Sicily
Your Ultimate Online Guide to Discovering Sicily
Seductive and sun-soaked, at times elegantly refined and at times charmingly decrepit yet always utterly irresistible, Sicily is the perfect destination for a dream holiday.
Over 1,000 kilometres of coastline lapped by crystal-clear waters, Europe’s highest active volcano, evocative ancient ruins bearing witness to the grandeur of Magna Graecia, sumptuous Baroque and Rococo splendour, characterful villages where time moves slowly, and vibrant markets where you can sample Italy’s finest street food: these are just some of the wonders awaiting you in Sicily.
Given the remarkable variety of attractions spread across the entire region, Sicily can be visited in any season: when to visit Sicily depends on the type of holiday you’re planning.
For a seaside break in Sicily, the summer months are naturally ideal; if possible, it’s better to choose early or late summer since in June and September flights and hotels are cheaper and beaches are less crowded. Bear in mind that Sicily’s warm temperatures generally allow for swimming from mid-May through October.
If you’re planning a cultural holiday focused mainly on Sicily’s archaeological treasures, July and August are best avoided, as many of these sites are completely exposed to the sun and the heat can be difficult to bear.
For trekking, the best time to visit Sicily is spring or early autumn, when you can still enjoy mild temperatures and plenty of daylight without risking sunstroke or dehydration. Those fond of skiing and snowshoeing can enjoy a splendid winter break on Mount Etna.
To help you plan your holiday itinerary, we’ve divided our guide to what to see in Sicily into geographical regions.
This itinerary is designed for those arriving at Palermo airport or Trapani airport.
Palermo, a city of Baroque architecture, street food, and cultural fusion, makes an ideal base for exploring Sicily. For seaside time near Palermo, head to Scopello or Castellamare del Golfo; with a bit more travel, you can reach Cefalù, a charming village on Sicily’s northern coast.
Head east and stop at the Zingaro Nature Reserve near San Vito lo Capo, which you can explore on foot along one of Italy’s finest hiking trails, and visit Trapani, from where a historic cable car will take you to Erice.
Continue south with stops in Marsala for an excellent glass of wine and Mazara del Vallo to admire the Dancing Satyr. Be captivated by the timeless charm of the ancient ruins at Segesta, Selinunte and the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento.
Relax on the beaches of Menfi or Sciacca and don’t miss for anything in the world the magnificent Scala dei Turchi, a beach topped by a truly distinctive cliff face.
This itinerary is designed for those arriving at Catania airport. Eastern Sicily is home to the finest examples of Sicilian Baroque: starting in the north at Catania and heading south to Noto, Ragusa and Modica.
Along the eastern coast heading south you’ll find Syracuse, one of Sicily’s most visited cities, and heading north Taormina, the most chic and seductive resort, famous for its magnificent Greek theatre in an enviable position with sea views. Quite a different atmosphere awaits you at Marzamemi, a characterful fishing village made famous by Inspector Montalbano.
Sicily has long been one of the favourite destinations for seaside holidays and it’s certainly an excellent choice, both for the number of beaches and their quality: it’s the region with the greatest length of bathing coastline (over 900 km) and boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the entire Mediterranean, both sandy and rocky.
With so much choice, deciding where to go in Sicily for a seaside holiday can be overwhelming. The first choice to make is: mainland Sicily or the islands?
The Aeolian, Aegadian and Pelagian Islands require an additional ferry crossing but are enchanting worlds unto themselves, with spectacular beaches and – with the exception of Panarea, a chic and fashionable island – plenty of peace and quiet. They’re all beautiful, but for a seaside holiday the best are Favignana, Marettimo and Lampedusa.
If you’d prefer to stay on mainland Sicily, one deciding factor is: do I want to combine beach days with cultural visits, or spend the whole holiday lounging in the sun?
In the first case, recommended locations are Ragusa, Syracuse, Agrigento, Taormina and Trapani – five cities brimming with cultural attractions and with splendid beaches nearby.
If instead you want to completely escape city life and include nothing in your holiday but sunbathing and sea swimming, there’s nothing better than the small towns and picturesque fishing villages scattered along the Sicilian coast such as Sciacca, Castellamare del Golfo, San Vito lo Capo or Menfi.
There are three archipelagos off the Sicilian coast: the Aeolian Islands (Stromboli, Vulcano, Lipari, Salina, Filicudi, Alicudi and Panarea), of volcanic origin, are part of Messina province; the Aegadian Islands (Favignana and Marettimo) are easily reached from Trapani; the Pelagian Islands (Linosa and Lampedusa), the most remote, are part of Agrigento province but are actually closer to Africa.
The island of Pantelleria falls under Trapani province but is positioned further south than the Aegadian Islands and, like the Pelagian Islands, is very close to the African coast.
Although Sicily’s sea is a siren’s call difficult to resist, it would be a shame to leave this wonderful island without visiting one or more of its characterful villages, some of which hide surprising treasures.
Take for example Erice, considered one of Italy’s most beautiful medieval villages: perched atop a hilltop, this town resembles a typical Central Italian village and is nothing like the postcard-perfect stereotypical image of Sicily.
Besides Erice, the three villages you mustn’t miss in Sicily are Cefalù, Marzamemi and Noto. The first is a cascade of characteristic little houses clustered around an enchanting beach: a town with Norman echoes and romantic views around every corner. Marzamemi is a picturesque fishing village situated at the meeting point of two seas. From the simplicity of Marzamemi to the splendour of Noto: considered the Baroque capital of Sicily, this village is a riot of elegance and opulence.
Other lesser-known villages will enchant you with their centuries-old artisanal traditions or exquisite local gastronomic specialities accompanied by excellent Sicilian wines.
A land of ancient origins, Sicily experienced a period of great splendour in the age of Magna Graecia and the Roman Empire. Precious testimony to those glorious times are the temples, ruins and works of art that have been passed down to our day and which we can admire in the museums and archaeological parks of Sicily.
The emblematic attraction of archaeological Sicily is the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, but no less evocative are the archaeological sites of Segesta and Selinunte, two eternally rival cities.
A unique experience awaits you at Taormina, where the past is not just an attraction to admire but an event to experience: its magnificent Greek theatre, positioned in an enviable spot overlooking the sea, is still used today for theatre, dance and music performances.
What type of accommodation should you choose for your Sicilian holiday? From luxury resorts and holiday villages with all-inclusive options to beachfront holiday homes and apartments, from hotels in city centres to bed and breakfasts and guesthouses on the minor islands, there’s a huge choice. We’ve selected the best properties based on visitor ratings and popularity, and we present them in the pages that follow.
The simplest, quickest and in many cases most economical way to get to Sicily is to book a budget flight. Many European airports have direct flights to Palermo, Trapani and Catania, and major italian airports also fly to Lampedusa; in the summer season the flight offer is wider as many seasonal flights are added.
If you prefer to travel by sea so you can bring your car and explore the island freely, you can take a ferry to Palermo from Genoa (approximately 20 hours), Naples (between 9 and 11 hours), Civitavecchia (14 hours), Salerno (9 and a half hours), Livorno (19 hours) or Cagliari (12 hours).
Other possible ports of entry to Sicily are Messina, with ferries departing from Salerno (9 hours), and Milazzo, departing from Vibo Valentia (4 and a half hours).
Of course, since Sicily is an island, anyone wanting to drive from mainland Italy must also take a ferry across the final stretch from Reggio Calabria to Messina. Ferries across the strait run daily and take only 25 minutes; it’s advisable to book in advance.
From Palermo you can take a ferry to the Aeolian Islands, though more connections depart from Milazzo; ferries to the Aegadian Islands leave from Trapani whilst ferries to the Pelagian Islands depart from Porto Empedocle, near Agrigento.
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