The best things to do in Sicily
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean, and its highlights are spread out. This list starts with the temples of the south, moves through Palermo and the north coast, then ends in the west and on the islands. Every entry gives the adult price for 2026 and the opening hours that matter, because several places changed their rules this year.
For a route that links these places, see the Sicily itinerary.
Temples, mosaics and markets
Experiences 1 to 6: Agrigento, Palermo and Cefalù.
1. Valley of the Temples, Agrigento
Greek temples on a ridge above the sea, UNESCO-listed since 1997. Entry costs €14 in 2026, plus a €3 exhibition surcharge until 31 October, and is usually free on the first Sunday of the month. The park opens daily from 8:30 am to 8 pm, last entry at 7 pm. An audioguide is €5.
Valley of the Temples guide →2. Cappella Palatina and Palazzo dei Normanni, Palermo
The Norman royal palace holds a chapel covered in mosaics. The combined ticket costs €19. The chapel opens Monday to Saturday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and on Sunday until 12:30 pm. The palace rooms are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Palermo guide →3. The cathedral and cloister of Monreale
Gold mosaics fill the cathedral, 10 km (16 minutes by car) from Palermo. The cathedral is free, open Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 12:45 pm and 2 to 4:45 pm, and on Sunday from 2 to 5 pm. The cloister costs €8 and is free on the first Sunday of the month.
4. Teatro Massimo, Palermo
The opera house on Piazza Verdi opens for visits every day. A visit costs €14. Hours are 9:30 am to 7 pm from April to October and 9:30 am to 6 pm from November to March.
5. The markets of Ballarò, Vucciria and Capo
Palermo's street markets are free. Ballarò is liveliest in the morning, Vucciria is mainly an evening place today, and Capo lies behind the Teatro Massimo.
6. Cefalù: cathedral and Rocca
A Norman cathedral under a rock, 39 to 59 minutes by train from Palermo for €7.10. The nave is free. The Rosso route over towers, roofs and cloister takes about 55 minutes and costs €13. From March to September the cathedral opens 10 am to 1 pm and 3:30 to 6:30 pm. The Rocca above town costs €5; wear closed shoes.
Cefalù guide →Our picks: things to do
On the water at Cefalù, through Palermo and out to the Aeolian Islands.
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.
Panarea and Stromboli by boat at night
A ten-hour boat trip from Milazzo with the island landing tax included. Food and an island guide are extra.
Check availability →
Cefalù boat trip with swimming and an aperitivo
Three hours along the coast with a skipper, live commentary, prosecco and snacks.
Check availability →
Palermo walking tour on the anti-mafia movement
Three hours with a guide and a contribution to the Addiopizzo association. Museum and monument entries are extra.
Check availability →Sicily tours and day trips
Etna excursions, the Valley of the Temples, boat trips and food tours, with live prices and availability.
Cliffs, ruins and mosaics
Experiences 7 to 10: the south coast and the interior.
7. Scala dei Turchi, Realmonte
White marl cliffs near Agrigento. The visit costs €6, paid by card on site, and lasts 20 minutes. It is open daily from 8 am, last entry 7:40 pm. Reserve by email with the municipality of Realmonte. Access closes in rain, high wind or heat above 34 to 35 °C.
8. Segesta
A temple and an ancient theatre on a hill, 33 km (29 minutes) from Trapani and 76 km from Palermo. Entry is €14, or €17 in the combined ticket with the Pianto Romano site. Until 24 October it opens 9 am to 6:30 pm; from 25 October to 31 December 9 am to 5 pm, with the ticket office open until 3:30 pm.
9. Selinunte
The ruins of a Greek city in the south-west. The Parco archeologico di Selinunte, Cave di Cusa e Pantelleria costs €17 (€10 reduced) and includes an exhibition until 31 December 2026. From 25 October 2026 to 28 February 2027 the last entry is at 4 pm and the park closes about an hour later.
10. Villa Romana del Casale, Piazza Armerina
Roman floor mosaics, UNESCO-listed since 1997. Entry is €14 (ages 18 to 24 pay €7, minors are free, and the first Sunday of the month is free). It opens daily from 9 am to 7 pm, last entry 6 pm. Agrigento is 90 km (1 h 36) away by road.
The west and the islands
Experiences 11 to 15: Zingaro, Mozia, Erice and two island groups.
11. Riserva dello Zingaro
A coastal reserve with coves and a path along the sea between Scopello and San Vito lo Capo. Entry is €5, paid by card only, and children under 8 go free. In winter it opens daily from 8 am to 4 pm. All trails are open again after the fire of July 2025.
San Vito lo Capo guide →12. Mozia and the salt pans of Marsala
The island of Mozia in the Stagnone lagoon. Island and museum cost €12 (€6 reduced). The boat is extra, leaves every 30 minutes and takes 8 to 12 minutes. From April to October it opens 9:30 am to 6:30 pm, from November to March 9 am to 3 pm. The salt pans nearby have a windmill and walks.
Trapani and Erice guide →13. Erice by cable car
A hilltop town at 703 m, reached from Trapani in 10 minutes. A single ride costs €9, a return €15, and parking at the lower station is €5 for the first 3 hours. The cable car starts at 2 pm on Mondays and is closed from 3 November to 4 December 2026.
14. The Aeolian Islands
UNESCO-listed since 2000. Most day trips run from Milazzo to Lipari: hydrofoils start at about €16 each way and take about an hour. The Lipari archaeological museum costs €7 (€3.50 reduced). Visitors' vehicles may not land on Lipari and Vulcano from 1 June to 30 September.
Aeolian Islands guide →15. Favignana and the Egadi Islands
Coves and flat roads for bikes, which you rent at the harbour. Boats from Trapani take 30 minutes to 1 hour 20 and start at about €12. The winter timetable began on 12 October. Arrivals on Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo pay a landing fee; children up to 12 are exempt.
Favignana guide →More of Sicily, in the sister guides
- Catania is the main city of the east and has one of the island's two main airports.
- Mount Etna is the active volcano above Catania, UNESCO-listed since 2013.
- Taormina has an ancient theatre above the sea, 55 km (45 minutes) from Catania.
- Syracuse and Ortigia, its old island centre, are UNESCO-listed since 2005, 67 km (55 minutes) from Catania.
- Modica is one of the late baroque towns of the Val di Noto.
- Stromboli is the Aeolian island with the active volcano.
The baroque southeast with Noto, Ragusa Ibla and Scicli is covered on our Noto page.
Which base for which experiences
Group the 15 by area to avoid long drives.
| Base | Experiences | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Palermo | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | Two days; Cefalù by train, Monreale by car |
| Agrigento | 1, 7, 10 | Villa Romana is 90 km away; Palermo is 2 hours by train |
| Trapani | 8, 12, 13, 15 | Segesta 33 km; Marsala 29 km; boats to the Egadi Islands |
| Marsala or Trapani | 9 | Selinunte is 55 km from Marsala |
| San Vito lo Capo | 11 | North entrance about 12 km; south entrance at Scopello |
| Milazzo or Lipari | 14 | Palermo to Milazzo is 198 km (2 h 29) |
Plan the rest of your trip
Seasons, bases and how to get around.
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.
Tours compared
When a guided day trip beats driving, and what is included.
Things to do in Sicily: frequently asked questions
Which of these experiences are free?
The cathedral of Monreale, the nave of Cefalù cathedral and the Palermo markets cost nothing. The Valley of the Temples, Monreale cloister and Villa Romana are free on the first Sunday of the month.
What needs booking in advance?
The Scala dei Turchi takes reservations by email, and the Valley of the Temples sells a limited number of tickets, so buy online ahead. For the Aeolian and Egadi Islands, check the ferry timetable first.
Can I reach these places without a car?
Many, yes. Cefalù (€7.10) and Agrigento (€11.40, about 2 hours) are on the train from Palermo. Trapani is much quicker by road than by rail, which needs a change and over 4 hours.
What is open in winter?
Most sites stay open with shorter hours: Segesta closes at 5 pm from 25 October and Zingaro runs from 8 am to 4 pm. The Erice cable car is shut from 3 November to 4 December 2026.