Where to look
History, Culture & UNESCO Sites
History enthusiasts · UNESCO site visitors · Greek & Roman antiquity fans · Arab-Norman architecture lovers Sicily is the most archaeologically layered island in the Mediterranean — three thousand years of Greek, Phoenician, Roman, Arab, Norman, Swabian and Spanish civilisation have left an extraordinary density of monuments. The Valley of the Temples at Agrigento (UNESCO) has seven Doric temples in varying states of preservation, set on a ridge above the sea — the most complete collection of ancient Greek temples outside Greece. The Temple of Concordia, still almost entirely intact, dates from 430 BC. Palermo's Arab-Norman monuments (UNESCO) represent one of the most extraordinary artistic fusions in world history — the Palatine Chapel (Cappella Palatina) has Greek Byzantine gold mosaics, Arab geometric ceiling paintings and Norman pointed arches all in a single room. The Cefalù Cathedral, the Monreale Cathedral (the finest Norman mosaic cycle in the world) and the Church of La Martorana in Palermo are equally extraordinary. Syracuse, founded by Corinthians in 734 BC, has the only Greek temple in Sicily still in use — its columns incorporated into the Catholic cathedral.
Mount Etna & Volcanic Landscape
Volcano enthusiasts · Hikers · Geologists · Adventure travellers Mount Etna (3,357m) is Europe's most active volcano and has been erupting almost continuously for 500,000 years. It dominates the eastern Sicily skyline and is visible from much of the island. The upper slopes (above 2,500m) are a UNESCO World Heritage Site — a dramatic landscape of black lava fields, volcanic craters, ash cones and — in winter — snow. The summit craters change configuration with each eruption. Catania is the best base for Etna — the city is built from the same black volcanic basalt as the mountain itself, and the cable car station at Rifugio Sapienza (1,923m, reached by bus from Catania) is the starting point for most tours. Guided excursions with 4WDs take visitors to the summit crater rim (3,350m) when safe — the view into the active craters, surrounded by the smell of sulfur, is unforgettable. The north side of Etna, above Linguaglossa and Piano Provenzana, has a different character — less visited and more rugged.
Beach & Sun Seekers
Beach lovers · Summer sun seekers · Caribbean-water enthusiasts San Vito Lo Capo on the northwest coast is Sicily's finest beach — a long crescent of powder-white sand with water so turquoise and clear it looks like the Caribbean rather than the Mediterranean. The beach is backed by the dramatic limestone mountain of Monte Cofano and faces north, making it sheltered from the prevailing southwest wind. The small town behind the beach has excellent fish couscous restaurants and a lively promenade. Scala dei Turchi near Agrigento is one of Italy's most visually dramatic coastal landscapes — a brilliant white marl rock formation carved by the sea into terraces and cliffs that glow bright white in the sun. The beach below is sandy and the water excellent. Mondello near Palermo is the classic Sicilian seaside resort — a Belle Époque bathhouse establishment on a long sandy beach, popular with Palermitani. The Aeolian Islands (Lipari, Stromboli, Panarea) are worth a day or multi-day boat trip — Stromboli's active volcano lights up the night sky.
Taormina & Romantic Sicily
Couples · Honeymooners · Special occasions · Greek theatre lovers Taormina is Sicily's most famous tourist destination and one of the most beautiful small towns in Italy — a medieval clifftop town on a terrace 200m above the Ionian Sea, with the extraordinary Greek-Roman Theatre at its centre. The theatre was built in the 3rd century BC and remodelled by the Romans — its stage backdrop is one of the finest views in the world: the arc of the theatre framing Etna on the horizon, with the sea shimmering below. The town's Corso Umberto, the main pedestrian street, is lined with boutiques, cafés and terraces overlooking the Bay of Naxos. The Giardino Pubblico (public garden) has extraordinary views and an eccentric collection of gazebos and garden follies planted by a 19th-century English noblewoman. Isola Bella, the tiny island connected to the mainland by a thin sand bar just below Taormina, has crystal-clear water and is a UNESCO nature reserve.
Palermo Food & Street Market Lovers
Foodies · Street food enthusiasts · Market lovers · Urban culture seekers Palermo has the finest street food culture in Italy and one of the most extraordinary food cultures in Europe. The Ballarò, Capo and Vucciria markets have been operating for a thousand years — Arab-era produce stalls selling ricotta, caciocavallo cheese, blood oranges, sfincione (Sicilian deep-pan pizza), pane ca'meusa (spleen sandwich, the most challenging but most local street food), and the sticky, gorgeous cannoli filled to order with sweet ricotta. The Vucciria market at night transforms into one of the most atmospheric bar scenes in Sicily — outdoor tables in the market square, bottles of local wine and street food consumed at standing tables, with the market stalls shuttered behind. This is the real Palermo: loud, generous and completely authentic. The city's pasticcerie sell the finest cassata (a baroque sponge cake with marzipan and candied fruit) and granite (flavoured crushed ice) in Sicily.
Nature & Interior Explorers
Hikers · Cyclists · Wild landscape lovers · Off-the-beaten-path travellers The Madonie mountains and Nebrodi hills in northern Sicily are some of the most beautiful and least visited landscapes in Italy — forests of ancient holm oak and black poplar, mountain villages with medieval and Byzantine heritage, and a network of hiking trails through the highest peaks in Sicily outside Etna. The Madonie Natural Park has wolves, golden eagles and the rare Sicilian fir (Abies nebrodensis, fewer than 30 trees surviving in the wild). The Alcantara Gorge, cut by the lava flows of Etna into a series of dramatic basalt columns and pools, is both geologically extraordinary and excellent for swimming — the gorge pools are very cold (mountain spring water filtered through ancient lava) but the canyon scenery is remarkable. The Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro near San Vito Lo Capo is a pristine coastal reserve with hiking trails, isolated coves and birds of prey — no vehicles allowed.
Budget Travellers
Backpackers · Students · Cost-conscious visitors · Budget foodies Palermo is the best budget base in Sicily — the city has the widest range of accommodation at all price points and the cheapest food in Sicily (street market sandwiches, arancini, panelle) that costs almost nothing. The historic centre is walkable, the Ballarò market is a few minutes away, and the beaches of Mondello are 20 minutes by bus. Palermo is one of the finest budget city breaks in Italy. Catania, the second city, has good budget accommodation near the university district and excellent access to Etna and the east coast. Syracuse's Ortigia island (the historic centre) has affordable guesthouses that are significantly cheaper than Taormina for comparable historical interest. May and October are the best value months island-wide — 30–40% cheaper than July/August with excellent weather.
🏙️ Palermo
Capital. Arab-Norman UNESCO monuments, finest street food in Italy, Ballarò market, Palatine Chapel. Most culturally rich city in Sicily. Culture · Food · Budget · All types
🎭 Taormina
Clifftop medieval town. Greek-Roman theatre with Etna backdrop. Most famous tourist destination. Excellent restaurants and boutiques. Romance · Culture · Couples · Luxury
🌋 Catania
Etna's doorstep. Baroque city built from black lava. Fish market, vibrant university nightlife. 30 min to cable car. Nature · Culture · Budget · Nightlife
🏛️ Agrigento / Valley of Temples
Finest ancient Greek temples outside Greece (UNESCO). Good beach at Scala dei Turchi nearby. Hot in summer — go early or late. History · Culture · Beach
🏖️ San Vito Lo Capo (NW)
Sicily's best beach. Caribbean-coloured water, white sand, fish couscous. Cous Cous Festival in September. Very popular in August. Beach · Families · Food
🏛️ Syracuse / Ortigia
Greek colony founded 734 BC. Greek theatre still in use, cathedral in converted temple. Beautiful baroque island (Ortigia). Very romantic. History · Romance · Authentic · Culture
🍫 Val di Noto (SE)
Seven UNESCO Baroque towns: Noto, Ragusa Ibla, Modica. Modica chocolate. Marzamemi fishing village. Very quiet and authentic. Culture · Authentic · Romance · Food
Tips for booking
- Valley of the Temples at dawn or at the nightly illuminations. The site opens at 8:30am — arriving at opening time avoids tour groups and the fierce midday heat. Alternatively, the evening illumination (certain nights in summer) is extraordinary — the temples lit in warm gold against the dark sky.
- Book a guided Etna summit tour (not just the cable car). The cable car takes you to 2,500m — beautiful, but not the summit experience. A combined cable car + 4WD + short hike tour takes you to the crater rim at 3,350m. Prices are around €60–80 including cable car. The view from the top is extraordinary on a clear day.
- San Vito Lo Capo Cous Cous Festival (September) is worth planning around. The town hosts the international Cous Cous Festival for a week in late September — free concerts, food stalls from 40+ countries, and the beach without the August crowds. September sea temperatures are excellent (26°C). One of Sicily's best events.
- The Taormina Greek Theatre in the evening (film festival or concert) is unmissable. In summer, the theatre hosts concerts, film screenings and performances — watching a film or concert in a 2,500-year-old Greek theatre with Etna as the backdrop is one of the finest experiences in Sicily. Book via the Teatro Antico website.
- Eat breakfast in a Palermo pasticceria. The Sicilian breakfast — a brioche dipped in a granite (almond, lemon or coffee) or filled with ricotta from a granita bar — is one of the world's finest morning meals. Caffè Spinnato on Piazza Ruggero Settimo is the most famous. Queue early.
- The Val di Noto Baroque towns are extraordinary and almost crowd-free. Noto, Ragusa Ibla, Modica, Scicli and Caltagirone — seven towns rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake in an extraordinary unified Baroque style (UNESCO World Heritage) — are among the finest Baroque urban environments in Europe. Modica's chocolate (flavoured with cinnamon, vanilla and chilli in the original Aztec method) is one of the best things you will eat in Italy.
- Palermo has the cheapest and best street food in Europe. A panelle sandwich (chickpea fritter in sesame bread) costs €1.50. Arancino (fried rice ball) costs €2. A granita breakfast costs €3. You can eat extremely well in Palermo for €10–15 per day on street food alone.
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