Real Sicily
Type: In Depth Explorer
Starts: Catania, Italy
End: Palermo, Italy
Sicily is best understood one bite, piazza and sea breeze at a time. On this 8-day Sicily trip, wander the ancient streets of Catania, discover the mountainside charm of Taormina and swim in the crystal-clear waters of Cefalù before slowing down in Palermo. Along the way, savour market flavours, journey up Mt Etna, explore UNESCO-listed landmarks and uncover the stories behind Sicily's past and present. This is the Sicily the locals love – sun-soaked, slow-paced and full of stories.
Trip Duration: 8 Days
Package Overview
Sicily is best understood one bite, piazza and sea breeze at a time. On this 8-day Sicily trip, wander the ancient streets of Catania, discover the mountainside charm of Taormina and swim in the crystal-clear waters of Cefalù before slowing down in Palermo. Along the way, savour market flavours, journey up Mt Etna, explore UNESCO-listed landmarks and uncover the stories behind Sicily's past and present. This is the Sicily the locals love – sun-soaked, slow-paced and full of stories.
Routing
Trip Duration: 8 Days
Day Wise Itinerary
Day 1 - Start Catania
Welcome to Catania! This colourful cacophony of baroque piazzas and ancient ruins is the perfect place to get acquainted with Sicily. We'll have a chance to check out Catania's UNESCO listed historic core before an included dinner in a local restaurant. Is Sicilian cuisine the best in the world? It has to be up there...- Accomodation: Mercure Catania Excelsior (or similar)
- Meals: Dinner
- Location Visited: Catania,
Day 2 - Catania to Taormina
We've got more spectacular Sicilian towns to explore today, as we head from Catania to Taormina. Perched on a mountainside and serving peak Italian elegance, Taormina is all about la dolce vita. We’ll ride the cable car, soak up the sun, and live our best holiday lives. Feeling foodie? Opt for a cooking class with local pros and master Sicilian specialities like arancini and cannoli.- Accomodation: Villa Esperia (or similar)
- Meals: Breakfast
- Location Visited: Catania, Taormina,
Day 3 - Taormina
Today’s optional is a total thrill - a ride up Mt Etna (AKA Europe’s highest active volcano!), passing vineyards and orchards that scream Sicilian magic. Not feeling the volcano vibe? No worries — your day's free to chill on the beach, explore the ancient Roman theatre, or sip a spritz and watch life drift by in true Italian style.- Accomodation: Villa Esperia (or similar)
- Meals: Breakfast
- Location Visited: Taormina,
Day 4 - Taormina to Syracuse via Noto
See ya later, Taormina – it's time to visit some historical hotspots.Next stop: Noto, Sicily’s baroque beauty packed with stunning architecture and legendary landmarks like Corso Vittoria Emanuele. After soaking up the sights, we’re heading to an organic farm for a Tastes of Sicily experience - think farm-fresh flavours served straight to your plate. We’ll have some free time to check out the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Syracuse. Famed for its rich ancient Roman and Greek history, with ancient amphitheatres and architecture everywhere you look. And after a long but lovely day, it’s finally time to hit the hay.- Accomodation: Panorama Palace Hotel (or similar)
- Meals: Breakfast
- Location Visited: Taormina, Noto, Syracuse,
Day 5 - Syracuse to Cefalù via Valley of the Temples
Heading from Syracuse we'll arrive in the Valley of the Temples, the perfect base to explore another ancient wonder... Leaving Italy without visiting the Valley of the Temples? Impossible. This mystical valley is a treasure trove of historical and archaeological heritage. We'll discover ancient temples, sanctuaries and a necropolis. Arriving in Cefalù we'll enjoy another included dinner of Sicilian delicacies.- Accomodation: Le Sabbie D Oro Hotel Cefalu (or similar)
- Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Location Visited: Syracuse, Valley of the Temples, Cefalu,
Day 6 - Cefalù
Cefalù is a real gem, home to Sicily's best beaches and most impressive Arabic architecture. Today's all about coastal vibes, soaking up that sun, sea and sand — with plenty of water sports to get involved with. If you're feeling a little more zen, why not opt for the coastal cruise and soak up some scenery instead? Later on, we'll stroll the winding cobbled streets and watch fishermen taking stock of the day's bounties, before exploring the town's foodie and nightlife scene.- Accomodation: Le Sabbie D Oro Hotel Cefalu (or similar)
- Meals: Breakfast
- Location Visited: Cefalu,
Day 7 - Cefalù to Palermo
It's time to end on a high, as we make our way towards Sicily's sizzling capital. Palermo’s a vibrant, colourful city with a food scene that’ll blow your mind. But it’s also got a complex history with the Mafia. Today, you’ll join a walking tour through the historic centre to hear the real story behind Palermo’s fight against organised crime and the rise of the anti-Mafia movement. Then, we’ll finish strong with a farewell dinner Al Fresco, at the ‘bistro of second chances’.- Accomodation: Ibis Styles President (or similar)
- Meals: Breakfast
- Location Visited: Cefalu, Palermo,
Day 8 - End Palermo
Time to head home after one final breakfast together (sob). Hug it out, swap social details — and don't be sad. We'll see each other on the road again soon...- Accomodation:
- Meals: Breakfast
- Location Visited: Palermo,
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 2 Dinner (D)
- 7 Breakfast (B)
FAQs
- London: A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
- Rome: If you require arrangements to be made for your accessibility needs, please inform your Trip Manager as soon as possible. We try our best to contact all accommodations and secure ground floor rooms for easy wheelchair access.Please remember that Italy can be physically challenging to get around. Coaches can’t access historical centers, and there will be lots of walking (on roads that are often uneven and cobbled). Travellers with accessibility needs will find this trip challenging.
- Madrid: Yep. Usually, we arrange a buffet for all your included meals. If you’d like a vegetarian option, please inform your Trip Manager beforehand, and they’ll sort it out for you.
- Rome: This would depend on the museums & attractions you’re planning to visit. If you’d like to know the exact timings, please contact our 24x7 Helpline to access your day-to-day itineraries to check when you’ll have free time in each city.
- Madrid: Of course! Just inform your Trip Manager if you need refrigeration on the coach. Please remember that the fridge is turned off overnight, so you’ll have to take your medication with you into your accommodation. We recommend that you bring a cooler bag with you as a backup. It’s your responsibility to store your medication with care.
Included Experience
- Catania: Stroll around the ancient Sicilian port at the foot of Mount Etna. See the Piazza Stesicoro and the Baroque and Renaissance buildings of Via dei Crociferi.
- Taormina: Greek and Roman ruins. Sun-drenched beaches. Epic Italian food. There’s so much to do in this seaside town, you’ll never want to leave.
- Noto: Float around this opulent Sicilian city, taking in the Baroque architecture and panoramic views as you go.
- Agrigento: Explore the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, a UNESCO-listed site featuring some of the world's most treasured Greek art and architecture.
