sicily tours 5 days

An Italian Mama's Guide to Italy

5 days in Sicily itinerary: how to see the best of Sicily in less than a week

5 days in Sicily itinerary ideas: Eastern Sicily and Western Sicily road trip ideas for all types of travelers.

Sicily is a wonderful destination, blessed with beautiful archaeological sites, stunning cities, beautiful sea and some of the best food in Italy.

Visiting Sicily, you are likely to see very beautiful places pretty much no matter where you go however, Sicily is big so some planning is necessary.

In this article, I going to recommend two Sicily itineraries, both for 5 days in Sicily: one focuses on the East side of the island and one focuses on the West, both including Sicily highlights and places I believe a first trip to Sicily should include.

5 days in Sicily itinerary in Eastern Sicily

Eastern Sicily is a wonderful part of the island, with a varies landscapes and avaiable experiences.

Our itinerary started from Taormina, which we reached by train from Rome, but you can easily also explore this area arriving at Catania international airport, Messina, Palermo and even Comiso (small, Ryanair airport in the South of the island).

This itinerary requires a car however, some locations such as Taormina – Catania – Siracusa area connected by good trains.

Day 1 – Taormina

Taormina is one of the most famous destinations in the whole of Sicily, a small town known glamour, views and a stunning ancient theater that is unique in the world.

Taormina is a small center and a place you can visit in one day or that you can use as a base to explore the area.

The main things to see and do in Taormina are:

• Visit the ancient theater , a stunning archaeological ruins in a scenic location – this is one of the most beautiful historical sites in Italy and, in my opinion, the world.
• Visit the pretty city center and notice the small churches, alleys and colorful shops of this manicured town
• Admire the view over Mount Etna and the sea from the town’s gardens
• Take the gondola to small Isola Bella and its pretty beach

You can find our full guide to Taormina here .

Day 2: Siracusa

Siracusa is a beautiful city on the eastern Coast of Sicily, South Catania, famous for a stunning historical city center and one of the most famous archaeological parks in Italy: Parco della Neapolis.

For this Sicily itinerary, I have devoted only one day to Siracusa but you can easily spend at least two days here and not run out of things to do. If you add local excursions, you can actually spend a week here and not run out of things to do!

A day in Siracusa is however very satisfactory and you can see the two most famous parts of town: Ortigia (city center) and archaeological park.

I recommend you start your day in Siracusa in Ortigia, the historical center of town. Ortigia is geographically a small island but it is easy to access via pedestrian bridges that link it to the modern part of town.

Once you are in, you will lovely small alleys, elegant squares, the famous Arethusa Fountain, already in existence at the time of Siracusa’s foundation, the remains of the temple of Apollo and one of the most beautiful squares in Italy: Piazza del Duomo.

In the afternoon, i recommend you take e bus shuttle to the archaeological park.

Highlights here are the ancient Greek theater, still now in use for representation of classical Greek theater performances and the latomie .

The Latomie are quarries excavated in tall rock faces: in ancient times, they were used as labor camp for war prisoners and were one of the reasons Siracusa was feared in the antiquity as a powerful and dangerous enemy.

the latomie are impressive and the entrance is reachable by an easy path with luscious vegetation: a must see.

Good to know : this archaeological park is one of the easiest historical sites to visit in Italy with kids, so a perfect stop for families too.

You can find my guide to one day in Siracusa here .

Day 3: Marzamemi and Noto

I recommend you spend you third out of these five days in Sicily exploring two very different and very beautiful towns: Marzamemi and Noto.

Marzamemi is a small fishing village on the South-eastern Coast of Sicily and it is a place you may have sen photos of thanks to its huge Instagram fame.

Indeed, the place is a delight.

The village has a main square now filled with local restaurants with outdoor tables and colorful decor and it is also famous for beautiful tonnara (tuna fishing station), that is now used for special events.

The village is tiny and pretty, and a perfect stop for lunch.

In the afternoon, I recommend you visit Noto, the town giving the name to the UNESCO famous Val di Noto, known for it important and stunning baroque churches and architecture.

Noto is a delight, especially if you see it at sunset, when the sun sets over the cream tones of the elaborate facades of this beautiful town.

This is a wonderful place to sightsee in the afternoon and also a good locality to spend the night.

Day 4: Ragusa Ibla and Modica

Ragusa Ibla and Modica are two beautiful towns in Southern Sicily part of the same UNESCO World heritage area as Noto.

They are both famous for incredible baroque architecture and Montalbano lovers will also recognize this area as the backdrop of the TV series episodes!

Both towns are worth seeing and they are close enough to each other that you can see them both in one day.

Good to know : as well as architecture, Modica is famous for the production of some of the best artisan chocolate in Italy !

Day 5 – Piazza Armerina and Palermo

Day 5, the last day of this 5 day in Sicily itinerary, is a good day to see two more important and beautiful sights in Sicily: Piazza Armerina, a beautiful town with a historical city center and an important Roman Villa, and Palermo.

Pelermo deserves more than one day but this is the case for most of the locations in this itinerary and I think it is good to know you can get a taste of this beautiful city even with only a few hours in the city center.

Piazza Armerina is one the way and you can easily stop for a visit, if you prefer to limit your time in the big city and want to soak up a last afternoon in a typically Sicilian town.

5 days Western Sicily itinerary

If you prefer to explore Western Sicily, then I recommend you follow this 5 day itinerary, perfect if you want to stay West of Palermo and see locations such as Erice and the famous Valley of the temples.

Day 1 – Palermo

Palermo is the capital of Sicily, the island’s biggest center as well as one of its most beautiful destinations.

The city is home to several architectural styles ranging from Arab Norman style buildings to Baroque churches and in this sense is a fantastic place to get a sense of the wealth of cultures and nations that called Sicily home over the course of the centuries.

Significant buildings and churches are scattered around the city and have that distinctive character of grandeur mixed with decaying splendor that is so typical and so charming about Sicily.

not to be missed are its cathedral, palazzo dei Normanni and Palermo’s market, a wonderful place also to taste authentic and truly delicious Sicilian food.

Day 2 _ Scopello and Zingaro Reserve

Day two of this Sicily itinerary leads you to a stunning area that is very close to Palermo yet feels a million miles away: the area of San Vito lo Capo, the Zingaro Reserve and Scopello.

This is a part of Sicily with wonderful nature.

The sea and beaches here are out of this world beautiful and the small towns pleasant and scenic: Castellamare del Golfo is lovely and well served while the small village of Scopello is charming and offers incredible views over the bay below.

Scopello is also home to a stunning Tonnara, film lovers will recognize from Ocean 12!

The Zingaro Reserve is protected and beautiful and near this area you also have the stunning temple of Segesta, one of the most evocative ancient sites in Sicily.

Day 3 – Erice and Marsala

On this day, I recommend you visit Erica and the Marsala salt pans, two location in Sicily that truly showcase how beautiful and varies this island is!

Erice is a small, medieval town perched on a hilltop above Trapani.

Is a place of huge charm and very different from what you imagine a Sicilian town to be as it is often chilly, its high position and vegetation making it home to a peculiar micro-climate.

Erice has a wonderful historical center and stunning views and can be easily visited even in a short time.

Marsala is not far from Erice and Trapani and is famous not only as producers of the sweet Marsala wine but also for its salt pans, wonderful to visit.

The salt pans are large, flat areas where sea salt gets harvested following ancient methods.

They are interesting to visit but even more, they are beautiful.

The low water have pink hues and there are some traditional windmills that make the whole area look out of a storybook!

This is a very special place and unique to this part of Sicily, especially if you come her later in the afternoon when the sun starts to set and the colors warm up

Day 4 – Valley of the Temples and Scala de’ Turchi

The Valley of the temples is one of the most famous archaeological sites in Italy and a place like no other.

Here, you can see wonderful Greek temples in various state of conservation, dating back up to the VIII century BC.

The park is stunning and scenic: my recommendation is to visit early in the morning before the sun gets too strong. The valley is dry and sunny so, while wonderful, can be hard in summer or in the hottest hours of the day.

After a visit to the temples, you can spend time visiting another Sicilian marvel: Scala de’ Turchi famous for natural steps of white rock sloping into the deepest blue sea.

Day 5 – Cefalu’ and Monreale

On the last day of this 5 day Western Sicily itinerary, I recommend you head back north and visit two localities: Cefalu’ and Monreale, before heading back to Palermo.

Once again, these two places are very different form each other but both worth seeing.

Cefalu’ is a seaside village, with a lovely harbor and a pleasant center, perfect for a last day of sightseeing and sea views.

Good to know : Cefalu’ is lovely for families and one of the places we recommend you visit if you are in Sicily with kids .

Monreale on the other hand is famous for a stunning duomo and it a locality art lovers should not miss.

Both these destinations are close to Palermo and they are easy stops before getting back to the city or its airport.

Sicily travel resources

I highly recommend you use the car for these Sicily itineraries: my go-to car rental agency is Avis, although we also had a good experience with Morgan Autonoleggio at Comiso Airport.

The best entry points to Sicily are:

• Palermo Punta Raisi Airport
• Catania Fontanarossa Airport
• Comiso Airport – tiny, this is a budget airline airport
• Messina – ferry arrival port from Calabria and mainland Italy
• Messina / Taormina / Catania / Siracusa: trains from Rome

My go-to website for accommodation in Sicily is booking.com

My go-to website for excursions and tours is GetYourGuide

id this is your first time planning a trip to Italy, I recommend you check out our 101 travel tips for Italy , while if you are traveling with kids, I suggest you also check our tips for traveling to Italy with a baby or toddler .

I hope you enjoyed our recommended 5 days in Sicily itinerary ideas. Safe travel planning!

Marta Correale

Marta Correale is an Italian mama of two. Born and raised in Rome, Marta has a passion for travel and especially enjoys showing off Italy to her kids, who are growing up to love it as much as she does! A classics graduate from the University of Rome, Marta channeled her passion for culture and travel into the creation of family travel websites that inspire, support and help curious visitors to make the most of a trip to Italy and learn about Italian culture on the way. Marta also manages the thriving online community of parents 'Italy with kids' who turn to her for expert advice and competent Italy travel planning support. She is the author of the travel guides 'Best of Rome with kids' and 'Best of Florence with kids' available on Amazon and of an array of kids printables (scavenger hunts, info booklets etc) available on her Etsy shop 'Mama Loves To Print'

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A Perfectly Unique 5 Days In Sicily Itinerary

Last Updated on May 23, 2023 by Soumya

Are you looking for a perfect itinerary for 5 days in Sicily? Planning a trip to Sicily and wondering what to do in Sicily in 5 days? Well, you are at the right place because we have just the article for you.

In this unique 5 days in Sicily itinerary, we bring to you

• The best things to do in Sicily in five days – a heritage-filled guide.
• Tips on how to travel around Sicily by train and bus.
• The best guided tours to take in Sicily to dig deeper and have more immersive local experiences.

With so many amazing things to do in Sicily , it is no surprise that you will find your hands full during your 5 day Sicily tour. Here’s an easy guide to maximize your time on the island and enjoy the best of it.

Table of Contents

Itinerary for 5 days in Sicily

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link on this post. This will be at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links help me keep this website up and running. Thanks for your support!

Day 1: Explore Palermo’s Historic Center

Arrive in Palermo on the first day and explore the historical center of Palermo.

If you are spending a day in Naples before venturing out to Sicily, you can easily get to Palermo via flight, train, or ferry. Overnight ferries/trains are a good way to get to Palermo. The journey takes close to 10 hours and you can save on accommodation costs for the night.

Plan your train journey to Palermo on Omio .

Visit the Palermo Cathedral

Begin the first day of your 5-day Sicily itinerary at Palermo Cathedral , an impressive Roman Catholic church that has seen several conquests and alterations.

Built in the late 12th century on the site of an existing mosque, the cathedral is an eclectic mix of architectural styles – Norman, Gothic, Moorish, and Baroque.

The church is free to visit. You have to pay a fee for the Royal Tombs, Treasury, Underground, and Roofs. By the way, views from the terraces are stunning.

Opening hours: Mon – Sat (7am – 7pm) with reduced hours on Sunday. Click here for tickets and map of the cathedral.

Tour the Palace of the Normans & Palatine Chapel

One of the best things to do in Palermo is to tour the Palace of the Normans located in Palermo’s Historic Center, a UNESCO world heritage site.

The Norman Palace was the primary seat of power of the Kings of Sicily and is the oldest royal residence in Europe. Like everything else in Sicily, this palace has also seen a number of additions and transformations by Arabs, Normans, Swabians, and the Bourbons.

The Palatine Chapel is Norman Palace’s royal chapel. The highlight of a visit here are the stunning Byzantine mosaics dating back to the early 12th century. Do not forget to check out the Muqarnas ceiling of the nave that shows a clear Islamic influence.

Check for tickets and official schedules here.

Visit a Palermo Street Market

There are 4 historic street markets in Palermo and you need to visit at least one to get a true local feel of the place. They are Ballaro, Vucciria, Capo, and Borgo Vecchio.

Ballaro is the largest of them all and an absolute must-visit. Here you can find everything starting from fruits and vegetables to freshly baked croissants and brioches to stinky fish and meat. Ballaro is a true assault on your senses. And a good one at that!

A word of caution here. Be careful of your valuables and do not put them down unattended.

Do a Palermo street food tour

Are you a fan of street food? Then you will love Palermo.

Street food is an age-old tradition in Palermo. Some of the food shops and cafes are as old as hundred years.

You cannot miss the hearty panino, arancino, sfincione in Palermo. For dessert, you will love the Sicilian cannoli, one of Europe’s most loved desserts .

Click here to book your guided food tour of Palermo.

Take a guided tour of Teatro Massimo

Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele is one the largest opera houses in Europe and the biggest in Italy.

It was here that the final scene of The Godfather III was shot.

Well-known for its perfect acoustics and stunning interiors, Teatro Massimo is often referred to as the symbol of Palermo. Catch a glimpse on this virtual tour on Google Arts and Culture.

Click here to book your guided tour of the opera house . If you time your visit right, you can also enjoy an opera, ballet, recital or concert.

Sleep in Palermo

On day 1 of your 5 days itinerary in Sicily, we highly recommend booking your accommodation in Centro Storico (Old Town) of Palermo so that you can simply walk to all the historic sights nearby.

Click here to book your stay in Palermo.

Day 2: Visit Agrigento’s Valley of Temples

On the 2nd day of your 5-day Sicily tour, visit the UNESCO heritage site of Valley of Temples in Agrigento .

Located at a distance of 80 miles (130km) from Palermo, Agrigento is easily accessible by rail and road.

Several regional trains run between Palermo Centrale and Agrigento Bassa and the journey takes 2 hours. Trains are more frequent during the week than on weekends. Click here for train schedules and tickets.

You can also ride a bus to get to Agrigento. Autoservizi Cuffaro is one of them. Check here for bus schedules and tickets.

If you prefer guided tours, have a look at this full day excursion to Agrigento from Palermo .

Or plan your own DIY tour here.

Spend the day among the ancient Greek temples of Agrigento

Agrigento was founded in 581 BC by ancient Greek settlers. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

As one of the most important Greek cities in the Mediterranean, Agrigento was also the site of many impressive Doric temples such as the Temples of Concordia, Hercules, and Dioscuri.

This entire ensemble is referred to as the Valle dei Templi or Valley of Temples. An exquisite location, majestic temples, and intriguing history make a trip here absolutely worthwhile.

Check the official website for tickets and opening hours.

Visit the Archaeological Museum and Kolymbethra Garden

Once you are done exploring the temples which can take anywhere between 3-4 hours, visit the Archaeological Museum of Agrigento which is right next door.

You should also spend some time at the exquisite Kolymbethra Garden filled with olive and citrus trees, Mediterranean palms, and even some banana plants.

The garden has been here since ancient times falling into disrepair only to be revived again and again. It is not just a source of food for the locals but also provides much-needed respite from the scorching heat of the Sicilian sun.

Leave for Val di Noto

On the same day, leave for the Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Southeastern Sicily. I would recommend staying in the hilltop city of Ragusa because of the stunning views it provides.

Click here to book your accommodation in Ragusa, Sicily.

Traveling between Agrigento and Ragusa is a little tricky because there are no direct trains and buses between these cities. The best way is to hire a private taxi who can get you there in 2hrs 15minutes.

Read Agrigento taxi reviews on Tripadvisor.

Day 3: Tour the Baroque town of Ragusa

On the third day of 5 days in Sicily, explore this hidden gem in southern Sicily, the Baroque town of Ragusa .

Located on a hilltop, Ragusa is one of the 8 Sicilian towns that form the UNESCO ensemble of Late Baroque Towns of Val di Noto. Here’s what you can do in Ragusa.

Enjoy the most stunning views of Ragusa Ibla

You cannot leave Ragusa without getting some gorgeous views of Ragusa Ibla from the hills of Ragusa Superiore.

The best view is to be had from the top of a staircase in Superiore that gradually winds down to the historic center of Ragusa Ibla. There are around 250 steps here and you can enjoy panoramic views of Ibla and the valley throughout your walk.

We loved this so much that we actually went back to click some pictures at night and they were stunning.

Stroll down the streets of Ragusa Ibla

Ragusa is divided into two parts: Ragusa Superiore and Ragusa Ibla. The Ibla is the older part of the city and prettier.

Ragusa Ibla is filled with stunning displays of Sicilian Baroque architecture . Simply walking through those quaint streets transports you back in history.

You will come face to face with adorned cathedrals, exquisite balconies, grotesque monsters, and grinning putti. Duomo di San Giorgio is one of the most imposing monuments here.

Have a look at these stunning pictures of Ragusa to find out exactly what I mean.

Check out the Donnafugata Castle

Located 15km away from Ragusa, the Donnafugata Castle has an interesting history and some rich interiors.

The castle has more than 100 rooms, a temple, and a coffee house. And then there is the beautiful garden from where you can get some superb shots of the castle.

Do a Montalbano tour

One of the most offbeat things to do in Sicily is probably the Inspector Montalbano tour.

Have you watched the Italian TV series, Commissario Montalbano ? I highly recommend you to do that before your Sicily trip. It is a detective series that has been mostly shot in and around the province of Ragusa. Quite popular among locals as well as foreigners.

A highlight of this tour is definitely a visit to the house of Inspector Montalbano which is located right on the picturesque Punta Secca beach.

If you are not visiting Ragusa by any chance, then you can get picked from Catania just for the Montalbano tour. Check it out here.

Day 4: Taste Aztec chocolate in Modica

On day 4, take a day trip from Ragusa to Modica , yet another Baroque town of Val di Noto.

Time for some authentic Modica chocolate

Apart from being known for its exotic Sicilian Baroque architecture, Modica is the manufacturing hub of a unique variety of chocolate. The recipe that is used to make the Modica chocolate is said to have come directly from the Aztecs of ancient South America. Tasting Modica’s special chocolate is a must-do when in Sicily.

More Sicilian Baroque

Once done with all those chocolate tastings, do not forget to check out the Baroque Cathedral of San Giorgio with its impressive 250-step staircase. From the top, you can get a sweeping view of the city. The Church of San Pietro is another imposing landmark.

Have a look at our Sicilian Baroque guide of Modica to find more interesting monuments.

Leave for Catania

On the same day, leave for Catania from Ragusa. The best way to do that is by bus since trains are not that frequent and take longer. A bus journey takes 2.5 hours and costs around 9€.

Click here to plan your bus journey from Ragusa to Catania.

Day 5: Explore Catania or Hike Mt. Etna

One of the most picturesque cities of Sicily – also one of the most popular, Catania shines brightly with the silhouette of Mt. Etna in the background.

If you plan for only one day in Catania in your short 5-day tour of Sicily, you can either explore the historic center or hike Mt. Etna. If you are spending more than one day here, do both and more.

Book your Catania accommodation here.

Explore Catania’s historic center

A UNESCO world heritage site, the historic center of Catania is home to many wonderful monuments. Saint Agatha Cathedral and Piazza del Duomo – the central square are some of the most notable ones.

Make sure to visit Teatro Romano, an open-air amphitheater, with the picture of Mt. Etna looming in the background. It is just the place to get some great pictures. If you are fond of medieval theaters, try Teatro Massimo Bellini.

Palazzo Biscari is a beautiful palace in the city and is an epitome of Catanese Baroque Architecture. Walk through Porta Garibaldi and visit Castello Ursino. Don’t miss the Benedectine Monastery that is an amalgamation of many different styles yet stunningly Baroque.

You can also do a Catania street food tour or do a full-day Godfather tour if you are keen.

Hike Mt. Etna

Alternately, you can spend the day hiking Mt. Etna and exploring thereabouts.

Mt. Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. You can do an independent hike here or take a Mt. Etna guided tour if you wish to be careful. I am no hiking expert, so I will leave you with this expert Mt. Etna hiking guide to help plan your trip.

Fly back from Catania

Catania has one of the busiest airports in Italy. The Catania-Fontanarossa Airport connects you with several cities in Europe such as Rome, Munich, Amsterdam, and Berlin. This is the perfect getaway for the next leg of your European vacation.

Practical information for visiting Sicily in 5 days

How many days do you need in Sicily?

5 days is ideal to see a good chunk of Sicily. You can explore the major highlights and cover a lot of ground with our 5-day Sicily itinerary. However, if you wish to see more and dig deeper into Sicilian culture and traditions, you need at least a week or 10 days.

Have a look at the 18 best things to do in Sicily to find out all the amazing things you can do here.

Is Sicily expensive to visit?

Sicily is cheaper than northern Italy. And it is definitely one of the cheapest places to visit in Europe. Eating out is cheap in Sicily and so is accommodation when you compare it with the mainland. If you plan your trip during the shoulder months and ride the public transport, you can very well keep your budget to under $100 every day.

Here’s a break up of Sicily travel costs if you wish to have a look.

What is the best time to visit Sicily?

The best time to visit Sicily is in late spring or early fall when the weather is pleasant and temperatures hover between late 60s to early 80s (15°C to 25°C). Summers can get unbearably hot and sunny.

What is the best way to see Sicily?

Using public transport (mix of train and bus) is the best way to see Sicily. It is the most enjoyable and offers you tons of local insights. Trains (run by Trenitalia ) cover the Sicilian coast and offer picturesque views. Buses ( Interbus is one of them) offer faster and more frequent connections between smaller, more inland towns.

There is a historic train service called Ferrovia Circumetnea which runs around Mt. Etna. It crosses several villages at the foot of the mountain and is an interesting way to discover some of the most offbeat corners of Sicily.

There used to be a historical Baroque train too. I am not sure if it is still functional. Let me know if you have ridden it.

What should you not miss in Sicily?

You should not miss Mt. Etna, Agrigento’s Valley of Temples, Palermo’s Arab-Norman architecture, and the Baroque towns of Val di Noto when in Sicily. And of course the wonderful beaches and natural delights.

More than 5 days in Sicily?

If you have more than 5 days in Sicily, make sure you visit the charming Ortigia island that is full of monuments, squares, palaces, and churches. The Aeolian Islands in northern Italy are equally pretty.

If you are a lover of history, the archaeological sites of Segesta and Selinunte will definitely add more excitement to your Sicily itinerary. And do not forget the Greek Theater of Taormina.

More Sicily & Southern Italy Resources

• 18 Best things to do in Sicily
• 25 Best places to visit in Southern Italy
• A Sicilian Baroque tour of Modica
• Guide to visiting Agrigento’s Valley of Temples
• One day itinerary for Naples

Loved our 5 days in Sicily itinerary? Pin it for later!

You may also like:

• Exploring Sicilian Baroque Architecture in Modica Sicily
• A Picture Perfect Tour Of Ragusa Italy
• 10 Best Things To Do In Modica Sicily In 2024

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The perfect sicily itinerary: how to spend 5-7 days.

Sicily is one of the most beautiful regions in Italy. The Mediterranean island boasts medieval charm and a fascinating culture with Greek, Roman, and North African influences. If you’re planning a trip to Sicily, you’re in for a fantastic vacation. 

Spending a week in Sicily will give you endless opportunities to explore the island’s best attractions and immerse yourself in the culture, including strolling through some of the best medieval towns in Italy to exploring Roman ruins.

» You may also like these 11 Beach Hotels in Sicily for 2023 .

We’ve been to many places in Sicily and have always enjoyed our time there. The food is incredible, the views are stunning. You just can’t go wrong with a vacation there.

We’ve put together a 5-7 day Sicily itinerary for you that will take you to the stunning beaches, charming villages – we especially loved Taormina – the ancient ruins, and for some wine tasting on Mt. Etna.

Visiting soon? Check out our expertly curated Sicily itinerary to help you plan the perfect trip, from where to visit , the airports that are closest to the places on our list, plus our guide to wine tasting in Sicily , the food you should eat , and the best beach hotels on the island.

Planning your trip to Sicily?

• Book a transfer from the airport to Catania city center with Welcome Pickups.
• Rent a car from the Catania or Palermo airports through Discover Cars .

Where to Stay See all hotel options

• Where to Stay in Palermo: Rocco Forte Villa Igiea – A renovated Art Nouveau palazzo overlooking the gulf or Palermo – luxury 5-star family-run hotel. 
• Where to Stay in Catania: With tastefully decorated rooms and high-end amenities and facilities, the  Liberty Hotel  is one of the best in the city.
• Where to Stay in Taormina: There’s no better place to stay than the  Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo , with direct views of Mount Etna.

Best Tours and Experiences in Sicily:

• Godfather vs Mafia Tour & Sicilian Light Lunch – This is a fun way to spend an afternoon.
• Private 6-Hour Tour of Three Etna Wineries – you can’t miss these wineries!
• Streaty – Palermo Street Food Walking Tour – great way to sample a lot of things at once

Table of Contents

How to Get to Sicily

Sicily is a beautiful island located in the southernmost part of Italy , and there are several ways to get there. The most common way to reach Sicily is by plane. The island has several airports , including the Catania-Fontanarossa Airport and the Palermo Falcone-Borsellino Airport, which receive regular flights from major European cities.

Another option is to take a ferry from mainland Italy. Ferries run from several ports, including Naples , Genoa, and Livorno, and offer a scenic and relaxing way to reach Sicily.

If you prefer to drive, you can cross the Strait of Messina via the A3 motorway, which connects Calabria on the mainland to Messina on the island.

Tips for Traveling to Sicily

When traveling to Sicily, it’s important to keep a few tips in mind to make your trip as enjoyable as possible.

• Rent a car (I always book with DiscoverCars.com for the best deal) or hire a driver to explore the island, as public transportation can be unreliable and limited in some areas.
• Be prepared for hot and humid weather in the summer months, and plan accordingly by packing light, breathable clothing and plenty of sunscreen.
• Immerse yourself in the local culture by trying the delicious Sicilian cuisine, which includes fresh seafood, pastries, and pasta dishes.
• Don’t miss out on visiting some of the island’s most famous attractions, such as the ancient Greek temples at Agrigento, the picturesque fishing village of Cefalù, and the stunning beaches of Taormina.

Sicily Itinerary | 5-7 days on the Island

This Sicily 7-day itinerary takes you from the island’s capital, Palermo, in the west on a road trip to Catania in the east.

You can either explore the island from the west to the east coast, like in this itinerary or vice versa. Which way you go usually depends on where you need to fly into. There are quite a few airports on the island, but most people fly into Palermo or Catania.

The Itinerary:

If you have 7 days:

Day 1: Trapani

Day 2-3: palermo, day 4: cefalù, day 5: taormina, day 6: mt etna.

• OR Catania – I waver suggesting two major cities in a 7-day itinerary. My preference would be to choose either Palermo or Catania and skip the other.
• Day 7: Syracuse

If you have 5 days:

• Day 1: Palermo
• Day 2: Cefalù
• Day 3: Taormina
• Day 4: Mt Etna
• Day 5: Syracuse or Catania

Keep in mind that you might need to drive back to your starting point to fly out, if you can’t get a flight into one airport and out of another.

While some travelers will only choose one side of the island to visit, I think you should do both in one trip, unless you foresee coming back to Sicily in the future for another trip. However, if you only have 5 days and you have to fly into Catania, then I would skip the west coast and do Syracuse, Catania, Mt Etna, and Taormina.

If you have more time to spend, like 10-14 days, I wouldn’t choose to go to more places. I would spend more time in each of the places listed below.

Who Is Sicily For?

I personally think anyone would love Sicily. It’s steeped in history, culture, and amazing scenery, but you might be wondering if you’ll find something there for you.

• If you’re a history lover, you’re going to really enjoy the island’s ancient Greek and Roman ruins, including the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento and the Roman Amphitheater in Syracuse.
• Foodies will love the fresh seafood, arancini, and cannoli. The island is also famous for its wine production, and wine tastings and vineyard tours are a popular activity.
• Nature lovers will enjoy exploring the stunning landscapes of Sicily, including Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe , and the picturesque Aeolian Islands, which offer great hiking and swimming opportunities.
• The island’s beaches are some of the most beautiful in Italy, with crystal-clear waters and sandy shores. Some of the best beaches in Sicily include the stunning Scala dei Turchi, the white-sand beach of San Vito Lo Capo, and the black-sand beach of Giardini Naxos.

On the first day of your Sicily itinerary, explore the stunning coastal city of Trapani. After landing at Palermo Airport, rent a car and drive to your hotel in Trapani. The drive is 55 minutes. If you arrive early, you plunge right in to sightseeing instead.

Options: If you want to spend more time in each place, I would suggest skipping Trapani (as sad as that is!) and heading straight to Palermo.

Where to Stay in Trapani

The  Rooms of Andrea Hotel  in the center of Trapani is a 4-star property with an ideal location for exploring the city; it’s one of the best.

Famous for its crescent-shaped shoreline, white-sand beaches, and Baroque architecture, Trapani is a great place to spend an entire summer vacation in the Mediterranean Sea . But you have just a day to enjoy it, so time is of the essence.

Admire The City’s Baroque Architecture

Start your day off with a stroll around the city, exploring its unique architecture. Chiesa delle Anime Sante del Purgatorio is an excellent place to admire Trapani’s Baroque architecture. 

Other historical sites like Cattedrale di San Lorenzo and Piazza Mercato del Pesce are also great depictions of Baroque architecture and are worth a visit.

Go Island Hopping

Hop on a boat tour to the Egadi Islands and enjoy a fantastic day of island hopping between Favignana and Levanzo. Onboard, you’ll have expert commentary about the islands and their Roman history. You’ll find several snorkeling spots and beaches ideal for sunbathing.

Visit the Trapani Salt Flats

Take a short 15-minute drive to Trapani’s salt pans for an immersive experience in the rich history of the city’s salt production. Your guided tour starts at the Mulino Maria Stella, where you’ll learn about the salt-making process. And remember to keep your eyes peeled for nesting flamingos around the salt flats.

Bonus Activity: Day Trip to Erice

If you have some more time, take a day trip to Erice — one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Italy . This historic hilltop village has about 60 churches, a cathedral, and two castes, so there’s a lot to see and do. You’ll also get stunning aerial views of Trapani.

The drive to Palermo city center is 1 hour 25 minutes.

Palermo is the island’s bustling capital. We recommend visiting on day 2 so you can unwind a little bit in Trapani and get those first few amazing sea views before launching into the city.

Where to Stay in Palermo

Rocco Forte Villa Igiea  

A renovated Art Nouveau palazzo overlooking the gulf or Palermo – luxury 5-star family-run hotel. 

Take a Walking Tour Around Palermo

There’s so much to see and do in Palermo. But, like many cities in Europe , a great place to start exploring the city is its historic city center. The best way to explore Palermo is by getting lost in its endless walkable passages as you eat your way through the city’s food hotspots.

Take a street food walking tour and explore Palermo’s backstreet markets and food stalls serving local delicacies. You’ll also visit open-air markets like Mercato di Capo and Vucciria Market, where you can enjoy a tasty lunch.

If you don’t have much time to explore Palermo on foot, you can take a hop-on-hop-off bus tour and see top attractions in half the time.

Admire Medieval Architecture at Quattro Canti and Piazza Pretoria

Learn about Palermo’s history through its stunning medieval architecture and bustling squares. Getting an up-close look at the Quattro Canti intersection is a must. Once you’re done marveling at the Quattro Canti, head over to the adjacent Piazza Pretoria.

Here you’ll find a massive structure named Fontana Pretoria , dominating the square with its 436-foot circumference and a towering 39-foot height. The fountain boasts several statues of nude nymphs, tritons, and river gods – which earned it the nickname “Fountain of Shame”.

Visit the Cattedrale di Palermi and Norman Palace

Your next stops are the Cattedrale di Palermo and Norman Palace , where you get a closer look at the architectural prowess of ancient Silicians. If you’d like to see more, take this markets and monuments walking tour and discover other iconic monuments like Teatro Massimo .

The drive to Cefalu is one hour.

The next city on your Sicily itinerary is another gorgeous coastal town – Cefalù. This vibrant old town has a lot to offer, from beautiful sandy beaches to casual restaurants dotted along winding medieval streets and, of course, the unmissable Norman Cathedral.

To cut down on the amount of times you need to change hotel, I would recommend just spending the day in Cefalu and moving on to Taormina for your overnight.

Hike to Castello di Cefalù

Kick off day four of your Sicily itinerary by taking a two-mile hike to Castello di Cefalù. The trail takes you up Rocca di Cefalù, where you’ll find several prehistoric ruins like the Temple of Diana and Church of St. Anna, built in the 5th and 10th centuries, respectively. While you’re here, take some time to enjoy the panoramic views of Cefalù from above.

Admire the Duomo di Cefalù

Once you’ve seen the city from a bird’s eye perspective, make your way to the Duomo di Cefalù. This towering Roman Catholic cathedral makes part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale. Inside the basilica, you’ll spot incredible 12th-century religious mosaics and ornate frescoes.

Explore the Lavatoio Medievale Fiume Cefalino

Before you call it a day, take some time to explore a historical laundry house that dates back to the 15th century. This medieval wash house was used by locals well into the 20th century. Walking through the washhouse, you’ll get a glimpse of medieval life in Sicily and how inhabitants used the stone wash basins and cast-iron spouts to do their laundry.

Taormina is one of the popular cities on Sicily’s east coast. The stunning hilltop town also has dramatic backdrops of Mount Etna and its own Greek-Roman Theater. But there are lots of other things to do in Taormina , and you’ll find plenty of charming spots dotted across the city’s medieval cobblestoned streets.

Where to Stay in Taormina

There’s no better place to stay than the  Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo , with direct views of Mount Etna.

Walk Around Teatro Antico di Taormina

The ancient theater of Taormina was first built by the Greeks in the third century and later reconstructed and enlarged by the Romans. This 5,400-seater theater was initially built for musicals and performances, and it was turned into a stadium for gladiator games. 

What makes Teatro Antico di Taormina a spectacular feature in the city is its incredible views of the Calabrian Coast and Sicily’s Ionian Coast – so don’t miss out on this attraction.

One of the biggest tourist draws to Sicily is Mount Etna, so it’s only right that you take a hike up the famous peak. Mount Etna is a stratovolcano known for its incredible level of activity; the volcano has been erupting for over 2,700 years. 

A fantastic way to see this monumental landmark is by taking a half-day tour to Mount Ena, where an expert guide will take you through the volcano’s ancient craters and lava flow cave. Your day trip also included a special wine tasting and an incredible view. If you want to hike up to the summit of the crater, this tour is for you.

Mt Etna is home to some of the best wineries in Sicily, so a wine-tasting trip should be on the cards. Take this small group food and wine tour, tasting local delicacies in villages in and around Mount Etna’s countryside. Pick up is from Taormina, so you don’t have to change hotels for this trip.

Day 5: Catania

Catania is the second-largest city on the island. This ancient port city sits at the base of Mount Etna and is abundant with culture, architecture, and bustling markets.

For me, it’s only really necessary to visit one of the cities, so if you’ve already planned to visit Palermo, you can skip Catania, or vice versa. Not because Catania isn’t great, it is. I just think the smaller towns are more “real Sicily” and should be prioritized.

Where to Stay in Catania

With tastefully decorated rooms and high-end amenities and facilities, the  Libe rt y Hotel  is one of the best in the city.

Take a Walking Tour Around Catania

Take a guided tour through Catania to see the city’s gorgeous medieval architecture and learn about its history and culture from a local. During your tour, you’ll get to see highlights such as the Ursino Castle, the vibrant scalinata Alessi, La Pescheria, and lots of piazzas.  

Tour the Massimo Theater

The Massimo Theater is the biggest opera house in Italy and one of the largest in Europe . This gorgeous 1,387-seater theater is known for its perfect acoustics, and you can give them a try during your guided tour of the Neoclassical building. You also get to tour the Valsecchi art collection in the historic Palazzo Butera. 

Admire the Frescoes at Palazzo Biscari

If you’re an art lover, visiting Palazzo Biscari should be your favorite thing on this Sicily itinerary. This Baroque palace is the most private in Catania, boasting jaw-dropping interiors from wall to ceiling. Take a guided tour of Palazzo Biscari and marvel at its gorgeous frescoes, paintings, overdoors, and stunning terracotta floors.

Visit the Catania Fish Market

Immerse yourself in Catania’s everyday life by visiting the local fish market. This seafood market has lots of enthusiastic fishmongers selling the day’s catch under colorful umbrellas. To get here, you’ll climb a series of stairs made of volcanic rock – how cool is that?

Explore Catania’s Roman Architecture

Catania is one of the first Sicilian cities to fall to the Romans in 263 BC, so it has a lot of historical monuments from that era. A great way to see the legacy of the Romans and their architecture is by exploring its relics dotted across the city.

Start at the Greek-Roman Theater, where you’ll find two ancient open-air arc Roman theaters. The larger theater was designed to accommodate 7,000 spectators and had marble columns. On the west end, you’ll find the Odeon theater, built for 1,500 people.

Your next stop is the Roman Amphitheater of Catania in the historic Piazza Stesicoro. While most of the ruins lie under the four adjoining streets, the amphitheater was originally built to accommodate 15,000 spectators and is one of the largest in the Roman world.

Sicily Travel Itinerary Day 7: Syracuse

Syracuse is a historic town sitting along the Ionian Coast. This stunning medieval city boasts an abundance of Greek and Roman architecture and amphitheaters, and it’s said to be the birthplace of the famous Archimedes – a Greek engineer, mathematician, and inventor.

Where to Stay in Syracuse

The Caportigia Boutique Hotel  is a 5-star hotel with an excellent location, and luxurious suites with breathtaking views.

Explore Neapolis Archaeological Park

In the Archaeological Park Neapolis, you’ll find plenty of ancient ruins to admire. The complex comprises marvelous Roman and Greek architecture. You can take a tour of Neapolis Archaeological Park and admire its Roman Amphitheater, Teatro Greco, and the Ear of Dionysius –  a limestone cave formed like a human ear.

Visit the Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi

If you want to dive deeper into Syracuse’s history, visit the Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi for a front-row seat to the most extensive archeological museums in Sicily. Here, you’ll see a large collection of fossils and figurines, including Titian’s Venus Anadyomene.

Walk the Grounds at the Temple of Apollo

Dating back as far as the sixth century, the Temple of Apollo sits adjacent to Piazza Pancali. These ancient ruins are one of the most important Greek monuments in Sicily. This Doric temple is considered a pioneer in Greek architecture, as it displays a transition from building with wood to using stone. 

Bonus Activity: Marvel at the Arethusa Spring

If you have some time to spare before the end of your Sicily itinerary, take a stroll down to the Arethusa Spring – a natural spring with a mythical story. This is a great place to sit and recollect all the memories you’ve made on this trip. 

How to Spend One Week in Sicily | Wrapped Up

Italy is home to some of the best well-preserved medieval towns in Europe , and Sicily has plenty of them. The country’s popular regions like Tuscany and Lazio may get the most attraction from travelers, but Sicily is a must-visit.

Be Prepared For Travel Planning is the most important part of any successful trip. Do it the easy way:

🧳 Travel Packing List | ✔️ Why You Need Travel Insurance | ✈️ What to Do Before You Leave Home

• Find and book the best hotel (our favorite booking site is Expedia)
• Research flight options (our favorite tool is Skyscanner )
• Book a tour (we always use Viator to find the best tours)
• Rent a car through Discover Cars (they search the best deals for you!)

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Laura Lynch, creator and writer of Savored Journeys, is an avid world traveler, certified wine expert, and international food specialist. She has written about travel and food for over 20 years and has visited over 75 countries. Her work has been published in numerous guidebooks, websites, and magazines.

2 thoughts on “ The Perfect Sicily Itinerary: How to Spend 5-7 Days ”

Thank you for a great article. We go every year to Sicily. 7 days is such a tease. We go for 2 weeks at a time and still is not enough. What is interesting is no one writes about Marsala. It is a tranquil oasis that seems to be forgotten. Grazie mille per il tuo articulo

Yeah 7 days is definitely not enough! There is just so much to see there and driving takes up so much of the time.

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• Travel Resources

Itinerary: 2, 3, 4 or 5 days in Sicily – What to do and see?

How to visit sicily in 2, 3, 4 or 5 days – the perfect tour.

You want to visit Sicily for your next holidays? Great choice!

For a weekend or more, the beautiful landscapes , beaches with crystal clear water , amazing ancient town and Greek temples will be yours!

If you have planned to do a 2 to 5 days trip (for the luckiest ones!), you will find here the best itineraries depending on the duration of your stay.

You will see, organizing your trip to Sicily will be as easy as 1, 2, 3!

• You select the itinerary of your choice depending on the duration of your holidays
• For each leg of your itinerary, you click on the links to read our detailed articles . The best things to do, where to stay etc..  I show you everything!
• Thanks to our selection of the best accommodations for each city, you book your hotels nights in 1 click.

So, what are the best things to do in Sicily in 2, 3, 4 or 5 days?

Weekend: 2 days in Sicily

3 days in sicily, 4 days in sicily, 5 days in sicily, rent a car in sicily, renting a boat in sicily, you’re traveling in sicily these articles will help you.

If you have planned to spend a weekend in Sicily, the best is to focus on 1 city.

Flights to Sicily lands at Catania or Palermo airport. Thus, these 2 cities are an excellent choice for a 2 days stay in Sicily!

Best places to see in Catania:

• The piazza del Duomo
• The Duomo di Catania , the cathedral
• La pescheria, the fish market
• La via Etnea

To make the most out of your stay 2 days in Catania, you should read my article dedicated to the city: Visit Catania, the 12 best things to do

in Palermo, you shouldn’t miss :

• The Norman Palace
• Palermo Cathedral
• The historical center
• Monreale cathedral (at 40 mins from the city center)

If you are planning to go there, I suggest you to read my my article about the 15 best things to do in Palermo . There, in addition to the list of must-see attractions, you will find itineraries to visit Palermo in 2 days! And as always, I give you my best tips as well as my selection of the best hotels in town depending on your budget.

To visit Sicily in 3 days , same advice as for 2 days: you should stay close to Palermo and Catania.

If you stay 3 days in Catania , you should spend 2 days (most likely 1 day and a half or a bit less, if you don’t arrive early in the morning) to visit the city. You can find all the best Things to do in Catania in my article.

For your 3rd day , the best is to do a day trip to the Etna Volcano! The easiest is to book a guided tour starting from Catania. They will come pick you up directly at your hotel ! The equipment and guide are included.

If you don’t want to go to the Etna, another great option for a long weekend is to do a day-trip do Taormina . In, that case, you can find my detailed article about this charming Sicilian town here: Visit Taormina: All the must-see attractions + itineraries.

If you choose tu Visit palermo, 3 days is perfect to visit the best tourist attractions of the city. You will also have the time to visit the stunning Monreale Cathedral , one of the most beautiful in Sicily, as well as the charming Monreale town.

In 3 days, you can visit the 15 points of interest I talk about in my article and to enjoy an afternoon (or more!) at the beach . If you follow my suggested itinerary for 3 days in Palermo ,  you will go back home feeling like you have really made the most out of your stay.

You are planning a 4 days trip to Sicily? Great! You will be able to do a nice round trip in Eastern or Western Sicily.

If you arrive in Catania , in addition to visiting the city, you can add 1 day in the small town of Taormina and another one in Syracuse , the 2 emblematic cities of the Sicilian Est coast.

I recommend you the following 4 days itinerary:

• 1 day in Catania: You will probably have around half a day in Catania: Start your visit in the historical center and discover the Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral, the fish market or go to the via Etnea for a bit of shopping!
• 2 days in Siracusa and Ortigia island: take a stroll in Ortigia island, visit the Piazza del Duomo and the market (open only in the morning). In the afternoon, go around the island, to Castello Maniace and the Fountain of Arethusa. For the 2nd day, go to Néapolis archeological park, in Syracuse city.
• 1 day in Taormina to enjoy the Sicilian “Dolce Vita”: Enjoy the view and do a bit of shopping on the Corso Umberto in the morning, and go to the beautiful Isola Bella beach in the afternoon.

If archaeological sites aren’t your thing, another good option can be to spend only 1 day in Syracuse. I then recommend you to add 1 day in Catania and do a day trip to the Etna volcano.

For more details about the things to do during your 4 days tour in Sicily, click here to read our detailed guides about Catania , Syracuse and Taormina

If you decide to arrive in Palermo , you should dedicate 1 day to visit the city and the 3 others to discover the 2 best archaeological sites of Western Sicily.

Here is my recommended itinerary for 4 days in Sicily:

• 1 Day in Palermo , to visit the capital of Sicily. The best things to see: The Palace of the Normans, Palermo Cathedral, the Ballaro market.
• 1 Day in Agrigento , to visit the world famous Valley of the Temples , a major archaeological site in Sicily. End your day watching the sunset at the beautiful Scala dei Turchi.
• 1 Day in Selinunte , to discover the other major archaeological site of the island. It’s my favorite!
• 1 Day in Trapani and around: Make a stop at Marsala salt pans on the road from Selinunte to Trapani and visit Erice village, a superb perched village overlooking Trapani.

You can find everything you need to know to organise your trip in my detailed articles about Palermo , Agrigento , Selinunte and Trapani . 

And of course if you need some help to prepare your 4 days stay in Sicily, don’t hesitate to leave me a comment at the bottom of the article!

You want to visit Sicily in 5 days? I suggest you the following itineraries for the Eastern and Western Sicily:

If you arrive in Catania:

• 1 day in Catania: Take a stroll around the Piazza del Dumo, visit Catania Cathedral and the local market, go shopping on via Etnea. You should read my article about Catania must-see attractions to plan your day!
• 2 days in Syracuse and Ortigia Island: Visit Ortigia old town on foot, discover the Piazza del Dumo, fishermen harbor, local market, Castello Maniace and Néapolis archeological park. You can find a detailed itinerary to visit Syracuse in 2 days in my article: The ultimate guide to Syracuse
• 2 days in Taormina: Discover the old town, go to the Chiesa Madonna della Rocca for an amazing Bird’s-eye view of the city, go to Isola Bella beach, visit the Greek Theatre, discover the Alcantara Gorges and a lot more things to do! Have a look at my article: The 10 things to do in Taormina

If you arrive in Palermo

• 1 day in Palermo: Visit the Palace of the Normans, the Cathedral, the churches and palaces of the historical centre.
• 1 day in Agrigento: Visit the must-see tourist attraction of western Sicily: the Valley of the Temples. At the end of the day, go to the Scala dei Turchi, the other point of interest near Agrigento. It’s the perfect place to watch the sunset!
• 1 day in Selinune: Visit Selinunte archaeological park and enjoy one of the beaches nearby.
• 2 days in Trapani: Don’t miss Marsala Salt Pans when going to Trapani from Selinunte. In the afternoon, go to Erice Perched village for a great view of the surroundings! For the 2nd day in Trapani, you can take the boat to Favignana, one of the Aegadian Islands.

Another option for your 2nd day around Trapani is to go to Scopello and visit the Zingaro Nature Reserve . As you prefer, both Favignana and the nature reserve are amazing places to visit!

The advantage of Scopello is that you will be a bit closer to Palermo for your return flight.

Click on the following links to get all the detailed information to plan your trip to Palermo , Agrigento , Selinunte, Trapani and the Zingaro Nature reserve.

For your trip to Sicily, you will probably want to rent a car. It’s the best way to make the most out of your stay!

I recommend you to book it with Booking.com Cars for 2 main reasons:

• You can easily compare prices between the car rental agencies and get the best deal!
• You can get Booking.com Cars ‘s “full protection insurance” , that will allow you to get a complete refund if your rental car is damaged. It’s a lot cheaper than the insurances the rental agencies are selling, and a lot more effective.

If I am talking about this, it’s because in Sicily, there is a lot of “fake damage” scams as well as vandalism (key scratches are unfortunately quite common). And I know what I am talking about, I had to pay more than 1300 euros extra for the cars I rented there! Hopefully, every time, Booking Cars’s full protection insurance refunded me in less than 5 days.

To be honest, it’s the first time I find a insurance to be THAT effective! So I can only recommend it to you. If you know your travel dates, you should click on the button to book your car now to get the best price.

If you want to rent a boat for a nice day at sea during your itinerary in 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? 😊

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.

• The 20 Best Things to Do in Sicily – The ultimate bucket list!
• 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

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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 64 comments.

My husband and I are arriving on a Sunday evening early July, in Palermo (from Australia, so exhausted first day).

We depart following Monday morning from Catania. We thought 3 days in Palermo to start and perhaps 2 in Taormina and last night in Catania. Leaving us only 2 other nights in between.

We could hire a car, but would probably prefer bus travel or train if it was easier. Can I get a website for bus and train schedules?

I was hoping to see more but this visit is just a sample. Can we do day trip to Cefalu from Palermo?

Thank you for your helpful website and for any assistance you can give us.

We are keen to get onto this so we can book accommodation ASAP as we know it is peak season.

Many thanks,

Hello Sandra,

I am glad my website is helping you to plan your trip to Sicily!

Coming from Australia will be a long trip for sure, so yes, 3 days in Palermo can be a good idea to rest a bit at the beginning of your trip. However, spending only 2 days will allow you to do more things (I am giving you an itinerary just a bit below).

About Cefalu, it’s not a good idea to do it as a day trip, (in public transportation, that’s about 4 hours roundtrip), it’s better to spend a night there or nearby, especially if you’re going to Taormina after.

Unfortunately there are no website official for bus schedules in Sicily, because they are operated locally. The trains can be checked on the official Treni Italia website

To be honest, I don’t recommend using the public transportations in Sicily, especially if you don’t have much time. The travel time is about 2x longer than with a car!

You would really waste a lot of time and miss many things by using the public transports.

So here is what I would consider the best itinerary for your trip, if you get a car:

Day 1: Palermo Day 2: Palermo/Monreale Day 3: Go to Cefalu, spend the day around – Night in Cefalu Day 4: Go to Milazzo in the morning (need to leave the car there, there are special parkings), take the boat to Vulcano island and visit – Night in Vulcano Day 5: Do a day trip mini cruise to other Aeolian islands – Night in Vulcano Day 6: Take the boat back to Milazzo and go to Taormina (not too late, try to be there around noon ideally) – Night in Taormina Day 7: Taormina and go to Catania for the Night

That’s the itinerary that would allow you to see the most of northern Sicily during your 7 days trip!

If you don’t hire a car, you can do just a day trip to Aeolian islands (many companies offer it, for example this one ), so your schedule will be less tight.

Hope this helps!

We would like to spend Easter weekend in Sicily. We would arrive the Thursday before Good Friday and leave on Easter Monday (in the evening would be fine or maybe we even stay until Tuesday). Given the holiday, do you have a suggestion of where best to go. I know there are some amazing processions in different parts, and would like to see some of the local celebrations. I also know some things may be closed. We have heard great things about Taormina but are looking for suggestions. We want to really enjoy the time we have there and see a lot, but also try to experience Pasqua in Sicilia.

Any suggestions?

Hello Guilia,

The most famous eastern processions in Sicily takes place in Trapani and Erice Village (just nearby).

In addition to these events, if you want to know more about the things to do in and around Trapani, you should read my article: The 10 best things to do in Trapani . It will help you to plan your 4-5 days itinerary in Sicily.

There are also large processions in Palermo and Catania.

If you choose to go in Catania, you can also easily visit Taormina, a very beautiful town. Don’t hesitate to read my articles about the towns you are the most interested in, you can find all my articles about Sicily by clicking here .

Enjoy your stay in Sicily, and if you have any question, feel free to ask me!

Hi, we are a group of 6 arriving in Catania on a Friday morning and leaving on Monday night. We are thinking of renting a car and a villa to Stay. Where would you recommend us to stay? And how should we plan our itinerary?

The nicest place around Catania to stay is probably in Taormina.

With a rental car, you can then easily visit a part of eastern Sicily, so you can do something like:

– Friday: visit Taormina and go to Isola Bella beach to end the day (depending on the season!) – Saturday: Go to Syracuse and Ortigia island for the full day (1h30 away) – Sunday: Etna volcano if you’re interested, then relax time in Taormina/Isola Bella – Monday: in the morning, go to Castelmola, 5-10 minutes away from Taormina by car, then spend half a day in Catania to visit before going to the airport

It’s the itinerary in eastern Sicily I would do if I stay at the same place for 4 days and don’t want to change hotel.

Enjoy your trip!

Hi, thank you for posting your recommendations.

We are thinking to visit Sicily with a group of people (8 adults and 4 kids of around 4-5yo).

If we want to do a relatively in-depth visit but at the same time not too strenuous for the kids, is it possible? And how many days do you recommend? 10, 12, 14 days? How would you plan it?

Another question is we would like to hire a driver/tour guide, do you have any good recommendations?

Thank you very much for you response!!!

If you want to do a tour around Sicily, 14-15 days is a minimum for an in depth visit, especially if you don’t want to go too fast and run everywhere!

I have written a detailed itinerary that goes around Sicily in 2 weeks, you can read it here: The recommended 2 weeks in Sicily itinerary .

In my article, you will find everything needed to easily organize your tour by yourself.

If you want to have a driver/tour guide, the best is to ask one of the hotels you will book. They often know someone to do this kind of job.

And if you have any question about your trip to Sicily (about things to do or recommended hotels for example), don’t hesitate to ask me.

Have a great day!

Thanks so much! I’ll take a look!

Hi Vincent,

Thank you for your great recommendations.

I would like to ask for your recommendation on planning a full 4-day itinerary in Sicily (5 nights but actual vacation is limited to 4 days due to late night flight into and early flight out of Palermo).

The caveat is that although I fly in and out of Palermo, I would like to end my vacation in Palermo as I would be meeting up with my friends at the end of my trip. I will have a rental car. It would also be helpful if you can recommend neighborhoods/areas to stay in between cities.

I don’t know if possible but these are my wishlist of sites to visit: Teatro Antico di Taormina, Mount Etna (don’t have to visit but see), Valley of the Temples, Massimo Theater, Quattro Canti, Cefalu Cathedral

Thank you in advance for your help!

Your itinerary would be doable, however you would have to drive quite much. If it doesn’t bother you, you can do the following:

– Day 0: when you arrive, spend the night in Palermo – Day 1: Go to Agrigento (2h10 by car) and visit the Valley of the Temples. At the end of the day, head to Taormina (2h30 by car). – Spend the night in Taormina. – Day 2: Visit Taormina and the Teatro Antico. You can see the Etna Volcano from Taormina and also you would have seen it from the road on Day 1, when going to Taomrina. If you don’t plan to hike the Etna, it should be enough! You should also go to Castelmola, a small town next to Taormina (only 5-10 minutes by car). It’s super beautiful! – Spend another night in Taormina. – Days 3: Road to Cefalù (2h20 by car) – Visit, relax and head to Palermo (1h away by car from Cefalù) at the end of the day. – Spend the night in Palermo – Day 4: Meet your friends and visit Palermo. 1 day is enough to see the best attractions of the city if you don’t want to go too much in depth. – Spend your last night in Palermo

That’s the best 4 days itinerary in Sicily to see everything you want 🙂

About the accommodations, you can find my list of the best hotels for each city, depending on your budget here:

– The best hotels in Taormina – Where to stay in Palermo

And if you have any other question to plan your 4-5 days trip to Sicily (about things to do, hotels or anything), don’t hesitate to ask!

Enjoy your trip,

Thank you so much for your recommendations!

Hi Vincent I forget to say it’s 5 day holiday 😊

I think you first message hasn’t been sent, as I have just received this one! You can send it again if you want me to help you plan your 5 days trip to Sicily 🙂

Hello Vincent, could I please ask for help.

My husband and I will be having a trip to sicily with a 2 years old toddler in mid June, will be arriving with the ferry from malta to pozzallo. Any ideas how to plan and where is best please?

Hello Nadine,

For your 5 days trip to Sicily, if you arrive in Pozzallo, the best is to visit the east coast of Sicily. You can stay in Syracuse (Ortigia island) or Catania for example.

Here are the best places to visit:

– Syracuse and Ortigia island – Taormina and Castelmola village – Catania and the Etna volcano – Noto, Ragusa and Modica, the baroque towns.

You can read my detailed travel guides for each place by clicking the links in the article. You can also have a look at my 1 week in Sicily itinerary , it will give you a good overview of what you can do, even if you have a bit less time.

Enjoy your 5 days itinerary in Sicily!

We are a family of 5 that are flying into Catania in mid April. We will fly into Catania in the evening and staying in Sicily for 7 nights and 7 full days including the day we fly out (we fly back out of Catania at night).

My kids are aged 12-17 but prefer to tour at an easy pace and not sleep in a new place every day or two. We originally thought of staying in Catania for the full 7 nights, We will have a car. I am torn between two options – staying in Catania the whole time as we originally thought to do (and touring the volcano, Catania town, Taormina, and other suggestions in the area) OR staying in Catania for the first 3 or 4 days and then driving up to Palermo to see that city and maybe Cefalu. I like the variety that would bring, however I am concerned it will make the trip rather tight and that too much time will be spent in the car.

What do you think, and can you suggest an optimal itinerary for us?

For your 7 days trip to Sicily, if you don’t want to change place to sleep, you can spend the 7 days in Catania.

From there, you will be able to visit Catania, the Etna, Taormina and Castelmola village as well as Syracuse and Ortigia island. If you have some time, you can also add a day trip to Noto, Modica and Ragusa, the baroque towns.

It’s really enough to keep you busy for 7 days! It’s better to keep Palermo and the west side of Sicily for another trip.

If you want to do 2 stops during your trip to spend less time in the car, you can stay a few nights in Catania or Taormina and 2-3 nights in Syracuse, to explore the city and Noto/Modica/Ragusa.

You can read my 7 days in Sicily itinerary , it will give you a good idea of the places you can visit in a week. It’s a 3 stops itinerary, but you can do the same with just 1 or 2 stops.

Enjoy your trip to Sicily!

Hi Vincent I’m planning a 10 day road trip to Sicily in September. Can you recommend a masseria to stay in for a few nights, perhaps closer to Palermo? Thanks.

If you want to stay in a masseria (agriturismo) close to Palermo, I recommend you:

– The Masseria Rossella – Agriturismo Masseria La Chiusa – Agriturismo Sant’Agata – Masseria Susafa : this one isn’t very close to Palermo (around 90 km) but it’s one of the most famous in Sicily.

I don’t know your budget and the exact dates of your stay, that’s why I am sending you a few different choices.

To help you to organize your 10 days road trip to Sicily, you can also read my article here: How to spend 10 days in Sicily?

Enjoy your stay in Sicily, and if you have other questions, don’t hesitate!

I’m planning a trip to Sicily for the first week in April, flying in to Catania. My teenagers are interested in geology so we want to go to the top of Etna for a day and also go to Alcantara Gorge another day. My husband and I would like to see some history – Roman, Baroque etc.

I’ve looked at the suggested itineraries and it looks like a split between Taormina and Syracusa would be good.

The thing is that I’m a bit worried about car hire scams and no drive zones.

Would it be possible to get by without a car? If not, which car rental company would you recommend? Any suggestions very gratefully received!

Many thanks.

Yes, exactly, spending a few days in Syracuse and a few other in Taormina would be the best in your case. If you have a full week, you can have a look at my one week in Sicily itinerary .

About the car hire scams, they are unfortunately very common. I have even written a full article about the issue, but it’s unfortunately only in french for now, so I will sum it up:

Basically, you really need to have an insurance when you rent a car in Sicily. If you have “premium” credit card such as a Gold Mastercard or Visa Premier, an insurance is included if you book your car with that card.

If you are not sure if you can benefit from this insurance, just call your credit card customer support, they will tell you everything you need to know about the insurances included with it.

If you don’t have a premium credit card, you should really buy an insurance when booking your car. Personally, I always use Booking.com Cars website, because I know their insurance is very good. They have refunded me more than 1300 euros in total as I said in this article! Everytime I had the money on my account in less than 5 days, after sending just 1 email to their insurance claim team.

In any case, once you’re sure you have an insurance (your credit card one or the Booking Cars one), you can book with any companies, you’re 100% sure to get a refund if you are scammed.

In order to avoid unnecessary troubles (and because I wouldn’t personally give 1 penny to these thieves), you should avoid the following companies, who are known to be the worst:

– Italy Car rent – Sicily by car – Goldcar – Firefly

About the no drive zones (called ZTL in italian), you just need to be careful when driving close the historical center of the cities. As long as you stay on the main streets, you won’t have problems. Just don’t follow your GPS blindly when it tell you to take small streets and everything will be alright!

If you choose not to rent a car, you can go everywhere by bus, it’s just slower/less convenient. It will be hard for example to visit Noto, Modica and Ragusa by bus in a day, while it’s totally doable if you have a car.

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

Hi! This is such a great source of info so thanks for sharing. I am curious as to your idea for the best way to spend 4 fulls days. Monday to Thursday in early October. Flying into Catania on Monday afternoon spending two nights there, then two nights in Palermo and flying home early Friday morning. Any thoughts on the best itinerary? We will have a rented car to get around.

Hello Nicole,

Thanks! I’m glad my itineraries for a short stay in Sicily are useful for you to plan your trip.

If you have booked your plane to arrive in Catania and depart from Palermo, I will suggest you: – Day 1: Visit Taormina – Night in Catania – Day 2: Visit Syracuse and Origia Island – Night in Catania

Note: depending on your interests, you can replace one of these 2 days by a trip to the Etna Volcano

– Day 3: Road to Palermo (2h20). You can make a short detour to go visit Cefalu. Then, head to Palermo and visit the city for the rest of the day – Night in Palermo – For the last day, you have the choice, depending on what you like to do: Mondello Beach, Zingaro Nature Reserve, Trapani + Erice + Segesta Temple, Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples. You can find all the details about the best things to do in Palermo here: Visit Palermo .

I also have written an article for each city (Catania, Taormina, Syracusa), you can find them here: Destination Sicily .

It’s incredibly kind of you to offer so much travel advice here! I am planning on a five night stay in Sicily in January. Although we won’t be able to access beaches, I’m counting on it still being nicer weather than home (Canada) and that there will still be a great deal to see/do/eat.

I’m wondering if for that amount of time, it would be best to designate a “home base” and make everything else a day trip? If I were to do that, would you suggest choosing Catania or somewhere less busy, such as Giardini Naxos? We will be renting a car (two adults), so parking is a worthwhile consideration. My partner is prioritizing seeing mount etna.

Thanks for your help, for my trip and others!

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

For your 5 days in eastern Sicily, I would recommend at least 2 bases: 1 in Giardini Naxos for example and another in Syracuse (Oritigia island) or somewhere around Syracuse. It will be a lot more convenient, especially if you also plan to visit the baroque towns of Noto, Ragusa and Modica.

With 1 base, you would really have too much driving. For example, Giardini Naxos to Syracuse is 1h30 driving, so that’s 3 hours wasted in a day! And Ragusa is even further, about 2 hours away. And it’s even more true in winter, as the days are quite short.

About parking, some hotels have private parkings, so no need to worry.

As I say in the article, just be careful with the car hire scams in Sicily, they are unfortunately very common. Make sure you have an insurance for the car, so you can travel with the peace of mind! Your credit card insurance will do the job if they offer one, else you should take the Booking.com Cars insurance when booking, it’s very effective.

Enjoy your trip to Sicily, and don’t hesitate to ask me if you have any question!

We are planning a trip to Italy in July next year and we are spending a week in Sicily (touring other parts of Italy first). Sicily would be our last part of the trip before heading home to Australia. We are wanting to see where my husband’s parents used to live in Tortorici and Sinagra. We were going to catch the ferry from Sorrento to Palermo and then get a hire car and stay in a few places and probably spend about 3-4 nights near Tortorici and do day trips out from there. Would love to spend a few nights in Taormina as this would be the last of our trip and may need to unwind a little.

Can you recommend places to visit/stay during this time please? I’ve planned a lot of the trip in the other part of Italy, but I’m a bit stuck in Sicily. Thanks.

Hello Denise,

Sorry for the late answer, I was travelling and I didn’t saw your comment.

For your week in Sicily:

I understand that you want to see where your husband’s parents used to live but unfortunately, there is not so much things to do around Tortorici, it’s really far from everything. You can go to Milazzo and do a day trip at Lipari or Vulcano, but it’s 1h40 by car only to reach Milazzo, between the car trip, the wait and the boat, it’s probably more than 5 hours of transportation in 1 day!

If you arrive in Palermo, the best will be to stay around the city for 2 nights, then head to Tortorici (2 nights) and finish with Taormina. You can find all the things to do in Palermo and Taormina here: Destination Sicily .

Hi Vincent, We’re planning to stay in Sicily for 4 days and off to Valletta Malta and from there go back to Paris. We’ll be arriving at Palermo airport, and looks like ferry would leave only from Pozzallo port to Malta.

What would you recommend us to see for 4 days? Would we have time to see eastern coast?

Can we get by public transportations without renting a car?

P.S. it’ll be us 3 young people, we’re up for any adventure:) Thanks for your time in advance! Odko

This sounds like a great trip!

Renting a car in your case would be a bit complicated unfortunately, as I don’t think you can rent it in Palermo and drop it off in Pozzallo (or it would be extremely expensive). So you will have to deal with public transports, at least for the end of your trip.

So here are a few questions that will allow me to help you better:

– About the places to visit, it will depend on what you like to do: Do you prefer to visit archaeological sites? Hike in beautiful nature reserve next to the sea? Visit nice old towns? – Would you mind renting a car for 1 or 2 days if necessary? – Do you want to visit Palermo when you will arrive? – Do you want to visit the Etna Volcano if you go on the east coast (knowing that it’s about 100 euros per person for the day)? – Do you absolutely want to take the boat to Malta? There are flights from Palermo and Catania, and it’s sometimes even cheaper than the boat (and a lot more convenient).

Also, did you already book your plane ticket to Palermo? (It would be better to arrive in Catania if you prefer to visit the east coast only for example).

Let me know about these, so I can help you further!

Also, about Valletta and Malta, I know the country very well, so if you want you can read my guide of Valletta here: The best things to do in Valletta .

You can also see all my articles about Malta with itineraries and tips there: Malta tourist guide .

And of course, if you need some help to plan your trip to Malta, don’t hesitate to ask me in one of the Maltese articles!

Hi, your site is excellent!! We are planning a family reunion and I need many answers, I hope you don’t mind.

We are thinking about traveling to Sicily this December. We don’t mind the cold, which seems to be mild, but we are worried about the rain. Some sites mention 14 days of rain, and some 7! Which one is accurate?

We are mostly interested in history and nature, and as we are a large family with all ages, we thought it could be convenient to stay in Catania, so we can visit the east side of the island (Syracuse and Taormina and the natural parks).

We would stay there one week, and then a smaller group will stay a week in Palermo. Do you think it makes sense to travel there in December or we should leave it for another time?

And if you think it is ok to travel in December, where is the best place to try and find a 9 bedroom luxury villa? Is Catania a good spot for that? Thank you in advance for your help!

Hello Ariela,

Thanks! I’m glad you enjoy my travel blog.

About the rain, yes, in Sicily, the average is between 10 and 14 days of rain in December December isn’t the best period to visit Sicily but it remains the less rainy month in winter.

If you want to stay on the East side of the island, you can try to find a villa around Catania, that would be the most convenient if you have only one base. However, there are not many 9 bedrooms villas for rent, so you might have to rent 2 villas instead of one. You can have a look on this website for example.

To help you plan your trip on the east coast of Sicily, you can read my article: One week in Sicily detailed itinerary

It will give you ideas about how to plan your visits day by day in Catania, Syracuse and Taormina.

You can also have a look on my other articles about Sicily: Destination Sicily .

If you think Sicily will be to rainy in December, maybe you can consider going to Andalucia? It’s one of the warmest place in Europe during winter (along with Malta), and it also offers amazing places to visit. It could be a great option for this month.

If you want, you can have a look at my articles about Andalucia here: Destination Andalucia

If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate!

Hi Vincent. Thanks for replying to my post. I have another question though. Is it advisable to just hire a car to get around Sicily or is it a good idea to hire a driver/car for the time we are there (July)?

You’re welcome, I am glad if I can help you plan your trip.

About car hire versus car + driver hire, it’s really a matter of taste and budget. It’s totally doable (and a lot cheaper) to rent a car and travel around Sicily by yourself with a GPS.

Hiring a driver + car would in my opinion be more interesting if you are looking to visit Sicily with a private guided tour. So more a driver/guide than just a driver.

Unless of course you really don’t like to drive and want someone to do it for you!

As I said, it’s really a matter of taste (and budget).

Greetings from Canada:

We will be arriving in Palermo on December 26 around 2pm and want to see as much of Sicily as possible until having to be back in Palermo on Dec 26 as one of our group has to depart around 6pm. Rest of group will be in Palermo until Jan 2nd. Would appreciate your suggestions. We want to see historical sites as well as Mt. Aetna. We will rent a car from Palermo which we have until our departure on Jan 2nd.

Thank you, Gillian

Hello Gillian,

I think there is a small mistake with your arrival date, please let me know the correct one so I can help you to plan your trip to Sicily 🙂

I also have a few questions that will allow me to help you further:

– Would you like an Itinerary for the whole trip to Sicily? (start date to Palermo on december 26 + 2nd part for the group staying until the 2nd of January?) – Will you have a rental car for the first part of your trip too? – Do the whole group also wants to see Mount Etna (as it’s on the other side of Sicily, it’s not super convenient)? Or only people staying until the 2nd of January?

Let me know!

This travel blog is excellent.

We are planning to arrive to Pozzallo by ferry from Malta and would like to hire a car from Pozzallo but we are finding it difficult to find rental companies who offer car hire from Pozzallo. Do you know any recommendations?

Thank you in advance, Sandra

Thanks, I am glad my travel blog is helping you to plan your itinerary in Sicily!

There are only a few car rental companies in Pozzallo, most of them being small local ones.

I can’t recommend any in particular as I haven’t tried them, but here are a few links that might help you:

– Car Service Rosolini – Golden car – Hetz Pozzallo

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

Hi Vincent: Thank you for your prompt response to my request.

Our arrival date in Palermo is Dec 26 around 2pm. Departure date for one of our group is Dec 31 around 4pm from Palermo. The remainder will stay in Palermo until the morning of Jan 2. Our group will be 4 adults and two teens.

The whole group would like to visit Mt. Etna.

Again thank you for your time and help.

Regards Gillian

Many thanks for your help.

Hi Gillian,

Excuse me for the late reply, i am traveling at the moment so it’s a bit harder for me to answer quickly to all comments.

For your itinerary, here is what i would suggest:

– 26 dec: arrival in Palermo, visit a bit – night in Palermo – 27 dec: Palermo + Monreale town and cathedral – night in Palermo – 28 dec: Cefalu, visit around – night in Cefalu ( good place to split the journey in 2)

– 29 dec: Taormina – night in Taormina

– 30 dec: Etna – night in Taormina (so you don’t switch hotel everyday) or Catania (a bit less driving to get back to Palermo on the next day)

– 31 dec: back to Palermo – night in Palermo

– 1 jan: as it’s an holiday, some places will probably be closed. You can maybe go to Castellammare del Golfo, or Zingaro nature reserve (you would need to call to see if open) or Erice village.

Segesta temple and the valley of the temples (amazing, but that’s 5 hours driving in 1 day) seems to also be open (you should call too to be sure!)

That’s probably the best itinerary you can do in terms of journey time/ number of visits if you all want to see the Etna.

I talk about all these places in my other articles, you can read them here: Destination Sicily .

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

Thank you Vincent for your reply. I will contact these car hire companies.

You’re welcome Sandra, if you have any other questions about Sicily, don’t hesitate!

Hi! This website is great. Do you know of any car hire + driver services for the day in Palermo? Or any tour companies that do a day trip around the island leaving from Palermo?

I am glad my travel blog is helping you to plan your trip to Sicily!

Unfortunately, i don’t know any car hire + driver in Sicily. You should ask your hotel about it, they will for sure be able to help you out.

Just one thing, Sicily is very big, you need about 2 weeks to go around the island. So for a day trip, you will need to choose 1 or a few places near Palermo depending on your interests.

In this article about Palermo, I also talk about the best things to do around the city. You can have a look and see the one you would enjoy the most!

And of course, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me

Thank you so very much for your amazing help. It is truly appreciated. Best regards, Gillian

Thanks for your well written site. We’re definitely taking some of your advice. One thing that was confusing… I was looking at Booking.com Cars as you suggested but I can’t seem to get it to list any of the major locations in Sicily to book a car from.

Hello Mark,

I am glad my article is helping you to plan your stay in Sicily.

For your search problem, it’s because on Booking Cars ( this page ), you need to select “Italy – Sicily” as country (not just “Italy”). I know it can be a bit misleading!

Please let me know if it solved your issue 🙂

Any tips for a 6 full days in Sicily? I want to see Palermo, Erice Village, Agricento National Park also Mount Etna. Was planning to arrive in Palermo rent a car drive to Taormina stay for 3 nights and them back to Cefalu or Palermo for another 4 nights and do day trips to those places from there. Is it a good idea? Also do you recommend any nice beaches 🙂 thanks, Renata

For your 6 days trip to Sicily, you can do as you suggested: 3 night in Taormina and 4 nights in Palermo, however you should keep in mind that Sicily is a quite big island:

Palermo to Taormina: 3h30 by car Palermo to Erice: 1h30 Palermo to Agrigento: 2h15

So that would be a lot of driving! A day trip to Agrigento from Palermo = almost 5 hours of driving during the day.

Personnaly, I would suggest the following itinerary:

– Arrive in Catania, spend 3 nights in Taormina to visit Taormina, the Etna and Castelmola village if you have the time – Go to Agrigento, visit the valley of the temple and sleep there for 1 night – Go to Trapani – on the way, you can stop at Torre Salsa nature reserve, best beach of Sicly in my opinion! It’s a very large sandy beach, and not many people go there. Visit Erice village, spend 1 to 3 nights in Trapani – Palermo is honestly not the most interesting place to visit in Sicily, personnaly if I had only 6 days, I would just stay 1 day there and take my return flight from Palermo.

So that’s really depending on your preferences: you can spend more time around Trapani and visit Favignana island for example, or spend 1 night only in Trapani to visit Erice and then head to Palermo.

Hi Vincent, great site! We are a couple and we’ll be travelling to Sicily from Malta in the second week of July, arriving in Pozzallo with our own car. We want to spend seven nights in Sicily, do an Eastern Sicily roundtrip but perhaps go as far as Cefalu (?) – ah and we definitely want to do a day trip to the Eolie islands. We like nature, mountains, countryside, beaches, kayaking, relaxing, theatre, arts and adventures (history less so). We like to sleep in a different place everyday and our itinerary is looking like this but I’d like some advice:

Day 1 – Arrive in Pozzallo and travel to Mount Etna for an excursion – then relax in a hotel and dinner and sleep near Giarre or Riposto – we want to experience the small picturesque villages, eat nice food and relax rather than rush to see the big cities (so not Catania). We were thinking that sleeping somewhere further North might be too much driving for a day after driving up to Etna. Day 2 – Travel to Gole di Alcantara and do body rafting, then in the afternoon go to Taormina area and do some kayaking with our own inflatable kayak which we’ll bring along with us in the car (we’ve both already been to Taormina town centre so we’re not sure if we want to re-visit). Evening drive to Milazzo to sleep there as we need to wake up there in time for a 9:30am or 10am departure for the Active Volcanoes day trip with Tarnav (we haven’t booked this yet). Day 3 – Day trip to active volcanoes and back at 11pm – sleep in same place in Milazzo. Day 4 – See Capo Milazzo (maybe some kayaking there?) and drive west to see coastal towns (kayaking here perhaps?) Where should we stop? Which towns to see/swim in? Where to sleep? Do we keep going until Cefalu or it worth sleeping in smaller towns? We were thinking of seeing the Fiumara d’Arte in Castel di Tusa… Day 5 – Either spend another day at the coast or see some mountains like Nebrodi or Madonie since we don’t have mountains in Malta 🙂 Would you prefer Nebrodi or Madonie? And is it worth to go to the mountains it in summer? Then we need to start heading south again for Pozzallo – which would be the best way? Day 6 and Day 7 – are still open for suggestions… Day 8 – see things around Pozzallo – maybe Noto, Vendicari, Calamosche beach and Marzamemi (is this doable in one day if our ferry leaves at 9.30pm?

Some other questions – Are there places you recommend for self-kayaking? Should we do the opposite and go to Nebrodi/Madonie/Cefalu before the Eolie and do the opposite roundtrip?

Many thanks for any tips you might have about the whole trip!

About your 8-day itinerary in Sicily:

– Day 1 – Perfect – Day 2 – Perefect – You should book the canyoning in the Alcantara Gorges a bit in advance because there is little availability per day (and this summer Sicily is gonna be the top destination for Italians). You can book it here: Canyoning in Alcantara .

– Day 3 – Perfect – Day 4 – Unfortunately, I don’t know much about this part of Sicily between Milazzo and Cefalu, so I can’t really tell you which places would be best for kayaking.

For the accommodation, I would say that it will depend on your budget because man accomodations are already full for the second week of July. I just looked on Booking and 80% are already sold out around Cefalu.

– Day 5 – I think it’s worth planning a day trip to Nebrodi or Madonie. I’ve been living in Malta too (Gozo) for a few years and it always feels good to go to the mountains, even in the summer! You will in any case see more trees and nature than here! If you like hiking, there is enough to do there for 2 days. You can also plan 1 day for Nebrodi and 1 day for Madonie since you don’t know what to do on day 6.

– Day 7 – You can go to Agrigento and its surroundings. There are beautiful places to kayak near the Scala dei Turchi and Capo Rossello.

– Day 8 – If the ferry leaves at 9:30 pm, yes, that gives you plenty of time to visit these places.

In my opinion, it doesn’t make much of a difference to do it one way or the other. The only thing is that if you start by Cefalu, you will not have to rush to do Etna and you will have a full day (rather than having to drive off the boat and rush to the mountain).

Enjoy your stay in Sicily and don’t hesitate if you have any other questions!

Thank you Vincent! That’s very useful 🙂 Thanks for keeping up this site 🙂

My wife and I are visiting in July. We are chartering a sailboat in Capo D’Orlando to sail in the Aeolian Islands. We then will have 4 full days to travel on land. We fly out of Catania. It doesn’t look like its possible to rent a car in Capo D’Orlando and drop in Catania. We are interested in seeing/hiking on Mt Etna and seeing the ancient sites and towns like Noto, Ragusa etc.

What would you suggest as far as a car rental and itinerary?

I have also checked and indeed, from Capo d’Orlando, I haven’t found any company that accepts that you drop the car in Catania. The easiest solution I found would be to take a train from Capo d’Orlando to Catania (about 2h50).

You can find prices and timetables here: Booking train tickets in Sicily

You can then rent a car at Catania airport for the rest of your stay.

There is a 2nd solution, but it will be more expensive:

– Go from Capo d’Orlando to Milazzo by train – Rent a car in Milazzo.

However, in addition to the price of the rental, you will have to pay a drop-off fee (the extra cost for returning the car to a different location) of about 120€.

Whichever solution you choose, you should compare the rates on Booking.com Cars. You have the link in the article but I’ll put it here for your convenience: Rent a car in sicily .

For your 4 days in Sicily, I would suggest the following itinerary: – 1 day to visit Taormina (night in Taormina or Catania) – 1 day to hike on the Etna (night in Siracusa) – 1 day to visit Siracusa and Ortigia island (night in Siracusa) – 1 day for Noto and Ragusa. (night in Siracusa)

You will find all the best things to do in these cities and my selection of hotels here: Destination Sicily .

Enjoy your stay, and don’t hesitate if you have any other questions to prepare your 4-day trip to Sicily!

Hi Vincent, We would like to visit Sicily for 5 days from Malta in the third week of January 2022 with our own car. We like nature and adventure, and we’d like to try skiing for the first time, or doing something easy for beginners in the snow for 1 day or max 2 days, maybe stay in a place like a chalet with a fireplace, etc.

Can you ski for one day only? Since we will be with our own car – how difficult is it to get to the ski resorts? How far away from the ski resort can we stay on the same night so that we can drive down?

Any other tips for a short ski or snow trip would be great 🙂 But also what other activities we could do since it’s so cold, like short hikes, renting a bicycle, visiting a lake, etc.

Thanks! Nina

There are only 3 ski resorts in Sicily: – Etna North – Piano Provenzana (Linguaglossa) – Etna South – Nicolosi – Piano Battaglia in the Madonie park. You can of course spend just one day skiing in any of them. However, I don’t know if it’s easy to go with your car if you don’t have snow tyres.

And as I’ve never been to Sicily’s mountains in winter, I can’t tell you too much about what to do during this period.

The best way to choose your accommodation is to look directly on Booking.com by clicking here and search around the ski resort you have chosen.

Enjoy your stay in Sicily!

I’m not sure if you are still providing recommendations via this website, but thought to give it a try!

We are planning our first trip to Sicily for 6 nights; arriving Palermo 19th April, and leaving from Catania airport 25th April.

We’re thinking Palermo for 2 nights, 1 night somewhere in between, 1-2 nights Taormina, and 1 night Catania to catch a flight to Rome the next morning. We will also get a Rental Car before leaving Palermo to have for the rest of the trip. We’re thinking to include a visit to Castellammare del Golfo, Cefalu (if time permits), definitely Agrigento, and Siracusa. If time permits, we would like to visit Noto/Ragusa.

20th April: Arrive Palermo, visit / site seeing per your recommendations – night in Palermo 21st April: Palermo + Monreale town and cathedral – night in Palermo 22nd April: Collect Rental Car in Palermo, drive to Cefalu, visit around (night in Cefalu or somewhere else) 23rd April: Spend morning travelling to and visiting Agrigento, Valley of Temples, Segesta Temple then 1-2 nights Taormina 24th April: Where would make sense to visit for 1 full day by car? 25th April: travel to Catania (to catch flight next morning)

Very keen to know your thoughts on how to make the most of our trip. We are most interested in history/architecture/traditional food/wine and will spend some time in Taormina relaxing by the beach.

Thank you so much.

Regarding your itinerary in Sicily: 20 and 21: ok 22: if you are more interested in history and architecture, you should rather go directly to Agrigento on that day. You can visit Segesta when leaving Palermo but it’s a diversion. In Cefalu, there is not much to see. Spend the night in Agrigento.

For the rest of your stay, you have 2 choices: – 23 / 24: Taormina and surroundings – 25: Catania or: -23: Ragusa/Noto -24: Syracuse -25: Catania. Feel free to look at Google maps to see the locations of the cities and the travel times. You may not realise it, but Sicily is a large island, so distances are important.

Hi Vincent!

I’m not sure if you are still providing recommendations via this website, but thought to give it a try!

I’m planning a trip to Sicily with my family and we will have only 5/6 days max. They are not really into the mood of changing places to stay, so ideally we would choose one place to stay and drive around to visit what is feasible. We are more into beaches, towns and mountain/nature than geogoloy activities. Which side of the island you would choose? And which itinerary you would recomend us?

Thanks a lot for such great website 🙂

Best! Monica

Hello Monica,

If you just want one place to stay for the duration of your trip, I would recommend either Trapani (in the West) or Syracuse/Ortigia for the East.

Thank you so much for an amazing article, its a life saver)

We are a couple and planning to visit Sicily end of May for 6 days, arriving to Palermo and later leaving also from Palermo. Could you please advise what would be the best itinerary so that we also get to Etna volcano? We will rent a car.

Thanks a lot in advance, Mary

Hello Mary,

Thank you for your kind words!

For your itinerary, it’s important to keep in mind that the Etna is more than 3 hours by car from Palermo, one way. So normally I include a visit to Etna in my itineraries starting from Catania, which is much closer to the volcano.

For your itinerary, you have several possibilities: – Palermo / Cefalu / Taormina / Etna / Catania / Palermo – Palermo / Trapani / Agrigento / Catania (Etna) / Cefalu (if you have time) / Palermo The best thing to do is to look at Google maps, to see the different travel times by car. But in any case, the fact that you want to do Etna makes you cross a good part of Sicily.

Hi Vincent. Your website and all these tips are truly helpful. Me and a group of friends will be arriving to Sicily (Pozzallo) via a ferry from Malta. We will be renting a car and my friend has the following route planned : Day 1 (22 Dec) : Pozzallo (pick up car) and head to Ragusa & Modica. Explore the churches and town before we drive to Agrigento for a night’s stay Day 2 : Explore Agrigento (Valley of temples, temple of Juno, Temple of Oylmpian Zeus, Churches, Stairs of the Turks) and then head to Selinunte for the night Day 3 : Explore Selinunte archaeological park. Head towards Marsala (drive along the salt road) and then drive to Scopello stay the night Day 4 (25 Dec – Scopello) Explore Scopello and spend the night Day 5 : Head to Palermo Day 6 : Palermo Day 7 : Head to Cefalu Cathedral and spend 1 night at Cefalu Day 8 : Head to Taormina. Explore the town and Mount Etna? Day 9 (Dec 30) : Head towards Catania (Basilica Cattedrale Sant’Agata, Piazza del Duomo & Fontana dell’Elefante,Monastero dei Benedettini and maybe Mount Etna? ) Day 10 (Dec 31) Head to Syracuse and explore Ortigia and Nato. Spend night at Syracuse Day 11 (1 Jan) Head back to Pozzallo to take Ferry to Malta.

I’m not sure if we are trying to accomplish too much especially since we will be driving in 2 cars and having had the experience of our luggage stolen from our car in Portugal, I’m not sure if we should be changing accommodation so often. Would truly appreciate your expert advise!

Thanks a lot! I’m glad my Sicily itineraries are helping you plan your trip.

If you want to do the whole of Sicily in 10 days, there’s really no choice but to change accommodation very often. The itinerary you’ve planned is great for seeing as much as possible. As for luggage theft, unfortunately this is very common in Sicily. There’s not much you can do about it, as there will always be days when you’ll have to carry your luggage in the car. Try to put it all in the car boot and always keep your papers, jewellery and money with you.

On the other hand, what worries me a little is the dates of your itinerary. At this time of year (24/25/26 and 31/01), many places are likely to be closed. You should check beforehand for each place you want to visit.

Have a nice day,

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Sicily itinerary in 5 days: Palermo, Cefalù, Taormina and Mount Etna

What to see in Sicily? That is the question! Our 5-day itinerary in Sicily contains so many gorgeous sights, cultural attractions, and delicious local foods. Start in Palermo, drive along the Northern Coast to Cefalù, continue East until Taormina and Mount Etna, and depart from Catania. You will love it!

This short trip to Sicily was our Italian honeymoon, just a couple of days after our wedding in Cortina d’Ampezzo in July 2018 . We planned efficiently a few activities, and we left some days free for spontaneous explorations. Sicily was absolutely amazing and we can’t wait to travel there again!

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About Sicily

Be efficient while planning, so you can be spontaneous when you travel.

How to get to Sicily

Sicily is a large island in Southern Italy , located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea (map here ).

The main airports in Sicily are in Palermo (North-West side and capital) and Catania (East side with volcano). Flying to Sicily is the recommended means of travel.

Going to Sicily by train is complicated because there is no bridge between the Calabria region (the tip of the Italian boot) and Sicily. The train wagons are moved to a ferry. It’s complicated, but not impossible.

Travelling by car to Sicily is convenient, as public transport is not super reliable. You will need to take the ferry from Calabria, or rent a car in Sicily.

Lots of ferries also reach Sicily from nearby Italian cities.

How to travel within Sicily

Even though there are lots of public transport companies and the national train company Trenitalia, the schedule is not always reliable and the travel time is longer. It’s not impossible, just schedule some extra time and be relaxed. We did not use public transport in Sicily (just a bus from Taormina to Catania airport) and these are the impressions of friends and family.

During our trip, we enjoyed travelling by rental car . Make sure you have insurance and be patient while you get used to the local driving style, which can scare some of the most observant and careful drivers. Schedule some extra time to find parking, and in case you get lost.

Climate in Sicily

The weather in Sicily is very pleasant . Typically Mediterranean, on the coast winters are mild and moderately rainy, while summers are hot and sunny. Inland the weather is slightly more intense, with colder winters and even hotter summers. On Mount Etna, with its 3329 meters of altitude, it snows!

In the summer, expect temperatures to reach above 30 degrees Celsius during the day, and stay above 20 degrees during the night.

What to eat in Sicily

I’ll keep it short, even though this list can go on and on and on. Our favourite Sicilian specialities are:

• Pasta alla norma , with tomato sauce, eggplant and cheese
• Lots of types of fish (depending on the season) both grilled and fried
• Arancine (or arancini , the name is disputed), a ball of rice with cheese/ham/tomato sauce, breaded and fried
• Cannolo siciliano ( cannoli is the plural), a cylinder of fried dough filled with ricotta cheese cream
• Granita , a very thick semi-frozen and creamy dessert, best tasted with a brioche bread
• Wine of many different kinds, even grown on Mount Etna

In general, Sicilian cuisine is very nutritious. It features plenty of pasta, bread, vegetables, and uses olive oil to fry or marinade. It can feel a bit heavy afterwards, so be careful with your portions 🙂

Currency and money in Sicily

Being in Italy, the currency is the Euro . Most credit cards like Visa and MasterCard are accepted. Make sure you always have cash with you for small expenses, parking, tips, or emergencies.

Do you know the best way to avoid bank fees and exchange commission? It’s the Wise multi-currency account and debit card! Click here to read our full review or click here to register and order yours (formerly TransferWise).

Sicily itinerary for 5 days

There is so much to see in Sicily: charming cities like Palermo and Siracusa, historical sites like Agrigento and the Vally of the Temples, seaside spots like Scala dei Turchi and San Vito Lo Capo, and natural wonders like Mount Etna and the Aeolian islands. If you have only a few days, you have to choose.

We are very satisfied with our itinerary because it includes a bit of everything:

• Day 1: Arrival at Palermo
• Day 2: Palermo for the history and the architecture
• Day 3: Monreale for the Cathedral and Cefalù for the beach
• Day 4: Taormina for the seaside and the history
• Day 5: Mount Etna hike
• Day 6: Departure from Catania

Use the map below or get the itinerary map here .

Day 1 – Arrival to Palermo

We landed at Palermo airport, which is located a bit outside of the city.

Be efficient : to go from Palermo airport to the city centre, take a shared taxi right outside of the terminal. They depart with 4 people at the price of 8 EUR per passenger, for just more than 30 minutes. You may have to wait a little for someone else to join your ride, but in exchange, you will get recommendations from the taxi drivers, and meet fellow travellers.

Alternatively, the bus to Palermo by Prestia e Comande costs 6 EUR one way for a 50-minutes ride.

Dedicate the first few hours to exploring the city centre of Palermo.

From its founding in 734 BC by the Phoenicians until modern Italy, Palermo was home to Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Normans, just to name a few. The signs of such exciting history are visible everywhere in the city in the shape of ancient walls, churches with Byzantine mosaics and Arabic decorations, a Norman castle, and splendid palaces with Baroque facades.

Palermo city centre develops around Via Vittorio Emanuele street, which runs from the harbour to the Norman Palace, passing through landmarks such as Quattro Canti square and Palermo Cathedral. Most attractions are in this area or are easy to reach from here, which makes it a great place to find your accommodation.

Day 2 – One day in Palermo

Palermo is a pleasure to visit. If any attraction is closed, or if you’d rather head out to Mondello beach for the day, just strolling between the avenues and the alleys is very pleasant and enjoyable.

Be spontaneous : take your time to wander around the alleys, to do some people-watching while sipping an espresso, to breathe in the atmosphere of this city.

Be efficient : make sure you check the opening hours of churches, castles, exhibitions, everything you want to visit. It is common to close for lunchtime, or for weddings and special events.

When deciding what to see in Palermo, it can be difficult to make choices. If you have just a day, we recommend these sights as the most iconic.

Incredible, gigantic trees

The incredible park Giardino Garibaldi in Piazza Marina ( map here ) is perfect as a soft start of your day, or as a break during your walking tour. Even though it’s quite a small park, the size of the trees is mind-blowing: the venerable Ficus Macrophylla is approximately 30 meters high, approximately 30 meters wide (yes, wide!) and more than 150 years old. Not only those trees are memorable, but they are also among the oldest trees in Palermo.

The Churches of Piazza Bellini: Churches Santa Caterina, Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio, San Cataldo

We spent a couple of hours visiting the three impressive churches of Santa Caterina, Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio and San Cataldo, conveniently located on the sides of Piazza Bellini ( map here ).

It was absolutely amazing to admire such different architectures and decorative styles, one after the other. These three churches are a snapshot of all the civilizations that developed Palermo through the ages.

Furthermore, Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio and San Cataldo churches are part of the “ Arab-Norman Palermo ” serial property protected by UNESCO, which are nine buildings dating back to the Norman kingdom, between 1130 and 1194. They were chosen as outstanding examples of the architectural and artistic expression that combines Western, Byzantine and Islamic cultures.

Santa Caterina Church was built in 1310, later expanded and rebuilt in 1566-1596 with Sicilian Baroque, Rococo and Renaissance styles. The interior decorations do not leave a single square centimetre empty! Make sure you go to the rooftop to admire the view.

Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio Church (also known as Chiesa della Martorana) was built around 1140, with a Greek cross plant and Byzantine interior. The mosaics inside will leave you with your mouth open! The exotic details, the shades of blue and gold are simply wonderful. (If you like Byzantine mosaics, make sure you visit also the Palatine Chapel inside the Palace and Monreale Cathedral).

San Cataldo Church is totally different. Built in 1154 by mixing some Islamic and basilica elements, its bare simplicity feels refreshing after the overwhelming art of the first two churches. Its three red domes have become one of the symbols of Palermo.

Ballaró market

Make your way until Ballaró Market (located around Piazza Carmine, map here ), a very famous open street market that dates back to 1000 years ago.

As you wander between fish stands and deep-frying kiosks, while the local sellers shout to attract your attention, it may feel like you travelled to Morocco or Egypt. There may be fruits and vegetables that you have never seen before!

The market is very busy in the morning until 12-1PM, so we recommend visiting in the afternoon to avoid the crowd. We spent just 15-20 minutes there, but it’s easy to spend more time if you try the food!

  The Royal Palace

As you walk back to the city centre, pass by the Royal Palace of Palermo (also known as the Norman Palace, map here ). Built in the 11th-12th centuries, at the height of the Norman kingdom, it represents its wealth, its political and cultural power. A model of Arab-Norman architecture, it forms part of the UNESCO heritage trail of Arab-Norman Palermo.

The Royal Palace houses the Palatine Chapel , an incredible masterpiece of Byzantine Mosaics. Guy de Maupassant described it as “the most surprising religious jewel of human thought and created by an artist.”. We did not visit it because we arrived too late!

Palermo Cathedral

By late afternoon, we were pretty tired, but we couldn’t ignore the magnificent Palermo Cathedral (also protected by UNESCO, map here ). Originally a mosque, it was modified into a church with the addition of Romanic and Gothic features; later on, Renaissance elements were added, and finally a Neoclassical interior. Truly, a symbol of Palermo’s intricate history.

Notice a tangible sign of the intricate history of this city: on the first column on the left of the portico entrance, almost at the top, there is a carving from the Quran .

We spent approximately 30 minutes there.

Palermo by night

Like in most Mediterranean cities, dinner starts late and the nightlife takes over streets and squares.

Explore the areas of Kalsa and the Vucciria market to experience the energy of Palermo: get a snack from the market stalls or a drink, relax and do some people-watching.

If you’d rather enjoy a proper dinner, we recommend Osteria al Ferro di Cavallo ( map here ). Their mixed plate is perfect to have a taste of many local dishes.

Be spontaneous! There are numerous events and celebrations taking place all year round: when we visited, beautiful colourful lights decorated the main streets for Saint Rosalia festival, and we listened to a concert by the local orchestra. Your Hotel Reception will be able to advise you.

Day 3 – Monreale and Cefalù

On our third day, we left to the nearby seaside town of Cefalù and stopped by the famous Monreale Cathedral on the way.

Be efficient : if you want to be free and independent, rent a car. Make sure the office and the garage are easy to reach, calculate some extra time for paperwork and signatures, and choose a good insurance policy.

The C athedral of Monreale

The town of Monreale is located approximately 10 km from Palermo, in the hills nearby.

Monreale Cathedral is part of the UNESCO heritage Arab-Norman series ( map here ). The beauty of the mosaic decoration, the enormous size of the nave, the details of the stories recounted on the walls make visiting this Church a simply jaw-dropping experience.

In 2018, it was possible to download an guided tour app on your phone and listen to interesting explanations and history.

Be efficient : check the opening hours in advance! We got there so late, we could spend just 30 minutes in the Church. Also, parking lots may have affiliations with the Church and discount your ticket when you show the access ticket of the church.

Besides visiting Monreale Cathedral, take a walk around it to enjoy the wonderful view from the terraces .

Around the main square there are also restaurants and bakeries, to recharge before heading to Cefalù.

Cefalù is approximately 70 km from Palermo, a 1-hour drive. Remember that you have to pay a toll at the exit of the highway.

It’s time to get to the seaside part of this Sicily itinerary!

We chose Cefalù as a mid-way spot between Palermo and Taormina because of the good location, the inviting beaches and the cute outlook of the town. We were not disappointed!

Be spontaneous ! Everything is close to each other in Cefalù. In just an afternoon, you can relax on the beach, walk over to the dock, and also stroll around the main square Piazza del Duomo, Corso Ruggero Avenue, and the picturesque alleys of the historical city centre.

What to see in Cefalù? Apart from the beach and the city centre, the main attractions in Cefalù are the Cathedral (Arab-Norman UNESCO heritage) and the Castle on top of the hill, with a panoramic view. We didn’t visit either and decided to relax instead.

We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Tinchité ( map here ) and strolled again around the city centre by night. I wish we had one more day to spend here!

Looking for another seaside city-break? Check out our Lisbon itinerary here .

Day 4 – Taormina

Take the morning to drive from Cefalù to Taormina along the highway on northern Sicily. It’s 210 km, approximately 2 and a half hours. After this drive, the Sicily itinerary does not require a car anymore.

Be efficient : calculate some extra time! We were given an address to give back the car, but there was no-one. After waiting for a while, a lady came to do the paperwork, then another employee had us driving to another parking lot and fill up the tank again. It took at least 1 hour more than I expected! Luckily we didn’t have any plans.

Be super efficient : if you keep the car, ask in advance if your accommodation has a parking lot, and use Google Street View to see the road. The reason is that Taormina is located on a hill overlooking the sea, with lots of narrow, winding streets leading from the main street Corso Umberto down to the beach and up to the Castle. You may think your hotel is by the seaside, but maybe instead it’s at the top of a cliff!

What to do in Taormina

There is so much to see and do in Taormina. This incredible gem has it all: the sea, the history, the monuments, the shopping street with the picturesque church and the view to the sea. Everything depends on your interests, on the weather, and on opening hours.

Be spontaneous : once you have marked the most interesting attractions on Google Maps, you can decide on the day what to do, depending on the weather and what you feel like!

On a sunny July afternoon, we decided to go to Isola Bella beach, stroll in the city centre, and visit the Theatre.

Isola Bella Beach

Literally “the beautiful island”, Isola Bella is a little green island located right in front of Taormina ( map here ). The beach in front of it is very popular and can be quite crowded.

The Taormina cableway is certainly the most exciting way to reach the beach (in Italian “funivia”, map here ). The ride lasts 4-5 minutes (plus the time to buy the ticket, that’s 3 EUR one way), which is perfect to admire the intense blue of the sea against the busy coast.

Walk to the right on the road along the coast, at the bottom of the hill, is crowded with shops and restaurants perfect for a snack.

Some stairs lead down to the beach. Thanks to the pebbles, the water is very clear ; on the other hand, it’s not very comfortable to sit or lie down and relax. Some of the bars and restaurants also rent sun chairs.

Make sure you walk over to Isola Bella! As of 2018, there was some sort of ticket to pay to explore the island and the Natural Museum, but we did not go there.

The Ancient Theatre o f Taormina

Walk over to one of the landmarks of Taormina: the famous Greek Theatre (map here ). With its stage area facing the sea and Mount Etna on the right, Taormina theatre provides countless photo spots with postcard potential. Can you believe that it was built in the 3rd century BC? This Theatre has been standing for more than 2000 years!

For the best landscape pictures of the Theatre and the scenery, climb to the very top and walk around until you find your favourite.

We spent 40 minutes there, walking around, admiring the theatre and taking pictures, and also reading about its history on the boards.

Be efficient : time your visit right! Avoid noon-3PM on hot summer days, as there’s no shadow at all. Also, during the summer, plenty of concerts and opera nights take place at the theatre, with consequent earlier closing time for visitors. Make sure you check the updated opening hours.

Taormina city centre

The main street of Taormina, Corso Umberto , is just outrageously cute. Calculate at least 1 hour just to walk around, relax, and admire the view from Piazza 9 Aprile – that’s not counting shopping!

Even though it’s a busy street, the atmosphere is classy and relaxed. Fashion boutiques of quality, Italian-made products are next door to hand-made soaps and ceramics. Cafes and granita stands will slow you down even more. On top of this, every facade and corner is beautiful and unique.

During our stroll, we bought lovely ceramic souvenirs at Don Corleone Objects shop, and we stopped for an excellent granita at iconic Bam Bar .

Be efficient : head to the city centre already showered and dressed up for dinner. Enjoy the catwalk at around 6 or 7 PM, the perfect time on summer evenings, still warm but not sweaty. Then, you’re ready for dinner!

Day 5 – Etna hike

It’s time for the adventurous part of the Sicily itinerary! Hiking on Mount Etna is a must, whether you travel to the top by cable car or take a different excursion.

We chose Etna People Excursions because their tour “Etna, wine and Alcantara” sounded perfect for us: an Etna hiking trail not too tiring or long, a traditional lunch, and the magical Alcantara Gorge in the afternoon. They would also pick us up in Taormina and provide hiking shoes. The group was small, 8-10 people, ideal to chat and enjoy a day together. We were really satisfied with this tour! Check out more couch potatoes hikes here .

In the morning, the hike to Monti Sartorius trail and to a volcanic cave was stunning. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and explained plenty about the soil, the trees and bushes, the way the volcano works. Each single white birch, stark against the black rocks, was worth staring at (and photographing!). Most of the trail was downhill and very easy.

To explore the cave , we received a helmet and a flashlight. Over thousands of years, magma and air created such underground caves: it was just amazing to stand inside them.

The walk to Monti Sartorius and the cave took about 2,5 hours.

Lunch was delicious and very enjoyable. A large table was set between wine caskets at local winery Don Saro, creating a very homey and welcoming atmosphere. Of course, the menu included a starter, pasta, dessert, and wines produced in that exact room!

The afternoon hike to Alcantara Gorge was just as surprising as Mount Etna. Alcantara Gorge is very long: it features lots of pools and entrance points, the main one located here by the Gole Alcantara Park . Consequently, the guide will take you to the most suitable section of the gorge, depending on the crowd, the weather and lots of other factors.

It’s the last evening in Sicily! Enjoy your favorite food and a last walk in the city centre, make the most of it!

Day 6 – Departure from Catania

Our flight from Catania was in the morning, so we didn’t visit the city. Before leaving from Taormina, we admired the scenery one more time from this viewpoint and tasted one last delicious cannolo.

To go from Taormina to Catania airport, we took a bus by Etna Trasporti and in 1,5 hours we were there!

Are you planning to visit other cities in Italy? Check our Italy section here !

We loved this itinerary in Sicily. In 5 days (plus one morning) we saw cities, seaside and nature, in a great balance of efficiency and spontaneity.

If we had more time, what would we have done? We would have taken a ferry to the gorgeous Aeolian islands, or we would have continued South to the incredible town of Siracusa and to Plemmirio Natural Reserve, or we would have tried this cool Sicily hike and bike tour from Catania .

We can’t wait to visit Sicily again!

Have you visited Sicily? Can we help you plan your trip? Let us know in the comments!

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Essential Sicily – 5 Day Itinerary

Places Visited

Palermo, Agrigento, Syracuse, Taormina

5 nights (or customizable)

Private city tours including monuments, excursion to Monreale, archeological tours, naturalistic tour, Mount Etna Jeep tour, wine tasting

Perfect For

History, culture, scenery, food and wine

Sicily 5 day itinerary: This is a completely customizable sample itinerary, ask us  how.

• 5 nights in high-end accommodation
• Daily breakfasts of local delicacies
• Airport and tour transfers
• Walking tours of Palermo, Syracuse and Taormina
• Excursion to Monreale
• Jeep tour of Mount Etna with wine tasting lunch
• Archeological tours of the Valley of Temples in Agrigento
• Transfers between locations

Daily Itinerary

Day 1: arrive in palermo, welcome to palermo.

Palermo is the regional capital of Sicily and sits on the Gulf of Palermo in the Tyrrhenian Sea. While offering stunning sea vistas, Palermo is most famous for its colorful history, beautiful architecture, vibrant culture and fresh seafood cuisine.

Historical tour of Palermo

Today, you will have every opportunity to explore Palermo and learn more about its fascinating history as we will treat you to a glorious history tour. As a part of your journey through time, you will see the La Martorana Norman Church, Galleria Regionale, the 15th-century Neo-Gothic castle and Museo Archeological Regionale, which boasts one of the richest collections of Punic and Ancient Greek art in Italy. There will also be a stop at the 12th-century Monreale Cathedral and a stroll through the colorful Vucciria market, where you can buy authentic Sicilian delicacies and fresh seafood. As a part of your unique tour of Palermo, you will visit the haunting Convento dei Cappuccini’s Catacombs, which display thousands of mummies and preserved corpses dressed in the clothing of their time.

Overnight: Palermo

Day 2: Excursion to Monreale

Magnificent monreale.

Overlooking the Golden Valley ( Conca d’Oro ) on top of Mons Regalis, you can find the medieval village of Monreale . It is best known for its magnificent Cathedral, which features some of the most beautiful religious mosaics of the 12th century. The Cathedral is considered to be one of the best examples of Norman architecture in Sicily and is a joy to discover on this small-group day trip from Palermo. As well as the Cathedral, you will have time to explore the abbey cloister, which boasts more than 200 intricate double columns decorated in glass mosaic.

Day 3: Agrigento Valley of Temples tour

Valley of temples in agrigento.

Delving further still into Sicily’s fascinating history, today you can discover Sicily’s Greek past with a tour of Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples (entry included). The UNESCO-protected Valley is one of Sicily’s most important archaeological sites and is a joy to discover if you have an interest in history or simply want to learn more about Sicily’s turbulent past. This tour experience takes you to the sacred site, where an expert guide will treat you to a guided walk through the Valley.

As a part of your tour, you will see the Temple of Hera, the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Herakles, the Temple of Zeus and the Sanctuary of Chtonian Deities (Temple of Castor and Pollux). During the tour, your guide will discuss the temples’ construction and tell you about their on-going preservation.

Overnight: Agrigento

Day 4: Taormina with a Mount Etna tour

Mount Etna Jeep tour with wine tasting and lunch

Scale the slopes of Italy’s famously active Mount Etna on this full day 4×4 tour from Taormina . As a part of the trip, you will travel up rugged mountain tracks in an off-road vehicle and trek by foot to a stellar lookout point with views of lava flow basins and cave tubes created by the 2002 eruption. After descending from the volcano, you will be treated to a typical Sicilian lunch of cheeses, cured meats, pasta and dessert served, of course, with local wine.

Overnight: Taormina

Day 5: Tour of Taormina

Taormina tour with the greek theater.

Today you will discover Taormina’s historic secrets and modern delights on a two-hour tour. This guided experience allows you to explore the highlights of this charming city, including Palazzo Corvaja, the Santa Caterina Church and Vicolo Stretto, which is the narrowest street in town. As a special addition to this Taormina tour, you will enjoy “skip the line” entry to the ancient Greek Theater, which boasts magnificent views of Mount Etna and Giardini Naxos. There is no better way to discover this unassuming city’s treasured attractions!

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Mount Etna Tour – Etna Excursions

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Sicilian Gateway Tour – 5 days

Private tour of sicily: an amazing way to visit the island of sicily in 5 days..

Hotel Accommodation

• Not Included

Airline Ticket

Private Vehicle

• from 2 up to 8 people

Sicilian Gateway Tour – Private Tour of Sicily

​ We simply can’t imagine a better way to  immerse yourself in the life of Sicily  without a company like us,  to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power.

Travel with Locals is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world.

​ Our 100% Sicilian Local Expert Trip Designers , have crafted itineraries that blend walking, hiking, historica-archaeological-cultura sites, sauntering and meandering with a culinary story that entails cooking classes, meal experience in picnic style, personalized visits to local farms, tastings of local specialties, cheese factories, wine and olive oil tastings and of course, unforgettable meals.

Stroll, sip, and savor your way through this unforgettable trip experience and Start NOW and be in touch with us asking the day-by-day tour which is ground services only OR included of hotel accommodation.

Contact us to receive the detailed tour and costs.

4 nights/5 days Palermo (2 nights) Taormina (2 nights)

1st day – Palermo airport > Tranbsfer to: Palermo 2nd day – Palermo Street Food Walking Tour and Monreale 3th day – Palermo > Agrigento and Piazza Armerina > Taormina 4th day – Relax in Taormina 5th day – Taormina > Catania airport

TOUR CODE: GATE5

• Category Senza categoria
• Location Agrigento , Monreale , Palermo , Piazza Armerina , Taormina
• Grade Moderate
• Season All Year
• Hotel Accommodation Not Included
• Airline Ticket Not Included
• Private Vehicle from 2 up to 8 people
• Airport transfers
• All sightseeing, tasting and excursions as specified in the itinerary
• English speaking Driver
• Vehicle with air conditioning
• Admission fees
• Beverage and meal not specified
• Gratuities and tips
• Hotel accommodation
• Intercontinental/Local Flights
• Licensed Tourist Guide
• Travel Insurance

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• Italy Vacation Packages All inclusive

5-Day Escorted Tour of Sicily from Palermo to Catania

Taste of Sicily. Was great. Highly recommend

Multiday package around Sicily, half board

Join an amazing eXPerience with a tour of Sicily that will show you the treasures and marvels of the sunny island. This 5-day escorted tour of Sicily will explore the best heritage sites of the island, including Palermo ,   Taormina , Catania     and many others.

5-Days guided tour around Sicily, Departing from Palermo highlights: 

• Discover the unique heritage of Sicily with this exclusive eXPerience
• Visit the most fascinating sights of Sicily and learn more about its history
• See the best attractions of Palermo, Taormina, Catania and much more
• Admire the most beautiful destinations of Sicily and discover its secrets
• Enjoy 5 days tasting local delicacies, with dinners included

5-Days guided tour around Sicily, Departing from Palermo

Enjoy one of the most enticing eXPeriences in Sicily , a 5-day escorted tour discovering the most beautiful and fascinating places in these magnificent places. Visit Palermo , Taormina, Catania a nd discover the amazing attractions and activities.

Day 1: Palermo

Welcome to Sicily ! Arrive independently to the hotel in the beautiful city of Palermo   (contact us for an optional private transfer from the airport). In the evening you will meet your tour-leader and your travel companions. Dinner on your own and overnight in the hotel.

Day 2: Monreale - Palermo

After breakfast in the hotel, the first stop of the day will be Monreale , famous for its cathedral with mosaics on a gold background that cover its surface and its walls. You will then return to discover all of the fascinating treasures that the city of Palermo holds. A few of the treasures include preserved monuments, the Palatine Chapel, and the Fountain Square Pretoria. You will also have a stop for a food surprise in a local bakery. During the day, you will have a stop to enjoy a typical lunch with local food. Dinner on your own and overnight in hotel.

Day 3: Cefalù - Catania

After breakfast at the hotel,  the day will begin by visiting Cefalù, an enchanting seaside village with anciet eras vibes. Here you can admire the view, the beautiful Norman Cathedral and stroll through the characteristic streets of the village.You will then continue to the next stop, Catania. You will have a stop to have lunch in a famous restaurant. Afterwards, you will begin the visit of the historic center of the city, declared UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the splendid Piazza del Duomo with its Cathedral to the picturesque via dei crociferi, where the Monastery of San Benedetto is located, you will be enchanted by the charm of this city. There will be a short gastronomic stop in a bar for a typical brioche with granita ! Accommodation in hotel in Catania, dinner on your own and overnight stay.

Day 4: Etna - Taormina

After breakfast at the hotel, you will first visit Catania's  fish market and then head to the first stop of the day: Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. In the Etna Park, you will not only be able to admire incredible landscapes but also to get to know its vast variety of flora and fauna, also testifying to the agricultural vocation of the area, where excellent wines and other local gastronomic excellences are produced. In fact, at the end of the visit you will also have the opportunity to taste honey from a local agricultural company, along with various typical local products. Then you will have lunch in a lovely restaurant. We will then continue to Taormina , where, after some free time for lunch, you will dedicate yourself to visiting the splendid Greek theater from where, among other things, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the Gulf of Naxos. You will then stroll through the elegant streets of the center, for  shopping or simply to immerse yourself in the splendid atmosphere of the city. Return to Catania, through the beautiful Riviera dei Ciclopi. Dinner on your own and overnight at the hotel in Catania.

Day 5: Catania

After breakfast, end of the tour (contact us for an optional private transfer to the airport).

More multiday eXPeriences in Sicily

If you wish to join some full packages tour of Sicily, please check also the 9 day tour of Sicily departing from Palermo in half board  and the 6 days escorted tour of Eoalian islands .

• Monreale, Palermo
• Cefalù - Catania
• Etna - Taormina
• Multilingual Tour leader (English, Italian and Spanish) for the whole tour (from the evening of the 1st day to the evening of the 4th day), local guides or audio-guides where necessary
• Transportation by bus
• Accommodation in 4* hotels with breakfast 
• 3 lunches in famous restaurants (beverages not included)
• Visits as per itinerary
• Tasting of Sicilian typical products in Palermo, Etna and Catania
• Transfers in/out
• All lunches
• Beverages during all meals
• Entrance fees at monuments/museums/archeological sites
• City taxes (to be paid directly at each hotel)
• Tips (Optional)
• Anything not specified under "Included"

Meeting point information and local telephone numbers at your destination are included on your Confirmation Voucher.

  For organizational reasons or due to force majeure the itinerary may be modified.   The price displayed refers to the price per person in a double room. Contact us for a personalized quotation for individual or triple room  and extra services ( pre/post-night , transfer in / out ).   The cancellation policy for this tour is:

• up to 21 working days before the departure: no penalty
• from 20 to 15 working days before the departure: 30% penalty
• from 14 to 3 working days before the departure: 60% penalty
• under 3 working days before the departure: 100% penalty

Reviews of 5-Day Escorted Tour of Sicily from Palermo to Catania

Palermo to catania, espléndido tour en sicilia, tour of sicily.

Planning Your Sicily Vacation – The Perfect 5 Days in Sicily!

When looking for the perfect Southern European vacation where you could get your beach, city, mountain and food fix all in one, Sicily will always be the answer!  A Sicily vacation can include all that and more.  A good Sicily 5 day itinerary will have something for everyone, and if you are limited on time, 5 days in Sicily can encompass a lot.

The best part about traveling to Sicily is that you could vacation while also experiencing the culture. In other words, you aren’t restrained from only staying at a resort. Whether you are planning a Sicily itinerary with your significant other, family, friend(s) or even doing a solo trip, Sicily is safe, beautiful and fun for all!

I am Taylor Deer, a world traveler who has visited 4 continents and most of the US, and the owner of the travel site Brown Eyed Flower Child.  (You may already know me from my previous articles,  Southern California Weekend Getaways  and  Fabulous New England Weekend Getaways, and Holidays in Finnish Lapland. )  Sicily is one of my favorite places of all my travels, so I was pleased to put together this Sicily itinerary to help you plan your own trip, and fall in love with this beautiful island too.

Our Sicily Vacation Planner Includes:

Getting around in sicily, where to stay in sicily, here are some ideas of things to do in palermo:.

• Here are some ideas of things to do in Cefalú:

Arriving at Catania

Here are some ideas of things to do in taormina:, here are some ideas of things to do in siracusa:, here are some ideas of things to do in ragusa:, here are some ideas of things to do in sicily during your free day:, here are some ideas of things to do at mount etna:, i can see a 5 day siciliy itinerary in your future- so pin this for your planning.

The main airport hub in Sicily is Palermo’s  Punta Raisi Airport . When you travel from a major international city, such as New York, you will have to fly into Palermo. When you are traveling from other local Italian cities and nearby countries, like Rome or Malta, you could find flights that will land in Catania, Trapani, Comiso, Lampedusa and Pantelleria.

When you land, it is best to get a rental car so that you can easily get to and from all of Sicily’s wonderful cities, towns and beaches. Sicily offers a network of buses and trains with services to main cities, but they are not as efficient as they are on the mainland.

Reserve a car in Palermo now!

Since most of Sicily’s popular coastal towns are situated on the east coast of the island, it is highly recommended to stay in the region of Catania. Another reason why this region is a great place to stay during your vacation in Sicily is because it is situated at the foot of Mount Etna, which offers memorable adventures for all.

Some popular cities in Catania are Aci Trezza, Aci Costello and the city of Catania itself. In this region, you could find plenty of wonderful hotels, hostels and  Airbnb ’s.

Reserve your Catania hotel now!

The Perfect 5 Days in Sicily Itinerary –

Sicily 5 day itinerary – day 1: visit palermo and cefalú, exploring palermo.

After arriving at Palermo’s  Punta Raisi Airport , head over to Palermo’s city center where you could find wonderful restaurants, shopping, historical sites and so much more!  

• Enjoy your First Sicilian Lunch!  If you only have 5 days in Sicily, you want to enjoy every meal. One thing to note about food in Italy is that everything is regional, meaning that you aren’t going to find everything that Italian food is known for like you would in an Italian American restaurant. So that means you will not find spaghetti and meatballs on the menu as well as chicken parm, fettuccine alfredo, penne vodka, etc.
• In Sicily, you will find a lot of light seafood dishes, rice balls, pistachio and cannoli (to name a few) on the menu. Located throughout the city center are wonderful trattorias where you could grab a delicious lunch.

• Stroll through the Villa Bonnano: This wonderful area is perfect for a lovely walk with a loved one or friend. It is here where you will find beautiful palm trees, fountains and talented musicians playing graceful songs.

• Catch Amazing Views at La Cattedrale di Palermo: This gorgeous cathedral features a combination of Norman, Moorish, Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical architecture that is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is highly recommended that you make your way up the cathedral’s tower and capture some amazing views of Palermo.

• Go Shopping: Downtown Palermo offers endless amounts of souvenir shops as well as local artisan stores where you could purchase bowls, artwork and so much more.

If you want to spend more time in Palermo, it will be worth it.  There are loads of other  things to do in Palermo  that you will love!

Exploring Cefalú

When you are finished exploring Palermo, make your way to the stunning coastal town of Cefalú. The drive from Palermo to Cefalú was around an hour northeast. This wonderful coastal town offers a typical European beach atmosphere with cobblestone streets, mountain views and friendly locals.

Here are some ideas of things to do in Cefalú:

• Enjoy Beach Time: The beach in Cefalú is beautiful, but it tends to be crowded with kids, teenagers and young adults. If you are looking for a secluded area to enjoy the beach, there is a quieter spot in Le Salinelle, which isn’t too far from downtown Cefalú. On the other hand, if you are only in Cefalú for a couple of hours, the main public beach is perfect (despite the crowds) because it is close to a lot of great restaurants and shopping areas.

• Cool off with a Gelato: Cefalú offers countless gelato stands with some pretty awesome flavors. As you enjoy time by the sea, grab a cone and relax.
• Grab an Aperitivo: Throughout the city of Cefalú, you can find warm and welcoming bars and trattorias where you could enjoy an apertivo (Italian happy hour drink) and antipasto (plate of cured meats and cheeses).

• Watch the Sun Set: During your time in Sicily, you could catch some of the best sunsets in Cefalú. If you head out by the sea, there is an area of rocks where you can easily sit on and enjoy the orange, pink and red colors shine through the sky.

After enjoying the sunset in Cefalú, drive 2.5 hours to your accommodation in Catania. If you aren’t an evening driver, I recommend getting an  Airbnb  or  hotel in Cefalú   and driving to Catania early in the morning.

Sicily 5 Day Itinerary – Day 2: Visiting Taormina

Exploring taormina.

Located 45 minutes north from Catania is the picturesque village Taormina. In this beautiful seaside town, you could catch gorgeous views of Mount Etna, Sicily’s most active volcano. There are also colorful buildings, peaceful churches, lively piazzas, beautiful flowers and glistening blue water.  A lovely thing is that every one of your 5 days in Sicily will have stunning views.

• Enjoy a Cappuccino and Brioche: Throughout the beautiful streets of Taormina are quaint cafés where you could enjoy a warm beverage and delicious Italian pastry. A Sicilian favorite is a cappuccino paired with freshly baked brioche bread and fruit.

• Visit the Teatro Antico di Taormina: This ancient Grecian-Roman theater was constructed by the Greeks around third century BC. Later on, the Romans renovated the theater by building columns, statues and other intricate details. Back then, the Romans played games and had gladiatorial battles in this amphitheater. Nowadays, it is a place for modern-day music artists to perform.

• Take the Cable Car to the Coast: Since the main part of Taormina is located on a cliff, you need to take a cable car down to the sea. Enjoy the breathtaking views of Taormina as you make your way down to the beautiful seaside village of Isola Bella. It is in Isola Bella where you could enjoy a beach day and swim in the refreshing blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

• Relaxing in Isola Bella: The beautiful beach of Isola Bella is a rock beach, so you will need to bring water shoes. During your time at the rock beach, you could enjoy swimming, snorkeling or just relaxing by sipping a glass of wine on the beach.

Sicily 5 Day Itinerary – Day 3: Visiting Siracusa and Ragusa

On your third day in Sicily, visit the stunning city of Siracusa. Located an hour and a half from Catania, Siracusa is an Ionian coastal city known for its ancient ruins and beautiful blue waters.

• Admire the Ancient Greek Ruins: The  Neapolis Archeological Park  in Siracusa features stunning Greek and Roman history.  The Greek Theatre  as well as the  Roman Amphitheater  will amaze you. In the town of Ortygia, in Siracusa, you could also admire the magnificent ruins of  The Temple of Apollo .
• Enjoy the Ambiance of Ortygia’s Piazza: One of the most dazzling piazzas in Italy is the one in Ortygia. It is this Baroque piazza where you could hear the enchanting bells from the  Cathedral of Siracusa . In addition, you could also spot stunning work from local artisans, listen to local musicians play their accordions and admire the architecture all around.

• Savor a Seafood Lunch on the Ionian: Throughout the town of Ortygia, you will find numerous cafés and trattorias with outdoor seating. Most of these places have stunning views of the crystal blue Ionian Sea. It is imperative that you get lunch with a view because there is nothing better! The seafood in Siracusa is absolutely amazing and getting it with risotto is even better.

• Sail through the Caves: The coast of Siracusa is known for their mystical caves. One thing that you cannot leave Siracusa without doing is a boat tour through these beautiful caves. Near the port, there is a stand where you could purchase tickets to take a boat tour. During the tour, you will sail through the dark tunnels of these caves and the boat will even stop in the middle of the Sea so that you could jump off and take a lovely swim. It is a lot of fun!

Exploring Ragusa

Situated an hour and a half from Siracusa is the Baroque town of Ragusa. Known as the town with two faces, Ragusa Superiore sits on top of a hill and further down the hill is Ragusa Ilba.

• Walk through the Wondrous Alleyways: Throughout the city of Ragusa, you will find quiet alleyways that are filled with charm, grey stone houses and friendly locals. You will truly discover why Ragusa is magical.
• Relax in Ibleo Garden: Located in the city is a beautiful park called Ibleo Garden that features a walkway with palm trees, amazing views of the mountains, a five-star hotel and gardens that offer colorful flowers.

• Admire the City Views: During your time in Ragusa, it is a MUST to walk up to the Panoramica di Ragusa. It is at this gorgeous spot where you could get a panoramic view of the entire city. You could even catch a beautiful sunset during a perfect evening.

• Savor Authentic Sicilian Food: On a beautiful evening in Ragusa, the streets are filled with wonder. One thing you must do during your time in Ragusa, is enjoy an authentic Sicilian dinner outside. Ps. You may even get serenaded by a local playing a beautiful song on the accordion.

Sicily 5 Day Itinerary –  Day 4: Free Day

After three days of exploring, take this day to visit a new city or go on an adventurous excursion.  Or, since our Sicily itinerary is jam packed, so you may want to spend one of your 5 days in Sicily relaxing at a local Catania beach.  You want an exciting Sicily vacation, but you also want to end up refreshed.

• Enjoy a relaxing beach day at Aci Costello in Catania.
• Take a cheap flight to the small Mediterranean country of Malta, pictured above.
• Do a food tour around Catania.
• Adventure to the coast at Giardini-Naxos.
• Horseback ride through the Sicilian countryside.

Sicily 5 Day Itinerary – Day 5: Visiting Mount Etna

Exploring Mount Etna

Located in Catania is the active volcano of Mount Etna. It is the highest volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world. In fact, you could actually see the smoke coming out of the volcano during your time in Catania!  In my opinion, no Sicily itinerary is complete without a visit to Mount Etna, even if you only have 5 days in Sicily!

• Take in the Views at the Top: When you arrive at the base of Mount Etna, you could take a cable car up to the highest altitude that Italian officials will allow you. Because you are 11,000 feet above sea level, you will get views of the entire region as well as the smoke coming from the active crater.

• Enjoy Winter Sports or Hike the Volcano: If you visit Mount Etna in the wintertime, you could participate in snow sports such as skiing and snowboarding. In addition, you could also hike the volcano by climbing the nature trails of Etna Park.
• Sip Wine on the Volcano: Nestled alongside Mount Etna are some great vineyards.  Gambino Winery  is a stunning winery with a picturesque location. While you are at  Gambino Winery , it is a MUST to do a tasting. During this experience, you will taste exquisite wines paired with delicious foods. It is a wonderful experience and a great way to end the trip.

• Feel at Peace in Nature: While you are on Mount Etna, you could find beautiful oasis’, spot sacred wildlife and even find gorges.

Ready to Embark on your 5 days in Sicily vacation?

I hope you all enjoyed this Sicily 5 day itinerary, and that it helped you plan your own Sicily itinerary and adventure!  The map below shows where all of the cities love are located, and the route we suggest.  A trip to Sicily can be added to any Italy vacation, but there are so many things to do in Sicily that it makes a great destination in itself.  Either way, you will never regret spending 5 days in Sicily, or any number of days!

 If you want more in depth information about any of these cities, or any of the other areas on this lovely Italian island, check out the Visit Sicily tourism page.   

About Taylor Deer

  Taylor is a world travel blogger, writer and content creator from New Jersey who created Brown Eyed Flower Child to show the world through her eyes. The travel bug bit Taylor when she studied abroad in Salamanca, Spain during summer 2012. Ever since then, Taylor’s sense of wander has expanded to several different countries and regions in Europe, Asia and Africa as well as throughout the United States. Whether she is traveling to get out of her comfort zone and find herself, to gain better insight on the world, to help someone or participate in an event or retreat, each travel journey is special and means something different to her. For more travel articles and inspiration, visit Taylor’s blog at  www.browneyedflowerchild.com  or follow her on her  Facebook page,  or  Instagram.

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Tour of Sicily 5 days – 2024

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Sicilian Secrets 2024 – Tour of Sicily 5 Days Palermo-Catania itinerary

Tour of Sicily 5 Days: guided tour with local guides – 5 days / 4 nights itinerary, overnights in 4* hotel. Departures every Tuesday from March 12nd to November 19th, 2024.

Sicily Tour 5 days from Palermo

• Double room for single use supplement: 169 €
• 3rd bed reduction: 30 €

Short Tour of Sicily 5 days – 2024 Program

Day 1 – tuesday: palermo (hotel in palermo).

Sicilian Secrets short Tour of Sicily 5 Days 2024 provides individual arrival to the hotel in the charming city of Palermo (optional private transfer on request). Dinner on you own and overnight in hotel.

Day 2 – Wednesday: MONREALE – PALERMO (hotel in Palermo)

After breakfast in hotel, the morning will be spent visiting Monreale , its huge Norman Cathedral, proclaimed the Eighth Wonder of the World, and its splendid Cloister in Arab-Norman style: admirable masterpiece of art, sculpture, and semi-precious stones marquetry! Later you will discover the stunning Palermo , one of the richest towns in the island for its history and art. Palermo stands on a bay dominated by Mount Pellegrino, a headland described by Goethe as the loveliest he had ever seen. While the Baroque predominates, there is a profusion of different architectural styles reflecting the city’s multicultural past: Punic walls, Art Nouveau villas, noble residences, 17th century squares, including an elegant opera house. Visit of the wonderful eclectic Cathedral, the astonishing Martorana Church and the amazing Cappella Palatina, admirable example from an historical and an artistic point of view, and a prove of how different cultures, religions and way of thinking apparently incompatible can coexist. Ruggero II employed Bizantyne, Muslim and Latin workers. During the day, you will have a stop to enjoy a typical lunch with local food. Along the path you will admire the famous Teatro Massimo and the debated fountain in Pretoria Square, situated in the ancient Kalsa area and adorned with 16th century sculptures. Dinner on your own and overnight in hotel.

Day 3 – Thursday: CEFALÙ – CATANIA (hotel in Catania/Acitrezza)

After breakfast transfer to Cefalù , charming Medieval town situated at the northern coast of Sicily. Visit of its stunning Norman Dome and free time to stroll through the town or to visit the famous and well-known Mandralisca Museum. You will have a stop to have lunch in a famous restaurant. Arrival in Catania to visit Catania’s historical centre stated Unesco World Heritage Site, with its original Baroque style and its unique streets built with black lava stone. The colour scheme of the city-centre buildings is black and dark grey, relieved with white limestone details around doors and windows. The effect is extremely elegant! The walking tour will start from the scenic Duomo square with its magnificent Cathedral and the famous “ Liotru ” statue, antique lava-stone elephant, symbol of the city. Not far from here we will reach University Square and we will have a walk along the splendid baroque Via dei Crociferi, the most representative 18th century street in Catania , where we will admire the famous S. Benedict Monastery, Unesco World Heritage Site. Continuing the visit enjoy a break in a historical bar of the city centre to taste the typical “granita & brioche”. Dinner on your own and overnight in hotel.

Day 4 – Friday: ETNA – TAORMINA (hotel in Catania/Acitrezza)

This morning after a short visit of the famous “ pescheria ” (the ancient fish market) in Catania , the tour will continue with an excursion to the Mount Etna , the highest (c. 3350m) volcano in Europe and one of the largest and most active in the world, nowadays Unesco World Heritage Site. Its regional park protects 59.000 hectares of unique geology, flora and fauna, villages and farms, and traditional methods of forestry, bee-keeping, wine manufacture, stonework and carpentry. Views of stunning landscapes will amaze you heading to Rifugio Sapienza. You will reach the “ Crateri Silvestri ”, small volcanic cones now inactive, surrounded by ancient lava flows. The view beyond the mountain’s hundreds of subsidiary cones and craters, can extend across the whole of Sicily, the Aeolian islands and Calabria. The spectacle is unique! You will have the chance to enjoy the local homemade honey and some typical products of the area. Then you will have lunch in a lovely restaurant. The tour continues towards Taormina , charming town renowned for its magnificent position above the sea commanding a celebrated view of Etna. Free time for lunch and in the afternoon visit of Taormina’s fascinating Greek theatre which will leave you breathless for its commanding view on Giardini Naxos bay and the Etna mountain! Free time for a nice walk among the picturesque Medieval typical narrow streets, to go shopping and looking around the local handicrafts (coral jewels, precious laces, ceramics, pastries and much more). The day will end with an overview of the beautiful Riviera dei Ciclopi . Back in Catania for dinner on your own and overnight in hotel.

Day 5 – Saturday: CATANIA

Our short tour ends today. Breakfast in hotel and end of our services.

Useful Information

• Multilingual Tour leader and professional travel guide* (English, Italian, Spanish) for the whole tour (from the 2nd day to the evening of the 4th day), local guides or audio-guides where necessary.
• Deluxe bus from day 2 to day 4.
• Whisper kit
• Accommodation in charming 4 stars hotels located in the city centre, international breakfast included.
• 4 international breakfasts and 3 lunches in famous restaurants to have a taste of Sicilian traditional cuisine.
• Visit of the main suggestive Unesco World Heritage Sites: Monreale, Palermo, Cefalù, Catania city centre, Etna.
• Tasting of Sicilian typical products: Catania (day 3) tasting of Sicilian “granita & brioche”; Etna (day 4) visit of a beekeeping honey company and honey tasting.

* Monolingual departures during high season

Transfers in/out, Meals not included by the program, beverages, entrance fees for monuments/museums, city taxes (where compulsory), tips and extras in general, anything not specified under “The rates include”.

Accommodation in charming 4 stars hotels located in the city centers of the main Sicilian towns, carefully selected for their location and design to combine tradition with comfort:

• Palermo: Mercure Palermo Centro 4* / Ibis Styles Palermo Cristal 4* or similar
• Catania: Il Principe Hotel 4* / Romano House Hotel* or similar
• Acitrezza: I Malavoglia Hotel 4* / I Faraglioni Hotel 4* or similar

PRIVILEGE PACKAGE: Includes: Superior/Deluxe Room – Private transfer in/out – City taxes – All entrance fees as per program. € 205,00 p.p. in double/twin room € 370,00 p.p. in single/double single use

Pre-night in hotel in Palermo (BB treatment)

• € 85,00 p.p. in classic double room per night
• € 140,00 in Classic double room for single use per night

Post-night in hotel in Catania (BB treatment)

• € 84,00 p.p. in classic double room per night
• € 130,00 in Classic double room for single use per night

Post-night in hotel in Acitrezza (BB treatment)

• € 103,00 p.p. in classic double room per night
• € 109,00 in Classic double room for single use per night

Transfers from Palermo airport to hotel in Palermo

• € 55,00 per car (1/3 pax)

Transfers from Catania airport to hotel in Catania

• € 42,00 per car (1/2 pax)

Transfers from Catania airport to hotel in Acitrezza

• € 58,00 per car (1/2 pax)

Note: for festivities the transfer rates from and to the airport might change

Assistance – Medical Expense Reimbursement – Luggage insurance – Travel Cancellation Expenses Insurance: on request

• Monreale Cathedral € 6,00 p.p.
• Monreale Cloister € 8,00 p.p.
• Palermo Cappella Palatina € 15,50 p.p.
• Palermo Martorana Church € 2,00 p.p.
• Taormina Greek theatre € 13,50 p.p.

*to be confirmed

• Download PDF program

Ask for further information. Contact us!

• Tel: +39 095 7676 511
• Tel: +39 095 7676 572
• e-mail: [email protected]

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Sicily Small Group Tours

• Choose from 50+ Sicily tours
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10 best Sicily small group tours

Compiled by

Melissa Sicily travel expert at TourRadar

Small Group Tour of Sicily: Highlights (Maximum 8 Guests)

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• Sightseeing
• Get a full immersion that's rich in history, traditions and culture of the island
• Be accompanied by local guides who know it best and know Sicily secrets
• Experience Sicily though its incredible gastronomy, wines, art and music

“The guides were on the most part very good and informative. Overall we were glad we used the services of the company.”

• Food & Culinary
• Wine tasting
• Taste the best Sicilian wines and learn the secrets of how it is produced
• Discover the very best of Sicily through its rich cuisine and colourful street food
• Delve into culture and learn cooking tricks in typical Sicilian family trattoria

“All the guides were great - friendly and knowledgeable. We had plenty of food AND wine.”

• Discover Godfather film locations in Savoca
• Explore Taormina on a food and wine tour
• Hike Mount Etna and taste volcanic wines

“The tour was truly a taste to Sicily. The hotels and the choice of meals were very good.”

• Coach / Bus
• Tour the Archaeological Park of Neapolis
• Visit the impressive Arab-Norman Cathedral in Monreale
• Taste Marsala wine and explore salt marshes

“The tour was a great experience. The scenery was breathtaking and the activities were enjoyable.”

• Cook traditional Sicilian dishes
• Enjoy street food in Palermo
• Discover Noto and taste Modica chocolate

“I really enjoyed the tour!”

• Tour Taormina's ancient Greco-Roman theatre
• Witness Etna's breathtaking volcanic landscape
• Stroll through Catania's UNESCO-listed center

“The included destinations were a 'must-see' for a comprehensive tour of Sicily.”

• Discover mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale
• Taste Marsala's famous sweet wine
• Visit Mount Etna and Taormina's Greek-Roman theatre

“Reasonable accommodation, good drivers - no guide support, you are on your own.”

• Taste renowned Sicilian wine in Marsala
• Tour the ancient mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale
• Ascend Mount Etna for stunning panoramic views

“Sicily is a beautiful country and we fell in love with it.”

• See Roman mosaics at Villa del Casale
• Explore Catania and stay at a wine resort
• Visit Europe's largest park at Selinunte

“We would say it was one of the best trips my husband and I have ever taken. I cannot speak highly enough of Handy Sicily!”

• Christmas & New Year
• Discover Catania's rich history and local cuisine
• Relax on the sandy beaches of Mondello
• Trek Europe's highest volcano and visit Taormina

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Colours of Sicily

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9-Day Sicily Sightseeing Tour

9 days, 1 country and 10 cities

Accommodation

8 Breakfasts, 4 Dinners

View day-by-day trip itinerary

Vibrant palette of colors come alive on your tour of Sicily. Sip local wine on the slopes of Mount Etna, wander the chic streets of Taormina and meet the locals in colorful towns and villages. Top it all off with a sweet treat – all the Modican chocolate you can lay your hands on.

Looking to book in a group of 9 or more?

Deals, savings and exclusive private touring options available plus if you need a different date or itinerary change we can create a custom trip. Contact us for more details

Trip code: 

Low deposit from $200

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Trip map & itinerary

Day by day itinerary

9 days itinerary trip from Palermo to Catania visiting 1 country and 10 cities

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About this trip

Sightseeing highlights.

Explore Palermo, Monreale, Valley of the Temples, Ragusa, Syracuse and Taormina 

Discover Modica 

Visit Monreale Norman Cathedral, Erice, Infersa Mill in Marsala, Valley of the Temples, the Syracuse Archaeological Museum, Ortygia and the Greek Theater in Taormina

View Mount Etna 

Travel highlights

Specific transfer information can be found here:

Airport Transfers

An expert Travel Director and professional Driver

Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted

All porterage and restaurant gratuities

All hotel tips, charges and local taxes

Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals

Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras

Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing

Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)

Optional Experiences and free time

On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.

Frequently asked questions

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A departure is shown as 'Definite Departure' once it has reached a minimum number of guests. That particular departure will definitely run, barring any extraordinary circumstances. We update these regularly, and you can book any departure. While it is highly unlikely a departure doesn't meet the minimum number of guests, you will be offered the best alternative dates or a full refund of any payment made if this is the case. If there are ever any changes to your departure, we will contact you.

How can I book flights for my tour? What about extra hotel nights?

You can add flights and extra hotel nights directly through Trafalgar, so that everything is taken care of, leaving you to relax and enjoy your tour. If you're booking online, once you've selected your travel dates and room type, you'll be offered an option to add extra hotel nights and flights. Alternatively, you can call us to book and one of our travel experts can advise on your options.

How much is the deposit for a Trafalgar tour?

On most of our departures, you can secure your trip today with a low deposit from just $200.

What are the different kinds of experiences available?

Each Trafalgar tour has a carefully-selected range of included experiences to help immerse yourself in a destination. But did you know that every tour also has a Be My Guest and MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience? Be My Guest Experiences are the original local travel experience, letting you step into the lives of hosts who will share stories about their families and communities. MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences are conscious travel experiences that give back to the local communities, which support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Our tours also include a selection of Optional Experiences which are available for an additional cost, allowing you to make your trip your own.

Can I join a Trafalgar tour as a solo traveller?

A guided tour is the perfect way to solo travel. You'll meet like-minded people traveling with Trafalgar, and you'll relax knowing you can travel with ease, forming genuine connections as you go. To find out more solo room types and pricing select your preferred departure date and continue to the next page.

Where can I find room options?

Once you've selected your preferred departure date, on the next step add the number of guests to review the available room options and find the one that suits you best.

How can I apply my past guest discount?

It's great to have you back on board - the loyalty of our guests means everything to us. To access your Global Tour Rewards discount, please confirm the name and date of your past trip once you've added your passenger details. The discount will be applied before you book.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences

Every one of our tours includes at least one conscious travel experience that supports one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS). Look out for yours within the day-by-day trip itinerary.

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Net-zero by 2050

Travel knowing our 4-point climate action plan will ensure net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Support Local

Your tour directly supports local communities by visiting family-run businesses, UNESCO sites and places of cultural significance.

Sustainable Practices

Every part of our business, from trip design to how we run our offices, aligns to our 5-year sustainability strategy which ensures a positive impact on people, the planet and wildlife.

Philanthropic Efforts

Our not-for-profit, the TreadRight Foundation, invests in nature-based solutions to address climate change.

You’ll make a positive impact to people, planet and wildlife on this tour

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