You want to come to Sicily just for a week but there are too many things to see! What to choose? While we were living in Sicily, we hosted our friends, from other countries, multiple times into our home. But of course, hosting wasn’t enough, and I took full responsibility as a tour guide on the island. Here, I present the most popular itinerary in Sicily exactly for a one-week period that I was using, while showing this beautiful Mediterranean island to our friends. The biggest part of the itinerary is public transport friendly. However, in order to save time and have the best possible experience, I always encourage you to rent a small island beater.
Day 1
Probably, you will arrive in Catania. There are other three airports in Sicily (Comiso, Trapani, Palermo) but the one in Catania is the busiest. From the airport jump onto ALIBUS and for 4 euros, this bus will take you straight into the city center. Probably the first thing you will want to do is to check-in into your hotel/hostel, or at least leave your luggage there so you could explore the city without the hassle.
Here you can find an itinerary with all the most famous places in Catania. Luckily, it doesn’t take so much time to explore this second biggest Sicilian city. The most famous places are Cathedral square, Benedictine Monastery, the main Etnea street, Ursino castle. Don’t forget to taste some horse meat for a dinner in one of the traditional Sicilian restaurants right near the castle.
Day 2
If you come to Sicily, it’s kinda obligated to go to the biggest active European volcano. Yes, I’m talking about mama Etna. This is where your rental car will be super handy. If you don’t have one, you would need to get one of those tour guides leaving from Catania. There is nothing wrong with it, but personally, I prefer to manage my own time as I want.
Enter in your GPS “Rifugio Sapienza” or “Crateri Silvestri” and you’ll be taken straight to the parking lot on the volcano. The road from the city will be quite winding, and even if traffic will be relatively clear it still might take around an hour to get there. Keep in mind that the temperature up there will be much lower and the wind gets really crazy. Don’t forget to grab your jacket. Once parked your car (don’t forget to pay for parking in one of the souvenir shops!) you have three options:
- Your first option is to walk around the craters that are right near the parking lot. There is one higher point that you can try to climb to. Trust me, it seems easy but due to thin air, it might get challenging. Anyway, there are plenty of picturesque spots for your perfect Instagram picture.
- Another thing you might choose is to take a funicular in the higher altitude. The price for both ways is 30 euro per person. There the temperature drops drastically.
- Your last option is to take a funicular and from there take a bus (60 euros per person) that takes you almost to the top of the volcano.
Naturally, your choice depends on your budget and how much time you will want to spend on Etna. No matter which option you pick, it still will be an unforgettable experience. Also, I do not recommend buying anything from souvenir shops right near the parking lot. The prices are ridiculous, and you will find better things for better prices in town.
After visiting Etna, you shouldn’t go back to your hotel. Your next stop is Taormina. This is a stunning coastal town full of romance and breathtaking views. Upon arrival in Taormina, immediately park your car. You won’t need it among all these tiny narrow streets. Try to park as close as possible to Corso Umberto since it is the main street of Taormina that leads all the way to the town’s cathedral. And then, you can start exploring the town.
There are two main things to see there: Isola Bella and Teatro Antico di Taormina. To reach the Isola Bella (en. beautiful island) you need to take a funicular for 3 euros per person one way. Just to be clear: it’s not an option, it’s obligatory to visit it. If the day will be warm and you will have enough time, you could lay on the beach or at least listen to the sound of water washing millions of beach stones. It’s hypnotizing. The entrance to the antique theater is about 10 euros per person and from it, you will see a stunning panoramic view of the Mediterranean sea.
After exploring Taormina you can go back to your hotel in Catania (approximately 1 hour away) or go to one last place. It is optional because it highly depends on your time management skills. If you left in the morning too late, Castelmola might be not for you. Castelmola is a town at a higher altitude than Taormina that has a castle and its signature penis bar. Yes, you read it right – it’s a bar decorated with penises. So if you still have time and energy, stop there as well.
Day 3
On the third day, you can go to Siracuse. It’s a coastal town north of Catania. The good news is that you can take a train to get there. Trains go there frequently from the central train station of Catania and you can purchase tickets online on the Trenitalia page or on the spot. All sightseeings in Siracuse can be easily reached on foot.
Once arrived in Siracuse, visit the most famous place – Neapolis Archaeological Park located about 1.5 km from the train station. The ticket price is around 10 euros per person (in the summer season the price can get a bit higher). There you will see a lot of ruins that might not be so impressive for those who are not archaeology savvy. However, the main highlight of this park is well preserved Greek Theater and the Ear of Dionysus. The last one is a huge cave that resembles an ear and you can walk in it with throngs of other tourists.
After an archaeological experience, it’s time to head towards Ortigia. This is an island where the old town of Siracuse is located. No worries, Ortigia is connected with the mainland by two bridges so you’ll reach it easily. If you will walk, it should take approximately 30 minutes to get there. If you’ll drive there, park your car here.
At the most southern point of Ortigia, you will find a Maniace castle that has weird opening hours. What I learned with the time, that the sooner you will go there the better chances you will be able to see also interiors of this fortress. If you won’t be lucky to enter it then at least you can walk in the courtyard and see some of the exteriors of it. If the gates won’t be closed. Keep in mind that opening hours indicated on Google and on their official site don’t always match. The ticket price is 4 euro per person.
I also recommend walking around Ortigia. Maybe not all the way around the island but at least half of it. You will be able to admire a crystal clear sea and beautiful panoramic views. And after this, you can already dive into the maze of streets. I love walking in Ortigia without a map because it’s a small island and it’s impossible to wander too far. Stop at the Temple of Apollo, Fountain of Diana, and most importantly the main square with its cathedral.
Are you already hungry? Good news! I have an offer that would be a sin to refuse. Go to Caseificio Borderi (right there where you parked your car) and have the best sandwich of your life. And no, I’m not exaggerating. All the ingredients are fresh, and everything is made from scratch. It’s a family business, but the main star of it is their grandfather who probably makes sandwiches from the day he was born.
Don’t get scared of a long waiting line and just be patient. If you’re not patient enough, try to get a table. Usually, they serve customers at the tables first. The price of a sandwich is 8 euros and can be easily shared. If you don’t have any preferences or allergies, just order a sandwich “alla fantasia”. Then you won’t know what kind of sandwich you will get, but I can guarantee that you will love it as much as it is possible to love a sandwich. Of course, you can always ask for a certain kind of meat (or not meat) to put in your food. I just always like that element of surprise. Caseificio Borderi is open every day except Sundays from 7 am to 4 pm. Enjoy!
Day 4
Let’s go to see some more ruins! Seriously, visiting Agrigento and its Valley of Temples is a must as well as the Turkish Steps (Scala dei Turchi). However, here we have more logistical problems if you don’t have your own transport. If you decide to go there by a means of public transport, you have to take a bus since there are no direct trains from Catania to Agrigento. Also, it’s really difficult to go to the Turkish steps from Agrigento on public transport. I’ve done it and it took forever. Consider that from the bus stop where you’ll be dropped off you still will need to walk about 3 km one way to finally reach your destination. The last advice is to spend a night in Agrigento, because it wouldn’t make any sense to go back to Catania when our itinerary will continue west the upcoming day.
Enter in your GPS Valle dei Templi Porta Quinta and it will take you directly to the parking lot where you can leave your car. The ticket office is just a couple hundred meters away. In this parking lot, you will see a lot of taxis who will attack you with an outstanding offer to take you up the hill to the last temple, and then you will need just to walk down the hill on your own. It’s worth taking it if you have any mobility issues or you’re in a hurry. Otherwise, just take that walk both ways. The hill is not that steep as taxi drivers picture it.
This archaeological park is quite big. At a slow pace, it will take at least 2 hours to check it out. There are remains of 7 temples in Doric style. The best-preserved ones are Temple of Hera, Temple of Concordia with a fallen Icarus right next to it, and Temple of Heracles. If you are an archaeology geek you can buy a combined ticket and visit a Regional Museum of Archaeology afterward, located just a couple of minutes away from the Valley of Temples itself.
Less than 20 minutes away from the Valley of Temples, there is another sightseeing – Turkish Steps (it. Scala dei Turchi). It’s a huge white limestone rock in the shape of a staircase. For a lot of years, it was easily accessible to the public. Recently, it was closed to visitors due to erosion and tourists who didn’t follow the rules and still climbed on it. Even if it is closed now, you can still admire the Turkish steps. Just park your vehicle at a shoulder and walk to an observation spot. From there you will see nature’s miracle from above.
Food-wise I highly recommend getting some panelle. These are Agrigentian fritters made from chickpea flour and spices. It is really yummy. Get them while you’re in Agrigento because it might be difficult to find this snack in other Sicilian places.
Day 5
This day is dedicated to Sicily’s capital – Palermo. This is the biggest Sicilian city with a population of nearly 700,000. Even though this city an open sky museum I usually suggest three main things not to miss there: Massimo Theater, Capuchin catacombs, and Palermo Cathedral.
Do you know where the biggest theater in Italy resides? Or the third biggest in Europe? Yes, it’s in Palermo! It took 23 (1874-1897) years to build this theater in neoclassical style, and it was inaugurated with Verdi’s performance. And of course, the final scene of the “Godfather III” was shot at the staircase of Teatro Massimo. You can purchase a ticket to a guided tour in the interiors of this theater and for an additional fee to go behind the scenes. Tour is informative and definitely worth the price and your time.
Are you into creepy things? If the answer is yes, then head to the Capuchin catacombs. Usually, in catacombs, you can see coffins or bones. In this place, all the dead bodies are hanging on the walls. Their bodies, clothing, even hair are so well preserved that sometimes I felt awkward even looking at them. Remains are sorted into different sections: just monks, virgin girls, women, etc. Even if it is a touristy place, it is still a sort of a graveyard in the first place. Stay quiet there and do not take pictures.
The Cathedral of Palermo is definitely the main highlight of this city. Is massive, and extremely beautiful. This cathedral was built in 1184 and overtime was changed, remodeled, and other structures were added. This is why this architectural masterpiece embeds several different styles – Gothic, Medieval, Arabic, and Neoclassical. Entrance into the cathedral is free of charge but if you would decide to visit its rooftop, treasury, or crypts, you’ll need to buy a ticket.
It’s worth mentioning other places to visit in Palermo: Normanni palace, Pretoria fountain, and Quatro Canti. Food markets and street food, in general, are very popular there as well. My favorite street food place is Ke Palle located right in the main Maqueda street. There you will find a bunch of different kinds of arancini – sweet and savory, with meat and with fish, with Nutella, with vegetables – you name it.
Day 6
After such an intensive week you deserve at least one day on the beach. Your choice depends on how close to your departure airport you want to be. If you’re flying back home from Catania, you can drive from Palermo back to the east side of Sicily.
One of the most famous beach places in Sicily is San Vito Lo Capo. It deserves its name. However, it takes around 2 hours one way just to get there from Palermo. A more logical decision would be going to Mondello or Cefalu. On the other hand, if you going back closer to Catania you can have your beach day right there. Right near the airport, there is a long stretch of sandy beach called Playa di Catania. Maybe the water is not as clear as in the west part of Sicily but at least you will be calm being closer to the airport. If Playa doesn’t seem like a good option, go south to Cassibile beach. It takes less than an hour to get there, and the beach is beautiful.
In the end, you’re in Sicily and it has a vast array of beaches: sandy beach, black lava rocks beach, stones beach… It all depends on how long you want to drive there.
Day 7
It’s time to say goodbye to Sicily. If your flight is in the morning probably it would be best just get your morning shot of espresso and head towards the airport. You will never know how crazy the traffic might get and it’s better to be safe.
But if you have an afternoon or evening flight you can still do some stuff in Catania. Get Sicilian breakfast in the main square. There is nothing better than a cup of cappuccino with a cannoli sitting under an umbrella in a local pasticceria. Maybe there is something you couldn’t visit on your first day in Catania? Do it right now! And of course, don’t forget to buy some edible gifts for your family and friends.
Sicily in one week in a nutshell
1st day: Catania
2nd day: Etna volcano and Taormina
3rd day: Siracuse
4th day: Agrigento
5th day: Palermo
6th day: Beach day
7th day: Your flight back home
If you will spend more than a week in Sicily, check out this article about lesser-known places in Sicily, and maybe you’ll find some ideas for extra activities on the island.
You are a great writer!
Thank you so much! I try my best 🙂