Planning Sicily in 2025

“The Island of Sicily offers rolling hills and citrus groves; the valley of ancient Roman temples; and sleepy coastal towns with pristine beaches or island tours; all in the shadow of their mother – Mount Etna.

Sicily at a glance is about the same size as Massachusetts or New Hampshire at 9,927 square miles. So, where should you go, what should you see, where should you stay, what should you eat? That’s what planning is all about. We are staying between 10 and 14 days with an eye to new DELTA destinations and departures from Catania–> JFK beginning May 23, 2025. We are traveling counterclockwise around the island. We’re flexible and that makes all the difference for carefree travel.

Do:

Catania: Open air fish market is a must. Also, if you’ve never had a prickly pear, try one at a stall… but have them open it for you lest you prick yourself! There’s a World War II museum that has a 12 minute video and immersive experience for what it would look like before a bombing, during the bombing and after the bombing.
Mount Etna: You could drive up most of the way up Mt Etna, then take a cable car and finally take a special vehicle to get up to the summit. Even if you just go up with your car the views are spectacular! There are some cool vineyards on the northern slope with very unique tastes due to the vicinity of the volcano.
Toarmina: Taormina is very touristy but there is a daily produce market near Porta Messina. There is also a Greek-Roman theater to take in and check out the Four Seasons Hotel in a former convent that was also used by Kesselring in World War II. Everyone says it is expensive to stay here, we’ll and report back.
Cefalu: Cefalu is a salty fishing village under a towering rock called La Rocca. It’s a beach destination but with an old Sicilian fishing hub vibe. It’s more laid-back and you can have a candlelit seafood dinner at the harbor. Take some time to walk through the alleys and piazzas.
Monreale Cathedral: This cathedral is just six miles west of Palermo and the interior is completely covered in golden mosaics depicting Old and New Testament stories.
Palermo: Palermo has a four corners intersection called Quattro Canti. Check out the Fountain of Shame while you’re there. Palermo also has one of the most vivid street markets called Ballaro market). Take in a puppet show. Nearby is the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia on top of Mount Pellegrino, dedicated to Palermo’s patron saint. Then stroll down the pedestrian only streets called Via Maqueda off the Quattro Canti. Teatro Massimo is the largest opera house in Italy. Check out the performances, sometimes you can get cheap tickets the day of a performance.
Trapani: Trapani is 1.5 hours from Palermo and is less touristy. Marsala wine originated here and you can try some in a wine bar or take a tour at Cantine Florio, 20 miles south of Trapani.
Agrigento: Agrigento is a two hour drive from Palermo and is known for the Valley of the Temples. Start at the Temple of Juno and end at the top of the hill. Then treat yourself to a taxi back to where you started. This is one of the greatest opportunities to see some of the ruins. Drive 20 minutes to the coast to see the Stair of the Turks.
Villa Romana del Casale: This villa is a must to see. It contains 38,000 mosaics!
Modica and Ragusa: Ragusa is generally not crowded, and you can try an olive tasting. You could also take the tourist train to look at the old town. Tackle the 15-30 minute scenic stair and hill climb between the upper and lower towns. Visit the Ragusa Superiore market. Take a 30-minute drive to Modica and visit the oldest and most famous chocolate shop called Antica Dolceria Bonajuto.
Siracusa: Visit the Basilica of Santa Lucia el Sepolcro and see the Caravaggio painting. Also, visit the puppet theater that offers one show per day Mon-Sat.

Eat:

Stay:

The following hotels are best for tourism in Italy when booked direct rather than a third party. We plan to travel counterclockwise around Sicily. We land in Catania and first lodging is in the Grand Hotel.
Grand Hotel Baia Verde, Via A. Musco 8/10, Acicastello, Italy, 95021; phone: +39 095 491522
Relais Abbazia Santa Anastasia, Casrelbuono (Palermo), Italy, 90013; phone +39 0921 672233 (hotel-winery)
D’Angelo Palace Hotel,
Hotel Villa Romana,
Villa Athena Resort by Hilton,