Choosing a base in Sicily
Most visitors pick two or three bases and make day trips from them instead of changing hotels every night. This page goes region by region: what each base is good for, how you move around from it and what to ask the hotel. It does not rank hotels or quote room rates, which change with the season, so compare current rates for your dates.
Palermo is the usual starting point for the west and the north coast, Catania for the east and the southeast. The airport you land at matters. Palermo airport is 35 km (51 minutes) from the city centre, and the buses and trains from both airports are covered on the airports page.
Sicily regions compared
What each base is good for and what to watch. The table comes first, then each region in turn, then a short checklist for booking.
| Region | Good for | Getting around | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palermo | Norman sights, markets, opera, day trips to Monreale and Cefalù | On foot; train to Cefalù | Traffic-restricted old town; city tax |
| Cefalù | Cathedral, Rocca and town beach | Train to Palermo, 39 to 59 minutes | Old town closed to most cars |
| Trapani and Erice | Salt pans, Segesta, boats to the Egadi Islands | Car or bus; Palermo airport is 88 km away | Cable car closed 3 November to 4 December 2026 |
| San Vito lo Capo | Zingaro reserve and the north-west coast | Car; 108 km (2 h 02) from Palermo | Zingaro takes cards only |
| Agrigento | Temples, Scala dei Turchi, Villa Romana | Train from Palermo in about 2 hours; city bus to the park | €3 temple surcharge until 31 October 2026 |
| Southeast | Noto, Ragusa Ibla, Scicli | Car | Buses replace trains between Catania and Syracuse until 12 December 2026 |
| Aeolian Islands | Lipari, Vulcano, Salina | Ferries and hydrofoils from Milazzo | No visitors' cars in high season |
| East | Catania, Taormina, Syracuse and Etna | Own guides | See the sister guides |
Sicily tours and day trips
Day trips you can book from any of these bases: Etna, temples, boat trips and food tours, with live prices and availability.
Region by region
Distances are by road, without traffic.
Palermo
The old town puts the Norman sights, the markets and the Teatro Massimo within walking distance. Part of the centre is a restricted traffic zone: in summer hours, valid until 31 October 2026, it applies Monday to Thursday from 8 am to 8 pm and Friday from 8 am to midnight. Ask your hotel about parking. The airport bus costs €6. Monreale is 10 km away, Segesta 76 km (64 minutes).
Palermo guide →Cefalù
A small base for the cathedral, the Rocca and the town beach. The old town is a restricted zone, so you arrive on foot along Corso Ruggero or by taxi and park on private lots or blue-line spaces. Palermo airport is 107 km (1 h 45) away, and the train to Palermo costs €7.10.
Cefalù guide →Trapani and Erice
Trapani suits the west: Segesta is 33 km (29 minutes) away, Marsala 29 km (43 minutes) and San Vito lo Capo 37 km (54 minutes). Palermo to Trapani by rail needs a change and over 4 hours, so use the road. Erice sits at 703 m. The cable car costs €9 single and €15 return, and starts at 2 pm on Mondays.
Trapani and Erice guide →San Vito lo Capo
The base for the Zingaro reserve. The north entrance is about 12 km from town, the south entrance next to Scopello. Entry is €5, children under 8 go free, and the reserve opens daily from 8 am to 4 pm in winter.
San Vito lo Capo guide →Agrigento
Stay near the temples and walk or take city buses 1, 2, 2/ and 3/ to the park. The temples open in the evening in summer, from 20 June to 20 September 2026, so one night is worthwhile. Villa Romana del Casale is 90 km (1 h 36) away.
Valley of the Temples guide →The southeast
Noto, Ragusa Ibla, Scicli and Modica sit close together: Noto to Modica is 37 km (50 minutes), Modica to Ragusa Ibla 15 km (19 minutes) and Modica to Scicli 10 km (16 minutes). Trains are few, so a car helps.
Noto and the baroque towns →The islands
In 2026 a regional decree bars visitors' vehicles from Lipari, Vulcano and Filicudi from 1 June to 30 September, and from Panarea and Stromboli from 1 May to 31 October. On Lipari and Vulcano a hotel booking of at least 7 nights is an exception. For Favignana, ask your host about the current vehicle rules.
Aeolian Islands guide →Before you book
- Look for the CIN. Since 1 January 2025 every accommodation and short-term rental needs a national identification code (CIN). A regional code (CIR) is also required. A listing without them is a warning sign.
- Ask about the city tax. Palermo charges a tax per person and night for the first four nights. A five-star hotel is reported at up to €5 a night, and the amount falls with the category. Other towns set their own rates.
- Ask about parking and traffic zones. A fine for entering a restricted zone is sent first to the hire company, and amounts of €81 to €164 are reported.
- Check the season. Winter timetables, shorter hours and the closed Erice cable car change what a base is worth. See weather and best time.
Plan the rest of your trip
Routes, tours and transport.
Sicily itinerary
A route for 7 to 10 days with driving times between the main towns.
Things to do in Sicily
Fifteen experiences with 2026 prices and opening hours.
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.
Where to stay in Sicily: frequently asked questions
Where should first-time visitors stay?
Palermo is the practical start. The airport is 35 km away, trains run to Cefalù and Agrigento, and many sights are within walking distance. Add a second base in the west or the south.
How many nights should I book in each place?
For a week, two nights in Palermo, one or two in the west and one in Agrigento is a workable pattern. The Sicily itinerary shows how the stops fit together.
Do I need a car?
Not in Palermo, Cefalù or Agrigento, which you can reach by train. In the west and the southeast a car saves a lot of time.
Is there a tourist tax?
Yes. Palermo charges a tax per person and night, limited to the first four nights. The exact amount depends on the type of accommodation, so ask the hotel.
Can I take a car to the Aeolian Islands?
Not in high season. From 1 June to 30 September 2026 visitors' vehicles may not land on Lipari, Vulcano and Filicudi. A hotel booking of at least 7 nights on Lipari or Vulcano is an exception.