What is the Best Period for Visiting Sicily?
The climate in Sicily is considered among the best in the whole of the Mediterranean, due to its central location and the unique characteristics of its diverse habitat- which are a direct result of the geological, geographical and atmospheric transformations it has undergone during the millennia. The high level of bio-diversity present in its fauna, flora and marine life stems from its particular hydro-geological history and location, making it the ideal island for a sunny vacation.
Weather in Sicily in January is usually very cool, with an average temperature of 15°C, and the snowy slopes of Mt. Etna are a main attraction for skiing at this time of year. It is also sea-urchin season so make sure to taste some at the local restaurants by Taormina or Agrigento.
Weather in Sicily in February is similar to January’s, with the same average lows (10°C) but with an extra hour of daylight (11 hr) than January. In mid-month is when the almonds start to blossom, and great pastries can be found especially in Agrigento which celebrates the crop season with a festival. Golf is popular during this time, and a famous holiday (Feb 5th) is dedicated to St. Agatha in Catania.
Weather in Sicily in March marks the blooming season for wildflowers, so this month is a great opportunity to see Mother Nature in action as Winter recedes and Spring-time begins to arrive – even though the mountains of Etna, and the high peaks of Nebrodi and the Madonie mountains are still snow-capped. It gets a little windy and rainy this month, but still a great season thanks to the colourful exotic landscapes and the folkloristic festivities which take place for Easter.
Weather in Sicily in April is perfect for a grandiose Summer holiday in the ‘Jewel of the Mediterranean’, because the massive tourist season has not started yet and the weather is just perfect, hovering at 18°C average highs, with lows at 13°C. Take advantage of the beaches and the warm water and sands of the Mediterranean before the tourists arrive!
Thanks to good weather in Sicily in May blooming green fields and wildflowers will please the eye of any nature enthusiast. At 22°C highs this is the perfect time to hit the beach, visits all the museums and archaeological monuments and enjoy granitas and ice cream wherever you are in Sicily. Holidays for Italians do not start till June, and this goes also for most British tourists, so May is still perfect for a relaxing holiday without crowds.
Sunny weather in Sicily in June marks the beginning of Summer, officially. School is out for students and families begin filling the beaches. June 2 is Republic Day and it is the most important state holiday of the year.
Weather in Sicily in July is hot and sunny and rain has pretty much disappeared – except for some occasional light rain by the slopes of Etna or the other mountainous regions in Nebrodi and Madonie. At average highs of 28° C this is a good time for a road trip in a comfortable rental car with A/C and all the conveniences and luxuries of a coast-to-coast holiday to the Agrigento Coast or Taormina and Val di Noto in the South.
Weather in Sicily in August can be very hot and this is why most of Italians are officially on holiday in August – a national holiday falls on the 15th August and it is called ‘Ferragosto’ (iron August) in local Italian jargon, when families escape the cities because of the unbearable heat. Sicily is inundated with families with children and many tourists during this time, and many traditional festivals, concerts, outdoor activities and artistic and architectural events are held all over the island.
Weather in Sicily in September starts feeling more comfortable: temperature highs drop to 27°C from the 30° of August, so Autumn harvests continue well into this period with grapes, pistachios, almonds, and many kinds of nuts- including prickly pears.
Weather in Sicily in October is still temperate. The olive harvest starts, roast chestnuts vendors fill the streets, and tourists decrease considerably in number, which makes for a great opportunity to visit monuments, museums and nature reserves and parks. Ticket prices for motels, events and museums or art exhibits also start dropping during this time.
Weather in Sicily in November is quite good to visit the island: winter is coming, but it’s not cold yet. November is when the Feast of All Saints and All Souls is held, and the official harvesting of oranges begins. At this time ricotta cheese (used to make the famous cannoli and cassata desserts) is the main specialty thanks to the ever-lasting green fields of Sicily which during this month are filled with grazing sheep.
December is the most celebrated month in Sicily due to the importance of its religious holidays: Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Celebrations of the birth of Christ take the form of picturesque and folkloristic traditional festivals that are held in all the towns around Sicily. The 8th of December commemorates the ‘Immaculate Conception’. A major advantage for travellers is that weather in Sicily in December is not as cold as in January and historical sites are not crowded in this period.
