Seven days is enough to see the best of eastern Sicily without spending half the trip in the car. This Sicily itinerary for 7 days follows the route most first time visitors fall in love with: Taormina and its terraces above the sea, a day on Mount Etna, the island old town of Ortigia in Syracuse, and the baroque towns of Noto and Modica. Every stop comes with the hotels worth booking and the tours that are worth the money, so you can plan the whole week from one page.
This article contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read our affiliate disclosure.
Your 7 day Sicily route at a glance
- Days 1 to 3: Taormina, with a full day on Mount Etna (3 nights)
- Days 4 and 5: Ortigia and Syracuse (2 nights)
- Day 6: Noto and the Vendicari coast (1 night)
- Day 7: Modica or Ragusa Ibla, then Catania Airport
- Arrive and leave: Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA)
- Best months: May, June, September and early October
Book the three bases first
In high season the best rooms in Taormina, Ortigia and Noto go months ahead. Compare rates for your dates:
How This 7 Day Sicily Itinerary Works
Sicily is bigger than most people expect. Driving from Palermo in the west to Syracuse in the south east takes around three and a half hours, so trying to see the whole island in one week means a new hotel almost every night. This route stays in the east, where the distances are short and the highlights sit close together: Catania Airport to Taormina is about an hour, Taormina to Syracuse around an hour and a half, Syracuse to Noto about 40 minutes, and Noto back to the airport roughly an hour and a quarter.
You only change hotels twice, and every base is one you will want to come back to. If you have more time, our 10 to 14 day Sicily itinerary adds Palermo, Cefalù, the Aeolian Islands and the west.
Getting around: a rental car gives you the most freedom from day 4 onwards, especially for Noto, Vendicari and Modica. In Taormina you will not need one at all, since the old town is pedestrian and parking is expensive. Many travellers book a private transfer from Catania Airport to Taormina and only pick up a car when they leave Taormina.
Day 1: Arrive in Taormina
Fly into Catania, transfer up the coast and check in. Taormina sits on a terrace high above the Ionian Sea with Etna rising behind it, and the first evening is best spent simply walking. Stroll Corso Umberto from Porta Messina to Porta Catania, stop at Piazza IX Aprile for the view over the bay, and have dinner in one of the small streets below the Corso.
Day 2: The Greek Theatre and Isola Bella
Start early at the Greek Theatre, before the tour groups arrive. Built by the Greeks and rebuilt by the Romans, it frames the coastline and Etna in one of the most famous views in Italy. Then take the cable car down to Mazzarò and spend the afternoon on the water. A boat trip along the coast to Isola Bella and the Blue Grotto is the easiest way to see the coves you cannot reach on foot.
Isola Bella guided boat tour with pastries and drinks
Sunset dolphin tour with aperitif
Our guide to boat tours in Taormina and Isola Bella compares the options in detail.
Day 3: Mount Etna and Its Wineries
Europe’s highest active volcano is about an hour from Taormina. The classic route goes up the south side to Rifugio Sapienza, where a cable car climbs to around 2,500 metres and 4×4 vehicles continue higher with a mountain guide. Conditions change quickly, and the upper areas close when the volcano is active, so book a tour that includes a guide rather than going up alone.
Guided Etna day trip from Taormina with transfer
Combine the volcano with lunch at a winery on the northern slopes, where Nerello Mascalese grows on black lava soil. Our guides to Mount Etna tours and Etna wine tours cover both in depth.
Charlotte’s tip: pack a jacket, even in August
Taormina can be 30 degrees while the upper slopes of Etna are close to freezing, with strong wind. Closed shoes, long trousers and a warm layer make the difference between a great day and a miserable one.
Where to Stay in Taormina (Nights 1 to 3)
Stay in the historic centre if this is your first visit. You can walk to the theatre, the Corso and dinner, and reach the beaches by cable car. For more detail, see our full guide on where to stay in Taormina.
San Domenico Palace
A former Dominican monastery on the cliff edge of the old town, run by Four Seasons. Cloister, terraced gardens, an infinity pool facing Etna and a Michelin starred restaurant make it the most famous address in Taormina.
Best for: a once in a lifetime stay right in the centre of town.
Check rates at San Domenico Palace
Grand Hotel Timeo
Next door to the Greek Theatre, with terraces looking straight over the bay. The Timeo is the oldest grand hotel in Taormina and the address for travellers who want classic elegance with the best view in town. Read our Grand Hotel Timeo review.
Best for: couples and anyone who wants to wake up next to the theatre.
Check rates at Grand Hotel Timeo
Villa Sant’Andrea
A villa hotel directly on the beach at Mazzarò, at the foot of the cable car. You get a private beach, a quieter atmosphere than up in town, and the centre a few minutes away.
Best for: travellers who want the sea as much as the town.
Check rates at Villa Sant’Andrea
Villa Carlotta
A restored villa a short walk from the Corso, with a courtyard pool and suites with private patios.
Best for: a calmer, more personal stay within walking distance of everything.
Day 4: Drive to Syracuse and Settle into Ortigia
Check out, collect your rental car and drive south, around an hour and a half on the motorway past Catania. Ortigia is the small island that forms the historic heart of Syracuse, joined to the mainland by two bridges. Leave the car at one of the car parks just outside the restricted traffic zone, check in and spend the late afternoon on foot: the Temple of Apollo, Piazza Duomo, where the cathedral is built into a Greek temple to Athena, and the Fountain of Arethusa by the sea. Watch the sunset from the seafront walls.
Day 5: Ancient Syracuse and a Boat Trip Around Ortigia
In the morning, visit the Neapolis Archaeological Park on the mainland with its Greek Theatre, the Roman amphitheatre and the cave known as the Ear of Dionysius. Back in Ortigia, walk through the morning market for lunch, then take a boat around the island and into the sea caves along the coast.
Shared boat tour around Ortigia and the sea caves
Sunset cruise to the Pillirina with drinks
See our guide to the best boat tours in Syracuse and Ortigia for more options.
Where to Stay in Ortigia (Nights 4 and 5)
Stay on the island itself rather than on the mainland, so you can walk everywhere in the evening. Our full guide on where to stay in Ortigia and Syracuse covers more options.
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: travellers who want full luxury hotel service in Ortigia.
Grand Hotel Des Étrangers
A classic seafront hotel right next to the Fountain of Arethusa, with a rooftop restaurant and views across the Great Harbour.
Best for: a central location and sea views.
Check rates at Grand Hotel Des Étrangers
Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel
Spread across three historic buildings on the eastern seafront of Ortigia, with antique furniture, decorative tiles and many rooms facing the Ionian Sea.
Best for: couples looking for character rather than size.
Check rates at Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel
Compare hotels in Ortigia
Ortigia is small and the best hotels fill quickly in spring and early autumn. See rates for your dates:
Day 6: Noto and the Vendicari Coast
Noto is about 40 minutes from Syracuse. The town was rebuilt in golden limestone after the earthquake of 1693 and is one of the most beautiful baroque towns in Europe. Climb the steps to the cathedral, look at the carved balconies of Palazzo Nicolaci and have a granita or a cannolo on Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
In the afternoon, drive to the Vendicari nature reserve for a walk along the lagoons and a swim at one of its beaches, then continue to the fishing village of Marzamemi for dinner by the sea. Our baroque road trip through Noto, Modica and Ragusa covers the area in more detail.
Where to Stay in Noto (Night 6)
Around Noto, the most memorable places to stay are often outside town, in restored farmhouses and country estates among the olive and almond groves. See our guide on where to stay in Noto.
Il San Corrado di Noto
The most luxurious resort around Noto, on a former noble estate among olive, orange and almond groves, with several pools, a spa, a tennis court and suites and villas.
Best for: a final night of pure relaxation.
Check rates at Il San Corrado di Noto
Seven Rooms Villadorata
A small hotel with only a handful of rooms inside a historic palazzo in the centre of Noto, with a terrace above the rooftops.
Best for: staying right in the baroque centre.
Check rates at Seven Rooms Villadorata
Dimora delle Balze
A restored nineteenth century farmhouse in the countryside near Noto, with a pool, gardens and a relaxed atmosphere.
Best for: couples and small groups who want space and quiet.
Check rates at Dimora delle Balze
Day 7: Modica or Ragusa Ibla, Then Fly Home
If your flight is in the afternoon or evening, there is time for one more baroque town. Modica, around 40 minutes from Noto, is known for its chocolate, made with an old cold process that gives it a grainy texture. Ragusa Ibla, a little further on, is perhaps the most dramatic of the baroque towns, set on a ridge above a deep valley. From Modica, Catania Airport is around an hour and 45 minutes away, so leave plenty of time.
Ragusa Ibla baroque audio tour
Charlotte’s tip: save Modica for the end
Buy your chocolate in Modica on the last day, not the first. It travels well in hand luggage and makes a far better gift than anything at the airport.
Ways to Adapt This Itinerary
For a beach focused week: spend three nights in Mazzarò or Isola Bella instead of the centre of Taormina, and add a beach day at Vendicari or Marzamemi.
For wine lovers: replace one Taormina night with a night at a wine estate on Etna. See our guide to wine hotels on Mount Etna.
For golf: the Il Picciolo Etna Golf Resort lies on the northern slopes of Etna, around 40 minutes from Taormina. See golf hotels in Sicily.
For tennis: several of the hotels in this itinerary have courts. See tennis hotels in Sicily.
For a slower pace: drop Day 7 and add a second night in Noto.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 7 days enough for Sicily?
Seven days is enough for one half of the island. Focus on the east, as in this itinerary, or on the west with Palermo, Cefalù and Trapani. To see both, plan 10 to 14 days.
What is the best airport for this itinerary?
Catania Fontanarossa (CTA). It is the closest major airport to Taormina, Syracuse and Noto, and has direct flights from most European cities.
Do I need a car in Sicily?
Not in Taormina, but a car makes the second half of this route much easier, especially for Noto, Vendicari and Modica. Alternatively, book private transfers between the bases.
When is the best time for a 7 day trip to Sicily?
May, June, September and early October offer warm weather for swimming without the peak crowds and prices of July and August.
