Best of Sicily Itinerary 7 Days -10: Taormina, Syracuse, Palermo (+self-guided food tours)
Best of Sicily Itinerary 7 Days -10: Taormina, Syracuse, Palermo (+self-guided food tours)
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The best Sicily Travel Itinerary…
Planning a trip to Sicily?
Everything you need to have the best Sicily road trip with the best places to go, things to do, food to eat, and places to stay in Sicily!
With its beautiful beaches, ancient towns, and incredible food scene, Sicily has everything you need to have an incredible Italian vacation. Traveling in Sicily feels like an adventure- there is so much to do and to see. If you feel like just relaxing, it’s great for that too.
Sicily has recently become a travel hot spot…
Where was the popular Netflix series, White Lotus, Season 2, filmed?
In Sicily! Most of the scenes are filmed in one of my favorite beach towns in Italy and featured in this itinerary.
Where is Sicily?
The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily is west of the southern part of mainland Italy. With so many beautiful beaches, ancient historical sites, incredible food, and vibrant and friendly people, this Italian island has a rich culture and is definitely worthy of being on your travel bucket list
What are the best places to visit in Sicily?
This Sicily itinerary includes all the best places to visit in Sicily in 7 to 10 days (or 5 days.)
Does Sicily have good food?
The Sicilian food and wine are outstanding, as are the prices, which are lower than you will see in many parts of Italy.
Sicily has some of the best food in Europe, so this itinerary is also a self-guided food tour of Sicily- I included a lot of recommendations on eating authentic Sicilian food, which means eating where the locals eat (my favorite!)
Where to stay in Sicily
Sicily has some beautiful hotels, farm stays (which are called “Agriturismo”), as well as apartments or villas to rent. Each destination in this itinerary includes a list of the top places to stay with a link to make a reservation.
How many days do you need in Sicily?
You need at least 5 days in Sicily, but I recommend staying a week to 10 days.
What to do in Sicily for 7 days
Read this Sicily travel blog to learn about all the best places to go (including where the White Lotus was filmed) and things to do so you can experience the best of Sicily.
SICILY ITINERARIES
Sicily Itinerary 5 Days
5 days in Sicily- Palermo, Syracuse, Taormina
Sicily Itinerary 7 Days
*7 days in Sicily starting in Palermo (featured below)- Palermo, Syracuse, Taormina
Sicily Itinerary 10 Days
Best 10 day Sicily itinerary- Palermo, Agrigento, Syracuse, Taormina, Cefalu
DIY Best of Sicily Tour… Learn about the most beautiful cities in Sicily, the best places to stay, and the top landmarks and tourist attractions
Go to the local food markets, Vucciria & Ballaro, in the heart of Palermo
Visit La Martorana Church, overlooking Palazzo Bellini
See the 12th-century Palazzo die Normanni, also known as the “Royal Palace of Palermo,” and the beautiful mosaics of Capella Palatina (Palatine Chapel)
Go to the grand Palazzo Conte Federico
Look inside the Oratorio del Rosario di San Domenico
Take an evening Palermo Street Food Tour (book in advance). This was a fantastic experience for our whole family!
Enjoy Palermo street food for dinner, and try everything! Make sure to try the typical breakfast of coffee granita and a fresh brioche roll or brioche with gelato (also great for dessert!)
Try some of the typical Sicilian food like the refreshing fresh fruit granitas with cream, the sweet cannoli, fried arancini, and sfincione (Sicilian pizza). Get a bunch of dried oregano at the market, sprinkle it into a bowl of olive oil and dip fresh bread in it. Enjoy the delicious olives and local cheeses produced in Sicily. With fresh bread and cured meats, you have a perfect Sicilian picnic!
Wood-fired oven for baking yummy pizza
*Important Italian phrases for foodies
Fatto in casa= “made in house” or homemade, very important for ordering pasta (you didn’t travel all the way to Italy for the dried stuff!) Forno a legna= “wood fired oven” This is THE pizza to eat in Italy!
Sicily Travel Tip
Gather a Sicilian picnic to enjoy on the stop at Agrigento tomorrow.
3 Days Syracuse itinerary, known in Italy as “Siracusa”
GET THERE
How to get to Siracusa
Drive 11 km to the beautiful and historic hilltop town of Monreale, and visit the Monreale Cathedral
Drive 2 hours to the Greek temples in the ancient city of Akragas in the Valley of the Temples at Agrigento. Tour the temples and visit the Archeological Museum Enjoy your picnic there, or go into the historical center of Agrigento and have lunch. *If you don’t want to pay to go in, and would rather appreciate it from afar, stop and check out the view Hotel Villa Athena.
Continue on to Syracuse, a 3 hours 15 minute drive from Agrigento
Looking out at the pool from our vast terra cotta terrace at the agriturismo
STAY
Where to stay in Syracuse
Looking for the best place to stay in Syracuse? Book a top-rated hotel here:
Agriturismo Saint ‘Elia (6 km from Cassibile)-Located outside of town, this is an outstanding agriturismo in Siracusa, Christina is an excellent host. The apartments are simple and rustic, and the infinity pool and grounds are beautiful. Breakfast is available for an additional fee (with excellent granita!) Click here for the latest prices
Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel– For an upscale small hotel, stay on the island of Ortigia, the historical center of Siracuse. Stay in a suite and enjoy the Mediterranean Sea view from your hot tub on a nice terrace. Click here for the latest prices
Get an early start and tour the UNESCO Archaeological Park Neapolis in Syracuse, see Greek Theater, “Ear of the Dionysys”
Drive to Ortigia and visit the Mercado di Siracusa food market, and taste some local cheese (closes at noon). Before noon (to beat the crowds) get custom sandwiches made at the famous Caseificio Borderi (featured in our Top Travel Experiences, Best Food From Around the World), then find a nice place nearby to enjoy lunch.
Walk around the outstanding Ortigia and see the Fountain of Arethusa, Temple of Athena, “Ear of the Dionysys”, the Cathedral of Syracuse and Duomo, and the town center (don’t miss walking along the walls for an outstanding view out to the sea!)
You may also want to see the Archeological Museum, Eurialos castle, and Catacombs di San Giovanni
Spend the afternoon at Arenella Beach or check out one of the nature reserves
The Panini Master at Caseificio Borderi (Best sandwich. Ever!)
EAT
Coffee at Gran Caffe del Duomo, Piazza del Duomo on Ortigia’s main square. Breakfast or baked goods at Antiche Siracusa, off Piazza Archimedes
Pastries at Leonardi, near Parco Archeologico
Visit the baroque town of Noto. Have a snack at Caffe Sicilia Pasticceria, an old-world pastry, and chocolate, and Bar-Gelateria Constanza. There are olive oil farms you can visit near Noto.
Also featured in our Best Family Meals, do not miss the fabulous homemade lunch from the farm at Agriturismo Leone (make a reservation), up in the hills from Noto.
Spend the afternoon lounging at Fontane Bianche Beach.
Ragusa Ilba a UNESCO cobblestone town with Baroque palaces and churches, cheese ripening caves. Cheese shops with tasting: Casa del Formaggio Sant’Anna di Dipasquale. Try the regional famous Caciocavallo Ragusano DOP
Marina di Ragusa- LUNCH at Agriturismo La Masseria di Cascone Giovanni, visit a local ricotta cheese farm, BEACH
Modica (via Scicli) is another UNESCO world heritage site. Don’t miss the oldest chocolate factory, Antica Dolceria Bonajuto (Donna Elvira Dolceria makes sweets made by cloister nuns.)
This Italian woman arrived at Ortigia in the evening by yacht. She and her cat on a leash had just gotten off of the pontoon and were heading to dinner! Adorable!
EAT
Restaurants to try: Veni a Tastari in Avola, Piazza Umberto I, 41- Panini
Wineries to visit and taste: Vittoria, Occhipinti winery, Castello Donnafugata in a 17th-century castle, COS, Valle, Del Acate, Occhipinti
Caciocavallo Ragusano (cheese from the 1500s), arancini (stuffed deep-fried rice balls), pistachio di Bronte (nuts), cannoli (typical dessert), more granita e brioche (can’t get tired of this one!), frutti di mare (seafood), Sicilian pecorino (sheep cheese), sheep ricotta, piacintinu (special cheese), wine from the Mt. Etna area)
View of Isola Bella in Taormina
Sicily Vacation Itinerary
3 Days Taormina itinerary
*Taormina is the town where most of the White Lotus, Season 2, was filmed.
GET THERE
How to get to Taormina
Drive north to Taormina, and marvel at the gigantic Mt. Etna on your left. It’s the largest active volcano in Europe!
STAY
Where to stay in Taormina
Best place to stay in Taormina
Looking for the best place to stay in Taormina? Book a top-rated hotel here:
Mendolia Beach Hotel – Perfectly located down by the beach, this hotel has rooms and a family apartment with a sea view, terrace, and kitchenette. The hosts aren’t the warmest but the accommodations make up for it. Excellent breakfast (with great service) on a sea view terrace, and the best part… chairs and umbrellas at the beach club are included. Click here for the latest prices
Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo– Stay at one of Italy’s top luxury bucket list hotels. It’s a splurge for gorgeous grounds (with a pool), impeccable service, and arguably the best view in Taormina (located on top of the hill)! Click here for the latest prices
Restaurants: Excellent wood fired pizza at La Napoletana, Da Cristina for quick pizza, focaccia, panini, arancini, TreQuarti is an “Antipasteria Siciliana”
More details for 10 days in Sicily: Sicily Itinerary 10 Days
Stay 1 night in Palermo, 4 nights in Syracuse, leave early for 3 nights in Taormina, then continue around to Cefalu for 2 nights. Or do the 1 week Sicily Itinerary above, and stay longer in each place (and visit Catania for the day when leaving Syracuse and heading to Taormina.)
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