Sicily, Italy in a nutshell
Sicily packs several UNESCO World Heritage Sites into one island: the archaeological area of Agrigento and the Villa Romana del Casale (both 1997), the Aeolian Islands (2000), the late baroque towns of the Val di Noto (2002), Syracuse with Pantalica (2005) and Mount Etna (2013). Distances are bigger than they look on a map, so most visitors planning a Sicily vacation pick two or three bases.
This guide covers the island as a whole: Palermo and the west, the south coast and the baroque southeast, and the islands. Mount Etna, Taormina, Catania and Syracuse have their own guides. It is not the official Sicily tourism website.
What changed in 2026
Where older guides are out of date.
Scala dei Turchi with a ticket
The white marl cliffs near Agrigento now cost €6, paid by card on site, for a visit of 20 minutes. Reservations go by email to the municipality of Realmonte.
Agrigento guide →Zingaro reopened after the fire
After the fire of July 2025 the coastal reserve between Scopello and San Vito lo Capo is open again. Entry costs €5 and only electronic payment is accepted; in winter the gates open from 8 am to 4 pm.
San Vito lo Capo →No cars on some islands in summer
A 2026 regional decree bars visitors' vehicles from landing on Lipari, Vulcano and Filicudi from 1 June to 30 September, and on Panarea and Stromboli from 1 May to 31 October.
Aeolian Islands →Rail replacement buses
Until 12 December 2026 engineering works replace trains with buses between Catania Airport and Syracuse and between Catania and Caltagirone or Gela. Allow extra time.
Airports and transport →Our picks: Sicily tours
The temples with a guide, Monreale and Cefalù in half a day, and Palermo's street food.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Monreale and Cefalù half-day trip from Palermo
Transport by air-conditioned minivan or coach. Entry fees are not included.
Check availability →
Palermo street food walk with a local guide
Two and a half hours through markets and the centre with tastings.
Check availability →
Valley of the Temples skip-the-line guided tour
Two hours with a certified local guide and priority entry. The official ticket alone costs €14, plus €3 until 31 October 2026.
Check availability →Sicily tours and day trips
Etna excursions, the Valley of the Temples, boat trips and food tours, with live prices and availability.
Plan your trip
Routes, seasons and where to base yourself.
Things to do in Sicily
Fifteen experiences from the mosaics of Monreale to the beaches of the west.
Sicily itinerary
A route for 7 to 10 days with driving times between the main towns.
Weather and best time
Month by month, sea temperatures and the quieter shoulder seasons.
Where to stay
Palermo, the west, the southeast or the east: which base suits your trip.
Palermo and Catania airports
Buses, trains and car hire, and the motorway tolls.
Tours compared
When a guided day trip beats driving, and what is included.
Places in Sicily
The west, the south coast and the islands.
Palermo
The cathedral, the Palatine Chapel, the markets and Monreale above the city.
Cefalù
A Norman cathedral, a town beach and the Rocca, under an hour by train from Palermo.
Valley of the Temples
Greek temples on a ridge above the sea, plus the Scala dei Turchi.
Noto and the baroque towns
Noto, Ragusa Ibla and Scicli in the Val di Noto.
Trapani and Erice
Salt pans, windmills and the cable car up to Erice.
Favignana and the Egadi Islands
Ferries from Trapani, coves and bikes.
More independent guides to Sicily
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one place.
Mount Etna
Summit tours, cable car, craters and safety rules.
Catania
The city at the foot of Etna, its markets and baroque centre.
Taormina
The ancient theatre, Isola Bella and the cable car to the beach.
Syracuse and Ortigia
Ortigia, the Neapolis park and boat trips along the coast.
Modica
Baroque churches and the chocolate town of the southeast.
Stromboli
The active volcano island: hikes, boat trips and ferries.
Milazzo
The harbour town for the Aeolian ferries and Capo Milazzo.
Palermo, Sicily: the main attractions
Palermo attractions cluster in the old town. The cathedral nave is free to enter, while Palermo Cathedral tickets for the monumental area with the roofs, treasury and crypt are sold only by the cathedral itself, online or at the ticket office. The Palatine Chapel is combined with the Palazzo dei Normanni in a €19 ticket, and a visit to the Teatro Massimo costs €14.
Monreale sits ten kilometers above the city. Its cathedral is free to enter, the cloister costs €8.
Sicily: frequently asked questions
How much is the Valley of the Temples?
In 2026 adult entry costs €14, plus an exhibition surcharge of €3 until 31 October. The park opens from 8:30 am to 8 pm; late openings ran in summer from 20 June to 20 September.
Do I need a reservation for the Scala dei Turchi?
Yes. Visits cost €6, paid by card on site, and last 20 minutes. The municipality of Realmonte takes reservations by email.
Can I take my car to the Aeolian Islands?
Not in high season. In 2026 visitors' vehicles may not land on Lipari, Vulcano and Filicudi from 1 June to 30 September, or on Panarea and Stromboli from 1 May to 31 October.
Which airport should I fly into?
When you travel to Sicily, Italy, fly into Palermo for the west, Cefalù, Trapani and the islands off the west coast; Catania for Etna, Taormina, Syracuse and the southeast. Both have buses into town.
Is visitsicily.org the official tourism site?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the Region of Sicily, any archaeological park, ferry company or tour operator.