Sicily Top 10 – The ultimate guide to Sicily

Aggiornato il: 16 Giugno 2021
Scritto da: Giulia Raciti

I'm Sicilian and I love my country, I believe that among all the very beautiful Italian regions, Sicily is the most complete one in which nothing is missing - the sea, mountains, snow, countryside, history and culture, in short, a mix of art and culture unique in the world.

Given my passion for Sicily, I would like to list, in this article, what I think are the 10 destinations not to be missed out when traveling in this wonderful island and a possible itinerary to follow for those who want to discover the best, in terms of sea, nature but also culture and historical cities, which I believe can present them with an exotic and enjoyable trip without necessarily going too far away (AND WORTH IT!).

This post started as simple posts to mention the 10 inevitable destinations of Sicily but following the requests for more information, I have worked hard and long to make it a complete travel guide of my homeland!

This work has taken more than a year of work, I spent many months in Sicily to discover and re-discover places more or less near home. I hope this guide will be of help and inspiration for planning your trip in the wonderful Sicily!

Plan your trip now! 

Sicily travel itinerary - 2 weeks 
The best beaches in Sicily - The beach travel itinerary

Which is the best season to travel in Sicily?

Sicily has the advantage of not being exclusively a beach destination but it is a destination that offers wonderful traveling experiences 12 months a year.
In order to make the most of what the island can offer, including the sea, the months that I generally recommend are May and June and September, absolutely the best month.

July and August are high season, which means in addition to very high prices, especially on the east coast, Taormina in particular, also crowded beaches and difficulty in finding lodging options.There really is no better season to travel in Sicily because even in the winter it will not be disappointing, no going to the sea, but the cultural heritage is so vast that a journey even in winter will give way to an incredible experience.

How to travel in Sicily

The ideal for traveling in Sicily would be to rent a car, Rentalcars is a great site that aggregates prices offered by different car rental companies at competitive prices. Renting a utility car for 14 days, costs around €260 (of which to add the full coverage insurance if you want but highly recommended, the roads are very narrow and some scratches could happen).

Alternatively, you can travel by bus or train although I must admit that the services in this sector are not exactly agile and especially take a long time. Not suitable for those with limited time and want to enjoy the most remote corners, especially when outside the cities or to combine several cities in one day.

Or rail transport the reference site is Trenitalia.

As regards the bus the companies are the following:

SAIS Autobus
AST - Azienda Sicilia Trasporti
INTERBUS

From Sicily to the Islands

To reach the islands ferries and hydrofoils facilitate the journey, remember that in high season periods it's better to book well in advance.
Ferry Lines allows to book reservations on hydrofoils and ferries to the Aeolian Islands and the Egadi Islands (the sales commission, at the box office or online is €1.50 per person).
Book now your ferry ticket

Accommodation in Sicily

Sicily lives mainly on tourism and the lodging options are numerous, in principle, a journey that touches the following destinations requires at least two weeks, if you only have a week probably the ideal is to have a more or less fixed base, for example this idea of itinerary that touches eastern Sicily and has Taormina as a base, alternatively for those who want to move almost every day, Sicily is big, and have, above all, enough time, then it is recommended to consider different cities.

For bookings in the months of July and August my advice is to book as soon as possible. The reference sites that I use personally, in Sicily and elsewhere in the world are as follows :

Where to start your trip to Sicily?

If you land at Catania you can follow the tour clockwise that is: Catania, Taormina, Mount Etna and Nebrodi, Syracuse, Ragusa, Agrigento, Trapani, Palermo (from where you can visit Erice, Segesta, Monreale and Cefalu), Aeolian Islands, return to Catania.

If you land at Palermo or Trapani the itinerary can follow this route: Palermo, Trapani, Agrigento, Ragusa, Syracuse, Catania and Taormina, the Aeolian Islands (alternatively Egadi islands from Trapani), Mount Etna and return to Palermo.

Top 10 destinations in Sicily

# 1 - The islands of the island - Aeolian Islands and Egadi Islands

Sicily is an island enriched by many other islands.
The archipelagos most famous and easily accessible from Trapani and Milazzo are, respectively, the Egadi Islands and the Aeolian Islands.

The Aegadian Islands are an archipelago of three islands each more beautiful than the other, Favignana, the most famous, is located just 30 minutes by hydrofoil from Trapani. Ancient islands and still quite rustic and wild. It is here that one wallows in the crystal clear waters of Lido Burrone, or have baths in the coves and caves of Marettimo or in the most solitary corners of Levanzo.

The Aeolian islands are definitely more sophisticated than the Egadi, apart Alicudi and Filicudi that still retain a wild spirit.

There are 7 and in the north of Milazzo: Alicudi, Filicudi, Lipari, Vulcano, Stromboli, Salina and Panarea. The beaches are beautiful and the cuisine unique, especially if you love shellfish, fish and capers.
Erupting volcanoes, mud baths, elegant spots and wild vistas. It would be worth devoting at least 5 days of sailing boat to be able to know them all.

READ: Guide to the Aegadian Islands

# 2 - Agrigento and its province

Agrigento is famous for the beautiful Valley of the Temples.
Personally, I think it's one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in the world, second only to the Acropolis in Athens. It is here that is found the biggest and intact temple in the whole island: the Temple of Concord.
In the Valley of the Temples you walk among intact Greek temples and surrounded by olive trees and almond trees that bloom in February, here, every year in March is held the Festival of the almond trees in bloom.
The entrance ticket to the Valley of the Temples costs €10 per adult. For more information on the Archaeological Park click here.
But Agrigento has much more to offer, the old town is probably among the most decadent among the Sicilian cities, the air you breathe is particularly sluggish, as if it was wrapped in an aura of ancient melancholy.

Small streets and yellow stone walls, internal courtyards and promenades in a silent city.
Among the areas of the province that are not to be missed out La Scala dei Turchi, Favara and Punta Bianca.

3# - Cefalù

Some people call it the Taormina of the west, maybe it is not exactly so but Cefalu is definitely worth a visit.
The monument that has made the city famous is the beautiful Norman cathedral of a design that recalls that of the French. Besides the cathedral one must not miss out here the ancient temple Siculo built on the rock that overlooks the city.

The town is typical medieval, narrow cobbled streets where you will also be able to do some shopping . Cefalu can be visited in a day from Palermo but it is worth staying also the night to discover it when the lights go down.

cefalu

4# - Trapani and Erice

Trapani and its province is nothing short of wonderful.
The old part extends along a point surrounded by the sea, destinations not to be missed from Trapani are the special Erice and the Egadi Islands.

Erice is the seat of the International Study Centre dedicated to Ettore Majorana, founded by the Trapanese physicist Antonino Zichichi, and that attracts the most qualified scholars in the world for the scientific treatment of problems affecting areas of science and where you can eat the couscous with fish. But not only that.
Erice is built on a mountain and in this town you can find Phoenician, Norman and Roman influences. It is built entirely of stone and walking here is really suggestive, stone medieval streets, a castle, churches. The ideal would be to come to Erice on Good Friday to watch the procession which contributes to make of Erice an even more suggestive city than what it already is.

5# - Catania and Etna

The largest volcano in Europe and still active, in truth this year 2011, it has given the best of itself with spectacular eruptions and lava spurts of 500 meters high. Excursions can be arranged up to 3000m but the only way to do this is to go with the company STAR that to take you to the observatory at sunset in jeeps charges €33. 3 hours to climb up to 3000 meters and f one is fortunate and there's no mist you can enjoy a beautiful view.
Even if you go in the summer and it's hot take along a jacket because when you go up high it gets cold.

Just a little north of Etna you can also visit the Nebrodi mountains which represent very well what is expected of a Mediterranean landscape. The view from here is the same as that seen by the Phoenicians and the Greeks when they landed in Sicily.

If you are traveling without a car the best thing to di is taking part in a tour that starts from Catania or Taormina. Follow some travel ideas and tips (I remind you that even if you get to Piano Provenzano by car then you will need to get the mandatory STAR car, 65€ per person, to get up to the craters)

etna cratere

6# - Palermo and Monreale

Palermo is the capital of Sicily and the largest city of the island. The city is chaotic but it has its Arab charm and that of a southern city as perhaps no other in Sicily. You might perhaps find it chaotic and confusing, unfortunately in recent years also dirty but it would be a shame not to see the baroque and Arab art that blend with medieval art and architecture.

Palermo is famous for its markets and for the excellent street food. Although the most famous market, portrayed by Guttuso, the Vucciria does not really exist anymore, the Mercato del Capo and Ballarò are places outside of time that are worth visiting.
Among the monuments not to be missed are the Norman Palace with its Palatine Byzantine Chapel (a small Monreale), monasteries and castles, and the beautiful cathedral with adjoined museum. Palermo can be a perfect base for trips to Cefalu, Monreale, Segesta, Erice and the Zingaro Reserve.

It can be a day trip from Palermo absolutely to visit. The most important monument in Monreale is the cathedral famous in the world for the architecture that unites styles of northern Europe and Arab art.
During the walk around do not forget to admire the view from the terrace of the square round the corner.

READ - What to eat in Palermo

7# - Segesta and Sciacca

Agrigento has the Valley of Temples, but Segesta offers perhaps the best maintained Doric temple in all of Sicily indeed in the world of Ancient Greece in general. Segesta can be visited in less than a day, I advise you to associate it with a visit to Sciacca which is just 40km away.
Segesta is the largest archaeological park in Europe, there are some temples on the Acropolis along with other secondary buildings, while other temples are located on a nearby hill easily reachable by foot on a pleasant walk.

Many buildings are ruined as a result of earthquakes that occurred in medieval times, but some anastylosis interventions have allowed to almost completely rebuild the E Temple, the so-called temple of Hera, and to build up most of one of the long sides of the C Temple.
Not far from Selinunte, just 40km, there is another Sicilian pearl, too often forgotten due to its location in the middle between the two main airports: Sciacca.

The city is famous for its carnival and the baths, natural stoves of San Calogero on mount Cronio which date back to Neolithic times.
In addition to the event that is of ancient times return of fishing boats, each day at 14:00, it is possible to admire from the harbor and then take part in the fishermen’s market where the fish is sold immediately.
To know more about the market for Sciacca fishermen click here.

segesta

8 # - Syracuse and Vendicari

Archimedes, Plato and St. Paul loved Syracuse that was one of the most important cities of ancient Greece and the most important in the Greek Roman Sicily.
The archaeological park is huge while the ancient city, Ortigia, maintains some fascinating treasures.
The cathedral of the city is surrounded by columns of ancient temples, typical phenomenon of the centuries of Christianity. A beautiful city where there is also a Greek theater where every two years are still organized the Greek tragedies just like they used to do in ancient Greece.
From Syracuse you can organise visits to Ragusa, Noto, Ispica (where you can visit the quarry) and Modica famous for the chocolate made according to the ancient Aztec tradition.

9# - Taormina

Called the Pearl of the Mediterranean, a town on a mountain overlooking the sea, with views of Calabria on one side and Mount Etna and the Bay of Giardini Naxos on the other.
Taormina is a place known for the beautiful Greek - Roman theater and the mix of Greek, Roman and Arabic art that make it so special and famous in history.
Walking around you can move from the Naumachie to the public garden, the small Odeon and the numerous churches. Founded as a gay destination over the years it has been chosen by great actors and artists from around the world to spend their holidays and still seems to maintain this leadership between the destinations throughout Italy.
From Taormina you can visit the nearby Castelmola, a beautiful little village above Taormina and what is worth a visit is the Alcantara Gorges.

READ: Guide to Taormina, what to do in two days

Taormina corso Umberto

 

10# - Ragusa

Perhaps one of the most attractive cities in the region, Ragusa and its Ibla Ragusa, returned in height and become a tourist destination, with Scili who has benefitted, in particular, thanks to the television series of Commissioner Montalbano, it is a city that leaves no one indifferent.
Destroyed by the earthquake in 1693, it was rebuilt on the foundations of the ancient city, today it is a wonderful jewel of Sicilian Baroque among the most notable of the island.
The city is located on a hill about 400 meters above sea level, and in the eastern part of the city, as if it were completely separate, stands the beautiful Ragusa Ibla on the Val di Noto, a concentration of Baroque art that it is today Heritage of humanity.

From Ragusa you can organise day trips to Modica, Noto and the southernmost tip of the island to the island of Currents, Porto Palo Capopassero and Marzamemi.

ragusa

 

Bonus - Towns beyond the classic

Limiting Sicily in 10 localities does not give justice to the island. Among the other destinations I feel to advise I would like to mention:

  • Caltagirone
  • Piazza Armerina
  • Porto Palo di Capopassero and Marzamemi, to join with the Island of Currents
  • Mondello with its bay of Caribbean tones and the Capogallo Reserve
  • Mazzara del Vallo and Marsala (for wine lovers)
  • Acitrezza and Acicastello
  • Savova and the Castle of Slaves
  • Tindari
Categorie

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Scritto da Giulia Raciti

Esperta di Africa e Latino America sono in viaggio dal 2011. Attualmente a bordo di un van. Ho fatto un giro del mondo in solitaria durato 3 anni. Scrivo delle destinazioni che visito. Mi occupo di realizzazione viaggi personalizzati e su misura in Africa e Sud America sul sito dedicato Kipepeo Experience.

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