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Southern Italy

A dive into sicily, where a sea of art, culture and nature will seduce you and become eternal love.

A predominantly hilly and mountainous area, but one that wins the hearts of tourists from all over the world with its wonderful sea and rich cities with a charm all their own. Sicily is a picture-postcard island characterised by the indelible marks of the people who have lived there and made it unique, amidst artistic and cultural testimonies of enormous value.

Sicilian capital and crossroads of cultures and traditions, Palermo will cause you to fall in love with its exhilarating colours, fragrances and flavours. Palermo is a city teeming with churches, monuments and priceless works of art, animated by noisy working-class neighbourhoods adjoining sumptuous aristocratic buildings. Icing on the cake is the pleasant climate in all seasons, a breathtaking ocean view and a compelling culinary tradition.

History, nature, art and islands Pristine nature overhanging the sea and hidden coves, art, culture and tradition: Trapani, the western tip of Sicily, is home to this and more. Nicknamed the “City of a Hundred Churches”, we recommend exploring the streets of the old town, stopping to admire the Tower of Ligny and walking along the Mura di Tramontana, the ancient defensive perimeter leading from Piazza Mercato del Pesce to the Bastione Conca. Don’t miss the spectacle of the salt pans, which turn a deep pink when bathed by the sunset. From Trapani, you can take the cable car to the medieval town of Erice, to admire breath-taking views of the city and surrounding area. Along the coast from north to south are the splendid gulf of Castellammare, the fishing village of Scopello and the Caribbean-like beaches of San Vito Lo Capo, which hosts the Cous Cous Festival every September. Nearby, you can explore the pristine nature of the Zingaro Nature Reserve. Mazara del Vallo is home to the famous Dancing Satyr, and from the Stagnone you can take a boat to the island of Mozia, once home to an ancient Phoenician colony. From Trapani you can visit the Egadi Islands, to spend a day in the coves of Favignana. If you love diving, Marettimo is the place for you. For ancient ruins, check out the temples of Segesta and Selinunte. Meanwhile, in the Mangiapane Cave you can discover the ancient village built into the rock.

The majestic gateway to Sicily A renowned cultural and commercial centre, Messina is the gateway for travellers to Sicily. We recommend visiting the Norman Cathedral, which houses Italy’s second largest organ and the world’s largest, most complex mechanical astronomical clock. Also worth exploring is the seat of the university, founded in 1548 by St Ignatius of Loyola. The province is home to the beautiful Taormina, famous for its picturesque pedestrian streets, archaeological sites and breath-taking views. The natural terrace on Monte Tauro, 206 metres above sea level, offers unique views of the Mediterranean. The village is home to the Greek Theatre, the region’s second largest theatre. Be sure to treat yourself to a few hours relaxing on the beach overlooking Isola Bella, a stunning islet that has become the symbol of Taormina. While in the area, don’t miss a visit to the villages of Novara di Sicilia, Tindari and Milazzo. The latter is famous for the Pool of Venus, a paradise for anyone who loves snorkelling, from which you can also reach Lipari, Vulcano or Stromboli. You can discover the charm and power of nature by plunging into the icy waters of the Alcantara Gorges. You can walk among the lava walls, and go rafting, climbing and trekking in the geological park surrounding the gorges.

"There lingers a wind that I recall afire / within the manes of slanted horses / that marks and gnaws the sandstone and the heart / of the gloomy telamons, lying / above the grass". The verses of Salvatore Quasimodo introduce visitors to the awe-inspiring Valley of the Temples, where the effect of the large telamons that supported the Temple of Olympian Zeus is anything but lugubrious. One thing's for certain, the archaeological park of ancient Akagras (the Ancient Greek word for Agrigento) - which the Greek poet Pindaro called “the most beautiful city” -and which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Sitewon't leave you indifferent. The magnificent Doric temples date back to the 5th century BC, when the city was at its peak. Excavations have also brought to light other parts of the ancient city such as public buildings, water systems, necropolises and fortifications, up to the archaeological and monumental ruins dating from the early Christian era. In the park, there are also nature trails through the Mediterranean scrub, amid agaves and prickly pear trees and acres of olive groves, vinyeards and almond trees. Among the many places of worship dedicated to the gods of Olympus, what else but a Greek myth could explain the luxuriant early flowering of the almond trees. Every year, the people of Agrigento celebrate the arrival of spring with the Almond Blossom Festival, remembering the mythical but ill-fated love story between a princess and a warrior. The medieval and modern city developed around the 9th century AD, on the Girgenti hill. Even beyond the archaeological park, Agrigento still retains many traces of its splendid history , such as the medievalcentre with its winding maze of streets typical of Arab cities and the plethora of churches and buildings constructed in different styles through the centuries. Agrigento has been proclaimed the Italian Capital of Culture 2025, together with Lampedusa and the local towns.

Caltanissetta

The essence of Sicily among the sea, castles and traces of a rich history Caltanissetta and its province are a destination to be discovered all year round, thanks to a pleasant climate even in the winter months. Discover the welcoming beaches of the Gela coastline and the green hills of the surrounding hinterland, with their archaeological remains from centuries of history. The entire area is dotted with small villages to be discovered at leisure, such as Borgo Santa Rita and Delia, during a camper van or car holiday. Caltanissetta itself has a lot to offer its visitors, from the imposing Baroque cathedral of Santa Maria la Nova to the colourful Church of Sant'Agata overlooking the large Corso Umberto I. Towering over the city are the ruins of Pietrarossa Castle, destroyed in the earthquake that struck the city in 1567. Be sure not to visit the Archaeological Museum to dive into this land's past. Overlooking the sea, the city of Gela is noted for its archaeological sites of great importance, starting with the Mura Timoleontee, for the Biviere Nature Reserve covering more than 300 hectares and for its historic centre full of Liberty-style buildings.

At an altitude of almost 1,000 metres - the highest provincial capital in Italy - Enna has always been an 'urbs inexpugnabilis', and is still a great little town that the Italian Touring Club has described as a 'ring of wonder', an 'up-and-down town', a 'summit suspended over the land', a 'balcony of incredible views'. The austere and enormous fortified system of the castle of Lombardy, created during the Swabian domination, offers a panorama that dominates both the city itself and the other urban pyramid of Calascibetta, perched opposite. A classic journey through the Erei and Iblei mountains from here to the tip of Cape Passero would hardly begin from Enna: it is logistically too far inland for people arriving from the mainland or landing at Catania airport. However, it is worth driving half an hour from Piazza Armerina to convince yourself that Enna has preserved its character as a historical city with a sober medieval tone, together with some marginal Baroque and 18th-century contaminations. Archaeological finds have confirmed the age-old origins of the city, which tradition says was the ancient centre first of the Sicans and then of the Siculians. Today's gastronomic discoveries include maccaruna with meat sauce, lamb or mutton chops, omelettes with vegetables, focaccias stuffed with bacon and tomato, and piacintinu pecorino cheese flavoured with saffron and black peppercorns, and much more.

With its breathtaking sea and unparalleled artistic heritage, Catania is fascinating and captivating. Indulge in the magnetic energy of a city with a long and colourful history, be swept away by its vitality and captivated by its art, architecture, food and wine. A visit to Catania is certain to be an unforgettable experience.

The city of Syracuse is located in one of the most beautiful inlets on the Mediterranean. It is a vital and dynamic city, worthy of its great past, and in 2005 was duly recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit to Syracuse is a journey back in time and to discover the wonderful beauty of the natural environment in which the city is immersed. Syracuse has given rise to great figures of the cultural and artistic history of the Mediterranean and still has a very lively intellectual life. Archaeological evidence confirms human presence on the island of Ortigia as early as the 14th century BC, although urban construction dates back to the 8th century BC, with the foundation of the Greek colony of Syracuse. The political and economic growth of the city between the 6th and 4th centuries BC led to an increase in the number of inhabitants and the expansion of the city beyond the primitive walls. Having grown too large to be properly defended, Syracuse suffered enemy incursions from the hinterland and was besieged by the Athenians (416-13 BC). The war against Carthage in 405 BC placed the city in the hands of Dionysius I, who was forced to carry out major fortification works, remove the population from Ortigia and turn the island into a fortress for military purposes. The death of Dionysius around the middle of the 4th century started a long period of transition, which led to the defeat and sacking of the city by the Romans in 212 BC. Christianity had been spreading since the first centuries of the empire and the first buildings of early Christian worship began to appear in the third century. After a long siege, in 878 the city was taken and devastated by the Arabs, who, nevertheless, left a strong mark of their presence on its layout. Having finally the Arabs from the island, the Normans completed the work begun by the Byzantines, with their renovation of the ancient fortifications. The Aragonese government brought Syracuse considerable economic advantages, which left their mark in the construction of the ramparts that surround the island and of many buildings. The dramatic earthquake that struck in 1693 was a decisive event in the city's history, not because it caused irreparable damage but as the impetus for a Baroque-style restructuring, which gave the city an 18th-century appearance in place of its ancient identity. The city layout was then significantly altered by gutting operations during the fascist era, particularly the construction of Via del Littorio, the present-day Corso Matteotti. The economic expansion of the 1950s and ’60s heralded a period of coexistence with large industrial complexes, which was not always easy or lucrative. This sequence of often traumatic events has had a fascinating overlapping effect, in the form of a harmonious integration.

What to see in Sicily

• Art & Culture

Sicily's green tourist marinas: Blue Flag sustainability

The Bronte Pistachio

Red oranges of Sicily: more than fruit, a delicacy

Modica’s chocolate

In Sicily, tour among dream beaches

On the volcano by train, a tour of Etna by Ferrovia Circumetnea

Catania, a baroque city with a gritty energy

Palermo: a precious jewel of the south with rich cultural heritage

Castelmola, a window on the sea a few steps from Taormina

A day in Caltagirone, a UNESCO city of the Val di Noto, learn how to make a Moor's head

Tindari and Its Lagoon

The Island of Lampedusa

Sicily, and the wonder of Giardini Naxos and Taormina

Sunset is the best time to visit Etna Park and experience the heart of the volcano

Isola dei Conigli: the world’s most beautiful beach on Lampedusa

White Beaches in Italy, where you can find the Caribbean in the Mediterranean

The Coast of Trapani and the Egadi Islands

Perfumes, scents and colours. Six gardens in Southern Italy you should visit

From Milazzo to Bagheria: riding the bike along the northern coast of Sicily

In Sicily, where cliffs plunge into the sea

Etna’s ring-around-the-rosy riding your bike

Pedalling from Palma di Montechiaro to Caltanissetta

The best places to snorkel in Italy’s minor islands

Kitesurf: evolutions between water and sky

From Realmonte to Piazza Armerina. On the saddle from the sea to the inland rich in art and history

The Baroque towns of the Val di Noto: when art marries beauty

The Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina

Syracuse, the Pantalica Necropolis World Heritage Site

A guide to wellness and detox treatments while on holiday on Italy's most beautiful volcanic islands

The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, an archaeological wonder in a dream setting

Catania Book Festival

Infiorata di Noto

Taobuk Festival

The source of inspiration for your Italian adventures

The most scenic golf courses in Italy

Smart workations: working 'from home' in various locations in Italy

6 unmissable destinations in Italy featured in famous novels

In Syracuse in the footsteps of the Greeks

A day in Palermo: 8 essential steps to discover the city

Etna, Taormina and surroundings: among flavours and natural and artistic beauty

island of eternal summer, culture and archaeology

A dive into Sicily, where a sea of art, culture and nature will seduce you and become eternal love. A predominantly hilly and mountainous area, but one that wins the hearts of tourists from all over the world with its wonderful sea and rich cities with a charm all their own. Sicily is a picture-postcard island characterised by the indelible marks of the people who have lived there and made it unique, amidst artistic and cultural testimonies of enormous value.

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Best places to visit in Sicily

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If you want to know the best places to visit in Sicily then make sure to ask an expert. Our friend Karen La Rosa from Sicily tour specialists La RosaWorks is exactly that person. Her passion for Sicily is infectious and in this article she shares the unmissable towns and sights of this fascinating island.

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Join us on tour in sicily

Why visit Sicily  

For years, the Italian mainland has been the desired destination for tourists. Seems they can’t get enough, eating and drinking their way around the triangle from Venice to Florence to Rome. Venturing to the south of Italy never occurred to tourists and didn’t seem necessary.

Recently, that has changed. A switch has flipped, and the light is now shining bright on this magnificent and still somewhat secret island. Or, maybe the light is emanating from the island itself – that unique sunshine that reaches down to embrace Sicily from piercing blue skies more days of the year than most places? Tourists are re-considering.

This just means that on your visit, you will change your historic hat frequently and question frequently the style of architecture, the food, the human gestures and the ambience. In some places, it’s all jumbled together, a reflection of the way the Sicilians adapted, incorporated, and demonstrated great resilience.

Who is Sicilian? The answer, in short, is no one and everyone. Sicily is a great mosaic, still vibrant, still changing and still adapting. It’s an exciting place to visit, and oh, that wine!

Eastern Sicily

First, let’s land in Catania , unsung Catania. Sicily’s second largest city is far less touristed than Palermo, the largest. Situated in the middle of the eastern coast of the island, it is a Baroque town but also has black lava stone buildings. It is one of the few places to see Roman remains.

The Cathedral that houses the relics of their beloved Patron Sant’Agata, the Benedictine Monastery (Catania University), the various churches and the Bellini Gardens that sit across from Sicily’s best arancini at Pasticceria Savia , are all worth a visit. The Museo dello Sbarco , dedicated to the Allied campaign in WWII is terrific.

Catania is alive with entrepreneurial spirit and has one of the Sicily’s must-see markets, the Pescheria . This fish market has been in continuous operation since the 9th century, Arab times, 6 days a week from dawn until lunch time, just steps from the beautiful grand Piazza Duomo .

You can pass through one of the city’s original gates, Porta Uzeda , or emerge from behind the larger than life fountain cascading water above the now submerged Amenano River. In the center of the piazza, a slight turn of the head, you’ll see another fountain and the city’s symbol, the Fontana dell’ Elefante . In the evenings, this area is hopping with musicians and people enjoy the traditional stroll called the passeggiata, along the pedestrian only Via Etnea , arriving to the piazza, gelato in hand.

READ: Our guide to the Best things to do in Catania .

This city is undergoing a food renaissance and good eating is to be had in every corner. From street food of sublimely fried fish-in-a-cone to some of the best arancini around, to re-interpreted classic dishes at Catania’s first Michelin starred restaurant Sapio to Vinoteca Ostier where wines are paired to your entrée, there is so much to feast on.

There is no shortage of wine sourced from Mount Etna, Sicilian craft beers, and local specialties. To tourists, Catania is yet under-appreciated for its sights and food, but it is the ideal place to arrive and from which to venture on day trips before moving on. Okay, let’s head north!

LISTEN: The Tastes of Sicily

People have talked about Mount Etna for millennia. A volcano referred to as Mother, she provides a huge geographic area with remarkable fertility from her ongoing spurts of mineral rich lava ash that settles on the soil. Her imposing profile is visible from miles away and in every direction.

A visit up close is a must. There are various ways to experience her majesty, that begin with a visit to the extinct craters. Driving into the Etna Park, you will observe the landscape changing as you ascend. Boulders are everywhere. You arrive to the Rifugio Sapienza and the Silvestri Craters where you have a chance to climb up slopes of varying steepness and peak inside. The wind is audible, the soil rich in mineral colors, and the vistas, breathtaking.

Venture a little further to the next car park and you will find the cable car . A ticket will get you a seat on a 10-minute ride soaring to a platform where large 4-wheel drive vehicles whisk you further up onto the black lava sea, some 9800 feet high. From this vantage point you see the sky and the sea, the mountains and even Sicily’s center on a clear day. The wind is chilly in the warmer months and cold other times, but wrapped in warmth, you suddenly appreciate the power and magnitude of this volcano.

Private guides can take you on off the beaten path hikes and to experience this UNESCO recognized volcano in other ways. Be sure not to miss a visit to one of Etna’s more than 250 wineries. There is treasure in those hills.

Taormina is a small hilltop town, draped in floral displays of vibrant bougainvillea and about which great writers and romantics have waxed poetic. It is perched high above the sea, with a view to the mainland and draws hordes of international tourists to feast eyes on its unique beauty.

The Greek Theater is one of the most beautiful and at the edge of town it has exceptional views of both Mount Etna and the coastline, too. The historic center is given over to pedestrians who wander among the high-quality shops and cafes, climb up and down steps, and poke around narrow little corners, with restaurants serving aromatic foods tucked in here and there.

Taormina is unique in Sicily for its pristine and refined beauty. It is Sicily’s perfect place to relax and shop. Should you want some activity, take the cable car to the Mazzaro Beach whose white sand is just below the town, and hire a boat to skip you across to the crystal-clear Blue Grotto. Back in town, sit back and sip a crisp Etna white wine overlooking the breathtaking expanse and you’ll understand what all the fuss is about this town.

Ortigia is the small island that sits just steps over a connecting bridge from the mainland. For some, this place defines charm. It is the most historic part of the area with a long history, having been one of Greece’s most important cities after its founding in 734 BC. It can be explored through very narrow lanes that meet up at one of Sicily’s grandest piazzas, a perfect place for people-watching.

Before you is the stunning Baroque Cathedral, but a close look reveals its original Greek Columns, evidence of an earlier time, the ultimate recycled building. In one direction you can find a fountain steeped in mythology and papyrus growing in its sea water. In every direction there are ornately beautiful aristocratic palaces, some still privately owned, and some used for government functions. Shops selling both fine and delightful hand made goods line the streets.

There is a Jewish quarter in which it is possible to see two ritual baths, the Mikveh , and underneath the Church of San Filippo Apostolo there are catacombs and WWII shelter drawings. For a small island there is much to interest a visitor.

Off the island there is the Archeological Park with Sicily’s largest Greek Theater and the intriguing Ear of Dionysius.  Here, in the spring, you can see fabulous interpretations of ancient Greek plays.  There are also remains of a Roman amphitheater. Go with a guide and expect to stay 2-3 hours.

My advice: if you are planning a day trip, stay the whole day and enjoy. There are terrific restaurants and a market with places to eat fresh and delectable things.

South-Eastern Sicily

Just a short 20 minutes away from Siracusa is Noto . Built after the earthquake of 1693 destroyed the original town, it is now recognized by UNESCO for its refined Baroque architecture. The town is laid out in a grid form so the sun shines along the streets, reflecting light off the golden limestone. Perched atop a large flight of steps the Duomo is an imposing feature in the center of the main thoroughfare. Its steps are inviting to all for a sit down. The Duomo faces another beautiful building, the Palazzo Ducezio , now used by the government.

Noto has a slower pace to it than Ortigia and people mill about eating gelato from well-known pastry shops, climbing to one of the two church roofs for fabulous cityscape photos, and exploring the balconies that drip with fanciful and ornate decoration. It is a welcoming place and one of the few where I have seen LGBTQ flags.

Stay at the Gagliardi Hotel for its beautiful spacious rooms and a rooftop for wine and cocktails with a view before dinner. Eat local almonds. Drink Nero d’Avola and Moscato di Noto wines, produced nearby. Visit the Vendicari Reserve in the morning or at dusk to see migrating birds (including pink flamingoes!), the sandy beach and old tuna fishing structures. The boardwalk paths are lovely to traverse.

Ragusa is another town that was a victim of the earthquake of 1693. It combines a newer town above the historic town below with iconic images of beautifully colored domes visible from the windy road in between. Like many other places, the main area is the Piazza Duomo, where many streets converge. Here you can sit and enjoy wine-flavored gelato while gazing at Ragusa’s quintessentially Baroque Cathedral, so recognizable with its steep stairs and wrought-iron gate.

The best view is from the parlor inside the Palazzo Arezzo , which is open to the public. Deeper into town there are steps leading to great vantage points and interesting streets. The Iblean Gardens are a peaceful oasis of exotic plants and ponds, flanked by the old convent. Don’t miss a visit to Rosso Cinabro . Cart-makers in the old tradition, they are the design creators for Dolce and Gabbana’s SMEG line of appliances. From this tiny workshop, the designs reach the world.

Not too far from Ragusa is Modica . If by now you are in need of chocolate, you will find it here. Modica is chocolate central and here the chocolate is made in the same way the Aztecs did, a style brought over by the Spanish. Cooked over a low fire, the chocolate remains granular. It comes in plain or many delicious flavor varieties. There are several places that will give you a tour with samples of their chocolate bars, chocolate syrup and confections, including the traditional ‘Mpanatigghi , that has more than just chocolate baked inside, a secret ingredient that always surprises.

You will then have the energy to climb the steps of the ornate and beautiful Cathedral San Giorgio . Much like Ragusa, the town is full of steps all leading away from the main Corso (Umberto) offering views, intriguing history and fun. Come dusk, you should position yourself next to the San Giorgio Hotel to see the lights as they cover the surrounding hills, another iconic image. Dinner can be in a Michelin-starred restaurant or a small trattoria whose owners bring in cheese and other delectables from their farm. It is aptly named Ricotta.

READ: about the Delicious typical desserts of Sicily

It is well worth a visit to head a little further south to Scicli (pronounced She-cli). Yes, it’s another of the Baroque towns recognized by UNESCO in the Val di Noto and it is probably the smallest, but it has big surprises. Any Detective Montalbano fan can tell you that it is the home of the police station, the center of all story lines. Fans flock to this area to trace the steps of the beloved Inspector who mixes charm, insight, bravado, warmth and humor all into one character.

Visit the Chiesa San Bartolomeo to be amazed by the large and stunning diorama of the Nativity. The Palazzo Beneventano is interesting with its strikingly odd ornamental features. In the afternoon head to Gli Aromi , a nearby herb farm where its passionate owner Enrico will give you an ‘olfactory’ tour and his chef wife Rita will whip up a fabulous lunch. Herbs never tasted this good.

Val di Noto

In all of the surrounding areas of the Val di Noto , you have the opportunity to taste excellent wines. To the west is Vittoria, home to Sicily’s only DOCG wine, the Cerusuolo di Vittoria which blends Frappato with Nero d’Avola. To the east there is Moscato di Noto , a dry, delicious, historic white. There are women winemakers, historic wineries and new producers who arrived to try their hand in Sicily.

LISTEN: Exploring the Val di Noto

Central Sicily

Piazza armerina.

From Catania, Piazza Armerina is a day trip, fewer than 90 minutes away. In Sicily it is always best to talk about the time to travel, not the miles because going off the main roads can be slow with lights, trucks, and sheep traffic. Piazza Armerina is a good-sized town with a beautiful church and some lunch-time eateries, but the reason to drive here is to visit the Villa Romana del Casale , just a few minutes on its outskirts. Think 4th century wealthy Romans.

We don’t know exactly who they were, but the vast expanse of this villa and their intricately decorated rooms, would suggest they were very important. It was a hunting villa in the woods, and it contains miles of some of the best-preserved Roman mosaics in the world. Animal scenes, allegories, mythology and family life is all described with small stone, glass and ceramic tiles in each spectacular room. Another UNESCO site , a tour around will give you a sense of their very advanced living, from hot baths to a gym and much in between.

Caltagirone

The ceramics tradition in Sicily dates back to the indigenous peoples who used the rich clay in the area to make useful things. The Greeks advanced to firing vases and pots. Fast forward to the Arabs who brought with them a knowledge of ceramics-making from the East and they began making decorative objects, later refined further by the Spanish.

History in Sicily is always complex, and all the peoples that came through left their own mark. Caltagirone is the largest of the ceramic centers in Sicily. Walk through the town and it is like you are in an open-air museum seeing glazed pottery on walls, balconies, decorative objects and on the town’s centerpiece, the Scala Maria del Monte .

These 182 steps are each adorned with ceramic tiles that tell a chronological story from most recent to older styles as you climb. Alongside the steps, the workshop doors are ajar for you to come in and browse or watch artistry at work. There are many, many shops in town from museum quality refined to the inexpensive.

The mother-lode of Greek ruins lies in the town once known as Akragas . It was a thriving, highly populated metropolis in the 6th century BCE. In the amazing place known as The Valley of the Temples , visitors will see 7 temples along a paved road (where it is possible to hop on a bus for a fee), among which is one of the world’s best-preserved temples, Concordia. This stunning group of temples all have similar light-colored stone now, but we know that back in the day, each temple was a colorful sight.

There are olive, almond and carob trees, ongoing digs, a few goats, and a rest stop or two as well. Imposing and majestic, this is an unforgettable sight with a complex history and mythology best explained by a guide. Allow yourself half a day for the Archeological Park (with comfortable walking shoes and sunscreen) and if archeology interests you, the well-stocked Archeological Museum is nearby.

The town itself is small but has some old churches worth seeing and a few good restaurants. A visit to the Monastero Santo Spirito is worth the steep walk and rewarded, as these nuns are one of the only ones on the island that still sell their marzipan sweets. Pay attention to parking rules in town. That’s experience talking.

READ: Our guide to Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples .

Sicani Hills

The Sicans were an indigenous population from Sicily’s central area and recent efforts have been successful at bringing tourists to see a bit of pre-history. In tucked away caves and small off-the-beaten-path places, this area is awash with experiences for the curious, food and wine lovers, too, from visiting farms that raise goats to pistachios, from olive oil producers to winemakers.

You can spend a memorable day with a knowledgeable guide, immersing yourself in a bit of Sicily known to few. Afterwards, head to the sea and there you will find sandy beaches from which to watch the sunset. Accommodations in the area run from five-star hotels to wonderful rural properties, known as either a baglio or an agriturismo. You can watch a video about the Sicani hills on the La RosaWorks Sicily Presents YouTube channel .

North-West Sicily

Sciacca and selinunte.

On the windswept sea, along the Southern coastline sits Sciacca . It had thermal springs that served nearby Selinunte , a large Greek settlement in the 5th century BCE. Today Sciacca resembles a charming medieval town, built on an incline affording beautiful views of the sea. It is known for its ceramics with its own distinctive style, with many shops and workshops in town and also for its celebration of Carnevale.

If you visit the town for a half day of relaxed exploring, you can spend the other half roaming the vast Archeological Park of Selinunte . Among the least visited of the archeological sites, here the ancient grain blows in the wind, the stones are strewn about and it is easy to imagine the time when these lands were the scene of great Greek and Carthagenian battles. Buy a book at the newly opened visitors center to learn about the history. Signage at the site is minimal. Remember the sunscreen. Archeological sites generally offer little shade.

Mazara del Vallo

Coming up the west coast, the town of Mazara del Vallo says a lot about Sicily. As the crow flies, it is not far from Tunisia and this port town seems like a colorful extension, complete with a section of town called The Kasbah, Arabic art and signage, and the population itself often in Muslim dress.

There are Mosques and couscous, the signature dish, but there is also an old Jewish Quarter, Catholic churches and a museum housing one of Sicily’s great art treasures, a Greek statue. The Dancing Satyr was found in a fishing net off the coast and after careful restoration, looking up at it is a Stendhal moment. Sicily’s complex history is on display in this small town, a microcosm of diversity. Feast on the fish couscous here.

Not far, further north and also on the sea is Marsala – Mars-Allah, the Port of Allah. The Arab influence in Sicily is distinctly felt in the West in contrast to the Greek influence in the East. This town is known for its fortified wine. Marsala was Sicily’s first DOC wine. It became famous in the mid 19th century because the wine would remain drinkable for sailors and merchants on long voyages.

Although this small town is pleasant enough to explore, visiting wineries here is the thing to do. There are a number of cantine right around town; Florio , Donnafugata , and Pellegrino are all large scale and welcome tourists interested in seeing how Marsala is made and tastes, Florio being the most historic. Alagna Vini , just outside of town, offers a very personal approach to the wines they make, a delicious education. All by appointment only.

Outside of the city are the salt pans, and in the Summer, you can see white, conical piles of salt that were once used to preserve tuna from the local fishing industry. There is a small museum to explain the salt collecting process and different varieties.

Take the 5-minute boat ride over to the island of Mozia , a settlement of Phoenician merchants and sailors from the 7th century BCE. There are remains all over the island and archeological digs to observe. The main attraction is the museum, in which stands another of Sicily’s great art treasures, The Charioteer sculpture. As you gaze upon this stunning Greek body, you are sure to be amazed by its grace, power and unusual pose.

Not on most tourist itineraries is a trip into the interior. Salemi is not far inland from Marsala and well worth the visit. Known for its intricate breads made for the Feast of Saint Joseph , there is a museum that explains the meanings of the many bread shapes that decorate the special feast time altars. In town you will also find the remains of a Norman castle and a grand church. It’s a charming hill town with expansive vistas.

Nearby are many wineries offering tastings and each one offering their unique expression of winemaking. Tenuta Orestiadi combines their winemaking efforts with art and they are situated across the road from the Contemporary Art Foundation Orestiadi , a wonderful museum and relatively new addition to the landscape.

Trapani is further north and west. It was once an important trading port inhabited by wealthy merchants as is evidenced by the impressive houses that still line the streets. Trapani is known for its intensely somber Holy Week events that draw people from all over the world.

There is an historic medieval Jewish quarter that has narrow streets and some good restaurants, including Cantina Siciliana , where Pino’s Fish couscous is a signature dish. Sicily’s Jewish population before the Inquisition was quite large.

From the port of Trapani, you can ferry to the Egadi Islands where the fascinating history of the tuna fishing ritual can be seen at a museum on Favignana . On Levanzo , a less populated island, scooters and light hiking offer beautiful and peaceful moments. Boating and water sports are available. Bring the camera.

From Trapani take the funicular up to the hill town of Erice , or you can drive up a steep and curvaceous road with many switchbacks, but fabulously stunning vistas. The town of Erice is small with a distinct medieval ambience but its history goes back to the Greeks. There was once a temple to Aphrodite, an important spot where a fire always burned and to which travelers came from afar to pay the goddess respects.

In later times there was a Norman castle with a breathtaking view. Flash forward and we can find Maria Grammatico’s Pasticceria . As a young girl from a poor family, Maria was sent to the convent. She spent her days helping to bake the traditional sweets for which the convents were known.

Today she bakes still, and her shop is quite famous. You must not miss her Brutti ma Buoni , almond paste or divine pistachio treats. You can see Erice in a half day, but if you have the time, walking the cobblestone streets and exploring slowly is my recommendation for all town visits.

Segesta rises from the landscape seemingly from nowhere. This was an ancient Elymian settlement and the ruins of the temple and the amphitheater are well preserved, making this site one of Sicily’s most visited.

A guide is useful to explain this particular ancient history. There is a bus every thirty minutes that can shuttle you to the higher ground on which the amphitheater sits, overlooking the rolling hills, or you can walk, although it is a steep climb that will take time. Half a day should be enough time here, and you can move along towards Palermo.

Northern Sicily

Monreale .

Perhaps one of Sicily’s top must see sites is Monreale Cathedral . It is simply spectacular and renowned for its beauty but also because it remains a symbol of a time when multiculturalism was at its height.

Begun in 1174 by William the Good, it exemplifies the best of the Arab/Norman heritage. It is an imposing Norman structure, covered in miles of brilliant Byzantine mosaics and colorful stonework with distinctly Arab motifs. It has decorated wooden ceilings, again displaying intricate Arab craftmanship.

On the side walls are gilded saints and Biblical stories while the glittering iconic Christ Pantocrator looks out towards devout worshipers. You can visit the cloister, a separate entrance, that is surrounded by unique columns and more mosaics, radiant in the sun. Another treat is climbing up to the walkway that surrounds the cloister for an aerial view of the cloister and surroundings.

Monreale is best seen with a guide to understand and not miss the layered meanings of its stunning contents. If you are hungry after being wowed, head to the wonderful Pavone for a very nice lunch with wine, but pizza in the Cathedral piazza is quite good, too.

Palermo is Sicily’s capital, the largest city with roughly one million inhabitants. It has UNESCO designation for its Arab/Norman heritage, but even beyond this important history, Palermo has so much to offer!

LISTEN: Palermo, Not what you expect!

It is advisable to give yourself at least 2-3 days in Palermo to experience its variety: fabulous markets, famous for their chaos, colors, and cacophony; the historic sites, including the Palazzo Royale and its Cappella Palatina the extraordinary private chapel of King Roger II (with more incredible mosaics); Palermo Cathedral that houses the remains of Palermo’s patron saint, Rosalia, medieval tombs and a rooftop experience; the Teatro Massimo , Europe’s third largest opera house (tours are offered); the excellent Archeological Museum Salinas with its unique lay out in an historic convent; the large circular Pretoria Fountain with its particular history; the Galleria Arte Moderne , GAM; the ornately decorated Oratorios decorated in stucco relief by the artist Serpotta, and the charming traditional puppet shows, the most well-known and central of these being L’Opera di Pupi Cuticchio .

There is a wonderful Orto Botanico as well as 16th-18th century Spanish palazzi all around the city, some of which you can visit by appointment. Stanze al Genio , a private collection dedicated to the important history of ceramic tiles in Southern Italy is well worth the guided tour.

READ: Our guide of the Best things to do in Palermo .

These are highlights of what Palermo can offer to fill your days, but Palermo’s nightlife is busy, too. In Palermo’s old Vucciria Market , there is a party of street food and music. On pedestrian only Via Maqueda you can hear street musicians and eat arancini. The Piazza Verdi which fronts the Teatro Massimo is always alive with buskers and tourists. Palermo is a wonderful city, at one time Europe’s most important city, and it is a mistake to overlook it.

LISTEN: Great day trips from Palermo

Cefalù sits on the Tyrrhenian seacoast, a small but very charming town built around its main Cathedral whose sturdy Norman spires dominate the landscape. It’s an iconic image of an unusual setting with sandy beach at its front and the Madonie Mountains at its back. To the side of the Cathedral is La Rocca – a rocky promontory whose top can be reached on a path that leaves the center of town and after a moderate hike gifts you with stunning views of the sea, the town and the mountains.

Cefalù has a good tourist population but it seems far less international than Taormina. In the evenings the narrow streets are full of locals taking the passeggiata or sitting in the Piazza Duomo for an espresso or gelato. There are eateries aplenty here and if you go to the edge of the town on Via Bordonaro, you can sit on one of their terraces on the water and listen to the water gently lapping as you devour a great pizza and local red wine.

Don’t miss the Duomo itself, filled with more amazing and well-preserved Byzantine mosaics in the Arab/Norman style. The small Mandralisca Museum is a gem of a collection and contains the famous ‘Portrait of an Unknown Man’ by Antonella da Messina . If you are looking for down time with a few things to do, for a base from which to do relaxed day trips, consider staying in Cefalù for a couple of nights.

READ: Our guide to the Best places to stay in Sicily .

Which places will you visit in Sicily?

The message for visitors is clear: do not miss feasting on the variety of what Sicily has to offer, on your plate, in a glass, and with your eyes. The history is layered, the contrasts are great, the landscape is stunning and the overall experience otherworldly. And this list is but a sampling, for in every town large and small, there are untold stories to uncover.

DISCOVER: Best Things to do in Sicily during a visit

Delve deeper into the places to see in Sicily

Recommended reading to inspire your Sicilian adventures!

• Seeking Sicily and Sicilian Splendors by John Keahey;
• The Peoples of Sicily by Louis Mendola and Jacqueline Alio
• The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
• The Wine Dark Sea by Leonardo Sciascia

You’ll find more books and inspiration for your trip to Sicily at La RosaWorks .

About the author

Karen la rosa la rosaworks sicily, latest italy travel podcasts and articles, episode #221: magical marsala – the sweet taste of sicilian wine, episode #220: italian hospitality – come as a guest, leave as a friend, episode #219: 10 (or more) reasons to visit sardinia, episode #218: how hard is it to learn italian, how to buy tickets for the colosseum in rome, can you travel to italy – latest travel information [april 2024], best beaches in calabria and how to visit them, 15 best hotels near the vatican city, planning a trip to italy.

We love travel in Italy and sharing our knowledge. Read our Italy trip planning guide or join our FREE Italy travel planning community . Our 115,000+ members are happy to answer questions about your itinerary, how to get from place to place, the best places to stay and fun things to do.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. Taormina

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

• 10. Selinunte Temples 

11. The temple of Segesta

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

You’re planning to visit Sicily?

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

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

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

They will allow you to plan your trip very easily!

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

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

In Palermo , you shouldn’t miss:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Going on the volcano is an unforgettable experience!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ortigia Island must-sees attractions:

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

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

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

Another great place to visit in Sicily!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adresse de la Scala dei Turchi: Strada Provinciale 68

10. Selinunte Temples  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Be careful though:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Boats connect Trapani to the islands several times a day.

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

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

Things to see in Favignana :

• Cala Azzura
• Cala Rotonda
• Lido Burrone

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Each islands has its own charm and atmosphere :

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

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

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

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

Here are some of my favorite beaches and coves:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sicily travel Guides

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

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

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

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

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Discussion 63 comments.

Hi Vincent!

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

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

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

Thanks so much!

Hi Allyson!

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

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

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

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

Hey Vincent!

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

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

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

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

Hey Allyson,

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

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

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

After, you decide!

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

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

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

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

Hello Johnny,

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

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

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

Enjoy your trip to Sicily!

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

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

Hello Nicole,

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good afternoon Vincent,

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

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

Many thanks, Kristine

Hello Kristine,

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

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

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

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

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

Cheers Kristine😊

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

Hi again Vincent,

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

Thanks again,

Hi Kristine,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

P.S. we will be traveling in February 😊

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hello Elizabeth,

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mount Etna 5 hours wine tasting tour

Hello Vincent,

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

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

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

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

Thank you so very much for any ideas you have.

Hello Kisa,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Don’t hesitate if you have any other questions.

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

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

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

Thanks in advance.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks, Dan

Your itinerary seems to be perfect!

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

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

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

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

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

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

– Day 1: arrive in Palermo – Night in Palermo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hello Jane,

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

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

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

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

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

Hello Mariyana,

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

Hi Vincent,

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

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

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

Hello Kate,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy your trip,

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

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

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

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

Next up, I have a couple of questions:

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks in advance!

Andreas Windels

Hello Andrea,

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

Regarding your questions about your itinerary:

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

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

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

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

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

Hey Vincent, thanks for your previous reply!

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

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

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

Kind regards!

Hello Andreas,

You are welcome!

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

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

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

Have a nice day,

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

Hello Gerry,

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy your stay in Sicily!

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

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

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

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

Kind regards, Manisha

Hello Manisha,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a nice trip!

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

Hello Anna,

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

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

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

I read your blog and found it very interesting.

Much appreciated.

Neil Katz (Toronto, Ontario CANADA)

Hello Neil,

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

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

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

Enjoy your trip in Sicily!

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

Hi Ulrikke,

That sounds like a nice trip!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hello Daria,

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy your family trip to Sicily!

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

You’re welcome!

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

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

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

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Sicily   Travel Guide

Courtesy of Federico Scotto | Getty Images

15 Best Things To Do in Sicily

Updated April 27, 2022

Sicily is big, with a nearly endless list of things to do. Some of the island's top amusements are its beaches, of course. Then there are the curious ruins – the Valley of the Temples and the Greek Theatre of Taormina , among others. Experiencing

• All Things To Do

Aeolian Islands Aeolian Islands

There are many lovely islands off the coast of Sicily, and the hardest part may be choosing which ones to see. A popular choice is the Aeolian Islands, located near Messina and composed of seven main islands, which were created by active volcanoes. There you will find incredible sites like a Greek acropolis, a Norman cathedral, beautiful beaches, volcanic vents and even lava running into the sea.

Past visitors recommended visiting Stromboli volcano (seeing it at night when erupting is extra spectacular), the Museo Archeologico Regionale Eoliano on Lipari, the Scalata al Cratere on Isola Vulcano and Chiesa Vecchia di Quattropani on Lipari, as well.

Mount Etna Mount Etna

Located on the island's east coast, Mount Etna is perhaps Sicily's best-known geological feature encompassing nearly 48,000 acres within Etna National Park. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the highest volcano in Europe known for its frequent activity (it's erupted as recently as spring 2019), Mount Etna hosts hikers in the summer months and skiers during the winter. It is a great stop for nature lovers. In addition to the volcano itself, there are several interesting geological features like caves, grottos and even a glacier. The Etna Park Visitor Center offers naturalist-guided tours that depart from the center.

Visitors recommend taking the Circumetnea Railway nearly 130-mile ride around the volcano, but advise you may have to pay to park and suggest bringing layers of clothes for changing temperatures. You can also opt for a cable car operated by Funivia Dell'Etna followed by a bus ride to reach the upper crater area of the volcano. The south area with cable car access, Rifugio Sapienza, offers free parking. You can also hike at any point, but certain elevations require you to have a guide.

Greek Theatre of Taormina Greek Theatre of Taormina

History buffs will want to visit this ancient Greek theater, overlooking the Ionian Sea. Built in the third century B.C., the theater could hold thousands of people attending ancient Greek performances and later gladiatorial games. The structure is built out of rock and is designed so attendees could hear well from any part of the theater. Today, it hosts modern concerts and events.

Past visitors said this is a must-see attraction and that the views of the coast and Mount Etna are incredible. They recommended visiting in the morning to avoid crowds.

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Selinunte Archaeological Park Selinunte Archaeological Park

The largest archeological area in Europe at about 670 acres, this site was once home to one of the largest Greek colonies on the island, dating to 600 B.C. Today, visitors can tour the ruins of seven Doric temples, as well as the necropolis and caves. There are different hiking routes to see the various structures that range from about a quarter-mile to about 3 ½ miles.

Recent visitors said the site does require a lot of walking on uneven ground, and they recommended hiring a guide to fully explain the history of the area.

Monreale Cathedral Monreale Cathedral free

Monreale's cathedral, built by William II, dates to 1172 and is now part of a larger UNESCO World Heritage Site that also encompasses the Royal Palace and the Palermo Cathedral, among other sites. Designed by Islamic architects, the cathedral's walls are filled with gilded mosaics depicting Old Testament events, the life of Jesus Christ and the life of the apostles. There's also a Benedictine cloister on site with a courtyard and garden built during the same time period.

Visitors say the duomo is stunning and recommend visiting the cloister. They also suggest allowing a day to see both.

Villa Romana del Casale Villa Romana del Casale

Stroll through the villa of a wealthy Roman family filled with well-preserved mosaics on both the floor and walls. The UNESCO World Heritage Site, which dates back to the fourth century, also contains columns, capitals, statues, coins and the remains of thermal baths.

Recent visitors said the mosaics are stunning and some even described it as the highlight of their trip to Sicily.

Valley of the Temples Valley of the Temples

Located in Agrigento in southwest Sicily, this more than 2,000-acre archeological site dates back to the sixth century B.C. and includes the remains of numerous Greek temples. A highlight is the Temple of Concordia, which is known as one of the greatest remaining Doric temples (along with the Parthenon in Athens) and which was later converted to a Christian church. Other highlights include the remains of aqueducts, mosaic floors and a tomb.

Past visitors said it's worth visiting this UNESCO World Heritage Site and recommended allowing at least half a day, if not a full day to explore the area. Others suggested timing your visit for the cooler months, as the ruins are actually situated on a ridge (not in a valley, as its name suggests) and the temperatures in the summer can get quite hot.

Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel

Completed in 1143, this chapel is part of the Royal Palace complex in Palermo and was once described by the French author Guy de Maupassant as "the finest religious jewel ever dreamed up by the human mind." It is a mix of various styles, including European, Sicilian, Byzantine and Arabic, and features Byzantine mosaics and an Islamic-style wooden stalactite ceiling. You can also tour the Royal Apartments area, though they are closed Tuesday through Thursday, as well as the Royal Gardens. The palace also features rotating exhibits.

Recent travelers said the chapel is a must-visit and describe the mosaics as breathtaking.

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Teatro Massimo Teatro Massimo

The largest theater in Italy, Teatro Massimo is located in Palermo and opened in 1897. The theater, which is known for its exceptional acoustics (and its appearance in "The Godfather: Part III"), hosts opera, ballet and music performances throughout the year.

According to recent visitors, the building is impressive and the neoclassical architecture magnificent. Reviewers suggested looking at the performance calendar ahead of your visit to see if any shows pique your interest. If not, consider tagging along on a guided tour of the theater.

Mondello Beach Mondello Beach

When in Sicily, you must visit some of its beautiful beaches, including Mondello, a popular beach in Palermo. Palm trees line this beach with pale sand and emerald waters. Dotting the beach are art nouveau villas and colorful cabins with an old fishing village filled with brightly-colored boats just around the corner.

Past travelers highly recommended a visit to this beach thanks to its clear waters and advise that you can rent chairs and an umbrella for a day in the sun. They also say it's easy to reach from Palermo via bus, although several reviewers warn of inconsistent bus frequency and a crowded ride in the summer. If you're willing to pay for the convenience, travelers suggest you take a taxi from Palermo to the beach. Part of the beach is free to visit (though according to reviewers, it's a very small section). For more space and access to amenities, you'll have to fork over some euros.

Zingaro Reserve Zingaro Reserve

Outdoor enthusiasts won't want to miss the Zingaro Reserve. Stretching for more than 4 miles along the Gulf of Castellammare on Sicily's northwestern tip, the reserve has been left largely untouched by human hands since it was established in 1981. The reserve offers spectacular ocean views, many lovely bays, small beaches and plentiful hiking among abundant flora and fauna.

Past visitors said the area is great for snorkeling and intermediate hikes, and highly recommend its beautiful beaches. Others suggested wearing comfortable shoes and bringing plenty of water and snacks.

Palermo Cathedral Palermo Cathedral

Built by the Normans beginning 1184, the Palermo Cathedral is a must-see for the many architectural styles incorporated into its façade. Altered throughout the centuries since its inception, the cathedral demonstrates Catalan Gothic architecture and features hints at its past life. The site the cathedral now occupies once housed a mosque (among other religious edifices), and you'll see an inscription from the Quran on one of the cathedral's columns. Inside, you will find a crypt, the crown of Constance of Aragon and the tombs of several royal figures.

Recent visitors described the cathedral as an architectural and cultural masterpiece and recommended going up to the roof for fantastic views of Palermo. If you're visiting in the summer, reviewers suggest you stop by early in the day to avoid the queue. Others advised wearing sensible shoes to easily traverse the narrow steps up to the roof.

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10 Reasons to Visit Sicily on Your Next Trip to Italy

From the lively capital in Palermo to the hilltop city of Taormina to Trapani in the west, Sicily is finally being discovered for the magical destination that it is.

For many years, Italy's classic cities of Rome, Venice, Florence, and Milan have attracted tourists from around the world while Sicilians quietly produced their wine, grew almonds, pistachios, olives, and citrus, and dined on superb seafood. But word has been getting out about the island's picturesque coastline, historic towns, and many attractions. The large tri-cornered island off the toe of Italy's boot is now recognized for all it has to offer.

From the lively capital in Palermo to the hilltop city of Taormina to Trapani in the west, Sicily is being discovered for the magical destination that it is. The diverse island offers beaches, mountains, active volcanoes, and even skiing in winter. Well-preserved archeological sites, cathedrals, and buildings show evidence of its history as a home for Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Spanish, and others. The indigenous Sicanians, about whom little is known, are thought to have occupied the island as far back as 8000 BC, giving Sicily its name.

The yellow and red flag of Sicily depicts a three-legged woman with the head of the mythical Medusa, called the "Trinacria." The three legs symbolize the three corners of Sicily, and according to legend, the three mythological nymphs who created the island. You'll see this symbol of Sicily everywhere on the island, from its flag to the souvenirs you'll want to take home as memories of your extraordinary vacation.

Laura La Monaca/Travel + Leisure

Delicious Food

Sicily has its own style of Italian cuisine, and both its location and history influence its favorite dishes. It's not unusual to see couscous on a menu, reflecting Arabic influences, and pasta is served with a variety of ingredients, with each locale having its specialty. Fresh, delicious seafood is plentiful, with the island's more than 600 miles of coastline, and sardines are served on their own as well as in the flavorful pasta con le sarde that also includes fennel, pine nuts, and raisins. Pasta alla Norma features tomato, eggplant, and ricotta salata (salted ricotta cheese). Fried rice balls called arancini are popular snacks, and a favorite antipasto is caponata , a luscious mixture of tomatoes, capers, and eggplant with many variations.

Sicilians love desserts and are known to make the best cannoli — fried pastry tubes filled with sweetened ricotta. Granita , crushed ice flavored with fruit, almond, or coffee, and cassata , sponge cake with liqueur, ricotta, and marzipan (almond paste) are also favorites. Frutta Martorana, a Sicilian specialty, are miniature fruits and vegetables embellished by hand. Sicily's almonds, pistachios, and citrus appear in desserts like gelato and biscotti. And where else would you encounter the summertime breakfast treat brioche con gelato — gelato in a brioche bun?

Stunning Archaeological Sites

Sicily is home to some of the world's best preserved examples of Greek and Roman temples, structures, and art. In the southwest, Agrigento's Valley of the Temples includes the nearly intact Temple of Concordia as well as columns remaining from several other Greek temples. On Sicily's southeast coast, Siracusa — once the leading city of Greece — a massive amphitheater built around the 5th century B.C. is still used for theatrical presentations. A 3rd-century A.D. Roman amphitheater can also be seen in the area. On the nearby island of Ortigia are the remains of the Temple of Apollo, built in the 7th century B.C.

Further north on the coast in the hilltop city of Taormina, the Teatro Greco , dating to the 3rd century B.C., was later enlarged by the Romans. Today, the theater is home to film festivals, concerts, and plays with the audience enjoying views of the Ionian Sea and Mt. Etna along with the performance. In Segesta, a striking Doric temple has stood for more than 2,000 years near a massive amphitheater. Selinunte, once a major Greek city on the south coast, is another impressive archaeological site. The Regional Archaeological Museum in Palermo contains sculpture and artefacts from throughout Sicily's past.

Luxurious Beaches

Surrounded by the Tyrrhenian, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas, Sicily has miles of varied and beautiful coastline. Near Taormina, Isola Bella is a gorgeous beach, and it's common for a lido (beach club) to offer umbrellas, chairs, beverages, and dining. A cable car takes visitors from the hilltop to beaches at Mazzaro. The sea is clear and warm, and the sand is pebbly (beach shoes are suggested). Nearby Giardini Naxos offers both lidos and public areas.

Palermo's beaches on the north shore, including Mondello, Magaggiari, and Cefalu, feature sandy shores. About 40 miles east of Palermo, Cefalu, once a fishing village, offers several beaches, cafes, restaurants, hotels, and nightlife. Near Ragusa, along the southeastern shore, popular beaches include Fontane Bianche, San Lorenzo, and Marina di Ragusa. Visitors to Sicily will find beaches they love, whether they're looking for a secluded spot or a lively lido.

Complex Wines

Sicilian wines have become better known and appreciated in recent years, although winemaking on the island dates back many millennia to the Greeks. Marsala, in the western part of Sicily, produces fortified wines by the same name, categorized by their age and residual sugar. In the Mt. Etna area of eastern Sicily, volcanic soil and favorable climate lead to excellent wines like Carricante (white) and Etna Rosso (red) made mostly from Nerello Mascalese grapes. The widely planted native grape, Nero d'Avola, produces dark, robust, complex wines.

White wines, sometimes called Etna Bianco (white) are based primarily on the Carricante grape. Catarratto, the most planted grape, produces dry wines, and Grillo is another dry white wine with medium body, a lovely accompaniment for seafood. Look for Sicilian wines at home, and when you travel to the island, be sure to sample local varieties for the perfect match to your meal.

Rich Culture and Traditions

The two-wheeled, horse-drawn cart, painted with bright colors in great detail depicting religious scenes, flowers, and intricate designs, is a recognizable symbol of Sicily. Originally used as transportation, the carts were pulled by horses also decorated with ribbons, bells, or plumes. Skilled craftsmen built and painted the carts, today seen at festivals, museums, and in miniature versions for souvenirs.

Festive events take place throughout the year in Sicily's cities and towns, many honoring patron saints, holidays, or seasons. In Agrigento, the Almond Blossom Festival in spring lasts 10 days with traditional costumes, music, and parades. The Sagra della Ricotta is held in late April in Vizzini, one of Sicily's oldest cities, celebrating the cheese used in cannoli, cassata, and savory dishes. The Feast of Santa Rosalia in Palermo is a major event in mid-July with music, processions, and fireworks. Easter season brings carnival and Holy Week processions, with a variety of events throughout Sicily. Visitors fortunate enough to arrive during one of these events will feel the authentic nature of Sicily's traditions.

Beautiful Islands

Several groups of islands off Sicily's shores offer some of the most spectacular beaches in the area. The Pelagie Islands are located southwest of Sicily in the Mediterranean. Lampedusa, the largest of these islands, features white sand beaches and clear waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling. The Egadi Islands off Sicily's west coast are accessible for day trips from Trapani. Favignana, the largest of the Egadis, is home to luxury hotels, beaches, and popular diving spots.

Off Sicily's northern coast, in the Tyrrhenian Sea, are the volcanic Aeolian Islands. Lipari is the largest and most popular with tourists who enjoy its hot springs and historic architecture. Small, but also a tourist favorite, is Panarea. Stromboli features an active volcano, and many visitors take guided hikes to its summit. The island of Salina is known for its delicious capers and mountain peak. Off Sicily's west coast, volcanic Pantelleria is a UNESCO World Heritage site with fumaroles, mud baths, and agricultural products that include olives, grapes, and their well-known capers.

Impressive Cathedrals and Architecture

The Cathedral of Monreale , not far from Palermo, is a stunning example of Norman architecture begun around 1171 by King William II of Sicily. Notable for its mosaics, many made of pure gold, its marble floor, and the inlaid detail of the columns in the cloister, it is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. On Siracusa's historic Ortigia island, the 7th-century Cathedral of Syracuse was built on the site of a Greek Doric temple whose columns are still visible on the cathedral's exterior. An expansive piazza enhances the cathedral's facade, an impressive view from one of the many cafes lining the area.

The Cathedral of Cefalu , set on a hilltop above the city, dates to 1131 when King Roger began construction. The Cathedral of Catania, dedicated to St. Agatha, was originally built in the 11th century on the site of ancient Roman baths. After damage by earthquakes and fires, it was rebuilt in 1711 with a Baroque-style facade. Sicily's cities of Palermo, Noto, Ragusa, and Modica all offer spectacular cathedrals in a variety of architectural styles.

Villa Romana del Casale , a UNESCO World Heritage site, dates to about the 4th century and contains an extensive collection of Roman artwork and mosaics. Set in the interior of Sicily, the villa is open for tours.

Welcoming Accommodations

From five-star resorts and exclusive villas to casual beach hotels, you'll find the right place to stay in Sicily. Verdura Resort on the south coast offers white sand beaches, golf, spa, and luxurious accommodations. Therasia Resort on the island of Vulcano features an expansive spa, pool, and views of the other Aeolians. The Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo in Taormina is a classic, with elegant rooms, gardens, and views of Mt. Etna and the sea. Or book a grand villa overlooking the sea for a group or family.

Hotels in major cities include the boutique Villa Carlotta and the San Domenico Palace, Taormina, a Four Seasons Hotel in Taormina, the Monaci delle Terre Nere near Mt. Etna, Grand Hotel Wagner in Palermo, and the Baglio Soria in Trapani. For a different experience, enjoy the environment and comfort of a farmhouse stay. Choose a locale by the sea, mountains, or amid olive trees and grape vines. Farmhouse lodging can range from rustic to ultra-luxurious.

International airports in Palermo and Catania receive flights from most cities in Europe. Eurostar trains from Rome and Naples as well as other cities in Italy arrive in Sicily via a ferry across the Strait of Messina, an enjoyable trip. From Italian ports of Naples, Genoa, Livorno, Civitavecchia, and Villa San Giovanni, ships sail to Palermo, Catania, and Messina. It's even possible to drive from the mainland and other European countries, taking the ferry to Messina.

21 Best Places to Visit in Sicily for Nature and Culture

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. Palermo- the charming capital of Sicily

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where to stay: beautiful Living Suite Catania Pacini  in Catania

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

3. Cefalù – the postcard child of Sicily

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. Catania- the lava city in East Sicily

Visit Catania for city life and historical monuments.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Visit the Valley of Temples for archeological wonders and history.

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

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

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

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

Guided tours from other towns to the Valley of Temples :

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

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

10. Madonie mountain villages- the medieval heritage of Sicily

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

13. Trapani – the West port town in Sicily

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

16. Aeolian Islands- Sicilian Paradise

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

17. Monreale Cathedral and its incredible gold mosaics

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

20. Segesta Temple

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

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

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

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

21. Salt Pans of Marsala and Trapani

Visit salt pans for culture, sunset, bird watching

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have an exciting journey in Sicily!

Sicily Travel Essentials

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

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

MORE SICILY TRAVEL GUIDES

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

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

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22 Best Places to Visit in Sicily

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If you’re looking for the best places to visit in Sicily, you’ve got a fantastic trip ahead of you. Sicily is like nowhere else on Earth. Sure, it’s Italy, but like if you cranked the volume up — wild and passionate, bursting with music and laughter and lava.

The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily has so much to offer, whether you’re looking for some of the finest beaches in Italy or some of the best preserved Greek ruins in Europe.

So. You know you want to visit Sicily. But where should you go? That’s where I come in.

I’ve spent many trips traveling in Sicily and many years advising travelers. I’m even a Sicilian American who visited my great-grandfather’s home village in Sicily. In this post, you’ll find out some of the best destinations in Sicily to add to your itinerary.

And be sure to check out my other Sicily posts — including my guide to Sicilian food , the joys and challenges of visiting Sicily , guide to visiting Sicily in winter , posts on my favorite places like the Aeolian Islands and Palermo , and more. You can see all my Sicily posts here.

Table of Contents

Best Places to Visit in Sicily

How many places should you visit in Sicily? Honestly, it depends on how much time you have. But no matter how much time you have, I recommend visiting lots of different kinds of destinations.

What does that mean? Mix in a city (Palermo or Catania or Siracusa, perhaps), a natural wonder (Mount Etna, Aeolian Islands, Pantelleria), a seaside/beach destination if visiting during the warmer months (San Vito Lo Capo, Cefalu, Aci Trezza), some ruins (Segesta, Agrigento, Siracusa), and a stunning smaller city (Ragusa, Taormina, Modica).

My biggest tip is to rent a car for your trip to Sicily. This is the best way to get around Sicily. With a car, you can head out for the morning and visit several different places before returning home for the night. You’ll be able to see so much more than you would by public transportation. (Be sure to read my guide to driving in Italy before your trip.)

Okay, let’s take a look at the best places to visit in Sicily!

Submitted by Jenifer of The Evolista

Taormina is a beautiful town and one of the best places to visit on the east coast of Sicily. Situated on a hill overlooking the Ionian Sea, it sits peacefully, at a safe distance from Mt Etna, one of Europe’s most active volcanoes. 

Start your visit with a walk through town on Corso Umberto. Browse cute shops and restaurants tucked into small alleys. Make sure to try the regional food specialties like arancini, which are stuffed rice balls that are deep-fried. Another must try is the granita from Bam Bar. A food and wine walking tour is a great way to sample the Sicilian food specialties.

A must-visit is the ancient Greek Theater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which dates back to the third century BCE and is still used today for concerts and an international film festival. You will also find many historic churches and palaces, including the Palazzo Corvaja and the Church of San Giuseppe.

While the views in Taormina are truly breathtaking, the beaches are also beautiful. You can walk down to the beach or take the Funivia cable car, an attraction all on its own. The most popular beach is Isola Bella, a small gem of an island that you can get to by walking over a sandbar, flanked on both sides by crystal clear, turquoise water. 

Where to stay in Taormina: For one of the best hotels in Taormina , book a stay at the San Domenico Palace , where Season 2 of The White Lotus was filmed. This is arguably the best luxury hotel in Sicily, and the pool area is top notch with those to-die-for views.

Welcome to the sizzling capital of Sicily — and one of the liveliest, most vibrant cities in all of Italy. Palermo , the island’s largest city, sits on the northwestern corner of Sicily and has served as the melting pot of the Mediterranean for thousands of years.

Palermo is defined by its unique blend of architecture with Arab-Norman inspiration, thanks to its far-flung cultural influences. These monuments, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are sprinkled all over the city. Don’t miss the Piazza Duomo and the golden Palatine Chapel in particular.

Palermo’s streets are also home to some of the best Sicilian food you’ll ever find — including dishes you won’t find anywhere else in the world. Don’t miss pan panelle , a roll filled with fried chickpea fritters and sometimes potato croquettes, or sfincione , handheld pizza. If you’re adventurous, pani câ meusa is a spleen sandwich (!), a local favorite street food.

Take yourself on a food tour in Palermo — Streaty’s Sicilian food and wine tour was easily the highlight of my own visit — or a trip to Mondello Beach, a 25-minute bus ride from the city center.

Palermo makes an excellent base for further exploration in Sicily. You can easily do day trips from here to Cefalù, San Vito Lo Capo, Monreale, Erice, Segesta, and more.

Where to Stay in Palermo: The best area to stay in Palermo is the chic Politeama neighborhood, with lots of good restaurants and easy access to the rest of the city. Hotel Politeama is a nice mid-range hotel with gorgeous views.

Siracusa is one of the absolute gems of Sicily, and in my opinion is a must-visit. Located an hour’s drive south of Catania, Siracusa (also known as Syracuse) is home to ancient ruins and one of Sicily’s most picturesque old towns.

For many Sicilians, Siracusa is synonymous with Ortigia — an island that is home to the old town. Ortigia is mostly car-free and looks the same way it has for centuries, with a lively harbor and a beautiful cathedral. If you’re basing in Siracusa for any time of your trip, Ortigia Island is the place to be.

But the ruins are another major draw of Siracusa, located in the north of the city. Here at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Néapolis Archaeological Park, you can visit a Roman amphitheater as well as a Greek theater, as well as the altar of Hieron II and the Ear of Dionysus. Be sure to bring sun protection, as this is a big open space.

Siracusa makes a great place to base while exploring southeastern Sicily, including the Val di Noto and its towns of Noto, Ragusa, and Modica.

Where to Stay in Siracusa: You should stay in Ortigia while in Siracusa, and Hotel Henry’s House is one of the nicest places to stay in this beautiful part of town. The decor is elegant Sicilian, and you can’t beat the location!

Recommended by Tamar of World by Weekend

Mount Etna in Sicily  is a must-visit for nature lovers and adventurers. With its smoking top and long history of eruptions, a trip to Mount Etna is an unforgettable experience to have in Sicily. 

The highlight of visiting Mount Etna is taking a guided tour along the volcano’s summit. To reach the summit, begin at Refugio Sapienza. From there you can hike or take the cable car up 2,800 meters to the Mountain Hut. If you don’t wish to continue on foot, from the Mountain Hut you can take a jeep (or snowcat if you’re visiting in winter) up another 1,000 meters.

After the 2,900-meter mark visitors must be accompanied by a guide. On the guided tour you’ll hike along the rim of the volcano while your guide lectures on the history and geology. From the summit you’ll enjoy stunning views of the valley, the Mediterranean, and, on a clear day, mainland Italy.

Where to stay near Mount Etna: The nearest accommodation to Mount Etna is  Rifugio Sapienza , but there is little to see or do in the vicinity. Instead, stay in nearby Taormina. This charming seaside town has beautiful beaches, high-end shopping, and delicious restaurants. Stay at  B&B Terraza Sul Mare , a family-run hotel with an attentive owner, delicious breakfasts, and stunning views of the sea.

Submitted by Zoe from Together In Transit

If looking for a charming little location on Sicily’s northern coast, find yourself  inspired by Cefalu . Only one hour from Palermo, it’s the ideal quieter Sicilian destination.

While exploring the quaint old town of Cefalù, take a stroll through the alleyways and cobblestoned side streets for those sweet Italian vibes. There are many restaurants to choose from, with a personal dinner suggestion to reserve a table at  B.I.F. Braceria Italiana Fuorimondo . The old town area is also the place you can find the main cathedral and cloister, which is absolutely stunning. Enjoy your time here before strolling to the scenic viewpoint at the end of the pier.

A visit to Cefalù would not be complete without a visit to the castle. With just a short hike up from the town, the Castello di Cefalù is 270 meters above sea level. The view from the very top is beautiful on a clear day, where you can spot lots of locals enjoying the water below. Water activities and tours in Cefalu are popular, such as boat trips, scuba diving, and snorkeling.

Fun fact: the beach scenes from The White Lotus were actually filmed in Cefalù, not Taormina where the hotel is set.

Where to stay in Cefalù : Cefalù has many hotels and cute rentals to choose from. A personal highlight is to stay at the holiday home that you can find called A Window On The Sea . It is not located in the old town, however just a short five-minute drive from Cefalù. It has a private beach for a restful afternoon and direct views of the castle.

Aeolian Islands

My personal favorite summer getaway in Sicily is the Aeolian Islands — an archipelago of volcanic islands off the northeast coast of Sicily in the Tyrrhenian Sea. These islands are summer personified, with glorious beaches, volcanoes, vineyard, striking mountains, and beautiful views in every direction.

There are seven islands in the archipelago: Lipari, with the most shops and restaurants; Vulcano, with a smoldering crater and fantastic views; Salina, the best overall island with lots of great towns and food; Panarea, a getaway for the rich and famous; Stromboli, home to a wild active volcano and sparkling black sand beaches; and Alicudi and Filicudi, very quiet and remote islands.

If you have a week in the Aeolians, I recommend spending a few nights in Stromboli and the rest of your time based in Salina. You can take plenty of boat trips to the other islands, either by public ferries or on organized trips. Each island has something special to offer.

If you have a good level of fitness, climbing Stromboli’s volcano is a must. You’ve never seen lava up close like this before! Not a hiker? Have dinner at Osservatorio Restaurant, halfway up the volcano with a view of the explosions as you enjoy your pizza.

Where to Stay in the Aeolian Islands: No matter how long you stay in the Aeolians, I highly recommend staying at Hotel Ravesi on the island of Salina. This gorgeous little boutique hotel is right on the cusp between mid-range and luxury and has a gorgeous infinity pool overlooking Panarea and Stromboli. The staff are lovely, they have electric motorbikes for rent, and their aperitivo is creative and delicious.

Submitted by Coni from  Experiencing the Globe

Overlooking Trapani and the Egadi Islands, the medieval hilltop town of Erice is an unmissable destination in Western Sicily.

Its location was the logical place to defend the harbor, so Erice has been inhabited for millennia. What all its peoples have had in common is the town’s dedication to a female divinity: Astarte for the Phoenicians, Aphrodite for the Greeks, and Venus for the Romans. Early in the morning, the hilltop is often covered by a magical fog that the locals associate with the mysteries of the goddess, and one of the main attractions in town is the Castello di Venere — the Temple of Venus.

The city is shaped like a triangle, surrounded by defensive town walls, which makes it easy to get lost in its alleyways without ever feeling truly lost. The Italians refer to it as “The City of a Hundred Churches” — and although it ‘only’ has 60 of them, you’re guaranteed to stumble into one, no matter which way you go.

Another feature that makes Erice special is that it houses the prestigious Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture Ettore Maiorana. A statement was signed here during the Cold War by thousands of scientists and high-level politicians (including Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan) to secure a way of moving forward without the use of nuclear power. Today the town hosts varied scientific conferences.

After seeing all the sights, enjoy the relaxed Sicilian rhythm from any of the lovely  pasticcerie , or pastry shops. Don’t miss the classical almond biscuits ( dolci ericini ), the custard filled pastries ( genovesi ericine ), nor the beautifully decorated marzipan ( frutta martorana ).

Getting to Erice is easy. If you have your own wheels, you can drive the winding road up. If you’re in for dramatic panoramic views down the valley, take the ten-minute cable car ( funivia ) from Trapani. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also hike up (or down) the hill –it’s a gorgeous trek of about 10 km/6 miles with almost 800 m/2600 ft of elevation difference.

Where to stay in Erice: You can easily visit Erice as a day trip from Trapani or Palermo, but it’s a popular tour, so it’s worth staying over to enjoy the early mornings and evenings without any crowds. A very special accommodation is Il Carmine , a former monastery linked to the Carmelite order of monks.

Submitted by Veronika of Travel Geekery

Noto belongs to one of Sicily’s prime examples of Baroque architecture, forming part of the UNESCO-inscribed Val di Noto region. The town was built from scratch in the 18th century after a devastating earthquake in 1693. The former Noto, now referred to as Noto Antica and located just a few kilometers away, was not rebuilt. 

Everywhere you look in Noto, you’ll be stunned by limestone structures and palaces, with an exceptionally high number of churches, especially along the Corso Vittorio Emanuele. And then there’s the Noto Cathedral — Noto’s top sight and an imposing structure on the central Piazza del Municipio.

For a truly remarkable experience, if you have a sweet tooth, head to Café Sicilia. The family-run café serves the best granita in town and has become world-famous thanks to a Netflix special. The almond granita is to die for, and there’s a lot behind the scenes, too — the family helped to bring almond growing back to Sicily. You can also have all other kinds of sweets here, including delicious cannoli. 

Noto, of course, played a pivotal role on Season 2 of The White Lotus .

Where to stay in Noto: While Noto can be easily visited on a  day trip from Catania , you should spend a night or two if you want to experience it without tourists. Noto is relatively small, so you’ll have everything within walking distance no matter where you stay. For the most comfort, opt to stay near the Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Filinona B&B is a great choice.

Submitted by Soumya of Stories by Soumya

One of the best places to visit in Sicily, the small town of Agrigento is home to some of Italy’s most fascinating landmarks and ancient archeological sites.

Agrigento’s history dates to the 6 th  century BCE when Greeks ruled the land, after which came the Romans and then the Turks. Visiting Agrigento is like peeling several layers of history and discovering the imprints of many civilizations that have thrived in this historic region.

Of the many wonderful  things to do in Agrigento , visiting the UNESCO-listed Valley of the Temples is a highlight. Agrigento’s Valley of Temples is a sprawling complex of well-preserved Greek temples that was once the ancient city of Akragas. The temples of Concordia, Heracles, and Dioscuri are imposing structures that tell numerous stories about the powerful Greek Empire.

Right next to the temples is an impressive archeological museum that displays the history of Sicily in 5000+ artifacts. The ancient garden of Kolymbetra, full of citrus trees and almond groves, is not very far away either.

Agrigento’s Old Town is chock full of medieval villas and Gothic churches. A short drive will take you to the Stair of the Turks (Scala dei Turchi), a set of beautiful white cliffs by the sea where you can take a dip in the sea or enjoy a boat tour.

Where to stay in Agrigento: The best place to stay in Agrigento is the majestic Hotel Villa Athena , an 18 th -century mansion that’s located right next to the Valley of Temples and provides stunning views of the Greek ruins. 

Pantelleria

Submitted by Imee Magbag from  Guide To Day Trips

Pantelleria is a beautiful island located between Sicily and Tunisia. Pantelleria is of volcanic origin and has a rugged landscape with several volcanic peaks. Due to its volcanic nature, Pantelleria is known for its unique geothermal features, including hot springs and fumaroles.

The island attracts tourists looking for a peaceful and picturesque destination, with its rocky coastline, crystal-clear waters, and unique volcanic landscapes. Visitors can explore ancient ruins, enjoy thermal baths, indulge in local cuisine, and experience the laid-back charm of this off-the-beaten-path Mediterranean island.

There are so many things to do while you are in Pantelleria; you can explore the ancient ruins of Sesi by booking an Archaeological Tour; this is an important archaeological site featuring well-preserved prehistoric stone structures, including Byzantine tombs. 

Another famous attraction and a must-see destination is Pantelleria, the Specchio di Venere, a small lake within a volcanic crater. The water here is to believed to have therapeutic properties, making it a sought-after destination for relaxation. 

Where to stay in Pantelleria: If you are looking for a place to stay in Pantelleria, experience an overnight stay in  Dam musi I Jardina , a traditional stone house; this unique and distinctive dwelling offers beautiful accommodations, with a Mediterranean garden perfect for relaxation. 

Submitted by Jackie Rezk of Jou Jou Travels

Sciacca is a charming town located on the southwestern coast of Sicily. This lesser-known town is a must-visit, especially if you love picturesque and colorful places.

One of the most special things about Sciacca is its thermal baths, which date back to ancient times. The healing waters of the Terme di Sciacca are said to alleviate various ailments. And of course, a visit wouldn’t be right without going to the beach (you can try Lido Sovareto or San Giorgio) and admiring the crystal clear waters.

Sciacca also boasts great food and being located in Sicily, you can imagine why! So be sure to try local dishes such as “couscous di pesce” (fish couscous). This flavorful dish consists of steamed semolina grains served with a variety of fish, shellfish, and aromatic vegetables, all cooked in a fragrant tomato-based broth. The couscous reflects the historical Arab influence in Sicilian cuisine and can be tried at La Bottega Fusion Cuisine.

Where to stay in Sciacca: For accommodation, staying near the marina is highly recommended due to its proximity to the beach and the town center. One specific hotel that stands out is the Domus Maris Relais Boutique Hotel . Situated steps away from the Mediterranean Sea, this hotel offers a great location and comfortable rooms.

Submitted by Steve of The Trip Goes On

Augusta is a small town nestled on the east coast of Sicily between Catania and Syracuse. It was one of the earliest Ancient Greek colonies on Sicily and later became a Roman settlement. 

The town stretches across a small peninsula that culminates in a 2-km long island with a medieval fortress called Castle Svevo overlooking the crystal-clear waters of the Med. 

Augusta is also one of Italy’s major commercial ports with weekly  ferries to Malta . I actually missed my ferry and ended up spending four days here waiting for the next one, and it was one of those strange twists of fate that I’m so glad that I did. 

Each year there are a number of festivals held in the town including the  Sagra dei Sapori Medievali , a medieval festival held in September where you can try dishes dating back to the dark ages. 

The streets and squares are lined with cafes and restaurants serving traditional Sicilian dishes, and naturally, the seafood here is some of the best in Italy (I highly recommend the  Locanda Scorfano Rosso  seafood restaurant). 

Where to stay in Augusta: There are some excellent B&Bs on the island. B&B Blu Mare is a nice guesthouse right next to the castle.

A lot of Sicily travelers see Milazzo for one thing alone: the ferries to the Aeolian Islands. But this seaside city is a lot more than that, and I was surprised at just how much I enjoyed Milazzo!

Milazzo is a narrow peninsula set on the sea, the geographic center rising steeply up from the coast. In this part of town, you can enjoy Castello di Milazzo, a ruined castle with spectacular views (and even a tuna production museum on site!). Beautiful villas spring up throughout this neighborhood.

The Tono neighborhood is home to a curved beach surrounding a neon blue bay. Here you can enjoy a number of beach clubs and seaside dining. Alternatively, head to Capo di Milazzo, the tip of the peninsula, to see the Piscina di Venere — Venus’s pool, a beautiful place for a swim.

Just one thing — if you spend time in Milazzo, get yourself beyond the immediate port area. Like most port cities in Italy, this part of town pales in comparison to what you get when you head further away.

Where to stay in Milazzo: Ngonia Bay Boutique Hotel is one of my favorite hotels in Italy, and absolutely worth a special splurge for a few days. The grounds are beautiful — they reminded me of Southern California — with a pool in the ground and a second pool on the rooftop. The restaurant serves some of the best food I’ve had in Sicily (if there is a pasta with red Mazara shrimp, burrata, and pistachio pesto, GET IT).

Submitted by Annabel of Smudged Postcard

Known as the “Belvedere of Sicily”, the hilltop town of Enna has commanding views across central Italy. Enna is surrounded by farmland – a rich green landscape in springtime that gives way to golden fields as the heat of summer arrives.

The best place in Enna to admire the views is from the well-preserved 13th-century fortress Castello di Lombardia. It’s free to enter and is usually fairly quiet so visitors can take in the impressive panorama in relative tranquility.

Elsewhere in Enna, highlights include the Gothic-Baroque cathedral with its impressive staircase. Easter is the best time of year to visit the city when atmospheric parades take place leading to the cathedral.

Enna is remote and hard to reach by public transport. It’s 150 km from Palermo and 90 km from Catania, so hiring a car is recommended — there are plenty of interesting places to explore in the surrounding area too.

Where to stay in Enna: Although there are places to stay in Enna, there is nowhere interesting of note. However, just outside the town are some excellent agriturismo properties that enable visitors to get a true taste (literally) of rural Sicily. Baglio Pollicarini is a good option — it has an excellent restaurant, characterful accommodations, and a swimming pool. There are rooms sleeping up to four guests, which is ideal if you are visiting  Sicily with kids .

Submitted by Izzy of The Gap Decaders

No trip to Sicily would be complete without the incredibly well-preserved ancient Greek Temple and Roman amphitheater at Segesta .

One of Italy’s best-known landmarks, Segesta is set on a rural hill southwest of Palermo, with commanding views across the landscape. Surrounded by rolling hills which are covered by wildflowers in spring, Segesta is hauntingly beautiful.

Influential and important throughout ancient history, the original Elymian city of Segesta reached the peak of its wealth and power in the 5th century BCE, and was operated one of the largest mints on Sicily. During this period, Segesta also hosted an enormous market that attracted traders from all over Europe and was considered an endpoint of the historic Silk Road.

Towards the end of Segesta’s reign, around 417 BCE, the Doric temple that still stands today was constructed (although never finished) at the foot of Mount Barbaro and represents the ancient city at the end of its power as Sicily was being drawn into international conflicts between the Greek powers of Athens, Sparta, and Carthage. 

Between Palermo and Trapani, Segesta is easy to get to by car, or with a guided tour from Palermo, around an hour away. There’s no reason to stay in accommodation close to Segesta; feel free to stay in Palermo, Trapani, or anywhere else in northwest Sicily.

Submitted by Iphi from Travel Choreography

Far off the white marble cliffs of the Scala dei Turchi and Southern Sicily, there is a tiny stretch of arid land called Lampedusa. The island has a unique feel to it — exotic yet approachable, beautiful but untamed. Most of all, it feels like it’s in a world apart, and that’s because it is. Located between Malta, Tunisia, and Sicily, it turns out Lampedusa is also one of the best places to visit in Sicily.

One of the best things to do on Lampedusa is visit Rabbit Beach, also known as Spiaggia dei Conigli. This beach was named the best in the world in 2013 because of its warm, crystal-clear waters filled with tiny fish. You can reach it by boat or take a 10-minute walk from the main road. Don’t forget to bring water and a few snacks as there are no services available on the beach.

Like every Mediterranean paradise of its kind, the island thrives on tourism and fishing and is just waiting for you to join the party. With short direct flights from every big city in Italy, it is, fortunately, not too hard to reach.

Where to stay in Lampedusa: Staying in the main town of Lampedusa is the best option for most people. You can wander around the charming streets and try the local cuisine, where fish dishes dominate the menus. If you find a perfect Airbnb elsewhere, it’s not a problem. Given the island’s small size, you’ll discover that everything is just a short scooter ride away.

If you’re looking for total escapism, you might want to stay at Hotel i Dammusi . It’s surrounded by nature, and you’ll love the pleasant smell of wild cacti flowers and waking up to the sound of waves nearby. It’s the perfect spot to relax and unwind.

Submitted by Greta of Greta’s Travels

If you’re looking for the best places to visit in Sicily, you have to add Ragusa to your bucket list. Located in the southeast of Sicily in the Val di Noto, this hilltop town is characterized by its Baroque architecture and countryside views.

Ragusa Ibla, the historical town center, is home to the Duomo di San Giorgio. This Baroque church dates back to the 1700s and is home to grand paintings and colorful stained glass windows. Surrounding the Duomo di San Giorgio, you find picturesque cobbled streets, which meander through the historical town center and make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

Ragusa, as is most of Sicily, is one of the most popular destinations to visit in  Italy in summer . It gets pretty hot in the Sicilian countryside, but Ragusa Ibla is only a 30-minute drive to Marina di Ragusa. That way you can combine discovering one of the most interesting Baroque cities in Sicily with spending some time lounging by the sea.

Where to stay in Ragusa: When choosing where to stay in Ragusa, make sure to pick somewhere inside Ragusa Ibla. That way you will be within walking distance of all the main attractions, and you’ll be able to enjoy the magical atmosphere of these cute streets after dark, when most of the tourists leave.

Sure, there are lots of places that international travelers like to go in Sicily — but where do the locals go? They go to fun beach getaways that are easily accessible to the big cities, but

One of those places is Aci Trezza — a seaside town in Eastern Sicily, just outside Catania near Aci Castello, home to a picturesque coastline with clear, bright blue water. Here you’ll find the Faraglioni dei Ciclopi — the “stacks” or boulders of Cyclops, who flung them into the sea.

There’s not a lot to do in Aci Trezza — but that’s its appeal. Have a granita by the sea, take a boat trip around the islands, bask in the sunshine. While there aren’t any traditional sandy beaches here, people either stretch out on the rocky coastline, or book a chair at one of the beach clubs on stilts above the water. It’s the perfect place to take a break from your hectic trip.

If you’re an early riser — or even if you’re not — it’s worth getting up for sunrise here. There’s nothing like seeing the colors change over the faraglioni.

Where to stay in Aci Trezza: The Grand Hotel Faraglioni is one of the nicest properties in town, with a perfect seafront location overlooking the coastline.

Submitted by Ossama of Awesome Traveler

Sicily is well known as one of the  best European islands  to visit. One of the best places to visit in Sicily is the town of Modica, one of the UNESCO-listed Baroque cities of the Val di Noto.

Modica is home to mesmerizing Baroque buildings with rich carvings and exotic balconies, including the Cathedral of San Pietro. The enormous stairway leading to the Cathedral is stunning, lined with the status of the 12 apostles. Once you enterthe church, you are great with staggering Statue of the Madonna of Trapani.

Be sure to spend time walking down Corso Umberto, Modica’s Main Street, which is home to more architectural marvels like the Palace of Modica, the church of Saint Peter, Garibaldi Theater, and Grimaldi Palace.

Modica is also known for its signature chocolate, which you can find in shops all over the city. Modica’s chocolate is processed at a low temperature, which gives it a grainy (and delicious!) texture. Modica is also home to a Chocolate Museum where you can sample all different kinds of this local delicacy. It also makes a nice souvenir to bring home from Sicily.

Where to stay in Modica: The Modica Boutique Hotel is a mid-range property close to many attractions, and features panoramic views of Modica, all the way to the distant sea.

Scala dei Turchi

Submitted by Adriana of Wanderlicious

Scala dei Turchi is one of the most unique places in Europe and my favorite place to watch the sunset go down. The sunsets at Scala dei Turchi are just as beautiful as they look in the pictures. 

Scala dei Turchi, known as the Turkish Stairs in English, is a strikingly white cliff with natural inbuilt steps that resemble a staircase. It’s become a popular tourist destination because of the beautifully blue cerulean waters that are perfect for diving into during the day, and watching the sunset with its hundreds of pastel colors.

It is referred to as Scala dei Turchi due to the location’s tumultuous history. The Ottoman Empire used this point as a lookout during their raids by pirates and warriors. But those days of turmoil are long gone, and now you’ll find tourists bathing in the plentiful coves and shallow pools to relax in.

Make sure you bring a picnic, wine, drinks, or something to sustain yourself as there aren’t always vendors down at the bottom where the beach is. It’s also worth exploring the nearby towns of Agrigento and Porto Empedocle. A gelato tastes even sweeter with this view!

Where to stay in Scala dei Turchi: I can recommend the Scala dei Turchi Resort , a lovely 4-star hotel with a pool and loungers to relax on after a long day of exploring the local area.  

San Vito Lo Capo

Submitted by Jolene Ejmont of Wanderlust Storytellers

In northwest Sicily you’ll find one of the island’s most beloved beach towns: a little place called San Vito Lo Capo. 

San Vito Lo Capo is well known for its sheltered beach and clear waters making it a great spot for swimming and spending a relaxing day at the seaside. Mount Monaco makes a stunning background straight out of a screensaver. Although it’s well-known for its beach, it has many other great things to do and places to see. 

San Vito Lo Capo feels more North African than many other parts of Sicily, and that extends to the cuisine. The town puts on one of Sicily’s best food festivals each September — Cous Cous Fest! Cous Cous Fest celebrates all things couscous, which originated in North Africa before making it to Sicily.

Another great cultural experience is a visit to the San Vito Sanctuary in the middle of the town. Originally built as a fort and then later transformed into a church, it is now a small museum. 

If you fancy a day trip or excursion, a  boat trip  is the perfect tour to book. Here you will cruise along the coastline visiting secluded coves and beaches, where you can go swimming or snorkeling.

For the more adventurous or active travelers, there is a rock cliff with more than 1000 climbing routes that rock climbers love. For an activity less daring you can hike along the coastline to Piana of Egitarso or Zingaro Nature Reserve and take in the gorgeous panoramic views along the way.

Where to stay in San Vito Lo Capo: While many travelers visit from nearby  Trapani , an overnight stay in San Vito Lo Capo is well worth it.  Hote l Biancolilla  is situated in what is considered the best area of San Vito Lo Capo and is in the heart of everything.

Submitted by Džangir of Dr Jam Travels

Monreale is a small town in Sicily that makes for a great day trip from Palermo, as it is just a short drive or bus ride from the city center. This town is famous for the Cathedral of Santa Maria Nuova, commonly known as Monreale Cathedral, located on Piazza Vittorio Emanuele.

Built by William II in 1174 in a unique combination of Arab-Islamic, Byzantine, and Romanesque-Norman architecture, the cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The interior is covered in almost 70,000 square feet of mosaics, mainly biblical stories with the main figure of the Cristo Pantocratore (Christ Almighty).

Monreale is located in a hill above Palermo, with stunning views all the way down to the sea. This area is called the Conca d’Oro — the Gold Basin — and makes a great spot for photos. Once in town, you will wander around its narrow cobbled streets surrounded by beautiful old buildings and pastry shops.

Monreale is a 35-minute bus ride from Palermo, and buses leave every 30 minutes — it’s so easy, you don’t have to book a pricey trip to Monreale. You can also drive to Monreale if you have a car, though be prepared for Italian driving !

Where to stay in Monreale: While most travelers will prefer staying in Palermo with its extensive accommodation options, you can also stay over in Monreale for a quieter, more local atmosphere. You can find accommodation in great medieval renovated houses like Opera Boutique Rooms .

More on Sicily:

• The Joys and Challenges of Traveling in Sicily
• Where to Go in Eastern Sicily
• What to Eat in Sicily: 30 Iconic Sicilian Food Dishes
• 23 Fun Things to Do in Palermo, Sicily
• Complete Guide to the Aeolian Islands, Sicily
• Aci Trezza: A Laid-Back Coastal Town in Sicily
• Visiting Sicily in the Winter: Worth it or not?

Cool Places in Southern Italy:

• Tropea, Italy: A Spectacularly Situated Beach Town
• The Stunning Trulli of Alberobello, Italy
• 16 Fun Things To Do In Sorrento
• 16 Fab Things to do in Lecce, Italy
• 17 Fun Things to do in Bari, Italy
• 15 Best Things to do in Monopoli, Italy
• 17 Fun Things to do in Matera, Italy

Cool Places in Northern Italy:

• Three Weeks in Northern Italy: An Itinerary
• Parma, Italy: A Colorful, Artsy, Delicious Town
• Where to Stay in Rome: Best Neighborhoods and Accommodation
• Three Days in the Dolomites: A South Tyrol Getaway
• Best Day Trips from Florence, Italy
• The Immaculate, Bursting Mosaics of Ravenna, Italy
• 25 Best Food Experiences in Emilia-Romagna, Italy
• 23 Best Things to Do in Bologna, Italy

Planning a Trip to Italy:

• What NOT to Do in Italy
• Solo Female Travel in Italy: Is it Safe?
• Ultimate Guide to Driving in Italy
• How to Stay at an Agriturismo in Italy
• 30 Stunning Mediterranean Islands To Visit In Your Lifetime
• 30 Italian Cities To Visit Once In Your Lifetime

Have you been to Sicily? What’s your favorite place to visit? Share away!

7 Things to Know Before Visiting Sicily in Italy

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It’s not too often that I find myself spending a month in a region and feeling disappointed by how much there is still left to see. That’s a long time to travel anywhere and an opportunity that few get to enjoy. But that doesn’t change how I felt after visiting Sicily , because all I wanted was more time to experience everything I’d yet to see. Yes, you could craft a quicker itinerary that covers the best places to go in Sicily, but I tend to travel with a little less focus.

Ask me what the most beautiful place in Sicily is and I’d have a hard time deciding. The same goes for what to do in Sicily, because we all have our own interests and preferences, and there’s just so much you can do around the island. Answering the question of where to stay in Sicily is one that I can do and have already kind of done.

What I can share with you here are a selection of things I think you may benefit from knowing. Some may seem obvious, but if I were visiting Sicily for the first time all over again, these are the things I’d want to know.

Table of Contents

1. Different to Mainland Italy

One of the wonderful things about spending time travelling in Italy is that you realise just how different each part of the country is. That’s definitely the case with Sicily. I constantly found myself thinking “I’ve never seen anything like this in Italy before” which says it all really, doesn’t it?

Many of the reasons why Sicily is so special I’ll cover in more detail below. But they follow the usual lines of history, food, culture etc. One of my favourite though is the architecture, which I know isn’t something that will excite others in the same way. But look at the sheer beauty of the Val di Noto, a UNESCO-recognised region full of Baroque architecture, with places like Noto and Ragusa , and you’ll see what I mean in.

My point though is that if you’re expecting or dismissing Sicily because “you’ve done Italy” then stop that thinking right now. Because Sicily is definitely its own thing.

2. How to Get There

As with most of Italy, you shouldn’t have much trouble getting to Sicily to start your trip. The island is extremely well connected with the rest of the country, not to mention Europe in general. Since we are talking about an island, your two options to get there are either flying in or taking a ferry, although taking the train is technically a third way to go.

For most tourists, flying is going to be the most obvious solution to get there. Sicily has three airports to fly to: Catania, Palermo and Trapani. Budget carriers and national airlines fly to all three, but Catania and Palermo are the bigger two. Flights to Sicily can be insanely cheap sometimes which was part of the reason I finally went when I did.

Next we have ferries to Sicily, both domestically and internationally. Naturally, there are ferries to the mainland, with Naples and Villa San Giovanni the main places to go from. The latter sits on the narrow Strait of Messina between Sicily and the mainland and is the quickest sea crossing if you don’t like boats. But there are also ferries to neighbouring islands and even a ferry to Malta if you want to combine Sicily and Malta in a trip.

As for the train, you can buy train tickets from the mainland direct to Sicily. What happens is that the train actually uses a special train ferry to cross the Strait of Messina, which honestly sounds like a special experience.

3. Getting About

One bit of hard won advice from my time travelling in Sicily is that getting around isn’t as easy as it seems. I used public transport in Sicily throughout my trip to get about and ran into plenty of troubles along the way. In hindsight, having a rental car in Sicily would have helped, although that naturally brings the challenge of driving in Italy. Alternatively, you could cede control completely and take a guided tour of Sicily .

No matter though, as now I get to warn you about what its like taking trains and buses here. And really, I never had any trouble with the trains in Sicily . Trains are mostly useful for travel along the coasts, but not so much in the island’s interior. In some parts they’re also not super fast due to the weaving, winding routes they need to take through the hilly terrain.

No, it’s the bus travel where things got tricky. At first it was just people pushing ahead of me in the line so that there was no room by the time I stepped aboard. The real problem though is trying to reliably plan your bus trips. Buses in Sicily belong to a mess of different companies, many of which you can’t get accurate timetables of online.

Timetables for large companies like Interbus are pretty good, but for smaller regional ones you can forget about it. And I’m not just talking about online here. I got given completely wrong information twice trying to get from Piazza Armerina to Agrigento, once from the actual bus ticket office. My advice is to try to stick to major routes as much as possible and seek local help otherwise.

4. Fantastic Sicilian Food

If you’re looking for a reason to visit Sicily that’s not simply “why not?”, then may I suggest its awesome cuisine? That’s usually one of the reasons people go to Italy anyway, but Sicilian cuisine is its own thing and it is phenomenal. Even if you’ve spent a month travelling through mainland Italy, you’re bound to find new and exciting things to try when you reach Sicily.

And with so many Sicilian specialities to experience, my advice is to dive right in. Don’t make the mistake of just eating the typical dishes of Italy while in Sicily because you’ll be missing out if you do. I personally spent much of my time in Syracuse and Catania experiencing the food scene and was far from disappointed. Another way to discover the food scene is with a food and wine tour like this one out in the countryside.

Now, some Sicilian dishes are better known internationally than others. Arancini are a quite well-known dish in other countries and cannoli are the island’s most famous sweet treat. But even these recognizable foods come in a dizzying array of styles and flavours; especially all the types of stuffing you can find in arancini from one place to the next.

Then there are the less instantly recognizable foods found across Sicily that you’ll soon find are just as common, like Pasta alla Norma with its tasty eggplant sauce and granita, the refreshing icy dessert you can get from kiosks everywhere. One of my favourite new experiences was trying busiate pasta in Agrigento, a spiral pasta from Sicily I’ve yet to find elsewhere.

5. Remarkable History

Followers of the blog will know that learning about a destination’s history is one of my favourite things to do. And I have to say that Sicily is just awesome for those interested in history. The island has had such a layered, diverse past and that means you get to see all sorts of historical sites when you travel in Sicily.

Sicily’s notable history stretches back thousands of years. With the incredible ruins of Agrigento you can learn about the island’s settlement by ancient Greeks. Over at the mosaics of Villa Romana del Casale  you can learn more about Sicily during the time of the Romans. At Syracuse you can see both. The Arabs and Normans defined the medieval history of Sicily and many of the best places to visit in Palermo are tied to that era.

Then there are the destinations that feel absolutely trapped in time, offering a window into what 17th-18th century Sicily was like. For that you need to head to the Val di Noto, which I mentioned earlier. These may be the most picturesque places to explore that era, but trust me there’s many more. The point is you’ll be spoiled by the end of your Sicily trip, that’s for sure.

6. Surprising Mountains

With its location right at the heart of the Mediterranean, you might think that the beaches in Sicily are the island’s best natural asset. And if that’s your kind of thing and what you want from your trip then you won’t be disappointed. But in my books, the most interesting natural attraction of Sicily is its mountains.

Certainly the most famous mountain on the island is Mt Etna. The volcano near the popular tourist town of Taormina is one of the best places to go in Sicily, even if I chose not to during my visit. Its looming, sometimes smouldering, presence adds so much drama to the island’s east coast. I can’t wait to see it up close one day.

But a place that equally appeals to me now and is far less well-known is the Madonie Mountains. These mountains sit within a natural park at the centre of the island’s north coast. While planning my trip to Sicily I didn’t even know about them, and by the time fellow travellers had recommended them as a great place to go hiking it was too late to change plans.

Then I chatted with a man with family near there who said how beautiful it is there. A little bit of research later and the mountains are very high on my list for next time. Which is why I mention them now, so you can know before you go and maybe factor them into your plans.

7. Sicilian Pride

While it shouldn’t necessarily be a surprise, it’s hard to describe just how proud of Sicily the people of the island seem to be. You definitely notice the fervent pride in Sicily and everything Sicilian, even when doing the most generic touristy things. Sicilian flags are everywhere, as are the island’s distinctive ceramics, but that’s just the start.

It truly becomes clear when you talk to Sicilians about Sicily. During my stay in Piazza Armerina I met and dined with an Australian/Sicilian guide who been showing tourists around for decades. I was genuinely taken aback by just how much he raved about how great everything to do with Sicily was, from its heritage and culture to the produce and the people. Even when he talked about the dark history of the past related to the Sicilian Mafia, he found positives to focus on.

Were he talking about a country, you’d call it unwavering patriotism. But Sicily isn’t a country, at least nowadays. But I’ve never really experienced this sort of regional pride in a place without a strong modern separatist movement like Catalonia.

I personally find that sort of intense, passionate pride hard to swallow because everywhere has flaws, but it did make me reflect on everything I’d seen and realise just how strong the Sicilian identity is. And what is more interesting when you travel than exploring the identity of a destination?

Resources for Visiting Sicily

• Getting There: To find the cheapest and most useful flights to Sicily make sure to check Kayak .
• Accommodation: Here you can find hotels, apartments and guesthouses throughout Sicily , plus don’t forget Airbnb.
• Tours: There are countless day trips and sightseeing tours available for exploring Sicily, plus longer Sicily tours .
• Car Hire: If you want to travel more independently, consider renting a car to drive yourself about.
• Managing Money: Lastly, the Wise card can be a great option for getting cash out and making purchases .

Have you had the opportunity to visit Sicily during your travels? What advice do you have for people spending 7 days in Sicily or longer? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

David is the author behind the Travelsewhere travel blog and is always on the search for the quieter, less-visited corners of the world.

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Sicily has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. I go every summer for the food, people and beaches. You can stay a month and not see everything there is to experience on this beautiful island.

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Touropia Travel Experts

Discover the World

10 Best Places to Visit in Sicily

The largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily lies at the toe of Italy’s “boot,” separated from the mainland by the narrow Strait of Messina. Home to Europe’s tallest active volcano, Sicily is a mountainous island with rugged landscapes tamed by centuries of cultivation and deforestation. The range of cultures that have dominated the island over its long history have left their mark as well, and while rumbling Mount Etna remains a strong tourist draw, many visitors come to Sicily to explore its diverse array of archeological wonders.

The outlying Aeolian Islands are also popular places to visit in Sicily . With its unique cuisine, temperate climate and sandy beaches, a vacation in sunny Sicily is always memorable.

Map of Sicily

10. Monreale [SEE MAP]

Monreale is a small town located near the city of Palermo , the capital of Sicily. The city sits atop a hill overlooking the Golden Shell, a valley known for its olive, orange and almond trees. The city’s star attraction, however, is the magnificent Cathedral of Monreale, a stunning example of Norman architecture. Although the church has a rather unimpressive façade, the interiors are breathtaking. The Italian cloisters are famed for both their size and incredible detail, but it’s the mosaics covering the walls that make this cathedral so special. Almost every square inch of the interiors gleams spectacular mosaic images set against a gold background.

9. Erice [SEE MAP]

Situated on the summit of Mount Erice, the town of Erice overlooks the city of Trapani nearly a half mile below, making a visit to Erice worthwhile for the views alone. Reached by cable cars from Trapani, the historic city also offers visitors to Sicily a break from the hot summer sun as temperatures tend to be cool and crisp here year round. The town’s main attractions are two medieval castles, one built by Arabs, the other by Britons. The Norman castle was built atop an ancient Temple of Venus.

8. Doric Temple of Segesta [SEE MAP]

Located in the northwestern part of Sicily, Segesta was one of the major cities of the Elymians, an indigenous population of Sicily who also founded Erice. The Doric temple that lies just outside the ancient site is well preserved. It was built in the late 5th century BC and has 6×14 Doric columns. Several things suggest that the temple was never actually finished. The Doric columns have not been fluted as they normally would have been and the temple also seems to have lacked a roof over the main chamber. The setting of the Temple, perched on a hill, is simply beautiful with views that stretch right down to the sea.

7. Villa Romana del Casale [SEE MAP]

Located on the outskirts of the town of Piazza Armerina in southern central Sicily, the Villa Romana del Casale is one of the island’s must-see attractions. The 4th-century Roman villa features one of the largest and best-preserved collections of ancient mosaics in the world. Each of the main rooms in the villa has a mosaic floor decorated in a specific theme, including a hedonistic mosaic in the main bedroom. The mosaic depicting the Olympic games is the most famous as it features the first image of women wearing what are known today as bikinis.

6. Syracuse [SEE MAP]

Also known as Siracusa, Syracuse was once considered the most important city of the ancient Western world. The 2,700-year-old city is mentioned in the Bible, in the writings of Cicero and in the myths and legends of many civilizations. The oldest part of Syracuse is situated offshore on the island of Ortiga and is filled with historic temples, churches and important archeological sites, including a necropolis that dates back from 1270 B.C. Theatrical productions are still staged at the 5th-centry Greek Theatre, which boasts one of the largest seating areas ever built by the ancient Greeks.

5. Palermo [SEE MAP]

Sicily’s bustling capital city, Palermo has a history that dates back 2,700 years. Founded by the Phoenicians, the city reached its cultural peak during its Arab occupation when Palermo was called the “city of delights” for its beautiful gardens and architecture. Today, the city is known more for its boisterous street markets than for its cultural attractions, although there are first-class museums and historic churches in Palermo well worth exploring. The top attraction is the Catacombe dei Cappuccini, an underground maze of open crypts beneath the Capuchin monastery. Some of the 8,000 mummified human remains are extraordinarily well-preserved but creepy.

4. Aeolian Islands [SEE MAP]

Located off the northern shore of Sicily, the Aeolian Islands attract around 200,000 visitors each year. The seven islands that make up the archipelago are the result of volcanic and seismic activity, and climbing the active volcanoes on the islands of Stomboli and Vulcano attract adventurous travelers from around the world. Most visitors, however, come to the Aeolians for their picturesque white-washed villages and luxury resorts. With steaming fumaroles located on most of the isles, relaxing in a percolating pool of mud or lazing in bubbling thermal waters are popular activities as well.

3. Taormina [SEE MAP]

Perched on a cliff near Mount Etna on the island’s eastern shoreline, Taormina has long been a popular place to visit in Sicily. Well-heeled travelers have been including the resort town on their itineraries since the 19th century. There are scenic beaches near the city to enjoy too, and as they’re only accessible by an aerial tramway, traveling to them is half the fun. The Teatro Greco is Taormina’s most popular attraction. While the architecture of the amphitheater is Roman, its layout indicates that it was built upon an older Greek theater. Although the original seats have been replaced, much of the 2nd-century theater remains intact.

2. Mount Etna [SEE MAP]

One of the world’s most active volcanoes, Mount Etna stands around 3,300 meters (11,000 feet) tall, towering over the east coast of Sicily. Most of the volcano’s eruptions occur at the summit, continually adding to or subtracting from the mountain’s height. During the winter, visitors come to Etna to ski on its snowy slopes. In warm-weather months, adventurous travelers make their way to Rifugio Sapienza, a popular departure point for climbs up the mountain. Accessible by private car, the ski station Piano Provenzana on Etna’s less active northern slopes has tour operators who drive visitors up to the Volcanic Observatory station or up to the main crater.

1. Valley of the Temples [SEE MAP]

The city of Agrigento on the southern coast of Sicily was a city of great importance in Ancient Greece, and it’s the archaeological remnants of its gloried past that make the town a popular travel destination. Just outside the city lies the Valley of the Temples where a series of 5th-century Doric temples stand on a ridge facing the sea. Of these, the temples attributed to the goddesses Concordia and Juno Lacinia in the eastern section are the best-preserved. The western section features the unfinished Temple of Zeus, the largest Doric temple ever unearthed.

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Reader interactions.

November 6, 2017 at 8:41 am

I live in Milo, Catania, directly on the most active Volcano in Europe. I am very happy to hear about my beautiful island and its many attractions.

May 17, 2017 at 6:23 am

We also visited Palermo this year. Nice city anyway. There are some best sights to see. Highly recommended. We love Palermo!

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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

Are you planning a holiday in Sicily? Our Information Offices, located in the most popular tourist locations on the island, can provide you with useful advice for planning your trip.

Assistance continues upon your arrival! Our counters are ready to welcome you to offer any useful information.

Opening hours to the public:

From Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 13.30 Wednesday from 16.00 to 18.00

• AGRIGENTO Via Empedocle, 73 Tel. +39 092 220391 [email protected]

SCIACCA (Agrigento) Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 84 Tel. +39 0925 22744 [email protected]

• CALTANISSETTA Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 109 Tel. +39 0934 583692 [email protected]
• GELA (Caltanissetta) Viale Mediterraneo, 3 (Palazzo Municipale) Tel. +39 0933 913788 [email protected]
• CATANIA Via Beato Bernardo, 5 – Via Etnea, 8 (Piazza Duomo – Museo Diocesano) Tel. +39 095 7477415 [email protected]
• ACIREALE (Catania) Via Romeo, 2 (Piazza Duomo) Tel. +39 095 891999 [email protected]

CALTAGIRONE (Catania) Via Volta Libertini, 4 Tel. +39 0933 350093 [email protected]

• LINGUAGLOSSA Etna Nord (Catania) Piazza Annunziata, angolo Via Marconi Tel. +39 095 643677 [email protected]
• NICOLOSI Etna Sud (Catania) Piazza Vittorio Emanuele Tel. +39 095 914488 [email protected]

ENNA Servizio Turistico Regionale n.15- Enna Piazza VI Dicembre, 6 Tel. +39 0935 500875 [email protected]

• PIAZZA ARMERINA (Enna) Via Gen.le Muscarà, 47/A Tel. +39 0935 680201 [email protected]
• MESSINA Via dei Mille, 270 is. 87/A Tel. +39 090 2935292 [email protected]
• MONTALBANO ELICONA (Messina) Via Roma Tel. +39 0941 678019 [email protected]
• ISOLE EOLIE (Messina) Via Maurolico, 47 – Lipari Tel. +39 090 9880095 [email protected]
• MILAZZO (Messina) Tel. +39 090 9222865 [email protected]
• PATTI (Messina) Piazza Guglielmo Marconi, 11 Tel. +39 0941 241136 [email protected]

CAPO D’ORLANDO (Messina) Contrada Bagnoli presso Porto Marina Tel. +39 0941 912784 [email protected]

• TAORMINA (Messina) Tel. +39 0942 23243 [email protected]
• GIARDINI NAXOS (Messina) Lungomare Tysandros, 54 Tel. +39 0942 51010 [email protected]
• PALERMO Via Notarbartolo, 9 Tel. +39 091 7078035 [email protected]
• CEFALU’ (Palermo) Corso Ruggero, 77 Tel. +39 0921 421458 – 421050 [email protected]

RAGUSA Via Ducezio, 2 Tel. +39 0932 082396 [email protected]

• SIRACUSA Via Maestranza, 33 Tel.+39 0931 464255 [email protected]

TRAPANI Piazza Umberto I, 15 (interno Stazione) Tel. +39 0923 540993 [email protected]

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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

Must-see attractions.

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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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.

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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

13 of the most beautiful villages and towns in Sicily

I f you found yourself dreaming of a trip to Sicily this year, you are not alone. The island's popularity soared this year thanks to its appearance on the popular HBO series, "The White Lotus," as did one of its most luxurious staging posts, San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel, where the show was filmed.

Part of a larger trend toward "set-jetting" — the phenomenon whereby movies and TV shows inspire travel itineraries — Sicily has dominated social media and Google searches this year. Hoppe r reported that Palermo was one of the top trending destinations for airfare searches this summer, with a 90% spike in interest.

While many travelers flocked to Sicily this year to indulge their White Lotus fantasies — facilitated by new luxe resorts like Rocco Forte's Ville Igiea in Palermo and, of course, the aforementioned San Domenico Palace in Taormina — Sicily's distinctive culture and traditions far and away transcend its moment in the media spotlight.

The largest island in the Mediterranean has long been something of a hidden gem, drawing European jet-setters in the know. It's home to gorgeous, UNESCO-inscribed villages, dazzling beaches, a wine and cuisine scene that easily rivals Italy's mainland, and even its Mount Etna volcano. Sicily is one of the best places in Europe to hire a car and explore without any prescribed agenda.

From the baroque towns of Val di Noto to villages with medieval castles and quaint beachfront fishing communities, Sicily's sheer diversity of cultural and natural treasures enthralls travelers who want to experience the more authentic side of one of Europe's hottest destinations.

Scicli is dramatically sited in a valley sandwiched between rocky cliffs. It's situated in the southeast area of the island, and it's one of the seven famed Val di Noto baroque towns.

Like many towns in the Val di Noto, it was heavily damaged by the 1693 earthquake and rebuilt in baroque style. It's affectionately known as the setting for the hit Italian television series, "Commissario Montalbano."

Plan to explore the city on foot, starting on Via Francisco Mormino Penna, a street with several baroque palaces and churches all constructed in local white stone. Don't miss the emblematic baroque Palazzo Beneventano, an ornate 18th-century palace (the original building dates to the Middle Ages) with a courtyard hailed as the most beautiful in Sicily.

Draped over Mount Marone and dramatically framed by Mount Etna, Gangi is often called the most beautiful village in Italy. Crowned by the 14th-century Ventimiglia castle, the town's charm lies in its authentic Sicilian ambience and evocative medieval alleyways photogenically lined with two- and three-story stone houses.

In the San Nicolo Church, you can visit the rather macabre "tomb of dead priests" (or fossa de parrini), where a crypt contains niches with about 100 mummified priests thought to have lived in Gangi from around 1720-1850.

One of Sicily's most well-known beach towns , Cefalu has more than just golden sands and azure waters.

Visit the 12th-century cathedral, complete with Renaissance sculptures and Byzantine mosaics. If you have some energy to spare, hike the massive Rocca mountain that towers above the town until you reach the old castle remains. If it looks vaguely familiar, this former fishing village was the setting for the Oscar-winning movie "Cinema Paradiso."

This stunning island, once inhabited by Greeks, is filled with ancient monuments and historic churches. Its picturesque squares are lined with elaborate palazzi, and its labyrinthine streets are dotted with shops, cafes, restaurants and bars.

Connected to Sicily's mainland by two bridges, it's best to park your car in Siracusa and walk over to Ortigia's old town. Don't miss the Piazza del Duomo, with its showstopping Duomo, the oldest church in Europe.

Another highlight is the town's lively food markets (pick up some pistachios — Sicily has thousands of acres of pistachio trees). Fresh swordfish is a local delicacy that you'll find on chalkboard menus in many restaurants.

Erice's claim to fame is its Venere Castle, which sits atop the fabled mountain peak of Ertz and boasts expansive views of the Sicilian countryside and the sea.

Within the town's 12th-century walls, you'll find an array of churches — its moniker is the "city of 100 churches." The most famous is the imposing Norman Erice cathedral, built with stones from Rome's Temple of Venus; it's distinctive for its freestanding bell tower and intricately carved vaulted ceiling. The church dates to 1314 but was rebuilt in its current Gothic style in 1865.

You'll find the town's greatest joys wandering its streets, which feature antique stores, craft shops, restaurants, cafes and bakeries (almond pastries are renowned here).

The second of what will be a few of the iconic UNESCO-designed Val di Noto baroque villages on this list, Modica's never-ending rooftops rise along the surrounding hills. Before the earthquake of 1693, the medieval old town was carved into the rock face. Now built on top of the ridge, it's an evocative maze of stunning baroque facades, extravagant churches and beautiful palaces connected by stairways.

Make sure to see the San Giorgio cathedral, and for an afternoon snack, sample some chocolate . The ancient recipe uses special grinding methods at frigid temperatures sans cocoa butter for a grainy and bold taste.

North of Taormina in the province of Messina, Savoca is set between Sicily's aqua waters and the Peloritani mountain range. It's surrounded by vineyards and olive groves.

Another cinematic backdrop, iconic scenes from Francis Ford Coppola's movie "The Godfather" were shot there — most memorably, the wedding of Michael Corleone and Apollonia at church of San Nicolo. Fans of the film should also stop into Bar Vitelli (another famous filming location) for a glass of local wine.

Ragusa Ibla

Nestled among craggy peaks, Ragusa's old town (Ragusa Ibla) is one of the most spectacular spots to view from a distance.

The striking town sits upon a hilltop, complete with blue-domed churches and pink and yellowed crumbling baroque buildings. With its charming tangle of streets and elegant squares lined with gray stone houses and palaces, Ragusa is one of the best places on the island to just relax and watch Sicilian life unfold.

The town is divided into two distinct parts: Ragusa Superiore is the town's more modern enclave with a more prosaic vibe, while Ragusa Ibla is the town's beautifully preserved historic center that unfurls down the hillside. Don't miss sites include the church of San Giorgio and the San Giovanni Cathedral.

Built right into the stone of the surrounding mountains, Sperlinga sounds suspiciously like the word spelunking — caving. As you might guess, there are numerous caves carved into the stone throughout the village, and you can explore them all. Find the best views can by hiking up to the Sperlinga castle, which overlooks the village.

Related: The best way to travel to Europe using points and miles

Novara di Sicilia

Nestled between the two mountain ranges of Nebrodi and Peloritani, Novara di Sicilia has spectacular views from pretty much any angle. Built from local sandstone beneath the remnants of an ancient castle, most of the village dates to the 17th century. The oldest building is the small and unassuming 13th-century Church of St. Francis.

If you're lucky, you'll visit during one of the many food festivals this village has throughout the year, dedicated to local products such as hazelnuts, Maiorchino cheese and bread. If not, you can simply wander the village's magical streets.

The town is steeped in myth — legend has it that Cyclops once lived in Novara di Sicilia.

San Vito Lo Capo

Shoulder season (May-June and September-October) is the best time to visit San Vito Lo Capo, one of Sicily's most beautiful beach villages , to beat the crowds but still have perfect weather. You may not associate couscous as a Sicilian specialty, but the village has an entire festival dedicated to the food each September.

Castiglione di Sicilia

With views of the volcano Mount Etna, this village is similar to many other Sicilian towns in that it has a signature 12th-century castle and many churches. One of the most distinctive is the Santa Domenica chapel, a small stone structure built by Byzantine monks.

This tiny fishing village is famous for its tonnara or tuna fish. It's also a popular beach spot for tourists and locals alike in the summer when the population increases exponentially. People-watching over a spritz in the main plaza, Piazza Regina Margherita, is the activity of choice for a warm, summery evening.

Bottom line

With so much to see and do in a beautiful country like Italy, it can be hard to figure out where to start. But if you end up in Sicily , the best way to explore the island is by car.

Taormina may have stolen the limelight this year thanks to "The White Lotus" effect, but once you get off the beaten path, you'll find stunning villages with timeless cultural traditions at every turn. Make sure to add some of them to your Sicilian vacation itinerary.

Related reading:

• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you're a beginner or expert traveler
• The best travel credit cards
• The 18 best places to travel in 2023
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can't travel without

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

These Are the 10 Best Hotels in Sicily

Baroque cities. archaeological ruins. sun and sand. multicultural cuisine. sicily has it all—and these are its top 10 hotels and resorts..

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A guest room at San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel

Courtesy of San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel

Sicily is a tapestry of cultures and landscapes with more than 2,500 years of history—all under the watchful eyes of the majestic Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano. Sicily is not quite 10,000 square miles—about the size of Maryland—yet everything from art and archaeology to cuisine and landscapes can change in a short drive.

When White Lotus Season 2 aired in 2022, Sicily travel skyrocketed. But Italy’s largest island has long been on the list of keyed-in travelers as one of Italy’s most compelling destinations, and in the past few years, the hotel scene has grown significantly. Here, historic grand hotels contrast with charming bed-and-breakfasts and rustic farmhouses. As part of AFAR’s Hotels We Love series, we’ve scoured the island to round up the 10 most exciting places to stay, whether you’re in search of a beach vacation or immersion in ancient history.

Four Seasons San Domenico Palace

• Location: Taormina
• Why we love it: A 14th-century monastery turned luxury retreat with sea views

Located in one of Taormina’s prettiest but most precarious locations (on the bluffs of the hill town), Four Seasons San Domenico Palace began its life in the 14th century as a monastery before transforming into a luxury retreat in 1896. These days, it’s Instagram famous, thanks to its starring role in the second season of White Lotus , and it’s easy to see why it was such a compelling setting. The resort features panoramic views of the Ionian Sea, Mount Etna, and the ruins of the town’s ancient Greek theater. San Domenico Palace also has its own lavender-scented, lemon tree–lined private garden and a 70-foot-long infinity pool that seemingly drops into the sea.

The resort’s 111 guest rooms and suites feature original frescoes and have French doors that let in cool Mediterranean breezes, while the Michelin-starred restaurant Principe Cerami features fresh-caught seafood in such dishes as langoustine with green apples and celeriac, and turbot with artichokes and Etna olives. While San Domenico Palace does not have its own beach club, guests can book a lettino (sun bed) at nearby Nuova Spiaggia Paradiso, La Caravella, and Caparena for some time in the sand. From $2,442

Grand Hotel Timeo, a Belmond Hotel

Grand Hotel Timeo, a Belmond Hotel, has light-filled halls with wooden floors and large glass windows.

Courtesy of Grand Hotel Timeo, a Belmond Hotel

• Why we love it: A storied grande dame with modern hospitality touches

For 150 years, Grand Hotel Timeo, a Belmond Hotel , has reigned as Sicily’s grande dame—and rightfully so. With private gardens and terraced bars overlooking the Ionian Sea, belle epoque interiors, and a Michelin-starred restaurant, the resort has a century-old guest book of such luminaries as Tennessee Williams, D.H. Lawrence (who penned Lady Chatterley’s Lover here), Rudolf Valentino, Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Bob Dylan, Sophia Loren, and Truman Capote (who wrote Breakfast at Tiffany’s here). Located just off Taormina’s main strip, the hotel is an enclave from the high-season tourism hordes, while its garden sits adjacent to Taormina’s extraordinary third-century CE Greek amphitheater.

Timeo’s 70 rooms and suites, with their high ceilings and large windows, are sumptuously decorated with gilt mirrors and framed paintings on crisp white walls. The hotel’s grounds include a Louis Vuitton café, a lavish spa with the indulgent Le Jardin des Rêves Dior outdoor wellness area, and the Michelin-starred Otto Geleng, where chef Roberto Toro creates masterpieces including octopus with escarole and wild fennel and red mullet with foie gras. Timeo guests have access to Taormina sister property Villa Sant’Andrea ’s beach, which can be reached via a complimentary shuttle. From $2,591

Hotel Principe di Salina

A guest room at Hotel Principe di Salina

Courtesy of Hotel Principe di Salina

• Location: Salina
• Why we love it: For a tranquil island escape off Sicily

For those looking to get off the grid: Head north on a 3.5-hour ferry ride from Sicily’s port town of Capo di Orlando to Salina, an island in the Aeolian archipelago, and check into Hotel Principe di Salina . Located on the northern edge of Salina in the tiny town of Malfa, the boutique hotel is owned and run by Anita Mottai, who has a miraculous ability to make each guest feel as if they’ve just come home.

The 12 guest rooms, decorated with white walls, crisp white bedding, and blond wood furnishings, each have views of sunrise and sunset, not to mention panoramas of Stromboli, one of the archipelago’s more active volcanos. The white-on-white decor, wide windows and terraces, and azure pool may be reminiscent of the Greek isles, but Principe di Salina is all Sicilian, from the attitude to the cooking classes focused on Sicilian cuisine and a communal dining experience. From $340

Il San Corrado di Noto

A suite at Il San Corrado di Noto

Courtesy of Il San Corrado di Noto

• Location: Noto
• Why we love it: An elegant resort near some of Sicily’s most alluring Sicilian baroque cities

The former farmhouse home of a Sicilian nobleman, Il San Corrado di Noto is a destination unto itself, with 26 suites and eight private pool villas, an onsite restaurant focusing on Sicilian cooking, and two fabulous swimming pools. Suites and villas are styled with a neutral palette, stay-in-all-day four-poster beds, and resplendent travertine marble bathrooms. Suites have additional private furnished patios, while villas have large living rooms, private pools, and just enough distance from the main structure that you feel solitude.

The Relais & Châteaux property offers culinary classes, yoga in a private pavilion, and tennis lessons at the tennis court, while a state-of-the-art fitness room and a spa with treatments from deep tissue massages to Tibet sound rituals. Il San Corrado is also located at the center of the Val di Noto province, making it an ideal jumping-off point for exploring the nearby Sicilian baroque cities of Modica, Ragusa, Noto, and Ortigia in Syracuse. It’s also a quick 20-minute drive from the fine-sand beaches of Sicily’s southeastern coast. From $800

La Foresteria Planeta

A guest room at La Foresteria

Courtesy of La Foresteria

• Location: Menfi
• Why we love it: A wine-focused seaside escape

Vineyard views, Sicilian delicacies, and a sea breeze: what more could you want? The Planeta family has infused their 500-year, 17-generation ancestry in Sicily into their hospitality at La Foresteria , a 14-room boutique country hotel a 10-minute drive from the charming sea village of Menfi and a seven-minute drive from the coast. Terroir is the focus here, thanks to Planeta’s fabulous wine offerings (guests can visit all of Planeta’s five wineries across the island) and its country chic trattoria where chef Angelo Pumilia blends traditional Sicilian cooking with ideas from his culinary escapades in Asia (don’t miss his spicy ribs).

Each guest room has a terrace that connects to the estate’s larger working garden, where all of La Foresteria’s herbs and vegetables are grown. While the resort has its own Insula Beach Club on the coastline for guests to use, it’s hard to beat sunset with a glass of rosè while looking out at the vineyards. From $256 . Read AFAR’s full article on hotels that feel like $1,000 a night, but are only $300.

Monaci delle Terre Nere

A villa at Monaci delle Terre Nere in Sicily

Courtesy of Monaci delle Terre Nere

• Location: Zafferana Etnea
• Why we love it: A rustic-chic agriturismo with serious eco credentials

Located in the green countryside at the foot of Mount Etna, Monaci delle Terre Nere is a wine resort set on a 60-acre organic estate once tended to by Augustinian monks. Sustainability isn’t a buzzword here, but rather a way of life. The Relais & Châteaux property is one of only three hotels in Sicily to be awarded eco-bio certification. The guest rooms, housed in a 19th-century villa, have a sleek, minimalist feel, with blond wood floors, white walls, and sliding glass doors facing the surrounding countryside, while original wood-beam ceilings feature prominently in the ceilings.

Owner Guido Coffa recovered 30 varieties of ancient seeds for the vegetable garden, where 150 types of native fruits and trees grow, providing ingredients for the restaurant Locanda Nerello, which adheres to the Slow Food movement. Guests—especially little ones—are invited to collect eggs and help farmers take care of the chickens, while adults can relax with an open-air ayurvedic treatment or try a cocktail masterclass in the estate’s garden. From $575

Palazzo Artemide

Hotel Artemide sits next to the Duomo on Ortigia’s main piazza.

Courtesy of Palazzo Artemide

• Location: Ortigia
• Why we love it: A recently refreshed hotel that puts all of Ortigia’s attractions within easy reach

Formerly known as Hotel Roma, this member of Italian hospitality group VRetreats Collection is the oldest hotel in Ortigia, the historic center of Syracuse connected to the mainland by two bridges. Set right next to the Duomo on Ortigia’s main piazza, Palazzo Artemide is surrounded by some of the island’s most alluring sights, restaurants, bars, shops, and beaches lapped by the turquoise Mediterranean.

A recent renovation of the hotel preserved its historic architecture, including arches, vaulted ceilings, and decorative stone elements, while updating furnishings and fabrics. The 40 guest rooms and suites, some with balconies, are designed in a neoclassical style with cool blues and grays and dark wood furnishings. The Amunì restaurant showcases contemporary Sicilian cuisine (think eggplant-stuffed ravioli). The hotel is certified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council for its eco-conscious practices, including the use of 100 percent renewable energy and biodegradable products instead of single-use plastic. From $234

Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte Hotel

Some suites at the Verdura Resort in Sicily have a private pool.

Courtesy of Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte Hotel

• Location: Sciacca
• Why we love it: A sprawling resort with a private beach and spacious villas

Rocco Forte’s first property in Sicily is a massive resort with 203 guest rooms, 20 villas, four restaurants, two bars, a sprawling spa, three golf courses, and a private beach, all less than an hour from the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Agrigento. Residential-style accommodations, some with outdoor terraces and private pools, are clad in dark-wood floors covered in thick carpets. The resort is set on a 28,000-square-foot organic farm with olive trees, orange trees, almond trees, cacti, pomegranate trees, and lemon trees, whose fruits are used to produce olive oil for eating and skincare products for the Irene Forte line used at all of Rocco Forte’s hotels. Little ones can play at the Verdura Resort ‘s Kids Club while their parents hit the golf course or relax during the seawater-based thalassotherapy circuit at the spa. From $426

Villa Athena

Villa Athena is located near some of Agrigento’s best archaeological sites.

Courtesy of Villa Athena

• Location: Agrigento
• Why we love it: A charming retreat with easy access to the UNESCO-designated Valley of the Temples
• Loyalty program: Invited (Small Luxury Hotels of the World)

For more than 2,500 years, the resplendent Greek ruins of the Valley of the Temples has loomed over Agrigento. Villa Athena is located within the archaeological park, offering a literal front row to the iconic fifth-century B.C. Temple of Concordia. The hotel has an exclusive entrance to the ruins for guests and offers postcard-worthy sunrises and sunsets at its on-site restaurants.

Each of the 27 sprawling guest rooms and suites face unobstructed views, whether of the ancient temples or the serene olive groves that surround the property. Ask for the Deluxe Room with a Temple View (with a private veranda), or spring for the luscious Villa Suite, which has an enormous private terrace with a bang-on view of the temple. From $742

Villa Igiea, a Rocco Forte Hotel

The Donna Franca Suite at Villa Igiea

Courtesy of Villa Igiea, a Rocco Forte Hotel

• Location: Palermo
• Why we love it: A belle epoque grande dame in Sicily’s bustling capital

Transformed into a grand hotel in the early 1900s by the wealthy Florio family, Villa Igiea played host to royalty and celebrities like King Edward VII of England, the Vanderbilts, and J.P. Morgan in its heyday and was restored to its former glory by Rocco Forte Hotels in 2021. The redesign brightened up the hotel’s 100 rooms and public spaces while preserving original architectural details like the art nouveau frescoes by Ernesto Basile. Today’s guests can sip spritzes by the pool overlooking the sea; rub elbows with Palermo’s high society at Florio Restaurant, where lauded chef Fulvio Pierangelini oversees the menu; play tennis; indulge in a massage at the Irene Forte Spa; explore the beautiful gardens; and venture out to experience everything Sicily’s bustling capital has to offer. From $585

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• I vitigni etnei
• Cantine Siciliane
• Strada del Val di Noto e di Siracusa
• Strada del vino d’Alcamo DOC e Val di Mazara
• Strada del vino Cerasuolo di Vittoria
• Strada del vino dell’Etna
• Strada del vino della provincia di Messina
• Strada del vino di Marsala Terre d’Occidente
• Strada del vino e dei sapori Castelli Nisseni
• Strada del vino Erice DOC
• Strada del vino Terre Sicane
• Strada del vino Val di Mazara
• Strada del vino Malvasia di Lipari
• Strada del vino e dei sapori della Valle dei Templi
• Strada del vino Monreale DOC
• Strada del Vino sul Percorso della Targa Florio

Esplora la Sicilia

Scopri i posti migliori dove mangiare, bere, fare acquisti più vicini a te.

Dai solo un'occhiata? Lasciati consigliare qualcosa di interessante...

Scopri Luoghi da Sogno

Vieni e innamorati assieme a noi dei luoghi da sogno che abbiamo trovato sul nostro cammino.

Posti più Popolari

Non sai che monumento valga la pena vedere? Non sai dove andare a mangiare? Sei indeciso su quale museo visitare? Ecco la nostra sezione dedicata ai posti scelti proprio da voi.

Alcamo, TP, Italia

Taormina & Castelmola

Via Papa Pio IX, 19, 98030 Castelmola ME

Siracusa & Ortigia

Via Luigi Bernabò Brea, 96100 Siracusa SR

Tour Taormina e Aperitivo in Barca

Taormina, 98039 ME

Etna Summit Craters

Piazzale Rifugio Sapienza, 95030 Nicolosi CT

Catania Centro Storico

Via Cardinale Dusmet, 13, 95121 Catania CT

Escursione Etna da Catania

Via Bologna, 8, 95034 Bronte CT

Spiaggia di Vendicari

Tour Consigliati

Abbiamo selezionato i tour più interessanti e suggestivi che noi di Visit Sicily abbiamo provato per voi: eccovi una lista di emozioni imperdibili.

Taormina & Castelmol...

Chiama +39 351 346 3400

• Mostra Mappa

Chiama +393513463400

Tour Taormina e Aperitivo...

Escursione Etna da Catani...

I mercati più antichi di Cata

Se stai visitando il centro di Catania, ti imbatterai sicuramente nei due grandi mercati della città: A Fera 'O Luni e 'A Piscarìa. Il primo si svo..

• Al gusto di Sicilia Itinerari Lo sapevi che...
• Aprile 23, 2024

Le 6 curiosità che (forse) no

Scopri le 6 curiosità affascinanti sulla città di Catania, dalla sua storia mill..

• Aprile 22, 2024

Le leggende di Piazza Univers

Piazza Università nasconde non una, ma ben quattro leggende rappresentate dai fa..

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Itinerario Sicilia Orientale:

Adagiata sulle coste del Mar Mediterraneo, la Sicilia orientale incanta i vi..

• Aprile 19, 2024