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 Cathedral 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
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 of 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!
Conclusion
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!
