sicily travel advice

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 travelled 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 travelling 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 .

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

30+ essential tips for travelling in Sicily: plan your perfect visit

Sicily travel essentials.

• My TOP TIP : The best way to explore Sicily is self-driving. Rent a car at the best rates at Discover Cars .
• Best flight deals: Use Skyscanner to find the cheapest and fastest flights to Sicily from your location.
• Sleep: find your perfect accommodation in Sicily on Booking.com .
• Peace of mind: always remember to get travel insurance to be on the safe side. Get a quote at World Nomads or SafetyWing .
• Local SIM Card: Get a tourist pack of local data and calls at TIM or Vodafone. Advisable to purchase from a local store in town as airport costs are much higher.
• Learn Italian: take a fun interactive online course Rocket Italian which will help you learn spoken and written Italian language quickly. Study at your own pace either on a desktop or using a mobile app, lifetime access, and a free trial available upon signing up.

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. 

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

7. three ways of 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 3 airports in Sicily-one in the capital Palermo in the West North, one in Catania in the East, and one in Trapani in the West of the island.

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.

Rent a Car in Sicily

Look for the best rates for your rental car at Discovercars.

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. Choose 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. Choose 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 the others during the high season (July/August). Therefore, booking early is strongly recommended.

The most popular places which 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.

Book Accommodation in Sicily

Look for the best rates and perfect places to stay on Booking.com

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 which 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. 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).

Learn Italian

Sign up for Rocket Italian language course before your Sicilian trip

26. Make sure to 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. Avoid the “M” word

Sicily is often associated with the birthplace of the Mafia. Thanks to Hollywood films that have glorified organized criminal groups in the 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 have 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-those 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 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

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 and resources

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?

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
• Thinking of renting a car in Rome? Read my guide to  How to rent a car in Rome .
• 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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Eternal crossroads of the Mediterranean, the gorgeous island of Sicily continues to seduce travellers with its dazzling diversity of landscapes and cultural treasures.

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Attractions

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Villa Romana del Casale

Central Sicily

Villa Romana del Casale is sumptuous, even by decadent Roman standards, and is thought to have been the country retreat of Marcus Aurelius Maximianus,…

Valley of the Temples

Sicily's most enthralling archaeological site encompasses the ruined ancient city of Akragas, highlighted by the stunningly well-preserved Tempio della…

Cattedrale di Monreale

Palermo Region

Inspired by a vision of the Virgin and determined to outdo his grandfather Roger II, who was responsible for the cathedral in Cefalù and the Cappella…

Cappella Palatina

Designed by Roger II in 1130, this extraordinary chapel is Palermo's top tourist attraction. Located on the middle level of Palazzo dei Normanni's three…

Stromboli Crater

For nature lovers, climbing Stromboli is one of Sicily's not-to-be-missed experiences. Since 2005 access has been strictly regulated: you can walk freely…

Tempio della Concordia

One of the best-preserved ancient Greek temples in existence, the Temple of Concordia has survived almost entirely intact since it was constructed in 430…

Palazzo dei Normanni

Home to Sicily's regional parliament, this venerable palace dates back to the 9th century. However, it owes its current look (and name) to a major Norman…

Quattrocchi

Lipari's best coastal views are from a celebrated viewpoint known as Quattrocchi (Four Eyes), 3km west of town. Follow the road for Pianoconte and look on…

Top picks from our travel experts

9 things you cannot miss on your next trip to sicily.

Ruins of Segesta

Western Sicily

One of western Sicily's must-see attractions, the ruins of Segesta straddle a lonely hilltop less than an hour from Palermo and Trapani. The…

Duomo di Cefalù

Cefalù's cathedral is one of the jewels in Sicily's Arab-Norman crown, only equalled in magnificence by the Cattedrale di Monreale and Palermo's Cappella…

Teatro Massimo

Taking over 20 years to complete, Palermo's neoclassical opera house is the largest in Italy and the second-largest in Europe. The closing scene of The…

Giardino dell'Impossibile

To get under the skin – quite literally – of the island of Favignana, take an eye-opening stroll around these unusual botanical gardens, created by owner…

Parco Archeologico della Neapolis

For the classicist, Syracuse's real attraction is this archaeological park, home to the pearly Teatro Greco. Constructed in the 5th century BC and rebuilt…

Grotta del Genovese

Between 6000 and 10,000 years old, the Upper Palaeolithic wall paintings and Neolithic incised drawings at the Genovese Cave were discovered in 1949 by…

Parco Archeologico di Selinunte

The ancient Greek metropolis of Selinunte was built in the 7th century BC on a promontory overlooking the sea, and over two and a half centuries became…

The best free things to do in Sicily: from stunning churches to sumptuous art

Duomo di San Giorgio

The high point of a trip to Modica – quite literally as it's up in Modica Alta – is the Duomo di San Giorgio, one of Sicily's most extraordinary baroque…

Castello di Lombardia

One of Sicily's most formidable castles guards Enna's highest point, at the easternmost edge of the historic centre. The original castle was built by the…

Rocche del Crasto

Tyrrhenian Coast

Jutting dramatically out of the high mountain pastures at the northern edge of the Nebrodi park, these pinnacles of rock are a favourite hiking…

At the top end of the sloping Piazza Duomo is the town's pride and joy, the mid-18th-century cathedral with a magnificent neoclassical dome and stained…

Ragusa Ibla

Ragusa Ibla is a joy to wander, its labyrinthine lanes weaving through rock-grey palazzi to open onto beautiful, sun-drenched piazzas. It's easy to get…

Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte

Caltagirone's most evocative sight is this monumental staircase, which rises from Piazza Municipio to Chiesa di Santa Maria del Monte. Built in the early…

Mercato del Capo

Running the length of Via Sant'Agostino, Capo's street market is a seething mass of colourful activity during the day, with vendors peddling fruit,…

Mercato di Ballarò

Snaking for several city blocks southeast of Palazzo dei Normanni is Palermo's busiest street market, which throbs with activity well into the early…

Necropoli di Pantalica

Southeastern Sicily

On a huge plateau above the Valle dell'Anapo is the site of Sicily's most important Iron and Bronze Age necropolis, the Necropoli di Pantalica, with more…

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Sicily astounds with its abundance of architecture, hiking, and glorious food scene. Here are 15 of our favorite things to do during your next vacation.

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Sicily is one of the most beautiful places in Italy, but the island has its own distinct culture. Here’s what you need to know before your trip.

Transportation

From how to find a taxi to tips on train travel and accessible transportation, here’s all you need to know about how to get around sensational Sicily.

Money and Costs

Sicily can seem like an expensive destination at first but these budget travel tips and daily costs will help you plan a trip that doesn’t break the bank.

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Here's how to experience the best of Sicily when traveling as a family.

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Hilltop villages, ancient ruins and baroque cities await your discovery on the best road trips in Sicily.

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Sicily and beyond

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Your Trip to Sicily: The Complete Guide

Trips to Sicily: The Complete Guide

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

Planning Your Trip to Sicily

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What to Eat and Drink

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

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

Where to Stay in Sicily

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

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

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

Getting There

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

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

Culture and Customs of Sicily 

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

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

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

Money Saving Tips

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

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

Encyclopedia Britannica. " Sicily. "

Encyclopedia Britannica. " Palermo ."

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

Top Italian Islands for Your Next Vacation

The 15 Best Destinations in Italy

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12 Foods to Try in Sicily

The Best Time to Visit Sicily

The Top 15 Things to Do in Sicily

The Top 23 Things to Do in Italy

Taormina Sicily Travel Guide and Information

The Top 16 Things to Do in Palermo

The 10 Best Wineries in Sicily

Cagliari: Planning Your Trip

The Top 10 Day Trips from Naples, Italy

Your Trip to Malta: The Complete Guide

Sicily's Valley of the Temples: The Complete Guide

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Top 10 Sicily Travel Tips

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

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

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

Pig out on street food.

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

Party with the Sicilians.

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

Bone up on ancient history.

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

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

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

Be prepared for heat and hills.

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

Unwind in the hill towns of the southeast.

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

Peel back the layers of history.

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

Go before it’s too late.

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

Accept Sicily on Sicily’s terms.

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

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

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

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

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

76 Replies to “Top 10 Sicily Travel Tips”

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

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

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

Mt. Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano.

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

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

Planning for fall 2019.

I am planning for fall 2019 as well. :)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Trails and Keep on Traveling Mike McGee

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazing Sicily travel tips.

such great tips for traveling thanks.

useful Sicily travel tips.

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

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

I hope you find that interesting too.

Good post. Thanks for sharing these great tips.

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

The place is so beautiful. No less than heaven!

Good post i like that

Thanks for sharing information.

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

Comments are closed.

Sicily   Travel Guide

Courtesy of Federico Scotto | Getty Images

Why Go To Sicily

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

Find Flight and Hotel Deals

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

Best of Sicily

Best hotels in sicily.

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

Best Things to Do in Sicily

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

Popular Tours

Taormina and Castelmola Tour from Messina

(250 reviews)

from $ 98.80

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

(159 reviews)

from $ 130.64

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

(330 reviews)

from $ 104.29

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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13 best Sicily travel tips to know

Last updated on April 14th, 2024.

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

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

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

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

13 best Sicily travel tips

How many days to spend in sicily.

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

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

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

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

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

Car is the best mode of transportation in Sicily

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

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

August is NOT the month to visit Sicily

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

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

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

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

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

What is Sicily like in August?

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

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

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

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

School’s out for summer

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

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

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

Burning hot in August

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

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

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

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

Sicilians speak a different dialect

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Map of Sicily

Sicilians are more laid back

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

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

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

Sicilian story-time

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

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

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

Mobile networks are weak in Sicily

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

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

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

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

WiFi isn’t always reliable in Sicily

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

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

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

Sicilians dine late

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

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

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

Part of the culture

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

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

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

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

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

Advantages of dining early

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

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

Traditional Sicilian food isn’t really served in Sicilian restaurants

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

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

Very few places

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Not all seafood is fresh (in August)

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

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

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

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

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

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

No orange juice in bars

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

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

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

Beauty services are cheap in Sicily

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Welcome to my site. I'm Lisa, an Italy-based travel and lifestyle blogger behind Following the Rivera. Find out more about me and my story.

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

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

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

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The largest island in the Mediterranean, strategically positioned Sicily has a history and outlook derived from its erstwhile foreign rulers. From the Greeks who first settled the east coast in the eighth century BC, through a dazzling array of Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, French and Spanish, to the Bourbons seen off by Garibaldi in 1860. Substantial relics of these ages remain, with temples, theatres and churches scattered about the whole island.

The best travel tips for visiting Sicily

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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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The Ultimate Sicily Road Trip: An Epic 10 Days in Sicily Itinerary

Beautiful, mysterious Sicily, with its looming volcano, sparkling azure waters, and hilltop villages, is one of those travel destinations that I have spent most of my life dreaming about. After finally taking a Sicily road trip, I can say confidently that the island was worth the wait… and that we’ll be working our way through another Sicily itinerary before too long.

The largest island in the Mediterranean truly does have it all: whether you’re looking to lounge on a beach, dive headfirst into the cuisine, explore the Roman (or Greek, or Norman, or Arab, or Byzantine) history, or visit famous Mount Etna, a Sicily road trip has something to offer.

Planning your own trip to Sicily and not sure exactly where to go?

We’ve put together this 10 days in Sicily itinerary for first-timers to the island–this is how to make the most of your first Sicily road trip!

Table of Contents

Why to Take a Sicily Road Trip

How we structured this 10 day sicily itinerary, a note on the language of the island, the ultimate 10 day sicily road trip itinerary, other places to visit on your sicily road trip, sicily road trip itinerary map, what to know about driving in sicily, the best time to visit sicily, what to pack for sicily.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more detail.

Sicily was made for road tripping: with plenty of wide-open spaces, beautiful natural spots, and tiny towns worth visiting, there are few places in Italy more worthy of hitting the open road than Sicily.

Add in a less-than-ideal public transportation system, and a Sicily road trip quickly emerges as the clear best way to explore the island–but you need to be prepared in order to make the most of it.

You could easily create a month-long Sicily itinerary and still leave the island with stones unturned–but let’s face it, most people won’t have that long to spend on the island.

Our Sicily road trip itinerary is designed to hit all the best spots on the island for first-timers to visit, allowing you to get a taste of many different parts of Sicily: complicated yet lovely Palermo, beautiful beaches, and hilltop villages are all covered, as well as some of the most popular cities in Sicily.

Next to each location, we’ve noted the minimum number of full days (so, not counting a day you arrive at 4pm, for example) we’d recommend spending in each location. 

This works out to be quick-paced but reasonable 10 day Sicily itinerary–but if you’re lucky enough to have more time to spend in Sicily, you can extend it far longer, both by increasing the number of days spent in each location and adding new destinations (we’ll provide some suggestions for those below as well).

Though Italian is the official language in Sicily, Sicilian dialect–which is related and yet distinctly different, to the point where Italian speakers will have a hard time understanding it–is widely spoken in Sicily.

In the destinations covered on this Sicily road trip itinerary, you won’t run into many people (especially those who work with or near tourists) who don’t comfortably speak Italian–but if you stop off in smaller towns along the way, you’ll start to hear (and even see, on menus and such) more and more dialect.

As for English, well–like most places in the world, you can get by among those working in the tourism industry by using it, but it’ll be a bit harder here than in most of Italy.

We strongly recommend learning at least some basic Italian phrases before taking your Sicily road trip–the more Italian you speak, the easier your Sicily travels will be.

I don’t speak much Italian, but knowing enough to ask for (and receive) directions, order food in out-of-the-way places, read basic signs, speak with taxi drivers, etc, made our trip a bit simpler.

Palermo: 2 Days

The capital of Sicily is known for being a bit of a rundown place–and though in some ways it is, it’s also a beautiful, laid-back, and endlessly engrossing city. 

We spent an entire week in Palermo and still weren’t ready to leave when it was over, but 2 days in Palermo will be enough to give you a taste of the major sights and start your 10 days in Sicily itinerary off on a great foot.

What to Do in Palermo

Step inside the magnificent palermo cathedral..

Dating back to the 12th century and built in a variety of architectural styles, the beautiful and distinctive Palermo Cathedral is one of the most important religious buildings in the city.

It’s also home to some very unique touches, like a sundial on the floor marked with zodiac signs and an inscription from the Quran on one of the columns near the entrance–both highly unusual for a Catholic church!

Take a walking + food tour in order to see some of Palermo’s best highlights, fast.

Taking a Palermo food and walking tour on one of the first days of your Sicily travels is an excellent way to orient yourself both to the city and to the island as a whole.

Explore historical landmarks, markets, and cuisine while also getting a taste of what Palermo is all about with a fabulous food and walking tour.

We took this fun tour during our trip to Palermo and absolutely loved it!

Book your Palermo food + walking tour today!

Visit the mummies at the Capuchin Crypt of Palermo.

From the 17th to the 19th century in Palermo, increasing numbers of people were mummified in these catacombs–first naturally, and later intentionally, preserving them for all eternity.

The walls of the catacombs are lined with clothed bodies that have their full skeletons intact, staring down at visitors with sometimes disturbingly aware facial features.

No photos are allowed inside, but I can’t impress enough the creepiness of this place–I think it has something to do with the fact that these people are preserved as themselves that adds an extra layer of disturbing to it all, as opposed to places like the catacombs of Paris where the bones are more or less repurposed into artwork using human remains.

If you find catacombs interesting, we highly recommend visiting these during your trip to Sicily–they are, hands down, the most bizarre and fascinating catacombs we have ever seen.

Palermo Travel Tips

You probably don’t need a car here..

Palermo is one of the two major airport hubs in Sicily (Catania is the other), and if you arrive to the island here, we recommend not picking up your rental car until you’re ready to head to Cefalù–it’ll save you both a bit of cash on your rental bill, and a bit of a headache, as you won’t have to worry about parking it.

The easiest way to get from the airport to the city center is the train.

It costs 5 Euros, avoids the hassle of a taxi, and is perfectly comfortable!

Stay in an ideal location, and you should be able to walk everywhere in Palermo.

This is the biggest reason not to kick off your Sicily road trip until after to leave Palermo: here, a car is a liability but doesn’t really add much of a benefit.

You can walk between all of Palermo’s best things to do, so opt for that instead!

Where to Stay in Palermo

Il Lapino  — Home to simple rooms (some with shared bathrooms) and located only a 10-minute walk from the Palermo Cathedral, Il Lapino is very well-reviewed and is an excellent place to stay in Palermo for those on a budget.

Check rates & book your stay at Il Lapino!

Ciuri Ciuri B&B  — Featuring spacious rooms, included breakfast, and an excellent location, mid-range travelers can’t go wrong with a stay at Ciuri Ciuri B&B while in Palermo!

Check rates & book your stay at Ciuri Ciuri B&B!

Palazzo Natoli Boutique Hotel  — Boasting near-perfect reviews, Palazzo Natoli is located in the heart of Palermo, just steps from some of the city’s best highlights. Private balcony views, exceptional customer service, and a delicious daily breakfast are all included here–if you’re looking for the ultimate relaxing stay in Palermo, this is it!

Check rates & book your stay at Palazzo Natoli Boutique Hotel!

Cefalù : 2 Days

Of all the places to visit in Sicily, this is the one outlined on this Sicily road trip itinerary that we personally have the most unfinished business with.

We squeezed a quick visit to Cefalù into one day, but this magnificent seaside town captured our hearts and absolutely deserves more time than that–as we strolled the streets of Cefalù, we fantasized about one day returning here for a month!

In other words, don’t rush: you won’t regret taking two of your 10 days in Sicily to enjoy this beautiful place.

What to Do in Cefalù

Climb to the top of la rocca..

Climbing high over Cefalù to La Rocca takes less than an hour but rewards you with stupendous views over Cefalù and the Mediterranean Sea, as well as providing some interesting stops along the way (namely, the ruins of the Temple of Diana).

Be sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen, and ideally, complete this climb in the morning or early evening–the midday sun is brutal up here!

Check out the Cefalù Cathedral.

Not many villages as small as Cefalù have cathedrals as impressive–dating back even further than Palermo’s Cathedral, the Cefalù Duomo is absolutely worth visiting during your Sicily road trip, and if the views at La Rocca weren’t enough for you, you can even climb to the top!

Enjoy being a beach bum.

One of the best things to do in Cefalù is simply to enjoy its beach that is conveniently located right outside of the old town, where you’re never far from gelato or a granita.

Pull up a stretch of sand, dip your toes in the water, and enjoy the beauty of Cefalù without stress.

Cefalù Travel Tips

Savor getting lost here..

The small streets and occasional unexpected sea views give Cefalù a delightful charm that completely captivated us during our Sicily travels–this small village is worth wandering aimlessly, and due to its small size, it’s impossible to get too lost along the way.

Where to Stay in Cefalù

Sweet Home Cefalù  — Located practically next door to Cefalù’s beach and complete with both a balcony and a small kitchen, Sweet Home Cefalù gets rave reviews and is the perfect option for budget travelers in Cefalù.

Check rates & book your stay at Sweet Home Cefalù !

Marina House — What’s better than a well-reviewed apartment in the heart of Cefalù? One that’s located right on the water and includes a balcony overlooking the sea!

Check rates & book your stay at Marina House!

Casa Barone Agnello — Housed in an antique home in the center of Cefalù, this impeccably decorated and well-reviewed apartment is perfect for travelers looking for a bit of old-world charm during their trip to Cefalù.

Check rates & book your stay at Casa Barone Agnello!

Taormina: 2 Days

Taormina is probably the most touristic place on this Sicily itinerary, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth adding to your Sicily travels.

Boasting phenomenal views of both Mount Etna and the sparkling Ionian Sea, great swimming nearby, and an incredible Greek theatre, Taormina is hard not to love.

What to Do in Taormina

Visit the greek theatre..

Of all the Greek theatres we have visited in world–including ones in Greece itself–this one is by far the prettiest we have ever seen, and a visit here absolutely belongs on your 10 day Sicily itinerary.

On a perfectly clear day, you’ll see an epic view of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea behind the theatre–but even on a slightly cloudy day like when we visited (at least over Mount Etna, that is), the views are still pretty phenomenal.

Take a day trip to Mount Etna.

Want to add a little thrill to your list of things to do in Taormina? Book a day trip to the crater of an active volcano!

On a clear day, the views of  Mount Etna  from Taormina are fantastic–but there’s still nothing like standing on an active volcano with your own two feet.

Whether you want to book  a morning hike ,  a scenic tour , or  a full day trip  that also includes a visit to the beautiful Alcantara Canyons, you’re bound to find a visit to Mount Etna that appears to your travel style.

Book your day trip to Mount Etna today! Morning Hike  |  Scenic Tour  |  Full Day Trip

Go for a swim at Isola Bella.

Home to what are widely considered to be the best beaches in Taormina, summer visitors should definitely add a visit to Isola Bella to their Sicily road trip itinerary!

Though you can easily reach the island yourself from Taormina via the cable car,  a cruise along the coast  paired with visits to the island’s best swimming spots is an excellent day to spend a hot day in Taormina!

Book your  boat cruise around Isola Bella  today!

Taormina Travel Tips

Not everything is within walking distance..

In order to visit some of Taormina’s most popular sights like Isola Bella, and its beaches in general, you’ll need to head down to the seaside via cable car.

Check the weather carefully.

If you’re in town for a couple of days and one day looks clearer than the other, use the clearer day to visit Mount Etna (or if you don’t want to head all the way to Mount Etna, admire views of it from the Greek Theatre).

Where to Stay in Taormina

Hostel Taormina  — Boasting great reviews and a perfect location in Taormina’s Old Town, Hostel Taormina is the perfect place for budget travelers looking to keep costs down in what is arguably Sicily’s most expensive city.

Both private rooms and dorms are available, and a shared kitchen is located in the hostel.

The only downside? No parking options–so keep that in mind if you choose to book a stay here!

Check rates & book your stay at Hostel Taormina!

Hotel Natalina  — We had a great time at this little hotel!

The location is a short walk from Taormina’s Old Town, the included breakfast quite large by Italian standards, and the customer service excellent. The staff helped us park our rental car for free nearby, which we greatly appreciated!

The rooms are large, but a bit dated–this certainly isn’t a luxury hotel, but it’s definitely a cozy enough place to stay while visiting Taormina, and we’d be happy to stay again.

Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Natalina!

Hotel Continental  — Want to admire the sea views that Taormina is famous for from the comfort of your hotel, while also staying in the lap of luxury?

If so, the Hotel Continental is for you!

Known for its superb location in the heart of Taormina, its views, and its wonderful included breakfast, luxury travelers can’t go wrong with a stay here.

Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Continental!

Syracuse: 2 Days

Packed with ancient ruins, beautiful churches, and a maze of quiet streets, Syracuse (or Siracusa) is second only to Taormina in tourism popularity for Sicily vacations.

For your 2 days in Syracuse, we recommend focusing primarily on the island of Ortigia (or Ortygia), which is a small island right off the coast of Sicily (and I do mean right off the coast–no ferry necessary) that is essentially Syracuse’s lovely old town.

What to Do in Syracuse

Check out castello maniace..

Located on the far edge of Ortigia, this citadel-slash-castle dates to the 13th century (an earlier castle on the site dated to the 11th) and boasts beautiful views over the Ionian Sea.

Stroll through the small streets of Ortigia.

Ortigia is a charming place, and we found that we loved it most when wandering the streets in search of coffee bars, churches (we stumbled across one with a festival going on inside!), and the island’s many ruins.

Be sure to make your way to the Piazza Duomo and the Fountain of Arethusa during your wandering!

Marvel at the Temple of Apollo.

Of all the ancient ruins in Syracuse, the Temple of Apollo is considered the most important.

Dating to the 6th century BCE, the temple has served a whole host of functions over the centuries, including acting as a temple to both Apollo and Artemis, as a church (more than once), and as a mosque.

Syracuse Travel Tips

Stay in ortigia if you can..

This is essentially the old town of Syracuse and is set on an island nearby the main part of the modern city.

It’s beautiful, easy to get lost in, and delightfully fun to explore on foot, making it the perfect place to stay in Syracuse. 

The only catch is what to do with your car, which leads me to…

Choose where you park in advance.

Parking is severely restricted on the island of Ortigia, and on our Sicily road trip we ended up driving in circles for a bit trying to find the right place to leave our car.

Learn from our mistakes and plan carefully beforehand!

Consider visiting the Greek Theatre on your way into or out of Syracuse.

Syracuse’s Greek Theatre is one of its most popular attractions, however, it’s completely across town from Ortigia.

It’s the perfect place to stop for a quick sightseeing break as you arrive in or leave the city, though.

Where to Stay in Syracuse

Room Calafatari — Ortigia is peppered with dozens of small, simple apartments that are used as budget rentals, and Room Calafatari is both a great option and the perfect example of what to expect in Ortigia in a budget price range: no frills but a great location.

Check rates & book your stay at Room Calafatari!

Hotel Posta — With a fabulous location overlooking a port and within a short walk of many of Syracuse’s top attractions, Hotel Posta is a prime choice for mid-range travelers on their Sicily road trip.

Personally, we’d be tempted to upgrade to a room with a balcony–those views are just too good to pass up.

Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Posta!

Hotel Livingston — With excellent reviews, and included breakfast, and a prime location on the edge of Ortigia (most rooms include a sea view!), luxury travelers (or just those looking for a splurge) can’t go wrong with a stay at 4-star Hotel Livingston during their 10 day Sicily itinerary!

Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Livingston!

Val di Noto: 2 Days

Sicily’s Val di Noto is littered with stunning Baroque towns, rolling hills, lovely wine country, and some of the best chocolate in the world–in other words, it’s definitely a place that belongs on your 10 days in Sicily itinerary.

What to Do in the Val di Noto

Hop between the beautiful baroque towns..

Eight of the towns in the Val di Noto are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their incredible Baroque architecture: Ragusa, Modica, Noto, Scicli, Palazzo Acreide, Caltagirone, Militello in Val di Catania, and finally, Catania itself.

Obviously, that is a bit much to cover with just 2 days of your trip to Sicily.

We recommend prioritizing Ragusa, Noto, Modica, and if you have time, Scicli.

Admire views of Ragusa Ilba.

Beautiful Ragusa is divided into two sections: Ragusa Superiore (the upper town) and Ragusa Ilba (the lower town).

The views of Ragusa Ilba looking down from Ragusa Superiore may just be some of the best views in this entire Sicily itinerary, which is really saying something!

Snack on chocolate in Modica.

The beautiful town of Modica is world-famous for its chocolate, which boasts a recipe that originally hails from none other than the Aztecs.

The chocolate is created with “cold processing”, giving it a characteristic grainy texture, inconsistent color, and delicious taste.

Val di Noto Travel Tips

Choose where to stay carefully..

Think about your travel style when you choose where to stay in the Val di Noto: do you want to be the heart of the action? Do you want to be able to do plenty of sightseeing without driving? Would you prefer a countryside stay so that you can easily come and go without worrying about parking or driving through a town to do so?

Personally, we chose to stay in Ragusa for its relative popularity and central location and were very happy with the choice.

Don’t try to see more than 1-2 towns a day.

The Baroque towns of the Val di Noto may look very close together on a map, but add in small, winding roads, the hassles of finding a place to park and making your way (often uphill) to the picturesque town centers, and the delights of savoring each spot, and it’s definitely best to limit your movements when possible.

We recommend sticking to seeing 1-2 towns per day in this section of your Sicily road trip itinerary.

Where to Stay in Val di Noto

For the sake of simplicity, we’ve outlined a few well-reviewed places to stay in Ragusa here, but staying somewhere like Modica or Noto will also easily work with this 10 day Sicily itinerary!

SanVito Hostel — With excellent reviews, a prime location in Ragusa near Piazza San Giovanni, an included breakfast, and a gorgeous terrace offering panoramic views of the Val di Noto, SanVito Hostel is a phenomenal option for budget travelers during their Sicily road trip.

Check rates & book your stay at SanVito Hostel!

Hotel Il Barocco — Cozy and comfortable, this small hotel is located in a 19th-century building in central Ragusa, making it the perfect launching pad for your sightseeing. With excellent reviews and a fabulous included breakfast, Hotel Il Barocco is a reliable choice in Ragusa for your Sicily vacation.

Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Il Barocco!

San Giorgio Palace — Located in the heart of Ragusa Ilba, popular San Giorgio Palace boasts very spacious rooms, as well as modern decor and amenities (including a very well-reviewed included breakfast) in a picture-perfect setting, with some rooms that overlook the valley.

Check rates & book your stay at San Giorgio Palace!

If you’re lucky enough to have more than 10 days in Sicily–or you just prefer an even more fast-paced Sicily road trip–there are plenty more incredible places to visit in Sicily to add to your list!

Here are a few more beautiful places to see in Sicily that you might want to add to your itinerary.

The ancient Valley of the Temples outside of Agrigento is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Sicily.

Once a thriving Ancient Greek city, these ruins are remarkably well-preserved and far less crowded than many better-known Greek ruins throughout Europe.

Located just outside of Palermo, Mondello is best known today for its long stretch of beach, which is one of the most popular places for beach days for both tourists and locals who are staying in Palermo.

This laid-back beach town is perfect for kicking back and enjoying long stretches of sandy beach–in fact, if you want a little more swimming to be included on your Sicily vacation beyond what’s outlined in this 10 day Sicily itinerary, you can even add a quick stop in Avola during your drive from Syracuse to the Baroque towns of the Val di Noto.

Aeolian Islands

Also sometimes called the Lipari Islands, this stunning volcanic island chain is a UNESCO World Heritage site and boasts some of the most magnificent sea views in all of Sicily (which is, as you can imagine, very high praise).

Located in the shadow of Mount Etna, Catania is Sicily’s second-largest city and second airport hub–you’ll likely fly into and out of either Palermo or Catania (in fact, for this Sicily road trip itinerary it’s easiest to fly into Palermo and out of Catania if you can swing it).

Though Catania is far from Sicily’s most popular tourist attraction, it’s definitely worth a bit of exploring if you happen to be passing through!

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Driving in Sicily truly deserves its own post, but here are some essential tips to know before embarking on your Sicily road trip!

Shop around for your rental car.

There are dozens of rental car companies operating in Sicily, all with their own prices and rental agreements. We recommend shopping through Discover Cars in order to search through multiple companies at once.

Not only will you be able to compare prices easily, but you’ll also be able to compare rental inclusions (like insurance, kilometers allotted, etc.), which we found varied dramatically among different rental car companies in Sicily!

Price Sicily rental cars with Discover Cars today!

The driving honestly isn’t as bad as it is portrayed… but it’s not easy.

There’s no way around it: driving in Sicily has a pretty terrible reputation.

However, ultimately, we walked away feeling that driving in Sicily was easier than expected–but we fully admit this impression is likely partially because of how nervous we were about doing it.

The major roads in Sicily are perfectly well maintained–smaller roads, not so much, so beware of potholes. City driving is the trickiest while traveling between cities on major highways is fairly simple.

Drivers can be a bit aggressive, yes, but we wouldn’t say they were drastically more aggressive than in, say, Tuscany.

As much as Sicily has a reputation for being its own world, particularly when it comes to driving, driving in Sicily felt pretty much like driving anywhere else in Italy (which is, admittedly, a harder place to drive than some).

Bear in mind that we are coming at this from the perspective of people who drove daily for nearly a decade and have road-tripped through many countries, including Italy, before. You do need to be a confident, well-practiced driver to comfortably drive in Sicily.

Taking a Sicily road trip if driving makes you anxious, you’re out of practice, you don’t like to drive, or you’ve never driven outside your home country is likely not the best idea.

Also–this is not the place to learn to drive a manual. Unless you are very confident with one, we recommend paying extra for an automatic transmission.

… But be sure you have insurance (preferably with no deductible/excess).

We didn’t incur any damage to our rental car in Sicily… but when we dropped it off, both rentals parked on either side of us had huge dents in them!

Due to the aggressive driving, small roads, and distances covered on this Sicily road trip, we’d recommend purchasing insurance with no deductible/excess for the time it takes you to work through this 10 day Sicily itinerary–it’s simply one less thing to worry about on the road.

Rent the smallest car you can manage.

Tiny roads. Cramped historic centers. Parking lots where cars are parked a mere inch apart (and the lines denoting where the parking places should be seen as mere suggestions at best–people park over them regularly).

Truly, renting a big car in Sicily is a liability, not a benefit. 

We recommend renting the tiniest car you can squeeze your group + luggage into. If the rental desk suggests an upgrade? Turn it down.

Carry lots of coins.

You will pay tolls when driving in Sicily, especially in northern half of the island, so come prepared with a cupholder full of Euros.

Don’t underestimate the time it takes to drive between destinations.

There were days that we pulled into our hotel’s parking space exactly when Google Maps said that we would–and days (like the day we had to catch a flight) that we ended up way behind schedule due to road work and an unfortunate accident that we got stuck behind.

Definitely leave yourself plenty of extra time on days that you have somewhere to be at a specific time!

July and August are peak tourism season in Sicily, and while the beaches will be warm and the sun shining, it’s best to avoid taking your Sicily road trip during those months if you hope to avoid peak crowds and prices.

Luckily, Sicily is characterized by its brilliant weather that allows for swimming over nearly half the year! 

Personally, we’d recommend aiming for a September or early October trip to Sicily if you hope to swim your heart out, and a late April or May trip if you want to avoid the worst of the heat and crowds while still thawing out after a long winter.

Over the winter, lots of small, tourist-focused businesses close and the island, especially in smaller towns, quiets down significantly–but if a slow-paced, off-season 10 days in Sicily itinerary sounds right up your alley, you’ll certainly find plenty of peaceful spots to savor.

Travel Insurance — We don’t ever suggest traveling without travel insurance–anything can happen, and a fast-paced Sicily road trip is definitely better a case of safe than sorry. We use and recommend Safety Wing  for trips to Italy.

Cell Phone Holder — This is especially important if you don’t have a reliable co-pilot: the last thing you want to do is be fumbling with the GPS on your phone during your Sicily road trip. Pack a cell phone holder to attach to the car and you’ll be able to drive much more safely!

Additional Car Insurance — Whether you purchase a policy with World Nomads that covers car rental (only some of theirs do, so double-check!), purchase a policy through the rental car company, or something else, be sure you have coverage: in Sicily, it’s worth the peace of mine.

International Driving Permit — If you’re coming from outside the EU and plan to rent a car in Sicily, you’ll need to make sure to acquire an International Driving Permit in your home country, before coming to Italy. It is required for all car rentals in Italy, and while the rental company may not ask, it’s not worth the risk of being refused a car once you arrive or getting a fine if you’re pulled over to be without one. 

Comfortable Day Bag  — We currently use  Pacsafe’s sleek anti-theft backpack  and love it, but if you don’t want to shell out the cash for this trip, that’s totally understandable. Just aim for something comfortable to wear, not flashy, and medium-sized–we used a  Northface Jester backpack  for years and loved it as well.

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About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

9 thoughts on “The Ultimate Sicily Road Trip: An Epic 10 Days in Sicily Itinerary”

From someone who has family and typically visits for +30 days every other year, you did a very nice job with the article….many, many other wonder ful places to see and things to experience on the island, and the Eolian, and Egadi…..

Thanks Anthony! We can’t wait to make it back and explore more of Sicily.

Oh waooo Its amazing to know these valuable Information provided by you. Next month we have plan to visit Sicily and these information will be very helpfull. Thank you

Happy to hear that, Josef! Hope you guys have a great time in Sicily. 🙂

Wow! That was a very helpful article! I am bookmarking it multiple places so I don’t lose it before our trip in June. Thank you so much for your great tips and very practical advice.

Thanks, Vrinda! Hope you guys have a blast in Sicily!

Quiet a lot of information . One question if not interested in driving then the other options .

You definitely can visit Sicily without a car, but it’s a bit trickier than up on the mainland where there’s more train service.

Essentially, without a car your options are to stick with one town or city as a base and use guided tours to visit more rural areas, cobble together an itinerary with train and bus service (doable, but not as simple as in, say, Florence), or sign up for a full multi-day guided tour of Sicily.

Personally the first option falls most in line with how we tend to travel. Taormina is one of the most popular bases for a trip like that, as many cruise ships stop there and there are lots of options for guided tours to Mount Etna, wine country, etc.

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Sicily travel guide

What to do, where to stay and why you’ll love it.

S icily is beguilingly beautiful, a landscape of volcanoes, flower-strewn meadows, silvery olive groves and vineyards hemmed in by ancient dry stone walls. The horizon to the east is dominated by Etna’s brooding, 10,900ft hulk, often blanketed in snow and sometimes belching fumes and red-hot rivers of lava. Beaches? There are plenty of those too. Expect long, golden stretches backed by shady pine forests, as well as bucolic mountain trails and the chance to go island-hopping in the volcanic Aeolian archipelago.

Sicilians are fiercely patriotic to their home, which is no surprise. It’s the largest island in the Mediterranean and has a culture shaped by the multiple civilisations that have passed through over the millennia. Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans and Spaniards have all left their legacy in ancient temples, magnificent theatres, exquisite mosaics and mighty cathedrals. You’ll find incredible archaeological sites that easily rival those in Greece dotted casually across the countryside and along the coast, while the food and wine scene is like nowhere else in Italy .

Main photo: Cefalù (Filippo Barbaria//Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

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Etna has an almost magnetic allure for locals, who grow wine, olives and citrus on its fertile slopes, and for visitors hoping to see sparks fly. Depending on the volcano’s mood, satisfy your curiosity with a 4×4 trip and hike* . Walking across warm, black lava is a strange sensation.

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Sicily’s archaeological sites will command a chunk of any trip. Pick your way through the tumbled rubble of Greek Selinunte, spread over a promontory on a wild stretch of the south coast, or head to Agrigento for the extraordinary Valley of the Temples* . Two of the eight temples, built in the 5th century BC, are almost intact, while others have been partially rebuilt. Meanwhile in the north the Doric temple of Segesta presides over an ongoing dig from its hillside setting.

Near Piazza Armerina at the Villa Romana del Casale, a 4th-century hunting lodge and now a Unesco world heritage site, you can get up close to extraordinary Roman mosaics, room after room of 2,000-year-old hunting scenes, and the famous depiction of Roman girls in bikinis playing ball games.

On a visit to Taormina try to see a performance at the magnificent Teatro Greco. Hewn out of a hillside with Etna’s snowy cap dominating the view, the theatre is a venue for classical and pop concerts all summer. You can see Greek plays in the 2,500-year-old theatre of Syracuse’s Archaeological Park too, although you’ll want a full day to explore the ancient Greek site, which had its heyday in the 5th century BC.

In the south you should tour the luminously beautiful 17th-century towns of Noto, Ragusa and Modica* , their honey-hued baroque architecture the legacy of the Spanish.

Take a day trip to the capital, Palermo, which is chaotic yet captivating with its wide boulevards and grand palazzi. The historic centre is crammed with beauty, from the shimmering Byzantine mosaics of La Martorana church to the serene Archaeological Museum, set in the cloisters of an old monastery.

Where to stay

Accommodation in Sicily runs the gamut from elegant, sometimes crumbling palazzi to smart private villas , B&Bs and, in the countryside, agroturismo establishments — converted village houses and farms where you can experience a more authentic immersion in Sicilian culture. Vineyard stays are a growing phenomenon as Sicily’s wine scene becomes ever more sophisticated; family-owned winery Planeta, as an example, has a dreamy resort, La Foresteria* , surrounded by vineyards and olive groves near Menfi in the west.

Sicily is a big island, so pick your region and hire a car, or opt for a multi-centre holiday. Medieval Taormina in the northeast is the poshest resort, draped elegantly across a hillside, gazing down on the beach town of Giardini Naxos and the islet of Isola Bella, a tiny nature reserve. This is the place to splurge on one of the grand palaces up on the hill; drinking sundowners on the terrace of the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo* , watching Etna’s snowy cap turning pink in the sunset, would be a moment to savour.

Syracuse, south of Catania, is ravishingly beautiful. If you want to experience the buzz of a town then venture to Ortygia, the centro storico, a tangle of Greek, Roman and baroque buildings lining a maze of cobbled streets.

On the north coast, Cefalù, crammed on to a promontory in front of the craggy bluff of La Rocca, is one of the busier beach resorts, with some fine sweeps of sand right in front of the town, an enchanting medieval quarter and a skyline dominated by the 12th-century Arab-Norman cathedral. Or for a beach base the other side of Palermo, San Vito Lo Capo in the far northwest is a crescent of sand framed at one end by the jagged Monte Monaco.

Food and drink

Sicily has a distinctive cuisine, much of it deliciously decadent. A couple of cannoli — deep-fried pastry tubes stuffed with sweetened ricotta — with your morning cappuccino and the calories mount up, especially when breakfast is chased by another local speciality, gelato or granita with a dollop of cream in a freshly baked brioche bun. Gelato is, of course, a big deal here, as this is where the Arabs invented it using snow from Mount Etna; look out for flavours from local ingredients such as rose petal, nut-studded pistachio and organic lime.

Savoury dishes include arancini, a popular street food — bite-sized breaded balls of deep-fried rice mixed with ragu, peas and mozzarella. In Palermo, pasta con le sarde features on every menu — spaghetti with sardines, fennel, pine nuts and sultanas — whereas in Catania it’s pasta alla norma, named after Bellini’s opera, cooked with aubergine, tomatoes and salty ricotta. Every Sicilian nonna has a recipe for caponata, a rich aubergine ragout.

Sicilian wines are exceptional, grown on the fertile volcanic slopes of Etna and the Aeolian Islands. Top up your glass with classy vintages from Tenuta di Castellaro in the Aeolian Islands, or Tenuta Regaleai, one of the island’s oldest wineries, south of Palermo.

If Sicily itself is about archaeology and antiquities then the Aeolian Islands, an archipelago of smouldering volcanoes and whitewashed villages off the island’s northeastern tip, are more for dolce far niente — the joy of doing nothing. Island hopping on the ferries is easy here. Wallow in the fanghi, or mud baths, on Vulcano and swim off black, pebbly beaches in gin-clear water. Hike the lower slopes of Stromboli, which is in a constant state of eruption, emitting great whooshes of steam every now and then to jolt you out of your daydream as you gaze over the cobalt sea. Lipari is the hub of the islands, and Panarea is the hippest — its bougainvillea-draped port, San Pietro, is a summer retreat for wealthy mainlanders and yachties.

Back on Sicily, while it may sound like a land-based booze cruise, the Etna Wine Train is a charming way to experience the mountain’s majesty and Sicilian wine, and nobody has to drive. You’ll take a vintage train on the narrow-gauge Circumetnea railway across the lower slopes of the volcano and when you reach Randazzo, you’ll board the Wine Bus for a tour — with tastings — at some of the best wineries.

Know before you go

Hiring a car is ideal if you’re exploring more than one area, as distances are long, although Sicily has a decent rail and bus network connecting all the major towns. Don’t underestimate the distances; Catania to Palermo, for example, is 130 miles.

In Sicily, travel is generally safe, although the usual caveats regarding pickpockets in busy cities apply. Look out for the addiopizzo logo in shops, a demonstration of solidarity against paying pizzo, or extortion money, to the mafia.

Take me there

Inspired to visit Sicily but yet to book your trip? Here are the best packages from Tui* and Jet2 Holidays* . These are the best tours of Sicily from our trusted partners* .

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

ITINERARIES

Travel tips and advice.

Abundance is the key word for understanding Sicily in its many facets: from one side of the island to the other, there are endless solutions for itineraries lasting a few hours, days or weeks.

In the western part, Palermo ‘s historical and architectural heritage is represented by the Cathedral and the Cappella Palatina, while archaeological triumph is celebrated in Agrigento ‘s Valley of the Temples and in Segesta. A treasure trove of antiquities that rank among the most beautiful in Italy can be found perched on Mount Erice , and the seaside villages such as Castellammare del Golfo and San Vito Lo Capo are home to an indescribable atmosphere. These places go straight to your heart at first glance.

In the eastern part, the lure of Etna is irresistible, between lava and snow. This leads you back to Catania , with a wealth of dynamic charm and a sparkling array of proposals for activities and nightlife.

The baroque of the southeast represents a great beauty among a thousand wonders and brings with it a nobility that starts from the soul.

Clear waters and pristine beaches are not far from urban jewels such as Syracuse , Taormina , Modica and Ragusa Ibla , home to a wealth of charm as well as ancient buildings and monuments.

And how could we not be seduced by literary Sicily , with the places dear to Camilleri and to the great Sicilian writers and poets that came before him? With Castles and sacred paths , food and wine tourism routes and those that lead to ancient rocky necropolises and naturalistic and cultural treasures enclosed and scattered within each of the nine provinces , ancient customs and new trends, Sicily is a single great itinerary, one that is extensive and engaging.

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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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Discover the beauty of Sicily

The ultimate travel guide to sicily, discover the places of the white lotus 2 in sicily, an unforgettable italian experience, fly to sicily and experience the magic, make the most out of your time in sicily, start your adventure in sicily now, unlock the secrets of sicily with our travel ebooks, planning has never been so easy, why bother with holiday planning.

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The Best Beaches in Italy

Posted: May 13, 2024 | Last updated: May 13, 2024

From the glam see-and-be-seen hotspots of Amalfi and Costa Smeralda to little-known stretches of sand in Lampedusa and Elba, the best beaches in Italy gamely welcome all types of travelers. Some of these spiagge (that’s Italian for beaches ) are conveniently located resort-side, while others require a bit more grit and up to an hour’s worth of hiking. But all of them are worth the effort of making it to the gorgeous Italian peninsula .

Italy has 4,723 miles of coastline blessed by the bounty of the Mediterranean Sea, where you’ll find some of the most beautiful beaches and seaside towns in the entire world. Think bright white sand, dramatic limestone cliffs, and the bluest, clearest waters imaginable (and at a few beaches, scenery so tropical and palm-tree-tastic that you might mistake it for the South Pacific ). It’s a nigh-impossible task to curate a comprehensive list of the most travel-worthy beaches in the country, but we’ve narrowed it down to this list based predominantly on novelty (sorry, Capri and Positano , not today). From Sicily to Liguria and everywhere in between, here are 17 of the best beaches in Italy—as well as how to get there and where to stay. Andiamo, amici .

This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Kris Fordham and Caitlin Morton.

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Scala dei Turchi, Sicily

The Scala dei Turchi—Italian for “Turkish Steps,” or more literally “Stairs of the Turks”—is a rocky cliff on the coast near the town of Realmonte on the southern edge of Sicily . The name dates back to the Middle Ages, when Ottoman corsairs sheltered themselves here from the fierce sea winds behind the crags made of characteristically white marlstone. At the base of the Scala sits a beach that is striking in its uniqueness, with fiery bronze sands offering a gorgeous contrast against the azure ocean and the pale cliffs.

The area is about a two-hour drive from the city of Palermo (stay at the gorgeous Villa Igiea, a Rocco Forte Hotel ), but it’s a worthwhile trek, given that it’s one of the island’s most beautiful natural wonders.

Atrani, Campania

Located along the Amalfi Coast , small picturesque Atrani is reminiscent of Italy's most famous coastal hot spots (think Positano, Capri, et al.)—just much less crowded. Aside from its beautiful churches, lively piazzas, and colorful cliffside perch in the province of Salerno, Atrani has a pale-sand beach flush against the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Get here by bus or ferry from Naples ; both are two hour trips that end in with a stunning reward: The views of the water bookended by two cliffs are hard to beat. In need of a spot to bed down? Book the Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel , situated in a former monastery, and you’ll be treated to a truly religious experience.

Chiaia di Luna, Ponza

In the Neapolitan dialect, chiaia means “beach”—add that to luna and you get this crescent shaped sliver of sand at the foot of a towering, 328-foot volcanic rock cliff. It’s located on Ponza, the largest island in the Pontine Archipelago, which is dense with spectacular beaches, coves, grottos, and seafood restaurants.

Make your way here by taking the train from Rome to the comune of Anzio (itself a charming fishing port town), then the two-hour ferry from Anzio to Ponza. Stay a while at the epnoymous Hotel Chiaia di Luna , where the rooms, dining areas, and the pool provide panoramic views of the awe-inspiring landscape.

La Pelosa, Sardinia

Sicily tends to hog the spotlight, as far as big Italian islands go. But don’t forget about Sardinia , the second largest island in the Mediterranean with a vast diversity of landscapes, much of them undeveloped: forested woods, flat plains, rocky coasts, and—of course—beautiful beaches with powdery sand and bright blue waters. Situated on a flick of land on Sardinia’s northwestern corner, La Pelosa is beloved by those in the know for its ramshackle offshore castle, and the way you can wade out for seemingly forever just up to your knees. It’s almost like a huge saltwater swimming pool.

To get here, hop on the one-hour flight from Rome to Alghero (base yourself here and stay at the Villa Las Tronas Hotel & Spa ), then rent a car for the 50-minute drive north along the strade provinciali to La Pelosa. Keep the wheels—they come in handy for town-hopping around the striking Sardinian coast.

San Fruttuoso, Liguria

The allure of Italian coastal living isn’t exclusive to the country’s southern sands and isles. Head up north to Genoa , and you can make the short drive to picture-perfect San Fruttuoso. Well, drive and hike : This secret bay can only be reached by hiking from Portofino or by ferry from Rapallo or Comoglu—but that seclusion is part of the appeal.

This beach hideaway takes its name after the graceful white abbey dedicated to Fructuosus, patron saint of those undertaking a fast. But a summer vacation in Italy isn’t the best time for such asceticism—too much temptation, surely—so why not indulge in a stay at the extravagant Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino ? With its plush rooms and ravishing views of the Ligurian Sea, it’ll be like you made it to heaven anyway.

Spiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa

Just an hour-long flight from Naples. Lampedusa is the southernmost island in all of Italy; it’s closer in distance to the African mainland than to continental Europe . Adrift in the Mediterranean, it’s got a bounty of sun and surf—but perhaps the beast beach on the isle is the Spiaggia dei Conigli, which literally translates to “beach of the rabbits.” But don’t hold your breath for long-eared friends frolicking in the sand. The etymology likely comes down to mistranslation: The beach faces a nearby islet originally named Rabit Island, from the Arabic rabit referring to the strip of landing connecting it to Lampedusa. Still, the island boasts a fascinating ecosystem home to sea turtles and herring gulls.

Before going (get to Lampedusa via the short flight from Palermo or a ferry from Agrigento, Sicily), be sure to book access to both the beach and the islet. If you forgot to make a reservation, the pool at Cupola Bianca Resort can more than make up for it.

Marasusa, Calabria

Visit the physical “toe” of Italy’s boot and you’ll find so many delightful seaside landscapes it might even get boring. The antidote to such ennui might be the jewel of Calabria , Marasusa Beach. Located in the town of Tropea, it’s a place so awe-inspiring that it was christened la costa degli dei , literally “the coast of the gods.” It’s easy to see why deities would approve: Marasusa is home to scenic cliffs, pristine white sand, and calmly clear waters.

Those hungry for culinary experiences will find great food in the area: Calabria is best known for its chili peppers, and Tropea itself is renowned for its exceptionally sweet red onions (call them le cipolle degli dei ). Get to Tropea by flying into Reggio Calabria and driving up, or by taking the high-speed train from Naples . Book a table (and a room) at Villa Paola , the 12-room convent-turned-luxury hotel for a trip worthy of the gods themselves.

Baia dei Turchi, Puglia

Not to be confused with Sicily’s Scala dei Turchi, this sprawling beach is tucked away in a protected nature reserve in Puglia , just a ten-minute drive north of Otranto. The bay gets its name from a historical battle said to have taken place on its shores between the local people and Ottoman Turks in the 15th century. Its roughly one-mile stretch of white sands and crystal-clear waters happens to be one of the cleanest in the country, hence its Blue Flag status, an honor awarded to beaches that meet stringent environmental criteria.

The Baia is physically closer to Albania , across the Adriatic Sea, than to the Italian capital, so getting here is kind of a trek. For speed, fly into Brindisi, then make the drive down. For value and fewer carbon emissions, take the train and bus all the way to Otranto, where you can stay on the waterfront Hotel Palazzo Papaleo . (Bonus rec: There’s also the Masseria Prosperi , a six-room retreat on a working farm outside of Otranto, but just a ten-minute drive to the Baia dei Turchi.)

Cala Goloritzé, Sardinia

Created by a landslide in 1962, Cala Goloritzé is located at the base of a ravine on Sardinia ’s eastern coast. It’s tiny, but no less beautiful with its limestone cliffs, soft ivory sand, and access to the striking blue-green waters of the Gulf of Orosei. In fact, it’s so special that it was anointed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, and is best known for a two incredible rock formations: a towering spire and a natural stone arch.

Cala Goloritzé is accessible via car-and-foot (be prepared for a short though rocky hike) from Santa Maria Navarrese, home to the lush Lanthia Resort , which has a private beach for lazier days. To get here, drive up from Cagliari, Sardinia’s capital, which you can reach via plane from Rome or Milan, or overnight ferry from Naples.

Vendicari Nature Reserve, Sicily

On Sicily’s Ionian coast, less than an hour’s drive away from the historic and under-appreciated city of Siracusa (yes, the original Syracuse) sits the Vendicari Nature Reserve , a protected haven where flamingos, herons, and storks are more populous than humans and the pale aqua waters are calm and clean. The miles-long national park is home to little coves and beautiful beaches (special shout-out to San Lorenzo Beach and Calamosche) where you’ll have more than enough room to spread out for the day.

When visiting this side of historic Sicily, set up camp at the illustrious grand dame of Syracuse, the Grand Hotel Ortigia Siracusa . Get into the city from Catania, whose airport offers plenty of connectivity with Rome and Milan , and even major European hubs like Paris , London , and Barcelona .

Cala Pulcino, Lampedusa

Not far from the Spiaggia dei Conigli on Lampedusa, you’ll find the scene Cala Pulcino, whose name is also animal-inspired: “Chicken Beach.” Unclear etymology notwithstanding, it’s perhaps an ironic moniker since getting here requires thirty minutes of hiking over rocks and through thick vegetation—and to make it through all that, you can’t be chicken, as it were. But upon arrival you’ll be rewarded with powdery sand, spectacular views, and the endless blue Mediterranean stretching into the distance.

As with Rabbit Beach, getting to Cala Pulcino on Lampedusa requires a short flight from Palermo or a ferry from Agrigento, Sicily. For another hotel option on the island, try Hotel Sole Lampedusa . The rooms are nicely-equipped, but the real draw here is the restaurant Sottosale serving up delectable seafood and indulgent Sicilian fare ( ti adoro , pistachio cannoli).

Cala di Volpe, Sardinia

This winsome beach occupies a teensy-tiny piece of Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda, one of the most beautiful—and most expensive—stretches of coastline in all of Italy; in the mid-2010s, real estate prices reached up to $40,000 per square foot. This sandy spot is famous for its Bermuda-blue water and the glamorous resort overlooking it, the Cala di Volpe, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda , but the waters are open to the public, and you don’t need to be a guest of the hotel to swim there.

If you can’t find a spot for your beach blanket though, there are molte altre spiagge in the area. Nearby Romazzino has a gorgeous bunch of them—and while you’re in the neighborhood, you can check into the newly reimagined Romazzino, a Belmond Hotel, Costa Smeralda is opening this summer. Get to the Costa Smeralda by flying or ferrying into Olbia, and renting a car to check out all the stunning resort towns that dot this end of Sardinia.

Isola Spargi, Sardinia

Located in the Maddalena Archipelago between Sardinia and the French island of Corsica, Isola Spargi’s coastline could almost be mistaken for tropical Tahiti . The beaches here are not flanked by dramatic cliffs like in most other coastal areas in Italy; instead, they are backed by palm trees and lush island plants. The shallow turquoise waters are perfect for snorkeling and the silvery sand is made for all-day sunbathing.

The best months to swim in the waters of Isola Spargi are August and September , when the sea is at its warmest. To get here, you’ll need to take private or rented boats from Costa Smeralda, Santa Teresa Gallura, or Palau (the comune on the northern tip of Sardinia, not to be confused with the fascinating Pacific nation ). Also, there are no accommodations on the island, so nab a room at Grand Hotel Resort Ma&Ma in nearby La Maddalena.

Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle, Marche

This super-secluded beach on the spectacular Riviera del Conero—named the “beach of the two sisters” after two large rock formations nearby—is accessible only by shuttle or boat from Porto Numana. The shore is made up of fine white pebbles, which lead into the striking, emerald green Adriatic Sea. The best views are from the ocean itself, where you can admire the steep white cliffs of Monte Conero towering over the beach before you.

The nearest city is Ancona, a thirty-minute drive away, where you can stay at the waterfront SeePort Hotel . The area is best served by the Aeroporto di Ancona Raffaello Sanzio, Marche’s largest international gateway, with connections to hubs like London , Athens , and Munich , and of course the major Italian hubs.

Baia delle Zagare, Puglia

Accessible by land through its namesake hotel or via boat from Mattinata, Baia delle Zagare is as secluded and exclusive as they come. Sheltered by steep limestone cliffs, the half-mile beach allows just 30 visitors a day outside of hotel guests, keeping its shoreline pristine and perpetually uncrowded. Added bonus: The beach looks out toward some seriously photo-worthy rock formations, which jut out dramatically from the Adriatic.

To get here, grab a train into the city of Foggia and take a car one hour east. If the Hotel Baia delle Zagare is all booked up and they’re unable to permit guests due to capacity, drive along the coast for more spiagge facing the Gulf of Manfredonia. While you’re in the region, you won’t be at a loss for a place to stay with this list of the best hotels in Puglia .

Cala Tonnarella, Sicily

Fair warning: It’s a literal hike to get to sun-soaked Cala Tonnarella, a hidden cove in the Zingaro Nature Reserve on the Gulf of Castellammare. The beach is inaccessible by road, and it takes a little over an hour to get there on foot from the reserve’s southern car park. It’s worth the effort: Upon arrival, you’ll be met with a secluded and uncrowded paradise as a reward.

For comfortable proximity to both the beach and the nature reserve, book a room at the nearby Baglio La Porta by Geocharme . From this hotel, it’s still an hour’s hike to the northern entrance of the park (and a 15-minute walk from there to the beach), but checking in means you won’t have to deal with finding a parking spot. Driving to the environs of Zingaro just takes an hour from Palermo .

Spiaggia di Sansone, Isola d’Elba

Think of Tuscany and you’re more likely to dream of a bottle of Chianti Classico than of viridian-blue seas and bright-white sand. But the island of Elba in the Tyrrhenian Sea would like to introduce itself with a cheeky little ciao . As the third largest Italian island in the Med, it’s home to many contenders for this list, but Sansone edges out the competition. Its pristine shore—a mixture of sand and smooth white pebbles—leads you to calm, transparent water. It’s shallow, too, making it popular among families and snorkelers .

When visiting Elba, base yourself at the lovely Hotel Villa Ottone , which stands just outside Portoferraio, the largest city on the island. To get there, take the ferry from Piombino, which in turn is a two-hour drive from Florence ; or take a ferry from Bastia, a city in Corsica, France .

Speaking of, here’s a fun fact: Napoleon spent a year in exile here during the Bourbon restoration. His home, purchased by the Russian aristocrat and Napoleon superfan Anatoly Demidov in the 19th century, still stands today and welcomes visitors.

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