Sicily Travel Guide: The Island That Will Ruin You for Everywhere Else

Welcome to your ultimate Sicily travel guide—a tale of ancient wonders, arancini-induced joy, and mild heatstroke. This is the island that throws ancient temples at you before breakfast, expects you to walk them off through 30°C humidity, and then rewards you with the best gelato you’ve ever had. After ten glorious days on a circular route through Sicily, I returned sun-kissed, pastry-filled, and spiritually bonded with capers. This is a land where the traffic rules are mere suggestions, the history lessons come with wine, and the Sicilian food could end most international conflicts. Possibly even the group chat with your cousins.

Ragusa Ibla feels like a set from a historical drama.

The legend of the Testa di Moro or Moor’s Head is one of the best-known of the Sicilian traditions.

Getting to Sicily

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, sits like a well-heeled boot tip at the southern edge of Italy, separated from the mainland by the narrow Strait of Messina. Its location has made it a coveted crossroads for ancient empires and a melting pot of cultures, cuisines and dialects. Reaching Sicily is surprisingly easy. Most international visitors fly into Palermo or Catania, the island’s two major airports, with regular connections from Rome, Milan, and other European hubs. For those already exploring mainland Italy, you can hop aboard a high-speed train that crosses the strait via ferry—yes, the train goes on the boat—or simply drive and roll right onto a ferry from Villa San Giovanni. Either way, the journey sets the tone: scenic, slightly theatrical, and very, very Sicilian.

I flew from Australia via Doha and Barcelona to Palermo.  It took a long time.

RELATED POST: What a 30-Hour Flight Route Feels Like in Economy

No Sicily itinerary is complete without a stay in Palermo.

Day 1: Palermo – Where Your Sicily Itinerary Kicks Off With Drama

If your Sicily itinerary starts in Palermo, prepare to be flung head-first into a sensory symphony. It’s hot. It’s loud. It smells like espresso and expectation. The city vibrates with energy, street music, and the odd Vespa that may or may not be aiming for your ankles.

Palermo is Sicily’s vibrant capital—a glorious jumble of Arab-Norman architecture, grand piazzas, baroque churches, and bustling street markets. Founded by the Phoenicians and shaped by centuries of conquest, it’s a city that wears its history like a patchwork cloak. Expect sensory overload in the best way: crumbling palazzos, gilded chapels, and chaotic traffic all jostling for your attention.

I joined a local guide for an anti-Mafia walking tour—because Sicily loves a plot twist—and found myself unexpectedly moved by the memorials to brave souls who challenged corruption. Palermo wears its scars like jewellery: bold, defiant, and a little sparkly around the edges.

The patron saint of Palermo is Saint Rosalia, affectionately known as La Santuzza (The Little Saint)..

Cefalù is a picturesque fishing town that effortlessly blends seaside charm with medieval heritage.

Day 2: Cefalù – The Best Things to Do in Sicily Begin With Breakfast

Want the best things to do in Sicily? Start in Cefalù with granita and a warm, orange-scented brioche. It’s breakfast, but also a spiritual awakening. You’ll find yourself wondering why you ever settled for soggy Weet-Bix.

Perched between a rocky promontory and a flawless stretch of beach, Cefalù is a picturesque fishing town that effortlessly blends seaside charm with medieval heritage. The town grew around its imposing Duomo di Cefalù, a UNESCO-listed Norman cathedral with jaw-dropping mosaics and a dramatic backdrop of La Rocca, the rocky hill looming protectively behind the town.

The town is a pastel dream of striped umbrellas, cobbled laneways, and boutiques offering end-of-season sales that require serious suitcase negotiation. I spent 20 minutes convincing myself I didn’t need another pair of sandals. Reader, I bought them and a matching bag.

Sicily Travel Guide – Cefalu’s cafés are perfect for people-watching over granita.

Sicily Travel Guide – Lipari is known for its obsidian deposits and thermal springs

Day 3–4: Milazzo to Lipari – A Bunnik Tours Sicily Highlight (With Extra Capers)

Milazzo is often treated as a gateway to the Aeolian Islands, but it’s worth a stop for its lovely seafront promenade, Spanish-style castle, and less touristy, more lived-in vibe. From here, it’s a quick ferry to Lipari, the largest of the Aeolian Islands, a volcanic archipelago north of Sicily that’s part natural wonder, part chic escape.

We boarded a hydrofoil to Lipari, part of the Aeolian Islands and the kind of place where you half expect to see a retired Bond villain sipping limoncello. As part of my Bunnik Tours Sicily adventure, it was peak “I can’t believe this is real” territory.

Lipari’s hilltop citadel watches over a charming old town filled with bougainvillea-draped balconies, seafood restaurants, and shops selling capers in industrial quantities. The island is known for its obsidian deposits and thermal springs, but you’ll stay for the slow pace, sweeping views, and seafood so fresh it practically swims onto your plate.

Lipari serves up Sicilian food with flair. Caponata bursting with briny capers. Pasta so good I offered it my firstborn. Even the cats looked smug. If you’re plotting the best things to do in Sicily, get yourself to an Aeolian island and surrender to the slow, salty rhythm.

Lipari’s shops sell capers in industrial quantities.

Taormina is Sicily’s answer to the Amalfi Coast—without the price tag, but with all the cinematic flair.

Day 5–6: Taormina – Where Your Sicily Travel Guide Turns Fancy

Taormina is Sicily’s answer to the Amalfi Coast—without the price tag, but with all the cinematic flair. High above the Ionian Sea, the town spills down a steep slope of winding alleys and baroque balconies, centred around Corso Umberto, its elegant main street.

If Sicily had a catwalk, Taormina would strut it. This cliffside town is where marble meets maxis, and the espresso is always photogenic. My Sicily itinerary had us sipping aperitivo on Piazza IX Aprile, watching wedding parties parade past like a bridal-themed episode of White Lotus.

Its most famous site is the Ancient Greek Theatre, still in use for concerts and film festivals, offering a panorama that includes both Mt Etna and the glittering sea. Expect boutique shopping, clifftop aperitifs, and the occasional celebrity sighting. It’s the sort of place that makes you want to wear linen and pretend you write poetry.

We escaped the glamour briefly for a scorched-earth stroll on Mount Etna, where the scenery looks like Mars and the soil creates really good wine. At Barone Di Villagrande, we ate among the vines while learning about volcanic ash’s benefits to grape-growing. Who knew lava had such range?

Sicily Travel Guide – Scorched-earth on Mount Etna.

Catania is your Sicily travel guide moment to loosen your waistband and just give in.

Day 7: Catania – Saints, Street Food & Sparkling Citrus Slaps

Sitting at the foot of Mt Etna, Catania is a baroque powerhouse rebuilt from the ashes—literally—after a catastrophic 17th-century eruption and earthquake. The result? A city of dramatic lava-stone streets, opulent façades, and an energy that’s gritty, creative, and constantly evolving.

Catania is gritty in a good way—like your favourite dive bar or a pizza crust with personality. Our guide (a caffeinated blur of facts and foodie tips) turned the city into a buffet on foot. Bunnik Tours Sicily really knows how to line up the snacks.

We devoured arancini, cassata, and Seltz, a punchy mix of lemon juice, sea salt and sparkling water. It’s basically Gatorade for people with great taste and a high heat tolerance. Catania is your Sicily travel guide moment to loosen your waistband and just give in.

Don’t miss Piazza del Duomo, with its quirky elephant fountain and market that explodes with colour and noise. Catania is a food-lover’s paradise, famed for its street eats like arancini, pasta alla Norma, and Seltz. It’s also the birthplace of the seriously overachieving composer Vincenzo Bellini, so it’s got cultural chops to match its culinary ones.

For a Sicily travel guide that tastes like the island, Catania is a must.

Sicily Travel Guide – Ragusa Ibla – baroque buildings spilling into winding lanes

Day 8: Ragusa Ibla – Where Baroque Meets Breakfast Pudding

Ragusa Ibla is the old town heart of Ragusa, one of the baroque jewels of southeastern Sicily, rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake. Dramatic staircases link its layered streets, where every corner looks like a film set and every church tries to outdo the last in ornate flair. This town is so pretty, it makes your phone camera feel underqualified. Winding lanes, dramatic staircases, and architecture that flirts from every balcony. And then there’s biancomangiare—a delicate almond pudding that whispers, “You deserve this.”

My Sicily itinerary didn’t originally call for a second helping, but Ragusa had other plans. It’s impossible not to fall in love here, with the buildings, the desserts, or possibly yourself after three negronis.

The town is home to Duomo di San Giorgio, an architectural showstopper, and lush gardens offering panoramic views. It’s also a rising star on the foodie map, thanks to a growing number of Michelin-starred restaurants and cafes crafting refined Sicilian food that still feels rooted in tradition. It’s romantic, delicious, and absolutely impossible to leave without sighing.

RELATED POST: How to Make Biancomangiare

Valley of the Temples – The Best Things to Do in Sicily, If You Like Ruins with a View.

Day 9: Valley of the Temples – The Best Things to Do in Sicily (and the Dustiest)

Home to one of the greatest archaeological sites in Europe, Agrigento is where Sicily pulls out its ancient trump card. The Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO-listed ridge lined with majestic Greek ruins, is staggeringly impressive, especially when lit by the golden afternoon sun. Founded in the 6th century BC as the Greek city of Akragas, Agrigento today is a contrast of crumbling ruins and modern sprawl, but the valley itself is pure timeless wonder. These 2,500-year-old ruins are staggeringly well-preserved and absolutely designed for golden hour selfies.

Pack sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and a good sense of awe. It’s one of the best things to do in Sicily, and a necessary reminder that humans have always loved building things to impress other humans.

Sicily Travel Guide – The bag I should have bought in Taormina

Day 10: Marsala & Erice – A Stylish Send-Off for Bunnik Tours Sicily

On our second last day, we hit Marsala—for wine, shopping, and a brief debate about how many ceramics you can hand-carry through customs. Marsala is best known for its fortified wine, but there’s more to it than a strong pour. Colourful buildings, laid-back piazzas, and boutique shopping make this a mellow stop with a touch of sparkle. Wander the old town, try a wine tasting, and resist buying that extra bottle—just kidding, don’t resist.

From there, climb (or drive) to Erice, a medieval hilltop village shrouded in cloud and mystery. Perched high above the clouds and serving strong, cool-climate energy, honestly, it was the first time in ten days I wasn’t sweating. With its winding cobbled lanes, secret courtyards and ancient churches, Erice feels like a fairy tale where the main character sells Genovesi Ericine—a custard-filled pastry best enjoyed warm and preferably alone, so no one judges the speed at which you inhale it. This custard-filled pastry so comforting I briefly considered smuggling it in my carry-on.

Our last dinner brought the group together over pasta con le sarde and wine. We clinked glasses, exchanged numbers, and collectively agreed we were now professionals at doing Sicily properly.

Sicilian food tour – Eating pasta con le sarde in Palermo

Final Thoughts: Your Sicily Travel Guide Starts With Snacks and Ends With Cannoli

A proper Sicily travel guide doesn’t just list landmarks. It tells you where the best granita lives, which piazzas have the best people-watching, and where to stand when the temple light hits just right.

This journey ticked off the best things to do in Sicily, one gelato, temple and pastry at a time. Whether you follow the full Sicily itinerary or craft your own chaos, be ready to fall hard. Just save room for seconds.

Disclaimer: The writer travelled as a guest of Bunnik Tours, but all granita cravings and archaeological enthusiasm are entirely her own.

Sicily Travel Guide tour map