Sicily Itinerary: 10 Days Around the Mediterranean's Largest Island

Sicily is the Mediterranean’s largest island and one of Italy’s most complex destinations — Greek temples older than the Parthenon, Byzantine mosaics, Norman cathedrals, Baroque hill towns, and an Etna that is actively erupting. Ten days covers the island’s western, eastern, and central highlights without rushing.

Overview

• Days 1–3: Palermo and the west
• Days 4–5: Agrigento and the Valley of Temples
• Days 6–7: Syracuse and the southeast
• Days 8–9: Ragusa Ibla and the Baroque Val di Noto
• Day 10: Catania and departure

Days 1–3: Palermo

Arrive Palermo (Falcone-Borsellino airport, connected to the city by train or bus). Base yourself in the historic centre.

Day 1: The Cappella Palatina (Norman mosaics in the Royal Palace — one of the world’s great rooms), the Palermo Cathedral, the Quattro Canti crossing. Evening: street food at the Ballarò market — panelle (chickpea fritters), arancini, sfincione (Sicilian pizza).

Day 2: The Cathedral of Monreale (12 kilometres above the city, bus or taxi — the Byzantine mosaic cycle is the most complete in Italy), the Capuchin Catacombs (8,000 mummified bodies in posed positions — genuinely extraordinary, not merely macabre), the Palermo seafront.

Day 3: Day trip to Cefalù (1 hour by train) — a Norman cathedral on a beach, a rock above the town, and one of the most beautiful small cities in Sicily. Back to Palermo for dinner in the Vucciria market area.

Days 4–5: Agrigento and the Valley of Temples

Drive or bus to Agrigento (2.5 hours from Palermo by bus, 2 hours by car via the A19).

Day 4: The Valle dei Templi — seven Greek temples dating to the 5th century BC, better preserved than anything in Greece. The Temple of Concordia is the best preserved ancient Greek temple in existence. Go at opening (8:30am) before the heat and the tour groups.

Day 5: The Museo Archeologico Regionale (the finds from the temples, including the best collection of Greek pottery outside Athens), the medieval quarter of Agrigento, and the drive east toward Syracuse along the southern coast.

Days 6–7: Syracuse

Drive or take the bus from Agrigento to Syracuse (3 hours by bus, 2 hours by car). Base in Ortigia — the ancient island district connected to the mainland by two bridges.

Day 6: Ortigia — the Greek fountain of Arethusa, the Cathedral of Syracuse (a Greek temple converted to a church — the Greek columns still visible inside the walls), the Temple of Apollo, the Piazza del Duomo, and the waterfront fish market.

Day 7: The mainland Syracuse — the Greek Theatre (5th century BC, still used for performances), the Roman Amphitheatre, the Ear of Dionysius (a vast limestone cave with remarkable acoustics), and the Neapolis Archaeological Park.

Days 8–9: Ragusa and the Baroque Val di Noto

Drive from Syracuse to Ragusa Ibla (2 hours by car, more complex by public transport).

Day 8: Ragusa Ibla — the lower, older, Baroque city rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake in a unified late-Baroque style. The Cathedral of San Giorgio, the garden of Ibla, the narrow streets of the historic centre. More beautiful and less visited than Palermo or Syracuse. Lunch in one of the trattorias overlooking the valley.

Day 9: The Val di Noto towns — Noto (the most perfectly preserved Baroque street in Italy, Via Corrado Nicolaci), Modica (chocolate made in the Spanish/Aztec style without heat), and Scicli. All three are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Day 10: Catania and Departure

Drive from Ragusa to Catania (1.5 hours). Catania airport serves mainland Italy and international connections.

Catania has its own character — the black lava stone architecture, the Piazza del Duomo, the fish market (Pescheria), and Etna above everything. Allow 3–4 hours before departure if arriving mid-morning.

Getting Around

A rental car is strongly recommended for western and central Sicily — public transport exists but is slow and infrequent between smaller towns. The eastern circuit (Syracuse–Ragusa–Catania) is more bus-accessible.

Arrive at Palermo airport; depart from Catania airport — a one-way car rental makes the loop without backtracking.

When to Go

April, May, September, October: ideal — warm, not extreme, flowers in spring, harvest in autumn. June and early July: good but getting hot (Valley of Temples in July is brutal by midday). July–August: very hot (35°C+), crowded, expensive — the Sicilian holiday season. November–March: mild in coastal areas, cool inland, many sights quieter. Some ferry services and beach facilities closed.

Pre-Book

• Valley of Temples entry (especially in summer)
• Cappella Palatina in Palermo (timed entry)
• Ear of Dionysius / Neapolis park in Syracuse
• Accommodation in Ragusa Ibla — small and fills quickly

What to Eat

Arancini in Palermo, granita with brioche for breakfast (the Sicilian way), swordfish in Syracuse, horse meat at the Catania market (normal in eastern Sicily), Nero d’Avola wine throughout.