What to see in 7 days in Sicily
First-timer to Sicily and keen to pack in the sights? You wouldn’t be alone in wondering just how much of Sicily you can see in one week. But with a total size of just under 10,000m², Sicily may be slightly bigger than you think, so getting round the whole island in a week is no mean feat. To be honest, it might also mean you miss out on some of the best bits. It is possible to ‘do’ Sicily in a week if you’re planning on focusing just on Palermo and either Taormina or Catania, without seeing much in between. However, with 200km separating Palermo and Catania, that doesn’t allow much downtime, and once you venture inland, the roads may be less than perfect.
The truth is that each of Sicily’s coastlines are special in their own right, and there’s as much to see inland as on the coast. We think the perfect 7 or 10 day itinerary is one that really allows time to explore a region in depth: certainly, visit the main sights but leave time to stop by a few out-of-the-way villages and soak up the atmosphere in the local piazza. Our advice? Think hard about whizzing from one sight to another and instead, delve deep into one region at a time. That way, you’ll just have to return for a second trip!
Itinerary 1: the Val di Noto and Syracuse
Basing yourself in south east Sicily allows you to take day trips to most of the baroque towns of the Val di Noto. Scicli, Ragusa Ibla and Modica are all relatively close to one another which means, theoretically, you can squeeze two of them into one day, but our advice is to visit each one on different days, say on days 2, 4 and 6 of your trip, and really savour all there is to see.
Two more cities you should definitely add to your south east itinerary are Noto and Syracuse. If you’re staying close to the coast, possibly around Marina di Modica or Santa Maria del Focallo, it will still only take 40 minutes or so to reach lovely Noto, and a little longer – around an hour – to get to Syracuse, thanks to a fast coastal road.
And lastly, save a bit of time for the beach – the beaches on this stretch of coastline are stunning. Best of all are the white sands and translucent waters around Portopalo di Capo Passero on the far south east tip of the island.
Where to stay: Villa Alti is the perfect place to return to at the end of a busy day of sightseeing. Soak up the sun by the pool or sneak up to the roof terrace and slip into the hot tub with a view.
Itinerary 2: Palermo, Cefalù and the Madonie mountains
Home to several of the island’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, Palermo and Cefalù in north west Sicily understandably attract a large proportion of visitors to the island. In Sicily’s capital of Palermo, attractions veer between Norman palaces and churches, bustling markets and some memorable street food and you could easily spend 2 days of your holiday here. Cefalù has its own share of UNESCO highlights and, with a more laidback feel to Palermo, is a lovely place to combine some leisurely exploring with a relaxing lunch at a seafront restaurant.
Be sure to also include day trips to the UNESCO heritage site of Monreale, just a short distance from Palermo, in addition to the enchanting Greek Temple of Segesta. Lastly, take a day to head away from the coast to visit some of the medieval hilltop towns in the Madonie mountains.
Where to stay: Choose from a selection of beachfront villas such as Ad Astra in the coastal town of Finale di Pollina which is connected by rail to Cefalù and Palermo.
Itinerary 3: Sicily’s east coast
Enjoy an authentic slice of Sicily and base yourself in one of the smaller villages along the coast. Check into Casa dei Sogni and experience real life in Sicily. Just a hop from Catania airport, the villa is close to a charming fishing village, Pozzillo, and is really well placed for exploring the east coast.
Allow several days to explore the cluster of nearby towns and cities, including Acireale, Taormina and Catania. Catania, with its UNESCO-listed historic centre, striking palazzi and bustling fish market, is well worth a visit. From Pozzillo, set off to explore several smaller villages inland, such as Castiglione di Sicilia, set amidst the rugged landscape above the Alcantara River and dominated by its imposing castle. Lastly, dedicate one day of your trip to an adventure on Mount Etna or a wine-tasting experience in one of the local wineries.
Itinerary 4: Sicily’s south coast
Home to wonderful vineyards, ancient temples, historic sites and extraordinary natural beauty, Sicily’s south coast certainly merits at least a week all to itself. Stay in the coastal town of Sciacca and you’ll be in prime position for visits to the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento and, to the west, the Greek temple of Selinunte. If you’re interested in Sicilian food and wine, head to the Menfi vineyards for some superb wine experiences or just slightly inland to Castelvetrano to learn about the region’s most famous export – Castelvetrano, or Nocellara del Belice, olives – and taste its delicious black bread, made with ancient, dark-coloured ‘tumminia’ wheat.
At nearby Eraclea Minoa, archaeological remnants of the ancient Greek city remain but the area is as popular for its stunning seascape and natural setting as its ancient history.
Other highlights of the area include the Instagram-worthy Scala dei Turchi, a dazzling staircase-shaped toothpaste white rock face, and the fishing town of Mazara del Vallo in the south west, which provides a fascinating insight into the Arab influence in western Sicily.
Where to stay: Dedalo is a beautifully designed seafront villa on the outskirts of Sciacca, with vast picture windows and direct access to the beach.
Itinerary 5: the west coast of Sicily
Despite Cefalù and Taormina attracting a large percentage of Sicily’s visitors, the island’s west coast has more than its fair share of great beaches and interesting sights. You can learn about the island’s role in the powerful trading network between Carthage and Venice in the coastal towns of Trapani and Marsala, a town that was founded by the Phoenicians and later conquered by the Arabs. Nearby, the charming hilltop town of Erice (take the cable car from Trapani) offers extraordinary views and a maze of medieval cobbled streets that are just made for wandering. For archaeology fans, the ruins on the island site of Mozia, between Trapani and Marsala, offers a glimpse of the role of the Carthaginians in Sicily’s ancient history.
Some of the best beaches in this corner of Sicily are the tiny sandy bays that fringe the Zingaro Nature Reserve, and the huge sweep of sand at San Vito Lo Capo. For an enjoyable offshore day trip, hop on a ferry to the Egadi Islands, where the closest of the three islands, Favignana, offers spectacular coves and crystal clear water.
Where to stay: the super stylish Case Fil offers affordable luxury amongst the olive groves and vineyards near Trapani. Outside, there’s an 18m pool and a fabulous outdoor kitchen and dining space with a woodburning oven