Mount Etna Volcano Excursion
Europe's most active volcano towers over eastern Sicily, and a guided excursion takes you onto its black slopes, past old craters and lava caves, with a tasting of volcanic wines or a sunset view as the finish.
Italy
Sicily
Sicily is the island where Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans and Spaniards all left their signature and none of them quite managed to erase the others.
In Palermo, a Norman king's chapel glitters with Byzantine gold a few minutes from a street market that still sells fried chickpea fritters from a cart. In Taormina, a Greek theatre frames the smoking cone of Etna and the Ionian Sea in a single view. Catania rebuilds itself in black lava stone and feeds you arancini at midnight, Syracuse's island of Ortigia packs three thousand years into a few streets, and Agrigento's temples stand in an almond-fringed valley above the African Sea. Twickly's Sicily guide picks the headline experiences, the food tours worth a seat, five hotels across Palermo, Taormina and Catania, and two practical guides for planning the trip.
Don't miss
Greek Theatre of Taormina
An ancient theatre perched on a clifftop with Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea as its stage backdrop. Few ruins anywhere have a better view, and it is still used for concerts and festivals.
Monreale Cathedral and Cloister
A hilltop Norman cathedral above Palermo, lined with more than six thousand square metres of glittering mosaics, with a serene cloister and a rooftop terrace overlooking the Conca d'Oro.
Valley of the Temples, Agrigento
A ridge of Greek temples in near-perfect condition above the southern coast, including the superbly preserved Temple of Concordia. The finest ancient Greek site in Sicily and a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
Syracuse and Ortigia
Ancient Syracuse once rivalled Athens. Today its Neapolis archaeological park holds a vast Greek theatre, and the island of Ortigia is a baroque old town with a cathedral built inside a Greek temple.
Things to do in Sicily
Greek Theatre of Taormina
An ancient theatre perched on a clifftop with Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea as its stage backdrop. Few ruins anywhere have a better view, and it is still used for concerts and festivals.
Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel
Palermo's royal palace holds the Palatine Chapel, a jewel box of Byzantine mosaics and carved wooden ceilings built by the first Norman king. It is the single most dazzling interior in Sicily.
Monreale Cathedral and Cloister
A hilltop Norman cathedral above Palermo, lined with more than six thousand square metres of glittering mosaics, with a serene cloister and a rooftop terrace overlooking the Conca d'Oro.
Valley of the Temples, Agrigento
A ridge of Greek temples in near-perfect condition above the southern coast, including the superbly preserved Temple of Concordia. The finest ancient Greek site in Sicily and a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
Syracuse and Ortigia
Ancient Syracuse once rivalled Athens. Today its Neapolis archaeological park holds a vast Greek theatre, and the island of Ortigia is a baroque old town with a cathedral built inside a Greek temple.
Palermo Walking Tour and Street Food
A guided walk through Palermo's old centre, tasting arancine, panelle and other street classics while a local explains the city's Arab, Norman and Spanish layers. A strong first-morning introduction.
Catania Street Food and Market Tour
A small-group food walk from Catania's Piazza del Duomo through the lava-stone old town and fish market, with arancini, cipollina and granita tastings and a peek into a lava tunnel.
Cefalù Cathedral and Old Town
A pretty fishing town beneath a rocky headland on Sicily's north coast, with a Norman cathedral full of golden mosaics, a medieval old town and a golden sand beach. Easy to reach from Palermo.
Teatro Massimo, Palermo
One of Europe's largest opera houses, a neoclassical landmark in Palermo, famous for its grand auditorium and the steps from the final scene of The Godfather Part III. Tour it by day or see an opera at night.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Villa Igiea, a Rocco Forte Hotel
Acquasanta, Palermo
A turn-of-the-century Art Nouveau palazzo on the Gulf of Palermo, with terraced gardens, a sea-view pool and Rocco Forte service. Palermo's romantic splurge, a short drive from the old town.
Rates on Expedia →Massimo Plaza Hotel
Historic Centre, Palermo
A comfortable mid-range hotel on Via Maqueda facing the Teatro Massimo, with the old town, the Quattro Canti and the markets a few minutes away on foot. The practical choice for sightseeing.
Rates on Expedia →Hotel Villa Ducale
Upper Taormina
A small, characterful hotel on the hillside above Taormina with garden terraces, a family-run feel and views over the bay and Mount Etna. Quiet, but within reach of the centre.
Rates on Expedia →Hotel Isabella
Historic Centre, Taormina
A simple, budget-friendly hotel in the heart of Taormina, a short stroll from the Corso Umberto and the Greek Theatre. A good value choice in an expensive resort town.
Rates on Expedia →NH Catania Centro
City Centre, Catania
A modern 120-room hotel on Piazza Trento, about five minutes from Via Etnea, with a rooftop terrace, a free gym and Etna views from the suites. A dependable mid-range base in Catania.
Rates on Expedia →Sicily guides
First-Timer's Guide to Sicily: What to Book, How to Get Around and How Long to Stay
A practical plan for a first trip to Sicily: what to book ahead, how to move between Palermo, Taormina and Catania, how many days you need and where the big sights fit.
Where to Stay in Sicily: Palermo, Taormina or Catania
A neighborhood guide to choosing your Sicilian base: the character of Palermo, Taormina and Catania, and which of our five hotels suits which kind of trip.
