Аround Sicily by car

There are many beautiful places in Sicily that can only be seen by car. You can rent a car immediately upon arrival at Palermo airport.
To leisurely explore the main attractions of this island, you will need at least two weeks. During this time, you will be able to see not only historical monuments, palaces and churches, but also admire the wonderful nature and relax on the picturesque beaches of the Sicilian coast.

We have calculated our route for this time, but you can shorten or extend the trip at your discretion. We will start and end our route in the capital of the region - Palermo, but you can also do this from Catania.

Day 1. Arrival in Palermo. Check-in at the hotel. Free time
We offer you to stay in Palermo at the hotels: Grand Hotel Villa Igiea 5* or Grand Hotel Federico II 4*. The hotels are located in the very center of the old city.

Day 2. Day in Palermo. City tour. In the evening, transfer to Cefalu (1 hour)
Breakfast at the hotel.

Our car trip begins in Palermo, the capital of Sicily. Two days are enough for your first acquaintance with this city. During this time, you will be able to see the main sights, try the local cuisine and, if desired, visit the local beaches. It is better to book accommodation in Palermo in the city center, avoiding the outskirts.

You can explore Palermo on your own or book a city tour with a Russian-speaking guide. The cost of the tour is 100 Euro per person. Duration - 4 hours. The tour will begin with a visit to Piazza Pretoria with the fountain of the same name. Then you will visit the church of La Martorana. Simple and unprepossessing, with virtually no decorations on the outside, the church has preserved beautiful Norman mosaics inside. This will not be an ordinary tourist route. We suggest you go down to the embankment through the Arab quarter and visit the Mondello district and the sanctuary of Santa Rosalia, the patron saint of Palermo, as well as a viewing platform with a beautiful view of the city and the bay.

You can also visit the local markets. The three main markets of Palermo: Vucciria, Ballaro and Capo are located in the city center. One of the advantages of the local markets is that they work all day, so you can stock up on provisions both early in the morning and late in the evening.

Check out of the hotel in Palermo.

In the evening, you will move to Cefalu, which is 73 kilometers from the capital of Sicily. The drive will take just over an hour.

We suggest you stay in Cefalu at the following hotels: Artemis Hotel 4*.

Day 3. Day in Cefalu. Relax by the sea

Breakfast at the hotel.

Cefalù is a charming town with many interesting places, but its main attraction is the Cathedral, decorated with picturesque mosaics. Cefalu is also home to one of the best museums in Sicily – the Mandralisca Museum with a good collection of paintings. If you are missing a more active holiday, try climbing the La Rocca rock or go for a walk in the Madonie National Park – a huge reserve located between Palermo and Cefalu.

Cefalù is good not only for its architectural charms, but also for its beach holidays. There is only one beach in the town, but it is considered one of the best in Sicily. It is not as crowded as the beaches in Taormina, and it is also more convenient: here you can rent umbrellas and sun loungers, use public showers. If you want to relax in a more secluded place, then near Cefalu there is a beach Le Salinelle, which is about 8 kilometers long, and there are much fewer people here than in Cefalu.

Day 4. Day in Cefalu. Relax on the beach. In the evening, transfer to Taormina (2.5 hours)

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time in Cefalu. Relax on the beach. Check out from the hotel

In the evening, you will transfer to Taormina, which is 210 kilometers from Cefalu. The transfer will take 2.5 hours. Check-in at the hotel in Taormina.

We offer you to stay in Taormina at the following hotels: Grand Hotel Atlantis Bay 5*, Hotel Metropole Taormina 5*, La Plage 5* or Hotel Villa Diodoro 4*.

Day 5. Taormina.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Many people consider Taormina to be too pretentious and expensive a place to relax. This is partly true, especially regarding the high cost, but at the same time, one cannot deny the beauty and charm of this city. You can stay here for a couple of days and, if you are by car, it is better not to stay in the historical center, as it is closed to traffic and there is no parking.

Taormina has many activities for every tourist: from exploring historical monuments to relaxing on the beach, from learning about cultural traditions and history to getting to know the culinary delights of Sicily. In the very heart of Taormina is the Ancient Theater - a unique historical monument of Ancient Greece, created before our era, it still hosts the main cultural events of the city. Another popular attraction of Taormina is the Corvaggio Palace, which today houses the Museum of Sicilian Art.

But many travelers visiting Taormina are attracted not by its rich cultural heritage, but by its beautiful beaches, primarily Isola Bella. This place is considered the most beautiful beach on the Sicilian coast. Also very popular are the beaches of Mazzaro, located right at the foot of Taormina. To get to the beaches of Mazzaro and Isola Bella, you need to use the funicular.

Day 6. Taormina. Visit to Mount Etna

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast, you will have a guided tour to Mount Etna. Duration: over 12 hours. Price: 240 Euros per tour for 1-4 people, regardless of the number of participants. The tour will be conducted in your car.

Etna is the largest active volcano in Europe. Its height is 3,550 meters above sea level, area - 1,250 square kilometers. As a result of lateral eruptions, Etna has formed more than 400 craters. On average, the volcano erupts lava once every three months.

If after the ascent to the Silvestre crater, the impressions are not enough for you, at this stage of our trip you can continue the excursion on your own: for 60 euros, a cable car will take you to a height of 2,550 meters above sea level to the active craters. Be sure to bring warm clothes: it is always windy and cool at the top of the volcano, the temperature drops by 10-15 degrees! You can also rent clothes for 1-2 euros. Then get into a jeep and in 15 minutes you are practically at the top of Etna. Here you and other tourists will be met by a guide who will tell you about the volcano in English or Italian. He will take you to the semi-active crater, which now spews air vapor and a little gas instead of lava, and will show you where the last eruptions were.

Return to the hotel in Taormina. Night at the hotel.

Day 7. Day in Taormina. Relax on the beach. In the evening, transfer to Catania (1 hour)

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day in Taormina.

Check out of the hotel. Transfer to Catania, located 68 kilometers from Taormina. The trip will take about one hour.

Check-in at a hotel in Catania. We offer you to stay in Catania at the following hotels: Romano Palace Luxury Hotel 5* or Mercure Catania Excelsior 4*.

Day 8. Catania.

Breakfast at the hotel.

You can get to know Catania better and see it from all sides by ordering an excursion with a Russian-speaking guide. Duration - 4 hours. Cost - 460 Euros for an excursion for 1-7 people, regardless of the number of participants. Tickets for funiculars and jeep buses are paid separately on site.

You will visit the southern slope of Etna, from where you will climb to the top by funicular. During the excursion, you will understand that Etna is a separate world, with its large and small towns at the foot and on the slopes, agricultural lands, vineyards and forests. Each slope has its own unique appearance, you can find here almost all climatic zones - starting with the subtropics.

The next stage of the route, at your request for an additional fee, can be a visit to a winery in the vicinity of Etna.

Return to the hotel. Free time.

Day 9. Catania. Morning transfer to Syracuse.

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out from the hotel and morning transfer to Syracuse. We will get to this resort town in about an hour, having covered 65 kilometers separating Syracuse from Catania.

Check in at the hotel in Syracuse. We offer you to stay at the hotels: Grand Hotel Ortigia Siracusa 5* or Henry's House 4*.

You can safely stay in Syracuse for 2-3 days: there are beaches and many attractions.

It is better to start exploring Syracuse from Ortigia - the Old Town. Most of the attractions are located here, and besides, it is simply a very pleasant place for walks. In a couple of hours you can walk around the entire island of Ortigia and see the palaces on Archimedes Square, the Cathedral, the Arethusa spring, the Maniace castle and the Temple of Apollo.

If you want to learn more about Syracuse, admire the monuments of antiquity, admire the beauty of modern times and get acquainted with the most interesting historical stages of the ancient city, you can book a tour of Syracuse. Duration - 4 hours. Cost 200 Euro per tour for 1-10 people, regardless of the number of participants.

Day 10. Syracuse

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day in Syracuse. We suggest spending it basking on the wonderful beaches of this city.

There are beautiful beaches such as Calamosche, Fontane Bianche, Vendicari and Marine Reserve Plemmirio. They are well worth setting aside a little time during your visit to Syracuse and basking on the white sand under the generous rays of the Sicilian sun.

Day 11. Day in Syracuse. Relaxing on the beach. Evening transfer to Noto.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day in Syracuse.

If you are interested in history, you can spend one day in Syracuse visiting the Archaeological Park of Neapolis, which houses the Greek Theatre, the Ear of Dionysius cave, the Syracuse quarries and the remains of other ancient buildings.

Check out from the hotel. Evening transfer to the town of Noto, which is only 37 kilometers away. The trip will take a little more than half an hour.

Check in at the hotel in Noto. We suggest you stay at the Gagliardi Boutique Hotel 4*.

Day 12. Noto. Evening transfer to Ragusa

Breakfast at the hotel.

It is very easy to enjoy Noto - just walk along the main street Corso Vittorio Emanuele, periodically turning into small nooks and crannies. A distinctive feature of Noto is the unity and consistency of its architectural style. The city acquired such a harmonious appearance after the earthquake of 1693, after which Noto was completely rebuilt. Among the most significant architectural structures of the city are: the Cathedral, the Ducezio Palace, the Nicolaci Palace and the Church of San Carlo.

Check out from the hotel. Evening transfer to Ragusa. It is an hour's drive from Noto, about 53 kilometers.

We offer you to stay in the hotels: Relais Antica Badia 5 * or Mediterraneo Palace Hotel 4 *.

Day 13. Ragusa.

Breakfast at the hotel.

It was in Ragusa that the popular Italian detective "Inspector Montalbano" was filmed.

It is better to devote one day in this town to exploring the lower part of the city, Ragusa Ibla, strolling along the ancient streets and occasionally taking a break in small cafes for a cup of coffee or a portion of homemade ice cream. As in other Italian cities, the main architectural structure here is the Cathedral. If you are tired, take a tourist car on the Cathedral Square, which will take you to the main attractions of Ragusa.

Be sure to look into the pride of the city - the picturesque Iblean Park. If you have time, you can also explore the upper part of the city, Ragusa Superiore, to see modern Ragusa and the luxurious palaces built for the Sicilian nobility.

Day 14. Ragusa. Morning transfer to Agrigento.

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out of the hotel and morning transfer to Agrigento. We have quite a long trip ahead of us, which will take at least 2.5 hours, because we will have to travel almost 140 kilometers.

Check in at the hotel in Agrigento. We suggest you stay at the Colleverde Park Hotel 4*.

Day 15. Agrigento. Evening return to Palermo

Breakfast at the hotel.

People come to Agrigento primarily for the Valley of the Temples, where in addition to ancient ruins you can see interesting historical artifacts. The Valley of the Temples is one of the greatest monuments of Ancient Greece that has survived to this day, which gives you an opportunity to get a more complete picture of the life of ancient civilizations. You can also visit the Archaeological Museum, which houses unique exhibits related to Ancient Greece.

Exploring the Valley of the Temples and visiting the museum will most likely take up all your time in Agrigento. But if such an opportunity arises, we advise you not to limit yourself to exploring the Valley of the Temples and pay attention to the city itself, where the beautiful Cathedral and the Greek Church of Our Lady are located, as well as the beaches of Agrigento. The coast of Agrigento is dotted with beautiful, but still little-known beaches with wonderful white sand.

Check out of the hotel and evening transfer to Palermo. The return journey, 133 kilometers long, will take about two hours.

Check in at the hotel in Palermo. We offer you to stay at the hotels: Grand Hotel Villa Igiea 5*, Grand Hotel Federico II 4*, or Grand Hotel et des Palmes 4*. The hotels are located in the very center of the old city.

Day 16. Palermo

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out from the hotel. Return home

Of course, these are far from all the interesting cities in Sicily. You can also stop by and visit Sciacca, Messina, Trapani or Erice - these and other cities will not leave you indifferent.

Of course, these are far from all the interesting cities in Sicily. You can also stop by and visit Sciacca, Messina, Trapani or Erice - these and other cities will not leave you indifferent.