What is the optimal amount of days that you should spend to travel around Sicily?
Does your heart get beating so hard only thinking about a dreamy and viby Italian trip? Certainly, travelling Sicily will fulfil those expectations and will create a memorable holiday. If you are the kind of traveller who enjoys food, landscapes, history and cultural contrasts, without a doubt, Sicily and the Aeolian Islands is the perfect place for you.
Located just off the most southern part of the Italian mainland, separated by the narrow Strait of Messina, the beautiful Sicily can be found. It is not only, one of the largest Mediterranean islands, but also, one of the 5 independent regions of Italy, known as, Regione Siciliana.
Sicily and the Aeolian islands, have gained popularity over the last decade, particularly, as a holiday, wedding, honeymoon and general travel destination, due to its shiny and pristine waters, outstanding food and rich historic and cultural heritage.
This is because the region of Sicily, is not only, the oldest archeological site of human evidence, but also, it is actually the most conquered island in the world. Hence, the richness in its culture, perfectly visible in the art, architecture, sculpture and its cuisine.
As mentioned above, one of the reasons why Sicily attracts so many visitors is due to the contrast in the culture, sometimes, categorised as shocking! Being one of the most conquered places in the world by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Swabians, Aragonese, Lombards, Spaniards, French, Albanians (and probably so many more that I am missing), the heritage is varied in Sicilians! Just incredibly how diverse the population is.
Talking to people about Sicily and my experience there, I always get asked the question of how many days are a good amount of time to travel around Sicily? or how long do I need to travel Sicily?
I totally understand, figuring out how many days to spend in such a complete and busy place, touristically speaking, can be challenging. This is particularly true when you are a Sicily first time visitor, my experience tells me, that most of the times, people underestimate the time it takes to properly visit this wonderful island.
14 days is the right amount of days to visit Sicily. This is to have enough time to enjoy it, ensuring to visit the main and most beautiful iconic cities and towns. 14 days are required to travel and visit busy cities like Palermo, Catania and chill and relax along the coastal towns like Taormina and Marzamemi. Visiting the old towns of Agrigento, Ragusa and Modica will round up your trip for a true Italian experience.
Generally speaking, to optimally plan the length of your trip to Sicily, definitely, the season in which you wish to travel will be an important factor. Still, two weeks is the right amount of time not to miss anything and to absorb all that Sicily has to offer.
If you go in the winter, then it would be harder to travel across the island and perhaps, you are looking at a more specific experience like skiing activities in Mount Etna, or you would prioritise a particular area of the Sicilian region, like spending time around either the north or the south doing more winter related activities.
If you choose to go in the summer (which is the season I personally recommend to fully enjoy the island), consider how much time you would like to spend on the beach, or what kind of water sports you would like to do, versus historical tourism like visiting cathedrals, ancient ruins or food touring. Making up your mind about what you want to get out of your trip, will ultimately define the total length of your trip.
Why 14 days is the optimal amount of days to travel Sicily.
If you are a history passionate, a beach lover, you thrive around outstanding cuisine and delicious wines, you will obsess over Sicily. You will quickly realise that less than two weeks in Sicily would be a shame.
Touristically speaking, there are so many things to do in Sicily, from visiting endless stunning cathedrals and museums, to fascinating walking tours, day-trips, beach days, food tours, just a memorable experience!
All of it, is a lot to cover! Endless hills and valleys, historical ancient ruins, that speak of mythology and art, the amazing coffee, wine and food for little money, as well as, pristine, crystal clear waters.
Responding the question of how many days you should travel Sicily, the answer can be a bit nuanced, obviously, based on your travel goals and budget. This will determine exactly how many days you’ll spend in Sicily.
For those who want a quick answer to this, 14 days is the average amount of time that a visitor should spend in Sicily.
Whit this in mind, I have created the perfect Sicily schedule for 14 days and how to squeeze every single day in! Keep on reading this post to find out the details of why and how to do it.
Although, it is not recommended, travelling Sicily for 10 days only, that choice, would be for those who want to see it at a much faster pace and skipping some of the places. If your time and budget wouldn’t allowed for more than a week, I would recommend to pick one side of the island and explore only that place. Less than a week, pick a city and explore it properly, perhaps include just one day-trip to a nearby town.
Getting around Sicily
After spending a long time in Sicily in different occasions, I can definitely state that, renting a car is an absolute crazy idea! Besides the fact that the price for renting a car for a couple of days in Sicily is really expensive compared to other places, also, driving around Sicily is nuts! There are no circulation rules, it is dangerous, quite stressful, there are hidden tolls and you can get heavily fined if parking in the wrong spot.
I can assure you that the best way to travel around Sicily, the most efficient, cheaper and enjoying the scenery, is by train. Trains schedules are usually quite reliable and they come around frequently throughout the day. Don’t forget to validate your ticket before boarding the train in the machines located in the station, otherwise you can be fined.
The main company that operates the trains in Sicily is Trenitalia, which, even operates high-speed trains, that can take you to/from the main cities like Palermo, Catania, Messina, Syracuse, Agrigento and Ragusa, to/from the main airports. There are also regional trains that would take you to smaller towns around as well.
Secondly, getting around Sicily by bus is also an excellent way to, not only, learn a lot about the Sicilian landscape, but also, it is quite affordable. Perhaps, not as fast as by train, and sometimes, the scheduled daily buses might fail sometimes, but generally speaking is pretty comfortable and easy to get the tickets.
You can acquire these tickets in several shops like, newsstands, bars, tabacchi shops. Also, online in websites like Segesta or Omio. If you do it online, be sure to have your phone with you or to print out your ticket, as the drivers will scan your QR code. Have some cash with you in case this scanning process fails, otherwise, you won’t be allowed to get on the bus.
Sometimes, to get to specific places, you might require to get a ferry. Sicily is an island, therefore, the ferry system works quite well and it is affordable. It could be limited during the winter months due to weather and sea conditions but it goes all fuel in the summer! Even if you wanted to visit Sicily from Italy mainland, or other big islands like Sardinia,Corsica, Malta and other regional islands, there are ferries going all day long.
When flying into Sicily, you can go via three airports, Palermo Falcone-Borsellino Airport (PMO), Catania Vincenzo Bellini Airport (CTA) and Trapani Vincenzo Florio Airport (TPS). There are several shuttle and regional buses and trains that will take you to your town and accomodation, no problem.
Once stablished in a specific town or area, you can walk everywhere or bike easily to a further distance. Even taxis can be convenient if going out at night but I wouldn’t advise catching them during the day, as traffic is really hectic.
In conclusion, public transport works very well in Sicily, I travelled extensively and visited many towns in Sicily just my public transport and by foot.
How to spend 14 days in Sicily. 14 days Sicily Itinerary.
I curated this 14 days itinerary around Sicily, to show you, the must places, the best areas and things to do to make the most out of your time in this wonderful land.
My 14 days tour will take you to my favourite and iconic places, raging from, wandering around Palermo and its delicious street food, to medieval historical tours around the main archeological excavation sites. These sites will include the emblematic places of Selinunte and Agrigento.
Lastly, I will walk you through my Egadi islands, Agrigento, Marzamemi, Taormina and other incredible pristine beaches. Simply, to indulge and live the true Italian dream!
Week 1
Palermo
Day 1&2, will be focused on discovering the city of Palermo. After arriving in Palermo Falcone-Borsellino Airport (PMO), I would recommend taking the shuttle train that will take you to pretty much all the stations around the historical center of Palermo, which is where your accomodation will be.
The price for these trains oscillate between 5-8 euros and the trains come every 30 minutes. I would advise to stay around Central station, as it is a phenomenal hotspot for all communications via buses, trains and so on. Alternatively, you can get the shuttle bus from the airport, if you preferred, which price is around 6-7 euros.
I would recommend flying into Palermo in the early morning, to take advantage of the full day. This first day, enjoy familiarising yourself with the area by wandering around the streets of the historical center of Palermo.
You will quickly realise of the culture contrast and will start seeing the vibrant atmosphere of the city. Taking a stroll around the historical center of Palermo is super easy and convenient, as it leads you to pretty much all the emblematic places that there are to see in this incredible city. Everyone is quite helpful and friendly in case you need some guidance. I would like to warn you about the low english level of Palermitans, but still they find the way to help you out!
If walking is not so much one of your favourite activities, you could consider renting a bike or scooter, although, I wouldn’t recommend it, due to the chaos that is driving in Palermo. Walking is also free!
Begin your Sicilian dream by heading to the one and only Cattedrale di Palermo. This majestic architectural masterpiece is the heritage from different conquering periods, from the Romans to the Byzantine, in which, it was converted into a mosque, resulting in the living art that is today.
I would recommend to pay the 9 euros entrance fee to go all the way up, through the long and twisted spiral stairs to reach the rooftop. The views of Palermo and beyond are simply breath taking.
After that, continue through Vittorio Emanuele street to reach another iconic site, Il Quattro Canti. The four corners that conform the shape if this site, correspond to the four main streets of the historical center. The facades of each tower will display the genuine Baroque style sculptures and fountains, representing the seasons, the Spanish kings of Sicily and the patronesses of Palermo.
If at any point, you have reached lunch/snack time or coffee/gelato break, I can point out a couple of nice places for pizza, arancini, coffee and gelato. These are my favourite, although, Palermo is simply loaded with incredible street food places, trattorias, gelato and so on.
My favourite coffee place in the entire city is nearby the Central Station. It is called Gran Cafe Torino. The cappuccinos, espresso shots and ricotta filled cornettos are just mind blowing!
If gelato is what you are after, I would recommend, Dolce Capo. Not only, these gelatos are truly delicious, but also, the staff are super friendly and charming. They will give you different gelatos to try out, they are awesome people.
If street food is what you fancy, try out Arancini from Sfrigola Palermo in Via Maqueda. These arancini are simply the best in Palermo. Lastly, if your mind can’t stop thinking about pizza, go to Biga pizza, they are quick and delicious.
Alright! with full belly, it is time to wear your hat again!
Head next to Teatro Massimo. Located in Piazza Verdi, this theatre is the largest Opera house in Italy and one of the biggest in the entire Europe. This opera house is home for the best plays all over the world. Also, its architectural style and complex engraves, lead to a fine and delicate acoustic atmosphere, which outcome, is the excellence of this theatre.
I would then continue walking through Via Roma to get to Piazza Prettoria, which motif is, nude statues, that developed the name of the Square of Shame. Really beautiful. Lastly, on this day, head over to the Palatine Chapel, where the western and eastern art come about together, depicting the historical background of Sicily.
On day 2 in Palermo, go ahead and go to the Cathedral of Monreale by catching a bus from the Central Station. It takes around 20 minutes. Transport yourself to the true history of Norman Sicily by visiting this majestic Cathedral with its Romanesque Byzantine and Arab mosaic styles. Just wonderful.
There is a famous place for its street food in that area called Aperitivo at Chiease San Catald, which can be excellent for a food pit stop.
Later in the day, go back to the historical center, as you head back to your accomodation, to stop by the famous Ballaro Market, to fully understand the Palermitan culture of street food and street markets. The noisy, chaotic yet loaded with delicious foods to take with you or eat on the spot. Sensational!
Cefalù
Day 3, will be a day-trip from Palermo to Cefalù via regional train from Central Station. The total cost of the trip will be 11 euros return and it will take around 40 minutes to Cefalù central Station.
From there, you can just walk around, it is a tiny town. The reason why you would like to return to Palermo, is to leave your luggage in your accomodation, sleep there, to then leave early in the morning of day 4.
Cefalù is an absolutely gorgeous little town, located in the east of Palermo. It is well worth visiting, as there are tons of things to see and eat. The Cefalu Cathedral of this town is the heritage of the Norman empire in Sicily, which the king Roger the II had it built, as he got casted away in the charming town of Cefalù.
As you have visited this medieval gift, make sure to head down to Lungomare Beach, to cool down. This is a lively and vibrant town, with fine sand and shallow blue water, perfect for swimming. To top up your Northern Sicily dream, go ahead and explore Cefalù old town, to thrive on the exquisite local delicacies, particularly, the seafood and homemade pasta. To add the cherry on top, go up Bastione di Capo Marchiafava for incredible panorama views and you will be blessed with one of the most beautiful sunsets in Italy.
Favignana
Next in the schedule would be a two days trip to the Isole de Favignana in the Egadi islands. These, will be your day 4&5 of your itinerary. I, simply, cannot recommend Favignana enough. This is one of the main highlights of this trip. Get the bus to Trapani and ferry to Favignana, early in the morning, as early as possible, to make the most out for your tow days in this beautiful island. (Details below)
Favignana is, not only, one of the most untouched places in Sicily, but also, it is one of the largest islands in the Egadi Archipielago. This is by far, one of the most unique places I have been to. It is loaded with rocky and volcanic bays with pristine, crystal clear waters that will blow your mind when swimming, snorkelling and diving. The landscape of this island is the result of ages of mining, that have ended up creating incredible shapes in the stone, that gives this island its rustic and charming looks.
There are several places to be visited in Favignana, such as, Cala Azzure and Lido Burrone, for nice and calm blue water swim. There are other two places that are undoubtedly a must when visiting Favignana. These are, Cala Rossa, (which receives the name, due to its fame during the Punic war, of being bloody, hence, the red tone). It is a stunning, ancient site and the water is unbelievably clear, you can even see the fish from up the hill.
The second place is Bue Marino, which is, perhaps, the place with the clearest water I have ever swam in. There are several hills and rocks, to which, you have to climb and walk through. It will show you the result of the Roman, Greek and Norman conquer, as there are, ruins everywhere, creating such an atmosphere. You can even jump from rocks to the clear water, making a really fun day.
In terms of getting around the island, the best advice here is, to hire a scooter. You will get around faster and more efficiently to every spot on the island. The perimeter is around 33 km, so it doesn’t take long to get to one point to another by motorbike, but it is big enough to get by foot. However, if you prefer to rent a bike, you will quickly realise how hard it is to get through the rocky paths, hills and how hot it is in the summer time in Favignana! I truly believe that renting a scooter is worth the 20 euros a day. The fuel that it consumes is pretty much negligible. To get those scooters, simply, get off the ferry in the port of Favignana and you will find heaps of locals shouting it and wanting to take you to their shop. You won’t miss it!
When it comes to food, the village or historical center of the island is quite tiny and easy to find. There are many restaurants, bars, gelato places and the food is just sensational. I can recommend Cafe del Corso, where the coffee is unbelievable! There are tons of local places for fresh pasta, seafood, anything you fancy. Please note that, it will be challenging to get food anywhere else around the island, except for the occasional sunset bar, so be mindful to take your own food. There are sometimes street stands selling tuna sandwiches and cold drinks but it is not always the case.
How to get to Favignana from Palermo is an easy task. Simply get a bus from Palermo Central Station to Trapani Port. The price is around 10 euros and you can get them online reliably in this website https://getbybus.com/en/bus-palermo-to-trapani.
Otherwise, you can get the tickets in the station itself, not a problem. Once you get to Trapani port then take the ferry hydrofoil, for which, you would have had to buy the tickets, either online or in the port from several companies, like, Siremar, Ustica Lines and a few others. The price goes around 20-30 euros per person return way, which is, pretty affordable and it takes around 30 minutes to cross the straight.
Agrigento
On day 6&7, you will head to Agrigento! As you have probably noticed, I have not included visiting Trapani in this 14 days Sicily trip. I, personally, didn’t find it worth of spending too much time there, if you are a bit tight in time. There are other more interesting places, in my opinion.
In order for you to get to Agrigento from Trapani, simply, get your bus ticket from Autolinee Lumia, either, online or in the station itself. The total cost is 13 euros and it will take around 3 hours. The landscape is beautiful and honestly, it is a pretty smooth ride.
Get the earliest bus around 8 am and you will get there still int he morning ready to explore Agrigento.
Agrigento is one of the oldest cities in Sicily, famous for its rich history, dating back to 581 BC and going through numerous conquers ,that resulted, in the appeal and style that the city has today.
My top recommendations for things to do in Agrigento are, to visit the Valley of the Temples, this is one of the most visited places in the world and also it is a UNESCO heritage site. This Greek Doric group of temples are at the top of a clifftop, displaying incredible views.
In order for you to visit the whole package, go ahead and purchase the tickets at the ticket office located at Temple of Giunone nearby the Temple of Juno.
The total price is 13.50 euros per person and it includes an evening visit to see the whole site illuminated, mixed with the incredible sunset colours. Quite a vibe.
Another great spot to visit whilst in Agrigento is a place called The Stair of the Turks. This place is situated in Realmonte Coast, displaying an incredible lime stone, sharp cliff containing stairs that have been carved into the stones by the natural process of erosion. If you are brave enough, you can go all the way down and experience the pristine, crystalline waters close up, even dipping in the sea!
Alternatively, you could visit Cala Capo Rosso, which is, a more peaceful and less crowded sandy beach surrounded by purely turquoise waters.
Last but not least, conclude your Agrigento days by roaming around the historical center. This small old town is loaded with churches, narrow streets and many points of interest. I would definitely, visit the Monastero de Santo Spirito, famous in the whole Sicily for their homemade almond cakes by the nuns in the San Gerlando Cathedral. Not only, you will be having a delicious bite, but also, you will be contributing to their cause.
WEEK 2
We are now entering in the second week of our 14 days trip around Sicily! day 8,9&10 will be spent in Ragusa, Modica and Marzamemi. Simply dreamy! Your day 8 will start early in the morning by taking a regional train from Agrigento train station to Ragusa, where you will be staying for the next three days. This will be your “home-base”, where you will be taking your train to Modica and bus to Marzamemi.
Ragusa
On your day 8, visit Ragusa. It is such a delightful and romantic town. It is divided into two parts, one, known as, Ragusa Superiore, that shows the more modern face of the city by displaying wider streets, and newly built houses. The other part is called, Ragusa Ibla, which is, essentially, a reconstruction of the old town, where the Baroque style is evident everywhere. The two parts are separated by Valle dei Ponti.
Besides wandering around this charming town, trying out some of the local delicacies, the two points of interests worth visiting are, the Duomo di San Giorgio and Chiesa Anime del Purgatorio.
Modica
On day 9 , take a train from Ragusa to Modica for a day-trip that you will never forget. Together with Ragusa, Modica is another great example of how the Sicilian Baroque style is present in the South of Sicily. It also belongs to the UNESCO Heritage Site, reconstructed after the earthquake in 1693. Just like Ragusa, Modica is also divided into two parts Modica Alta and Modica Bassa, which reflects the more modern side of the town. In my opinion, there are two important things to do in Modica, one is, to visit Chiesa di San Giorgio, which is, stunning and after that climb up the hill to Pizzo Belvedere, offering incredible views of the area.
The second essential thing to do when in Modica, is to taste the worldwide known chocolate, originally from this place, following the Aztecs traditions that was brought from Spaniards back in the 16th century.
Marzamemi
On your last day in the south of Sicily, on your day 10, you will be taking a bus from Ragusa to Marzamemi for another exciting day-trip.
Marzamemi is one of those truly authentic fishing villages on the coast of western Sicily. There is an incredibly vibrant and lovely environment, surrounded by turquoise clear waters and authentic local restaurants serving delicious fresh fish products. Try out a place called Coppo, just beautiful.
The town counts on San Lorenzo beach, which gives this town a great charm when going for a stroll and to have dinner with sea views. Perhaps, to swim, you would be better off going to another one, as the waters are often not very suitable for swimming. The vibe in the harbours, is so dreamy, super colourful with vibrant blue, red and yellow, same as the boats that bring the fresh tuna to the village.
Lastly, you can finish off your day by visiting the little center of town, where you can find a few shops and a historical Church devoted to San Francesco da Paola, patron of this village.
Catania
You will spend the next following two days (day 11&12) in Catania. On day 11, early in the morning, get a bus from Ragusa to Catania. You can do it through getmybus, which only takes 1.30 minutes with a total cost of 9 euros.
Catania is one of the most famous and lively cities in Sicily, as well as, the second largest city in the island. This emblematic city is characterised by how much it has been touched by the Etna volcano over the history, evident in many aspects, as you wander around the city. The most interesting things to see and do in Catania are, walking towards the old town centre, which conforms the main square of the small center, called Piazza Duomo. Your next pit stop will be the Cattedrale di Sant’Agata, which has a very intriguing fountain, called Fontana dell Elefante.
I would then continue walking through Via Etna to reach Piazza dell Universita, that will lead you to Palazzo San Giuliano. If it is not overcast, you can see mount Etna in the background.
On day 12 in Catania, make sure to visit Castello Ursino towards the old fortress, the historical Monastery of San Bedenetto and San Nicolò l’Arena. It conforms a church built over the old Greek Acropolis, making it the biggest church in Sicily.
Not less pleasant, is to walk through Porta Garibaldi, which is one of the most impressive and robust structures in Catania. Originally built in honour of King Ferdinand IV and his wife, later renamed to Garibaldi, in honour of the Italian hero who helped unifying Italy.
Lastly, to finish off your Catania days, ensure exploring the main street market of Catania, hallmark of Sicily, just like the one in Palermo. It is located in Piazza Carlo Alberto and it is packed with fresh produce, fresh street food and much more fun!
Taormina
For your last two days of your Sicily Fantasy (day 13&14) you will be taking a train from Catania to Taormina (It takes only 50 minutes and for 4 euros you can easily get there). Spending a couple of days in Taormina is just for those who dream of the fine Dolce Vita! It is a small town adorned with churches, antique shops, restaurants and cafes and the main streets are just the Sicilian meaning.
This town is literally a clifftop, that nestles the most amazing views and surrounded by ancient gifts like the Saracen Castle and Greek theatre, so old that they date back to from the 3rd century before Christ.
Taormina has endless sites to be visited, such as, Piazza Duomo, which is, the main attraction located right in the middle of the historical center of this town. Piazza Duomo is home for the main Cathedral of the town that hosts a Minotaur statue, making the Taormina symbol. Next in line, would be checking out Chiesa di San Pancrazio, a little church, which is, one of the most significant places in Taormina due to the history around the Christian martyr, Pancrazio. Chiesa di San Giuseppe and San Giorgio Theater are the next two other points of interest, that must be visited, as they represent the authentic Sicilian Baroque style.
Take a morning to head to Castelmola, which is, a tiny village right above Taormina, that was actually proposed, as the original Taormina acropolis back in time. When you go there do not forget to have a nice bite in Caffè S. Giorgio. Super good! Continue exploring Santuario Madonna della Rocca, which is, a funny looking church built into a rock, right next to the Benedict Monastery. Also, the panoramic views are great.
Other great things to do in Taormina are to, shop and explore the old town along Corso Umberto, explore the local cuisine trying out places like Morgana Lounge Bar, Arancini at Da Cristina (they are famous in town) and have dinner with sunset views at Al Saraceno.
And sadly, it comes to an end! It is day 14/15, you are coming back to Palermo by train from Taormina central Station to Palermo Airport, only taking around 3 hours and for the price of 20 euros, so I would suggest to leave early in the morning to fly out Sicily later in the afternoon.
There you go! Now you know the optimal amount of time to travel Sicily, as well as, all the tips and bits for your 14 days trip around this unforgettable island. I hope you enjoyed it and found it helpful to leave your dreamt Italian experience!