The Italian island of Sicily is a wonderful destination with a lot to do! The island has a unique history, mouth watering food, and a diverse and dynamic landscape. If you’re planning a trip to Sicily and aren’t sure where to go, this list is for you. Although the list of the best places to visit in Sicily is long, here are ten of the best.
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1. Mount Etna
This active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013. There are beautiful vineyards and orchards at the foot of Mount Etna that you can explore, and the volcano itself can be hiked throughout the year. The trails are best visited during the spring and summer months. If you’re not interested in hiking but you still want to experience the summit of this impressive mountain, you can purchase tickets for a cable car or bus service. Although generally safe to visit, be aware that Mount Etna is an active volcano so it’s always important to check the current conditions prior to your visit.
Mount Etna Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Mount Etna. Also, find the list of the best hotels in Catania (close to Mount Etna) to stay in.
Need more ideas to add to your Mount Etna itinerary? Check out some of our favorite tours and activities below:
- Etna Tour and Lunch in a Winery with Wine Tasting
- Trekking to the Summit Craters of Etna – Ashàra Volcanological Guides
- Private 6-Hour Tour of Three Etna Wineries with Tasting
Don’t see what you are looking for? Find more top attractions and things to do near Mount Etna in addition to what already mentioned here.
2. Taormina
The hilltop town of Taormina is one of the many places that you can stay that’s located near the impressive stratovolcano Mount Etna. This historic destination has plenty to offer, including the Teatro Antico di Taormina which is a Greco-Roman theater that is still used to this day. The beautiful theater overlooks the beautiful blue waters and sandy beaches of the Ionian Sea. You could easily spend a few days exploring the historic town and everything it has to offer. You can also use Taormina as a base to explore Mount Etna and the surrounding wineries and landscapes.
Taormina Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to the Taormina. Also, find the list of the best hotels in Taormina to stay in. Here are some of our favorite hotels in Taormina you might like:
Need more ideas to add to your Taormina itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do in Taormina in addition to what already mentioned here.
3. Nebrodi National Park
First established in 1993, the Nebrodi National Park offers a massive selection of protected land that is open for visitors. You’ll be able to see various animals that call the park home such as foxes, wild cats, and hares, and you might be so lucky as to see some of the more unique creatures who live there such as the San Fratello horse and the Nebrodian black pig. This national park is a fantastic destination for those who want to hike and spend time outside.
Nebrodi National Park Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to the Nebrodi National Park. Also, find the list of the best hotels on the Nebrodi National Park to stay in.
Need more ideas to add to your Nebrodi National Park itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do on the Nebrodi National Park in addition to what already mentioned here.
4. Palermo
Palermo is Sicily’s capital city and one of the most beautiful places to visit in Sicily. It’s full of history – it was founded in 736 BC! The city is located between the bright blue waters of the Gulf of Mondello and a series of mountains and rolling hills including Mount Pellegrino, which is a fantastic place to climb to see incredible panoramic views of the city.
Palermo Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Palermo. Also, here you can find the list of the best hotels in Palermo to stay in. Some of our favorite hotels in Palermo are:
Need more ideas to add to your Palermo itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do in Palermo in addition to what already mentioned here.
5. Doric Temple of Segesta
Segesta is an ancient city that was created by the Elymians, who were one of three ancient peoples who inhabited the western third of Sicily. There’s not much known about their history and culture but proof of their existence still exists to this day. One prominent example is found right outside of the city lies an impressively well-preserved Doric Temple which is an unusual example of Athenian architecture considering the location. Archaeologists and historians believe the temple was never completed but can be seen today as a unique historic site.
Doric Temple of Segesta Travel Guide & Resources:
Need more ideas to add to your Doric Temple of Segesta itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do near the Doric Temple of Segesta in addition to what already mentioned here.
6. Catania
Although not as large as Palermo, Catania is a city that is still worth visiting. The food you can find here is exceptional, and there are plenty of markets and stores to explore. One example of street food you can find in Catania is arancina, which is a type of fried rice ball that is typically stuffed with mozzarella cheese, peas, and meat although you might find some variations on this. Grilled meat is also a common option for street food that you can find in Catania.
Catania Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Catania. Also, here you can find the list of the best hotels in Catania to stay in. Some of our favorite hotels in Catania are:
Need more ideas to add to your Catania itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do in Catania in addition to what already mentioned here.
7. Aeolian Islands
The seven beautiful Aeolian Islands are a popular tourist destination, especially during the summer months. You can spend time relaxing in the warm weather or hiking and exploring the protected land. The islands were formed due to volcanic activity, and you can actually hike up several active volcanoes like Stromboli, where you can see lava flow. You can swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea, or taste some wine at one of the vineyards on the islands.
Aeolian Islands Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to the Aeolian Islands. Also, find the list of the best hotels on the Aeolian Islands to stay in.
Need more ideas to add to your Aeolian Islands itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do on the Aeolian Islands in addition to what already mentioned here.
8. Villa Romana del Casale
The Villa Romana del Casale is an impressive villa or palace that was built sometime in the 4th century AD. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the impressive collection of mosaics and frescoes found within. The mosaics are an elaborate series of artwork depicting athletic competitions and one of the best preserved tells the story of a hunt. If you’re interested in art and history, this is an essential stop on your trip to Sicily.
Villa Romana del Casale Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to the Taormina. Also, find the list of the best hotels in Taormina near Villa Romana del Casale to stay in. Here are some of our favorite hotels in Taormina you might like:
Need more ideas to add to your Villa Romana del Casale itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do near Villa Romana del Casale in addition to what already mentioned here.
9. Valley of the Temples
The Valley of the Temples, or Valle dei Templi, is another impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sicily. It’s found along the south-western coast of Sicily and is a great example of early archaeological prowess. It was excavated and preserved in the early 1800s. There are a total of seven temples to visit in the collection and although its name might suggest otherwise, they’re found on a ridge overlooking the city of Agrigento and the landscape that surrounds it.
Valley of the Temples Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Valley of the Temples. Also, find the list of the best hotels in Taormina near the Valley of the Temples to stay in. Here are some of our favorite hotels in Taormina you might like:
Need more ideas to add to your Valley of the Temples itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do near the Valley of the Temples in addition to what already mentioned here.
10. Island of Ortigia
The small island of Ortigia is part of the Sicilian city of Syracuse. A day spent exploring the narrow streets of the island will allow you to see the culture and architecture of this historic center up close. For example, you can see the ruins of the Temple of Apollo just feet from the road. You can spend time exploring outdoor markets and sampling some fresh fruit and vegetables. As the island is quite small, you can see many of the highlights within a day.
Island of Ortigia Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to the island of Ortigia. Also, find the list of the best hotels in Syracuse near the Island of Ortigia to stay in.
Need more ideas to add to your Island of Ortigia itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do on the island of Ortigia in addition to what already mentioned here.
Sicily is filled with exciting cultural and historic sites and you could easily spend weeks exploring everything it has to offer. It may be hard to narrow down all of the things to do while planning your trip, but this list of ten best places to visit will provide a fantastic start to your Sicily itinerary.
Video Guide: 10 Best Places to Visit in Sicily
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Travel Resources for Planning a Trip to Sicily
To make planning your trip to Sicily easier, we included some of our recommended travel resources below. You can search and find the best flights, transportation options, hotels to stay in, tours/activities, and things you can do in each destination during your trip.
Flights:
Agoda: Search thousands of destinations around the world & quickly compare prices to find amazing deals on the best flights.
CheapOAir: You can find airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and vacation packages all on one site!
Kiwi.com: What we like about Kiwi is the fact that they are able to create combinations of flight, train, and bus tickets and offer them in a single itinerary. Also, Kiwi has what they called “Nomad” which helps you find the best way of visiting multiple destinations, saving you time and money.
JetRadar: You can search and compare airfares from 726 airlines and dozens of travel agencies and systems.
Hotels:
Agoda: Agoda is one of the world’s largest online travel accommodation platforms with a network of over 2,000,000 vacation rentals and hotels worldwide.
Hotellook: They have more than 250,000 hotels in 205 countries, working with data from more than 10 online booking systems, such as Booking.com, Agoda.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, and others.
Transportations:
Airport Transfers: KiwiTaxi, Viator
Train: EuroRail, Trainline or RailEurope
Bus: Flixbus: Very affordable (as low as $6) and convenient way to transfer between cities in Europe.
Car Rentals: AutoEurope, EconomyBookings, or GetTransfer (transfers & car rentals with a personal driver)
Bike Rental: BikesBooking (Bikes & scooter rentals)
Transportation Comparison: Omio (search, compare, and book tickets for buses, trains, and flights all in one site)
Tours & Activities:
TakeWalks (WalkofItaly): This is our favorite site for walking tours & day trips.
Tiqets: Great site for entrance tickets. It offers directly bookable, instantly available, and completely mobile tickets for museums, shows, and attractions all over the world.
Musement: They have good activities and tours in Italy and Spain, also many great day trips you can choose from.
GetYourGuide: A large number of tours, excursions, and other travel activities
Viator: The largest one. It has everything from tours, attractions, shore excursions, and private guides in over 2,700 destinations worldwide. It also has many transportations and transfers options and some unique experiences we didn’t find anywhere else.
Need help planning a trip to visit the best places in Sicily, Italy?
Looking for the best places to visit in Sicily? If you find this type of trip planning to be too complicated to plan on your own, we’re here to help!
At MultiCityTrips, multi-destination travel and complicated itineraries such as a trip to visit the best places in Sicily are our specialties. Contact us today to learn more about how one of our experienced travel experts/destination specialists can personalize your multi-city vacations at the best price.
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To learn more about how our process of trip planning works in detail, please see our “How It Works” page or check out our video on “How to Plan a Multi-City Trip to Europe in 5 Easy Steps” here.
Have questions for us? Schedule a FREE Call with us here or contact one of the travel experts/destination specialists at [email protected], call/text us at (888)223-2316 today.
