With 10 to 14 days you can do what most visitors never manage: see all of Sicily, not just one corner of it. This Sicily itinerary runs from Palermo in the north west to Taormina in the east, through the salt pans of Marsala, the Greek temples of Agrigento, the baroque towns of the south east, the island old town of Ortigia and the slopes of Mount Etna. It is built as a 12 day core route, with clear options to shorten it to 10 days or stretch it to 14 with the Aeolian Islands. For every stop you will find the hotels worth booking and the tours that make the most of your time.
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The 12 day route at a glance
- Days 1 to 3: Palermo, Monreale and Cefalù (3 nights)
- Days 4 and 5: Erice, Trapani salt pans, Marsala and Segesta (2 nights)
- Day 6: Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples (1 night)
- Days 7 and 8: Ragusa, Modica and Noto (2 nights)
- Days 9 and 10: Ortigia and Syracuse (2 nights)
- Days 11 and 12: Taormina and Mount Etna (2 nights, fly home on day 13)
- Fly in: Palermo (PMO). Fly out: Catania (CTA)
Start with Palermo
The route begins in Palermo. Compare hotels for your arrival dates:
How to Plan 10 to 14 Days in Sicily
The key to a longer Sicily trip is to travel in one direction. Fly into Palermo and out of Catania (or the other way round) and you never have to drive back across the island. Most airlines and rental companies allow this, although rental cars usually charge a one way fee, so compare prices before you book.
Plan on a rental car for this route. Trains in Sicily are slow and do not reach many of the places on this list, while buses work for the big towns but not for Segesta, the Valley of the Temples at sunset or the countryside hotels around Noto. If you would rather not drive, private drivers can be booked for each leg. Our guide to transfers from Catania Airport covers the east of the island.
Approximate driving times on this route: Palermo to Trapani 1 hour 15 minutes, Marsala to Agrigento around 2 hours, Agrigento to Ragusa around 2 hours, Noto to Syracuse 40 minutes, Syracuse to Taormina around 1 hour 30 minutes, Taormina to Catania Airport about 1 hour.
Days 1 to 3: Palermo, Monreale and Cefalù
Palermo is loud, layered and endlessly interesting. Spend the first full day in the centre: the Norman Palace with the gold mosaics of the Palatine Chapel, the cathedral, the Quattro Canti and the street markets of Ballarò and the Capo, where street food is part of the experience.
Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel guided tour
Market tour and Sicilian cooking class
On day 2, drive 20 minutes up to Monreale, whose cathedral is covered in some of the finest Byzantine mosaics in the world, and spend the afternoon in Palermo’s museums. Our guide to the best museums in Palermo helps you choose. On day 3, take a day trip east along the coast to Cefalù, a fishing town with a Norman cathedral and a long sandy beach about an hour from Palermo.
Monreale and Cefalù small-group day trip
For more ideas, see the best Palermo tours, cooking classes and day trips.
Where to Stay in Palermo (Nights 1 to 3)
Stay in the historic centre or on the seafront north of the old town. More options are in our guide on where to stay in Palermo.
Villa Igiea
An Art Nouveau villa on the water at the edge of the city, restored by Rocco Forte Hotels, with terraced gardens, a pool above the sea and a spa. Read our Villa Igiea review.
Best for: resort style luxury with the city 15 minutes away.
Grand Hotel et des Palmes
A historic grand hotel on Via Roma, with a long list of famous past guests, an easy walk from the old town and the main shopping streets.
Best for: a classic, central base.
Check rates at Grand Hotel et des Palmes
Palazzo Natoli Boutique Hotel
A boutique hotel in a restored eighteenth century palazzo in the heart of the historic centre, with frescoed ceilings and a roof terrace.
Best for: travellers who want to step out straight into old Palermo.
Check rates at Palazzo Natoli Boutique Hotel
Days 4 and 5: Segesta, Erice, the Salt Pans and Marsala
Leave Palermo on day 4 and drive west. Stop at Segesta, where a remarkably complete Doric temple stands alone in the hills, and walk up to its theatre for the view. Continue to Erice, a medieval hilltop town above Trapani that you can reach by road or cable car, famous for its almond pastries.
Spend day 5 on the coast between Trapani and Marsala: the salt pans with their windmills, the island of Mozia with its Phoenician remains and a tasting at one of the historic Marsala wine cellars. Our wine lover’s guide to western Sicily covers the area in detail, and if you want to add an island day, see our guide to Favignana and the Egadi Islands.
Erice and Marsala salt pans with lunch
Where to Stay in Western Sicily (Nights 4 and 5)
Almar Giardino di Costanza
A resort set in a large park near Mazara del Vallo, south of Marsala, with a big spa, tennis courts and several pools. It is a good base for both the west coast and the drive on to Agrigento. Read our Almar Giardino di Costanza review.
Best for: spa lovers and anyone who wants a resort break in the middle of the route.
Check rates at Almar Giardino di Costanza
Charlotte’s tip: do the salt pans at sunset
The salt pans between Trapani and Marsala are at their most beautiful in the last hour before sunset, when the pools turn pink and gold and the windmills stand out against the sky. Plan your Marsala tasting for the afternoon and finish here.
Day 6: Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples
Drive south east along the coast to Agrigento, around two hours. The Valley of the Temples is one of the largest archaeological sites in the Mediterranean, with a line of Greek temples on a ridge facing the sea. The Temple of Concordia is among the best preserved Greek temples anywhere. Visit late in the afternoon, when it is cooler and the light is beautiful. Our guide to Valley of the Temples tickets and tours explains the options.
Valley of the Temples sunset tour with entry ticket
Valley of the Temples ticket with audio guide
Where to stay: for one night, choose a small hotel close to the temples. If you would rather spend two nights in luxury, the Verdura Resort near Sciacca lies about an hour west of Agrigento, with golf, tennis, a spa and its own stretch of coast.
Days 7 and 8: Ragusa, Modica and Noto
The south east of Sicily was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693, and the result is a cluster of baroque towns now listed by UNESCO. Drive from Agrigento to Ragusa Ibla on day 7, around two hours, and walk down through the old town to the Duomo of San Giorgio. Stop in Modica for its chocolate, made with an old cold process, before continuing to your hotel near Noto.
Spend day 8 in Noto itself, with its golden limestone cathedral and the carved balconies of Palazzo Nicolaci, and in the afternoon swim at the Vendicari nature reserve or have dinner by the sea in Marzamemi. Our baroque road trip through Noto, Modica and Ragusa has the full route.
Ragusa Ibla baroque audio tour
Where to Stay Around Noto (Nights 7 and 8)
More options are in our guide on where to stay in Noto.
Il San Corrado di Noto
A former noble estate in the countryside outside Noto, with several pools, a spa, a tennis court and suites and villas among olive and citrus groves.
Best for: a slow, quiet stay in the countryside.
Check rates at Il San Corrado di Noto
Seven Rooms Villadorata
A small hotel inside a historic palazzo in the centre of Noto, with a roof terrace above the baroque skyline.
Best for: staying right in town.
Check rates at Seven Rooms Villadorata
Days 9 and 10: Ortigia and Syracuse
Syracuse was once one of the most powerful cities of the Greek world. Stay on Ortigia, the small island at its heart, and explore on foot: the cathedral built into a Greek temple, the Fountain of Arethusa and the market. On day 10 visit the Neapolis Archaeological Park with its Greek Theatre and the Ear of Dionysius, then take a boat around Ortigia and into the sea caves.
Shared boat tour around Ortigia and the sea caves
Sunset cruise to the Pillirina with drinks
Where to Stay in Ortigia (Nights 9 and 10)
More options are in our guide on where to stay in Ortigia and Syracuse.
Ortea Palace
A grand historic building at the entrance to Ortigia, restored as a luxury hotel with a spa and a rooftop overlooking the harbour. Read our Ortea Palace review.
Best for: full luxury service in the old town.
Grand Hotel Des Étrangers
A classic seafront hotel next to the Fountain of Arethusa, with a rooftop restaurant and views across the Great Harbour.
Best for: a central location with sea views.
Check rates at Grand Hotel Des Étrangers
Days 11 and 12: Taormina and Mount Etna
Finish in Taormina, around an hour and a half north of Syracuse. Spend day 11 in town, with the Greek Theatre, Corso Umberto and a boat trip to Isola Bella, and day 12 on Mount Etna, ideally combined with a winery lunch on the northern slopes. On day 13, Catania Airport is about an hour away.
Isola Bella guided boat tour with pastries and drinks
Guided Etna day trip from Taormina with transfer
See our guides to Mount Etna tours and Etna wine tours.
Where to Stay in Taormina (Nights 11 and 12)
More options are in our guide on where to stay in Taormina.
San Domenico Palace
A former monastery on the cliff edge of the old town, run by Four Seasons, with an infinity pool facing Etna and a Michelin starred restaurant.
Best for: ending the trip in style.
Check rates at San Domenico Palace
Grand Hotel Timeo
The oldest grand hotel in Taormina, next door to the Greek Theatre, with terraces looking out over the bay. Read our Grand Hotel Timeo review.
Best for: couples and classic elegance.
Check rates at Grand Hotel Timeo
Villa Sant’Andrea
A villa hotel on the beach at Mazzarò, at the foot of the cable car, with its own private beach.
Best for: a beach finish to the trip.
Check rates at Villa Sant’Andrea
Charlotte’s tip: end the trip in Taormina, not Palermo
Doing the route from west to east means you save the most relaxing part for last. After the energy of Palermo and long days of sightseeing, a few slow days in Taormina with a pool, a boat and a long dinner are the perfect finish.
How to Adapt the Route to 10 or 14 Days
10 days: spend two nights in Palermo instead of three, and drop the night in Agrigento by visiting the Valley of the Temples on the way from the west coast to Ragusa. It makes for a long driving day, so start early.
14 days: add two nights on the Aeolian Islands. From Milazzo, ferries and hydrofoils reach Lipari, Salina and Vulcano in about one to one and a half hours. The easiest way to fit them in is between Cefalù and Taormina, which means reversing the route or starting in Catania. See our guides to where to stay in the Aeolian Islands and the Aeolian Islands by boat.
See all hotels in the Aeolian Islands
With golf or tennis: Verdura Resort and the Il Picciolo Etna Golf Resort fit naturally into this route. See golf hotels in Sicily and tennis hotels in Sicily.
Only 7 days? Follow our 7 day Sicily itinerary through the east of the island.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 10 days enough to see Sicily?
Ten days is enough to see the highlights of the whole island if you travel in one direction and accept a few longer driving days. With 12 to 14 days the pace becomes much more relaxed.
Should I start in Palermo or Catania?
Either works. Starting in Palermo and ending in Taormina saves the most relaxing part of the trip for the end. Starting in Catania works better if you want to add the Aeolian Islands early on.
Do I need a car for a 2 week trip around Sicily?
Yes, for this route a car is strongly recommended. Public transport links the big cities but not Segesta, the countryside around Noto or many of the best hotels.
What is the best time for a 2 week trip to Sicily?
May, June, September and early October. July and August are very hot and busy, and in winter many beach hotels and boat tours close.
Planning your Sicily trip
