Sicily — Highlights and Travel Tips
The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily has a wealth of amazing coastal paths, incredible beaches, awe-inspiring archeological sites and fantastic cuisine. A trip to Sicily also offers travelers a glimpse into a diverse culture that dates back to ancient times. Visit majestic cathedrals, ancient Greek ruins, small painted churches, stunning vineyards and more to get inspired on your Sicilian vacation. With lots of fabulous beaches in Sicily, visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches.
Tour Highlights
- Explore the bustling capital of Palermo. See the amazing ancient architecture, medieval streets and lively market where vendors sing to lure you to their stalls.
- Visit a group of small, creatively painted churches in Palermo and end your day at the majestic 11th-century cathedral of Monreale, one of the greatest existing examples of Norman architecture.
- Don’t miss the nearby archaeological museum in Agrigento. It is home to one of Sicily's leading vacation attraction, the Greek ruins at the Valley of the Temples.
- Venture out to the Aeolian islands for mud baths, snorkeling off black-sand lava beaches and hiking to the two active volcanoes.
- Your Sicily holiday is not complete without a trip to Mount Etna, the most active volcano in Europe and Sicily’s top tourist site. Hike the lunar landscape and go to one of the wineries on the north slope for a tasting.
- Check out Siracusa where you will find an ancient Greek settlement, a Roman amphitheater and the ruins of the temple of Athena.
- Visit Segesta to see its Doric-style temple where Greek classics are performed in the theater during the summer.
- Take a trip to Catania, which sits at the foot of Mount Etna and offers an awesome baroque-style city center, a hidden Roman theater, and a weekday fish market where lively vendors hawk their seafood.
Travel Tips
- Sicily’s summer lasts much longer than in other parts of Italy, so good thing that it is the best time to visit! In the summer, you will have plenty of sunny days and warm water for swimming and snorkeling.
- Sicily’s cuisine is unlike the rest of Italy. The street food at the markets in Palermo and Catania is plentiful and cheap. Sample a variety of food by joining a street food tour.
- Make the port town of Trapani your home base for day trips to the west coast of the island.
- Sicilians may not seem as laid back as people in other parts of Italy. They are known to be very stoic and family-oriented, however, they will warm up to you if you give them a chance.
- Get a SIM card to aid in navigation and translation apps. You can get a Vodafone SIM card in most cities for about 45 USD.
- Try to get by with just carry-on luggage. Sicily is notorious for losing luggage after it arrives at the airport.
- Plan accordingly, because the mid-afternoon siesta means that cafes, restaurants and gelaterias often close between 1pm ‒ 4:30pm.
- Renting a car is the best way to see Sicily because public transportation will limit what you can visit. A small car with automatic transmission works best on the small and hilly streets.
- The climate might seem more like that of an African country as compared to Europe, so prepare for hot and sunny with little shade, especially if you are planning to hike. Don’t forget a hat, sturdy shoes and plenty of sunscreen for your Sicily vacation.
