and artisanal botteghe (workshops) that produce these ingredients are open for tours and tastings, making it perfect for foodies who want an educational, behind-the-scenes experience.

The region's main cities, too, are hubs of culinary excellence. Modena is home to the one of the finest and most famous restaurants in the world, Massimo Bottura's iconic three-Michelin-starred Osteria Francescana, that's top of any die-hard foodie's bucket list (you'll just need to book well in advance). Parma is also a must, for obvious reasons, while Bologna is the place to go for pasta dishes such as tagliatelle al ragù , lasagne and tortellini in brodo , as well as tigelle bread pockets filled with local cured meats and cheeses.

We'd also recommend venturing a little off the beaten track to visit the likes of Ravenna, Ferrara, Piacenza and Cesena for equally fabulous food in a quieter, more authentic setting.

Alternatively, you can leave all the hard work to the experts and simply book onto Good Housekeeping's gastronomic tour of Emilia-Romagna . It includes everything from exclusive factory visits and cooking lessons, to museum visits, overnight stays in stylish hotels, and, of course, plenty of eating.

Home to cultural heavyweights Verona, Padua, Lake Garda , Vicenza and, of course, Venice, the Veneto region has tended to be overlooked by those planning an Italian food tour – and wrongly so. For aside from boasting impressive art collections, elegant architecture and epic carnivals, Veneto also has a strong culinary identity that is well worth discovering.

First of all, it's the region responsible for such sweet masterpieces as the Tiramisù and Pandoro – the former invented in Treviso and the latter in Verona – as well as Prosecco and Aperol too. Speaking of which, Veneto has also perfected the art of the aperitivo, made all the better by the addition of cicchetti . Akin to tapas, these little finger-food snacks are served in local taverns and wine bars, and have become an art form in themselves. The most traditional bites to try are baccalà mantecato (salted cod balls), sarde in saor (sweet-and-sour sardines), crostini with savoury toppings, and fried croquettes filled with meat, tuna, cheese or potato.

With its large stretch of Adriatic coastline and city that's literally built on the water, it should come as no surprise that seafood dishes are excellent in the region – but there's also much to be said for Treviso's famous radicchio, Asiago's cheese, Bassano's white asparagus, Padua's meat stew as well as the polenta and rice that are a staple of the local diet.

If you're interested in discovering Veneto's foodie side, why not join Good Housekeeping's eight-day cruise around the region with celebrity chef James Martin ? Not only will you have the opportunity to enjoy his food during an on-board gala dinner, but you'll also try local delicacies, head out on excursions and have VIP access to iconic monuments.

FIND OUT MORE

You can also explore the fine wines of the Veneto region on a 'Path of Prosecco' tour , which is a self-driven trip featuring behind-the-scenes tours and tastings in prestigious wineries.

The so-called 'heel of Italy', Puglia has become something of a holiday hotspot in recent years thanks to its unspoilt beaches, whitewashed hill towns and unique trulli . In short: plenty of things to see and do to help you work up an appetite!

You'll likely be very well acquainted with the region's olive oil already – Puglia is responsible for the majority of the 'liquid gold' that's produced in the country, making it a great spot to visit if you fancy learning more about how it's made and sampling different varieties.

Puglia is also famous for its bread – namely taralli , filled panzerotti , focaccia and friselle , that are the perfect accompaniment to an aperitif of local wine. The mozzarella , burrata and stracciatella in Puglia are second to none, so we'd recommend seeking out a dairy farm tour for a demonstration and the chance to try your hand at making it yourself, before devouring the lot at its very freshest.

The towns of Lecce, Ostuni, Otranto, Bari and Brindisi are brimming with epic restaurants to discover, too. Make sure to try the signature local dishes, such as orecchiette pasta with broccoli, spaghetti with sea urchin, fava bean puree with chicory, fried octopus sandwiches and fresh seafood cooked in myriad ways.

Good Housekeeping's culinary tour of Puglia is the perfect way to taste the region's famous flavours. Over the course of six fun-and food-filled days, you'll eat your way around the best restaurants as well as experiencing an olive oil tasting and learning to make orecchiette pasta from scratch.

Set in the shadow of the magnificent Mount Vesuvius, the southern Italian region of Campania boasts a unique terrain that produces some of the most flavoursome produce in the world. Think juicy San Marzano tomatoes, milky mozzarellas and fragrant basil – which, incidentally, combine to make the perfect UNESCO-certified Neapolitan pizza.

Naples, therefore, is an absolute must for foodies – but there's a lot more than just pizza on offer. When you're in town, make sure to also tick the following local delicacies off your list: frittatine (fried cheesy pasta bites), rum-soaked Babà cakes, pizza fritta, ricotta-filled sfogliatella pastries, pasta alla Genovese (that's not, in fact, from Genova) and, of course, a few ultra-strong Neapolitan coffees to aid digestion.

Once you've eaten your way around the city, head out of town and along the picturesque Amalfi Coast for a taste of La Dolce Vita. Here, you'll find dishes centred around the freshest seafood that's caught just a few metres from your table, as well as drinks and desserts made from the ubiquitous local lemons. Stanley Tucci disciples will also know to book a table at Lo Scoglio da Tommaso for those courgette spaghetti.

Sicily's cuisine is undoubtedly one of the most varied and interesting in the country. An island set off the toe of Italy, its prime position in the Mediterranean Sea made it an important trading hub that throughout history has been occupied by everyone from the Arabs to the Normans – and nowhere is this more evident than in the region's eclectic gastronomy.

Here, you'll find many flavours and ingredients that are rarely seen on the mainland. The sweet and sour caponata , for example, is a direct product of North African and Spanish influences; Trapani's signature dish is centred around cous-cous; arancini are thought to come from the Levantine kibbeh , while aubergine has been a mainstay ever since it first came to the island with the Arabs in the 9th century. For an Italian food tour that's steeped in rich, multi-cultural history, you can't get better than Sicily.

Each of Sicily's areas has its own distinctive character and food, too, so you'll need to set aside a good amount of time to get a full picture of the island's culinary scene. Go to Palermo for pasta alle sarde and street food staples ( arancine , panelle and sfincione are a must), Catania for cassata, pasta alla Norma and horse-meat (if you dare!), Marsala for the wine, Taormina for granita, Trapani for cous-cous and a southern take on pesto, and Siracusa for spaghetti with cuttlefish ink.

Good Housekeeping Holidays offers a solo trip to Sicily, where you can discover Noto, Syracuse, Ragusa and more, while experiencing delicious Sicilian food along the way. The tour includes a wine tasting and pairing dinner on the slopes of Etna.

Known as the green heart of Italy, Umbria is the in-the-know foodie's go-to region for rustic, country-style cuisine without the crowds. Being far less tourist-trodden than the neighbouring Tuscany (though no less beautiful), it's managed to retain its authenticity while still moving with the times, making it the perfect place for a seriously spoiling escape.

Food is central to life in Umbria: its ultra-fertile soil lends itself perfectly to vineyards, olive groves and farmland, while prized truffles and porcini mushrooms abound in the dense woodlands. There's something particularly satisfying about sitting down to a plate of pasta that is heaped with fresh local truffle for a fraction of the price you'd pay elsewhere – in fact, we'd say that alone would be worth organising a whole food tour for.

Other signature dishes in the region include the indulgent penne alla Norcina (pasta with sausage meat, mushrooms, truffle and cream), torta al testo bread stuffed with cured meats or Umbrian sausage and bitter greens, hearty lentil stews, and porchetta (roast pork) sandwiches. As one of the few Italian regions not bordered by the sea, a meat-focused cuisine is only natural – though the Lake Trasimeno does provide plenty of freshwater fish too.

The city and province of Perugia is the main hub for restaurants – including three newly Michelin-star-awarded establishments – but we'd also recommend hopping in the car to explore the region's smaller towns and family-run eateries off the beaten track. Oh, and make sure you visit the Perugina chocolate factory while you're in town too – even if just for the free samples.

HOTELS IN UMBRIA

Lazio's main city, Rome, really does have it all: good weather, fascinating history, important art, ancient ruins, iconic buildings, the Vatican... And, of course, an abundance of fabulous food. You'd be hard-pressed to find a foodie who wouldn't want to sample Italy's most famous pastas in the place they were invented: carbonara , cacio e pepe , Amatriciana and Gricia all come from Lazio, and nowhere does them better. The fact that the guanciale and pecorino used in them is made locally certainly helps, too.

But the Roman food scene offers far more than just the well-known classics. Adventurous types should make sure to sample trippa alla Romana (tripe) and ox-tail stew, while if you're after a street food-style snack, supplì and a trapizzino will do the trick: the former is a particularly delicious take on the Sicilian arancini, while the latter is a new panino-pizza hybrid that's fast becoming a local staple.

Other must-try dishes that are specific to the region include carciofi alla Giudia (alarmingly addictive deep-fried artichokes) and the decadent maritozzi – huge sweet buns bursting with whipped cream, that are perfect for dipping into your morning coffee.

HOTELS IN LAZIO

One of Italy's most-visited regions, Tuscany is a manicured marvel of rolling landscapes, sweeping pine-tree-lined roads, vast vineyards and picturesque hilltop towns. In short, it's the rural Italian idyll – and its style of cuisine follows suit.

Tuscany specialises in a style of cuisine called 'cucina povera' that centres around simple, homegrown ingredients cooked to perfection in traditional recipes. Pappa al pomodoro , torta di ceci , panzanella and crostini are perhaps the best-known "poor" dishes, while lampredotto (offal) sandwiches are the perfect example of the deep-set zero-waste mentality – and well worth a try.

That said, Tuscany is also a haven of fine dining: there are more than 30 Michelin-starred restaurants to choose from in the area, while oenophiles will find themselves spoilt for choice with so many excellent locally-produced wines to choose from. And for when you're after something a little more low-key, don't miss the chance to feast on a gigantic Fiorentina in one of Florence's many historic steakhouses, followed by a walk along the river with a homemade gelato in hand.

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